₦airaland Forum

States across the federation on Tuesday, marked the Democracy Day celebration with a host of events which includes amnesty for prisoners, foundation laying and a pledge to better services for another yeat by the states cheif executives.

In Anambra state, the state governor, Peter Obi, granted amnesty to thirteen prisoners serving jail terms in three prisons in the state. This is in exercise of his constitutional powers and to mark the 2012 Democracy Day.

In a memo dated May 24, 2012 and signed by Anambra state Attorney General and chairman, State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the thirteen persons are to be released from Onitsha, Awka, and Aguata prisons.

From Onitsha prison, Amobi Nnalue, Kingsley Okorom, Ndubuisi Egbo, Nonyelu Ufor, and Azeke Mercy are to be released. Others from the same prison are Chinonso Nwankwo, Ifesinachi Olisa and Chinonso Obieke. Beneficiaries from Awka prison are Sanni Mohammed, Chidoze Ezeigbo, Nwafor Oloo, and Chukwunonso Nwafor while Mohammed Usman was pardoned from Aguata prison.

The Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, while celebrating the National Democracy Day, today gave his stewardship in the past one year, saying that he has not betrayed the confidence and trust reposed in him by the electorate.

The ceremony which held at the newly reconstructed Cultural Centre, Abeokuta the state capital, had the governor reiterating the commitment of his administration towards laying solid foundation to put the state on the part of growth and progress and bring to fruition the dreams and aspirations of the state’s founding fathers.

The governor used the event to highlight his plans for the state in the years to come, but was quick to ask for continuous support and cooperation of the people of the state in the task of rebuilding the state for the good of all.

The occasion was attended by past military administrators of the state, former governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, captains of industry, market men and women.

Meanwhile an interfaith service was held at the Remembrance Arcade of the Government House, Agodi Ibadan to commemorate the state’s governor, Abiola Ajimobi’s first year in office. Prayers were offered by Muslim and Christian clerics for peaceful coexistence and an end to sectarian violence across the country.

Governor Ajimobi expressed gratitude for the support given his administration and promised total restoration of functional social services in the state.

As part of his administration’s achievements, Gov. Ajimobi laid the foundation for a 1,400 units of mixed dwelling for low and high income earners called Transformation Estate.

He promiseed purposeful governance and sued for all to maintain existing peace in the state.

Source

okosodo: The north has over 5 million millitant commanders, which one una catch. And besides with too many wuruwuru he will become a free man

Nchara: Extreme poverty caused by innocent, ordinary non-northerners living in the North, right?

Nigerian cattle rearers are Fulani, no? Did you not read the post you GLEEFULLY posted?

Nchara: Nduchuks

Any kind of killing is condemnable by all means; so I condemn this killing news you have ''GRACIOUSLY'' broken. But let me ask you: this people are fighting over land and killing themselves, thus neither of them is innocent. Why are your northern Boko Haram people killing innocent non-northerners who are not taking their land? Care to explain to us?

Note that this killing has to do with Fulani, cattle rearers. Your brothers are trying hard to divide the south.

Fourty persons have died in a communal clash between Ntan Obu-Ukpe in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State and Ikpanya Community in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Also, 40 persons, including women, mobile policemen and children have been reported missing as a result of the clash.

The Chairman of Odukpani Council, Stephen Asuquo, confirmed that they clashing communities recorded a number of casualties.

However, Hogan Bassey, spokesman of the Cross River State Command of the Nigeria Police, who also confirmed that casualties were recorded, said he could not give the exact number of the deceased.

“We cannot give the casualty figures for now because we just discovered another person found dead in the area,” Mr. Bassey said.

The Odukpani Council Chairman, Mr. Asuquo said that even properties are being brought down in the feud. “There is no house standing there, the entire village has been destroyed and burnt down,” he said.

Narrating the details of the clash, he said, “I can say it is as a result of the struggle by people from Ikpanya for the land that belongs to the Ntan Obu-Ukpe and Ikpanya is in Ibiono Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom State, while Ntan Obu is in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State”.

“Something akin to this took place a year ago and the deputy governors of the two states met and agreed that everything should return to status quo ante that was the position before the conflict”.

Mr. Asuquo said that “A Supreme Court judgment has ruled that the land belongs to Odukpani and the people of Odukpani are Cross River indigenes and the people from Ikpanya have tried to lease out Ntan Obu land to cattle ‘rearers’ to rear their cattle there”.

