₦airaland Forum

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/17764-probe-confirms-al-qaeda-link-in-un-house-attack.html
By Yusuf Alli and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja 1 hour ago

Three suspects have been arrested over Friday’s suicide bombing at the UN House in Abuja.

The suspects, whose link with Al-Qaeda, the international terrorism organisation behind the September 9 attacks in the United States, has been established, were trained in Mali, Chad and Somalia, The Nation learnt.

The Boko Haram (Western education is a sin) sect has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing – a claim that seems shaky, following the arrests.

The development may force President Goodluck to drop his administration’s stick-and-carrot approach to the Boko Haram sect and other insurgents.

Besides, new security measures are said to be underway to keep Nigeria safe, even as the President is set to address Nigerians on the state of insecurity and reassure all that there is no cause for alarm.

News of the arrests was broken at the National Security Council meeting convened by the President yesterday in Abuja.

Besides the President, at the Presidential Villa meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of State for Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation and some security chiefs.

A source, who pleaded not be named because of what he described as the sensitivity of the matter, said: “The security agencies confirmed the arrest of three suspects whose names were disclosed to members. They said they were still on the trail of more than five suspects.

“All the suspects are being detained. Some of these suspects confessed their link with Al-Qaeda and they said they have been undergoing training in Mali, Chad and Somalia.

“Their link with Al-Qaeda is worrisome and that is why we cannot afford to take things for granted again. The President has asked all security agencies to sit up.”

The meeting was also briefed on the identities of those behind the spate of bombings in the country. They are religious extremists, armed robbers and some thugs who are willing tools of some people,” said the source.

Responding to a question, another source said: “We decided on new security measures for the nation, both short term and long term. But there is going to be a major overhaul of our security system and apparatchik.

“The Council noticed a glaring disconnect among all security agencies and we took a decision that henceforth they must ensure that there is synergy in their operations.

“Security agencies have also been asked to tighten security nationwide to protect lives and property.

The source also claimed that the government observed that some aliens had taken advantage of the ECOWAS treaty on free movement to undermine the nation’s security.

The source said: “At the end, we reached a consensus that all aliens must undergo compulsory registration with biometric data or leave Nigeria.

“Nigeria will also keep biometric data of all foreign nationals and monitor their activities accordingly.

“A Long Term National Security Strategy will take off from next year. All the modalities are being worked out.”

On the disillusionment of Nigerians about security, the source said: “The President has realised that most Nigerians are disillusioned and he is going to address the nation to reassure all that the government is on top of the situation.”

Another source also confirmed that the President has told his security chiefs that the nation has had enough of stick-and-carrots method aimed at prevailing on Boko Haram sect members and other insurgents to sheathe their swords.

The Presidency source said: “The President is determined to put an end to these explosions and he has been holding a series of meetings with his security chiefs on the way forward.

“One thing is clear, the President has been careful in dealing with perpetrators of violence and bomb explosions, but he said he has had enough of the stick and carrot approach.”

President Jonathan has promised an enhanced security in the country.

He has also taken counter terrorism measures in view of the blast of the United Nations building in Abuja.

A Ramadan message to Nigerians yesterday from the presidency said: “Against the background at last Friday’s terrorist attack on the United Nation’s Building in Abuja and other recent events which may have caused Nigerians to be apprehensive about the security of their lives and property, the President wishes to reassure all citizens and foreigners resident in the country that his Administration is taking every necessary action to enhance national security.

“In this regard, President Jonathan has directed the security services to rapidly evolve and implement additional security, intelligence-gathering and counter-terrorism measures, including greater cooperation with other nations engaged in the global war against terrorism, to thwart the evil machinations of misguided terrorists and other promoters of mindless violence in the country.

“The President also wishes to assure Nigerians that he will not be distracted from the full implementation of his Agenda for National Transformation by the actions of terrorists and retrogressive elements in the country.

“With his new national economic management team now fully established and functional, Nigerians can look forward to visible progress in the fulfillment of the President’s promise of socio-economic revitalization, job creation and the renewal of national infrastructure in the coming months.

“While President Jonathan will continue to give the nation required leadership and direction for greater unity, stability and progress, he wishes to stress, however, that all Nigerians have a role to play in the urgent task of nation-building.”

okada_man:
I thought he said they can't afford it. What changed?

I expect him to fire redundant and unproductive workers now.

Depilot:
He was picked up for a couple of hrs yesterday.

Beaf:
Did you smoke something? Why tell lies about El-rufai being arrested again?
It just confirms a long held suspicion that you clowns only get your news from street corners and beer parlours.

