₦airaland Forum

Are the registered voters in SW and NW all Yoruba and Hausa? Are there Igbos and SS people among those? If so, whom will they vote for?
The SE number may be smaller due to Igbo migration, but 99% of the registered voters in the SE will be Igbos. I wager that 50% of the SW voters and 30% of the NW voters will be Igbos too.

Good for you, bro. Where did you present? Are you coming to Anaheim next month?

What year? I can look up the ACS database to find some naija (Yoruba)-sounding names

SEFAGO:
Why do you wanna know?

Most people there dont look black ooh!!

Because I like to know. Have a problem with that?

ACS Salutes African Americans in Science

http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=124&content_id=CNBP_026598&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=cd8ddd8b-524c-42b0-b2f5-0d3bdaba006e

Any fellow ACS in nairaland?

alj harem1:
well you are right, lagos is a nigerian state and abuja is as well

keep decieving yourself, one of your igbos sister was beaten in abuja the other day for not dressing right

until i see an igbo governor in lagos, it is a yoruba state,  if you no like am go hang (good advice)

You are plain daft. You claimed SW is more developed than other parts of Nigeria and as I ask if the entire SW = Lagos and vice versa. If you agree, then how is the SW more developed than the North seeing that Abuja is by far more developed than Lagos? Do you agree that the entire SW = Lagos, and therefore  Abuja= the entire North?

People are beaten in Northern Nigeria, Iran, Afghanistan, Saud Arabia, Somali, etc (all sharia places) for all sorts of reasons.

alj harem:
@op

when you talk of development do you mean the whole south is developed

remember do not count the yorubas (who are the most developed in nigeria) in you so-call south ok

if you are talking of igboland and ijawland etc then i see no difference in them and the north

So Yorubaland is developed? Hahaha! I did not know Lagos = Yorubaland and Yorubaland= Lagos. And if Lagos =Yorubaland, Abuja must be = northern Nigeria, no? How do we even define development?

LP, ACN clash records casualties
Published on 14 February 2011 with 0 comments   
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NO fewer than four causalities, including a 92 year old woman were recorded in Idanre local government area of Ondo state when the supporters of the ruling Labour Party and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) clashed in the area.

Those wounded in clash include, 92 year old woman, Alice Akinbaninawo, Magret Akindoju, Feyisayo Akinde and Cladus Akinde.

The Secretariat of the ACN located at Broad Street, Idanre was also vandalized in the fracas that was said to have happened around 4 pm on Saturday.

According to the Chairman of the ACN in the local government, Victor Alalabiaye, who claimed to be out of town when the incident occurred, said members of the ACN were holding their general meeting when the venue of the meeting was invaded by thugs suspected to be members of the LP.

Alalabiaye said many of his party members were beaten leaving many others injured during the attack.

He recalled that similar attack was carried out on the party secretariat at Alade-Atosin few weeks ago said, there was never a time the party had crisis with the LP and wondered why the attack was carried out on the party.

Reacting to the allegations, the Chief of Staff (COS), Dr. Kola Ademujimi, who is the leader of the LP in Idanre, said there was no iota of truth in the claims that LP members attacked ACN members.

According to him, report that reached him was that some members of the ACN attacked and wounded two members of the LP on their way to their meeting and went to the meeting pretending that nothing had happened.

He however said, there was no basis for attack between members of the LP and those of the ACN as both parties were populated by progressive elements that wanted the best for the people of their areas.

Ademujimi said the people of the state were aware that the LP was a party that preached peace and since it was the party in government it must strive for the well being of the entire people of the state without recourse to party affiliation.

How much really is human life worth in good ol' western Nigeria? Every flimsy thing leads to death.

Two dead in row over varsity location in Ekiti
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Our Reporter 11/02/2011 01:49:00
image Fayemi

What started as a peaceful protest over the purported relocation of the new federal university in Ekiti State from Ikole to Oye, turned bloody after two of the protesters were shot dead.