He called on the cattle raisers to vacate the land in dispute, “so I am appealing to the cattle rearers, we don’t want cattle rearers being there, but you must recognise the overlords and not that of the neighbouring community,” he said.

Mr. Asuquo, however, said that the attack was not done by the cattle raisers; according to him, the indigenes of Ikpanya were the people who attacked the indigenes from Ntan Obu.

“We are yet to ascertain the number because the people they killed, they beheaded and then threw the corpses into the river, the village (Ntan Obu) head was killed and beheaded,” he said.

“We could recognise his body from the attire he wore the day before the attack. The name of the village head is Etinyin Mfon Asanye”.

“People managed to escape; some jumped through the swamp and jumped into the river. It happened in the wee hours of the morning of Wednesday last week,” Mr. Asuquo said.

He narrated that in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, indigenes from Ikpanya, the Akwa Ibom side, got to the disputed land, set loose all the boats in order to stop people from escaping and started attacking the people.

“There was complete destruction of the place, the only two building that are standing are two churches but the churches were looted, the musical instruments were all carted away”.

“Some of the displaced persons are in Asan Eniong and nearby villages,’’ he said,

Mr. Asuquo appealed to government to send security men to the area.

“We are appealing to government to send soldiers and mobile policemen to the area,” he said.

“We are appealing that they should use the church building and few of the buildings that were not completely destroyed for the displaced people, while we try to see what we can do to appease them,’’ he plead .

According to Mr. Asuquo, “The unit commander or the leader of the troop is on ground there and he is doing his best. But before then, after the first incident we had a few number of policemen who were there, out of the nine who were there, four are still missing up till now”.

He suspected that the missing police men have been killed and beheaded, “we are suspecting that some were dragged to the swamp, we saw some police uniform at the swamp with blood stains,’’ he said.

Mr, Asuquo called on the Federal Government to act on the June 24, 2005, Supreme Court of judgment, the ruling had demarcated the boundary between Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

“This is to ensure that people from the other side keep to their side and if they are coming here they will come as tenants and they will be welcome and not as invaders,” he said.

Asakara Ekanem Umo, the Paramount ruler of Odukpani Local Government Area also confirmed the incident.

According to him, “The last incursion was so large in destruction. The fight had left the community completely destroyed.

“Children and women were not spared and in the process they killed four mobile police men who were stationed for security assistance to the people over there”.

Mr. Umo called for provision of relief materials to the affected victims, urging the government to take measures to prevent further occurrence of the mayhem.


Source

Logic Mind: We are not moving on to build with you. We don't want anything with you. We want out. We want to be on our own. Is that too much to ask for?

Onlytruth: @Bolded. My friend sharaap dia! You have NO LOCUS to offer the apology. According to Northsharp (a REAL Hausa/Fulani), you are a "Banza Bokwai" eddiot trying desperately to be accepted by the real mallams.
You are an inferior northerner. lol
We may only accept apologies from a real Hausa or Fulani or Gowon himself.

Beaf: Midwesterners pointed out Igbo's to the federal troops, which was unfortunate and highly regrettable.

I am man enough to admit the above, are you man enough to admit the executions and taking of peoples wives and rap'es by people like your hero, Achuzia when the Midwest was invaded? Are you man or wimp?

Onlytruth: At this time I have to restate again my constant views on Ojukwu and the efforts of our fathers.
I would fight anyone who insults Ojukwu. He did his BEST for Biafra. He is our ICON. He was also a man, and so was not infallible. He will remain an ANCHOR as we map our path towards the future. For that future to succeed, it must fix errors from the past.
The only reason I even comment on these types of topics is because I am DETERMINED to ensure that history never repeats.
The advantage we the younger Igbo have today is that we have history to learn from and improve upon the achievements of our fathers. Of course everyone is entitled to his opinion, but I know that superior logic and sanity will win at the end of the day.

Beaf: Lol! ndu chucks is feeling lonely!

Logic Mind: You, like onlytruth, also fail to understand me.
We can share bonds, alliances, directions etc as long as my relationship with you does not jeopardise my safety and freedom. We can even sign pact as long as I don't have to look over my shoulders all the time because I cannot trust you.
What is very strange is that someone, who is our virtual leader in this NL, will take a stance of weakness with regards to our fight for freedom from nigeria. Listening to Onlytruth, one would think that Igbos cannot do anything without the accord of its neighbouring minorities. This is entirely a weak position to take and borders on subservience.
I Logic Mind states.
We the igbos are big enough to stand on our own.
We the igbos are the only tribe brave enough to have fought for our freedom in this country.
We can form alliances with anybody, as any country does, as long as it is in our interest but our survival can never depend on our alliances but on our strength.
Let us stop waiting for others and take our own destiny in our hands.