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Bi-Courtney set to complete repairs
http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/27328-lagos-ibadan-expressway-bi-courtney-set-to-complete-repairs
Monday, 29 August 2011

Nigerians who are set to travel for the end of Ramadan celebration through the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been promised a smooth ride, as palliative works on the expressway are being completed far ahead of the 60-day ultimatum given by the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen.

Mr Onolememen had, on July 23, directed the concessionaire, Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, to complete the palliative works by September 30, by which time the climate would be friendlier for the expected reconstruction of the 105 kilometre expressway that is acclaimed as the busiest in the country.

Bi-Courtney has completed the patching and overlaying of some bad portions of the expressway, preparatory to full-scale reconstruction that is being handled by the company.

While thanking Nigerians for their understanding, Bi-Courtney’s spokesman, Dipo Kehinde, said in a press statement issued on Sunday: “Road users demand satisfaction, and that’s what we shall give them. We thank God for removing, day by day, every obstacle on the path of this all important project. This is the road to prosperity. We shall deliver it in good time, and we shall make it a source of pride to President Goodluck Jonathan and all Nigerians.”

“The pace of work would have been faster if the Ogun State government had not stalled the installation of our asphalt plant at the RCC yard. The state government is also preventing Bi-Courtney from securing the Right of Way (ROW), which is a major step that we must take before commencing the task of expanding and reconstructing the road.

“Notwithstanding all the political hurdles on the path of progress, Bi-Courtney has been working on the road, improving the shoulders and clearing the bushy median to improve drivers’ vision on the road.”

Beaf:
Its such a beautiful thing that Nigerian made technology is floating out there in space and functioning perfectly.

We are getting somewhere, pop sontin!

https://indiavella.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/fireworks-150x150.jpg

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/17502-nigeria-may-host-another-festac.html
By Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo 1 hour ago

Nigeria may host the world to a cultural fiesta 34 years after the celebration of the Festival of Arts and Culture tagged: ‘FESTAC ’77.’

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke gave this hint at this year’s edition of the Osun festival over the weekend.

According to the minister, plans are underway to project diverse cultural heritage of the nation to the outside world as was done during FESTAC ’77.

The Minister also disclosed that the Abuja carnival will be repackaged from being a mere celebration of only Nigeria states but will be elevated to the status of the World Black and Africa Festival of Arts and Culture.

He pledged that the Tourism Ministry will continue to support the annual Osun Osogbo Festival and others, financially.

Chief Duke also said that his Ministry would preserve the cultural heritage sites to make people see culture as an enterprise.

While assuring that the Ministry is set to embark on massive capacity building, Duke disclosed that at least 3,000 cultural entrepreneurs would be trained.

He enjoined the Osun State Government to make a significant contribution to the initiative.

The minister, who called on the youths to ensure that the annual Osun Osogbo festival is preserved, noted that culture is rich and must be elevated to become the biggest festival anywhere in the world.

The Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola represented by his deputy, Chief Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori noted the significant contribution of the late culture icon and Osun devotee, Susanne Wenger popularly called Aduni Olorisa by her teeming admirers to the groove.

Wenger, who died on January 17, 2009, had been devoted to Osun deity since she came to Osogbo in the company of her late husband, Prof. Ulli Beier, from Austria in the early 50’s.

“Wenger was committed to our culture and the groove from the 50’s. Without her, the groove would not have been accorded the international recognition it now enjoys,” he said.

Aregbesola, who noted the contribution of some artists who have worked for the advancement of the groove and which culminated in the enlisting of Osun groove as an international tourist centre, invited the tourists to take time to visit some of the 63 tourist centres in the state, assuring them of adequate security and hospitality.

He appealed to the Nigerian Tourism Corporation to assist Osun State Government in its bid to develop all the tourist centres across the state.

“At this year festival, more than 5,000 foreign tourists have come and from each of them about $2,500 is expected to go into the economy of Osun State. Also, not less than 800 jobs have been created during this festival, including ones for tour guides.

“Our unique selling advantage is in packaging Osun State as the cradle of Yoruba civilisation and our target market is the Yoruba nation at home and the Diaspora. There are estimated 91 million Yoruba people scattered at home and abroad in West Africa, Brazil, United States, The Caribbean, Europe, Venezuela and Colombia. Of these, our target by 2013 is to bring in traffic of 10,000 tourists and rake in N3.5 billion.

“By 2014, the figure would have jumped to 15,000 and our projected revenue would be N5.6 billion. In 2015, we would have hit the 20,000 mark and attain N7.5 billion in revenue. We are determined to make Osun a tourist haven. We are going to assist every investor in every way possible,” the governor said.

As part of activities marking the festival, the Osogbo Artists Cooperative, which the international bead painter, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh serves as a patron, held a one day exhibition over the weekend at the Centre For Black Studies and International Understanding, Osogbo.

