₦airaland Forum

ANPP asks members to withdraw from federal executive

By Festus Owete

December 9, 2010 12:19AM


The All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) yesterday said it was withdrawing its members serving with the federal government as the party puts an end to its participation in the government of national unity.

The national chairman of ANPP, Ogbonnaya Onu said the National Executive Council of the party has directed all its members in the federal government to withdraw immediately.

Mr Onu, who recently took over the leadership of the party, had said the ANPP, under him, will likely pull out of the arrangement entered into by the former leadership of the party under Edwin Ume-Ezeoke.

“Our great party has reviewed its position and has come to the conclusion that in the best interest of our dear country, the new All Nigeria Peoples Party should no longer participate in the government of National Unity,” Mr Onu said. “The party therefore calls on all its members who are holding one position or the other, as a result of the Government of National Unity, to withdraw their services and return home. Also, in any state of the federation where there is any such relationship, out great party wants those affected to take similar action.”

Mr Onu, who said there is a bright future for the party, added it has reclaimed its identity as the leading opposition in the country and a party to watch.

He said that in the last two months he has visited 20 state chapters of the party and will visit the remaining states. During the visits, he met with religious, community and political leaders.

Mr Onu said that since the new leadership assumed office, defections from the party have reduced considerably and has ceased as of now.

“It is instructive to point out that as I speak more and more people have been defecting to our party from other political parties, especially from the ruling party.”

Bright future

He said the ANPP has commenced discussions with other opposition political parties who share similar conviction with the party to ensure that it is successful in the next general elections.

“Make no mistake about it; Nigerians deserve and want change for the better. To defeat hunger, poverty, disease and illiteracy, we are asking other opposition political parties to work with us so that change can take place,” he said.

Members in government

The party decided, along with the Progressive Peoples Alliance to serve in the federal government after the 2007 election when it nominated. As at today, the party has two ministers in the PDP government. They are the Minister of State for Finance, Yabawa Lawan Wabi and the Minister of State for Foreign Aaffairs. The ANPP also has two advisers - Chineme Ume-Ezeoke, Special Adviser on Civil Society matters and Ebute Ayuk, Coordinator, Informal sector.

The three governors of the party - from Borno, Yobe and Kano States - attended the NEC meeting.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5651720-147/anpp_asks_members_to_withdraw_from.csp