PointB: ^^^
That fixes it!
Thank you Eze OnlyTruth,

Ndu_chuck is another of such character deceiving none discerning Nairalanders that he is Igbo. His time too will come.

Section 4. Official Corruption and Government Transparency

The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; however, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security forces.

Despite the arrest of several high-ranking officials by the EFCC, allegations continued that agency investigations targeted individuals who had fallen out of favor with the government, while those who were in favor continued their activities with impunity. Since 2005 the EFCC prosecuted 26 nationally prominent public officials and recovered 1.7 trillion naira ($10.5 billion). However, only four of these officials--former inspector general of police Tafa Balogun, former Bayelsa State governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Edo State governor Lucky Igbinedion, and PDP chieftain and former Nigerian ports authority chairman Olabode George--were convicted. The courts granted bail to all the others.


In May the EFCC arrested former minister of works and housing Hassan Lawal for the mismanagement of 50 billion naira ($308 million). Their trials continued at year’s end. In June the EFCC arrested Dimeji Bankole, former speaker of the House of Representatives, and Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada for the alleged misappropriation of one billion naira ($6.2 million) and 40 billion naira ($247 million), respectively.

In October the EFCC arrested four former governors who vacated office earlier in the year, including former Ogun governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Oyo governor Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Nasarawa governor Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, and former Gombe governor Muhammed Danjuma Goje. The four allegedly misappropriated or stole 58 billion naira ($358 million), 25 billion naira ($154 million), 18 billion naira ($111 million), and 12.8 billion naira ($79 million), respectively. Their trials began in December and continued at year’s end.

Former Delta State governor James Ibori was acquitted on 170 counts of corruption charges. He continued to face court charges in the United Kingdom for money laundering and other financial crimes stemming from embezzlement during his government tenure. The United Arab Emirates extradited Ibori to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to stand trial in February 2012.

In May 2010 authorities arraigned former PDP national chairman Vincent Ogbulafor on 17 criminal counts of corruption and money laundering in the amount of 2.3 billion naira ($14 million). Ogbulafor filed a petition to dismiss the charges. There were no new developments in the case by year’s end.

In August 2010 Attorney General Mohammed Adoke announced that the government could not authenticate the Pius Okigbo Panel report on former military president and general Ibrahim Babangida, which charged that Babangida mismanaged 12.4 billion naira ($76 million) during his administration. The civil society group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) accused the attorney general of a cover-up. A federal high court was scheduled to announce a ruling on July 28, but did not do so by year’s end.

On October 20, the federal high court in Ado-Ekiti, rearraigned former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayos. In 2006 he was accused of laundering 1.4 billion naira ($8.6 million) while in office. The case continued at year’s end.

On May 28, President Jonathan signed into law the Nigerian Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The law allows any person to request information from a government office. The office must grant access to the information or explain why access is denied within seven days of receiving the request, or transfer the request to the appropriate office within three days. The FOIA makes it the responsibility of all public offices to keep records and provides immunity for public officers against any form of civil or criminal proceeding for “disclosure in good faith of any information” pursuant to the FOIA. The act provides a 30-day window within which anyone denied access by any public institution can bring the matter to court for a judicial review. The act includes a fine of 500,000 naira ($3,083) for any institution or public officer who wrongfully denies access to information or records. Destruction of records is a felony punishable with a minimum penalty of one year’s imprisonment under the act.

Civil society groups introduced a number of cases at the national and state level to test the FOIA during the year. For example, in September the SERAP brought a ca se against the Oyo State government after being denied access to information on state funding for primary education. The case continued at year’s end.

Full Report

Select Nigeria from the Countries/Regions pulldown menu

Impunity was widespread at all levels of government. The government brought few persons to justice for abuses and corruption. Police generally operated with impunity. Authorities did not investigate the majority of cases of police abuse or punish perpetrators. Authorities generally did not hold police accountable for the use of excessive or deadly force or for the deaths of persons in custody.

The militant sect known as Boko Haram perpetrated killings and bomb attacks throughout the country. The sect continued to mount regular assaults and bombings in Borno and Bauchi states. The sect claimed responsibility for the January 1 bombing of the Mogadishu Barracks in Abuja, the July 16 suicide bombing of the police headquarters in Abuja, and the August 26 suicide bombing of the UN headquarters in Abuja. By the end of the year, the government and Boko Haram had not engaged in dialogue.

