₦airaland Forum

My nominees are as follow:
Best APGA Governor: Rochas Okorocha
Best ACN Governor:Dr Fayemi
PDP doesnt have any good governor

Following a motion moved by Senator Andy Uba,the senate on Thursday unanimously agreed that Dim Ojukwu was a great Nigeria leader,nationalist and a patriot,hence,they all supported the motion.
I think Nigeria is getting it right these days,with this honor,I think Dim Ojukwu will finally rest in Peace.Adiu Ezeigbo gburugburu and well-done Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria

Siasia not qualified to manage Eagles -Yakubu

Olufemi Atoyebi

Super Eagles estranged forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni says coach Samson Siasia is not good enough to coach Nigeria and should be sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation.



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Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup after playing 2-2 with Guinea at the National Stadium, Abuja last Saturday. Yakubu who has a frosty relationship with the coach told Brila fm that Siasia's time as Eagles coach had caused a setback for Nigeria.

He said, "As a football player you want your country to play in big competitions. Some of these players may not know what they are missing until January when the competition will start."

Yakubu says it is normal for players to miss chances but coaches must strive to strike a winning strategy.

"The Eagles attack is okay but you find it difficult to perform under pressure. I can remember when I lost that goal at the World Cup people were like saying why did you miss that. We should be patient with the players."

Calling for the sack of Siasia, the Balckburn Rovers attacker said no Nigerian coach had done so poorly.

"When you don't get the result, the coach has to go, that is football. Siasia's tenure as coach of the team is poor when you compare his time with coaches like Shaibu Amodu and Christian Chukwu. Nigeria should look for another coach. Stephen Keshi is there, he can do the job."

In what appears to be subtle indictment of the Congress for Political Change (CPC), presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), for the post 2011 elections that erupted in some parts of the country, the Federal Government investigation panel on the 2011 Election Violence and Civil Disturbances, during it’s presentation of final report to President Goodluck Jonathan said ethno-religious sentiments, negative campaigns and rumour mongering placed a big part in the crisis.

The chairman of the committee, Dr. Sheik Ahmed Lemu, during the presentation yesterday at the State House, Abuja, blamed some politicians including Buhari for the post 2011 elections violence that erupted in some parts of the country.
However, he added that the committee, not being a judicial panel, avoided indicting any individual or group.

The report of the panel which was turned in exactly five months the panel was constituted, attributed the violence, partly to the statement credited to the former military leader shortly before the election that voters should “guard their votes.”
The report also blamed successive regimes for not acting on past reports on violence and civil disturbances, by bringing perpetrators to book, noting that it facilitated the widespread of impunity by perpetrators of crimes and violence in the Nigerian society.

Other factors listed by the committee include the desire for change as a result of failure on the part of successive regimes to tackle various challenges facing the country.
The next major cause of violence and disturbances, according to the report, is the lucrative nature of political office in the country.
According to Lemu, “With regard to the remote and immediate causes of the election violence and civil disturbances, they are many. However, I crave the indulgence and patience of Your Excellency to allow me to mention a few of the major ones together with their consequences.
“The first and probably the most important major cause is the failure on the part of the previous successive regimes since the military handover of power in 1999 to implement the recommendations of various committees, commissions and panels that had taken place in our nation. That failure facilitated the widespread sense of impunity in the culprits and perpetrators of crimes and violence in the Nigerian society.

“We recommend to Your Excellency to order security agencies to fish out culprits of violence for prosecution. Your Excellency should also revisit those previous recommendations like the ones contained in the following reports.
1. Babalakin Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Bauchi State Civil Disturbances
2. Karibi Whyte Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Kafanchan Disturbances
3. Niki Tobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Plateau State Disturbances
4. Justice Snakey Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Wase and Langtang Disturbances
5. Justice Disu Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Plateau State Disturbances
6. Professor Tamuno Panel of Inquiry on National Security
7. Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

“People indicted by the committees and commissions concerned should be prosecuted. These recommendations are based on what the panel observed from many victims of those previous disturbances which are nursing reprisals and have only been waiting for the slightest excuse to move into action which some of them did during the 2011 election violence and civil disturbances
“The second major cause of the recent electoral violence was the existing widespread desire for change as a result of frustration and disappointment of many members of the general public regarding the inability of the successive past regimes to solve the problems of electricity power failure nationwide, deplorable state of federal government roads throughout the nation, bribery and corruption which have virtually been legitimized in all affairs of our nation.
Thus with regard to the remedy of bribery and corruption, we recommend that the Heads of the Three Arms of Government as well as other major stakeholders in Nigeria should come together and agree on the most effective way forward to avoid the impending catastrophe.

“Similarly, general insecurity of life and property in people’s houses and on the highways and kidnappings are fuel to the fire of public frustration and disappointment. The true state of affairs could escalate to social revolution if preventive measures are not taken in time. In fact, the current sporadic demonstrations in educational institutions and by labour unions are all considered to be signals of more serious negative events to come. This assertion could be verified for your Excellency by the security agencies.

