₦airaland Forum

FORENSIC FORCE: Bode George and the 40 tips

By Salisu Suleiman

March 4, 2011 01:47AMT

Why are we so outraged by the rapturous celebrations that greeted the release of ‘Lagos Boy’ Bode George from his two-year prison term? What is wrong with celebrating freedom when you have N100 billion to fall back on? And what do we expect from a party that has Olusegun Obasanjo, Tony Anenih, Ibrahim Babangida, Jerry Gana, Atiku Abubakar, Depreiye Alamiesegha, James Ibori, Peter Odili, Adamu Ciroma and others among its top echelon?

If a list of 100 people were to be compiled, with the names of people that have pauperized Nigeria and reduced the country to a theatre of unending tragicomedy, 80 of the names would probably be PDP top shots. And the remaining 20 would be ex-members who were pushed off the table with the national cake. Anyone in doubt should ask for a list of the case files at the EFCC. It is no accident that an overwhelming majority of persons with pending and ongoing cases are umbrella men.

Current or former members of the party with corruption cases include: former governors Jolly Nyame, Saminu Turaki, Boni Haruna, Joshua Dariye, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abdullahi Adamu, James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, Olusegun Agagu, Obong Attah, Chiramoke Nnamani, Peter Odili and others. Though some cases were quashed from source in ‘gentlemanly’ agreements, even more serious cases will emerge when some serving or outgoing governors vacate offices after April’s governorships elections. It is no accident that our ‘legislooters’ are mostly ‘loyal party men’.

Of course, the PDP is not the only corrupt party in Nigeria, but its control of the federal government gives it access to unlimited resources. According to recent reports, the party has budgeted about N200 billion to ‘win’ the forthcoming elections. ‘Procure’ would have been more appropriate.

But the dubious membership and philosophy of the PDP aside, the release of Bode George and the live coverage of his celebration and thanksgiving provide many tips on how to loot public funds in Nigeria and live happily ever after.

First of all, you must be a member of the PDP or have contacts within it. You must have a list of the properties you covet and several foreign accounts. Once in office, flout every rule on due process. Any contract that is beyond your legal limit, break into two or three. Award them to your state governor, his wife and other senior party officials. Give some to your wife, her relatives and other hangers-on. Then throw the rest to your numerous girlfriends. But no matter what, make sizeable contributions to the party coffers and reserve a chunk to help ‘deliver’ your zone.

Another tip: when you want to steal, do not pinch a stray fowl, hungry goat, or tattered pair of shoes. Do not steal a bottle of palm oil or stale bread. That would land you in jail for 10 years or more without trial. Grab several billions from government or simply take the billions from a bank, then run it aground. With this, you are guaranteed a quick release, if charged at all. Or in the worst case, you’ll get a two-year jail sentence for ‘misappropriating’ N100 billion. Ask Bode George, or better still, find out how Cecelia Ibru got a six-month bed rest for ‘waltzing’ N191 billion. It was a well deserved bed rest, considering that milking that amount of money must have been very tiring. An important tip: do not consider your age, even if you are in your 60s or 70s and all your children are grown up. It doesn’t matter if your entire clan will be unable to spend the loot in several lifetimes, or that the amount can create thousands of jobs. Just take it. You will need it to bribe the police, pay your lawyers, buy the judge, influence the appeal and determine the verdict.

In the event that something goes terribly awry a la Bode George, you will need the money to live like a king in prison. If the food is inedible, have the best food delivered from the best restaurants or prepared by the best chefs. If the prison generator is not working, or has no diesel, order a tanker of diesel every week. If the prison medical personnel are not adequate, have your personal physician on standby. You will also need the money to organise huge receptions and pay for live coverage when released. Final tip: have the know-it-all, bigoted offal called Truck Pusher on standby to muddle the waters and distort every intelligent discussion about propriety.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Opinion/5681323-182/story.csp

Federal Court Declares Obasanjo's Faction "Authentic Candidate" For Ogun Gubernatorial Election
Posted: March 3, 2011 - 15:39

By SaharaReporters, New York
A judge of the Federal high court in Abuja earlier today declared former military administrator, Olatunji Olurin the "authentic candidate" of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming gubernatorial election in Ogun state.

Olurin was nominated by a faction of of the PDP in the state at a party primary held at former president Olusegun Obasanjo's library in Abeokuta.

The decision leaves the embattled governor of the state, Olugbenga Daniel in the lurch, although his camp told Saharreporters that they have appealed the decision, it not clear if the appeal will be heard in time to resolve the issues before the general elections in April.

Police Stops CPC Rally In Minna

THURSDAY, 03 MARCH 2011 02:31 ABU NMODU, MINNA

Barely twenty-four hours to the North-Central presidential rally of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), scheduled for Minna, the Niger State capital, the state commissioner of police Mr. Michael Zukrumor at a press confrence, announced its cancellation.
“We just sent a letter to CPC to postpone their rally from 3rd of March to any other day.”
In stopping the Minna rally, Zukrumor said the reason for advising CPC to postpone their rally was as a result of the findings that the date conflicted with that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rally scheduled for the same date in Suleja.
He explained that the CPC actually wrote a letter to police to provide them with security “but the venue was not stated to enable us provide security for them while the PDP also wrote and indicated the venue which made the police to give PDP a preference.
According to the police boss, to avoid a clash, considering the fact that the CPC rally would start from Suleja where the PDP Niger East senatorial rally would take place the police advised the CPC to postpone their rally in the interest of peace.
The Chairman of CPC in the state Alhaji Umar Shuaibu disagreed with the Police saying that it was not true that it was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the north central rally of the party by the police and government.
He said it was true that they were disallowed the trade fair complex earlier scheduled for the rally but they later settled for the Polo playing ground at Old Airport in Minna.
“It is not also true that we did not inform them early. We informed them since last week, it is just this morning they were telling us that we can not hold the rally, how can a senatorial rally override a presidential rally involving six states including the FCT? Moreover our letter got to them before that of PDP” he added
He declared “we will continue with our rally. Whatever the security breach in Minna tomorrow government and the police should be held responsible.”
Reacting to the development, the CPC said there is going to be a revolution today in Minna if the security and the PDP government of Babangida Aliyu tried to stop them from their presidential campaign rally.
The CPC cried out last Sunday about the grand design by the Niger State government to deny their presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari venue for the flag-off of his North-Central campaign. The state chairman of the party Alhaji Umar Shuaibu has alleged several clandestine moves by the government to frustrate them knowing fully that they will be hosting the entire north central.
According to the CPC chairman they had written a letter requesting to use the trade fair complex for the flag-off of the campaign scheduled for Thursday the 3rd of March, this week only to be written back by the authority of the trade fair complex that the complex had been booked by another organisation between February 28 and March 3.
Umar questioned why the authority of the trade fair complex took almost two days before telling them that the venue would not be available without informing them the first day the party sent the request as was always the case.
“This is dictatorship and we are in a democracy, not only CPC, other parties were treated in the same way, that place is not meant for PDP alone. We must insist to use it because it is public property, except if we say we are in dictatorship,” Umaru said.
The Niger State government had earlier denied complicity in the refusal of the management of the trade fair complex to allow the zonal rally of the CPC presidential candidate Buhari from taking place in the complex.
In a joint press briefing, with the president of Niger state commerce and industry Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman, the secretary to the state government (SSG) Dr. Mohammed Yahaya Kuta said the government is not the same as the chamber of commerce and industry.
He said the trade fair complex was solely managed by the chamber of commerce and industry which comprised of private sector interests and maintained that the government is not even aware about the visit of the presidential candidate and had not received any notice either from the security or any quarter to the effect.
The president of the chamber of commerce and industry, Suleiman maintained that the venue will not be available for the zonal presidential rally of General Buhari because another event will be taking place there as stated in their letter to CPC.
While supporting the position of the SSG, the president of the chamber of commerce and industry, said that the trade fair complex is a commercial entity that must be booked one month ahead of any event.
Meanwhile, one person was feared dead while several others were injured on Tuesday during a clash between PDP and CPC supporters in Katsina.
The incident happened in Dandagoro village, on the outskirts of Katsina.
An eye witness told newsmen yesterday that trouble started when Governor Ibrahim Shema’s motorcade was returning to Katsina after a political rally in Kankia.
The witness said the clash happened while supporters of the state CPC governorship candidate, Sen. Yakubu Danmarke, coincidentally met the motorcade while leaving Katsina.
Three vehicles, including that of the state PDP chairman were damaged in the incident.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Abubakar Ibrahim, told newsmen that he was not aware of the incident.
He, however, promised to investigate the matter.

http://www.leadershipeditors.com/ns/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26327:police-stops-cpc-rally-in-minna&catid=51:cover-stories&Itemid=101

Presidency: Sambo will assume North’s term in 2015

Thursday, 03 March 2011 00:00

Amina Alhassan & Kabiru Matazu

Senator Muhammed Abba Aji, Presidential Adviser on National Assembly matters, has made a couple of controversial comments in the last few weeks. In this interview he speaks on the ongoing presidential campaigns and the controversy over where the presidency should move to in 2015.

What is your assessment of the political outings in the last few weeks especially after the emergence of candidates?
As it turns out, President Jonathan appears to be the only one campaigning. By the end of that deadline for the substitution of candidates, INEC had about 20 presidential candidates, but out of all the 20 who have been cleared by the commission, only Jonathan is campaigning in the true sense of it. All the rest are doing nothing. May be once in a while, and not all of them, just a few, feature in the newspapers. General Buhari and Ribadu have been talking about their plans to begin campaigns. So, it’s like they are telling us that ‘they are getting ready to get ready’ and we are tired of reading about them ‘getting ready to get ready.’

Now we have just few weeks left to the presidential election and my fear is that they are all waiting to go to court (after the election) instead of going to the electorate now. If they have anything to offer, for God sake let them go to the electorate the way Jonathan has been doing.

But people believe that Jonathan is the only one who has been able to start campaign in ernest because he has unlimited access to state resources which he uses to his advantage,

That is also a disadvantage to a great extent. We must also realise he is leading this country; State affairs are cumbersome; international affairs are cumbersome, yet he is carrying out his job as president and still finding time to campaign. It’s not easy for Mr President. He just happened to be young and energetic otherwise, you know such tasks can take a toll on the physical being of an average person. Other presidential candidates are virtually jobless, they are only presidential candidates. I’m not sure of that they are doing, so what is stopping them from campaigning.

Some Nigerians say President Jonathan’s campaign is not issue-based. How do you respond to this?

I don’t believe that. His campaigns are issue based. Jonathan has always advised us to avoid personalising. He has insisted that we be issue based. You can remember that even at the Eagle Square when all the three aspirants were asked to speak, he was the only one who spoke strictly on issues.

The president has said he will not run in 2015. Do you think it will be zoned back to the North?

What will happen is very clear; Vice President Sambo will step in as soon as Jonathan finishes his tenure. We need an institutional memory in the running of government. We don’t always want to start from the beginning; we don’t always want to return to the drawing board.

Will that mean going back to zoning?

No, the court has determined that there is zoning and we have agreed, only that this time we zoned it to South-South. So in 2015, will zone it to the Northwest and give it to Sambo.

That will perhaps jettison hope of the southeast; don’t you think that will set in another crisis?

You see it is like this, it goes to the North and goes to the South. Then in the North, it goes to the Northeast, North central, and Northwest. Same thing when it goes to the South. Now, Jonathan is serving the southern term. It will come to north. When it comes, we want the institutional memory to be there. We don’t want too many dislocations or distortions that will set us one step forward, two steps backward.

Have any organ in PDP agreed on this principle, or from which point are you speaking?

From my own, it’s my personal view and it will work.

How do you intend to make it work?

I made things work before. When Ciroma and his group, ‘small group’, I most add, began to come out militantly, to say we will stop him; we will deny him; and so on. With strong words that were not expected from statesman of his age when addressing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I personally undertook the crusade and reached out to very important northerners in almost every state, to tell them that look, Jonathan will win; that incumbency advantage is real; he is also the leader of the party and there is no party that will throw away its product.

I am a member of the national caucus. I said to them don’t allow Jonathan to win without Northern support. It will disenfranchise the North. It will save the face in the minds of future presidential candidates. The North will seem not to matter, which is very dangerous for people in my generation and those below. Ciroma and others have had their turns and now they can afford to gamble. It is a gamble that I personally stopped and many of them, open supporters of Atiku, saw reason. I said to them if you try you can’t stop them. We went all round the delegates of the north. It worked and the next one will also work.

