₦airaland Forum

Expecting to see Gov. Suntia at the Burial ceremony.
R I P Mr. Speaker.

Marotzke: look very carefully, did you see any woman , girl or child there? This is a gathering of thugs in enormous scale. They came prepared to confront the police or PDP.

Nice Observation. Your head dey there.

abu12: The man was interview this afternoon on AIT when he was talking about the fall-out in Edo state, But one thing he said again was that, they already have faction in the committee.

Factions in that committee again?
SMH!!! The issue of National dialogue is too delicate to be handled in that manner.

The House of Representatives witnessed a rowdy session on Tuesday as a motion on the right of the seven aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party to hold meetings split the ranks of lawmakers.

PDP lawmakers in the camp of the G-7 governors and their supporters in the All Progressives Congress wanted the motion to pass, but those in the larger PDP camp vehemently opposed it.

In the heat of the argument, the House summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, “to ascertain the circumstances leading to the invasion of the Kano’s Governor’s Lodge by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force under the command of a Divisional Police Officer” on Sunday.

This followed the motion sponsored by a member from Niger State, Mr. Idris Kutigi, who argued that it amounted to “impunity” for the police to “storm” the lodge and disrupt the meeting of the governors.

Kutigi, who urged his colleagues, to “condemn” the action of the police, claimed that the G-7 governors and some members of the National Assembly were meeting at the lodge to find solutions to the crisis in the PDP.

He also stated that the police interfered with the right to immunity conferred on the governors by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Kutigi spoke further, “The Police authorities have in recent times disrupted several meetings of these governors by ceiling the meeting venues.

“Concerned that a police officer of the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police boldly attempted to arrest and disrupt the meeting of the G-7 Governors in disregard to their constitutional immunity in section 308 of the 1999 constitution.

“Alarmed at the way and manner the Nigeria Police treats elected representatives of Nigerians, amounting to a total disregard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Regrets that if the rights and privileges of these governors and members of the National Assembly can be so threatened, then an ordinary man in Nigeria has no hope and confidence in the Nigerian Police Force.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/motion-on-g-7-govs-disupted-meeting-splits-reps/?

In a stunning development, Colonel Tony Nyiam last Sunday abandoned the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue.

In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan dated November 3, he explained that he had taken up the appointment “with great enthusiasm and dedication.”

But following “several meetings and wide consultations with the progressives, self-determination and civil society movements and in order not to [be] cast as a distraction or be used as an excuse to destabilize the noble cause” of Mr. Jonathan, he said he had decided to withdraw from the committee.

He traced the background of his decision to the incident in Benin City last week in which Governor Adams Oshiomhole was involved in two incidents with the committee, in the second of which he was booed at a public event. 

“What became troubling was the Governor’s talking down on the people gathered; amongst who were former governors, senators, retired armed forces generals and judges,” Nyiam wrote.  “What was equally disturbing was the Governor’s insensitiveness to the ethno-nationalities yearning for self-determination,” adding that they expressed their feelings by openly boo-ing the Governor.

“Noticing the increasing protests against the Governor, I stood up and walked to the chairman, to remind him of the need to moderate, to remind the Governor that he has gone well over the time allowed for a speaker. I went back to my seat, which was on the other, far side of where the Chief Executive of Edo State was speaking from.”

While the letter does not specifically say why he has chosen to abandon the work of the committee, he apologized to whoever may have been disappointed by hi over-reaction to the provocation, presumably the Benin City incident.  The concession suggests he may have been forced out of the committee. 

“I will be leaving the Committee believing that equity fairness and justice will continue to be guiding principles of its deliberations,” he said. 

Full text of the letter: 

Presidential Advisory Committee
On National Dialogue,
International Conference Centre,
Abuja.
3rd November 2013
 
 
To:       The President and C-in-C
                State House, Aso Villa,
       Abuja.
 
Through: The Secretary To
       The Federal Government of Nigeria,
 
Your Excellency,
 
Resignation From The Presidential Advisory Committee

I would like to thank the President and Commander-in-Chief of our evolving Federation, His Excellency President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GRFR, for giving me the opportunity to serve my mother land as a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue.

When Mr. President, just like Nehru of India changed his mind about the desirability of a National Conference and announced on Independence Day that there will be a National Dialogue, I knew that a new dawn is around the corner.

Some of us have all our lives been   fighting for the oppressed people of our mother land, and to be given an opportunity to use dialogue to resolve our myriads of problems was too good a moment to be ignored. I took up the appointment with great enthusiasm and dedication, working as hard as my colleagues, to give our very best to our country.