Participating artists, include two first generation of Osogbo School of Art, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh and Chief Muraina Oyelami and some Osogbo-based upcoming artists like Olajide Sadiq, Kayode Adewumi, Bolanle Oyebanji, Moruf Tiamiyu and others.

Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun flanked by his two oloris and top government officials from Osun, Ogun Oyo and Lagos prayed for the guests, worshippers and people of the state.

Olanipekun praised the immediate past monarch, late Oba Oyewale Matanmi III, for working assiduously for the recognition and elevation of the groove, saying that it was during his reign that the groove was listed as international tourist centre.

Chief Gani Adams, factional leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) led many members of the group to Osogbo in hired buses and private cars. Majority of them are worshippers of Osun goddess.

Also Eyo Masquerades from Lagos State added colour to the event.

Among the dignitaries whoo graced the occasion include the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Elder Moses Adeyemo, Prince Segun Adesegun, Mrs. Adejoke, Deputy Governor of Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states, among others.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108284132946
By Omobolaji Solagbade
Sunday, 28 Aug 2011

Following the plans by the Federal Government to completely withdraw subsidy on petroleum products, investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH show that Nigeria spends about N72.8bn monthly on petrol subsidy.

According to the pricing template of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency as at August 15, 2011, the landing cost of a litre of petrol is N129.21; the margin for transporters and marketers is N15.49; the expected pump price is N144.70; while the official pump price is N65.

This means that the FG pays N79.70 as subsidy on each litre of petrol consumed in the country.

With about 32 million litres of petrol consumed daily across the country, it also means the government is paying about N2.6bn as subsidy every day, which translates into N18.2bn per week and N72.8bn per month.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, while unveiling her economic blueprint for the nation, however, did not give any timescale for the withdrawal of the subsidies.

“There has been a lot of debate on fuel subsidies and we have all resolved that (removing it) is a good direction to go on. You have to leave it to us to decide when it is prudent to do so,” she told reporters.

The issue of fuel subsidy removal has been contentious over the years with the citizens saying that the removal of subsidies will further impoverish them.

The country currently imports most of its petrol with the refineries all working far below capacity.

Nigeria has an installed crude refining capacity of 445,000 barrels per day but the refining output is insignificant when compared to the national demand.

However, experts are of the opinion that removal of the subsidy without putting in place basic infrastructure like increasing the local refinery capacity, improving the rail system and good road network will not augur well for the common man.

Spokesman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, Mr. Babatunde Oke, said the direct impact of the subsidy removal would be an immediate increase in the pump price of fuel.

According to him, it is not that the workers are averse to deregulation but they want the government to put in place basic infrastructure that will provide succour to the masses before the removal.

He said, “What we want the government to do is to increase the local refining capacity of petroleum products and provide succour to the pains that may arise by the removal. For example the rail system should be working properly.”

An Associate Fellow, African Institute for Applied Economics, Mr. Manson Nwafor, also said, “It was found after a study that subsidy removal, without spending the associated savings, would increase the national poverty level. This is due to the consequent rise in the cost of inputs relative to the selling prices of products sold by most firms and farms.

He said, “The posture of the government’s fiscal policy stance following subsidy removal will be important in determining poverty effects. For example, the inflation resulting from subsidy removal can be considerably reduced with a conservative fiscal policy response.

“In this case, inflation comes from two sources; the initial increase in general prices due to the higher cost of fuel and more spending by the government as funds are freed up. Therefore, if their goal is to reduce the inflationary effect, the government will want to keep spending to a minimum, focusing on areas that can increase the country’s productive capacity.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108284155146
Lagos-ibadan Expressway: 833 Killed, 6,103 Injured In Two Years — Frsc
By Leke Baiyewu   
Sunday, 28 Aug 2011   

Over 833 people have been killed and 6,103 others injured in 2,264 road accidents recorded on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway between January 2009 and July 2011.

This data was released by the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Command.

A breakdown of the data showed that 10,838 persons were involved in different types of accident which were categorised as fatal, with 444 accidents; serious, with 1223 accidents; and minor, with 597 accidents in the period under review.

Between January and July 2011, the expressway had witnessed 559 accidents, leaving 217 dead and 1,434 injured.

The state Sector Commandant, Mr. Alfred Adeboye, told SUNDAY PUNCH that at least one accident was recorded on the road daily and this posed a serious challenge to the traffic control and compliance agency.

Adeboye who said the expressway was not designed to carry the amount of traffic activities being experienced in recent times, expressed worry about the slow pace at which the concessionaire, Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, was working on it.

The FRSC boss said, “Because of the high level of importance attached to the road, it was concessioned to Bi-Courtney Highway Limited. The company promised to do a nice job but they are working at a snail speed.”