“The next major cause of violence and disturbances is the manner in which political office holders have ‘lucratised’ their respective positions at the expense of the whole nation. The panel discovered that the remunerations and allowances of the members of the legislature, in particular, are considered by stakeholders who addressed us or wrote to us about the issue to be outrageous. It has turned politics in Nigeria to a do-or-die affair for which many politicians of all parties are seriously establishing private armies to execute. In that respect, easy access to drugs, serious general poverty at the grassroots level and youth unemployment, in particular, are providing many foot soldiers ready for recruitment at a cheap rate. The security agencies could verify this assertion also.

“Generally speaking, the basic cause of the violence in nearly all the communities concerned is political. Ethno-religious sentiments were brought into the issue through negative campaigns and rumour mongering by unscrupulous individuals to achieve their ulterior motives.
“Similarly, the zoning controversy, which started basically as an internal political affairs of the ruling party, ultimately changed the nature of the presidential election into ethno-religious contest in the country particularly in the northern states.

“Provocative utterances by many individuals and the widespread charge by prominent politicians including the CPC presidential candidate to the electorate ‘to guard their votes’ appeared to have been misconstrued by many voters to include recourse to violence which they did. However, a long interactive session was held with the CPC presidential candidate and five member delegation of the panel, led by the chairman, in the office of the CPC presidential candidate in Kaduna on 14th September 2011. It was discovered that he himself was a victim of the violence and of the destruction of his property the photographs of which were given to the said delegation.

“For all the causes identified by the panel, the declining spirit of God consciousness and of accountability before God, very low moral standard as well as social indiscipline in the Nigerian society are all considered to be the major facilitating factors.
“Although in the opening clause of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria we resolved firmly and solemnly “to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God” we failed to make any effective and all embracing provision for the same nation to be God-fearing or conscious of accountability before God. And so, the panel recommended that basic education curriculum in Nigeria should henceforth contain - as a compulsory learning material for all the students - the moral values of God fearing and of accountability before God which are derived from the Islamic and Christian teachings as well as civic and cultural orientation in line with section 23 of the Nigerian Constitution.

“With regard to weapons used, they are largely knives, axes, cutlasses, clubs and similar objects in the northern states. However, in Akwa Ibom there was a tide of illegal flow of sophisticated weapons into the state, which were used in the violence. Thus we recommend strict enforcement of all the laws and regulations concerning use and trafficking of illegal arms while negligence on the part of the security agencies should be severely sanctioned to act as a deterrent. Further recommendations on the issue of arms control are contained in Chapter 5 (Volume 2) of the Main Report.
“Considering that the panel is not a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, we avoided going beyond our jurisdiction to indict any individual or group of individuals. However, we presented the critical cases together with the supporting DVDs and relevant documents in a manner that security agencies could follow up to reveal more facts about the cases concerned and take appropriate actions.

The Panel also considered many other matters incidental to the unrest and gave recommendations which constitute Chapter Six in Volume 2 of the main report. Thus, the government should review the roles of the National Orientation Agency and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for more effectve public elightemnent , politically, socially and economically.
“We also considered the need to localise responsibility for purposes of preventive retribution. Thus, it is recommended that government should follow the example of Adamawa State which has made law to deduct for loss of life or damage to property from the fund allocation of the Local Government Area where communal violence may occur in the future”.

President Jonathan who commended the panel for a job well done assured that government was going to act on their recommendations and issue a white paper so that perpartrators of violence will face the law.
“We thank members of the committee for what you have done, it is not easy to accept such responsibilities and I believe most of you were advised by some members of your families why you choose to risk your life, if it is something that will bring money will they remember you? But all of you have agreed and have served this nation.

“What all of you have done is an important assignment the document you have given to us is not just an important document but are very critical and relevant to our political history as a nation. I know quiet a number of researchers will come and look for this to enrich some of their write ups.
“I won’t say much but I have to thank you for your comprehensive speech, the speech itself is almost like a summary of what we will get from the report. I am indeed happy that you have looked at a number of areas, I am also happy that you have discussed with wide range of people, almost all the people that matters, all the key people you wanted to contact.

“Let me use this privilege to thank those who voluntarily discuss with you, gave you the information you required especially the party leaders and senior government functionaries, private sector operatives who voluntarily, willingly discussed with you and gave you their own perspective of the cause of the crisis.
“I agree with you that ignorance must have some of the basis of this crisis because looking at the result of the election, the states that I lost the election Kano and Bauchi where I had the least 16, 17 per cent were the ones that had most crisis.

“And that is why even if your recommendation you did not prescrib punshiment but your report is there for other government organs to look into. I am also more interested in the preventive aspect of the recommendation than the punishment aspect. Yes people who commit offences must face the laws of the land but how do we prevent subsequent occurrence is the key thing that is dear to me.
“When we were to conduct the election I said we will try and conduct an election that will be free and fair, at least internationally it has been accepted unfortunately we had this ugly incident.

“My interest is that in 2015 elections and beyond what must we do to make sure that what we experienced don’t happen again. I am quiet pleased you concentrated in that area. You raised the issues bothering on power sector because without power you cannot empower people economically, the economic situation, the roads, corruption and other issues, all these lead to one thing that if the economy improves and if people can go to school, surely some of these ugly incidences will be minimized and I agree with you.