You talk about Ciroma making statements which are not charitable but recently President Jonathan called leaders in the Southeast ‘rascals’ and it generated lots of comments from people who feel that such words should not come from someone seeking votes from that area and most importantly not from a president,

Am sure he didn’t call all of them rascals. The word rascal actually is not as bad as it sounded but at the end of the day it’s the value of the people that matters. I am sure the President has listened to comments regarding that and has taken a cue from that.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13296:presidency-sambo-will-assume-norths-term-in-2015&catid=18:inside-politics&Itemid=19

Kaduna stands still for Buhari

Thursday, 03 March 2011 00:31

Ibraheem Musa, Kaduna   

A mammoth crowd witnessed the flag off of Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) presidential campaign  in Kaduna  yesterday, but the party did not present flags to its gubernatorial candidates as promised. However, it unfolded its manifesto and alleged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to rig the April elections as it is muzzling the opposition.


The Murtala Mohammed Square Kaduna, the venue of the North West zonal flag off, was overwhelmed with CPC supporters as early as 10am but the event did not commence till around 2pm, but the crowd kept chanting pro-General Muhammadu Buhari slogans. The road leading to the venue was choked with human and vehicular traffic around 12 noon.


According to reports, it took Buhari and his entourage two hours to reach the venue of the flag off ceremony as supporters   took over the  streets from his Sultan Close residence, to Unguwar Sarki, through Alkali road to Murtala  Square. Upon arrival, it took the general more than 45 minutes for his motorcade to snake its way to the rostrum.

When contacted on telephone, Dr Yushau Armayau, the Katsina State chairman of the party, directed Daily Trust to members of the National Executive Committee as they are better placed to say why the gubernatorial candidates were not given flags as promised. Alhaji Ahmadu Yaro Coca Cola, the Kaduna state chairman said that the crowd was too much for the exercise to be conducted. A source mentioned security challenge as reason but did not expatiate.

However, it was clear that Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke will fly the party’s flag in Katsina State while retired Col Jafaru Isa will be the party’s flag bearer in Kano State because Alhaji Mohammed Abacha did not attend the event. Isa and Danmarke, on the other hand, was in the advance party of Buhari’s entourage, including Alhaji Farouk Adamu Aliyu (Jigawa) and Alhaji Haruna Saeed (Kaduna). Supporters of Muktar Lugga, the Zamfara candidate, Abubakar Malam of Kebbi State were all at the venue.

In his speech, the CPC presidential candidate unfolded the party’s agenda, promising that a CPC-led government will ensure the security of lives and property. He decried the spate of  robberies,  kidnappings and assassinations  in the country. Buhari also promised to provide steady electricity in the country and create employment, adding that his administration will also revive the nation’s comatose industries.

The presidential candidate also said that his administration will overhaul the entire transport sector, including the railways, airways and water transportation. ``The 12-year administration of PDP only enthroned lack of security, ethnic and religious crises. Our administration will fully equip the police,`` he promised, adding that ``the armed forces will also be retrained to protect and not kill citizens.``

Buhari also reminded CPC supporters to protect their votes the way the people of Kano State did and what happened in Bauchi State  in 2007. He advised them to not only cast their votes but to escort the ballot boxes to collation centres and keep vigil until the right winner is announced. ``We can’t condone day light robbery``, he said, adding that the task is on the youths to guard their votes.

Speaking earlier, Alhaji Buba Galadima, the national secretary of CPC, said that neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor the IG of police and the service chiefs  can  prevent them from holding CPC  north central zonal  presidential campaign flag off in Minna today. ``I was phoned by the commissioner of police in Niger State and the Director of SSS; they said that we will be declared persona non grata tomorrow (today) in Minna and that we will not hold our rally.``

``The PDP has designed a machinery to rig the coming elections  and they have started by denying the opposition parties, CPC especially, the  venue to hold public rallies,`` he alleged. According to him, PDP has directed all traditional rulers under their command to shun CPC candidates.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13340:kaduna-stands-still-for-buhari-&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

Muzzling of the opposition

Thursday, 03 March 2011 00:32

Ayegba Israel Ebije, Minna, Abbas Jimoh & Fidelis Mc-Leva, Abuja


* Niger blocks CPC
* Ebonyi blocks ANPP
* Benue blocks ACN


The remaining one month’s campaign period leading up to next month’s general and presidential elections promises to be rough for opposition parties in this country as the three leading ones among them all had big obstacles thrown in their paths yesterday by three different state governments all controlled by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].



While the Niger State Government and police moved to block today’s planned North Central presidential rally of the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC] in Minna, Ebonyi State Governor Martins Elechi forbade the All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] from launching its presidential campaign in Abakaliki. And in Benue, the state government forced the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] to shift its planned rally from the state capital, Makurdi to Gboko.

Our correspondent reports that today’s planned North Central zonal rally of the CPC is generating tension in Niger State as the police command yesterday issued an order to the party asking it to postpone or they would have to stop it from holding. The order was handed down with less than 24 hours to the flag-off of the CPC rally, which is expected to witness the handing of party flags to governorship candidates of six states in the region. The police order also capped a week of altercation between CPC and the Niger State government over the venue for the event. The CPC led by Alhaji Umaru Shuaibu however said yesterday that the rally will go ahead whether the police grant a permit or not.

Niger State police commissioner Mr Michael Zuokumor, speaking in Minna yesterday, said the state PDP’s flag off of its Zone A senatorial campaign at Suleja will coincide with the CPC rally, which he said has security implications.

He said the police received security information that if the two rallies are allowed to take place at the same time, they could be clashes and destruction of lives and property. He said the state police command will not hesitate to stop the CPC rally if its leaders fail to conform to the directive to postpone their event to another date.

He said, “We have advised the CPC to postpone their presidential rally from March 3 to a convenient date because there is security information that a possible conflict between the supporters of both parties could arise if they are allowed to hold on same date due to proximity of their venues.” He also said CPC had earlier informed the police of a proposed rally but failed to give a definite venue and as such the PDP which had fulfilled every requirement was given priority.

But state CPC chairman Alhaji Shuaibu told our correspondent in Minna that the party will hold its zonal campaign flag-off today, adding that whatever happens in the area of security, the police are to blame.

He said CPC had earlier booked for the disputed Trade Fair Complex, adding that they were also the first to request police protection. His party’s delegation was actually at the police headquarters when the PDP delegation arrived to submit their request, he said.

“We had earlier submitted our request to the police asking for security ahead of our rally even before the PDP brought in their own request. Whatever security problem in Minna, the government and the Police should be held responsible.

The security operatives in the state are supporting the PDP and there is no level playing ground here in Niger State. We have concluded arrangements and the rally is holding at the Polo field”, he said.

However, the Director Media and Press Affairs in the Minna Government House relation to the Niger state government, Malam Bala Abdulkadir told Daily Trust that CPC’s allegation is not true, adding that it is a figment of the imagination of those peddling it. He said the police are an independent arm of government that operates far away from the Niger State government’s control. It is the police’s exclusive right to put off the CPC rally, he said.

“There is no way we can use police against the CPC because it is a federal institution and the state government does not have influence on them. The Niger state government is not paying them, they are not expected to receive information from the state government and the state government never asked them to work against the CPC rally so therefore it is false, untrue and very unfortunate to say the government is using the police against the party activity.”

Meanwhile, in Abakaliki, Governor Martin Elechi yesterday announced the banning of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) from starting its national campaign in Ebonyi. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the ANPP National Chairman, had announced last week that the kick-off of the party’s presidential campaign would be in Abakaliki, his home state.

Elechi in a state-wide broadcast in Abakaliki said: ``Let the ANPP chieftains hold their rally elsewhere.” He accused Onu of having a nefarious agenda to pull down the present administration of the state by causing a breakdown of law and order, which would eventually make the state ungovernable.

Elechi said, “The plan is designed to force the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state. The ANPP also plans to make the forthcoming general elections in the state rowdy, riotous and visibly lacking in credibility. The aim is that in such developments, any court of law will be expected to conclude that a free and fair election is not possible in such environment.”

The governor also alleged that ANPP had mapped out various strategies to accomplish its evil agenda, which included waging a vicious propaganda against him. He said, ``Others include massive arrests of key supporters of the governor and government and sending them to police zone 6, Calabar, for interrogation, detention and possible imprisonment. Burning of PDP party structures in rural areas as well as brutal attack on its adherents. Tearing and or burning of governor’s posters and billboards.” Elechi described Abakaliki as ``a small provincial capital struggling to measure up to the status of a capital and inadequate for state function’’.

The Ebonyi state capital recently hosted the presidential rally of the PDP and the South East PDP women rally.

“On a personal note, I am on very friendly terms with three ANPP governors of Borno, Kano and Yobe States and will most willingly accord them maximum respect and protocol in Ebonyi. A treat I cannot, under the circumstances, extend to their national chairman, who will be leading them to Ebonyi State,’’ Elechi said.

When contacted on the phone, Onu said: “I cannot react to this issue on phone, but after studying the text or recording, I will then react.’’

ANPP’s presidential candidate Malam Ibrahim Shekarau however dismissed Elechi’s order. Director of Press Affairs to Malam Shekarau, Sule Yau Sule, said the governor cannot stop the campaign rally as it is the police that give permission. “That is strange, we are yet to receive any correspondence to that effect. But it is not the governor that gives permission, it is the police,” Sule said.

The national leadership of the party, on their part condemned the development and refused to comment further, with ANPP’s national publicity secretary Emma Eneukwu telling our correspondent that the party will address a press conference in Abuja today.

And in Benue State, denial of access to the IBB Public Square where the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] initially planned to hold its presidential campaign rally in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, has forced the party to shift the venue to Gboko, according to its spokesman Ibrahim Modibbo.

He told Daily Trust that the party had earlier applied to be allowed access to the IBB Public Square, Makurdi, where it intended to host the Nuhu Ribadu Presidential campaign rally in Benue State but the request was turned down by the Benue State government for undisclosed reasons.

“This prompted us to shift the venue to Gboko for the rally which is scheduled to take place today from 10am”, Modibbo said. “Everywhere we apply to hold our campaign rally, we face the same problem from the host PDP state government. But as a peace loving party, we don’t want to clash with the PDP”, he further said.

But spokesman to the Benue State Governor Cletus Akwaya denied the allegation, saying the ACN which has no popularity in Benue State was just out to blackmail the state government.

Akwaya, who spoke with Daily Trust on phone said, “It is not true that the CAN has been denied access to any venue in Makurdi. They have no support base, that is why they have deliberately decided to shift their programme to Gboko, the hometown of their leader in the state, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

The ACN had earlier alleged that it was denied staging of its Presidential rally in Jigawa on February 21 on the excuse that the state Governor, Sule Lamido was also billed to host his rally on the same date, a development which forced the party to shift the event to February 28.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13341:muzzling-of-the-opposition&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

INEC bars politicians from monitoring elections

By Ini Ekott and Gowon Emakpe

March 3, 2011 11:13AM

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday issued a new order: political officeholders are no longer allowed to monitor elections in voting centres across the land. Governors, senators, House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members, local government chairpersons, councillors, ministers, and commissioners under the guise of "monitoring" would usually descend on polling stations on election days with state apparatuses, conferring undue advantages on the political parties they represented.

INEC said it would block non-recognised election observers as part of efforts the commission hopes will curb clashes during polls in April. Attahiru Jega, the commission chairman, said on Wednesday that candidates for the elections, their appointees and other notable political officeholders will be disallowed from "monitoring" at various polls, a move which INEC hopes will raise the credibility of the elections.

"All that overzealousness will not be allowed, and we hope they will minimise the clashes that have occurred in the past," Mr. Jega announced to applause from an audience during a speech at a forum for free and fair elections organised by the commission and The Nation newspaper. Mr. Jega said that the "monitoring" would stop because "that is not their job."

He reiterated, to more applause, that INEC, under his watch, would be "impartial, non-partisan, and [would] deal with those who commit election offences."

The commission plans to enforce the order in collaboration with security agencies who have already offered their support, the chairman added.

Racing to finalise preparations for the elections 30 days away, the commission acknowledged the mounting challenges that need to be addressed before April 2 - its struggle to deliver credible elections amid uncertain logistical hurdles and growing litigation.

"2011 presents to Nigerians the golden opportunity they should use to do that," he said at an event attended by the Senate president, David Mark, and former chief justice of the federation, Muhammad Uwais. Mr. Mark blamed the perennial distasteful election outcome in Nigeria on the lack of the "political will to do the right thing".

"I feel ashamed when people tell me I am not properly elected," he said. "Unfair elections are the fault of everyone but some people like to exonerate themselves."

No freedom yet for five governors

Meanwhile, the commission has appealed a Federal High Court, Abuja judgment halting governorship elections in Kogi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Cross Rivers and Bayelsa States in April 2011 at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Presiding judge Adamu Bello had held that the tenure of the governors legally started in 2008 when they took fresh oaths of office and allegiance following the nullification of their April 14, 2007 elections by the courts. The appeal, which was filed by the commission's lawyer, Hassan Liman, seeks to overturn the judgment and ensure that fresh elections are held in the five states along with others.