Why I’m after Uduaghan – Edwin Clark

PoliticsDec 9, 2010

First Republic Information Minister and an elder of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has been in a running battle against two-time governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori and his successor whose election was recently annulled by the Court of Appeal, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
In a no holds barred interview with Political Editor, Emmanuel Aziken and Deputy Political Editor Clifford Ndujihe, at his Apapa, Lagos residence, Clark, a lawyer, gave reasons he is against Uduaghan’s return to office, gives breath to what he claims as Uduaghan’s contrivance against President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential aspiration and his stand on the crisis in the Delta State chapter of the PDP among other issues.
Excerpts:
Why is an old man like you fighting a young man like Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan? Do you have a problem with him or Chief James Ibori?
I don’t have any problem with Uduaghan or even Ibori, let’s make it very clear. Starting with Ibori, I know I am an old man before I helped them. In 1998, I had never met Ibori before or even Uduaghan.
The Delta traditional rulers and elders went to Abuja to pay solidarity visit to Late Gen. Sani Abacha after the phantom coup. While we were there, Abacha received us very well, then we left for our hotel. Then in the evening at about 7pm, two buses came to the hotel with the message that Major Al_Mustapha would like to see us at Aguda House.
We went. We did not know what was going on. We had finished with Abacha and he (Mustapha) was there with Ibori. They entertained us. Then both of them read an address requesting that we should consider Ibori as a gubernatorial candidate. Then the Oredje of Okpe who is the leader of the traditional rulers replied what Mustapha had said and I also I replied.
I said:“This is the gathering of traditional rulers and elders and you don’t ask traditional rulers to come and support one young man who wants to be governor. If Ibori wants to contest election, let him come home.
That was how Ibori came to my village in Kiagbodo and was outside for about 40 minutes before I took notice of him and he said he wanted to contest election under the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). Onerkhororaye at that time also wanted to contest election under the (United Nigeria Congress Party) UNCP.
I supported Ibori and that was how I got to know him. I also asked my younger brother, Sokan Clark, who was later assassinated in Ughelli and one Ejiro Iremade to assist him. That was how I came to know Ibori.
Then what happened?
Abacha died and that time faded out. He wanted to contest election in 1999, I supported him. I made it possible for him to contest election in 1999, I supported him. Then, I was an old man, I had more resources than anyone of them.
It was during that time that he told me he wanted to buy a house at Bendel Estate, Gborikoko. He bought the house and he was staying there.
When Ibori was governor and later in 2002 or 2003, the case of ex_convict came, I decided to support him and defend it because Ibori told me that it was Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was doing it because he had supported Atiku Abubakar instead of Obasanjo continuing for another four years.
I quickly remembered that Obasanjo’s late wife, Mrs Stella Obasanjo had phoned me during the convention to tell Ibori to leave the husband alone and to support the husband, which I did. So, I believed what Ibori told me and I took the trouble to support what Ibori told me with my money.
During that period, I wrote a letter to Justice Mohammed Uwais, when he directed Justice Gummi, the Chief Judge of Abuja High Court to investigate Ibori’s ex_convict case. I said ‘no, you can’t do that because you are the Chief Justice of Nigeria, you can’t order an extra-judicial matter. The case will come to you. Will you be having Gummi’s report in one hand and go to the Supreme Court to try Ibori on another hand?’
I did all that. I fought even the Inspector General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun at that time. So, as far as I am concerned, I have nothing against Ibori, but when Ibori decided to impose his cousin on us to cover his misdeeds and corruption, we said ‘no.’ Uduaghan had been disqualified in Port_Harcourt by the Hassan Adamu, Wakilu of Adamawa’s committee on verification.
The same night, Uduaghan travelled throughout the night to Abuja where Ibori had prepared the grounds for him, and he was cleared. The congress was postponed and taken to Ogwashi_Uku. That same morning, Ibori invited some of the aspirants including Chief Omo Agege, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Pius Eweridho, Uduaghan and Amori.
He said that Amori should be the witness, that God had told him in a dream that his cousin Uduaghan should succeed him. And whether people liked it or not, he would carry out the wish of God. Ask any of these people. Then, in the evening, they went to Ogwashi_Uku for the congress. Some people like Obielum and others ran away, they did not take part for fear of victimization, violence and so on.
Even when Uduaghan was declared the winner, he did not obtain mandatory votes to make him candidate. They had to phone Okowa to withdraw, that was why he became Secretary to the State Government. These things are very annoying. I am a leader and how many people are senior to me in Delta State? Then my children will come under discredited people. That is what I am fighting for.
In January 2007, we held a meeting in Abuja in a hotel owned by Cairo Ojougboh. I can give you the list of those who attended. We decided at that meeting to fight this issue. We must not allow Uduaghan to succeed Ibori.
We went to Abuja between 5th and 11th of February, we were fighting. We saw Obasanjo twice. We saw Ribadu and we discovered that the forces against us were many. Ahmadu Ali, the National Chairman of the party had made arrangements with Ibori that his wife who did not attend congress for nomination as senatorial candidate should be nominated instead of either Ned Nwoko or Patrick Osakwe. You can see the wonders happening that Ibori could do anything.
The corruption of Ibori also affected Uduaghan. We have now seen it in a London court where the sister of Ibori who is a cousin of Uduaghan and the trial of Udoamaka where they confessed that Uduaghan was involved in the money laundering. He was indicted that 59,000 Pounds and another 79,000 pounds were transferred to Christine Ibori by Uduaghan as Secretary to the State Government under Ibori.
And a suitcase containing money was also transferred by Uduaghan to Christine. This was in the address of the QC who was prosecuting counsel and they are in the records of the trial there. How do you separate Ibori from Uduaghan?
Now that you are asking why we are opposing Uduaghan, I will now give you an answer. I don’t hate Uduaghan as a person, he is a nice young man. Why we are against him is that when Ibori said that God had told him that his brother would succeed him and we said ‘no, you are putting him there to cover your misdeeds and corruption,’ evidence of what we said has come. Ribadu, the chairman of EFCC told us on the 9th of February 2007 in his office that Ibori was the most investigated and the most corrupt governor in Nigeria.
That was how we knew that he could not visit England, that he was being wanted there. One evidence he told us was that Uduaghan was on the list of corrupt politicians that was submitted to the president but his name was removed when Obasanjo agreed that Uduaghan should become the governor. He said Ibori had used 12 companies to buy shares from Afribank worth N5billion and that the Federal Government caught him and asked him to return the money which he did.
We asked Uduaghan when he came into office: ‘what of this N5billion that Ibori returned, we learnt you have returned this money to your brother?’ Is that not an evidence? Number two evidence of Uduaghan covering up the misdeeds of Ibori was when the London police, the Nigerian police and EFCC were moving towards Ibori, he ran to the Court in Benin seeking an injunction which he obtained that Ibori should not be arrested and prosecuted, that the EFCC should be prevented from getting government records from Asaba.
If Uduaghan was a governor who is detached, will he take such an action to cover his brother? These are issues that are very clear; that this man cannot be our governor and can never be our governor again.
When the Metropolitan Police were coming to visit Nigeria and when the scandal came out, the Federal Government directed the Federal Attorney General to go and vacate that injunction. Ibori was arrested from Kwara State Liaison office in Abuja and was taken to Kaduna to face trial. Ask Uduaghan, did Ibori pay for his defence? It was Delta State Government’s money that was used to pay for Ibori.
Women were carried to Kaduna at government expense to demonstrate naked, they disrupted the court, one man died on the way, there was a special allowance for anyone that attended. Is that the man who should be ruling us whereas it has been proved in London, America, that Ibori is a criminal that everybody should be afraid of which nearly the whole clan has been convicted remaining Uduaghan?
Ibori bought 800 million shares from Oceanic Bank. There was nothing wrong in buying shares but the moment they decided to mortgage those shares for a N44billion loan from Intercontinental bank, he was guilty of a criminal offence. He sold 500 million worth of shares to service the loan.
When I asked Uduaghan, he said he was aware of it but there was nothing he could do. If a governor who had no relationship with Ibori was there, would he not follow it up? Will he not find out?
V-mobile shares, Ibori assisted by his friend who was his front man, obtained a loan of N 2billion from New Nigerian Bank which was being controlled by Ibori and Igbinedion to buy Econet shares. It was these Econet shares that he bought for the Delta State Government that made him flamboyant. They sold part of the shares to Delta State Government for N2billion. Later, Ibori sold the shares for $38 million and stole the money.
It was in the process of laundering this money in London that the three expatriates were arrested and they are today facing trial in London. And Ibori was indicted. Edevbie who was the Finance commissioner was indicted but because of Ibori’s influence at the villa at that time, David Edevbie was appointed principal secretary to Yar’Adua.
What did Uduaghan do? We asked him again, are you aware of our $38million ? Out of that amount, Ibori again borrowed $10 million for his company to pay some of his debts. Even if I am 83 years and I am still alive, will I not fight against this injustice? You want to belong to a state where one family sinks that state and nobody talks about it?
They give you a little thing and you withdraw? These are some of the reasons why we did not want Uduaghan and never wanted Uduaghan to be our governor because he has done everything to cover the misdeeds and corruption of Ibori.
Uduaghan and Ibori came to meet you in August/September 2007 in your home and during your birthday the following year, they came again. After he had pleaded with you, you told him that you were going to meet some elders to consider what he said.
That is not true. Were you there? That is one of the propaganda. Ibori did not come with Uduaghan. Uduaghan came with Orubebe, the Minister of Special Duties. Ibori and Uduaghan had opposed his appointment, we went to the Chamber (Federal Executive Council Chamber) for Orubebe to be sworn in. We were shamed and humiliated and after some time the party leader came and said that the president said we should withdraw till further notice.
I went out to the front of the villa and held a press conference condemning the attitude. Yar’Adua then said, two of them should settle. It was when that was said that both of them came to me at Kiagbodo. Ibori and Uduaghan never visited me together.
Has Uduaghan visited you?
He has been visiting me.
And after some time, you mellowed down until the election was annulled?
I have never mellowed down. Uduaghan came to me and I gave him two conditions. This issue of protecting Ibori, dissociate yourself from Ibori and let us settle. You are already governor. See that the party is one.
Two, see that there is an integrated government where all people will be involved. He agreed. But Ibori told him not to. So you cannot have a government which is being manned by a faction of the community or party.
I am not against Uduaghan as a person. Even Uduaghan sent his deputy governor to accompany me to Paris to receive an award. While we were coming back, I sat his deputy governor down and said, ‘look, it appears your man is not listening to us. I told him to dissociate himself from Ibori and let us settle so that some of our people will get … particularly when he dissolved part of his cabinet, remove some commissioners, bring some of our people, then let’s work together.’
Perhaps, that will strengthen his hand of dissociating himself from Ibori because our people will advise him. The deputy governor, Prof Atuama is there. Nothing came out of it.
I mellowed down with reasons: one, dissociate yourself from your brother and two, let’s integrate and have a unity government.
Today, the party is in pieces in Delta State. What has happened? INEC said it would not deal with any of these illegal executives were congresses were not properly held.
On the 30th of September, the National Chairman of the PDP wrote a letter to INEC listing eight states where congresses should be conducted.
What happened? Nwaoboshi ran to Abuja to obtain an injunction against INEC Chairman and the party’s National Chairman. The INEC said it would not deal with the executive in Delta unless you hold a legal congress. Which party is INEC going to deal with in Delta State? They are all joking.
I thought Nwaoboshi was with you. When the new executive was formed, Uduaghan brought Solomon Ogba as secretary and the opposition brought Nwaoboshi.
Did you investigate it? I was in my house one day in Warri when Nwaoboshi accompanied by one Doris Nwakobia, who is with us, came to me and said that he was interested in becoming the chairman of the party. I said, ‘ I don’t know you.’ Even if Nwaoboshi comes here today, I cannot recognise him.
I said, ‘I don’t know you.’ He said Obielum was behind him, Mrs Ali was behind him. I said, ‘everybody that comes to me receives my blessing. There are many candidates. If a proper congress is held, I won’t go against you.’ That was all.
Then, there was no congress.
The congress that was to be held was postponed. Emmanuel Ogidi, who was the chairman at that time said that Ali’s wife and her husband had kept the congress papers in their residence in Abuja and that if such things could not be sent to him as chairman, there would be no more election. So, the ward election that was to be held that day did not hold.
I have a press release signed by Emmanuel Ogidi that the congresses were postponed. For them now to say that congresses were held is not true. So, Nwaoboshi was not my candidate.
When they made him the chairman, we sat down and said we should also form our executive and Obiogu, Mrs.Ali and other members said we should include our people into the same people they had. We did not sit to pick Nwaoboshi as chairman.
Have you counted the cost this your agitation may have on the higher agitation of your other “son”,
President Goodluck Jonathan? Will you sacrifice Jonathan for Uduaghan?
President Jonathan can never be sacrificed for Uduaghan, who is unpopular in Delta State. Did you hear of the rally we held in Warri? It was the mother of all rallies. I attended rallies in Uyo and Port Harcourt thereafter, none of them could compare with the rally in Warri.
We applied to the government to give us Warri Stadium, they refused. We invited Uduaghan, he did not come.
Let us come to the details. Who is Uduaghan fooling? Who is fooling who? Uduaghan is not supporting Jonathan. When Yar’ Adua was ill in Saudi Arabia, Uduaghan was part of the cabal headed by Ibori. They drank champagne when Yar’ Adua arrived from Saudi Arabia thinking that the man was now coming to take over from Jonathan.
Tell me any member of the House of Representatives from Delta State that actively supported Jonathan’s acting appointment in the House? The only senator that actively supported Smart Adeyemi and others was Prof. Adego Eferakeya. Today, they are victimising him for doing so. Amori now went to Dubai to be adopted by Ibori. Today, Amori is the government’s candidate for Delta Central Senatorial seat.
Furthermore, Uduaghan is one of the few governors working with IBB and Saraki.
I will give you an evidence (he asks one of his assistants to read a letter from Saraki to Uduaghan:
Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki Presidential Campaign Organisation
His Excellency,
The Executive Governor of Delta State
In furtherance of our deliberation, sequel to our meeting at Nicon Noga on 17th October 2010 and dwelt as follows: At the meeting before all the caucuses present, total analysis of the electioneering success was made and financial responsibilities were happily undertaken to make our collectively dream a reality, particularly to have president of Northern extraction come 2011.
Based on the above, you unflinchingly undertook to finance and sponsor a month salary of staff, a month media advertorial as a vehicle to mobilise core delegates of some states.
Hence, it has become urgent to raise the funds and pledges to consolidate the success already achieved bearing in mind that the INEC is almost at the verge of issuing time frame for parties to conduct their primaries.
Finally, thank you for the roles you have been playing in this project.
Find the attached budget estimates for perusal.
Thanks in appreciation of your immediate response.
Dr. Udenta Udenta.
Director-General.
I can mention names. Uduaghan was one of those who believed that IBB should contest the presidency and in fact, he was going to be the running mate.
So, what I am saying is that Uduaghan is not supporting President Jonathan. Without us, President Jonathan cannot win an election in Delta State. Without the support of Delta people, who believe in the Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders Forum, he cannot win. These were the people who organised a rally in Warri and Warri closed; markets closed that day.
They have been trying to put a wedge between me and Jonathan. One day, they quoted Ango Abullahi and said that I hated Jonathan that I didn’t want him to be vice president to Yar’Adua. But they did not know how Jonathan became vice president. I am not here to disclose that.
Most of them thought that they were going to use the executive; the delegates were going to be given to them. But that is gone with the INEC saying that anything submitted by Delta State executive of the PDP they would not honour it.
Secondly, the removal of Uduaghan was God’s will. God has come to judgement. Goodluck Jonathan is really God-sent. With Uduaghan on the seat, Jonathan would have lost Delta delegates at the primaries. God has removed him. He is no longer in control of the delegates.
How do you view comments that President Jonathan would lead Uduaghan’s re-run
campaign?
Who told you that? Who did the President tell that he was going to lead the campaign to Delta State?
Are you saying that the President will not campaign for Uduaghan?
When the PDP fielded a candidate for the Anambra governorship election did the president go? Did Yar’Adua go to Ekiti for the re-run campaign? It was Jonathan who went. Even then, as far as we are concerned, the issue of whether Jonathan would lead the team or not has not been decided because there is no party executive in Delta State. The propaganda is that of Uduaghan.
The National Headquarters of the PDP said Uduaghan is their candidate. If your party said somebody is their candidate and you are going against it is that not anti-party activity?
That is very undemocratic. Who did they consult? Why will they remain in Abuja and say ‘Uduaghan is our candidate.?’ Why didn’t they ask those of us who were against? I led the delegation to the National
Secretariat on 21st July, we were received by the National Chairman. That delegation comprises two serving senators – Eferakeya and Osakwe, ministers, former ministers, etc and the National Chairman said that the PDP would not go into the election with a divided house. For him to make that statement was to gather some confidence.
If your governor, who had been ruling for three and a half years was removed seven months to the thing, you would be shocked. So, any statement made by the National Chairman is not unusual but he cannot do it without consulting us. Is he coming to vote for Uduaghan? We are the ones who are going to vote, so he should consult us.
Are you saying that Nwodo’s statement is not valid?
The statement he made, if it is carried out, is undemocratic. They should consult the people who are the party members in Delta State.
The way it is, who in your estimation should be the PDP candidate?
We have gone to court, asking the court to interpret the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which said that Uduaghan had been occupying the Government House in Asaba illegally without the mandate and authority of the people; that there were no elections held in Delta State that they were ordering for fresh elections.
They repeated it twice: ‘fresh elections.’
When you see the Uduaghan people, they say the election is a ‘re-run.’ So, we are now asking the court ‘what is a re-run, what is a fresh election?’
We are learning everyday. I am a lawyer. They didn’t say there should be a ‘re-run,’ they said ‘fresh election’ because there were no elections conducted in Delta State. So, we are waiting. INEC cannot be the one to say because they don’t even know. We have asked INEC in a letter: ‘what is the difference between a re-run and fresh election?’ And that fresh election is based on the fact that there were no elections in Delta State.
How do you react to comments that your statement of no election is contradictory as the House of Assembly election was held simultaneously with the governorship. How come there was House of Assembly election and no governorship election?
The majority, if not all of them, were imposed on the people. There was no place where elections were held. The election in Burutu, my own Local Government, did not hold. The Divisional Police Officer, who was the senior police officer in Burutu, told me that no presiding officer had come to him, there were no election materials.
The election in Burutu was held in Oleh and Uzere. Nobody voted. And because they are all members of Ibori and Uduaghan’s clan, nobody opposed them. And if somebody opposed them, how many cases went to the tribunal? Have you ever heard that the tribunal in Delta State decided cases in favour of people who are opposed to Uduaghan or Ibori? That was why the judgement of the Court of Appeal is ground shaking.
I asked my Senator from Warri, ‘who voted for you? Where did you campaign?’
In the case of Senator Osakwe, what was the position of his party, Accord Party? But he won. What happened? Ali, the chairman thought that by coming into an agreement with, Ibori would return his wife and the wife would become a senator. But the same Ibori asked Osakwe to go to Accord Party. And so, Ibori deceived Ali and Osakwe won. And Osakwe has moved to the PDP.
If the PDP hierarchy insists on Uduaghan as its candidate, what would you do?
They have to convince us and we would have to convince them that Uduaghan is not a fit and proper person to be fielded because all along our state has been destroyed by Uduaghan and his brother, Ibori. We are tired of the Ibori-Uduaghan dynasty. They must be ashamed of themselves. Uduaghan should be able to say, ‘enough is enough let me step down.’
Your own first cousin – Ibori’s sister has been jailed five years for money laundering and property seized. His mistress Udoamaka has been jailed for money laundering. Uduaghan is connected in all these. Thirdly, the innocent-looking wife of Ibori has been jailed and she too said Uduaghan was part of the problem.
So, we too have our case to tell Mr. President. He is not a dictator. He would listen to us. If he convinces us, we have no choice. But if we convince him, must Uduaghan rule Delta State? What did he do for Delta people? Is there any project Uduaghan started and completed? There is none. The Airport in Asaba is scandalous.The Airport in Uyo cost less than N7 billion. Gombe cost less than that.
The Delta one has cost N22 billion and they are talking about topography. What topography? Does Asaba have swampy land or hilly or what is it? Those people are corrupt. I am a senior citizen of Delta State, I will not close my eyes and allow my state to be raped by a clan.
How would you react to the allegation that you are backing the opposition, Great Ogboru?
I am not backing any opposition. We backed Great Ogboru in 2007. The meeting to back Ogboru was held at (Senator Fred) Brume’s house. And Brume wanted to contest a senatorial seat under DPP. He chickened out when they arrested him and sent him to Abuja where they put him in police custody. I went there to remove him from Police custody. They accused him that he was involved in kidnapping that he kidnaped two Indians.
Are you going to endorse Ogboru again?
No! We are going to dialogue both with Mr. President and the national chairman of the party. If we present our case and the President says let it be so, it is a different case. But if we also convince him that Uduaghan is not a fit and proper to rule Delta State, how do you say you are fighting corruption when Uduaghan is covering Ibori’s corruption and misdeeds in Delta?
But the EFCC has said it has no case against Uduaghan…
That is Uduaghan’s propaganda. The EFCC is probing IPP in Oghara. No due process was followed in awarding the Oghara IPP and N14 billion was paid. Where are the invoices, where are the documents? It is their document. Who are the other competitors? No due process was followed to award a N25 billion contract. Go to the site now, the place is bushy, the sign board is broken and fallen. Even if the machineries will take one year to arrive, what about the buildings where these things are going to be installed? Virtually all the road projects are abandoned. Things are very bad.
As a PDP elder, would you be happy if Delta State falls to the opposition?
That is not the question. I am a PDP man. In 2007, there was no election. Three and half years after, the court said this injustice must be cured. They said this kind of thing could not happen in civilised countries. Is that not an indictment on Ibori and Uduaghan?
Uduaghan’s supporters said he regards you as a father. If he comes to you for settlement, what will be your response?
We have no personal issues. All I am saying is that I cannot settle with Uduaghan at the expense of the generality of the people in Delta State. The welfare of the people of Delta is of paramount interest to me. So, settling with Uduaghan will not solve the problem.
It is not by saying, ‘I am sorry, I will not do it again.’ He has harmed people. We have the most impoverished people in this country. Our state is going down. Teachers were employed, for a whole year, none of them got paid.
He has done much damage. The street light in Asaba is being powered by generator. They said they spent N250 million on Efurun Roundabout, what is there at Efurun Roundabout? Building cinema everywhere? We are tired, enough is enough.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/why-i%E2%80%99m-after-uduaghan-edwin-clark/

Melaye outsmarts securitymen, sits in chamber


THURSDAY, 09 DECEMBER 2010 00:00 NIGERIAN COMPASS

•Court orders payment of suspended lawmakers’ allowances since June •Each to get N92m