“The social issues, of course you mentioned something bothering on compensation we will look at it. You also mentioned the national orientation agency, we have been discussing we have to strengthen that agency to work closely with the ministry of information because government has a number of radio and TV stations in every state and we believe they should be able to use these stations to engage to enlighten and educate Nigerians on security.
“I assure you we will follow your recommendations. You did mention that some of the problems are that when recommendations are made to government, government hardly implement them. They will make speeches, make pronouncements, then the media will carry it then lock them up, though some recommendations may be difficult for implementations.”

But we have decided that even in the Jos crisis in fact just this morning I was saying to the Secretary to Government of the Federation, we have set up a committee we are going to look at all the recommendations and we must issue white papers heavens will not fall. Until government has the political will and encourage to do what is right no matter how painful it will be, the culture of impunity will continue and we want to reduce that culture of impunity so we will look at your recommendation, the Federal Executive Council will look at it and come out with a white paper”

‘Any day Igbo go militant, Nigeria will cease to exist'
From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

Sunday, October 2, 2011

The Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), a group that has remained consistent in championing the cause of Igbo people in Nigeria, was at the thick of the recent and controversial arrest and detention of the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and scores of his followers. Rather than frustrate the efforts of the group, which marked its 12 anniversary in Enugu, the action of the police and other security agencies helped in bringing to the fore the significance of the event, which was to honour former Biafra warlord and Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, as an outstanding Igbo man.


Uwazuruike, MASSOB leader


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Uwazuruike had noted, on the occasion, that no government in the South East or Nigeria has ever thought it wise to honour the Igbo leader, who is currently recuperating in a London Hospital. Thus was the significance of the Enugu IYM award to Ojukwu.

In this exclusive interview, the national president of IYM, Comrade Elliot Uko, said his group has no regrets over what happened. He explained the importance of the award to Igbo nation. He also spoke on the continued marginalisation of Igbo in Nigeria among other things.

Do you have regrets that it was at your event that MASSOB members were arrested?

We see what happened as part of the struggle. My organization and I have suffered such things in the past 12 years. The attack on our 12th anniversary is just one of the things we take in our strides. We have been slandered; we have been persecuted; my phones have been bugged; my cars have been bugged; my businesses have been attacked, and on a particular year armed robbers attacked my wife’s shop 16 times in a year, all to impoverish me and to kill IYM. They believe that if they impoverish me then IYM will die; I have suffered worse things. I even fight spiritually (raises his clothes to show odd marks on his body). This one was just immediately after the anniversary event. So what happened is just one of those things.

How do you see the arrest?

I want to tell you that the reason the police commissioner sent policemen and they came and arrested MASSOB members and took them away is because they know that there is no militant group in Igbo land. Igbo people are superior; we are wise, and we are gentlemen; we know that violence doesn’t help. They did that because they know there is no violence group in Igbo land. If the MASSOB members were armed, police will not come to arrest them. Our 12th anniversary was a peaceful event. The previous day, we held thanksgiving services; the next day we wanted to honour people we thought have made sacrifices for Ndigbo. It was peaceful; MASSOB members were not armed, but the police moved in and took them away. After the event, their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, went to ask why his boys were arrested; they detained him. The reason is because they know that there is no militant group in Igbo-land. But let me warn; the day any Igbo group will take up arms, that will be the end of Nigeria. The last time Ndigbo took up arms, 44 years ago, we saw what happened. They were angry when they saw headless bodies arriving Enugu railway station from the North. The whole world stood still for 30 months.

Nigeria lost her innocence, lost her soul, lost two million souls, ceded Bakassi peninsula and lost it forever, signed off our oil for so many years to a particular colonial government, which accounted for only 10% of oil they stole from Nigeria for more than 40 years. We lost everything; and that was 44 years ago; other people can say they are militants, they bombed UN building, they bombed oil facilities, and they bombed police stations, but let me tell you, the day any Igbo group takes up arms again will be the end of Nigeria. So Nigeria should thank their stars that the groups in Igboland have decided not to be militant; we just want Nigeria to move forward.country missed opportunities and destroyed opportunities; this country wasted resources for more than four decades. Fifty years ago, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, South Korea, all of them were behind Nigeria, in every indices. Today, they are very much ahead. It is time now to rebuild Nigeria and that is why Igbo’s voted for Jonathan.

Why the award?

Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is a unique man; he is recuperating in a London hospital. Let me give you a testimony: For more than 15 years, he was the only Igbo man who will call me at odd hours and summon me when Igbo people are killed in Bauchi, Kano or Jos. He will tell me to find out how many people died, their names, state of origin, if possible. He would plead with me to issue a statement condemning those killings; he was worried about the lives of Ndigbo; no other Igbo man ever cared. In fact, what they will do is to hide under the bed because they don’t want to offend their northern friends. Ojukwu is unique. I testify that he cares about Ndigbo. The other gentlemen who were also honoured are people who have shown the IYM that they cared about Ndigbo

Why do you think the South East governors have refused to honour Ojukwu?