"The commission wants an order of stay of judgment pending the determination of the appeal," said one of the lawyers for the commission, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He said that INEC was prepared to conduct elections in those states in April. Lateef Fagbemi, lawyer to Kogi State governor said, "Let them go ahead, but I think that as an impartial organ, they should concentrate on how to conduct a credible election for goodness's sake."

As of yesterday, Mr. Jega said that the number of litigations has risen from the 150 he mentioned earlier to above 200. He said that most of the cases were ex parte orders which barred the commission from recognising any of the candidates. "A judge will give an ex parte order without giving INEC the opportunity to be heard?" he asked.

The commission, he said, however, still obeyed court orders.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5681071-146/story.csp

Mr. Gbagi Jnr.

A thanksgiving for Bro. George

By Tolu Ogunlesi

March 3, 2011 03:12AMT

Being the transcript of a sermon delivered at a thanksgiving service to mark Chief Olabode George's release from prison.

Beloved, we are gathered today, to celebrate the triumphant emergence of our dear brother, father, husband, friend, Chief, Chieftain, officer and gentleman, Olabode George, from the dreary depths of Kirikiri prison. Like Daniel in the den of lions, like Jonah in the belly of the whale, our dear brother was cast amidst great waves of tribulation, but emerged victorious. Hallelujah.

We have every reason in the world to be grateful to the Almighty. I hear - I myself have not been there - that at the gates of Kirikiri there is a sign that says: ‘Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.' But our brother entered, and now he has come out. Many entered and did not come out. Some entered and came out with tuberculosis and all manner of grievous infirmities. Some came out and their wives were nowhere to be found. In the case of our brother, his wife is still here. His houses are here. His cars are here. His friends are here. Hallelujah somebody.

The Bible says the Lord shall prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies: In their presence, not behind their back. Brother George's table is under construction. The angels have awarded the contract. If anybody likes let them come and accuse the angels of splitting that contract. They will gather, sayeth the Lord of hosts, but not in my name, and I will laugh at them. God will laugh at them the way our Baba here, Obasanjo has been laughing at his enemies.

Like Bro George, Baba knows what it is to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. He spent more than two years as a prisoner himself, before God elevated him to the most powerful position in the land. God placed him over and above his jailers. Bro George, God will lift you. The Almighty will elevate you.

Long before Baba Obasanjo's travails, Obafemi Awolowo, our dear father and mentor, the man whose free education policy has made it possible for many of us to be where we are today, faced his own tribulation. They said he wanted to overthrow the government, that he wanted to blow the country up. They threw him in prison. When Pa Awolowo left prison it was to become the second most powerful man in the land.

Bro George, blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you, for yours will be the last laugher. You will laugh last. My prayer is that ‘I still dey laugh o' will follow you all the days of your life, forever and ever, Amen.

Where was I? Yes. Bro George, blessed are you when men accuse you. They said you are a thief. It is their children that will become armed robbers. People of God, did Brother George steal any money? Did you see the word "thief" in the judgement with which they victimised our brother? For those who have not read the judgement, you can purchase your signed copy from the ushers at the end of the service.

I want you to read that judgement for yourself and tell me if Bro George was ever called a thief. What they said was "abuse of office." ‘Abuse' and ‘stealing', are they the same thing? The Bible specifically says that thieves and liars shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Now tell me, does the Bible recognise anything called "abuse of office"?

People of God, did our brother abuse the House of God? Did he abuse the Church of God? Did he abuse the Servant of God? They said he split contracts. When God was creating heaven and earth didn't he split the task into seven manageable portions, one for each day of the week, for managerial efficiency? Now they want to disgrace our brother for doing likewise.

Le t me say it loud and clear - the PDP is the party in whom the Lord is well pleased. The Bible says one with God is a majority. PDP is the majority party in this land and therefore we are one with God. We are the apple of God's eye, the umbrella in his hands. We are not perfect, no, nobody is. Verily verily I say unto you, no one but God alone is good.

Bro George, the years that the EFCC and selective justice have eaten, God will restore. And for all of you gathered here this morning, Kirikiri will not be your portion in Jesus Name. When they are calling the roll of the next set of inmates for Kirikiri they will skip your name in Jesus Name.

Join me and let us sing this song of praise to the Almighty. As we sing the ushers will go round with our special Ghana-must-go bags, for a thanksgiving offering. Hallelujah.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Opinion/Columns/5681083-182/story.csp

SSS operatives brutalise CBN manager over right of way

By Adelani Adepegba

Thursday, 3 Mar 2011


Mrs. Justina Thinkan is a senior employee of Central Bank of Nigeria, in Abuja. At the apex bank, she is a manager in the Risk Management Department. She had closed work on Tuesday, hoping to reach home to the warm embrace of her family, prepare dinner for them, and then go to bed.


Even though she reached her home that evening, she did so in pains, thoroughly bruised, following alleged battery and assaults she received from four State Security Service operatives.


Thinkan alleged that they beat her up and dragged her on the tarred road, with one of them threatening to shoot her “and nothing will happen.”


At the end of her ordeal, Thinkan, a mother of three, had a swollen face, and bruises on her arms to show for her encounter with the overzealous state operatives.


The alleged action of the operatives negated the position of the SSS Director-General, Mr. Ekpeyong Ita, who had said the agency under him must stop the culture of impunity and embrace the rule of law, due process, civility and professionalism in line with the country’s democratic temperament.


Ita spoke during the graduation of 46 senior operatives of SSS and other intelligence agencies that participated in the Executive Intelligence Management Course 3 at the SSS-owned Institute for Strategic Studies in Bwari, Abuja, on November 27, 2010.


Thikan told PUNCH METRO that she was caught up in a traffic jam opposite the SSS staff quarters between Water Board and the State House, Abuja, when a man suddenly appeared beside her car, wagged a finger and rained abuses on her for allegedly blocking their right of way to the quarters.


The bruised banker said that she was surprised and demanded the reason for the unwarranted verbal assaults.


But her seeming audacity infuriated the four men in black suit, who then alighted from their vehicle and descended on her. At first, she said only one of them jumped out, before three other operatives joined the first man from a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number, SH 472.


Thinkan said, “The first SSS personnel abused me calling me all kinds of names. As I was demanding reason for the attack, three others joined him. I came out of my car and one of them slapped me while another held my blouse.


“I asked whether he wanted to UnCloth me in public and I held on to his shirt. They held my hands and dragged me on the ground. When a female colleague of the operatives, who was watching from their bus saw them beating me, she alighted from the vehicle and asked them to leave me.


“I was not the cause of the traffic jam and I was not even blocking the T-junction; they misused their powers because they are security personnel. I won’t take it easy with them.


“I have instructed my lawyer to take up the matter and I will pursue it to a logical conclusion.”


Reacting to the development, the SSS Assistant Director, Press, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, said she was not aware of the incident, noting that the issue had not been reported to the service.


She also clarified that the service had no vehicle bearing such number.


Investigation by our correspondent showed that vehicles with SH registration number belong to either the State House or Presidential Villa.


http://punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110303253290

House of Reps summons Head of Service over fraud

Written by Idowu Samuel

Thursday, 03 March 2011

The Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Professor Oladapo Afolabi, is now to appear before the House of Representatives to clear the air on the allegation of fraud reported in the Pension Account Department domiciled in his office.

The House summoned the head of service in response to reports of fraud within his office published in some national dailies recently all detailing a massive fraud allegedly perpetrated by some officials in his office with certain amounts of money being traced to personal accounts of top officials.

Already, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had waded into the matter having arrested some senior officials in the Pension Accounts Department for interrogation.

A former Director in the HOSF office, M.A. Abdallah; Mrs. Phiana Chidi; Grace Francis; Haruna Maigida; Luke Eloanyi and Aliyu Bello are currently being interrogated by EFCC.

The EFCC had reportedly recovered some amount of money from the suspects. Mrs. Chidi was reported to have refunded N500million and $2million; Maigida N21.5million; Eloanyi N13million while Grace Francis had reportedly coughed out the sum of N12million

the House Committee on Pension chaired by Honourable Razak Adewusi, sent the letter of summons to the HOSF to appear before it on Tuesday, next week.

The committee chairman told newsmen that his office has been inundated with petitions from pensioners under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), alleging that they were being short-changed by the HOSF.

He said, “we have to really investigate the matter to ensure that our retired officers are not made to suffer; this allegations of massive fraud amounting to N5billion in a situation where the country is still finding it difficult to finance the budget must not be swept under the carpet.”

According to him, the success recorded by the implementation of the Pension Reform should not be allowed to be truncated by the virus of corruption in the system. He, however, submitted that the committee has not declared anybody guilty yet, even as he insisted that his committee would get to the root of the matter.

In a letter dated March 2, and addressed to the HOSF, the committee stated “Following publications in some national dailies on the discovery of massive pension fraud in the Pension Account Department of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation by operatives of the EFCC, the House Committee on Pensions wishes to invite you to brief it on the foregoing.”

Afolabi is expected to provide details of all bank statements of pension disbursement from June 2010 till date and all warrants of pension fund releases from the Accountant-General of the Federation’s office.

Other documents required of him, according to the Committee on Pension, include details of release of outstanding ‘check-off dues’ of the NUP in line with the Committee correspondence of 25th of January, 2011 as well as details of disbursement of the ‘accumulated pension arrears’ of year 2010 to the office of the Head of Service.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/18360-house-of-reps-summons-head-of-service-over-fraud

N3.2bn fraud: EFCC seizes Igbinedion’s properties

Written by Lanre Adewole

Thursday, 03 March 2011

CONSEQUENT upon a court order that approved the action on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come into custody, albeit temporarily, properties of embattled former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

The spokesman of the commission, Mr Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development, adding that the operatives of the commission would soon be moving round to take physical possession of the properties.

Igbinedion and six others were arraigned by the EFCC over an alleged N3.2 billion money laundering saga.

The commission had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for a forfeiture of assets’ order against Igbinedion, pending the outcome of his trial before a Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State.

The commission wanted to take custody of all assets traceable to him in Benin, Lagos, Abuja and London, with Justice M.B Idris acquiescing.

The property covered by the order included a block of four flats at 43, Etete Road, Benin; Chicken Republic, Sapele Road, Benin; a plot of land covered by Certificate of Occupancy No BDSR5458, registered as 24/24/B71 in the name of Okad Air Nigeria Limited; a building with Plan no 2041/2004 at 20B, Etete Road, Benin; a building known as ‘White House’ on Ugbor Police Station Road by House 65, Ugbor Police Station; landed property at Asokoro, Abuja, at 7, Justice Fatai Williams Street, off Justice Sowemimo street, Asokoro, Abuja; a house at neighbourhood of Etete and Ugbor Layout, located between Idusogie Street and Ogbomo Street, Benin City.

Others are Sheraton Hotel Government Course, Government House road, Benin; landed property formerly housing PML office at 55C, Adebisi Omotola Close, off Samuel Adedoyin Street, Victoria Island, Lagos; landed property at Maitama, located at 5, Danube Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and London House located at 29, Sheldon Avenue Highgate, London N6,4JP.

The application seeking for the interim order was filed on February 24 by A.M Yusuf of the EFCC.