Wole Oladimeji, Kunle Olasanmi & Julius Toba, Abuja

Despite strong security measures put in place by the leadership of the House of Representatives to prevent suspended members from entering the National Assembly Complex, Dino Melaye and Solomon Awinawih yesterday entered the chamber of the House unhindered in fulfilment of the verdict of a Federal High Court, Abuja, declaring their suspension as illegal.
Melaye and other suspended members were prevented from entering the complex on Tuesday, a situation which led to a serious commotion for several hours before they decided to leave the gate with a vow to participate in yesterday’s sitting.
Fellow lawmakers were shocked when they saw Melaye and Awinawih at the chamber, seated in their midst for Speaker Dimeji Bankole to commence the day proceedings. Some civil servants were seen chanting victory songs in support of the suspended members.
But Independence Ogunewe, who came in a bit late, was prevented from entering the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arm, Col Emeka Okere (rtd), who claimed that he was acting on powers from above.
The Deputy Speaker, Usman Bayero Nafada, while reacting to the presence of the embattled lawmakers, said: “You know that an Abuja Court ruled against our action and as law abiding members, we will abide by the court ruling. Since the matter is being referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the committee would continue investigation and present its report on Tuesday.”
Melaye arrived in a Passat car with registration number FB 107 ADC Abuja while Ogunewe came in with a Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number GE 954 ABC. Other members were prevented from entering when the embarrassment was becoming unbearable.
After staying for over 10 minutes, the two lawmakers came out to address journalists over their victory after signing the attendance register, saying that the victory would definitely strengthen democracy.
Explaining how they outsmarted security agents detailed to prevent them from entering the chamber, Melaye said: “We applied the Umaru Dikko style. It is not important how I came in but the most important thing is that we went in, we signed the register, I sat down, I also got the order paper of the day.
“It is good to be back. I came in, using the Umaru Dikko style. A notice for a stay of action or application and appeal does not constitute an order for me not to enter the chamber. What they need is a superior judgement but they have failed. The stay is to block me from coming in, unfortunately, I have come in, I will go back to my office the same way and manner I came in here.”
Awinawih thanked God for the victory, saying: “The victory is to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. We will continue to do what is right so that we can lay a good foundation for our children.
Ogunewe, who was prevented from entering the chamber, told the Sergeant-at-Arm that he does not need to be served the court judgement. “You just told me now that you are acting on the directive from above therefore, your not being served is not tenable.
“You do not need to be served. You just told me now that you are acting on a directive to disregard a court order. Only recently, you got a court order when your daughter was molested by the Nigerian Navy and later got a compensation of N100 million. It is very unfortunate for a Nigerian like you who rose to the position of Colonel in the army to disregard an order from a similar court with jurisdiction
“I want it to be on record that this singular act of yours is capable of making you to be joined in a suit that would redress this anomaly,” he added.
Hundreds of youths were seen at the complex, expressing solidarity with Melaye and others.
Also yesterday, Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, ordered the immediate payment of the allowances of the lawmakers.
Justice Bello, while delivering his judgement in the suit filed by the only woman among the lawmakers, Doris Uboh, also nullified the suspension of Uboh on the ground that the leadership of the House has no power to suspend her indefinitely.
Justice Bello, last week, nullified the indefinite suspension slammed on Melaye and others.
Counsel to Uboh, Mr. Alex Williams, said his client would ensure the enforcement of the judgement.
Williams said: ‘’We are marching toward proper democracy. Justice Bello has again restore our confidence in judiciary. The court has given us hope again. The court ordered in clear terms that their emolument should be paid.
‘’Since the illegal action has been voided, they should be entitled to their allowances.”
Last week, the suspension imposed on the lawmakers on June 22 for their alleged complicity in a brawl in the House was declared as illegal, unlawful, null, void and unconstitutional and was set aside for being of no effect.
The lawmakers, who went home rejoicing after they got a favourable judgement from the court, are Melaye, Awinawih, Abbas Nas, Bitrus Kaze and Independence Ogunewe.
Two others suspended along with them, Gbenga Oduwaiye and Kayode Jelili Amusan, who initially stayed away from court action to seek redress, have filed two suits to challenge the legality of their suspension.
The judge held that the House acted in breach of its own standing order by placing the lawmakers on indefinite suspension when in law, the House can only suspend erring members for 14 legislative days only. Justice Bello agreed that the House has power to discipline any erring members but held that such powers must be exercised within the ambit of the law.
It would be recalled that another suspended lawmaker, Olugbenga Onigbogi, had opted to settle his case with the Speaker out of court and withdrawn from the suit.
Melaye and five others had approached Justice Bello to stop Bankole from further preventing them from performing their legislative functions.
In their joint motion argued by Mr. Femi Falana, the embattled lawmakers insisted that they were elected for a tenure of four years and that neither the Speaker nor anybody has any right to cut the tenure short for any reason.
They claimed that their suspension had denied their respective constituencies representation in the lower chamber of the National Assembly and urged the court to set aside the suspension slammed on them on June 22, pending the final determination of their main suit.
With the verdict, each of the seven lawmakers is entitled to N92 million. The sum is made up of a monthly salary of N1.35 million per ordinary member of the House and allowances, including N42 million paid into the bank account of each member on a quarterly basis.
The quarterly allowance is referred to as ‘collapse fund’ and derives from allowances such as committee sittings, local and overseas trips, health, conferences, entertainment and maintenance of offices, among others.

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71241:melaye-outsmarts-securitymen-sits-in-chamber&catid=43:news&Itemid=799

Singaporean investors to stake N195b on Lekki port project


THURSDAY, 09 DECEMBER 2010 00:00 BY TAIWO HASSAN BUSINESS SERVICES - BUSINESS NEWS

A THIRD maritime gateway may soon emerge in Lagos, as investors from Singapore have concluded plans to invest about $1.3 billion (N195 billion) on Lekki Port, at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, in Lagos.

Stating this during a facility tour of the Apapa Terminal Ports/Tincan Island Terminal Ports in Lagos, on Tuesday, the leader of the Singaporean delegation, Mr. Mathew Chang, said the mission was to understudy the nation’s two biggest and largest ports, to identify the required technology needed to build the proposed Lekki terminal.

According to him, the terminal would be the first deep sea port in the whole of West Africa, with the state-of-art-technology.

Chang explained that the government of Singapore was interested in the completion of the port, which he said, was strategic to both countries in their economic ties.
The Lekki port has been projected to come on-stream in 2015.

Besides, the port would be an export and import terminal, with a draft of 40 metres, expected to contain volume of containers at a particular time.

During the delegation’s courtesy visit to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in Lagos, Chang said that Nigeria possesses the hub for African market in the maritime sector, adding that their intention was to compliment the abundant potentials the country possesses in the sector.

Chang, who was representing JURONG Port in Singapore said that the Environmental Impact Analysis on the Lekki terminal had been completed, noting that major construction work was ongoing, with the aim of delivering the project ahead of the scheduled period.

The Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Abdulsalam, said the coming of the investors was strategic not only to the nation’s maritime sector, but to the economy as a whole.

Abdulsalam stressed that NPA was encouraged by the keen interest shown by the investors in Africa, and by choosing the Nigerian maritime sector.
According to him, government would provide an enabling environment to operators of the Lekki Free Trade Zone to ensure that all investments in the area are aimed at the nation’s economic growth.

He said that the authority has been working with the promoters of the Lekki terminal project to ensure that it is successful, adding that the project was very strategic for economic growth because of its strategic nature and where it was sited.
According to him, the setting up of the nation’s two biggest and largest ports in the city was already generating lots of challenges especially in the area of traffic jams and congestion, adding that the setting up of the Lekki Port Terminal, would open other business potential opportunities for importers/ exporters of goods and services.

“Most of our ports are located in the cities. Traffic is the major challenge that we are having now. Already, there is traffic being caused by port activities. So, we see the Lekki port project is strategic to the nation’s economy, because of its efficiency and location as it would open other doors of opportunities to importers and exporters of goods and services, “ he added.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31789:singaporean-investors-to-stake-n195b-on-lekki-port-project&catid=31:business&Itemid=562

The shanty boy

BY PATIENCE OGBO

December 8, 2010 11:12PM


Five-year-old Ayo Olaniyi is not in school like other children.

At four he had started fending for himself, by running errands for adults at Otto/Ilogbo slum community in the Ebute Metta area of the state in exchange for a roof over his head. Ayo’s plight began at age two, when his parents separated. His father, Eweola Olaniyi, lost all his property and money to the fire that gutted the over hundred shanties at the slum in February this year. Mrs Olaniyi reportedly walked away from the marriage when things became too difficult, taking her one-year-old daughter along and leaving Ayo, then aged two, with his father.

And then, it got worse when Mr Olaniyi passed away in April 2009. Subsequently, Ayo was left with no family member to cater for him. He is surviving on the charity of the community, which has over twenty thousand slum dwellers. The residents were also affected by the fire that destroyed most of the shanties. They said they made frantic efforts to locate Ayo’s mother or any of his relations, to no avail. “Ayo stayed with me for a while but he is just roaming about in this place,” said Ishola Musbua, the Chairman of the Otto/Ilogbo Community Development Association. “And the residents take turn to cater for him. Today he will eat in this house, tomorrow he will go to another house to eat and bath so his situation is pathetic and we want the government to come to his rescue.”

Seeking government’s help

NEXT investigations revealed that Ayo’s father, the late Mr Olaniyi, was a native of Idanre in Ekiti State, while his mother, Zainab Olaniyi, is from Kwara State. Ayo is presently staying with one Oladapo Shodia, a father of three, who resides in a room shanty at Otto slum. “Ayo has been staying with me and my family for the past one year,” he said. “Our house is just a shanty because since the fire incident, we are barely surviving here at Otto. Initially, he was going to school, but I cannot cater for his schooling needs for now, because things are tight for me and my family. The boy needs a good home, and his mother is nowhere to be found. Every day, you see him wandering in the community and picking up dirt to eat, until somebody will take pity on him and give him something to eat. So life is hard for the boy and government should not neglect him. Since his father died, we have tried to locate his mother, and his family but no success yet, so government and good people should come and take Ayo to a better home.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5651145-146/story.csp

‘Don’t Use Siren In My Convoy’ – Aregbesola Warns Drivers

•Cautions Them On Reckless Driving

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, had begun to show decency and discipline in his administration, as he has warned the drivers in his convoy against the use of siren during any of his outings.
The governor has also warned the drivers in his convoy against driving recklessly, saying that reckless driving could cause serious danger to other road users in the state.
Aregbesola gave the warning to the drivers of the vehicles in his convoy, apparently when he observed that the drivers, who were also in the convoy of the impostor Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration, were being reckless in their driving.
The governor told the drivers that the use of siren and reckless driving in his convoy would do no good to the other road users and the entire people of the state, rather, it could create fear and shock in the people of the state.
His belief was that if shock and fear are created within the people of the state who elected him into office, his dream of changing the face of the state for good before the international community would be defeated.
Aregbesola cautioned the drivers to always maintain their lane whenever they are driving, noting that any of the drivers who failed to yield to his warning would be dealt with by the appropriate authority.
It is however observed that the drivers have adjusted and made amendments in their driving and the use of siren as against the practice when Oyinlola was illegally ruling the state, as the drivers were known for reckless driving without being cautioned.
Meanwhile, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Oyinlola was, on several occasions, advised by some government officials to caution the drivers against reckless driving, but Oyinlola reportedly expressed his fear of being attacked by the people of the state who were aggrieved against his illegal stay in office.
Oyinlola, during his tenure in office was known for the use of siren and reckless driving by his drivers, a situation that had subjected many people to shocks and led to several accidents where many people had sustained injuries and even death.
It would be recalled shortly after the April 14, 2007 election, Oyinlola’s convoy hit an Okada rider along Osogbo-Ikirun road, the course of which could not be divulged from reckless driving, a situation that claimed the lives of two passengers of the motorcycle.
Among others, the convoy also hit another Okada rider at Onward Area of Osogbo, the state capital sometimes, a situation that led to serious injuries sustained by the commercial motorcyclist.
By kazeem mohammed

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=10886

Nigeria’s airports most embarrassing – Mark

sDec 8, 2010

By Inalegwu Shaibu

ABUJA—Senate President, David Mark, Wednesday described Nigerian airports as the most embarrassing, saying the poor states of the nation’s airports could hamper the realisation of Vision 20:2020.
Senator Mark made the damning remark at the end of a debate on the report of the investigative hearing on the power outage at the international wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Sunday,  May 9, 2010, submitted by the Senate Committee on Aviation.
Mark said: “All our airports are major source of embarrassment. Even the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport is becoming an embarrassment. I was in South Africa for the World Cup and none of our airports here is up to the standard of what I saw there. I do not know whether those who run our airports travel.
“Something seriously needs to be done about the state of our airports if we need to develop as a nation. We talk about 20:2020, but these are the variables that can make that possible.
“The environment at the airports is dirty, everything is wrong with our airports, it is either the conveyor belts are not working, or lift not working or even the air conditioning not working. We need to really improve.”
FAAN should be overhauled
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayim Udeh, while presenting the report to the Senate, attributed the power failure at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to obsolete equipment and poor management of airport facilities by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
He said “the main reason for the outage was  insulation failure of the short-circuiting. This short-circuiting was as a result of the degradation of the cable insulating medium. The cables had witnessed natural ageing, bearing in mind that the installations were more than 32 years old.”
The report also accused the management of FAAN of gross corruption and mismanagement of funds and recommended to the Federal Government that it should be overhauled.
It also traced the failure of FAAN to properly manage airport facilities to the N17. 9 billion owed it by government agencies. and concessionaries companies.
The report reads, “The total debt owed to FAAN has risen to N17, 939, 543, 233. Maevis Limited one of the concessionaires failed to collect a total debt of N4, 579, 404, 567 owed by other concessionaires. Bi-Courtney Air Services Limited, owed it a total sum of N1, 002, 124, 883.”
Senators in their in contributions to the debate attested to the decaying infrastructures in Nigerian airports, which they said posed serious threat to the growth of the economy.
Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, PDP, Cross River in his contribution bemoaned the poor states of Nigerian airports, noting that there must be a comprehensive government policy to address the problems in the aviation sector.
“The outage in one airport speaks of negligence, decay and corruption in all our airports. It is only in Nigeria that our airports have remained the same since they have been built. Murtala Muhammed Airport was built 35 years ago with two conveyor belts, nothing has changed.”
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who also decried the poor states of airports in the country, said the singular power failure in Lagos Airport is a reflection of the general power problem in the country, which must be tackled headlong.
“This is another time for us to reflect on the power problems in our country. If we have sufficient energy supply in our country, I do not think what happened would have happened. We need to do whatever it takes to increase the power supply in our country,” he stressed.
The Senate at the end of deliberation on the report recommended that “The Federal Government should carry out a total overhaul of the management of FAAN in order to deal with the corruption and incompetence in the operational system of the organisation.
“That FAAN should dispense with the services of Maevis Limited since it was unable to add value to its revenue.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/nigerias-airports-most-embarrassing-mark/

(ON)GOING CONCERNS: Sanusi, Akunyili and the road rarely travelled

By Tolu Ogunlesi

December 8, 2010 02:28PMT

The Nigerian Big Man is essentially a man (or woman) who derives his power from the (relative) powerlessness of those around him. A Big Man may or may not have a Big Stomach, but a Big Ego is sine qua non. And of course, money. Loads of it, often acquired illegally. Big Men also prefer to move in groups, something to do with a fine appreciation of the advantages inherent in the deployment of a mob mentality.