The protest, which involved people of different ages in Ikole, started around 7:30 am. But the arrival of a detachment of policemen attached to the Swift Response Squad (SRS), charged the atmosphere. The policemen shot and killed two of the protesters at Iloka area of the town.

Following the killings, the protesters attacked and razed down the Idi-Ose police station. Two cars and three motorcycles parked within the premises were also destroyed and burnt.

The bodies of the deceased were allegedly taken away by the policemen, who retreated when the people confronted them. The protesters lit bonfire and blocked most parts of the town thereby preventing travellers to and from Abuja from driving through the town.

Governor Kayode Fayemi sued for peace and called on the people to remain calm. He described the announcement of Oye as the site of the new university as an attempt to undermine the authority of the state government.

Fayemi attributed the latest crisis to the subterranean moves of some politicians from the state who are using their political connection with President Goodluck Jonathan to throw the state into chaos ahead of the the general elections.

Fayemi urged Jonathan to respect the principles of federalism, due process and the rule of law. He described Ekiti as part of the Nigerian federation which should not be on fire because of the politics of the elections.

The governor said Ikole remains the location of the university as announced by his administration last November, saying the purported announcement of Oye as the site of the university would not be allowed to stand.

Fayemi said the latest crisis is not a fight between the two communities of Oye and Ikole.

The governor displayed expended live bullets used by riot policemen before reporters. He said they were brought to his attention by Ikole community leaders. He described the shooting of defenceless protesters as "unacceptable and unnecessary".

Fayemi met with the leaders of the two communities who were led to his office by the caretaker chairmen of Oye council, Mr. Akindele Ogungbuyi and Ikole council, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae.

"I have received no information on the relocation from the President, the Minister of Education, the Minister of State for Education. Whoever is purporting that the university has been moved from Ikole is only following the figment of his imagination.

"This is an attempt to undermine the authority of this state; the pronouncement had been made on the location by the state government long ago and if there will be any change, it will certainly come from Ekiti State government.

"It (the relocation) is null and void as far as we are concerned. This university is for our people and we must have a say on where it will be located and how it should be run. We shall not allow our people to be distracted.

"These elements are behind this because of their vanishing interests and whether they like it or not, they will be gone in April". The governor also appealed to the people of Ikole to be calm. He warned them against venting their anger against the regent of the town whom he said is not opposed to the university being sited in her domain.

Fayemi said he had been in touch with Jonathan adding that he was ready to visit Abuja to ensure that proper things were done to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the state.

The Ikole council boss Akin-Fasae said it was the rumour of the relocation that prompted the protest alleging that the policemen who fired the gunshots that killed the people came from outside his council area.

@op

Give me a break, pulis. The same SW that voted 100% for the scumbag Obasanjo (according to you) in 2003? Did Buhari not contest then? Why did they abandon him? They were against Obj in 1999 simply because his only rival (Falae) was also a Yoruba, the type of Yoruba that appeals to mainstream Yoruba. The SW is sophisticated in playing ethnic politics and that is about all. They are masters of the game in Nigeria and that is probably the only thing the SE needs to learn from them.

The president is definitely correct about Tinubu and Aregbesola. Those two are rascals par excellence.

US-based Nigerian turns his rural community into city
…Builds houses for widows, schools, magistrate court, police barracks, others
From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Justice Obidigwe cutting the tape. Inset: The building
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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The natives of Umuchukwu in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State are indeed God’s own people as the name implies. The people have so much been blessed through one of their sons who lives in the United States of America, Dr Godwin Maduka, director of Las Vegas Pain Institute, USA, whose dream is to make his town look like one of the best cities in the world.

Thus Maduka whose philanthropy in Umuchukwu knows no bound has turned the community around, putting in it modern facilities and amenities even as he is poised to do more.
Recently, the multi-million naira Chief Magistrate Court and police barracks he built in Umuchukwu was commissioned.
Prior to the building of the two projects, the US-based philanthropist had built an ultra-modern civic centre for the town.
Similarly, he had built the Saint Judes’ pro-Cathedral for the Catholic Church; eight-floor tower for Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the Rev Father’s house; Trinity Hospital, and the present central market of the town.
He had also donated acres of land and facilitated the MSP Monastery, built and furnished standard houses for over 20 widows and the less privileged in the town.