BHSL signed the concession deal on the 120-kilometre road with the Federal Ministry of Works on design, build, operate and transfer basis which would span 25 years.



The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, had, in July, given BHSL a 60-day ultimatum to begin full construction work on the road to ameliorate the suffering presently being experienced by commuters.



Chairman of Bi-Courtney, Mr. Wale Babalakin, had said the major constraint had been the down-pour in recent weeks, but that palliative measures would continue despite the prevailing conditions.

Beaf:
This is funny in a crazy way!
The President has very big legal guns advising him and will win any case brought by Salami or his sponsors with ease.

This is purely an ACN battle to save their tool, no other group is so interested.

werepeLeri:
What are you saying? Ogunlewe is right or the President is wrong?

hercules07:
@eku

You do not want government to put money in Islamic banking but you are comfortable with Sanusi bailing out banks headed by pastors abi, your hatred for Islam is not a good thing, I will rather government puts money in any venture that is profitable, I do not care if it is Islamic banking or Christian banking. The CAN president is just a noisemaker, he should face his job rather than trying to play politics.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/aug/26/national-26-08-2011-004.html
Friday, August 26, 2011

Former minister of works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has endorsed the removal of Justice Ayo Salami by President Goodluck Jonathan, describing the action as constitutional.

He faulted the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other commentators who have denounced the presidnt’s action.
In a statement in Lagos, Ogunlewe, a lawyer, contended that both the NJC and President Jonathan had acted constitutionally and that their actions were in order.

According to him, “Having followed the various comments on this matter, it comes out clearly that there have been deliberate attempts to interprete the constitution in a way to suit some particular interest and objectives, otherwise both the NJC and President Goodluck Jonathan had acted well in accordance with the clear provisions of the 1999 constitution.

“The politicians have misapplied the relevant sections of the constitution in abridged form to hide the substantive value of section 292 (b), which actually empowers the president on this issue. And it is regrettable that their allies in the so-called civil society are also being dogmatic in their evaluation but which is understandable.
“For the information of members of the public, section 292 is in two parts. Section 292 (1) states-a judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumstances, by the President acting on an address supported by two thirds majority of the Senate.” This portion deals with retirement without misconduct.

“However, section 292 (b) states-[size=14pt]in any case, other than those in paragraph (a) of this subsection applies[/size], by the President or as the case may be, the Governor acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council that the judicial officer be so removed for , or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct. Noted, Hon. Isa Salami was suspended in accordance with the provision of section 292(b) above which the president has accordingly acted upon constitutionally.

“For the avoidance of doubt, both the NJC and the President acted in conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The issue is that most commentators restrict their comments only to the provisions in section 292(a) without reading the (b) part of it which is more appropriate since the offence committed was a misconduct and against the Code of Conduct for judicial officers as described in section 292 1 (b).

“Also as part of the functions of the NJC as listed in Third Schedule Part 1 section 21 (b ) of the constitution, the President is empowered to remove any judicial officer and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers.

“So, the clamour and demonstration paid for by the ACN is not necessary, particularly since Justice Salami can go to court to seek remedy for his suspension due to misconduct.”

[url]http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/17257-tmg-to-jonathan%3A-approval-of-salami%E2%80%99s-suspension-a-coup-d%E2%80%99%C3%A9tat.html[/url]
By Bisi Oladele 9 hours 47 minutes ago

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) on Thursday joined the voice against the suspension of Justice Ayo Salami as the President of Court of Appeal (PCA) by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had recommended the suspension after Justice Salami refused to apologize to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu over the face-off between the two judicial officers.
The TMG, in a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Mashood Erubami, described the approval of the suspension by Jonathan as a coup d’état against the rule of law.
According to the TMG, the suspension “in the first instance, is very ridiculous, a clear coup d’état against the rule of law, coming at a time that the integrity ratings of the judiciary is going below credible level.”
Decrying the alleged deliberate avoidance of service of the court process filed by Salami against the NJC decision and other related actions of the council in the matter, the TMG said the actions further drowned the judiciary in the ocean of partiality and judicial recklessness. It therefore, urged President Jonathan to rescind his decision in the interest of justice and development of democracy in the country.
The statement reads in part: “The ratification of the suspension of the President of the court of Appeal by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan when a case on the matter is pending in a court of law is a disrespect to the judiciary and against the spirit of his oath of office, having  sworn and affirmed that he will always discharge his duties without allowing his personal interest to influence his official conduct or his official decisions and that in all circumstances, he will do right to all manner of people, according to law , without fear or favour and affection  or ill-will.
“The NJC suspension in the first instance is very ridiculous, a clear coup d’état against the rule of law, coming at a time that the integrity ratings of the judiciary is going below credible level.
“The other series of actions taken by the NJC, including the avoidance of service of the court process have exposed it beyond being an institution merely looking for how to shore-up the image of the judiciary, if anything, all the steps it took thereafter were taking to further drown it more into the ocean of partiality and judicial recklessness.
“The actions of the NJC and the decision of the President together look like a payback for the affront of the President of the Court of Appeal for rejecting the Greek promotion to the Supreme Court and a follow up alternate decision to achieve the nefarious intentions that gave rise to the promotion in the first instance, “ TMG added.