After several meetings and wide consultations with the progressives, self-determination and civil society movements and in order not to cast as a distraction or be used as an excuse to destabilize the noble cause the President has put before us, I Col. Tony Nyiam rtd has decided to withdraw from the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue. I will from now on, work with colleagues from outside, using all peaceful and democratic means to bring our many decades of aspirations to fruition.

Mr. President, I will like to put the Benin event in its proper perspective so that evil propagandists bent on derailing the dialogue train will not continue to fabricate falsehood to confound Nigerians so as to achieve their devilish intentions.

It all started in the Benin consultations with us being made to be twice late for important appointments. First, we were made to be over an hour late to the 12-noon appointment we had the privilege of getting at short notice, from the palace of one of Africa’s most reputable monarchs, the revered Oba of Benin.
Secondly, we were made to keep critical South- South stakeholders, and other people’s representatives, waiting for over three hours. The two occasions of lateness to important appointments which are against the ethos of our duty, were caused by the twice, and sudden, shifting of the time we had earlier agreed to pay courtesy call to the Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle.

Firstly, a few minutes to our 10 am meeting with His Excellency, Governor Oshiomohle moved the appointment to 11:00 am. Secondly, another few minutes to the newly agreed time of 11 am, the Comrade Governor shifted the appointment to coincide with the 12 noon appointment we already have with the one and only, Oba of the historical Benin Kingdom. The two unilaterally changes of appointment times by the Governor, left us wondering what His Excellency was up to.

When eventually granted audience, the Comrade Governor proceeded to give us a background on why he is vehemently opposed to the initiative of any leader daring to convene a National Conference. The background story was essentially a lecture on how the Governor of Edo State was, ironically, more a Kaduna- made man than an Edo indigene.

This was followed by a tutorial on how we were deluded to see anything of significance in the opportunity Nigerians are being given to dialogue amongst themselves. One instance of the Governor only knows, is his self opinionated, and sarcastic question:

who initiates a process towards a meeting without a pre-conceived agenda?

To all his great oratory we (all members of the Committee) listened to quietly. As it is the democratic right of Governor Oshiomohle to speak to us. Like the late dictator, Mamman Gaddafi use to tutor for hours, his cowed Libyan subjects we respectfully listened to him. After over forty minutes of the Comrade Governors’ exercise of his human right we left the Governor’s office.

We paid homage to the Oba of Benin who with grace and above all love received us after the Committee’s chairman apologized for our coming over an hour from what was earlier agreed. We left the Great Edo Palace with the Oba’s commendation and prayers for the initiator of a pre-national conference committee, such as ours.

We got to the venue of consultations with the people to find over a thousand people eagerly waiting. We then began taking submissions. Most of the submissions, contrary to Governor Oshiomohle’s opinion came from ethnic nationalities. Later on, the Governor walked in and ran up dramatically to take his seat at the high table.

After listening to statesmen and eminent leaders of the Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw, Benin and Anioma nations making their enlightening presentations, the Governor indicated his interest to comment before departing. Rather than a few minutes’ remarks, the Governor went on, and on, repeating the lecture we had previously listened to, for about an hour in his office.

What became troubling was the Governor’s talking down on the people gathered; amongst who were former governors, senators, retired armed forces generals and judges. What was equally disturbing was the Governor’s insensitiveness to the ethno-nationalities yearning for self-determination. This they expressed by their beginning to openly boo-ing the Governor.

Noticing the increasing protests against the Governor, I stood up and walked to the chairman, to remind him of the need to moderate, to remind the Governor that he has gone well over the time allowed for a speaker. I went back to my seat, which was on the other, far side of where the Chief Executive of Edo State was speaking from.

The provocation from Governor Oshiomohle’s derogatory insinuations, and the casting of aspersions on eminent personalities such as were gathered before him, was just too much. Lest we forget, the Comrade Governor openly declared that he was not speaking as a Governor or on behalf of the Edo people. Thus he needed to be reminded that he cannot, in his personal capacity, usurp the people’s opportunity to express their feelings by themselves.

Some of our leaders need to know that they cannot continue to use the garb to obfuscate and confuse citizens and presenting as patriotism their personal agenda.

An auspicious time will come, when the obfuscation will unravel and Nigerians will come to know the true character of some of these leaders.

However, my sincere apologies to whoever may have been disappointed by my over reaction to the provocation.

I will be leaving the Committee believing that equity fairness and justice will continue to be guiding principles of its deliberations.

Like all Nigerians, I look forward to the report and will continue to believe that a better and greater Nigeria is possible.