Others accused alongside Igbinedion were Patrick Eboigbodin; Michael Igbinedion; Gava Corporation Limited; Romrig Nigeria Limited; PML Securities Company Limited and PML (Nigeria) Limited.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/18355-n32bn-fraud-efcc-seizes-igbinedions-properties

Hope for improved power dims

PoliticsMar 2, 2011

BY INALEGWU SHAIBU
Is the hope for regular power supply in Nigeria about to become a dashed hope for Nigeria’s long-suffering energy deficient citizens? Is the trumpeted gas-to-power project, upon which the Federal Government has anchored its plans to boost energy supply on the verge of going into history as another white elephant project?
Those were the questions that the top administration official with the task of resolving Nigeria’s power generation and distribution problems, Prof. Barth Nnaji had to answer when he appeared before a joint Senate-House Committee on Gas.
Although government has mounted committed efforts and resources to break the jinx in the sector, notably the creation of the Presidential Task Force on Power headed by Nnaji, who also doubles as the Special Adviser to the President on Power, the epileptic power supply problem in the country is still far from over.
Professor Nnaji in an appearance before the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Gas told the Committee that the gas-to-power project, with the target to generate 40, 000 megawatts from thermal stations by the year 2020 may collapse due to paucity of funds.
He told the Committee that over N725 billion is required to develop infrastructure in the energy sector which include building gas pipelines to deliver gas to the thermal stations when completed.
Regrettably, he told the lawmakers that no provision was made for project in the 2011 budget which the National Assembly is currently working on.
“There is no way we can shy away from infrastructure if we want to grow the economy and power is critical. I want you to look at it very well because this is key, but government alone is not going to fund it.
“The private sector will have to look for money to come, because the plan is for government to develop the infrastructure to deliver the gas to the power plants and then hands off power generation and distribution in 2011.” Professor Nnaji explained.
Professor Nnaji however told the members of the Committee that government is already looking for alternative source of funds to continue with the project.
The Committee was unconvinced about the success of the project, given its huge cost and the move by government to wash off its hands from power generation and distribution before the end of the year.
Chairman of the Committee Senator Osita Izunaso was of the view that the project will lack credibility if government leaves the funding to third party alone.
He demanded the director general Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Bright Okogwu to include the project in the 2011 national budget, stressing that there no point for government to continue with the gas-to-power project without commensurate financial backing.
He said, “This project must be listed in the national budget. You should give them funding even if it means looking for a third party to attract national prominence. In the next two weeks, let us have a framework of how you are going to achieve the third party and if there is no fund, there is no point continuing with the project. The Task Force should wind up.”
But Mr. Okogwu while responding to the allegation that there was zero budgetary allocation to the project informed the Committee that N195 billion had been set aside for national domestic gas development in the 2011 budget.
He also said that government cannot provide the total N725 billion needed for the project in a budgetary year because of pressing demands from other sectors.
According to him, what is needed is a ‘holistic review in the sector. One of the things plaguing the sector is because investment is not robust; we are not spending sufficient funds. But as managers of the nation’s resources, we need to prioritise.
“In 2011, we have provided N195 billion, it is there in the budget. N725 billion is close to a trillion. You will not get that from the budget in any year because the aggregate budget is a little above one trillion, so asking us to put another money into the budget will create problem,” he submitted.
The submission by Mr. Okogwu seemingly raised doubts about the government’s much trumpeted quest to resolve the energy crisis this year.
Given the elaborate efforts and resources poured into the activities of the PTF on Power the questions raised on the realisation of its objectives are indeed of very serious concern.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/hope-for-improved-power-dims/

Jos crisis is about leadership -Yahaya Kwande

FeaturesMar 3, 2011

Amb.Yahaya Kwande

When one set out for this encounter with Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, one was not too sure what to expect, especially since he fell out with President Goodluck Jonathan on the issue of zoning of the the presidential ticket of the PDP. So, one expected him to come down heavily on the Federal government. But this was not the case when he spoke on the Jos crisis and the way forward for the embattled Plateau. Beginning on a jocular note, he informed that it was ‘unfortunate’ his wife is Igala and more ‘unfortunate’ is the fact that she is a Christian. It was on this tempo that the chat began By Judith Ufford

AS one of the key political leaders in Plateau state what in your view is the cause of the crisis in the state?
I will be courageous to answer you. I shouldn’t shy away from expressing the honest feeling I have about Jos. I have been in Jos since 1954. I am a Muslim but married to a Christian wife and among my eleven children two are Christians while the rest are Muslims. I and my Christian wife have lived together for 44 years. We’ve quarreled only once when I was the secretary of Jema Nasir Islam, a member of Supreme Council of Islamic affairs. The Christians then made me feel I was useless to my religion by allowing my wife to be a Christian. So, whenever they met me among my Muslim friends, they pestered me by making enquiries about my wife. ‘How is Esther, is she well?,’they would asked tauntingly as if they wanted to tell my Muslim friends that my wife was a Christian and why should I authorise that particularly since I was secretary of a Muslim organisation.
One day, as she was about to go to church, I got so angry and told her: ‘if you go to church that is the end of the marriage’. Without hesitation, she turned back and went into the house and I went into my bed room in a rage and unconsciously picked up a copy of my Holy Koran and spontaneously opened a page. I was shocked by the message I was on the page. It said: ‘You can turn the body; you cannot turn the soul’. This is to say that to be a Muslim or Christian is not by force. From that moment I reconciled with my wife and till date we have not quarrelled again.
This background information is necessary so that you will know whether my answer will be biased or not; and understand that am not a die-hard person. Incidentally, I was brought up by the Roman Catholic and served mass as an altar boy.
Basically, what is happening in Jos is surprising. Jos has been a very pleasant city and people wanted to retire here after a hectic life. After World War 11, Europeans did not want to return home and were settled at a place called the ‘Hill Station’. This is the historical aspect of this crisis. At the time, I was a teacher in Jos, and later a senior District Officer.
In the forties when our people in the other areas were practicing nudism, the Hausa/Muslims who settled in the city of Jos during the mining business with the other tribes like Urhobo, Ishekiri were living peacefully here. I could remember that an Urhobo man was once elected by the Hausas to be a member of House of Assembly in the north. A Hausa man was representing this state (Plateau) in the House of Representatives. Inua Ali, Inua Adda, Inua Dan-Anacha, Mallam Bo, M.K. Sani who once represented this area at the parliament were Hausas. One incident I wouldn’t forget was that when Inua Ali whose father was one of the founders of the city of Jos contested with Chief Anatu Chelong, a Berom for the House of Representatives and when he defeated her, she ran, grabbed and kissed him like a brother. She took his cap and put her head tie on his head just to amuse those who were present and said: ‘Are you happy that you have defeated a woman?’ At that time there was no question of whether you are Hausa, Urhobo, Berom or any other tribe in the country. We lived peacefully then in this part of the world.
I don’t know what is happening in Jos now. I would say that things began to change when the natives began to get jealous of the fact that settlers in the city were becoming more prosperous than them. If you look at the city, you will notice that most of the areas were founded and developed by the Hausas. You will ask how come those places still bear Hausa names? We were friends until when they started to set up the traditional chief of Jos, the GbomGwom. Before that time, the administration of the city was in the hands of the settlers (Hausa/Muslims) and when they saw the importance of the Beroms as a nation, so the northern Nigerian government started making plans to set up a traditional chief for them. Mind you, they don’t agree with me on this story but that is what I know. They called their chiefs in little villages ‘Gwom’. The then administration decided to attach ‘Gbom’ which means big in their language to make it Big-Chief (GbomGwom).
Thereafter they started giving them the leverage of administering themselves. But things began to change when the issue of who is in control of the affairs of the city began to come up. The confusion then was: Is it the Hausa man who has been in control or the newly created traditional institution. Then they created two administration: The ‘Native Authority’ in the hands of the Beroms and an ‘Outer Council’, where the stranger elements raise their views in advisory position. Unfortunately, this big trouble that we are having in Jos today started when the natives and the settlers began to contest who would be in charge of controlling the affairs of the city.
So the Hausa/Muslim elements started misinterpreting the word indigene. They started calling themselves indigenes. But if you look at your dictionary, you will see that indigene is something that is there and cannot be found anywhere in the world except that place. But the Hausa man cannot rightly claim that he cannot be found anywhere except Jos. But they move forward and started addressing themselves as indigenes of Jos. And the indigenes of the place started disputing that claim. But why do they even fight over that? It is because the constitution of Nigeria has given them every right to seek political office anywhere in the country. An Ijaw man, Yoruba or Igbo can contest for governorship seat of the state. But since the law has given you the rights to aspire anywhere you reside in the country, why would you insist on becoming an indigene? What will indigene give you differently?
The misconception of the word indigene affects not only Plateau but some other places in Nigeria. I don’t even know why we are fighting, because a Muslim calls his religion peace. Islam means submission to the will of God, that you cannot do anything yourself. The same thing is applicable with Christianity. Christians said Jesus is a messenger of peace. When do we disagree? If you meet any Christian and Muslim fighting, stop them and let them tell you why they are fighting before they continue. Believe me, none of them will tell you why they are fighting, killing and destroying property. The irony of it all is that as soon as somebody somewhere shouts his religious chants of distress then elements of that religion would descend on the others, without asking for reasons for the conflict. That is what has been happening in Jos.
What happened? Who is going to stop these killings and bring the city back to life? How are we going to do it? I tell you the pride of every ruler is the number of population that is under him. Why would anybody want to reduce them? London is famous today because of strangers. Lagos is great today because of strangers. So, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed us who are all indigenous elder statesmen to look into the problems in the state. He said go and look into this crisis and give me back a report after two weeks. One thing I will tell you that I have been fighting about is the issue of Jos North. In the recent voter’s registration exercise, Jos north recorded over 407,000 voters, but it has only one district.
But, we have in this state, a local government of less than a 100,000 voters with eight districts of administration. I have always told them that it is not fair. If they have created more district administrations, when something happens, it will be easier for, let’s say the GbomGwom Jos to easily deal with it through the district administrators. This has no bounds of Christianity or Islam. When you are in one place and you have a leader, he is supposed to be open and subjective to his people.
The only thing the president told us is to sit, look into the crisis and bring him the report. This becomes necessary because all of us are aware of what is causing trouble in Jos. From those two weeks we spent six months before eventually submitting the result which up till now has not been implemented. I don’t know why. If that report is not implemented how are they going to end the crisis? Do they want an angel to come and settle the matter for us? It must be the government. I am very surprise with the turn out of events. I was in love with President Jonathan over the way he intervened with the first crisis that killed so many people last year. He came immediately and you could see his countenance that he was very angry and concern over the development. But all that has changed since we produced the reports. There are pertinent questions that Nigerians should ask him on the whereabouts of the reports. Why has he been delaying its implementation? Is the report blaming somebody that he doesn’t want to be blamed? Or is he claiming that he hasn’t seen the reports yet, eight months after it was submitted? That is the problem.

Was there a minority and majority view on that report?
No. we didn’t want to be disrespect to anybody. We could have done it but didn’t allow that to happen. We all agree that Chief Solomon Lar, who is a distinguished elder statesman, has been our leader and so we decided to allow him to lead us. We also know that politically, it would have been a disgrace for us not to come out with one voice. So we agreed and produce one report. Where is that report now?

Are you saying the report has all the solutions to the crisis?
Believe me if they had acted on some of the recommendations, we would have got somewhere by now.

What do you think is hindering the Federal government from implementing the report?
It is up to you to read in between lines. Whether the report is indicting somebody that Mr. President doesn’t want to offend, I don’t know.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/jos-crisis-is-about-leadership-yahaya-kwande/

Imo judges on strike over kidnap

NewsMar 2, 2011

OWERRI — ALL the high courts in Imo State remained shut for the second day yesterday, as the judges preferred to remain in their respective homes for fear of their personal safety following the abduction of one of their colleagues, Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu, whose driver and police orderly were also killed by gunmen .
Vanguard correspondent who visited a number of courts in the state observed that none of the serving judges sat; while lawyers and their clients not only looked helpless but were heard discussing the matter in low tones.
One of the lawyers, Mr. B.C. Iheka, said: “The judiciary is the last hope of the common man and the position of the judges is sacrosanct and sacred and should not be desecrated. About two years ago Justice F. I. Duruoha-Igwe was so violated by armed robbers, while her driver was shot and her official vehicle riddled with bullets.
“It was only God’s intervention that saved her, the driver and police orderly from imminent death. Just last year, the President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Ambrose B.C. Egu, was messed up by kidnappers.”
Iheka added: “Except government steps in now with full force, anarchy will creep in and that would be very bad for the system.”
Reacting also in a telephone interview, the Owerri Branch Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Ama Akalonu, noted that his colleagues were aware of the kidnap of a serving High Court Judge, Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu.
He said: “For now, we are interested in the safety of the judge, especially as his driver and police orderly were brutally murdered by his abductors in cold blood. The NBA has fixed an emergency meeting for Wednesday, March 2, 2011, where we will discuss the issues involved,” adding: “The courts have not sat in the last two days because of their personal safety and they cannot be blamed for their action.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/imo-judges-on-strike-over-kidnap/

Lagos State Water Regatta on the way

By Titilayo Olurin


March 1, 2011 10:39PM   


Water–based clubs and associations have been invited to participate in this year’s edition of the Lagos State Water Regatta.

The call was made by Olusegun Jawando, Chair, Planning Committee of the Lagos State Water Regatta 2011 during a press conference held on Tuesday, March 1 at Glover Hall, Lagos Island.

In attendance was Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, in his role as arrowhead to the Lagos Black Heritage Festival; the planned water regatta is part of activities planned for the festival, beginning next month. Also at the press conference was Disun Holloway, who will be in charge of the boat competition. The press conference was intended to promote an awareness of the Lagos state water Regatta.

According to Mr Jawando, the festival which is slated to hold on Sunday, April 24, will have as its Chief Guest of Honour, Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos State. Jawando said that this year’s edition is tagged ‘Bright and Beautiful’; and that it is scheduled to hold at the city’s Marina and various creeks around Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lagos Mainland. The festival will feature a parade of boats and Yachts. The parade will include large fishing boats, ferries, barges and other marine vessels adorned, depicting social – cultural, traditional folklores and occupational aspects of the people of Lagos State.