[url]http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/17312-acn%3A-why-we-are-against-salami%E2%80%99s-suspension.html[/url]
By Tajudeen Adebanjo 3 hours 42 minutes ago

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said its protest against the suspension of Justice Ayo Salami as President of the Court of Appeal is driven by its principled stand on the rule of law.

The party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos yesterday, said the PDP’s characterisation of the ACN’s reactions on the issue is a gross understatement.

“We are not crying more than the bereaved. We are actually the bereaved, and we will cry for as long as it takes to restore strict adherence to the rule of law. We are bereaved when the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is literally torn to shreds, as President Goodluck Jonathan did in acting on the illegal recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).”

The statement reads: “We are bereaved when the rule of law is supplanted with the rule of the jungle, as President Jonathan and the NJC did in the controversial removal of Justice Salami.

“Do these people, most of them from the PDP and its sympathisers, remember that the ACN, more than any other party, vociferously championed the transfer of power - in accordance with constitutional stipulations, to then Vice- President Goodluck Jonathan when his boss took ill and was ferried to Saudi Arabia?

‘’Have they forgotten so soon that the ACN was stoutly in the forefront of those championing a peaceful succession - in accordance with the Constitution - when then President Umaru Yar’Adua died? Was the PDP not largely silent in those days when the power-hungry clique surrounding the late President brushed aside the sitting VP and illegally held on to power? Were PDP stalwarts not running to Saudi Arabia ostensibly to greet the ailing President, when indeed they were escaping from the mess created by the party at home?

“It is interesting that the PDP never for once accused the ACN of crying more than the bereaved during the sustained campaign for a constitutional transfer of power,’’ the party said.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/17334-president-assess-me-after-one-year.html

[size=13pt]President: Assess Me After One Year - For The Sake Of Nigerians We Expect An A+[/size]

By Vincent Ikuomola 1 hour ago

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday asked those in a hurry to assess his administration to wait till next year.
He described three months as too short a period to assess an administration which only took off with the recent constitution of the cabinet.

He spoke during a visit of the Yoruba Council of Elders led by its President Gen Adeyinka Adebayo to the State House yesterday. The President said the issue of poor roads will be taken care of.
The elders had raised concern about the bad roads, within the region and called on the Federal Government to do something about it.

“We must take our priority projects, see how we can fund them and that is through alternative source of funding. We have set up an economic team and economic management team,” he said.
The president who also spoke on corruption said the administration is serious in the fight against corruption, saying “some corrupt practices we must stop it. There must be drastic changes.”

Stressing his determination to rid the country of corruption, the president who cited the crisis in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said the essence of the NDDC fact- finding committee was to be able to have first hand knowledge of what was happening there so as to punish the guilty while rewarding the hardworking ones.

“I remember what happened in the last dispensation  when my Minister of Works who is from Benin visited the Oba,who refused him entry because  of the Benin –Ore Raod and the Oba said no, the Minister of Works you cannot enter into my compound. Somebody from the South East asked are we not part of Nigeria? , All our roads are bad. Every year we budget significant sums of money, there is no year we don’t budget significant sums of money for road, yet, there seem to be no road anyway, so where is that money going? I know that probably the money, it is not that some people are embezzling the money per se, but we try to spread the little money into too many projects and at  the end of the day, we are not getting anything done. We spread the money and we don’t achieve what we want and people don’t see. Where we are supposed to use N3billion we put N500 million and the contractor just uses it to buy diesel and plays around. Nobody can say yes, the Federal Government has this kilometres of road at least completed at least from this end to this end, that is one of the places we are looking at .

“For the road infrastructure we are also looking at alternative means of funding and we have set up a committee.

We must take our priority projects, see how we can fund them and that is through alternative source of funding. We have set up and economic team and economic management team. I don’t want to tell them so that they will say  this is what the president wants and what the president said.

“For the road infrastructure we are also looking at alternative means of funding and we have set up a committee.”

Earlier, the Yoruba Council of Elders had decried what it termed apparent disregard for the principle of Federal Character and its negative effect on the Southwest the elders also complained about the dilapidated state of the Lagos Ibadan express way.

eku_bear:
I agree with him.