May God bless our evolving Nigeria and its great people.
With highest regards,
 
Col. Tony Nyiam rtd

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/first-cut-tony-nyiam-resigns-national-dialogue-committee

Toktee: Bro,u sure say u go school at all,the report said his convoy stuck in the traffic holdup,the holdup is not inside the airport but outside,abi u hav a problem english language?

I wonder oh!! LOL!!!

But modify what you wrote up there too.

I support you.

There is confusion at the Port Harcourt International Airport as security barred supporters of Rotimi Amaechi, the Rivers State governor, from welcoming the chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who are expected in the state today.

A source at the airport told PREMIUM TIMES that scores of supporters trooped to the airport to welcome the visitors only to be stopped by airport security.

Governor Amaechi, who was also on his way to welcome the APC chieftains when his convoy reportedly stuck in the ensuing traffic gridlock, alighted from his car and trekked about four kilometres, accompanied by a crowd of supporters, to the airport, the source added.

Mr. Amaechi’s convoy, our sources said, is parked outside the airport while hundreds of supporters are barred from gaining entry.

The situation has caused severe traffic gridlock at the airport with motorists going in and out of the airport experiencing difficulty.

Yakubu Dati, Spokesperson of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, in confirming the incident said that it was thugs, led by Governor Amaechi, who invaded the airport.

“As I’m talking to you now they have invaded the tarmac, and an Arik flight just arrived Port Harcourt now,” Mr. Dati told PREMIUM TIMES.

The Rivers state commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari, could not be reached to comment for this story. Repeated calls to her telephones failed to go through.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147837-breaking-confusion-port-harcourt-airport-security-agents-block-amaechis-supporters.html

I trust Nigerians... There will be airspace jam in Nigeria.

Welcome to Nigeria, New baby...

liloelawwal: u can only survive as an Emir.

GBAM!!!

I think he just bought what will finally kill him... R I P in advance Sir.

Make dem free 'Madam' jor.

I don taya for that Aviation gist jare.

Saharareporters has learn that a detachment of police officers today invaded the Kano State Government Lodge in Abuja and are holding at least 5 factional PDP governors as well as others hostage.

The five trapped governors are members of the breakaway faction of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who have rejected Bamanga Tukur as their party's national leader.

Several sources aware of the unfolding situation informed Saharareporters that the DPO of Asokoro police division led the invading police officers.

 One of our sources there was initial tension when the security details of the governors trued to deny entry to the DPO and his retinue of officers.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/police-invade-kano-goverment-lodge-abuja-hold-five-governors-hostage

http://leadership.ng/breakingnews/031113/police-officers-attack-each-other-bid-disrupt-g-7-governors-meeting-abuja


DPO of Asokoro Police division in orange polo shirt barges into G7 governors meeting with a retinue of officers. He is enraged after the governors dare him to do his worst. Seen here telling the governors to remain on their seats.
 
Saharareporters can confirm that the siege is over as the governors are dispersed.

The Ikemba!!!

Emeka Ojukwu University (EOU)
The name sounds great.

donphilopus: Please forward this to the author, and not the OP

omenka: Question this poster should ask himself: is the OP the author of these questions

Tell him for me biko...

Anambra State University in Uli has been renamed after the Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in celebration of his 80th posthumous birthday. 

The Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, announced the renaming in a live broadcast on the television station of the Anambra Broadcasting Service.

He reiterated the commitment of his administration to restoring standards which demand a simultaneous transformation of all sectors and the recognition of role models.

He urged the people of Anambra State to continue to seek ways of making the state a great one.

Late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician. He served as the Military Governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966.

He was the leader of the unsuccessful breakaway Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 and a Nigerian politician from 1983 until he died on November 26, 2011, aged 78.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/11/03/anambra-university-renamed-after-ojukwu/?

The investigative hearing conducted by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Aviation leaves a lot of unasked and unanswered questions in its trail, suggesting that the lawmakers were all air and no substance.

The questions below could perhaps have helped throw more light on the controversy.

1. How could a financing deal to the tune of N643 million between a profit-driven bank and a government agency be “mere understanding and not an obligation” as the minister claimed, requiring any party to walk off at any time, when the bank had already provided funding. More so since First Bank in its earlier presentation had insisted the financing was a loan.

2. The minister said the repayment by NCAA to First Bank stretches through three years under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework; and the obligation for 2013 is N100 million, with N16 million carried forward( since monthly repayment is N23 million). At the purported N100 million for this year, the minister insisted she was within her right approving the contract without recourse to FEC.