The essence

Mr Jawando added that the essence of the festival is to promote the cultural heritage of Lagos State. “The annual Lagos State Water Regatta is one of the state festivals organised to promote the cultural heritage of the indigenous communities to the world and the sustainable development of the tourism potentials of Lagos state as part of the Black Heritage Festival week,” he said. Among the events scheduled to hold at this year’s festival are paddled canoe racing competitions involving all the 57 Local government councils in Lagos state; swimming competitions and Kayak racing.

The Planning Committee chair called for the support of individuals and corporate organisations in the successful staging of the event and its associated activities. He said the event is not only meant for water–based clubs and associations but also for families and even children. “This is a Lagos State event, by Lagosians, for citizens of Lagos, and we enjoin all and sundry to come out and join us on Easter Sunday, April 24 as we celebrate the aquatic splendour of our state,” he said. “Families are especially welcome, so please bring the children along especially to view the spectacular fireworks.”

Plans have been made for families to watch the event at various viewing centres including Walter Carrington Crescent, the Peninsula Restaurants, Victoria Island, Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; and Wole Olateju Crescent in Lekki Scheme 1.

http://happylagosian..com/
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/5680839-146/story.csp

Lagos State Water Regatta on the way

By Titilayo Olurin


March 1, 2011 10:39PM   


Water–based clubs and associations have been invited to participate in this year’s edition of the Lagos State Water Regatta.

The call was made by Olusegun Jawando, Chair, Planning Committee of the Lagos State Water Regatta 2011 during a press conference held on Tuesday, March 1 at Glover Hall, Lagos Island.

In attendance was Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, in his role as arrowhead to the Lagos Black Heritage Festival; the planned water regatta is part of activities planned for the festival, beginning next month. Also at the press conference was Disun Holloway, who will be in charge of the boat competition. The press conference was intended to promote an awareness of the Lagos state water Regatta.

According to Mr Jawando, the festival which is slated to hold on Sunday, April 24, will have as its Chief Guest of Honour, Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos State. Jawando said that this year’s edition is tagged ‘Bright and Beautiful’; and that it is scheduled to hold at the city’s Marina and various creeks around Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lagos Mainland. The festival will feature a parade of boats and Yachts. The parade will include large fishing boats, ferries, barges and other marine vessels adorned, depicting social – cultural, traditional folklores and occupational aspects of the people of Lagos State.

The essence

Mr Jawando added that the essence of the festival is to promote the cultural heritage of Lagos State. “The annual Lagos State Water Regatta is one of the state festivals organised to promote the cultural heritage of the indigenous communities to the world and the sustainable development of the tourism potentials of Lagos state as part of the Black Heritage Festival week,” he said. Among the events scheduled to hold at this year’s festival are paddled canoe racing competitions involving all the 57 Local government councils in Lagos state; swimming competitions and Kayak racing.

The Planning Committee chair called for the support of individuals and corporate organisations in the successful staging of the event and its associated activities. He said the event is not only meant for water–based clubs and associations but also for families and even children. “This is a Lagos State event, by Lagosians, for citizens of Lagos, and we enjoin all and sundry to come out and join us on Easter Sunday, April 24 as we celebrate the aquatic splendour of our state,” he said. “Families are especially welcome, so please bring the children along especially to view the spectacular fireworks.”

Plans have been made for families to watch the event at various viewing centres including Walter Carrington Crescent, the Peninsula Restaurants, Victoria Island, Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; and Wole Olateju Crescent in Lekki Scheme 1.

http://happylagosian..com/
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/5680839-146/story.csp

PDP, ACN launch battle for Lagos

HeadlinesMar 2, 2011

By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, OLASUNKANMI AKONI, CHARLES KUMOLU, GBENGA OKE, IFEANYI OKOLIE & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

LAGOS – LIKE a 100-metre race, leading political parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, kicked off the political battle for Lagos in style with each boasting that it would win the state christened the Centre of Excellence at the April polls.
Leaders of the PDP drawn from all parts of the country including President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole, 12 governors and ministers among others, stormed Tafawa Balewa Square for a rally and declared that they were ready to liberate Lagos from the clutches of the opposition and transform it.
Conversely, the ACN and Governor Babatunde Fashola at several rallies in the metropolis asked the PDP to perish the thought of winning the state. Instead of dreaming of getting any political mileage in Lagos, Fashola asked the PDP-led Federal Government to account for alleged  $500 billion oil proceeds the country made in the last five years given the high level of poverty and decaying amenities in the country.
The ACN rallies took place at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Agege Stadium, Gbagada playground and Volkswagen playground, Ojo.
The multiple rallies took a toll on economic activities in the emerging megacity of Lagos. There was traffic gridlock in many parts of the state. In the early hours of yesterday, the day looked like a typical Thursday morning when markets hold weekly environmental sanitation. Many shops were closed as the owners trooped out for the rallies.
Why PDP needs Lagos
At the well-attended PDP rally, speaker after speaker harped on the need to return Lagos to the mainstream of Nigeria politics, lamenting that 32 years of being in the opposition had stunted the growth of the state.
PDP leaders at the event included National Chairman, Haliru Mohammed; Chief Anthony Anenih; Alhaji Oladipo Tajudeen; Governors Bukola Saraki, Kwara; Gbenga Daniel, Ogun; Ikedi Ohakim, Imo; Christopher Alao-Akala, Oyo; Akwe Doma, Nasarawa; Ibrahim Idris, Kogi; Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Kaduna; Danbaba Suntai, Taraba; and Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.
There were also National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali;  Petroleum Minister, Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke, Finance Minister, Segun Aganga; Power Minister, Mr. Nuhu Wya; Mrs Sarah Jubril, Mr. Oronto Douglas, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Hon. Austin Opara, Chief Olabode George and PDP governorship candidate for Lagos, Dr. Ade Dosunmu among others.
Speaking on why PDP needed Lagos, Jonathan said: “To fix the economy of Nigeria, you must know Lagos and work with Lagos” because Lagos is the most cosmopolitan city in the country and the most populated. And to realise the dream of Vision 20-2020, you must stimulate the economy and commerce.”
Noting that Lagos contributed 53 per cent to the nation’s economy, it could not be ignored and so industry, commerce and trade in the city have to be stimulated and the factories got working again, ports fixed, Jonathan said: “To generate employment and wealth, Lagos is the place to start.”
Selective tendering
Noting that Federal Government had not been intervening in roads as much as it should, the President disclosed that he had directed selective tendering to start work on the eight-lane Oshodi-Airport Road project.
Besides, he said the Federal Government had set up committees to look at all sectors and know areas the Federal Government would handle and those to be assigned to the Lagos State Government.  He said: “If it is in the areas of roads and housing, we will repair or fix. We need the cooperation of the private sector. The Federal Government and Lagos State Government need to work together to develop Lagos.”
Before Jonathan spoke, Obasanjo, Ade Dosunmu, Namadi Sambo and Haliru Mohammed, among others, had spoken in like manner. Ministers of Petroleum, Power and Finance highlighted the achievements of Jonathan in the last eight months, which they said needed to be continued, sustained and improved.
The achievements included ending fuel queues, sustaining peace in Niger Delta which has kept crude oil production at 2.6 million barrels per day, releasing N500 billion to revive local industries, $500 million to small and medium industries, allocating N50 billion in 2011 budget to create jobs and assenting the Nigeria Content Act, which would Nigerians reaping half of N20 billion investments in the oil and gas sector.
According to them, the government’s plans could translate into 13 million within 12 months.
PDP liberation rally
The PDP guber candidate, Ade Dosunmu, who described the event as “liberation rally for Lagos,” said since the creation of the state in 1967, it had been in the opposition, with little or nothing to show for it. Claiming that “the only structures we have in Lagos are those put in place when Lagos was federal capital,” he urged Lagosians to deliver the state to PDP and promised to reduce taxation, erect affordable houses, ensure qualitative and affordable education and end recurrent  strikes.
Addressing the audience, Obasanjo congratulated Jonathan in advance for winning the presidential polls because his predecessors campaigned at TBS and won. He urged the electorate to vote all PDP candidates so that together with the Federal Government, they would transform Lagos.
Bukola Saraki said the governors and other party leaders turned out in their numbers, which he said had never happened before because “PDP loves Lagos. There are 28 PDP governors, we want Lagos to join us in the PDP family.”
On his part, PDP National Chairman, Haliru Mohhamed said: “The PDP love Lagos more than we love Abuja. We are not able to deliver in Lagos because of your government here. You have always had traitors who take 10 per cent of your revenue. Jonathan and Dosunmu will improve the economy of Lagos. Vote all PDP candidates so that Lagos will be PDP and a breath of fresh air will blow all over Lagos.”
PDP can’t get Lagos – Fashola
Governor Fashola and other leaders of the ACN said they were ready for the challenge. Fashola, who criss-crossed four rallies of the party, in different parts of the state, urged the PDP administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to explain what they did with $500 billion about N75 trillion oil revenue in the last five years.
Fashola who accused the PDP led Federal Government of inflicting more pains on Nigerians through poor formulation and implementation of policies in the last 12 years, said the time for change was now as ACN through tested and vibrant candidates was set to liberate Nigerians from the shackles of PDP mal-administration.
Fashola, speaking at the senatorial campaign flag off which was attended by various ACN candidates including Mr. Gbenga Ashafa, ACN senatorial candidate for Lagos East Senatorial district, lamented that despite the huge income made yearly by the Federal Government, the roads were still in deplorable conditions across the state without any tangible move for rehabilitation, and  “there is insecurity, no electricity,” among others.
The governor lambasted PDP presidential campaign rally held in Lagos for shutting down traffic along Third Mainland Bridge and environs for several hours without any consideration to the negative economic implications.
Speaking at Agege Stadium, Fashola said: “Nigerians should ask the PDP led Federal Government on what they did with the $500 profits made from the sales of crude oil in the last five years. Federal roads are in bad state, Nigeria is still in darkness through irregular power supply, there is unemployment.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/pdp-acn-launch-battle-for-lagos/

Tinubu chats with SSS

NewsMar 2, 2011

ABUJA—LEADER of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Sen. Bola Tinubu, was at the headquarters of the State Security Service, SSS, in Abuja, yesterday.
It was not exactly clear what took Senator Tinubu to the headquarters of the intelligence agency, but Vanguard learnt that his visit might not be unconnected with the war of words between him and President Goodluck Jonathan who was quoted as saying that the South West could not left in the hands of “rascals.”
President Jonathan who spoke at the South West Zonal Presidential Campaign in Ibadan had told his party supporters that the ruling party must work hard towards victory over other parties in the zone.
The “rascal” comment drew the ire the ACN leadership with Sen. Tinubu reportedly making uncomplimentary comments about the President and the ruling party.
It was learnt that the personal attacks on Mr President were viewed seriously at the intelligence circle which prompted the invitation of the CAN chieftain to the SSS headquarters for “a chat.”
It was learnt that the SSS leadership told the politician to guide his utterances, especially on the person of Mr. President in order to avoid any situation that could unsettle the current political climate or any security breach occasioned by such utterances.
Sources said Sen. Tinubu who entered the SSS premises at 3.14 left after an hour, at about 4.16 pm.
When contacted, the SSS spokesperson, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, said she was neither aware of any invitation to Sen. Tinubu, nor his visit.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/tinubu-chats-with-sss/

Are you truly one of us, sir?

NEXT Editorial

2011-03-01 22:56:58


Service is certainly something that this president – despite his insistence on an image of humility and meekness – has not fully come to terms with.

If you turn on the television these days you are likely to be hit by an endless loop of political advertising meant to convince you that Goodluck Jonathan is the man of the moment – the one who will bring transformation and good will. One of those adverts takes the liberty of informing Nigerians that Mr. President is ‘one of them’.

Well, that is what prompted us to examine this assertion.

Recent activities that have involved the person, office and function of the president give the lie to that representation. And over the past weekend, three events drive the inaccuracy of that claim home.

First, the president stood far apart from the rest of Nigeria when he decided that it was a wise move to attend the ‘victory party’ of Olabode George, a man convicted of abuse of office and of squandering public trust. Once again, sacrificing sober, responsible governance on the altar of short term political gain, the president meekly registered his support for a celebration that many segments of Nigerian society roundly condemned as inappropriate.

That was one sign of the president’s disconnect from the people he is supposed to lead. A man who does not share the values or concerns of the people he leads calls into question his capacity to correctly understand their issues and be able to evolve solutions that can make a real difference in their lives.

We were yet to fully recover from that lapse in judgement when, in what is now becoming a pattern of behaviour, the commander in chief invaded Lagos and once again closed down the roads for long stretches, starting from his campaign rally at the Marina on Lagos Island. Considering that he left a trail of blood and death in Port Harcourt and Ilorin at his campaign rallies over the last few weeks, one would have expected that this time the planning would have taken certain factors into consideration.

Instead, Lagosians were stuck in traffic for hours unable to move, to get to their places of work on time and to do their bit to drive the economy of a country whose government has practically come to a halt until after elections have been won.