Maduka had also built schools for his people and empowered them economically, just as he had provided scholarship awards to Umuchukwu people both at home and abroad from primary to university level.
He is still providing for the upgrading of the Immaculate Conception International College in the town even as the provision of many other amenities for the community is ongoing.

The Chief Magistrate Court and police barracks were commissioned by the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Engr Emeka Sibeudu, who represented Governor Peter Obi and the Chief Judge of the state respectively amid merry making and cultural display by the people.
Commissioning the Chief Magistrate Court, the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Hon. Justice P.A.C. Obidigwe, said he was overwhelmed , describing it as marvelous.
Praising the donor, he said that by the grace of the court, peace and tranquility would reign in Anambra State, Orumba South, and Umuchukwu in particular.

He pointed out that the judiciary in Anambra State had so much been relieved of its burdens, saying that courts within the district would automatically be decongested as the court session would begin immediately all logistics were put in place.
Those who accompanied Justice Obidigwe to the commissioning were Chief O. B. Onyali (SAN); J.I. Igu, chairman, Awka Bar Association; Magistrate Ogolo of Orumba South Magistrate district; and Chief Registrar, Chief M. N. Okonkwo.

The learned men had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Igwe of Umuchukwu, HRH Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu at his palace, where the Igwe thanked them for coming even as he prayed that God continue to bless Dr Maduka the philantropist. Speaking, the Chairman, the commissioning ceremony, Sir Izu Nwankwo, a lawyer, praised Maduka for his kind heart towards his people.
He pointed out that God has effectively used Maduka to richly transform Umuchukwu as he had put in place all goodies thereby making Umuchukwu an urban area within the shortest possible time.
Nwankwo urged the Umuchukwu community to continue to appreciate what God has done for them through Dr Maduka as the sky is his limit in moving the town higher.

Also Chief Onyali (SAN) thanked Maduka for building and handing over the court to the government, saying that by so doing he had elevated and magnified Umuchukwu.
The secretary of Aguata Bar Association who was represented by S.U. Anyia praised the standard of the new Umuchukwu Chief Magistrate Court, saying that other courts in the area are dilapidating and thus the court at Umuchukwu had come at a good time in Anambra State.

The Head of Orumba South Local Government Administration, Mr George E. Arinze also joined the lot who poured encomiums on Maduka at the occasion as he said that the US-based doctor is a special and wonderful person that cares for his people and urged Umuchukwu people to pray for his long life.
The Umuchukwu people through their President General, Okey Nwele; traditional ruler, Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu; Secretary General, Hon Obed Ibe were excited as they said that it had become an annual ritual that they must commission one project or the other since their son, Dr Maduka, decided to lift Umuchukwu to greater heights.

They noted that in 2008, a police station was commissioned; in 2009, a full-fledged post office with Internet facilities followed, and in 2010, they had gathered to commission a Chief Magistrate Court and Police barracks donated by Maduka, saying that these gestures had made Umuchukwu become the fastest developing town in the state in the last five years.

The community, however, lamented that no son or daughter of the town had had any government appointment, making them to urge the governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi to change the trend and give their children appointments.
They told the Chief Judge of Anambra State that Dr Maduka had asked for his approval for him to build a befitting high court in the town to help decongest courts cases in Anambra State.

In a vote of thanks, the legal adviser to Dr Maduka and facilitator to the Umuchukwu Chief Magistrate Court, Mr Vincent Ottaokpukpu, a lawyer, thanked the Chief Judge for coming in person to commission the court, praying him to see that nothing delays court proceedings in the place.
He prayed the Chief Judge to consider the high court request made by Maduka, saying that if the request is granted, the philanthropist would build the court and equip it with the latest gadgets.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/feb/09/national-09-02-2011-015.htm

Police nab seven bank staff for N75m fraud

BY PATIENCE OGBO

February 4, 2011 03:03AM

Seven staff of Bank PHB are in police custody for allegedly defrauding the bank of N75million.