Early this year, a band of Big Men rose to prominence. Going by the name "Federal Executive Council", they decided to hold the nation to ransom during the crisis that followed the disappearance of President Yar'Adua. On Wednesday, January 27, more than sixty days after the president vanished, they rose from a meeting to declare, "the president is not incapable of discharging the functions of his office".

An even more powerful mob (in terms of its capacity to maintain a murderous grip on Nigeria) is the one known as the "Governors Forum". Abandoning their constitutional duties, they turn to clandestine meetings, seeking to manipulate whoever is president. They always selfishly want something: a share of the Excess Crude account, the right to produce the vice president, or president, Then there is the mob that has been in the news lately. They go by the name "National Assembly", and like to think of themselves as "Honorables", but everyone knows that is a private joke gone public, and that if you're looking for ‘Honour', the farther you move away from the premises of the National Assembly, the more likely you are to stumble into her.

These people apparently swore an oath to faithfully divide Nigeria's commonwealth amongst themselves (‘so help us God!') - through increasingly inventive schemes: Constituency Allowances, Furniture Allowances, Contract Awards. Their houses are always in need of refurbishment, their cars in need of replacement; their office carpets and printer toners have the shortest life spans this side of eternity. As a friend put it in a Facebook status update: "Never in the history of Nigerian political endeavour has so much been paid by so many to so few."

But the truth is that no one pays this mob, they pay themselves, and exactly how much no one has the foggiest idea. Arguably their most striking characteristic is prickliness in the face of criticism. Which is puzzling, because one would think that all the money they feed on would at least thicken their skins. But no, this is one petulant bunch; think "Nigeria's most prestigious kindergarten" and you wouldn't be far from the truth.

This is why Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi's encounter with this mob - in which he accurately labelled it a drain on the country's economy - should go down in history as one of the most memorable moments of 2010. As is customary, our Machiavellian mob instantly fished out its favourite poison - a fermented mix of blackmail and bullying, bearing no expiry date - and is now obsessed with getting Sanusi to take a sip.

It has queried his character; wondered aloud if he's enjoying his job. An unfazed Sanusi responded in words that should be pasted in every government office, every school building, across Nigeria: "My name is Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, not ‘Central Bank Governor'. I enjoy my job but if you want me to quit, I will honourably quit."

Of course, that answer must have flown right over the heads of our distinguished mob - a bunch for whom "quitting honourably" is an abomination; for whom life would be hopelessly incomplete without the "Senator" or "Honourable" prefixing their names. Sanusi brought a smile to my face. My ‘Nigeria's Persons of the Year' list is taking shape. Sanusi is in, joining Dora Akunyili, who, you will recall, declared, most memorably, in the heat of the Yar'Adua constitutional crisis: "I am the Minister of Information for the Federal Republic of Nigeria but if you ask me, I have no information about this matter."

I have chosen to ignore Akunyili's "Naija" misadventures (blame it on boredom) and focus instead on her ‘greater good'. I will also be the first to acknowledge that Lamido Sanusi is not a perfect man. I think he sometimes talks too much, far too much for a Central Bank Governor. And then there are those bow ties, but let's leave that for another day. Nigeria, however, doesn't need perfect men and women. No.

To give an idea of what Nigeria needs, I will quote from the article I wrote ("Wonder Woman" praising Dora Akunyili, after she broke ranks with the Federal Executive Council earlier in the year: "At this hour, this minute, we need more people speaking truth to power, especially from WITHIN the corridors of power. There are enough of us outsiders trying our best, screaming from the rooftops and marketplaces and newsrooms, from the Facebook status updates and twitter pages."

Speaking truth to power from the inside, Sanusi (Central Bank Governor; grandson of a former Emir of Kano - what could be more "Northern Elite" than that?) - a man who should be the archetypal Establishment Man - has chosen to stare our rapacious lawmakers in the face, without blinking. I doff my hat.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Opinion/Columns/5651261-182/story.csp

Foreign loan amounts to electoral fraud, says CPC

By Ifedayo Adebayo

December 8, 2010 04:11PM

The Congress for Progressive Change has described the intention of the federal government to obtain a foreign loan as “part of election fraud.” The party equally said the timing of the loan is suspicious especially considering the fact that the general elections is just some months ahead.

It said since the tenure of a number of political appointees at all levels of governance is almost coming to an end, the loans could be used to facilitate their elections ‘rather than the purpose they are meant to serve.’

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Aghanya Dennis praised former President Olusegun Obasanjo saying the former number one citizen delivered Nigeria from the hands of the Paris Club by ensuring that all our foreign debts were cancelled.

“But within a space of time the current regime came into power, our foreign reserve which had earlier gone up was not only depleted but our debt profile also went up in a geometrical order,” Mr Dennis said. “As if this development is not worrisome enough, there is another request before the senate to give another approval for both the state and federal government to borrow to the tune of about 20 billion US Dollars.”

Mortgaged future

The party said although some of the states said they intend to use the loans for capacity building and manpower development, while others said it is for provision of infrastructures, this might change once the money gets to them.

“During the debate at the Senate, some of the Senators who were in support of the loan canvassed for it on the bases that for the next 10 years the country would have to pay nothing, but such argument does not put into consideration what becomes the fate of our children who would inherit the burden of such borrowing,” the CPC said. “Definitely, no loan is interest free and as such must be paid some time. You don’t cross a bridge and want it to collapse. What of those coming behind?” The congress called on Nigerians, especially civil society organizations to come out and resist the approval of such loan.

“Nobody should be allowed to mortgage the future of our youth. We should be responsible parents and consider the future of our children while making and implementing any government policies. The CPC is against these loans under any guise,” he said.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5651231-146/foreign_loan_amounts_to_electoral_fraud.csp

Clerics trade words over Gbemi Saraki’s endorsement

By Emmanuel Addeh, Ilorin

Wednesday, 8 Dec 2010

The ripples created in Kwara State by the endorsement of Senator Gbemisola Saraki, sister to the incumbent Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki, further deepened on Tuesday with two main Islamic groups trading words on the matter.


While the Supreme Council for Ullamah led by Ustaz Mustapha Balogun described those opposed to the emergence of the lawmaker as ‘quack Islamic scholars,’ the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, Kwara State chapter led by its Administrative Secretary, Ahamad Abdullahi, termed those in support of the senator’s bid as ‘Kangaroo groups.’


The two respected Islamic groups have been fighting over the recent ‘anointment’ of the senator to pick the governorship flag of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state next year, a development that has sharply divided the influential Muslim community in the state.


The SCSN had in a letter to Dr. Olusola Saraki, father of the sitting governor, noted that the endorsement of the senator was “wrong and against the tenets of Islam.”


However, while defending the position of the SCU in a statement made available to The Punch in Ilorin, Balogun stated, “Those who are opposed to a female as the next governor of Kwara State on the basis Shariah are quack scholars in Islam.


“In fact, Islam considers mankind as one family and all members of the family are alike in the face of Allah and before the law revealed by him. There is no difference between the rich and poor, the high and low and male or female.”


He maintained that the religion had warned of the “disastrous consequences of discrimination and inequality for a nation,” adding that though women were saddled with the upbringing of children, there was nothing against them taking part in politics.


On its part, the SCSN said, “We want to intimate the general public of some unknown religious groups who are causing confusion among Muslims. The SCU or any other Kangaroo group is not recognised or known to the SCSN.


“Ours is to practise and preach the tenets of Islam. These unknown Islamic groups are mere campaign agents, political sycophants, traitors or unrepentant religious hypocrites who are aimed at infiltrating the activities of our council.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012082153987

Letter To Rauf Aregbesola

BY Tunde Fagbenle

December 08, 2010

My dear Comrade Rauf,

Mo yo fun o, mo yo fun’ra mi! Of course you know that’s the touching refrain of the eyo (the Lagos traditional masquerade) to those they are pleased with, celebrating life. It translates simply: I rejoice for you, I rejoice for myself.

Unlike the Ekiti judgment that caught us all napping, this time we had all ears and eyes open like an expectant father on the wife’s day in labour. Even as the four-hour long judgement (an hour for each stolen year?) of the Appeal Court was being tediously read, I kept exchanging texts with those in the court room (labour room) demanding to know of the outcome, if the “baby” had arrived! The responses: “judgment still being read”, “judgment still being read”; then suddenly came: “Rauf is governor!”

For a moment I was speechless. I did not jump excitedly. The moment was overwhelming. Tears welled in my eyes. Then that feeling, that eyo refrain: mo yo fun o Rauf, mo yo fun’ra mi. I surely was happy for me, I am happy for Osun peoples. And that feeling is not mine alone, it is one exuded by all Osun people I know, my friends. It’s a new dawn!

The euphoria is everywhere and with everyone. My friend, Dr. Wale Oloyede, a retired top civil servant in Abuja called and said he was now ready to go to Osun and work, and for FREE! Nothing better captures the feeling of liberation and of the urgency for concerted efforts to reclaim Osun. Of course you know my son, Kunle, the attorney in the United States. He called to congratulate me. I told him it was time for cake-baking, not cake-sharing. Time for all Osun people to work to turn Osun into the pacesetter state we dreamt of 19 years ago in 1991 when it was created.

I remember that occasion very clearly. I jumped into the plane and flew down to Nigeria. Everyone, everywhere, was excited. We all rolled up our sleeves and got down to work. Col Leo Ajiborisa was the Military Administrator of the new State. I got my company, Alfa Communications Ltd, supported by the new government, to organise a weeklong seminar that brought together all and sundry – from the academia, the professions, etc – to brainstorm and produce a “blueprint” for jumpstarting and propelling the new state to greatness. It was a wonderful moment.

Unfortunately, Ajiborisa’s kick-starting administration was soon over and that “blueprint” rested somewhere gathering dust with successive regimes; and downwards Osun spiralled.

Ours, not only in Osun but in the larger Yoruba nation, has been a history of repeated great hopes repeatedly greatly dashed. No time filled us as Yoruba peoples with collective fervour and loftier expectations than in 1998 as our struggle for June 12 and assertion of our rights to choose who governs us succeeded in forcing the military out and bringing the entire Yoruba nation under one political umbrella, the AD Party. Emerging from the ethnic torture and siege mentality wrought on us by the despotic General Sani Abacha, we were filled with a sense of urgency to move the Yoruba nation forward and rediscover the pace-setting force of the Awolowo years when the Western Region established so many First-in-Africa institutions and technological innovations.

We were not going to ‘leave’ Nigeria, but we were going to leave the rest of Nigeria behind.

Then what happened? Moment by moment, little by little, our ranks were infiltrated by recidivist mainstreamers whose notion of politics is “come and chop”, whose notion of federalism is what is in Abuja to share, and whose notion of governance is reducing their peoples to paupers and beggars. Little by little the people died or left these shores for better clime abroad, victims of leaders who knew nothing about progressive governance, of freeing the space for the people’s ingenuity and creative spirit to develop to raise internally generated revenue to such self-reliant level to make the Abuja monthly dole mere icing on the cake.

Rauf, I am writing to remind you, before you get swamped by officialdom and surrounded and cornered by the bastards in our midst – sycophants and thieves – to remember the history of why we are where we are today, and also to always remember your promises to your people and to your God. We shall hold you to them.

I am cheered by the knowledge of you as an intrepid and dogged fighter imbued with the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Obafemi Awolowo, and other great sages you have studiously followed. You are a young man but you have the wisdom of the ancient. You are also lucky to have cut your teeth under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whose style of leadership has brought great advancement to Lagos State – especially through his successor, Babatunde Fashola – and also provided the sustenance for your torturous legal struggle to reclaim your mandate.

You will need all the support you can get, and once the people can trust you and see that your passion is matched by transparency, honesty, and fairness, they will file behind you. They will rally round to protect you against the evil machinations of the powerful traditional and political leaders who have disappointed them in the past, desecrating their hallowed stools through unwholesome deeds; leaders without any iota of integrity left, who have sold their people to Abuja in the past for personal gains. Nothing but crooked contractors themselves in whom it has been our collective misfortune to hand our cultural glory, they are in cahoot with the crooked and are quick to inveil them with honours of our patrimony. They are cog in the wheel of progress of the Yoruba nation. You will come to no harm as you serve them what they deserve in our forward march.