That’s why I told you that the PDP government, in the past 12 years, has been a disaster; Ndigbo are not PDP; Ndigbo despise PDP; the only reason PDP survived the last election was that they presented a very meek, educated presidential candidate and Ndigbo believed in him and voted him; that was what saved PDP. The only reason Ndigbo voted PDP in 1999 was because Dr. Alex Ekwueme was there. When fellow Nigerians shot him down at Jos convention, he quickly congratulated Obasanjo, the winner of that primary; so Ndigbo still maintained part of their sympathy for PDP. But PDP is a big disappointment.

What hope for Igbo now that Ojukwu is getting older and weaker?

The younger generations are aware that Ndigbo must get justice. What has happened between 1999 and 2000, which we call Igbo renaissance, was an awakening of consciousness; Ndigbo have realised that our potentials have been caged in an ungodly manner, by enemies of Ndigbo and we are ready to release ourselves. Believe it, in the next decade or so Igbo-land will be transformed to the Dubai of West Africa.

You talked about Igbo support for Jonathan; has he done anything to show he appreciates this support?

I agree with you that Ndigbo are yet to see any signs of a new beginning, a process to begin the fulfillment of any one of the many promises President Jonathan gave during his campaign at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu; at Owerri, at Aba township stadium, at Umuahia, at Abakaliki and everywhere he went in Igbo land. They include a coal-powered independent power station in this region, second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, seaport in Onitsha, upgrading the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport to become a functional International Airport. It is sensible for me to respect my president and believe him; it will be unfair if I doubt the words pronounced by my president. I should believe him and the ball is in his court to take action, so that we would see work going on. There is no time to waste; we want to see construction going on in Onitsha. I want to see the Enugu International airport functional. I want my people to travel from here to China and Dubai direct from Igbo-land, which was deliberately denied us by successive governments; we want begin to see those things now; that’s what we want so that it can reinforce our faith in President Jonathan.

Why, in your thinking, are Igbo suffering in Nigeria?

The reason the Igbo have suffered over the years is not because of the selfishness of some Igbo leaders but a deliberate policy of wickedness meted out on Ndigbo by past governments since 1970. Everything was done to exclude the Igbo man; everything was deliberately done to punish the Igbo man. In the location of universities in the early 70s the Igbo lost. There were University of Port Harcourt, University of Calabar and University of Benin, University of Jos. Igboland was excluded. When Federal polytechnics were being sited, Igboland was excluded; when they wanted to site projects, like Ajaokuta Steel, Alaja Steel and NAFCON Fertilizer in Port Harcourt, everything was done to exclude Igboland. Everything in Nigeria has always been done to exclude Ndigbo and punish them for fighting the war; it’s man inhumanity to man. The creation of local government was deliberately skewed against Ndigbo. Jigawa and Kano States have more local governments than the entire South-East of Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi put together. There are states in the North with 1.7 million population, but they have 12 members in the House of Representatives.

There are states in Igbo-land with 3.7 million population represented by only eight members in the House of Reps. Even the delineation of federal constituencies was deliberately done to deny Ndigbo fair representation. In state creation Igbo-land with over 45 million were caged in only five states out 36; 45 million Ndigbo are more than one-third of Nigeria but they are caged into five states only, out of 36 states. That is man’s inhumanity to man and the principal architect of this wickedness against Ndigbo is Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. He’s the man who created the states and deliberately denied Ndigbo her fair shares. Babangida engineered all the problems we are going through today. In September 1987, 24 years ago, he created two states and announced that he had closed with state creation; that he would not create any more state. He created Akwa Ibom from Cross River and Katsina from Kaduna. He knew from census reports that Ndigbo constituted 69% of the population of the old Eastern Region and that our brothers from the minority constituted 31%. He gave them a third state. He gave 31% of the old Eastern region, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers and then left 69% of old Eastern region in only Anambra and Imo; that is the height of wickedness.

The problem Ndigbo are going through is that the state of Nigeria has refused to give them justice, holding us down, not knowing that when you are holding somebody down you are holding yourself.

Yes, it could be correct that Igbo leaders have not carried themselves well but the crux of the problem is that our fellow countrymen hate us with so much passion, deny us dues, and deny us our rights, which was the only reason Ndigbo voted Jonathan to correct those things. And if Jonathan disappoints Ndigbo, believe me, Ndigbo do not forgive any leader who disappoints them. You can ask Ukpabi Asika. The only reason the Igbo masses rose up and voted for Jonathan was because they believed that he would wipe their tears, that he would begin to address these injustices, that he will begin to implement immediately a policy of affirmative action to redress the many long years of neglect and oppression in Igbo-land. Igbo-land is barren; completely barren; when young men graduates they migrate out to Lagos, Abuja and elsewhere; nothing is here. We believe that President Jonathan would correct it because we believe he will be fair to all the sections of the country. We are not asking Jonathan to face only Igbo-land; we are asking him to be fair to all the sections of this country; if he is fair, then Ndigbo will get justice we have never had justice in the last 40 years.