We have to wonder if a president who really is one of the people would be so willing each time to put them through unnecessary hardship without the slightest show of concern or preparedness to keep those hardships to the barest minimum.

Perhaps we can chalk that up to the fact that the president is hemmed in by a convoy of tens of cars, and blinded by the tinted glass that shields him from the reality of living in Nigeria. But then there is the matter of the Freedom of Information Act that many Nigerians have spent the past five years clamouring for.

This is a law that, when passed, will abolish the era of gratuitous government secrecy and usher Nigeria into a much needed future of transparency and openness in the way our leaders conduct affairs and enhance the ability of the citizens to participate in decisions that affect their daily lives and hold those in public office accountable.

Just after the House of Representatives took the bold step of passing the bill, and the Senate spokesperson confirmed that the Upper House is also committed to doing so, the president proved once again his dissonance with the yearnings of the generality of the populace.

Characterising the bill as unconstitutional, his special adviser on National Assembly Matters, Mohammed Abba Aji, declared that he will “work against the passage of the bill”, promising that he is ready to “fight the bill to a standstill.”

Here again is stark evidence of the disconnect we are talking about. Fortunately, on this one, Mr. Jonathan will find there is an almost decade-old alignment of interests, opinions, emotions, strategy and long term vision behind the Freedom of Information Bill that goes far beyond the media.

We have had cause to say before that Mr. Jonathan has become something of an expert in squandering the public goodwill. Obviously his team is not paying attention to those he is governing, and as history has shown more than once, that is an early warning sign.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Opinion/Editorial/5680833-146/story.csp

Kidnapped electricity worker dies after freedom

By Ben Dunno

March 2, 2011 01:05AM

The Warri Business District of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was on Monday thrown into mourning following the death of a District Business Manager, Celestine Nwadinobi, an engineer.

It was gathered that Mr Nwadinobi had earlier been kidnapped on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 in his hometown, Orlu in Imo State. According to our source, he was later released by his captors on Friday, February 25, 2011 after some undisclosed amount of money was paid as ransom.

But the joy of his release was short-lived as he became ill thereafter and was taken to a private hospital in his hometown where he died on Monday, February 28, 2011. The deceased was described by those who spoke to NEXT as a very humble and hard working person, saying that they were going to miss him.

It was also learnt that he had gone home to attend to some domestic issues when he was kidnapped.

Reacting, PHCN’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Warri district office, Emmanuel Ibude, described his death as not only shocking but devastating to the entire staff of the district, most of whom were still basking in the euphoria of his release the day the news got to them.

According to him, “we still find it difficult to accept that Mr Nwadinobi is no more. Just a while ago, we were rejoicing over his release by his captors and just as we were still waiting for him to come back and recount his ordeals to us, we got the news of his death and that brought so much pain and sorrow to us.” He said “What has remained a mystery to us was the circumstance surrounding his death. However, we will take consolation in the fact that God who sees and knows all things is alive and only Him can unravel this mystery.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5680699-146/story.csp

Okogie blasts PDP over Bode George’s party

NewsMar 1, 2011

By Sam Eyoboka

LAGOS – CATHOLIC   Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan See, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has described as “shameful”, the recent pomp and pageantry with which the former vice chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, was welcomed into the society after his release from Kirikiri Maximum Prison, where he served a two and half year jail term for corruption.
Chief George, who was convicted on charges bordering on embezzlement of public funds while serving as the chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, was welcomed in a carnival-like reception, especially by his PDP loyalists and supporters in Lagos last Saturday.
Cardinal Okogie, in a statement by the Archdiocesan Director of Social Communications, Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu, described the episode as a big moral and psychological blow to the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“Tell me what are they celebrating? What message are they passing across to the generality of the people and, especially to the young ones? Are they now saying it is okay to steal huge funds for that matter, serve a few months jail term and return triumphantly to enjoy the loot?” the prelate questioned.
Okogie went further to accuse the Federal Government and the ruling party of treating the malaise of corruption which has adversely destroyed the nation with kid gloves, pointing out that this singular action reveals the hypocrisy of the ruling party on the fight against corruption.
“Otherwise,” he avers, “why will people be wearing aso ebi and making all that noise on national television to celebrate someone who looted public funds and caused a lot of people and their family members and the nation at large untold hardship.”
The archbishop did not fail to draw the attention of all those involved in this “show of shame to the present spate of revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East”, warning that “unless those in leadership position in the land caution themselves from insulting the sensitivity of Nigerians, the people may soon be provoked to revolt.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/okogie-blasts-pdp-over-bode-georges-party/

Bode George, God, And A Priest By Okey Ndibe

Posted: February 28, 2011 - 23:11


Columnist: Okey Ndibe

Bode George, ex-military man and ex-chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), left Kirikiri prison last Saturday – having served a two-year sentence for corruption and earned the addition of ex-convict to his CV. From prison, Mr. George headed straight for the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos. He was reportedly joined at the church service by, among others, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun, Minister of Defense, Adetokunbo Kayode, and numerous former governors.

That trajectory – from jail to a church – turned out to be profoundly instructive, though not for the reasons one might expect. A prison is where convicted criminals do time, atoning to society for violating one law or another. A church is where sinners, through acts of contrition, seek to make themselves spiritually whole. In church, a penitent beseeches God for grace to stay on the path of righteousness.

Mr. George, who is often addressed as a PDP chieftain (even though thieftain applies far more aptly to him), was dispatched to Kirikiri, Nigeria’s most famous prison, to pay for crimes he committed whilst overseeing the NPA. In simple language, he and five other (equally convicted) board members gutted the agency’s accounts.

The former NPA chairman’s trial was, from beginning to end, the stuff of high drama. Mr. George was vacationing abroad when the investigative website, SaharaReporters, wrote that he had fled Nigeria to elude officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who had compiled a dossier on his quick-fingered, illicit financial deals.

Days after the report’s appearance, Mr. George, ever brash, boastful and chest-pounding, arrived in Nigeria. Addressing a press conference, he ridiculed the notion that a man like him would ever run from anybody. He dared the anti-corruption agency to arrest him.

The EFCC took up the offer. It mounted a vigorous prosecution of the ex-NPA chairman. Mr. George, used to fawning deference, apparently did not take his trial seriously. In fact, he turned the courtroom into a sartorial circus show cum carnival. He arrived in court each day with a retinue of women adorned in gaudy, lavish dresses, complete with ceiling-brushing head ties. A man with an apparent hedonistic temperament, he seemed to have mistaken the courtroom for another party venue.

Sadly for him – but wonderfully for Nigerians – the strutting embezzler was in the hands of Justice Joseph Oyewole, an intrepid judge who didn’t find foolish show-boaters funny or interesting. On the day of the verdict, the former NPA chairman showed up with his usual contingent of women, determined to make it the most colorful, exuberant outing yet.

Justice Oyewole rained on good ol’ George’s parade. He found Mr. George and his co-conspirators guilty, gave them a dressing down, and ordered that they cool off their heels in Kirikiri for two years.

It was a fitting comeuppance. Yet, Mr. George went off to Kirikiri in ebullient spirits. In a country where the high and mighty operate by a different set of rules, he was all but certain that some appellate court would strike down his conviction. Alas, no appellate justice was impressed. As Americans are wont to say, the man had done his crime, he had to do his time.

That time ended last Saturday. The style of George’s exit from prison buttressed the deep ethical blight that reigns in certain quarters. The performance – for the man’s release was every bit a veritable production, conceived, designed and staged – that performance was part-farce, part-tragedy. To read about the festive air that surrounded Bode George’s release, you’d think that this certified rogue was Nelson Mandela’s moral mentor!

A country where a criminal emerging from jail is greeted adoringly is not simply in deep trouble – its case is grave and perhaps terminal. Doubtless, many of the PDP officials who thronged the prison to embrace George are hardly different from him. In a society that respects law and order, they, like George, would be jailbirds too. But the George release was also carefully choreographed to leave the impression that a thief was a heroic figure.

The Punch of February 26 captured the unseemly spectacle. In a report titled, “Go and sin no more, priest tells Bode George,” the paper wrote that George walked out of prison “looking very ebullient and refreshed.” The paper reported, “Clad in white flowing lace with his luscious moustache and sprinkle of grey hair on his head, the bespectacled Peoples Democratic Party chieftain who was jailed two years ago on corruption charges beamed with smiles as he breathed air of freedom once again” (sic). For a man whose impulse pushes towards material possessions, it is appropriate that the paper paid attention to the “convoy of vehicles” that welcomed Mr. George, plus the fact that “he waved to his supporters before entering a metallic black Toyota Land Cruiser”.

A writer – I believe it was the late Ken Saro-Wiwa – once suggested that many Nigerians had become conspicuous consumers of other people’s ideas. In treasuring metallic black Toyota Land Cruisers, the Bode Georges of our world hardly remember how puny they appear in the eyes of those whose disciplined hard work and enterprise we fuss over so.

If Bode George’s prison gate drama was a sorry spectacle, his outing in a church combined the sublime with the absurd – and even broached the profane. Thank God that the presiding prelate, Tayo Aduloju, addressed words of courage to the ex-convict who came calling. The Punch quoted the priest as admonishing George: “If you are involved in any shady deal; if you are found anywhere elections are rigged; and partake in any form of manipulation, it means you have not learnt anything from your experience. Real power belongs to God. It does not belong to PDP. It does not belong to any president. 

“As from today, you are expected to represent Christ. You are an ambassador of Christ. Never again will the name of God be soiled through you.”

As exhortations go, this one was clear and direct. But Mr. George, its recipient, appeared to have other plans. If he learned any lessons in prison, he took care to conceal them. Instead, he was in a hurry to serve notice that his time in prison was comfortable if not luxurious.

The Punch wrote that Mr. George told journalists that Nigerians made him comfortable by visiting in prison everyday. These prison visitors “had made me to reposition my mind. I will reposition my mind and serve my party normally.”

What does “normally” look like to George? The clue lies in his words: “Now there is a job at hand for us to do and now is the time for us to win Lagos State with this kind of loyalty we have seen. President Goodluck Jonathan will be around on Tuesday, we have to cause tsunami in Lagos so that other parties will (get the) jitters.”


The foregoing language bespeaks a man who is far from repentant – and even far less reformed. Mr. George comes across as a man seized by messianic complex. He and his ilk sound as if mastery of the art of pillaging a nation’s resources is an exemplary form of virtue.

Mr. George may delude himself that he is a tsunami-triggering colossus. Who’s to blame an ex-convict who’s given a welcome worthy of a minor rock star? Why won’t good George bask when he’s about to resume his seat as a member of his party’s sanctum sanctorum, a man who shares a podium with Mr. Jonathan? Emboldened by the cheers of fellow thieftains and a hired crowd, the ex-prisoner must think that the people of Lagos are in a haste to entrust their lives and cash to his care.

However, voters ought to leave no doubt that they neither share George’s delusion nor wish to see a felon taking charge of their future and (mis)shaping their lives.

(okeyndibe@gmail.com)

http://saharareporters.com/column/bode-george-god-and-priest-okey-ndibe

ACN promises free education, unfolds manifesto in Imo, Jigawa

TUESDAY, 01 MARCH 2011 00:00 FROM JOHN AKUBO (DUTSE) AND CHARLES OGUGBUAJA (OWERRI) NEWS - NATIONAL

Wants INEC to delist Zinox

AHEAD of the April polls, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has promised free and compulsory education at all levels for every Nigerian citizen of school age if voted into power.

Meanwhile, the Imo State chapter of the ACN yesterday in Owerri, unveiled its party’s manifesto with a firm promise to introduce free education in the state if elected into power.

Also, the party in the state has called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to delist ZINOX Technologies because the company’s chief executive, Chief Leo Stan Eke, donated N1 million in last Thursday’s fund raising for presidential and Imo State governorship candidates under the platform of the PDP.

Former Governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Bola Tinubu disclosed this yesterday at the flag off of the Northwest Presidential campaign at the Aminu Kano Triangle in Dutse , Jigawa State capital.

He said education was a necessity because it is the bedrock of civilisation, adding that the party would ensure that security outfits in the country were repositioned through a well planned remuneration package that would discourage them from collecting bribes.

He said it was dangerous to give peanuts to the police because such an action would be counter-productive at the end.

Tinubu stressed that the ACN would not allow the PDP any breathing space to rig the April polls as had been the case since 1999, adding that the party had remained undaunted despite the intimidation unleashed by the ruling party on the opposition.

He said the party had come to Jigawa to sweep away the PDP and bring about the change necessary to give employment to over 20 million unemployed Nigerian youths.

The ACN chieftain pointed out that since Jigawa was an agrarian state, the farmers in the state would benefit from its programme that will give them subsidies and improved implements that will increase their yield and put more money in their pockets.

In his welcome address, the chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Abubakar Hassan Fulata said history was being made in Jigawa with the event that carried along the message of generational change.