Any federal government funds spent on Islamic banking (rather than a secular, non-interest banking) should be matched by funds on Christian banking.

Personally I think the idea of religious banking is dumb. But if they want to spend billions promoting one religion, then they'd better spend the exact same amount promoting another.

premechaz:
The part where you were talking crap about what you do not understand.

premechaz:
^^^^
You are not making any sense.

PointB:
Ekiti bans children hawking during school hours

Written by Sam Nwaoko, Ado Ekiti
Thursday, August 25, 2011

http://odili.net/news/source/2011/aug/25/607.html



Ekiti is on track!
Now this man whose administration is less than 4 months old is the one gallivanting clueless Aregbesewersola and the glorified thug Amosun should be learning from. Fayose is a performer, I dont care about his party!

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59024:why-salami-was-removed-by-presidency&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
.Labour, Commonwealth lawyers flay Jonathan, NJC

Court adjourns suit against suspension till September 7

NBA wants judicial council reconstituted

AS the removal of Justice Ayo Isa Salami as the President of the Court of Appeal continued to dominate national issues, the Presidency yesterday broke its silence on the matter.

The Presidency said it was miffed at the reactions of some interested parties in the issue between Salami and the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the latter’s recommendation that the former Court of Appeal President be retired over his refusal to apologise to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

It said the attempt to drag the name of President Goodluck Jonathan into the whole issue smacked of politics and not a due diligence of the points at stake.

But organised Labour, members of the Bar under the platform of Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), and other interest groups, have insisted that Jonathan’s “hasty” removal of Salami from office was wrong.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) accused the Presidency and the NJC of abuse of judicial processes by suspending the appellate court’s boss from office.

The Commonwealth lawyers said the actions of the President and the NJC were destructive and unacceptable.

To the NBA, which restated its position on the matter, said the NJC as now constituted can no longer run a healthy judiciary and called for its reconstitution. It also pleaded for immediate pronouncement on the suit filed by Salami against his suspension by the government and the NJC.

Jonathan had last Sunday, in a statement signed by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, “approved the appointment of Justice Dalhatu Adamu as President of the Court of Appeal in acting capacity.”

A source in the Presidency told The Guardian yesterday that Jonathan only acted to save the judiciary from anarchy and to fill a vacuum created by the suspension of Justice Salami in order not to leave the appellate court without leadership.

The President, the source noted, is constrained to intervene in the dispute in the third tier of government because of the concept of separation of powers.

The source lamented that the crisis put the President in a position where he had to be “extremely careful not to inflame the crisis and he acted rightly by providing a soft landing for Justice Salami while at the same time not ignoring the NJC.

“If the President had ignored the letter from the NJC, it would have been that he was ignoring the highest disciplinary body in the third arm of government. What the law requires him to do is to transmit the letter from the NJC to the Senate. But the Senate is on recess. There were high-level consultations on what to do - ignore the letter or take the middle ground of not tilting the balance in any way. But what was clear was that the judiciary was in a crisis with the absence of a functional President of the Court of Appeal. So, President Jonathan had to give a qualified acceptance of the letter from the NJC.

“If you had read the content of the Presidency’s response, you would have acknowledged that it was a qualified acceptance of a reality on the ground but without muddling it up. The President only approved the acting appointment of Justice Dalhatu Adamu to perform the functions of the office of the President of the Court of Appeal ‘pending when all issues relating to the office of the President of the Court of Appeal are resolved.’ This meant that Justice Isa Ayo Salami was to step aside until the matter is resolved.

“What did these critics want him to do? Nothing? To create a lacuna! Or go against a statutory body of the third arm of government? Following the principle of the separation of powers, there is nothing the President can do except what he has done, which is to make an interim appointment pending when the issues in the federal legislature are sorted out.”

According to the Presidency’s official, Jonathan had by his action helped Salami by not transmitting the NJC’s resolution to the Senate yet.

He urged the stakeholders in the judiciary to team up and cleanse the sector, declaring that outsiders cannot do it for them.

The official also faulted the position of the NBA on the crisis.

He said: “Sometimes, the NBA, by its own action, seems to be descending to the level of street rioters. Only the judiciary can clean up the judiciary. Not the President or any other person. Those blaming President Jonathan for opting for the position of a statesman on this issue should tell Nigerians what they want - for him to take side at the detriment of the nation’s judiciary. He has only acted to ensure there is no vacuum.”

At the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday, Salami’s attempt to argue an application seeking to nullify the suspension slammed on him by the appointment of Justice Adamu as his successor in acting capacity was rejected.