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Vampa nearly score again now

Goalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll by Vampaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

President Get first media chat is been transmitted live now on Nigeria Television stations courtesy of NTA, So far so good

Panic as alleged bomb found at Ikeja LG
On September 7, 2011 · In News

By Evelyn Usman and Ifeanyin Okolie
Ikeja area of Lagos was, Wednesday, thrown into panic following report of the discovery of substance suspected to a bomb, inside one of the offices in Ikeja Local government.

Staff and those who came for different transactions, rushed out of the building with some car owners abandoning their vehicles as they fled for dear life.



The alleged bomb found at the Ikeja Local Government office in Lagos

A multiple auto crash was also averted as motorists including commercial motorcyclists plying the route hurriedly made u-turn. Traders were not left out as some of them managed to lock up their shops and vacated the area.



Report said the combustive substance was planted and connected to an air conditioner behind the councils’ doctor’s office. It was reportedly discovered by one of the staff who was at the verge of putting on the air conditioner. Unconfirmed reports said bomb experts who arrived the scene later stated that the substance would have exploded if the air conditioner was put on.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Yakubu Alkali, who was having a security meeting with his senior officers at the time of the incident, reportedly drafted some policemen to the scene.

Policemen from the Bomb Disposal Unit who promptly arrived the local government, directed that all vehicles be removed from the premises as they went about their search for the combustive substance which they later discovered.

The Council Secretary who gave his name as Hon. Ayodele told Vanguard that the policemen from bomb squad promised to take the substance to the laboratory to ascertain whether it was an explosive or not.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Samuel Jinadu, who was also at the scene, told journalists that the substance was not an explosive . But he did not state what exactly it was.

Jinadu disclosed that prior to the bomb scare, policemen from Bomb Disposal Unit had gone on awareness campaign on bombs round many institutions in the state.

However, despite assurances by the police that the substance was not bomb, none of the local government staff dared to go inside as they all stayed out of the area for fear of another explosive material. As at the time of going to press, story of the bomb scare had spread all over the city heightening earlier fears that the dreaded Boko Haram group may have finally focused attention in Lagos.

It would be recalled that in the past weeks, rumors of threats by the group to bomb the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos has been on the air with security agents assuring that there was no truth in it.

FORMER Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), allegedly lured former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar into a political battle with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo prior to the 2007 general election, the United States diplomatic mission in Nigeria was quoted to have reported in a dispatch to the States Department.


Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo

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While allegedly secretly encouraging Atiku into a political spat with Obasanjo, Babangida was also at the same time allegedly hobnobbing with Obasanjo with the hope of getting his endorsement for the 2007 presidential contest, according to the United States cable obtained by Wikileaks and downloaded to the internet.

The revelations were the outcome of interactions between US Consul-General in Nigeria at that time, Mr. Brian L. Browne and notable political stakeholders in the country in that period.

Among those in contact with the US senior diplomat was Prof. Ukandi Damachi, allegedly a close confidant of Gen. Babangida and a former staff of the University of Lagos now into private business.

Damachi was, yesterday, said to be out of the country to Geneva, Switzerland.

Associates of Babangida and Atiku preferred not to enter the fray yesterday following the new political unity that was forged between the two men ahead of the 2011 presidential election.

The cables arose from the US mission's observations on the political future of Atiku which the US diplomat reported as dimming on the basis of his troubles with then President Obasanjo.

The leaked American cables disclosed how pro-Obasanjo elements in the administration in 2005 allegedly looked with expectation towards the investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, into the alleged relationship between Atiku and US Congressman William Jefferson with the hope that the investigations would indict Atiku.

In his distress, Atiku, according to the cables, allegedly sought alliance with Babangida, who in turn was said to have promised to secretly support Atiku while at the same time allegedly hobnobbing with Obasanjo with the alleged intention of getting political mileage from the latter.

Extracts from the leaked cables downloaded into the internet pertaining to Obasanjo, Atiku and Babangida reads thus:

Cable S E C R E T LAGOS 001425

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015

TAGS: PGOV PREL NI

SUBJECT: NIGERIAN VP'S POLITICAL FUTURE DIMS

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

1. (S) Summary. A long-standing consulate contact said pro-Obasanjo hardliners in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were eagerly waiting information from the FBI they hoped would incriminate Vice-President Atiku. In his political distress, Atiku is reaching out to former head-of-state Ibrahim Babangida (IBB). The contact, who is close to Babangida, said this is the type of situation in which Babangida thrives. Babangida will secretly support Atiku while informing Obasanjo of some of what Atiku is up to -this way hoping to score points with the President. End

Summary.

2. (S) In a September 1 meeting with the Consul- General, Professor Ukandi Damachi opined the PDP appeared to be moving up its timeline from early next year to right now to dump VP Atiku. He said Obasanjo loyalists believe the FBI's investigation of Congressman Jefferson will unearth evidence of misconduct by VP Atiku. The rumour circulating among the political elite is that the USG will come down hard on Atiku's wife, purportedly a U.S. citizen, for tax evasion.

This should be enough to finish Atiku, Damachi smiled.