The suspects include Idowu Makunjuola, Akinwale Olugbemi, Ajunwa Solomion, Peter Tarie, Isaac Ukpe, Kehinde Aiyebodofor and Gabriel Onigboke.Also arrested in connection with the fraud are Abiola Ologodade, Bode Olofin, and Ajayi Abayomi; suspected to be the brain behind the fraud.The suspects were arrested by officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba on January 28, following a complaint by the bank.Spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, Samuel Jinadu, said the suspects were able to hack into the accounts of customers with a device called the Keylogger.

The scam

According to the police, a Keylogger, popularly known as an extractor, is used by fraudsters to access the passwords of customers and other bank transactions illegally; and at their convenience, they can withdraw huge sum from such accounts.“The kingpin of this syndicate is Ajayi Abayomi, an ex staff of the new generation bank,” said Mr Jinadu. “From our investigations, they specialise in hacking into the account of the bank with the use of a device called keglogger. Ajayi has an insider in the bank who he gives the keylogger to, and he also recruited some beneficiaries who opened accounts with the bank. When the insider studies the modus operandi of the bank and when no one is noticing, the insider will insert the keglogger into the desktops of the staff and extract information from the desktops. They successfully withdrew N75million. The management of the bank noticed that a huge sum was siphoned and they reported to the police.”

The denials

Mr Abayomi, however denied the allegation. “I don’t know anything about this crime, the police is trying to rope me in,” he said. “I got the keylogger through a parcel for some people in the bank, so I don’t know anything about the money.”

Mr Olugbemi, and Administrative Manager of the bank, also said he is innocent.“I am the admin manager at the Surulere Branch of the bank,” he said. “That day, 21st of January, one Isaac, who works with our maintenance department, came to me with a device. He asked me to charge it for him, on my desktop. I went to see our manager and before I came back, I called Isaac to come and collect the device that I was going to the local government council. Shortly after, our corporate auditor called me and asked me about the device. I told him that I was charging it so they said I should follow them to Panti, that I will explain myself there. It was when we got to Panti that I saw the other suspects. There is one man called Alake, who allegedly masterminded this fraud, he can explain better. But as for me, they just asked me to charge the device I never knew it was used for fraud.”

The confession

Mr Ukpe, a maintenance officer with the head office of the bank, said the fraud was well planned. “It was Abayomi that came to me around 15th of December and discussed the keglogger with me,” he said. “He told me to contact somebody working in the bank and I contacted Akin. It was Abayomi and I that went to Akin to give him the device at their Bode Thomas Branch at Surulere, so the fraud was well planned. Abayomi told him to insert the device and he should leave everything to him. We were to get certain percentage if the deal succeeded but now I feel bad about my role in the fraud.”

Mr Jinadu said the suspects will be charged to court soon.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5672126-146/story.csp

Ritualists remove pastor’s wife’s womb
From BOLU-OLU ESHO, Ado-Ekiti
Friday, February 04, 2011

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Facts are beginning to emerge on who killed the wife of the pastor-in-charge of the Zion Baptist Church in Age Quarters, Igede-Ekiti , Mrs. Taiwo Oluwole last Saturday as her photograph taken after the incident showed that something, probably her womb, was removed through her private part by her assailants.

The late woman’s body was found lying on the ground with her legs widely open as surgeons would do when attempting to operate on a patient in the theatre. Members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday staged a peaceful protest against the killing of the 56-year-old mother of three.

There were speculations that the deceased was raped before being killed by her attackers on the farm.
Leading the protesters on Thursday, Chairmen of the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government and Igede Ekiti chapters of the religious body, Rev. Clement Kayode and Rev. Peter Adegbami respectively, hit the streets as early as 7:30am with other top ministers of God in the council and the community
The protesters walked the streets without singing or talking but stopped for a while at the front of the palace of Onigede of Igede, Oba James Aladesulu.