When the suit challenging the competence of the probe panel setup by NJC, which indicted Salami for perjury and misconduct, was called up, his counsel, Chief Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN) sought to argue the said application, but Aliyu Saiki, holding the brief of Lawal Rabana (SAN) counsel to NJC, objected to it.

Justice Donatus Okorowo, who held the matter, explained that his time as a vacation judge would lapse by the end of the month after which another judge will take over on September 5, 2011.

He therefore adjourned the matter till September 7 for mention to enable Salami serve the processes on all parties.

Olujimi had told the court that although he had two earlier applications filed on August 15 pending before the court; one being a motion ex-parte for interim orders and the second, a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, he has filed a third application.

Responding, Saiki said he needed an adjournment to study the matter and file necessary papers in response to Salami’s.

Olujimi chipped in, saying: “My lord, we had sought to serve the NJC the processes for all other defendants since they were appointed by the Council but they declined. We will therefore apply for leave for an order of substituted service to allow us paste the processes for them at the NJC.”

Justice Okorowo declined to hear the third application or the oral application for substituted service. Instead, he asked Olujimi to file a formal application.

In a statement titled: “Travails of Justice Ayo Salami: Let justice prevail,” by NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar, in Abuja yesterday, the Nigerian workers, leader said the disagreement which had snowballed into a formidable threat to the impartial nature of judiciary ought to be nipped in the bud before now.

Omar said the needless disagreement, which would have been resolved through “fairness, transparency and due process,” had exposed the judiciary to unwarranted attention, thus, “undermining the sanctity of the justice system and threatening the efficacy of our democratic system.”

The Congress submitted that the suspension of Salami by Jonathan on the recommendation of NJC had helped increase the complexity of the crisis, adding that the NJC had rather chosen to become a clog in the wheel of justice system in Nigeria instead of being an umpire, promoting an impartial judicial system.

The Omar-led Congress explained that it was yet to understand the reasons President Jonathan acted swiftly on the recommendations of the NJC by appointing an Acting President for the court.

It said: “More astounding has been the speed at accepting the suspension of Mr. Salami by President Jonathan and appointing an Acting President of the Court of Appeal despite the case being in court.

“We are of the view that steps taken by the NJC in the storm between the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal leave much to be desired. Its activities have not only been questionable, but have impertinently brought the judiciary to ridicule, and being the bastion of justice in the land, let the nation down.”
The Commonwealth lawyers’ body supported the NBA’s decision to boycott the activities of the NJC until justice prevailed.

President of the association, Mrs. Boma Ozobia, said in Port Harcourt yesterday that the action of the NJC was “unacceptable and destructive.”

NBA President, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN) told journalists yesterday at the Port Harcourt High Court complex where Lawyers in the Media (LIM) held their session that the association would remain resolute and always push for adherence to the rule of law and due process.

The NBA boss who stated that the last had not been heard of the Salami saga, reiterated the need for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the composition of the NJC to improve on the quality of justice delivery.

He said it would help the government if it. According to him, Nigerians are clearly insisting that there is something

fundamentally wrong with the NJC’s decision.

“The NBA will not be a party of a process that is flawed and that is why we have withdrawn from the NJC,” Daudu said.

He explained that the NBA is desirous of a process of selection of credible judges and judicial officers who are appointed solely by the Chief Justice of Nigeria into the NJC. According to him, the inclusion of men of proven integrity into council would impact positively on justice administration in the country.

The Chairman of Silverbird Communications, Mr. Ben

Murray-Bruce, who delivered the keynote address on Broadcast media and substance of democracy, urged the media to go after members of the political class behind groups such as the Boko Haram and militants in the Niger Delta.

The Dean, Faculty of Law, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Mrs. Olubumi Akaakar, demanded that laws regulating the media in Nigeria should be of international standard.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, advised LIM to continue to promote good governance in the country.

Meanwhile, a group, Access to Justice  (AJ) has asked the NJC to declare null and void, its decision to suspend Salami.

In a petition signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Joseph Otteh, the group urged NJC to convene an emergency meeting to review the decision to safeguard the rule of law.

The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday condemned the feud that led to the suspension of Salami.

In a statement signed by the association’s chairman, Philip Ugbodaga, Secretary, Emmaunel Ighodaro and the Public Relations Officer, Kennedy Alohan, the NMA also decried the rush with which Jonathan implemented the recommendations of the NJC. The association urged well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in the crisis to save the nation’s judiciary.

http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/08/25/12-dead-in-attacks-in-northern-nigeria/

Authorities in Nigeria say suspected members of a radical Islamist group have attacked a police station and two banks in the country's northeast, killing at least 12 people.

Officials say the attackers stormed into the town of Gombi Thursday, first bombing the police station and then raiding branches of First Bank and Union Bank.

Police say at least four police officers, one solider and seven bank workers were killed in the attacks.