3. (S) Atiku has been making overtures to former head-of-state Babangida, Damachi's political boss. Atiku wants to gather anti-Obasanjo allies to form a new political alliance of political heavyweights such as himself and IBB. Of course, IBB's strategem is not as coarse and is more Machiavellian than Atiku's. Damachi said IBB will likely give Atiku assurances of support in hopes of enticing Atiku into battling Obasanjo.

Simultaneously, IBB will also keep his lines open to Obasanjo, informing him of some of Atiku's plans. IBB hopes to keep Obasanjo and Atiku feuding so that they enervate themselves. At the same time, IBB figures he can better position himself in Obasanjo's future political calculations if he is seen as helping Obasanjo by feeding him information on Atiku. Damachi said IBB would begin to perfect this strategy the weekend of September 2-3 when most of the Northern elite, including Atiku, would be attending a series of weddings in Kano. IBB, Damachi said, would encourage Atiku to start his own party as a way of not allowing Obasanjo to bury him and as a way of remaining in the hunt for 2007.

Comment

4. (C) With Atiku under siege, IBB feels he has more room to manoeuver. IBB's instincts are correct but he overestimates his ability to spin this situation to his liking. Both Atiku and Obasanjo are aware of IBB's legerdemain and will not be taken by his expressions of support. Thus, while IBB may enjoy the gamesmanship of political intrigue, his vaunted mastery of the craft has actually restricted his ability to act effectively and will unlikely advance his position appreciably. End comment.

5. This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja.

FORMER Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), allegedly lured former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar into a political battle with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo prior to the 2007 general election, the United States diplomatic mission in Nigeria was quoted to have reported in a dispatch to the States Department.


Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo

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While allegedly secretly encouraging Atiku into a political spat with Obasanjo, Babangida was also at the same time allegedly hobnobbing with Obasanjo with the hope of getting his endorsement for the 2007 presidential contest, according to the United States cable obtained by Wikileaks and downloaded to the internet.

The revelations were the outcome of interactions between US Consul-General in Nigeria at that time, Mr. Brian L. Browne and notable political stakeholders in the country in that period.

Among those in contact with the US senior diplomat was Prof. Ukandi Damachi, allegedly a close confidant of Gen. Babangida and a former staff of the University of Lagos now into private business.

Damachi was, yesterday, said to be out of the country to Geneva, Switzerland.

Associates of Babangida and Atiku preferred not to enter the fray yesterday following the new political unity that was forged between the two men ahead of the 2011 presidential election.

The cables arose from the US mission's observations on the political future of Atiku which the US diplomat reported as dimming on the basis of his troubles with then President Obasanjo.

The leaked American cables disclosed how pro-Obasanjo elements in the administration in 2005 allegedly looked with expectation towards the investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, into the alleged relationship between Atiku and US Congressman William Jefferson with the hope that the investigations would indict Atiku.

In his distress, Atiku, according to the cables, allegedly sought alliance with Babangida, who in turn was said to have promised to secretly support Atiku while at the same time allegedly hobnobbing with Obasanjo with the alleged intention of getting political mileage from the latter.

Extracts from the leaked cables downloaded into the internet pertaining to Obasanjo, Atiku and Babangida reads thus:

Cable S E C R E T LAGOS 001425

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015

TAGS: PGOV PREL NI

SUBJECT: NIGERIAN VP'S POLITICAL FUTURE DIMS

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

1. (S) Summary. A long-standing consulate contact said pro-Obasanjo hardliners in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were eagerly waiting information from the FBI they hoped would incriminate Vice-President Atiku. In his political distress, Atiku is reaching out to former head-of-state Ibrahim Babangida (IBB). The contact, who is close to Babangida, said this is the type of situation in which Babangida thrives. Babangida will secretly support Atiku while informing Obasanjo of some of what Atiku is up to -this way hoping to score points with the President. End

Summary.

2. (S) In a September 1 meeting with the Consul- General, Professor Ukandi Damachi opined the PDP appeared to be moving up its timeline from early next year to right now to dump VP Atiku. He said Obasanjo loyalists believe the FBI's investigation of Congressman Jefferson will unearth evidence of misconduct by VP Atiku. The rumour circulating among the political elite is that the USG will come down hard on Atiku's wife, purportedly a U.S. citizen, for tax evasion.

This should be enough to finish Atiku, Damachi smiled.

3. (S) Atiku has been making overtures to former head-of-state Babangida, Damachi's political boss. Atiku wants to gather anti-Obasanjo allies to form a new political alliance of political heavyweights such as himself and IBB. Of course, IBB's strategem is not as coarse and is more Machiavellian than Atiku's. Damachi said IBB will likely give Atiku assurances of support in hopes of enticing Atiku into battling Obasanjo.

Simultaneously, IBB will also keep his lines open to Obasanjo, informing him of some of Atiku's plans. IBB hopes to keep Obasanjo and Atiku feuding so that they enervate themselves. At the same time, IBB figures he can better position himself in Obasanjo's future political calculations if he is seen as helping Obasanjo by feeding him information on Atiku. Damachi said IBB would begin to perfect this strategy the weekend of September 2-3 when most of the Northern elite, including Atiku, would be attending a series of weddings in Kano. IBB, Damachi said, would encourage Atiku to start his own party as a way of not allowing Obasanjo to bury him and as a way of remaining in the hunt for 2007.