The only placard displayed by the protesters, who clutched Holy Bibles in their hands, red: “Save Our Souls from Kidnappers and Murderers at Igede.” Irate youths, who threatened to take the body of Mrs. Oluwole to the palace of the monarch, were prevented by policemen on guard. It’s an abomination in Nigeria, especially in Yorubaland, for a traditional ruler to see a dead body, an incident which is believed would lead to immediate death of the monarch.

Giving the chronicle of the killings in the community, the CAN chairman revealed that Mrs. Olumide Akindele was mysteriously killed in (2005). In 2007, Mrs. Omoya Awawu was also murdered. Mrs. Ogbogbo Rachael (Iya Aina) and Mr. Oluwabusuyi Tayo were 2009 victims of ritualists in the town. Mrs. Apanisile was also murdered in 2010. Their killers are yet to be known.

The religious body, however, berated traditional chiefs of the community for their inability to ensure the killers of the previous six victims were tracked down. It charged security agencies and Onigede-in-council to ensure the people behind the killings were tracked down and arraigned for trial in the law court. When newsmen got to the residence of the widower, John Oluwole, he was surrounded by relations and neighbours who came to express their sympathy.

Oluwole pleaded with security agencies in the state to conduct thorough investigations into the mysterious killing of his wifeof 35 years with a view to bringing the culprits to book.
As he tried to fight back tears, the bereaved pastor explained that he went to the farm with his late wife on Saturday for different missions, but it dawned on him that his wife was missing when he came back home later in the evening.

He was depressed and disappointed by the attitude of the traditional ruler and his chiefs, who he said had not deemed it fit to send condolence message to him and his family over the death of his wife.
Oluwole, the founder of the Zion Baptist Church, described his late wife as a humble and peace-loving woman. He lamented that his 1976 bride was murdered in such gruesome manner.

According to his account, “When we got to the farm, we went to different locations like we had been doing before. I heard when she was calling me, but I thought she was returning home as earlier agreed. But I was surprised when I got home that I did not meet my wife and I immediately commenced searching for her until her dead body was seen in the place where I had visited four times.”

He said his late wife was strangulated and stripped naked while being beaten by her assailants.
Rev Michael Ige, who spoke on behalf of CAN members in Igede-Ekiti, condemned in strong words the community monarch and chiefs for their alleged lackadaisical attitude towards the killing and the victim’s family.

Oba Aladesuru has exonerated himself and members of his council from the killing, saying they were only waiting for the outcome of the Police investigations before taking further step. Spokesman to the state Police Command, Mohammed Jimoh(ASP) disclosed that autopsy had been conducted on the remains of the deceased, saying the result would soon be out. He assured that the result would be made public as soon as it’s released, adding that investigation into the killing had commenced.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/feb/04/national-04-02-2011-018.htm

Lagos bizman, wife arrested for plotting mum’s death
By CHRISTOPHER OJI
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
•Adebimpe & •Adedeji Idowu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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A Lagos based car dealer and his wife have been arrested over their alleged involvement in a robbery attack that led to the murder of his US-based mother. The suspects, Adedeji Idowu, 46 and his wife Adebimpe, 30, and two others are currently telling the police how Idowu’s US-based mother, Alhaja Sakirat Idowu, 65, was shot dead following her refusal to part with her money.

The man, who gave a graphic account on how his mother was robbed and finally shot dead, said his intention was not to kill his mother but that the gunmen he hired were overzealous.

He said when he was deported from the US over an Immigration offence, things became very difficult for him and his wife.
He said his mother assisted him by sending him money but the money was not enough for him to set up a business.
He narrated how on a particular day his mother phoned him that she was visiting Nigeria and he told his friend Ologode, how his mother failed to help him recover a debt of N4 million owed him in the US.

According to him, Ologode told him that he would contact some boys who would rob his mother. He said when his mother finally arrived Nigeria, he and Ologode went to the airport to pick her. When they arrived home, the youths Ologode contacted for the robbery had already arrived and were waiting at the gate.