But total servicing for three years amounts to N828 million. Given that 2013 has only taken care of N100 million, how will the balance N728 million car spending be addressed in two years? Will that not amount to forcing the National Assembly, for instance, to appropriate an average of N364 million yearly, for a car project that should go before the FEC, but which had already been approved by the minister?

3. And since the National Assembly appropriated N240 million for cars this year, no lawmaker asked the minister whether the NCAA will return the balance of N140 million since it will spend only N100 million for 2013.

4. Given that the NCAA had earlier advanced some of the arguments by the minister (except the “do the needful” argument), why did the House committee reject that same claim only to agree with the minister.

5. Why was the minister’s rebuttal about her name not being on the documents for the car not challenged since that claim only compares to expecting a receipt or invoice when a bribe is paid.

6. Why did the Reps ignore the claim by the minister that luxury armoured cars could be categorized under “security and safety vehicles” listed in the budget for use as inspection cars, for monitoring perimeter fence.

7. Why should the minister refuse to take responsibility of a breach in her ministry when she is the head?

8. Why did the minister fail to compel the NCAA to advertise the procurement of the cars as required by the Public Procurement Act? Why was it necessary to do selective tendering in that case?

9. The NCAA head, Fola Akinkuotu, clearly said the cars were for the minister and visiting foreign dignitaries. So, why did the minister tried to say she had nothing to do with the cars?

10. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria confessed buying two armoured cars to the minister. Why does Mrs Oduah has a fetish for armoured cars?

Questions the lawmakers also missed extracting answers for, from other involved parties

1. The Chief Executive of Coscharis, Cosmas Maduka, claimed the National Security Adviser’s office called him up to review the cost of the armoured cars since, according to him, the NSA officials knew the cost of the cars, and it was clear Coscharis had underquoted. If the NSA’s office had been that meticulous, why did the office not establish the actual beneficiary of the cars?

2. Why did the NSA office in the first place ask for the “mistaken” quotation to be corrected?

3. How did Customs arrive at its duty of only N10.1 million naira, considering how much it charges private citizens for similar imports?

4. It is now clear three, not two, armoured cars were imported (although the lawmakers also lightly pressed this point). Was the third car still meant for the NCAA or the minister?

5. Why did Lagos state government agree to Coscharis’ condition that it helps in securing waiver for it when the government knew it had no need for armoured cars at the sports festival.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147735-n255m-armoured-cars-questions-house-of-reps-committee-failed-to-ask-minister-oduah.html

Booked

The Sun is 100% high over here in Kogi, another sign of the eclipse.

We expect the solar eclipse by 1:05pm.

The same "powerful interests” behind our epileptic power supply in Nigeria.

Na Wah ooh!!
That's totally uncalledfor.

NFF is sick... All NFF officials should be fired.

Period.

More....

The Jonathan's buried the Madam Charity Fyneface Oba yesterday at Okrika in Rivers State.

The Paradigm presents below, pictures from the funeral service


http://www.paradigmshiftng.com/2013/11/photonews-pres-jonathan-buries-foster.html?

awodman: When we say ASUU strike is for their selfish interests we are called names..Now the sister unions are saying if you must do it for ASUU,then you have to do it for us

Let the court of public opinion decide

ASUU's selfcentredness is obvious for all now.. They've lost all public sympathy, even from sister unions.

geolan: No mind am. Na either Lecturer or their pikin or benefactor him be. Wetin u expect

I give up then.
The attack was so sharp & so uncalledfor.

agabaI23: CPC: confused peoples congress
They go to confused.com

LOL!!!

omenka: One reason to strongly believe you've got screws loose upstairs.

Bros, chill oh!! Na fight?

I think he is entitled to his own opinion.
And if Nairaland hasn't changed, this is a forum.

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has received two months out of the seven months salary owed him by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Keshi had cried out about the outstanding payments and yesterday NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire confirmed that the coach has been part paid. The NFF is owing Keshi who won the 2013 African Cup of Nations and on the verge of leading Nigeria to the 2014 World Cup about N35m being seven months salary.
 
“We have made a quick effort to sort part of his arrears. We are working extremely hard to pay the coach the rest as soon as possible.”

Olajire added that the NFF had put in measures to “help minimise the risk of delays in the future”.

“The financial situation of the NFF caused the delay. It is not an excuse; it is a consequence of the financial reality,” he said.

Keshi did not confirm or deny receiving the pay yesterday. But in the heat of the crisis he had said:

“I don’t like discussing money issues and if there is any NFF member who said we can work for free, then I will want to speak with him face to face.

“If they say we can work for free and that they are not going to pay, so be it.