Comment

4. (C) With Atiku under siege, IBB feels he has more room to manoeuver. IBB's instincts are correct but he overestimates his ability to spin this situation to his liking. Both Atiku and Obasanjo are aware of IBB's legerdemain and will not be taken by his expressions of support. Thus, while IBB may enjoy the gamesmanship of political intrigue, his vaunted mastery of the craft has actually restricted his ability to act effectively and will unlikely advance his position appreciably. End comment.

5. This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja.

According to AIt breaking news,Boko Haram has bombed UN office in Abuja and there are a lot of casualties.
I will update you as I get more info

Rebels are besieging apartments where they believe Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and some of his sons are hiding.

Fighting in central Tripoli has continued - as rebels besiege an apartment block where they believe Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and some of his sons are hiding.

Rebels have been exchanging fire with Col Gaddafi troops inside the buildings, near the central Bab al Aziziyah compound.

A fighter said: "They are together. They are in a small hole. Today we will finish. Today we will end that."

Sky's Stuart Ramsay, in Tripoli, said he believed the apartment block was near the east side of the compound and was one of a number of similar buildings.

He said the firefight was "massive" with heavy resistance coming from the buildings.

Ramsay also said there had been a number of casualties and some instances of friendly fire.

Below: Map showing where Col Gaddafi could be hiding in Tripoli.


Breaking News

6:14pm UK, Thursday August 25, 2011
Shootout As Rebel Fighters 'Corner Gaddafi'

318 Comments

Fighting in central Tripoli has continued - as rebels besiege an apartment block where they believe Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and some of his sons are hiding.

Rebels have been exchanging fire with Col Gaddafi troops inside the buildings, near the central Bab al Aziziyah compound.

A fighter said: "They are together. They are in a small hole. Today we will finish. Today we will end that."

Sky's Stuart Ramsay, in Tripoli, said he believed the apartment block was near the east side of the compound and was one of a number of similar buildings.

He said the firefight was "massive" with heavy resistance coming from the buildings.

Ramsay also said there had been a number of casualties and some instances of friendly fire.

Below: Map showing where Col Gaddafi could be hiding in Tripoli.


View Gaddafi Holed Up in a larger map

"I have to say, it is not somewhere I would expect him to be holed up in," he added.

The AP news agency has reported that around 1,000 rebels are taking part in the battle.

Despite the rebels' belief that Col Gaddafi is in Tripoli, there are also suspicions that he may have fled to his hometown of Sirte, which is 250 miles (400km) east of the capital.

The Syrian TV channel Al-Orouba has broadcast an audio tape it claims is Col Gaddafi calling on all tribes to fight "foreign intervention".

In it, he appeals to women and children to help "purify" Tripoli.

The tape ends with Col Gaddafi saying his supporters are the "sweeping majority" and that Libyans need to "destroy" the rebel "rats".

SOURCE:SKYNEWS

A former judge of the Court of Appeal and Chairman, Council of Legal Education,Justice Moronkeji Onalaja, on Sunday advocated the establishment of ecclesiastical courts in Nigeria.

Onalaja said this while delivering the maiden annual lecture of the Cathedral of Saint Jude, Ebute Meta Lagos, titled ‘Christian Ethics and the Rule of Law.’

He said that ecclesiastical courts would help in resolving disputes in Christian fold.

Onalaja said, “If there is a breach of a Christian law for instance and you report to the bishop how is he going to determine whether he is innocent or guilty of the allegation?

“As we have the Islamic law that is enforced by sharia courts in the country then we should allow for the agitation of ecclesiastical courts to be established in the country that would challenge the breach of Christian laws. I think the machinery should be set in motion.”

The guest lecturer also preached love among Christians and Nigerians in general.He also educated the audience at the lecture on the workings of the rule of law for the sustenance of the current democratic experiment and the for the promotion of peace and unity among Nigerians.

He noted with utmost dismay the way and manner in which the impeachment clause in the constitution has been applied since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation.

The programme was sponsored by the Young Men Christian Union in commemoration of the YMCU 70th anniversary.

A former judge of the Court of Appeal and Chairman, Council of Legal Education,Justice Moronkeji Onalaja, on Sunday advocated the establishment of ecclesiastical courts in Nigeria.

Onalaja said this while delivering the maiden annual lecture of the Cathedral of Saint Jude, Ebute Meta Lagos, titled ‘Christian Ethics and the Rule of Law.’

He said that ecclesiastical courts would help in resolving disputes in Christian fold.

Onalaja said, “If there is a breach of a Christian law for instance and you report to the bishop how is he going to determine whether he is innocent or guilty of the allegation?

“As we have the Islamic law that is enforced by sharia courts in the country then we should allow for the agitation of ecclesiastical courts to be established in the country that would challenge the breach of Christian laws. I think the machinery should be set in motion.”

The guest lecturer also preached love among Christians and Nigerians in general.He also educated the audience at the lecture on the workings of the rule of law for the sustenance of the current democratic experiment and the for the promotion of peace and unity among Nigerians.