According to him when his mother settled down, he pretended that he was going outside, so, Ologode and his boys carried out the operation.
Ologunde narrated “As I was coming back, I heard gunshot and I knew things had gone awry.”
The man who broke down in tears said: “ I did not send them to kill my mother. I only wanted them to rob her and give me money to set up a business.”
The man who begged his father to forgive him over the dastard act admitted that his late mother had been of great assistance to him and his family.

He said after the robbery operation he got a share of N200 dollars. “I don’t even know how much Ologode and his boys collected. They only gave me 200 dollars, laptop and jewelry, which I gave to my wife.”
His wife, Adebimpe in her own story claimed that she only knew about her husband’s involvement in the robbery after the operations.
She said: “When people were pointing fingers at my husband, I did not believe it until the heat became too much on him and he confided in me that he organized the robbery.”

She revealed that her husband eventually sent her to meet Ologode for the loot. “But I was disappointed when Ologode handed me 200 dollars, a laptop and jewelries. I was surprised that my husband would organize robbery against his mother who had been assisting us.”
She said she could not spill the bean as she was protecting her marriage. “If I had known, I would have told his father about it. I am ashamed of myself.
Ologode, on his part told Daily Sun that he was trying to assist Adedeji in getting money to set up a business. He claimed that it was one Ambali, who fired the shot that killed the woman, adding that when he questioned Ambali on why he killed the woman, Ambali said that he wanted to threaten the woman but misfired.

He said he had begged God to forgive him and other members of the gang who are now at large. On how he procured the gun used during the robbery, he said it was one Irabor who brought the shot gun.
The immediate past Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo before handing over to the new CP, Mr. Isa Alkali told newsmen that it took intelligence gathering to unravel the mystery behind the murder of Alhaja Sakirat Idowu.
He confirmed that her biological son, a graduate of Texile Southern University, Adedeji and his wife Adebimpe masterminded the armed robbery that led to her murder.
He gave the names of other members as Maminu Olusoji alias Ologode, Irabor, Owolowo and Ambali.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/feb/01/national-01-02-2011-020.htm

The North is done. It is now south all the way. Both Buhari and Ribadu belong in the political trash can, just like Atiku has been put there. Go, uncle Joe

ndu_chucks:
The only way to stop GEJ from winning the 2011 presidential election is for Buhari to selflessly withdraw from the race, throw his weight and resources behind Ribadu and campaign with Ribadu, in the best interest of the nation. My personal view is that, Buhari will not step down just as Zik refused to work with Awo. If Zik had accepted Awo’s advances, NPN would not have won the election.

The selfish act of Zik’s is one of the main reasons Nigeria is in its current rotten position – Buhari is getting ready to make the same mistake.  Read the excerpt below, watch history repeat itself.  Congratulations in advance, President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dont know what you mean by Zik refused to work with Awo. You mean Zik should have stepped down for Awo? If so, why did Awo not step down for Zik? And why did Aminu Kano and Waziri Ibrahim not step down for Shagari?

Obasanjo and friends laughing hard at Atiku

SSS arrests The Sun columnist Okey Ndibe
• Seize his US passport
By SEYE OJO
Monday, January 10, 2011
Okey Ndibe
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Fiery columnist with The Sun Publishing Limited, Dr. Okey Ndibe, was on Saturday night arrested by Nigerian security operatives as he arrived the country from his United States base.

No reason has been given for his arrest but the operatives immediately seized Ndibe’s travelling documents, including his American passport.
He was arrested at about 8:45p.m and later released at about 11:45p.m. However, he was asked to report at the State Security Service (SSS) office today where he is to meet with senior operatives of the service and probably know what his offences are.

Speaking on the arrest, Ndibe asserted that he came to Nigeria for a family commitment. His flight, according to him, arrived the Murtala International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos at 8:45p.m. As soon as he alighted from the aircraft, some security operatives accosted him and said he needed to speak with the SSS. He was thereafter led to the first floor office of the SSS.

His words: “One of the SSS officials took my passport and asked me to take my luggage. On getting to the office, he made entries into a computer from my passport and asked if I had other passports. I said yes that I was also an American citizen. He took the passport as well. He also made numerous phone calls.”
Ndibe revealed that the question: “Are you a journalist?” was thrown at him and he answered: “I teach but I also do a weekly column with `Daily Sun which is also online.”