There is no greater proof that the judgment that brings you to power is righteous and reflects the people’s votes than the spontaneous and massive celebration that greeted it all over Osun and beyond, from Osogbo to Okuku, from Ilesha to Ile-Ife, from Ila to Igbajo!

And this is why I am joyous for Osun. By that judgment and the start of your first four years as governor, Osun State is suddenly relieved of the horrors that stared us in the face. Horrors of the prospect of even worse brigands and murderers coming to power in 2011 through whatever means they would have devised again to thwart the wishes of the electorate; horrors of murder, horrors of mayhem, horrors of unrest, horrors of continued underdevelopment. Now, they’ve all been sent packing, they and their godfathers with all their ill-gotten wealth. Now we can breathe. Thank goodness!

With Fashola in Lagos, Fayemi in Ekiti, Mimiko in Ondo and Oshiomhole in Edo, a fresh wind of change is blowing across the Yoruba nation that is bound to sweep Ogun and Oyo soon, and once again my spirit resurges with hope – hope that, though I am somewhat well in years, I may yet witness a region that fulfils the dream of Obafemi Awolowo of “freedom for all, life more abundant”, a region that becomes the pride of Black peoples all over the world in progressive governance, in technology, in the sciences, and in the arts.

Hafsat Abiola, that cerebral daughter of our martyrs of democracy, MKO and Kudirat Abiola, shares this hope with me as she reminds us of Lenin’s statement, that: “there are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen”, wondering, “could these events build enough momentum to swing the votes in April against PDP?”

It is a new dawn. Congratulations.

Fraternally yours,

TF

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/tunde-fagbenle/letter-to-rauf-aregbesola.html

Traffic gridlock in Effurun as Ogboru returns

NewsDec 8, 2010

WARRI — FOR more than two hours after he arrived the Osubi Airport, Osubi, near Warri, Delta State, in a chartered aircraft, at about 12.40 p.m. yesterday, gubernatorial candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, could not get to Effurun, less than five minutes away, because of the massive crowd that came to receive him.
He was drowned in a sea of supporters, mainly people from his Urhobo-speaking area, as Effurun town was locked up in a traffic jam with no movement of vehicles. He, however, managed to get to the venue of the rally by his party with security agents shooting indiscriminately into the air to pave way for him.
Speaking at the rally ground, he said he would give N100 million to each local government area in the state on a monthly basis to ensure development if elected as Governor of the state.
But one of his backers, former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, was conspicuously absent.
With pineapple, the symbol of his party, in his hand, Ogboru, popularly known as “Peoples General” by his supporters, said he had returned home to commence the battle for the re-run election.
He said the former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors of the state came to destroy the state, while he came to bring light to the people.
“We have come for a change, we will give you a sunshine programme, we will see the light again.We will give this state an opportunity for equal development of the local government areas under our Equal Opportunity Development Local Government Development Initiative,” he added.
Each local government will develop at its own space”.
He said his government would not embark on white elephant projects, saying that the battle for change in the state had just started.
National chairman of the party, General Jeremiah Useni (rtd) who was represented by the deputy national chairman, General Bashir Magaji (rtd) said the party came in solidarity with Ogboru to Delta state, adding that with what he had seen on ground, there was no doubt that the DPP would win the re_run polls in the state.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/traffic-gridlock-in-effurun-as-ogboru-returns/

There ‘ll be vacancy in Aso Rock in May 29, 2011 – Atiku

NewsDec 8, 2010

…says Anenih, a political ‘dead duck’

By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—A Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar yesterday tongue lashed the former Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the party, Chief Tony Anenih urging Nigerians not to take him as a serious person because of his antecedents.
Atiku who described Anenih as a political soothsayer, stressed that come May 29, 2011, there will be vacancy in Aso Rock as a new President would emerge, just as he said the former BoT chairman was a political “dead duck, struggling for relevance.
According to a statement from his Campaign Office yesterday, the former Vice President said, “Nigerians should be wary of the utterances of Anenih. The sovereignty lies with the people and not with Anenih. He does not have the mandate to speak on behalf of the people who are yet to cast their votes in the 2011 elections.
“No Vacancy” was the same battle cry Anenih used to win favour with the late Gen. Sani Abacha, former President Obasanjo and now Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is his latest victim in his desperation to reclaim relevance.
“It wonder how Anenih who has no political space in his home state in Edo State because of his widespread unpopularity, can now promise the Presidency to someone else.
Atiku who described Anenih as a drag on Nigerian democracy, said it was ridiculous to describe the presidency not vacant when the President himself has pledged to conduct free and fair elections, adding, “If indeed, the Presidency is not vacant, then there is no reason to conduct a presidential election in 2011 because the winner is already known according to Anenih’s odd theory of democracy,” the Campaign stated.
It warned President Jonathan to distance himself from Anenih and his ilk or risk losing credibility in his avowed commitment to free and fair elections in 2011.
According to the Campaign, Anenih has no iota of credibility in the political life of Nigeria because of his infamous records of treachery, rigging and dishonor, adding, Anenih is as “an unstable politician, even as it recalled how Anenih abandoned the late Chief MKO Abiola to his fate after late General Sani Abacha took over in November 1993, adding, “As the Chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, on which platform Abiola contested the election, he (Anenih) chickened out rather than fighting like a man to defend Abiola’s mandate.
“He was an opportunist who fixed an appointment for himself with the late Abacha military regime while Abiola was languishing in jail. And while serving the Abacha administration, he became a major political consultant for the actualization of the General Abacha’s self-succession agenda.
“He took his anti-democratic tendencies to a new low in justifying the hanging of the late Ogoni activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others when he granted an interview to the BBC in 1997 during the Commonwealth Summit in Scotland.
“Mr. Anenih, who described himself as an observer during the interview because Nigeria was under suspension at the time, maintained that, the Ogoni activists were duly convicted by the Abacha government.
“It was the same Tony Anenih that declared that Aso Rock was not vacant because of plan to cause massive rigging and destroy voter sovereignty.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/there-ll-be-vacancy-in-aso-rock-in-may-29-2011-atiku/

Alleged bogus salary: Afenifere flays N-Assembly

NewsDec 8, 2010

By Dapo Akinrefon

SOUTH-WEST socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has berated members of the National Assembly over what it described as the “stupendous salaries and allowances” they have awarded themselves.
Afenifere also lampooned the political parties for betraying the trust and responsibility bestowed on them by Nigerians by not calling the National Assembly to order.
In a statement, its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti said “our leading political parties being PDP, ANPP, ACN, APGA, DPP and Labour, all having seats in the National Assembly have betrayed the trust and responsibility incumbent upon those presenting the individuals for elective positions, by not condemning the outrageous looting of our collective wealth by administrative fiat by our self serving legislators.”
Fasoranti argued that “these political parties are so insensitive to the needs and aspiration of the populace, that they have not deemed it necessary to express the disgust and derision of the Nigerian people to the unbridled kleptomania of these 4th Republic rulers in the stupendous salary and allowances they have awarded themselves.”
He further argued that by this act both the leaders of the political parties and the legislators have proven themselves to be rulers indeed and not Leaders adding that “this official kleptomania must be arrested. The forthcoming election is an opportunity to effect a peaceful change in the polity by rejecting all the Parties currently represented in the National Assembly at the polls. Now is the time for change.”
The Afenifere boss, however, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to set up commission of enquiry to probe the financial activities of the National Assembly.
“We are calling for a Commission of enquiry by law enforcement agencies into the details of the expenses for which these allowances were expended on. Criminal liabilities will arise if public funds collected for specific expenses were misapplied. It is outrageous that these individuals are collecting N198million each as Senators, and N127 million annually each as members of the House of Representatives. Chief Fasoranti has challenged the Nigerian people to rise up and take their future in their own hands,” he said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/alleged-bogus-salary-afenifere-flays-n-assembly/

[b]Nigerian, others receive Alternative Nobel Prize award[/b]s

By Ben Ezeamalu

December 8, 2010 05:58AM  


The recipients of the Right Livelihood Awards, otherwise called the Alternative Nobel Prize, were formally conferred with the honours in a ceremony in Stockholm, on Monday.

The ceremony, preceded by a press conference which held at the Swedish Parliament and presided over by Jakob von Uexkull, Founder and Co-Chair of the Award, was the climax of the announcement of the conferment of the awards to the four laureates whose activities cover human rights in the Middle East, environmental destruction through oil production, the survival of the Amazon and its people, and an inspiring example for how to overcome poverty. The recipients include a Nigerian, Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth International; Shrikrishna Upadhyay, of the organization SAPPROS; Ruchama Marton, the Founder and President of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel; and Erwin Kräutler.

Their work

Mr Bassey was honoured “for revealing the full ecological and human horrors of oil production and for his inspired work to strengthen the environmental movement in Nigeria and globally.” Erwin Krautler, from Brazil, was honoured “for a lifetime of work for the human and environmental rights of indigenous peoples and for his tireless efforts to save the Amazon forest from destruction.” Shrikrishna Upadhyay, and the organisation SAPPROS in Nepal, were recognised “for demonstrating over many years the power of community mobilisation to address the multiple causes of poverty even when threatened by political violence and instability.” Due to the loss of a family member, Mr Upadhyay was represented by Jyoti Bhattarai, his daughter, and Narendra Bahadur, the Executive Director of SAPPROS. The organisation, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, was awarded “for their indomitable spirit in working for the right to health for all people in Israel and Palestine,” and represented in Stockholm by its president and founder, Ruchama Marton.

Uniting against environmental degradation

Mr Bassey, in his statement at the press conference, urged people around the world to join hands and stand against rampaging corporate interests to defend our planet and build a sane future.” “With about 60 percent of the world’s crude oil reserves already exhausted, it is stunning to see policy makers believing they can run into eternity on less than half a tank,” he said. “As the world seeks cheap energy, someone has to pay for it. With regard to the fossil fuel sector, those paying the price for others to enjoy are the communities on whose territories oil is found, the degraded environments and of course the global atmosphere.”

While describing the extent of poverty in Asia, Mr. Bahadur insisted that ‘the poor must become subjects of development rather than objects’. “Nepal has the highest level of poverty in South Asia,” he said. “Two-thirds of our population are poor, which contributes to the persistence of conflict. Yet, Nepalese experience has shown that we can make poverty history if we trust the ingenuity of the poor. To help the poor overcome poverty, we need to adopt a holistic model of social mobilisation, which includes technology, institutional development, infrastructure, market access, and above all capacity-building to manage local resources. The poor are not the problem but part of the solution. Thus, we need to trust them.”

In a congratulatory letter by the United Nations Environment Programme, signed by its Executive Director, Achim Steiner, the agency said Mr Bassey’s “work in bringing serious environmental and human rights issues to the forefront, in particular campaign on the impacts of the oil industry in Nigeria is admirable,” adding, that, the UN agency would welcome advice from ERA on its work in Ogoniland.

The Right Livelihood Award was founded in 1980 and presented annually in the Swedish Parliament to honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing the world. It is often referred to as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize.’

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5651294-146/nigerian_others_receive_alternative_nobel_prize.csp

ABUJA HEARTBEAT: Stay where God wants you to stay

By Agoma Awaritoma

December 5, 2010 02:45AMT

‘Stay where God wants you to stay, do what God wants you to do, and say what God wants you to say.’ These are borrowed lines from one of my wife’s songs in her second album, titled ‘I am a plus’. The summary of the song is that you will be ‘a plus to your generation, a plus to your family, and a plus to your nation.’ Indeed, she ends it with ‘I am a child of God’. That means a child of obedience, hence she is a plus because she obeyed and did as God commanded.

Somebody then asked me how he would know where God wants him to stay if he does not try his hands in several things, even if he does not have the expertise.

In Abuja, the story was told of an Igbo man who worked as a bricklayer for fifteen years, with contentment. He married a wife who did not give him much problem, and they both managed whatever he was able to bring in. They sent their children to the schools around their area, living within their means.

But one day in his place of work, one big man who came to buy blocks was talking to his boss. He wanted to buy land in Apo area of Abuja and this bricklayer happened to know somebody who owns a land in that area and wanted to sell. That was how innocently, he became a middleman to honest Nigerians, who ended up paying 10% on both sides. The man was given cash and he almost went mad with joy. He opened a provision shop for his wife in Wuse market and bought himself a car.

There was a lot of drama on how he almost ran mad with about N3 million cash under his bed, on top of his chest, inside the ceiling, inside the drum of water, until it was dawn when he was advised to open an account immediately. The moral, however, is in the fact that for 15 years, the man stayed where God wanted him to stay. He did exactly what God told him to do, and in spite of the low income and the low status of his job, he did it happily and with satisfaction.

That is not the case today with a lot of people who flow with the wind, ‘anywhere belle face’, as we say in football. If they are selling yam and suddenly their neighbour selling orange is making 200% returns on oranges, they immediately change to orange. If their neighbour selling plastic buckets begins to make profit, they change again and when pure water begins to ‘move market’, they change too. They forget that the people selling those items have also made sacrifices and must have incurred some losses at the beginning. But these people are looking for short routes. They want to drive flashy cars, live in gigantic mansions, and ‘carry the chromest of babes’.