Internet Freedom

There were few government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitored e-mail or Internet chat rooms. Individuals and groups generally engaged in expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail, with few exceptions.

Several Internet news sites critical of the government experienced server problems, which site owners attributed to government interference. Such disruptions usually lasted a few hours.

In January Jigawa police arrested and detained Moukhtari Ibrahim Aminu after he insulted Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido on his Facebook page. Police detained Aminu for 10 days, after which he was arraigned and remanded in prison until February 7. There were no new developments in the case by year’s end.

In March 2010 a Kaduna sharia court ordered the immediate suspension of all debates on blogs and the online social networking sites Facebook and Twitter regarding the 1999 amputation of Bello Buba Jangebe’s right hand as punishment for stealing a cow. The court issued a restraining order to prevent an NGO, the Civil Rights Congress, from discussing the decade-old case in its online forums. The presiding judge stated that the defendants, as Muslims, had no right to question any judgment given by a sharia court. The judge’s order represented the first of its kind restricting Internet freedom. There were no reports of government attempts to collect or disclose personally identifiable information in connection with a person’s peaceful expression of political, religious, or ideological opinion or belief.

Beaf: ^
Lol! We have 'kashed' di bushmeat!

Beaf: Does anyone not find it strange that while the FG was at war with Biafra, the Midwest declared it was neutral? That is a very strange position indeed for a region of a country at war to take.
We were never the enemy of Biafra and have never been. It is time to drop the false accusations which were originated for reasons yet unkown (most likely to cover up the blunder of that invasion); these things do not bode well for cooperation.

Onlytruth: I will first assume that you are not referring to me with the bolded. If I don't get a refute or a correction from you, then I would assume that you are referring to me.

I'm waiting.

Dede1: In my previous post, I mentioned of a group that took Nowa Omoigui to task on the issue of the so-called rubber plantation massacre by Biafran army unit in mid-western region. The group made it known to Omoigui that he was not helping in the healing of wounds by publically flaunting fabricated falsehood about atrocity committed by Biafran unit during war. Till the moment of this post, Nowa Omoigui has not proffered a name of the brigade or commanding officer of the unit with respect to village where aforementioned atrocity was committed by Biafrans.

In the case of the group from Biafra, it presented three documented and substantiated atrocities committed by Nigerian army units in Asaba, Ogba Egbema and Obosi/Onicha. In each case, the Biafran group was able to give names of brigades and divisions as well as their commanding officers during the time the atrocities were committed. Be mindful this issue was tabled when some or all the principal players in the Nigeria/Biafra civil war were alive.

It is idiotically naïve for anybody to insinuate the instances of neutrality during the civil war or attempt to inject an element of sheer invitation to join a fight or attack during shooting war.

Onlytruth: The only organization that seem to understand the stakes is the Biafran Liberation in Exile (BILIE).

If we want Biafra or Ala Igbo or any other seceded entity, we must know how to get it.

I want you to join my council here because we discuss some things before taking position on them here on Nairaland.
The council members don't always agree, but we at least try to coalesce around a common position. For us to improve on what our fathers did, we must learn from their mistakes first. One of their biggest mistakes was DISUNITY AND UNILATERALISM.

Onlytruth: In civilized countries (which Biafra will be one day) these jobs are handled by the best naturally endowed mentally. I would be a GREAT ASSET to any military institution. If not that Nigeria is a cesspit where a cow from the desert would be recruited (using quota system of course) ahead of humans from Eastern Nigeria, and if Nigeria does not have blood of innocent Igbo children starved to death in her hands, I may have become a TOP ranking officer in the Nigerian military by now.

The rest of your post is trash.

OYINBOGOJU: Who borrow you laptop for few minutes or Nepa just give you light so you don't have enough time to read Aboki Tukur comments.
What is this IF IF you dey type here,if you don't have sufficient information on matter it better you don't make comment.

It’s Thursday, January 5th when we land in Abuja, capital of Nigeria. [/b]Today the Muslim’s ultimatum to the Christians expires. We have a police and military escort to ensure total security. We’re headed to the presidential palace and don’t have much time. We have to take off by 6 pm at the latest. There’s no real danger, they assure us, but it’s best not to take chances. The streets are calm, with none of the confusion one might expect. Abuja is beautiful, with lots of greenery and imposing villas hidden behind high walls.