He noted with utmost dismay the way and manner in which the impeachment clause in the constitution has been applied since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation.

The programme was sponsored by the Young Men Christian Union in commemoration of the YMCU 70th anniversary.

Breaking News!Gadafi's government just announced the recognition of the rioters as the legitimate UK government and labeled Camerons' government as a terrorist and rogue regime, hehehehehehe.Quote me

Those guys don dey eye those cats tete.See life!if na 4 Naija,na poultry farm or melumelu house guys 4 rake,no be this cat shop, Poor guys

The one and only Ikemba himself;Ezeigbo Gburugburu! The best President Nigeria never had.

As for the assertion thast "His popular background and sound education guaranteed his promotion to higher ranks, "This is blatant lies.His family background did not play any role in his military career.
It is an open -secret that when Ikemba want to join the army,his father was against it and when his father eventually agreed that he will join the army,he promised that he will use use connection to make him a commissioned officer but Ikemba declined and joined the army from the rank and file.QED

True Talk.But I must add one thing:IT IS SOONER THAN LATER

True talk.But I must add one thin: IT IS SOONER THAN LATER

‘I foresee Igbo becoming Lagos gov’
By DICKSON OKAFOR

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Chairman of the Confederated Igbo Indigenes (CII), Lagos State, Prince Anayo Nnama, has said that Igboman would be governor of Lagos State “in the nearest future.” He told Daily Sun: “As our democracy grows, non indigenes will contest elections in Lagos and win. What I am sure of is that in the nearest future Igbo man will rule Lagos. Afterall, Zik won election in Lagos in the First Republic.” Excerpts:



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Igboman as governor of Lagos State

It may sound funny but I tell you, that 43 per cent of the population of Lagos are Igbo, 47 per cent are indigenes while 10 per cent are other tribes and nationals. That tells you that at a stage as our democracy grows, non-indigenes will contest elections in Lagos and win.

What I am sure of is that in the nearest future, Igbo man will rule Lagos. Afterall, Zik won election in Lagos in the First Republic. I schooled and lived in USA for over 20 years. The law says if you live in America for certain period of time you can vote and be voted. This is exactly why Obama became the president of America.

Years back it was impossible such as the days of Martin Luther King but in our days it became possible. The Igbo own 70 percent of businesses in Lagos and our financial contribution is responsible for the economic growth in the state. If it doesn’t happen now, it will happen in the future. Also what determines who governs is no longer tribe or religion but the ability and capability to preside over the affairs of the people. A time will come when a Yoruba or Hausa man will rule states in the South East and South South. Soon leadership will know no borders.

‘I foresee Igbo becoming Lagos gov’
By DICKSON OKAFOR

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Chairman of the Confederated Igbo Indigenes (CII), Lagos State, Prince Anayo Nnama, has said that Igboman would be governor of Lagos State “in the nearest future.” He told Daily Sun: “As our democracy grows, non indigenes will contest elections in Lagos and win. What I am sure of is that in the nearest future Igbo man will rule Lagos. Afterall, Zik won election in Lagos in the First Republic.” Excerpts:



advertisement

Igboman as governor of Lagos State

It may sound funny but I tell you, that 43 per cent of the population of Lagos are Igbo, 47 per cent are indigenes while 10 per cent are other tribes and nationals. That tells you that at a stage as our democracy grows, non-indigenes will contest elections in Lagos and win.

What I am sure of is that in the nearest future, Igbo man will rule Lagos. Afterall, Zik won election in Lagos in the First Republic. I schooled and lived in USA for over 20 years. The law says if you live in America for certain period of time you can vote and be voted. This is exactly why Obama became the president of America.

Years back it was impossible such as the days of Martin Luther King but in our days it became possible. The Igbo own 70 percent of businesses in Lagos and our financial contribution is responsible for the economic growth in the state. If it doesn’t happen now, it will happen in the future. Also what determines who governs is no longer tribe or religion but the ability and capability to preside over the affairs of the people. A time will come when a Yoruba or Hausa man will rule states in the South East and South South. Soon leadership will know no borders,

Almustapha v Abdulsalami = Hausa V Hausa; AND South West Leaders("Judases" V Late MKO Abiola = Yorubas V Yorubas!!!

Some people are asking why Almustapha was just opening up.The reason is that for the past 12 yrs he has been incarcerated,it was only yesterday he opened his defense.In Law court,you can not "jump the Que", there are laid down procedures .
Nevertheless,we all remembered that Al Mustapha gave us a "tip of the iceberg" concerning this killings and counter killings.
We all know that the so called Yoruba Leaders are Judas of our time.
I would have loved to mention some names I suspected but lets leave this to come out of the Horses mouth.
As for killing him,they can not do that only because President Jonathan is not part of the scheamings and shenanigans going on then.He was just a common staff of OMPADEC when this killings happen and he has nothing to fear nor do with those killings.But he is already in the know of those involved even before you and I were privileged to hear from AL Mustapha in court yesterday.
I bet you this is the best period of his reign as the President since he assumed power because 60% of his detractors will be named in this killing spree.
Nigeria political arena is becoming interested day by day, ONE WEEK ONE TROUBLE!!!