They say the gunmen left the banks with an unknown amount of cash.

Police blame the killing on the Boko Haram group, which has carried out a series of attacks, mostly in northeastern Nigeria. The group is believed to be responsible for attacks on police, politicians, community leaders and religious figures.

Boko Haram has called for sharia, or Islamic law, to be applied more widely and strictly across Nigeria.

It launched a violent uprising in July 2009 that was crushed by the Nigerian military. Since then, the group has targeted authority figures in shootings and carried out numerous bombings.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/minister-sacks-olorunsogo-power-plants-ceo/ 

Nigeria will hit 5000 megawatts soon, El-Sudi

By Emma Ujah, Daniel Idonor & Inalegwu Shaibu
ABUJA — BARELYthree days after the Federal Government uncovered the poor management of the failed N30 billion Olorunsogo power station by a Chinese firm, the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Wednesday ordered the immediate removal of the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Mr Mohammed Almu.

Vanguard investigation revealed that the embattled CEO is now to work in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Abuja head office, where he would be monitored closely.

The government is piqued that Almu, who until his recall to the headquarters in Abuja, an acting CEO, failed to articulate what was required to recover the six of the eight turbines in the station that have since broken down, thereby reducing the installed capacity of the plant from 304 to 60 megawatt of electricity.

Nnaji, who was on an inspection tour of the plant, in company of his Information counterpart, Mr Labaran Maku, had expressed disappointment over the inability of the management led by the CEO to provide the inspectors with adequate information on the company.

Besides, the inspection team was also told that every move and attempt by the Nigerian engineers attached to the Chinese experts to acquire the requisite skills for the maintenance of the plants were usually frustrated by the foreigners, just as the Nigerians at the plant could not lay hands on the agreement documents to ascertain at what point their responsibilities begin and end.

The Minister said “we got here (Olorunsogo) and we are scratching for information. I don’t like it and we will do something about that because what we want is ability to ensure that things keep on going. It requires resourcefulness to get things done.”

Beaf:
^
Lol! Thats the funniest thing I've heard.
For the umpteenth time, I don't work for GEJ or anyone else. I wonder if you guys just can't deal with stuff without trying to shift attention elsewhere. Abi is GEJ Oshuns absentee governor?

olawalebab:
but it seems you have something personal with Aregbe. For there are some governor that are worse, you feign ignorance about it. Issue of governing from Lagos, i can't confirm that now, but Bukola did the same for kwara, yet he record a modest acheivement.

Again President Obasanjo has to be eternally grateful to General Babangida because had it not been for the latter he would not have been released from jail, pardoned, rehabilitated, funded and installed as President in 1999. This is an incontrivertible fact. Obasanjo went on from there to become one of the greatest Presidents in our history and his record of performance between 1999 and 2007, in my view, is first class and second to none. The records are there for all to see and the facts speak for themselves. Yet the truth is that Babangida must take some credit for that too because he was instrumental in making him President in 1999.

Beaf:
I am very sure every governor needs to remain at home to generate money for workers salaries.
[list]
[li]Aregbesola lives in Lagos, instead of in Osun[/li]
[li]He spends only 3 days a month in Osun[/li]
[li]He has spent far more time abroad than in Osun[/li]
[li]His estacode and airfare will more than pay the wages of Osun workers[/li]
[li]Aregbesola claims that he wasn't elected to pay workers salaries! [/li]
[li]He spent 9 months disturbing Fashola in Lagos and trying to choose his commisioners, whereas his own Osun had NO commissioners! [/li]
[li]He claims to be waiting for dry season to begin governing, but the next dry season will be the second since he became governor[/li]
[/list]

What a waste of space!

Big B1:
It wouldn't be necessary to call IBB to order; he knows when to sit and when to stand. He just doesn't do things just for the fun of it. Trust me, there is a reason why he made a statement regarding OBJ's failure on his 70th birthday.
Just chill and see what happens.

Nigeria Launches 2 New Satellites Into Orbit
ABUJA, Nigeria August 17, 2011 (AP)

Nigeria has launched two observation satellites into orbit, eight years after launching its first satellite.

President Goodluck Jonathan said Wednesday on the state-run Nigerian Television Authority that NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X went into orbit at 8:45 a.m. (0745 GMT) from a Russian launch pad.

Jonathan said a team of Nigerian engineers and scientists built NigeriaSat-X and that NigeriaSat-2 was a collaboration with a U.K. company.

NASA's website says Nigeria launched its first observation satellite in 2003. Nigeria's first broadcast satellite was lost in space in November 2008, about a year after its launch.

Authorities say one of the uses of the new satellites could be to monitor disaster-prone areas in a country that suffers from droughts and floods.