The city has an air of wealth, and is spotlessly clean everywhere. We’re late for our appointment due to the flight before ours, as well as all the security checks. First stop for the car, second for document check, during which we’re photographed, and finally for surrendering all our cameras and cell phones. [b]The situation is rather complicated in Nigeria right now, and everyone performs their job with attention to every detail.



The fact that they won’t let us bring any photographic equipment is a real disappointment.They understand that this is a problem for us, so they offer us a book full of photos of the President. We can choose whichever ones we want, they tell us. "No", I reply politely, "we take our own photos. Vogue has its own style and we want to maintain it". I stand there with the book in my hand and everyone’s eyes on me, wondering what I might say or do next. "Ok, let me speak with the President and see what I can do". Between the disappointment of the photographer and cameraman and the lack of reassurance that the President would even be there, I feel like it’s all my fault.



A guard and the Chief of Protocol come to lead us to the Oval Room where we were to meet the President. I turn and see my whole team looking vaguely defeated. "Smile, please. And that’s not a request!". Then Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria, elected on 16 April 2011, enters the room, returning our smiles with his own. Elegantly dressed in a blue suit composed of a tunic and trousers with a gold pocket chain and his signature wide-brimmed hat, he is followed by the Vice President, who is Muslim, while Jonathan is an evangelical Christian. We are also joined by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, a gorgeous and elegant woman – who also happens to be a princess – dressed in traditional robes, with a Master’s from Cambridge and the distinction of being the first woman to run Nigeria’s most important ministry, given that it is the world’s 8th largest oil exporter.



Lastly, Edem Duke, Minister of Culture and Tourism, enters the room, with his authoritative bulk and wide-brimmed hat like the President’s. We all sit. I’m next to the President, who invites Alison-Madueke to say a few words. She offers a detailed illustration of our F4D project and our idea to dedicate a whole issue to Africa, but with a positive slant in order to convey an image of the continent that’s not all famine and death, but that is full of potential for growth and expansion toward new development initiatives. President Jonathan warmly supports both projects and he casts me a gentle look that needs no reply. "Your turn, and be convincing", his eyes seem to say. So I begin.



"Mr. President, thank you for having granted our request for an interview. It is true that we are a magazine of images, but I think that there is a lot to do in terms of your country’s image, which at the moment does not come across as wealthy and stable, despite having oil and other great prospects". He interrupts me and informs me that the country’s motto at this time is ‘Rebranding Nigeria’. "I couldn’t agree more, truly. But I would like to revive your textile industry, which used to be strong but have been overshadowed, though not forgotten, since the discovery of oil. Why sell the tie-dye patent to the Chinese, who will end up producing it there? In the course of a couple of generations, knowledge of your tradition will disappear. At least if it were produced in Nigeria there would be work for the local population and your culture wouldn’t be lost. You have amazing potential – just look at what happened in Brazil, or at how many European and American companies make their goods in China. Why can’t all this be done in Nigeria?".



He smiles and nods in agreement. I go on: "All the richest Nigerians spend their money abroad because there a no shops here, no hotels with a chic African flair, no hip restaurants or clubs. Why not build an African Rodeo Drive in Lagos or Abuja, with boutiques carrying both imported and Nigerian goods?". I stop, perhaps I’m going too far. He looks at me and says: "You know our designers. They’re talented and very creative". "Of course", I continue. "You have Duro Olowu, who is famous as Louboutin in America and Europe, and many others. There’s also Mercedes, which sponsors a lot of fashion weeks. We could talk about doing one here. In any case, there is no shortage of ideas, but we need to act, and quickly. In the northern part of the continent, Nigeria is the country with the greatest potential. Why not take advantage of it?". I stop. The President looks at his ministers with a satisfied smile and appears to agree with what I said. He then states that he will do everything to help us, and to make sure that all this isn’t just talk. "I agree, and this will serve as a basis for reflection. We have problems of various kinds, some of them very serious, but this will not impede our country from moving forward and changing our image. I thank you for having spoken openly and frankly.



Is there something I can do for you, even if you’re only here for a few hours?». I laugh, relieved, without missing a beat: "Certainly – a photo, taken by us in the Vogue style. Give us the sign and they’ll bring in the equipment". He looks around with that shy, kind smile. "How can I say no?", he exclaims. As the Minister of Tourism leaves the room, he says: "It’s true that dynamite always comes in a small package".