And for the women, they want already made men, not minding how he is making the money.

Reduce your greed

My friend used to organise ‘Christmas Jamboree’ in most primary schools in the FCT every December - Father Christmas, two clowns, and two cartoon characters - and they move from school to school. It was their idea and they were the owners; that was how my friend paid his staff and raised money for the beginning of the next year.

But suddenly, because he was making profit from it, almost all the school proprietors closed their gates to him and are now organising these events themselves. They have hijacked somebody’s idea and added it to their own. They have a school, they collect school fees. Now, they have collected the little means of income of this young man. How do you want him to stay where God wants him to stay?

In fact, that was exactly what I told him. That is not where God wants you to stay. That is not what God wants you to do. As a theatre practitioner, the world is open before you. When you get to where God wants you to stay, believe me, you would know. First, learn a trade or chose a vocation that you enjoy and stay there. No matter how poor the profit is, with consistency and continuity the heavens are bound to smile on you too.

But this ‘grab all and acquire all syndrome’ is what is leading directors who earn monthly salaries to be struggling with the genuine contractors. They are like the school proprietors, not allowing some people to know where God wants them to stay. If you reduce your level of greed and I reduce mine, perhaps, it will be a better place for all.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5649785-183/abuja_heartbeatstay_where_god_wants_you.csp

Obasanjo’s In-law Floors Statoil Over Agbami Oil Field

Mon Dec, 06 2010

An in-law of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, John Abebe and his company, Inducon Nigeria Limited on Monday secured a major legal victory against a Nigerian-based Norwegian oil firm, Statoil Nigeria Limited over the Agbami oil field.

A Federal High Court in Lagos held that Abebe and his company are entitled to 1.5per cent net profit interest and accruable income of the oil firm on the Agbami Oil field.

The court, presided over by Justice Charles Archibong, held that there was an agreement between Abebe and British Petroleum (BP), which later entered into alliance with Statoil.

Abebe had filed the suit complaining of breach of contractual agreement against Statoil, stressing that the oil firm reneged on its promise to pay him 1.5 percent of its income on the Agbami oil field, which was about $25 million (USD).

Justice Archibong, in a judgement on the dispute, held that it was clear that there were short- term, intermediate- term and long- term remunerations in connection with the contractual agreement, resulting to the ceding of the 1.5 percent of the oil bloc to the plaintiff (Abebe).

This commitment with the oil firm, the judge held was not terminated or abandoned with the plaintiff, even though that Statoil later resisted it after its entrance into the Nigerian economy.

In resolving the question of whether there is enforceable agreement in law between the plaintiffs and the defendant, the court held that though it appears that there was no written agreement, BP and by extension, Statoil engaged the plaintiff as partner and thereby took up the commitment of BP to the defendant.

The court further directed the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Customs, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to ensure the continuity of the 50 percent equity agreement reached by the parties.

Besides, the court appointed the firm of J.K Randle to audit the accounts of Statoil to determine its income and make a report back to the court at a date to be agreed on in February, 2011.

The auditing of the account is to be supervised by the Chief Registrar of the court, while the auditor would receive the sum of N150 million for it service.

The court, however, ruled that another reputable auditing firm may be appointed to do the job should J.K Randle declined to do it.

The court also maintained its injunction restraining Statoil from either transferring or repatriating its proceeds from the Agbami oil field pending the duration of which the full accomplishment of the text of the judgment.

Justice Archibong further awarded the sum of N500,000 as cost against the defendant and adjourned further hearing on the matter till the duration when the accounts are fully audited.

According to the matter, Abebe averred that the British Petroleum approached him sometime in April 1990, and expressed it interest in the opportunities in the Nigerian oil industry together with its partner, Statoil of Stavanger, Norway, with whom it had entered into alliance agreement.

The plaintiff (Abebe) added that he successfully secured the licenses for OPL 213, 217 and 218 respectively for the respondent.

Abebe stressed that the respondent refused to sign and give effect to the net profit interest agreement in order to frustrate him from receiving accruable income from the production of the company, which he facilitated through hardwork.

The plaintiff further averred that the defendant deliberately refused to pay him the net profit interest which is in the region of $25 million.

Abebe and Inducon, among other things, therefore urged the court to declare that they are entitled to a net profit interest of 1.5 percent out of the defendant’s interest in the Agbami oil field in consideration of the business development successes it achieved for the defendant.

But statoil in its defence, described Abebe’s claims as unfounded, adding he and his company were retained by Statoil in Nigeria throughout most of 1990s and that the contract had long been terminated.

It stated that the role of Abebe was to offer advice and assistance in connection with Statoil’s business in Nigeria and that for a period, he had a seat on the board of Statoil’s Nigerian subsidiary until the alliance it had with British Petroleum (BP) was dissolved in 1999.

Statoil wondered if there was actually an oral agreement as claimed by Abebe, why did he not use his position as the vice chairman of the oil firm from 1991 to 1997 to regularise it, stating that from the plaintiffs’ own evidence, there was no conceivable evidence to show that there was an agreement between them.

The court had, during trial, ordered Statoil to ensure that all proceeds accruing to it from the 18.5 per cent interest in the Agbami oil field operated by ChevronTexaco and located in concession acreages of OML 127 and OML 128, OML 129 and OPL 315 remain within Nigeria and not repatriated outside the shores of the country pending the final determination of the suit.

Justice Archibong had also ordered that notice of the order be served on the Ministries of Petroleum and Finance, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for them to be aware order and appropriately watch.

http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/TON/Article.aspx?id=3017

Police Chase Away Returnee Rep Members

Posted: December 7, 2010 - 16:45

By Oluokun ayorinde/Abuja

Dino Melaye, the leader of the five progressives in the House of Representatives whose suspension was voided by an Abuja High Court last week was refused entry into the National Assembly this morning.

The House of Representatives’ member who arrived at the gate of the National Assembly around 10 a.m. was barred from entering the National Assembly as the gate to the sprawling complex was locked against him. Dino however left and according to reports briefly blocked the entrance to the lawmaking building with some vehicles later.

There were reports that he may have been arrested by the Police, though this cannot be confirmed as at the time of writing this story.
It will be recalled that the leadership of the House of Representatives had filed an appeal against last week’s judgment which was in favour of Dino and his group.

The offices of the Kogi State lawmaker and those of his colleagues have also been allocated to other legislators. Attempt by Dino yesterday to eject the new occupant of his office, Buba Jubril was not successful.


Dino and members of his group were suspended following the fracas that broke out on June 22 over allegations by the Progressives that the Dimeji Bankole-led leadership of the House of Representatives mismanaged N9 billion capital vote.

—Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja

http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/police-chase-away-returnee-rep-members

Ogun PDP organizes debate for aspirants

NewsDec 7, 2010

From Kolade Larewaju

ABEOKUTA – THE Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria (PDP) in Ogun State will on Friday hold a public debate for all its aspirants at all levels for them to explain to the people their programmes.
A release by the Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the debate, Mr. Segun Sowunmi said that the debate was aimed at deepening representative democracy and increase stakeholders buy-in into the electioneering process.
Moreover, he said that the debate would also afford the party opportunity to showcase all her aspirants before the primaries. Mr. Sowunmi said that while the debate would have Chief Okanlawon
Soboyede as Chairman, Professors Kayode Oyesiku, Aare Wale Olaitan, Segun Awonusi, Yinka Oyeneye and Dr. Akin Onigbinde, Dr. Nurudeen Aliu and Dr. (Mrs) Femi Odunaike would be members of the panel.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/ogun-pdp-organizes-debate-for-aspirants/

Mimiko, Aregbesola, Fayemi meet on common strategy

By Sunday Aborisade, Akure

Tuesday, 7 Dec 2010

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday held a meeting with his Osun and Ekiti states counterparts, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and Dr. Kayode Fayemi respectively, in Akure where they unfolded plans for economic ties among their states.


The meeting also agreed to maintain a common position on the review of the 1999 Constitution that would ensure the practice of true federalism.


Fayemi, who briefed journalists after the meeting said the three states had agreed to form an economic bond that would improve the lives of their citizens.


He said the idea of integration was not about race but about contiguity between states that are neighbours and share the same geographical boundary and values.


He said, “We believe that, as progressive minded people who are also governing a well educated and enlightened people, we should find a way to synergise our programmes.


“We need to organise our states in a manner that our economies of scale would ensure better delivery of good governance. It is all about geographical contiguity.”


Fayemi said the three governors were committed to making a difference in the lives of their people.


“We want to collaborate and work closely together in the areas of power generation and distribution; we are looking at the rail system, edcation, health centre, renewable energy and other areas where we can touch on,” he added.


Fayemi said there was the need for regional integration among the states of the zone. He said the state governors should not allow complacency so that there would not be a disconnect between the government and the people of their respective states.


“We must not allow complacency. Our people love us but we have the burden of the mandate. There are lessons to learn. There are core values people know us for and these values must not be jettisoned because of politics.


“We have to deliver dividends of democracy to our people. We have ties and we must not do anything to undermine the ties. If we allow the ties to slack, the opposition will penetrate our ranks and that will not be in the interest of our people who voted us into office,” he added.


Aregbesola explained that it was not good for the three states to see themselves as separate entities because they were politically and economically connected.


The governor, who said he grew up in Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State, noted, “We should work towards integrating the policies and politics of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and continue from where the late sage’s policies that made the South-West the leading light among other regions in the country stopped.”


Mimiko congratulated the two visiting governors on their victories at the courts, and stressed the urgent need for regional integration to be coordinated by them for the benefit of the people of the South-West.


Mimiko said the governors would work on a zonal rail-line and zonal power plant that would guarantee the economic development of the people.


The governor advised his colleagues to create policies that would alleviate poverty so that the states would become global economic players in the future.


Mimiko also said the governors should allow their people to feel the effect of governance so as not to have a sense of disconnect between government and the people who voted them into power.


He regretted the fall in the standard of education among the students of the zone, and advised that they should focus on education, health and information and communication and technology among others.


He said, “We must think of economic collaborative effort. We must have a Yoruba rail-line, generate electricity and create markets for investors. We must resume the path to development.”


Mimiko urged his colleagues to utilise every opportunity available to them to push for the practise of true federalism where the states would be able to use resources at their disposal for the benefit of the people.


He said the current quasi-unitary system of government being practised by the Federal Government was not in the best interest of the country.

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012073133514

Lawmakers order probe of police killing

by segun balogun and patience ogbo

December 7, 2010 03:22AM

The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a resolution directing the Attorney General of Lagos State, Supo Sasore, to order a coroner's inquest into the alleged extra judicial killing of Femi Olayiwola by Mohammad Babamala, a Superintendent of Police and Divisional Police Officer of Olosan Police Station in Mushin.

Urgent public importance

The House also asked the Inspector General of Police to ensure the investigation is pursued to a logical conclusion. Irate youth from the neighbourhood staged a protest at the Assembly complex yesterday, alleging cover-up by police authorities in the investigations. The youth, whose arrival coincided with that of the Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, gave the police authorities a one-week ultimatum to bring the culprit to book otherwise police stations in the area will be burnt down. Consequently, Rotimi Olowo, the representative of Somolu II constituency, which includes Onipanu Police Station where the incident occurred, raised the issue as a matter of urgent public importance during plenary session.

Mr. Olowo referred to previous incidents of extra judicial killings within his constituency, none of which has been conclusively investigated by the police and no due compensation paid.

"Policemen are killing us as if on a hunting spree in Somolu and this must not be allowed to continue," he said, opening the floor for other lawmakers to relay their share of "police brutality" within their constituencies.

"A policeman pointed a gun at me over argument on right of way; I wonder the kind of policeman we have in Nigeria," said Mudashiru Obasa (Agege II). Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland II) wanted a speedy and transparent investigation because, according to him, police authority has a way of delaying investigation so everyone will forget about it.

Appeal for calm

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, on Monday, appealed to protesting youth at Shomolu area of the state not to take the laws into their hands. Mr. Akpoyibo said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the victim. He promised the protesting youth and the family members of the deceased that the police will not cover up the murder.

"I am here personally to condole with you over the unfortunate incident that happened on Sunday," he said. "The Lagos State Police Command is committed to the protection of lives and property and this death is not our way of policing the state. The death of this young Nigerian is a great loss to the state and to the country, but it is irreversible and I assure you that the officer who pulled the trigger is already assisting the command with the investigation. He is in our custody and I promise you that justice will be served."

How it happened

Mr. Olayiwola 31, also known as Femi Best, was allegedly killed at the Onipanu Police Station by Mr. Babamala.

Olawale Olayiwola, the elder brother of the deceased, was in the car when the tragic event took place. "I was with him on Sunday and we were coming from a party," he said. "When we got to Mushin, about 5am, a tinted Camry car was trailing us and Femi said these people can be armed robbers or assassins. He sped off and said he will stop at the Onipanu Police Station to seek refuge. When we got in front of the Onipanu Police Station, he parked; but as he was about to come out of the car, the driver of the tinted Camry car hit him from the rear and the man walked to him and shot him in the head once.