“I can’t have my family abroad and I will be in debt because I have not been paid for seven months and somebody is saying we should not complain.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/nff-pays-keshi-two-seven-months-salary/?

Prof. Femi, kindly respond to this....

Everybody seems to be giving up on ASUU.

NON Teaching staff in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, have advised the Federal Government to ignore the Memorandum of Understanding it entered into with the striking lecturers on the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, saying its implementation would lead to another round of crisis.

The Non Teaching Staff comprising Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions, NASU, National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities,SSANU rather advised government to implement the 2009 agreements it entered with the unions in tertiary institutions.

In a statement signed by Samson Ugwoke, President of SSANU and spokesperson of NAAT, SSANU and NASU tited, ‘Our stand on the on-going ASUU strike’, the unions sympathised with ASUU but noted that the MoU was not in the best interest of the education sector.

It stated “We sympathise and solidarise with our sister union, ASUU over their long drawn struggle for the welfare of their members. We urged the government to build more confidence in governance, at all times, by respecting agreements it freely enters into with unions.

”However, we caution that any settlement of the current dispute must take into account the interests of all the university-based unions (NAAT, SSANU, NASU and ASUU). The three Non-Teaching Staff Unions of NAAT, SSANU and NASU are opposed to any extraneous demands by either ASUU or any group in the university which are prejudicial to the welfare of our members.

”Our stand is that government should jettison the so called ASUU’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and concentrate on full implementation of the 2009 FGN/Unions agreements which border on staff conditions of service and welfare, and increased funding to universities.

”The MOU being referred to by ASUU is for their selfish end and it is bound to generate more crises in the university sub-sector.

The Non-Teaching Staff Unions in the universities will stoutly resist any attemp t to ‘sell’ the universities to ASUU.

”All university based unions signed agreements in 2009 with the government, it is therefore advised that all contentious issues in all the agreements be settled holistically to avoid a ‘relay race’ in strike actions in the universities.

”The implementation of any union’s MOU should not come in between the period of implementation of signed agreements rather, such items in the MOU should wait to be re-negotiated in another agreement(s).”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/ignore-asuus-demands-nasu-naat-ssanu-tell-fg/?

The ruling upheld an earlier decision of a federal high court

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday fired two Senators and eight House of Representatives members from Katsina state, who got their seats after their initial occupants were sacked by the Independent National Electoral Commission December 2011.

The court ordered that those sacked by INEC be reinstated.

They are Senators Abdu Umar Yandoma and Ahmad Sani Stores, House of Reps members, Murtala Isa, Muntari Dandutse, Musa Salisu, Aminu Ashiru and Umar Adamu Katsayal, Muhammad Tukur, Tasi’u Doguro, and Abdu Dankama.

Those occupying the seats presently, who are to vacate are Senators Abubakar Yar’adua and Hadi Sirika, House of Reps members Ahmed Babba Kaita, Salisu Salisco, Umar Abubakar, Salisu Daura, Isa Doro, Sani Mashi, Abbas Machika and Mansur Funtua.

The first set of lawmakers were sacked in December 2011 by the electoral body which said they were not the due candidates for the elections on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.

That decision was overturned in January 2013 by a High Court in Abuja, which ordered that the initial winners be reinstated. But that ruling was not effected as the second set of lawmakers appealed against the ruling.

In its ruling on Friday, the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja which voided the withdrawal of Certificate of Returns of the first 10 Katsina lawmakers.

The court also said the leadership of the National Assembly acted in error by accepting to swear-in the second set of lawmakers to replace the old ones after INEC issued to them Certificate of Returns.

Justice Jimmy Bada, who led four other judges to hear the appeal said that the High Court was right to have dismissed the objection raised by the lawmakers currently in the National Assembly.

“There is no court of competent jurisdiction that declared the appellant as winner in the election,” the judge said.

“The respondents (those whose certificate of returns were withdrawn) were duly sworn-in and I am of the view that the court below has the powers to entertain the case of the respondent.

“The certificate of returns issued to the appellants is a nullity. The court below was right in dismissing the objection of the appellants. INEC issued the certificate of returns without order from any court or tribunal”.

The lawyer representing the lawmakers who have been ordered to vacate their seats, John Baiyeeshea, said the appeal, which raised four issues for the court’s determination, was not a pre-election matter and as such the federal high court had no jurisdiction to hear and make a pronouncement on it.

He argued that the issuance of Certificates of Return and alleged withdrawal of the certificate are post-election matters, and begged the court to annul the judgement of the high court.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147672-appeal-court-sacks-katsina-senators-house-rep-members.html?