The columnist maintained that the SSS official later made more phone calls before he was released at 11:45p.m but was asked to return to the office today. Ndibe is a Professor of English Language and teaches as a full time lecturer at the Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. He is also a part time lecturer at the Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where the Nigerian literary giant, Professor Chinua Achebe also lectures.

He averred that the US passport was a property of the United States government, which the Nigerian government should not withdraw from anybody. Nigerian government, he said, could only confiscate Nigerian passports, adding that there was no way he would leave behind his Nigerian passport and travel. Asked what he perceived as the motive behind the development, Ndibe declared: “The only indication was that in late 2008, I got an anonymous tip-off that I should not come to Nigeria, that there was an order to arrest me at any entry point.”

Ndibe, however, said few days into the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan, there was a policy statement that human rights would be respected. He said word also came that the order on people like him had been lifted.
“I was not altogether surprised. Governments make commitments that they don’t keep. At least, in the area of human rights. There are in Nigeria today other more pressing things than harassing writers. “I will continue to write the way I write; I write for the propagation and deepening of democracy in my country and offer no apologies for that. I have not broken any law and have no cause to worry,” he stated.

A senior SSS source told Daily Sun that Ndibe might have been put on the action list of the last administration in the country. He explained that the statutory order was to pick and escort Ndibe to the headquarters of the security agency. The order, he disclosed, was modified to talk to him, take his passports and let him go.
According to the officer, the new thinking at the SSS was that things had to be done more orderly, with utmost respect for human rights and due process.

On the particular offence that Ndibe might have committed, the source answered with an African proverb: “When a mother straps a child on her back when she is going to the farm, she will not know all the leaves the child will pluck on the way.” While saying that the offence might be anything, he revealed that a particular agency had requested that Ndibe should be picked up.

Fielding questions on why Ndibe’s US passport was seized, he said it was taken from him with other travelling documents so that he would not use it to escape from the country. Seizure of the passport, he stated, should not be an issue because it’s an elementary procedure to take hold of such travel documents and not necessarily an affront on any country that issued them.

Pifa:
What then is your antipathy toward naming a street in Lagos after Mr. Ojukwu? He certainly has more principle than some of the semi-literate generals (and usurpers of democratically-elected government) whose names adorn the airport and thoroughfares in Lagos.

Does Dayokanu have an answer to that? Hear Ojukwu speaking Yoruba here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhbJs26SjNw&feature=player_embedded

The airlines will simply be putting their money where their mouth is, so to say.

OMO IBO:
Not a big deal.
Obviously, as an international airport, some flights will commence and terminate there just like every other international airport - volume of travellers regardless.

lagbaja20:
Why are you guys so obsessed with Lagos?


You dont see yorubas crying over anything in the East; we do not even care

Igbos may be obsesed with Lagos for obvious reason: their huge investments there. I doubt if they are  obsessed with other parts of the SW.

I think there is also Fajuyi Way in one of the Igbo states; don't remember which now.

dayokanu:
Azikwe has a street in lagos even one of the biggest roads in Lagos is called Ozumba Mbadiwe

It does not matter though. However, am actually surpised that Ojukwu's father, with so many properties in Lagos, does not have any landmark named after him or was his name expunged when his son declared Biafra?

Adelabu (Adegoke) also has astreet in Umuahia
So naming a street in the SW after Ojukwu will not be abnormal

alj harem1:
i think u are going crazy is the lagos he bombed that a street should be named after

Awolowo has a raod/street named after him in Umuahia, Abia state, and that is one of the biggest roads there

lol
Two failed politicians, Buhari and Adebayo, being propped up by a common crook, Tinubu. Jonathan go to sleep, you are the presido in 2011.

dem_people:
I read a similar story on Thisday newspaper. If it ever materialises then, its a very welcomed development. They should speed-up the building of a new terminal or at least, try and rehabilitate the existing terminal to accommodate the volume of passengers - both domestic and international - at the airport. I think the best option is to completely build a new terminal. Another thing is that, if Asaba airport opens in January (as 'politically' expected/announced) then, I bet there would be a massive preference of Asaba airport to Enugu airport by Ndigbo. In this case, its entirely a case of proximity/distance and not otherwise.