The party’s governorship candidate in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and the immediate past Governor Achike Udenwa, now the party’s Imo West senatorial candidate, promised that the party would adopt the system practised in other Southwest states where the party was in power, urging the people to give the party chance.

Ararume defended the promise to introduce free education, stating that funds would be sourced from various sectors of the economy. According to him, tertiary institutions’ fees would be reduced to the barest minimum.

Ararume said his government, if elected, would fight crime to a standstill, provide necessary basic infrastructure including “real access roads in all nooks and crannies of the state’s 27 councils.’’

The ACN’s governorship candidate promised to channel the present annual N5 billion security vote to meaningful areas of need in the state.

Speaking earlier, the state chairman of the party, Chief Charles Uba disclosed that the issue of unveiling manifesto was upper most, stressing that it would provide the direction of the party.

Briefing journalists in Owerri at the weekend jointly, Uba and the Director General of Senator Ararume campaign organization, Dr. Alex Obi, regretted that by that donation Eke had violated the Company and Allied Matters Act, stating that as an interested party who supplied some of the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines, he should not identify with a party.

The duo also decried the alleged refusal of the State government to use the Owerri and Orlu Stadia for their public rallies and campaigns, accusing that each time they make applications to the appropriate authorities or ministries, audience will not be given by the relevant officials.

But the Special Adviser to Governor Ikedi Ohakim on Political Affairs, Chief Rex Anunobi, said that the ACN was crying foul, asking the officials of the party to make their impact felt in the state as the PDP was achieving.

Anunobi said it was a well known fact that Eke was a registered member of the PDP, stating that his membership and donation he made had nothing to do with the machines he supplied.

http://guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40144:acn-promises-free-education-unfolds-manifesto-in-imo-jigawa-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

Jonathan’s aide, Abba-Aji, vows to scuttle FoI Bill

NewsMar 1, 2011

By BEN AGANDE & NDAHI MARAMA

ABUJA — Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba Aji, vowed yesterday to ensure that the president does not sign the Freedom of Information, FoI, Bill into law even as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media, Senator Ayogu Eze assured that the Senate will pass the Bill, in accordance with the yearnings of Nigerians
The Presidential aide, who told newsmen in Maiduguri that he was disappointed in the House of Representatives for passing the bill, declared that he expected the upper chamber of the National Assembly to throw it out, stressing that the Bill was against the nation’s constitution.
Abba-Aji said if the Senate fails in its duties to Nigeria, he would be left with no option but to advise the president not to assent to the bill.
It would be recalled that the 34-clause piece of legislation was passed by the House of Representatives last week.
With the Senate expected to follow suit this week, Abba Aji dropped the bombshell that he will work against the passage of the bill which if finally passed into law will give Nigerians access to information unimpeded.
Abba Aji while revealing that he led the group that opposed the passage of the bill on the floor of the National Assembly during the Obasanjo’s reign said he had not regretted his action and was ready to fight the Bill to a standstill.
He said it was regrettable that this Bill continues to drag for long. He queried the support for the bill, stressing that no government or organisation will offer its official secret to members of the public or the press.
The former senator insisted that all public institutions had information that must be closely guided for the benefit of peace, progress and development of the society.
He said Nigerians should be wary of opening the nation’s secret to the rest of the world through this unpatriotic FoI Bill, insisting that instead of the Bill what needs to be promoted is the freedom of the press.
Abba Aji who claimed that the Nigerian press remained the freest, said even in the United States of America, USA, information still gets classified, noting that once information gets classified in the US, it is after 30 years that it gets declassified.
On the unconstitutionality of the FoI, the aide to the president argued that every public officer, including the president, was under oath of secrecy that is in the constitution and this is what this new bill is trying to oust.
Senate ‘ll pass the Bill
Meanwhile, in an interview with Vanguard yesterday, Senator Eze said the Senate was not averse to the passage of the Bill as it had already undergone second reading and is awaiting the third and final passage.
The passage of the Bill by the House of Representatives last week has turned the pressure on the Senate from Nigerians who believe that the upper legislative chamber should accelerate the passage of same.
But speaking with Vanguard yesterday, Senator Eze said the Bill would be passed “as soon as the Senate leadership meets and decides on its passage. I cannot give a definite date for now but it is not going to be delayed further than necessary.”
The House of Representatives penultimate week passed the Bill with amendments to some of the critical provisions contained in the original bill.
Areas that were waived in the Act were International Affairs and Defence in which case the head of government or public institution may refuse to disclose any record which may be ‘injurious to the conduct of International Affairs and the Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’
One of the key sponsors of the Bill, Hon. Abike Dabiri expressed delight with the passage of the bill saying that ‘with the passage of this bill, we have taken a major step and I am happy that the bill has been passed under the leadership of Dimeji Bankole’.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/jonathans-aide-abba-aji-vows-to-scuttle-foi-bill/

"What About Us?": Nigerian Youth Organizations Ask Nigerian Presidential Candidates For A Debate

Posted: February 28, 2011 - 16:13

Youth-led Organizations and Media Outlets Join Forces to Call for A Youth-Focused Debate

February 22, 2011, Abuja, Nigeria – Building on momentum from a mass voter registration drive, a coalition of several youth empowerment groups and blogs, including Vote or Quench, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Sleeves Up, and Nigeria Leadership Initiative, are calling for the first-ever presidential youth centered debate in Nigeria. Looking ahead to the April elections, the debate would focus on the key issues affecting a critical voting demographic, with the age group of 30 and under representing 70% of the population.

The debate will be a direct conversation with Nigerian youth, inviting presidential candidates to answer questions posed by young Nigerians, at home and abroad, via social media networks including Facebook and Twitter, text message and phone, about key topics of concern. For the first time, the candidates will have a platform to share their agenda with the nation in a live-televised format, laying out specific and concrete solutions. The debate is tentatively scheduled for the last week of March, 2011.

"It is easy for politicians to promise change without having a clue about the realities Nigerian youth face every day. However, we know that their decisions now will largely determine our future so we want to know where they stand. This time around, we are engaged, aware and empowered, and believe that our vote should be earned and not expected,” the group said in a joint statement.

The group's mission started on January 11th, 2011, with the #IfNaijaVotes donate your status initiative, prompting Nigerians across the globe to voice their predictions on the nation’s prospects if free and fair elections are held. The group now seeks to further educate the Nigerian youth on the missions and motives of presidential aspirants and will continue to collaborate on various initiatives to drive voter awareness and participation. More details on participating groups for the initiative can be found on our website, www.whataboutusnigeria.org or Facebook page, www.facebook.com/whataboutusnigeria.
###

Vote or Quench (www.VoteorQuench.org) is a social media-driven, grassroots campaign created to empower, engage and involve Nigerian youth - at home and in the Diaspora –in the political process.

EnoughisEnough Nigeria (www.eienigeria.com) is a coalition of individuals and youth organizations committed to instituting a culture of good governance and public accountability in Nigeria through advocacy, activism and the mobilization of the youth population as responsible citizens. The coalition includes The Future Project, Light Up Nigeria, Paradigm Initiative and Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND).

Nigeria Leadership Initiative (www.NLI-Global.org) is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. It is a platform for credible, accomplished and uniquely patriotic Nigerians to develop and express values-based leadership skills with the aim of assuming a transformative role in the continuous development of Nigeria.

Sleeves Up! (www.SleevesUp.org) is a non-governmental, non-profit and non-partisan organization that presents a platform for the millions of young Nigerians across the nation and beyond that are tired of just “talking the talk”; young Nigerians ready to “walk the walk”. Our mission is to continuously plan, implement and sustain projects that will enable us build a solid network of like-minded young Nigerians who are resolved to being MASTERS of change not VICTIMS of change.
W
angonet (www.Wangonet.org) provides intellectual and ICT resources to NGOs, media, educational and cultural institutions, private sector clients.
Culture Shock: Nigerians in America (www.CultureShockNigerians.com) Hosted by Abimbola Ishola and Kunle Ayodeji, is a new talk radio show airing on Splash 105.5 FM in various Nigerian cities connecting Nigerians in Nigeria to Nigerians in America like never before.

Nneka Egbuna (www.NnekaWorld.com) Globally acclaimed Nigerian singer/songwriter.

Nigerian Diaspora Electoral Reform Group (www.NDERG.org) a US-based, non-profit non-governmental organization whose main aim is to work with Nigerians and friends of Nigeria within and outside of Nigeria towards participating in the political, social and electoral reforms in the country.

Tiwa Works (www.TiwaWorks.com) is an international marketing, promotions, and event planning firm that reaches across the 3 continents of North America, Europe and Africa.

Celebrate Progress Africa (www.CP-Africa.com) chooses to celebrate what is right about Africa. Through partnerships with organizations online and on the ground, they hope to create a paradigm shift amongst Africans everywhere and offer a space for inspiration and creativity.
Nigeria for Nigerians (www.Facebook.com/NigeriansforNigeria) Everything about Nigeria and Nigerians. Nigeria for Nigerians believe in the simple premise that Nigeria’s future is up to Nigerians.

Last Plane to Lagos (www.LastPlanetoLagos.com) is an online magazine featuring Events, Culture, Lifestyle, Music and Fashion by creative minds of African origin.

The Nigerian Eagle (www.theNigerianEagle.com) unites Nigerians around the world of all ages for the purpose of sharing opinions, views, beliefs, and suggested solutions for our country’s progress – then to educate and unite the next generation of Nigerians around the world to share their opinions, increase their interest and enlighten them of the great historical and present facts of our great Nation.

Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (www.yiaga.org) YAIA is a Jos-based youth-led non-governmental, non-political and non-religious organization that systematically aims to promote democracy and foster active youth participation in democratic and good governance processes.

Chiedu Ifeozo (www.ChieduIfeozo..com) Renowned Nigerian writer & poet.

Nosarieme Garrick
Kola Oyeneyin
Kemdi Ebi
+234.803.490.9906
+234.706.536.1461
+1.646.504.8457
info@whataboutusnigeria.org

http://saharareporters.com/press-release/what-about-us-nigerian-youth-organizations-ask-nigerian-presidential-candidates-debate

Nigeria Village Square Editorial

Wrist-Slapping Rogues for Votes:
Bode George Goes Home Free

Written by The NVS StandPoint
Monday, 28 February 2011 15:29

Convicted rogue, Bode George is out of prison and there was so much pomp and pageantry you would think another Nelson Mandela had been freed from Robben Island. Bode George's release from prison was recorded live on television, he was resplendent in rich robes, and men, women, and children came out in aso ebi regalia to welcome home a convict. There was singing, dancing and nonstop jubilation. There was even a church thanksgiving service. We understand that former president Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan made themselves available to receive and presumably congratulate him on his illustrious graduation from prison. A nation’s leadership doesn’t sink lower than this.


For those who may have forgotten, Mr. Bode George, a revered chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was convicted in October 2009 on 47 counts of illegal award of contracts worth N84 billion while he was chairman of the NPA. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment without an option of fine - the latest in a pattern selective wrist-slapping for the corrupt elite such as Tafa Balogun, Lucky Igbinedion and Cecilia Ibru. Bode George is said to have lived the life of a prince in "jail" and he may have forgotten how and why he was in jail in the first place.

The PDP owes the Nigerian people an explanation and an apology for their odious and disgraceful behavior. In one fell swoop, they have exceeded the excesses of the First Republic a thousand times. Soon, Nigeria may well be the first nation on earth where honesty and hard work are illegal and criminal. Already, those noble traits earn anyone foolish enough to practice them the opprobrium and ridicule of fellow Nigerians. Our so-called leaders practice all of the evil traits that we tell children to disavow: Corruption, stealing, state-sanctioned murder, nepotism, laziness, and criminal neglect of institutions that were set up to take care of our people and our nation. This is just not right; it is inexcusable. Things are getting to a head and we are, to say the least, appalled.

What is even more frightening is an emerging trend of early release of rogues to garner votes. Recently, Senator Teslim Folarin was similarly sprung from prison in order to help our rulers garner votes in the PDP primaries. Now Bode George is being welcomed with pomp in order to help get votes in April elections. We shudder to think what would happen if the government of the day manages to "extradite" Mr. James Ibori from justice abroad. That celebration would be something.

What just happened is a travesty and President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP ought to be ashamed of what they have turned our nation into.