"Three of us were in the vehicle with him, and I saw my brother's blood splash all over the car. We came out and said, ‘we are not armed robbers why are you shooting us?' I held onto the man that shot him. He said he is the DPO of the Olosan Police Station. When the other youth came, we searched his car and we found out that he is actually the DPO of the Olosan Police Station and we got his picture. His name is Muhammad Babamala, a Superintendent of Police. So he is the one who killed my brother. My brother did not provoke him in any way and he killed him for nothing."

The Conoil and AP filling stations located in the area have been cordoned by the police who have been stationed there to keep the peace.

In our report yesterday on the killing of Femi Olayiwola by a police officer at the Onipanu area of Lagos, we erroneously identified Kayode Ojaleponwa as the Divisional Police Officer of Olosan Police station allegedly responsible for the shooting. The Lagos House of Assembly has identified Mohammad Babamala as the suspect in question. The error is regretted.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5650677-146/story.csp

UNIBEN, Igbinedion medical schools lose accreditation

Tuesday, 7 Dec 2010

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has withdrawn the accreditation of the medical and dental schools in the University of Benin and Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.


This was announced by the Chairman of MDCN, Dr. Roger Makanjuola, at the inauguration of the council’s new secretariat building in Abuja on Monday. Makanjuola said the accreditation was withdrawn because both universities had inadequate medical facilities and had more students than they could properly train.


He said, “In recent years, it had been observed that a number of training institutions have failed to maintain the prescribed standards and many have also admitted numbers of students far in excess of what they can meaningfully train.


“Recently, the accreditation of two training institutions was withdrawn. More are to follow. Let me take this opportunity to state that those institutions whose accreditation was withdrawn must stop admitting students. The council will also not register purported graduates from these institutions.”


He also said the council was concerned by unsubstantiated claims by many persons that they could cure different kinds of ailments. Makanjuola described such claims as ineffective and dangerous and could harm those patronising the claimants.

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012072591257

Jos: Task force commander’s wife abducted, murdered

By Agency reporter

Tuesday, 7 Dec 2010

The headquarters of the Military Special Task Force on internal security in Jos, Plateau State was on Sunday morning thrown into mourning following the alleged abduction and murder of Mrs. Rifkatu Umoru, the wife of the STF Commander, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Umoru.


The incident happened less than 72 hours after eight persons were killed in an attack on Rikwe Chongu village in Kwal district of Bassa Local Government Area of the state. THE PUNCH learnt that Rifkatu Umaru, who ran a popular eatery in the museum in Jos Museum known as Reeves Heritage Kitchen, was murdered in front of her house by unidentified gunmen.


The circumstances of her death were unclear on Monday but it was further learnt that she attended a wedding in her home town in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state along with some friends on Saturday. They were said to have returned to Jos around 8.30pm the same day and she was dropped close to her house at Army Engineering base, along Zaria Road in the state capital.


It was learnt that while she was attempting to open the gate to her house, some gunmen, who had apparently laid siege to the house, pounced on her and took her away. Our correspondent learnt that her abductors inflicted heavy injuries on her before dumping her inside a nearby well in the area and bolted away.


Her body was said to have been discovered by some persons who went to fetch water from the well on Sunday morning. STF operatives were swiftly informed about the discovery and they subsequently removed the corpse from the well and deposited it at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital in Jos.


On a visit to the museum, our correspondent observed that green leaves were placed at the half-shut gates of the facility. There was palpable grief at the headquarters of the task force beside Hill Station Hotel but nobody agreed to speak with THE PUNCH.


The slain woman’s restaurant was shut while some members of staff discussed the incident in hushed tones.


Efforts to obtain comments from the commander or the new spokesman of the STF swere unsuccessful.

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101207352846

The gag masters of the National Assembly

NewsDec 7, 2010

By Rotimi Fasan

NIGERIA’S march towards an open society was last Wednesday threatened in a palpable way by the country’s law makers, the so-called representatives of the people, at the National Assembly who usually want us to believe that they have the mandate of Nigerians to work on behalf of the people.
Most times they give the impression that whatever they do has the blessings of the people; they claim to be the voice of the people. But we all know that in spite of their pretences that they are the people’s servants, they work but only to feather their own nests.
This much was made clear by the action of the senators of the Finance Committee of the Senate, led by Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Members of this committee were bristling with anger last week when they summoned Olusegun Aganga, the Finance Minister, and Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, over the latter’s statement that a disproportionate part of Nigeria’s recurrent expenses goes to the National Assembly.
According to reports credited to Sanusi, 25 percent of the country’s recurrent expenses are incurred by the National Assembly. Scandalous as the revelation was, Sanusi said nothing Nigerians didn’t know. The only thing is that as someone in the right position to know, he could furnish the world with facts and figures that are made the secret knowledge of the law makers (clearly law breakers going by their conduct) alone.
In an apparent attempt to kill the report by the CBN Governor and to cover their profligate depletion of the nation’s treasury, the senators summoned Lamido to their chambers. Surely, the senators wanted Lamido to recant and going by our experiences of public officials, we know what was expected to follow.
The typical public servant’s response would be to go into the legislators’ chamber scrapping and bowing while singing a different tune. They would deny the obvious and turn the heat on the fall guy of Nigeria’s discourse, the usual suspect of such infamous episodes – the press. Yes, the press would be blamed for quoting the public servant, who probably had spoken before cameras, ‘out of context’.
Otherwise, the entire report is denied as utterly fatherless, a complete figment of an underpaid reporter’s imagination. Where the public servant has considerable clout, perhaps in a position to take out scarce advert pages that press organisations survive on, the offending reporter’s job might be put on the line.
It is certain that was what Nigeria’s senators who summoned Lamido wanted to hear; to hear him swallow his own word, lie through his teeth, while taking pot-shots at a ‘sensational’ press that is insensitive to national to demands.
Of course, we all know the big stick that senators hold over public officials who need Senate confirmation to be appointed to their position. But the man Sanusi went before the senators like a responsible and dignified public official and confirmed the statement credited to him by the media, to wit, that our so-called law makers are a profligate lot who work but to serve their own interests at the expense of our national interest.
At a time when Nigeria is getting back into the debt quagmire that the Obasanjo administration told us it had taken us out of three years ago by paying various huge sums to external creditors of the London and Paris clubs, different arms of Nigeria’s government have begun a process of huge borrowings from abroad in a manner that is bound to impoverish future generations.
From the federal to the state levels, Nigerian politicians, many of whom have less than six months to spend in office, are taking huge loans for imagined projects that would never be executed. A lot of such loans, and the national budget, go into the servicing of recurrent overheads. Capital projects with long term beneficial effects are left unattended while huge funds are set aside for immediate use such as payment of jumbo salaries for public officials who deserve no more than a few thousands of Naira as sitting allowance.
There is no doubt that a lot of what goes to the National Assembly end up as salary and allowance payments to legislators whose first task on getting into office is usually to increase salaries/allowances payable to them.
They are so selfish they can’t even take care of their own staff, many of whom took to the streets of Abuja just a couple of weeks back to protest against their principals’ refusal to pay the enhanced emoluments approved for them long ago. All the round-bellied, rosy-cheeked senators who came out to address the hungry and angry throng had to offer were promises to address their grievances in due course.
But we know how they continue to increase their own pay- as often as they choose. Nigerians can’t even be sure of what a senator or representative earns on a monthly basis. That’s cult information. But we do know it runs into many millions in a country where an average worker gets N7,000 as minimum wage.
As it is with the legislooters so it is with the executhieves who ensure that both elected officials and others who shot their way into power and their dependants are paid to the tune of millions of Naira each month for their treachery to the nation. They enjoy in unearned retirement benefits the rest of us can’t dream of in several lifetimes.
And so our external debts increase in the billions of dollars while the excess crude account which, three years ago, stood at about US$20 billion is continually depleted and now stands at a miserable US $1billion. Matters like this should concern us all, not the irresponsible politician who would run into exile at the slightest sign of trouble in the economy. This is what Sanusi, like the rest of us, knows. It’s the reason the National Assembly wants him gagged.
It’s also the reason the Freedom of Information Bill will continue to be a pipe dream. With our kinds of law makers and public servants, Nigerians need not look far for the enemies. They are within.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/12/the-gag-masters-of-the-national-assembly/

Dino vows to return to the House

Emmanuel Ogala

December 7, 2010 08:10AM

Dino Meleya, the leader of the ‘Progressives' pressure group in the House of Representatives, has vowed to return to his office today, despite opposition from the House leadership.

Mr. Dino, who recently won a case against the leadership of the House over his unlawful suspension at an Abuja High Court last week, was in the office block of the House of Representatives on Monday to notify the lawmaker who had taken over his office in his absence of his readiness to reclaim his office space.

Mr. Dino arrived at his Room 0.40 ground floor office at the new wing in the House of Representatives at about noon on Monday, but could not settle in because it has been reallocated to another lawmaker from his state, Buba Jibril, representing Lokoja, Kogi State, by the House leadership. Although he did not meet Mr. Jibril, he left a warning that he will resume fully the next day (today).

Some members of the Progressive group were also said to have visited their offices, most of which have been re-allocated by the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole. They also served the new occupants of their various offices with the notice from the court and subsequent eviction gestures.

The spokesman of the House, Eseme Eyibo, however, said the members still do not have the right to enter the House chambers and that they still stand suspended following an appeal of the Abuja High Court ruling.

Contempt of court

Femi Falana, counsel to Mr. Dino and his group, however, argued that the House leadership do not have the right to stop them from resumption because "an appeal does not mean a stay of execution."

"Any attempt to stop them will amount to contempt of the court, which will be taken up seriously," Mr. Falana warned.

Members of the ‘Progressive' group were forcefully evicted from the chambers and their offices after they accused the Speaker of allegedly misappropriating N9 billion out of the capital vote of the House.

The fraud allegations were shoved aside and the group members - eleven of them - were suspended indefinitely through a process the Abuja High Court referred to as "tyranny of the majority".

The judgment, however, affects only five of the eleven illegally suspended lawmakers who remain unrepentant. Two of them: West Idahosa and Gbenga Onigbogi, were recently recalled to the House after they apologised to the leadership for mounting an internal opposition.

The remaining four withdrew their cases from the court, hoping they will enjoy a pardon promised by the leadership for apologetic members of the group.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5650828-146/dino_vows_to_return_to_the.csp

Fighting paedophiles in schools

Hindi Livinus

December 7, 2010 03:22AM

The Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB) has vowed to punish and prosecute all cases involving sexual harassment of pupils by teachers in schools across the state.

The board is at the moment grappling with two cases involving the rape of a primary six pupil and that of a head teacher alleged to have impregnated a female student.

Confirming the incidents to journalists, the Chairman, Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board,

Salihu Bakari said the head teacher has since been suspended and the matter referred to the disciplinary committee of Teachers' Registration Council (TRC).

The chairman however expressed his dissatisfaction with the slow pace of investigations by the council and has vowed to go tough with the culprits by taking the issues before the law courts using the 1964 education law.

Unreported cases

According Mr Bakari, there are close to 90% of unreported cases of sexual harassment of students and pupils, adding that most of the pupils undergo the trauma without the relevant agencies ever knowing.

"We heard it from a whistle blower that there is a case of rape in Jimeta. The man asked me if I was aware and told me to find out from the Education Secretary Yola North where the incidence occurred," he said.

He also expressed dismay that even though the alleged teacher had admitted that he raped the pupil, no formal report was forwarded to ADSUBEB and argued that "when you hide things like this, you are only allowing the perpetrators to do more and it keeps happening because people do not want to talk for fear of stigmatization." "I don't have doubts in my mind that it is happening all over the state, if we do not report it we assume it is not happening. It's a case of teachers not being responsible, case of abuse of power because of our authoritarian school system." Investigations revealed that the teacher facing disciplinary actions for the sexual molestation was caught while attempting to assault the female pupil a second time.

According to findings, the other case involving a head teacher impregnating a female student happened at a Special Education Centre in Jada local government of the state

Mr. Bakari however expressed displeasure over the kid-glove approach adopted by the Teachers Registration Council who he said faulted ADSUBEB's suspension of the randy Head Teacher adding "I am not satisfied with the way the matter was handled, people do not understand the gravity of these kind of things." He however maintained that if the teachers are found guilty, they will be made to face the 1964 Education code.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5650821-146/fighting_paedophiles_in_schools__.csp

Aganga plans to cut recurrent expenditure

Emmanuel Ogala

December 7, 2010 03:22AM


A panel to review the disproportionately high rate recurrent expenditure that has characterised Nigeria's annual budget has been set up. The Finance minister, Olusegun Aganga, said this on Monday in a public hearing to defend the federal government's 2010 borrowing plan which is facing resistance in both chambers of the national assembly.

The public hearing was organized by the House of Reps Joint Committee on Finance and Aids, and Loans and Debt management in Abuja.

Too high

"There are baggages we have carried over the years which I am going to change and which I am working on changing," the finance minister told the lawmakers while criticizing the budgeting structure of the government.

"As of today, the recurrent expenditure is too large and therefore we don't have enough for capital project, so that was one thing we needed to change and I have a committee working on that and we are changing that structure, to review the level of recurrent expenditure. It is too high!" Mr. Aganga cited the instance where personnel cost went from 985 billion in 2009 to 1.5 trillion, "this is before we made adjustments for minimum wage." He however did not mention the percentage cut or specific areas that might be affected in the review.