@Nchara, any info on the possibility of Asaba airport opening for operations in January?

Why would the bolded be the case?
No, I have no info on Asaba airport.

The Re-opening of Enugu Airport

Thisday Editorial

Monday, December 27, 2010

Hundreds of thousands of air passengers who use the Akanu Ibiam airport, Enugu, have every reason to be happy at the re-opening of the facility a few days ago.  The airport, now upgraded to an international status, had been shut down for more than ten months so that refurbishing work could take place.

While the airport was in disuse Enugu-bound passengers had to endure the routing of their flights through the much smaller Sam Mbakwe airport in Owerri. They would then drive another three hours to Enugu through a federal highway that is in shambles. For most part the journey by road to or from Owerri was like running a gauntlet between armed robbers and kidnappers. Many paid dearly while the closure of the Enugu airport lasted. However, as the saying goes, all is well that ends well.


The reopening of the airport following the expansion of the runway is a welcome development. The Akanu Ibiam airport is one of the oldest in the country. Years of neglect had, however, left the facility in a less-than-befitting state. Not only were the run ways not long enough for international flights, even the departure and arrival lounges had become utterly seedy, lacking some of the basic facilities that standard airports are known for all over the world. News of the upgrading of the airport was understandably therefore well received by most people who use the facility regularly.


As an international airport, the Akanu Ibiam facility is expected to be equipped with modern facilities to enable travelers flying out of the country to take off from Enugu without having to go to Lagos, Abuja or even the Port Harcourt international airport. That it took so long to upgrade the airport is one of those ironies of the Nigerian state. A survey of foreign trips made by Nigerians over the past decade, for instance, indicates that a good deal of it involves people from the Southeast who would have loved to take off straight from Enugu. Yet they had to fly first into some other city before they could catch an overseas flight. Such circumnavigation! Now that the airport has been upgraded to an international status it must live up to the billing in terms of the amount of facilities available there.

Expanding the runways is not enough. Attention also needs to be paid to other operational facilities that conduce to safety. One that cannot wait is the completion of work on the facilities that would enable airplanes take off and land in the night. We hear that right now that cannot happen because the installation of the necessary facilities is yet to be completed.

The airport's terminal building also needs expansion and more modern restrooms. The existing ones are hardly befitting of an international airport. The hope of the users of the Akanu Ibiam international airport is that the airport will match the best anywhere.

For most of them, the upgrading of the airport is prayer answered. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) must not disappoint them. All that needs to be done to make the airport truly international should be provided. Already some of the foreign carriers are reported to have expressed their preference to originate and terminate their flights in Nigeria from Enugu because of the high volume of their passengers that come from that region. That will be good for not only the prospective passengers but also for FAAN. Let nothing therefore stand in the way of the airport. By and large, we expect the federal government to also upgrade more Nigerian airports to international status.


http://odili.net/news/source/2010/dec/27/207.html

ROSSIKE:
toni tone said:



This is a VERY MISLEADING presentation.

You conveniently OMITTED the old European leaders such as Berlusconi, Aníbal Cavaco Silva of Portugal (68)
and Cyprus president Papadopoulos (74), and OMITTED the YOUNG African leaders, like Goodluck Jonathan, Joseph Kabila, Yayi Boni of Benin, and Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone - all in their 40s and 50s.

All in order to present a heavily biased, distorted, anti-African conclusion.

If you're trying to point fingers at Africans, the least you can do is be honest yourself.

Thanks for observing.
Infact, youngies like Bankole have proven to be the reason why age is not an issue in african leadership. Is Bankole not the one supervising the house where people pay themselves billions at the expense of national development?

chyz:
The words of a Great will always be rich and extravagant.

Sure. Our father wishes to die the day Biafra died (officially). What can be more symbolic?