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18008&Itemid=46

Power outage disrupts oil, gas conference

Energy UpdatesFeb 22, 2011

BY HECTOR IGBIKIOWUBO, CLARA NWACHUKWU & YEMIE ADEOYE

ABUJA— power outage at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, cut short the proceedings of the opening ceremony by President Goodluck Jonathan, of Nigeria’s biggest industry annual exhibitions yesterday.
The power outage, which occurred twice during the proceedings, forced participants to immediately leave the conference hall, thereby breaching protocol, as Mr President, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah, was still seated, waiting to declare the conference open.
Ironically, the Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Way, and the Chairman, Presidential Taskforce on Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, were also seated to the embarrassment of all present.
Power troubles began half way into the programme, when the lights went out briefly the first time, and it was dismissed casually by the Master of Ceremony, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, who jokingly said, “This is a testimony that the power sector needs the oil and gas industry assistance, the minister is here to ask for gas to power the thermal stations and we are going to give him more gas.”
However, at the second outage, it became obvious that the situation could no longer be dismissed casually, as after several minutes of waiting, the lights could not come back, thereby, underscoring the crisis situation in Nigeria’s power sector, which former president, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, constantly toyed with the idea of declaring an emergency situation in the power sector, but could not get round to it until his death last year.
Incidentally, the Chairman of the UK-based, CWC Associates, organisers of the event, Dr. Alierro Parra, in his welcome address, had noted that the Jonathan’s administration had achieved two major milestones since assuming office, one of which is the on-going reforms of the power sector, through the enunciation of the Power Sector roadmap to tackle the seemingly endemic challenges in the powers sector. He said the other milestone is the signing of the Nigerian Content Development Act 2010, saying that these policies “will have a great impact on the Nigerian economy.”
In his keynote address, President Jonathan, said the major thrust of his economic policy was to achieve a greater linkage between the oil and gas industry, which contributed over 90 percent of the national revenue, but only about 30 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, with other sectors of the economy, particularly power, to fast-track the national vision of Nigeria becoming one of the 20, biggest economies by Year 2020, under the Vision 20: 2020.
According to him, Vision 20:2020 requires government to utilize oil and gas revenues in a more sustainable manner and also use oil revenues to develop other sectors of the economy.”
He said this is why his administration had put in place the enabling environment to attract private investments in the power sector and other major downstream infrastructures, adding that such investments “requires effective collaboration between the public and private sectors.”
The president also gave the assurance that the contentious Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, would be passed before the expiration of this tenure, adding that when passed into law, the bill will “ensure a levl field for all stakeholders and transparency … by providing a stable competitive framework for the industry.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/02/power-outage-disrupts-oil-gas-conference/

IMO JUDGE’S KIDNAP: CJ summons judges

NewsFeb 28, 2011

By CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI – CHIEF Judge of Imo State, Justice Benjamin Ahanonu Njemanze, yesterday, summoned an emergency meeting of all the serving judges in the state following the abduction of a serving High Court judge, Justice Theophilus Ugwu and the gruesome murder of his driver and police orderly.
One of the judges who attended the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity, not only confirmed the development but also affirmed that they were briefed about what befell their colleague.
He, however, bluntly resisted being drawn into saying whether the courts would continue to sit or not, in the face of what he described as “the huge security challenge facing serving High Court Judges in the state”.
His words: “Judges met last weekend at the instance of the Chief Judge. We were told about what happened to our colleague. Honestly, I am afraid of my personal safety but what can I do? A lot of us went Sunday afternoon to condole with the family of our kidnapped colleague.” Another judge who also refused to be mentioned, affirmed that he was “scared stiff since the brazen kidnap of my colleague and murder of his driver and police orderly.”
He added: “Where do we go from here? If a driver and police orderly could be killed in cold blood, what is the use going out with them? These are strange times and only God can save us.”
Meanwhile, Imo State Police Command has described the kidnap of the judge and murder of his driver and orderly as “damnable and heinous.”
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu, who made the feelings of his Command known in an exclusive telephone interview with Vanguard, Sunday evening, also said that his men were already on the trail of the fleeing kidnappers.
Maishanu said: “The kidnap of the Judge is damnable and most unacceptable to the Command. Similarly, the gruesome murder of the Judge’s driver and orderly is heinous, whichever way you may look at it.”
Fleeing hoodlums
Answering another question, the Imo police boss reaffirmed that his “men are already after the fleeing hoodlums and it may not be long before the long arms of the law catches up with them”.
While saying that he was not aware if the kidnappers had made any contact with members of their victim’s family, the CP, however, said that the remains of the Judge’s driver and orderly have been deposited in a hospital morgue.
The commissioner noted: “We have moved the remains of the police orderly and driver to the mortuary. We have also informed the families of the deceased citizens. We are assuring the people that the police will definitely apprehend the hoodlums.”
When contacted, yesterday, on what the Police High Command in Abuja was doing on the abduction of the judge, the command said that it will react today.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/02/imo-judges-kidnap-cj-summons-judges/

Bode George’s Return In The Eyes Of The People

SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2011 00:00 BY ARMSFREE AJANAKU ONOMO NEWS - METRO


ON this hot and sunny afternoon, Marina, and the streets adjoining it stood still. For a Saturday, not many had expected that the traffic would be this chaotic. The taxi driver conveying the reporter cursed under his breath as he tried to navigate through the maze of vehicles that had clogged the whole stretch of the bridge. “All dis problem just because of man wen return from prison,” he spat.

From the bridge, one could get a panoramic view of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, where the thanksgiving service for Chief Olabode George held. George, the former South West Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was released from prison yesterday, after completing his jail term.

The driver laughed derisively, shook his head pitifully as he pointed in the direction of the church. From that vantage point, an OB van belonging to the Africa Independent Television loomed large. “So dem go show dis tin wey dem dey do so for TV,” he queried. By now, he had stopped driving; his gaze was now fastened on the direction of the church. “Dis country no fit ever good again,” he declared with a tone of finality.

Having remained on the same spot for close to 20 minutes, the reporter hopped on an okada, thus parting ways with the flabbergasted cab driver.

Just in front of the church, the tumultuous nature of events, gave the misleading impression that a Nobel Prize winner was being welcomed back home. Traders, bus drivers, and others doing business in the area came out in large number to stare morosely as the convoys of siren blaring cars kept arriving, and departing the venue.

At different spots, pockets of fights were going on between young men over how to share some bundles of money that had been thrown at them by arriving and departing dignitaries. Blocking a portion of the road leading to the church were parked buses, which conveyed supporters of the PDP from within Lagos, and different parts of the South West. PDP candidates contesting for different positions in the April polls were fully represented. Their supporters held up banners and posters welcoming Bode George back.

From the inscriptions on the vests they wore, one could glean an attempt to reinterpret Bode George’s image as an ex-convict. So a good number of the shirts carried messages that described George as the “Joseph of our time.” This was no doubt an allusion to the travails of Joseph in the Bible, who left prison to become Pharaoh’s prime minister. Also, Bode George’s relatively obscure title, “Atona Odua,” which roughly translates to mean the torchbearer of Yorubaland was also on display on the shirts worn by other supporters.

From the crowd gathered outside the church, an attempt to find any hint of opprobrium seemed like looking for an oasis in the desert.

A trader who gave his name as Eze said of the thanksgiving: “He has to thank God, many people went to prison and they never came back. So since he was able to go there and return, it shows that he is a strong man, and he can enjoy whatever he has now.”

Quizzed on Bode George’s status as an ex-con, Eze replied: “You are the one that is thinking about that, at least you can see that so many people, even the former President was here to welcome him. So we in Nigeria do not have time to know whether someone went to jail or not. As long as he has money to spend, people will continue to worship him.”

For some of those who travelled all the way to be part of the event, the motive was political. One of them who said he came in from Oyo State to attend the event said; “You are a journalist, and you can see for yourself how much people love this man. Whatever happened to him is in the past, and he is willing to start a new life, so let nobody judge him. Nobody is perfect, and that is one thing I want people judging our leader to know.”

However, not everyone rolled over to welcome George. Adebiyi, one of those who attended the service blamed those around George for organising the events for pecuniary gains.

“The truth must be said; all these things they are doing are worthless. This man’s life cannot remain the same again, and everyone here knows it. Even, the preachers said it during the service, that Bode George must now change his ways and dedicate himself to God. All this celebration you are seeing is the handiwork of those who want to make some money, using George’s name because I do not believe that a man who has been behind bars for two years would have the energy to start organising big things like we are seeing.

“I think what the man needs now is more sober reflection because giving the impression that he is celebrating, like we are being made to believe now, amounts to sending the wrong message that it pays to do the wrong thing.”

Back at Lugard Avenue in Ikoyi, where PDP members and other well wishers returned for the reception, it was another round of pushing and shoving amidst drumming and singing by scores of praise singers. They hundreds of people that turned up at the reception jostled for food and drinks, just as a fuji musician remained on standby to entertain the guests.

A young man, who runs a barber’s shop in Luggard Avenue described Bode George as a man who mingles well with everyone in the neighbourhood. Asked what he felt about the ex-prisoner’s return, he said: “There is no problem; he is back now, and he can continue enjoying his money. At least they did not take away any of his properties, so he has not really lost anything.”

http://guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39919:bode-georges-return-in-the-eyes-of-the-people&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558

Fanfare Over Bode George’s Release Sparks Outrage

Posted: February 27, 2011 - 00:50


By SaharaReporters, New York

Convicted Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Olabode George, was released from Kirikiri prison today—to a festive reception organized by PDP officials as well as hangers-on.

An inmate at Kirikiri told SaharaReporters that other ex-convicts jailed with George left the prison as early 5:30 am but the PDP chieftain decided to wait until his rented crowd had arrived before departing the prison premises.

Mr. George’s release and the subsequent fanfare that greeted it has led to outrage amongst Nigerians who instantly began a text message campaign condemning the party and political leaders who organized a church reception for him.

A Lagos high court judge had sentenced Mr. George to a two-year jail term after convicting him on multiple corruption charges. The court found Mr. George and five other members of the board of the Nigerian Port Authority guilty of contract inflation and embezzlement.

One Lagos-based lawyer described the celebration of Mr. George’s release as “obscene and shameless.”


The celebration triggered a viral flood of Blackberry messages. The message read: [b]"Fellow Nigerians, as we speak, Bode George, erstwhile and convicted chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, is being released from jail after serving 2 year jail sentence. Ordinarily this would not attract any attention but for the pomp and fanfare that is being currently displayed by some shameless people as if he's coming back from somewhere else but jail. PDP flags are flying all over the place, I gathered that even Mr. President has said his party, the PDP, will send a high powered delegation to welcome him.

“This has shown that neither Jonathan nor PDP is interested in stamping out corruption in this country. It is clear now that only the citizens of this country can free themselves from the shackles of corruption and under-development. Tell everybody you know to do whatever they can legitimately to frustrate this shameless display of insensitivity.

“The message these vipers are sending to the youths of this country is that corruption pays and that it is okay to steal public funds and abuse position of trust."[/b]

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/fanfare-over-bode-george%E2%80%99s-release-sparks-outrage

Akintola advocates death penalty for corrupt Nigerians

Written by Taiwo Olanrewaju

Monday, 28 February 2011

CHIEF Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) has said that death sentence should be inserted in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt and Other Related Practices Commission (ICPC) Acts as penalty for any public officer, contractor, professional or private citizen found guilty of official corruption by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Akintola, who delivered the 2010 Annual Alumni Lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), on Friday, said he had taken pain to study the average Nigerian elite and discovered that, “He has no shame. He doesn’t resign from public office, even in the face of glaring allegations of graft and abuse of office against him. However, he does not want to die. He fears death.”

Speaking on the topic, “Corruption and the Rule of Law, whither Nigeria?”, at the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Akintola noted that, “the little stinkers who steal the nation blind” cannot be up to 10,000 in a country of over 140 million people.

“We can afford to lose them. We can afford to do without them. There is enough for everybody’s need in this country but not enough for everybody’s greed. Let us rise up, therefore, to blow the whistle on them. Smoke and fish them out,” he stated.

The legal luminary, therefore, called on Nigerians to join hands together to confront and destroy the stinkers before they destroy “our common wealth and nationhood.”

Akintola, who said these corrupt Nigerians were everywhere — in commerce, industry, politics, civil service, military, legal profession, media, the church, the mosque, and indeed the entire fiber of the society, admitted that though they were few, they were very powerful, adding, however, that they were not as powerful as God and the will of the people.

The Senior Advocate, who is also a human rights activist and a social crusader, said corruption included all illegal and immoral exercise of powers, advantages, and or privileges, while the rule of law, which could serve as a check against the abuse of power was different from the rule by law, which operates in Nigeria and which serves as a mere tool for a government that suppressed in a legalistic fashion.

On the way forward, the legal luminary said there was the need for a synergy and or collaboration between the EFCC and ICPC, the Code of Conduct, the NDLEA, the Customs the Immigration, the tax board at all levels and professional bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Taxation, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Institute of Auditors, the Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers and the Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Sociologists and Criminologists in the universities.

That, he said, was necessary to stop political office seekers who are fond of making anticipatory declarations of assets.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, the chairman of the occasion, himself an alumnus, urged all alumni present at the occasion to invest in the Alumni Association and contribute to the development of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/18146-akintola-advocates-death-penalty-for-corrupt-nigerians