Mr. Aganga's comments are coming days after he denied making comments alluding to an attempt to cut down overhead cost allocated to the running of the national assembly, before a senate committee.

Mr. Aganga who defended the intention of the government to borrow about $3.7 billion said Nigeria's economy - "regardless of what anybody says" - is amongst the top ten growing economies for the year 2010.

He however lamented that the economic growth is yet to translate into jobs and that is why most people argue that the Nigerian economy is still in shambles.

"We have growths without job creation and employment; therefore, the impact is not felt well enough in the life of average Nigerians," said Aganga.

He added that Nigeria's external debt is about $4.8 billion (3% of GDP) while internal borrowing is $28 billion.

Free money

Mr. Aganga said the loan worth $3.702 billion will be gotten at free interest rate but a commitment fee of 0.5% and a service charge of 0.7%. He added that about three countries are waiting to jump on the offer should Nigeria decline it.

The borrowing plan is segmented into three broad categories that include: projects that had been negotiated, those that are being evaluated and pipeline projects and programmes.

Some of the government agencies and states that will directly benefit from the loan were also in the public hearing to defend their requests.

The loans and credits will be secured on concessionary terms with repayment periods of 25 to 40 years and moratoriums of 7 to 10 years and will be distributed to the participating states on the same terms and conditions they were obtained from the donor agencies.

The National assembly, had in April, partially approved the 2010 borrowing plan which was forwarded to them alongside the 2010 budget proposals. In April, they approved $915 million out of the then $5.22 billion loan amount proposed under the 2010 borrowing plan.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5650778-146/aganga_plans_to_cut_recurrent_expenditure.csp

Nigeria Elections 2011: Election Law Violators To Be Prosecuted Without Exception, INEC Chair Warns

Posted: December 6, 2010 - 23:27

By SaharaReporters, New York

At a Washington, DC World Affairs Briefing today on upcoming national elections in Nigeria, Professor Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), pledged that anyone who violated electoral laws in Nigeria would face prosecution to the full extent of the law.
The briefing was jointly organized by National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the International Foundation of Elections Systems (IFES).

In his opening remarks, the INEC chairman blamed a crisis in governance and leadership for repeatedly dashing the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians at past elections. Now, however, there appears to be a national consensus that Nigeria must have a credible, free and fair election in 2011.

While cautioning that he could not guarantee a perfect election in 2011, he gave assurances that it would be substantially better that previous ones.
“If we do not succeed, it would not be for lack of trying,” he said, adding that there were strong indications that enough had been done to make the elections free and fair.

Jega said that the commission was already compiling a list of those indicted in recent court judgments and would soon set about prosecuting them. He recalled that court rulings in recent cases concerning elections in Delta, Ekiti and Osun states indicted many people, including INEC officials, and added that investigations were already in progress concerning the indicted persons. Further, he declared that any official of the commission indicted would be questioned, investigated and, if found guilty, prosecuted.

In his address to a packed conference room, Jega said he supported the recommendation of the Justice Uwais panel on electoral reforms that an electoral offences tribunal be set up to try election offenders. In fact, the INEC boss disclosed that he had already written a letter to the National Assembly on the imperative of setting up such a tribunal.

He said while existing laws allow the electoral body the scope to prosecute offenders, its ability to do so is hampered by its busy schedule in preparing for the coming elections and the fact that it has to rely on police investigations. According to him, the creation of an election offences tribunal would not only take a great burden off INEC but would also serve as a deterrent to desperate politicians who want to win elections by any and all means.

Jega said he took the job of INEC chairman to the chagrin of some of his family members and friends because he is an incurable optimist about Nigeria’s future. The first thing he did on assuming office was to identify the challenges before the electoral body such as establishing a suitable legal framework for conducting the election which included amending the 1999 constitution. Others challenges included ensuring that government would commit enough funding to the process, the time frame provided for registration and conduct of the election as well as strengthening the internal structures and capacity of the electoral commission.

http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/nigeria-elections-2011-election-law-violators-be-prosecuted-without-exception-inec-chair-w

BREAKING NEWS: SAN: Aondoakaa’s Suspension Now For Two Years

Posted: December 6, 2010 - 23:06

By SaharaReporters, New York

Michael Aondoakaa, Nigeria’s troubled former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has had his suspension as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pegged to two years.

Last October, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) suspended Mr. Aodoakaa as a SAN following a petition by the Committtee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) requesting his removal as a SAN.

Since being removed as Attorney General by President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Aondoakaa has suffered the ignominy of being barred from entering the United States on account of his track record of official corruption and obstruction of justice while in government.

He has also been banned from holding public office by a federal court in Calabar which upheld a lawsuit which claimed he violated the tenets of democracy by corruptly impeding the judgment of the court in an election case.

http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/breaking-news-san-aondoakaa%E2%80%99s-suspension-now-two-years

NIS nabs 12 illegal immigrants in Ogun

Written by Olayinka Olukoya and Lekan Yinusa, Abeokuta

Monday, 06 December 2010

THE Ogun State command of the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) has nabbed 12 suspected illegal immigrants working in the country.

The state comptroller, Dr Greene Anike’Nweze, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the command headquarters, at the weekend in Abeokuta, saying that the suspects were apprehended at a company in Ogijo area in Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.

He said security agencies in the country could not handle the rate at which people moved into the country illegally, adding that the nationality of the suspects could not be ascertained at present, but they were suspected to be Indians.

The suspects were Girish Mundra; Nija Muddin; Kaluram Jain; Chhote Lal; Binod Kumar and Vtari Krishna.

Others were Madan Kumar Singh; Rajender Parsad; Ashok Kumar Chauhan; Sandeed Singh and Hemras Singh.

“Their faces looked like those from Pakistan, Iran, and Bangladesh. Even if you have a division of soldiers or other security agencies, they cannot control all the borders in Ogun State, let alone the whole of Nigeria,” he said.

He wondered why they should be working in the country without legal documents, adding that most of them might have been hiding after the expiration of their travel documents.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/14347-nis-nabs-12-illegal-immigrants-in-ogun

'god' Must Be A Nigerian

Written by Terver Atsar

Monday, 06 December 2010 14:11

I think it is Country Musician Dan Seals who in 1984 released a hit single titled 'God must be a Cowboy'; but I want to ask if 'God' is also a Nigerian politician; what with the manner in which Nigerian politicians drag His name into everything, both the glorious and the incongruous?

Even though the Bible warns at Exodus 20:7 that we should not take the name of the Lord our God in vain, this law may very well have been overruled in the case of Nigeria as privilege of His citizenship. Thus in Nigeria, it is not strange for even armed robbers to go to church and do 'thanksgiving'. Politicians go to church with stolen public wealth to give glory to God. When they want to declare for elections they choose the church as the venue where a preacher (actually a hireling) is always handy to deliver eulogies on them in the name of sermons.

When they rig themselves to power, they head for the Church again to desecrate the name of the almighty God, whose eyes cannot behold iniquity, where they get another 'Reverend' to bless them and prophesy good concerning their tenure. What kind of blessing is that? And finally when the long arm of the law catches up with them these stealers of the people's mandate still head for the Church again to thank God!

The role of our preachers in condoning this despicable behaviour cannot be overlooked. The god of Mammon has so much blindfolded many a preacher that few are able to stand like Samuel to rebuke an earrant King Saul, or like Prophet Elijah to rebuke a King Ahab.

Recently Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the ousted impostor to the Osun Governorship, unveiled his own edition of desecration of God's name. As if the impunity of his grave crime against the electorate of Osun State is not enough, Oyinlola, who in the eyes of the law, is no better than an impostor, still had some audacity to organise a jamboree reception cum thanksgiving service. For heaven's sake what exactly is he thanking God for? For allowing him to get away with treason or for letting him to be a free man when he should be in some prison cell?

And the presence of former Presidents Obasanjo and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Governors Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo) and other high profile senior statesmen at this ignominious ceremony tells me that the hope of Nigerians for better future Nigerian leaders looks quite gloomy. When elder statesmen gang up in solidarity to mollify a crooked younger politician instead of chiding him for an act of impunity, then a very bad example is set for aspiring future leaders to emulate. By throwing a party instead of burying his head in shame, Oyinlola has mocked the people of Osun and jeered at Nigerians. It is the height of insensitivity and shamelessness.

One could not help but also notice the brawl that was reported to have ensued between Ayo Fayose and former President Obasanjo at that sham ceremony. That brawl more than anything else provides an insight into the character of the people around the sacked governor- shameless politicians devoid of decorum and integrity. The popular saying, 'show me your friends, and I will show you who you are', comes to mind.

It is pertinent to ask what was going on in the mind of Oyinlola when he urged the people of Osun State to support and pray for Aregbesola the same way they prayed for (him when he was impersonating as Governor); that the emergence of the new Governor is the will of God. Could it possibly be that he believes his three and half year illegal occupation of the Government House Osogbo was also the will of God, just as the emergence of Aregbesola through the courts? If so this could be a clear testimony of his ignorance of the God he claims to know. The almighty God is a God of righteousness. He is pure in his thoughts and deeds and there can be no contradiction in his will. If therefore, His will is for Argbesola to have beeen Governor of Osun State since 2007(which Oyinlola has now acknowledged) , but he (Oyinlola) stood in resistance to that will for three and a half years only to fall out by the 'force' of the law, then what God (and indeed Nigerians) expect to hear from him is an apology, borne from a genuine repentant heart and not this half-hearted, face-saving rhetoric.

Ironically the preacher who spoke at that ceremony did not urge Oyinlola to repent before God and man, he did not call for the people to forgive Oyinlola, and rather he asked Oyinlola to forgive those who have wronged him! What sacrilege! If the God of this preacher is not a Nigerian Politician, then some wrath awaits him someday from the Almighty God whose name he desecrates while pretending to serve Him.

The failure of Oyinlola to acknowledge his sin and ask for forgiveness, yet thinking God will accept his 'fat bulls' as sacrifice, places him in the mould of King Saul. After King Saul had disobeyed God and the prophet Samuel, revealed God's wrath against him, all that he cared for was his honour. He still wallowed in the illusion that he had some honour left. Hear him in 1 Samuel 15:30 'I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God, '

Compare this to the man David, after he had conducted an illegal census of the people of Israel and God sent a word to him through Prophet Gad. In 1 Chronicles 21:8 David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

David was described as a man after God's heart, whereas Saul, towards the end of his reingn had this testimony of himself: 'I have played the fool'.

The god that Oyinlola gathered the likes of IBB, OBJ, Gbenga Daniel, Ayo Fayose, all discredited politicians in their respective rights to the palatial home he built with illegal wealth acquired through an illegal tenure, to thank, is definitely not the Almighty God. It must be the Nigerian god of Mammon before which every politician bows. The Almighty God is not a Nigerian Politician.

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/terver-atsar/god-must-be-a-nigerian.html

Oyinlola’s Thanksgiving Service Revisited

Posted: December 6, 2010 - 13:52

By Joe Igbokwe
On Sunday December 5 2010, eminent PDP members from South West and other parts of Nigeria including former President Obasanjo, Governor Alao Akala of Oyo State, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, and friends of Oyinlola gathered at St Michael’s Anglican Church Okuku Osun State to felicitate with Mr Olagunsoye Oyinlola after being disgraced out of office for stealing Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s mandate for almost four years.

I understand it was a special thanksgiving service for the disgraced ‘Governor’ after almost eight years in office. I have no problem with that. Oyinlola is free to celebrate his life, and his loot after all this is Nigeria. This is Nigeria where offenders are celebrated and the innocent put in jail. This is a country where criminals, looters and murderers wear coveted gold medals and sit among decent men and women. This is a country where the country’s 20th eleven sit in exalted offices and decide what happens to the rejected and dejected first eleven. This is a country where the blind does the work of those with eyes. This is country where monumental electoral fraud has been established in Anambra, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Delta, Cross River States and others and yet we have not been able to arrest and prosecute one electoral officer for fraud since 1999. I can go on and on.

Again, Oyinlola is free to thank God for stealing votes, maiming and killing people of Osun State for four years with impunity but my grouse is the Sermon that was preached during the service. Who preached the Sermon at the thanksgiving service? What was the message? What is the name of the Vicar of St Michael’s Anglican Church Okuku? Did he know the circumstances that led to Oyinlola’s removal? If he knows what did he say? It is important that we know what the preacher said just for the record purposes.

There are thousands and thousands of Churches and Mosques in Nigeria and yet this nation is going down. They preach to us every Sunday and every Friday and yet this nation is still moving round and round like the Barber’s chair without motion. Something must be wrong somewhere. Under our very eyes we see the so-called men of God winning and dinning with people who are our problem in Nigeria. They see nothing and hear nothing. Everything is business. It is cash and carry, it is pay me, and I pray for you, and it is money for hand and prayers for you no matter who you are. When religious leaders and men of conscience compromise in any nation, that nation is finished.

Our political office holders who are betraying and destroying Nigeria are not alone. They have their cronies in the Churches, Mosques, Academia, traditional institutions, public and private sectors, etc. We must work hard to identify these traitors and deal with them accordingly. Let us investigate to find out what the preacher said at Oyinlola’s thanksgiving and move on from there.


Joe Igbokwe

Lagos

http://www.saharareporters.com/article/oyinlola%E2%80%99s-thanksgiving-service-revisited