₦airaland Forum

YarAdua’s whereabouts not my business – Bankole
From YINKA FABOWALE, Ibadan
Wednesday, March 31, 2010


Bankole
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, yesterday in Ibadan said it was not his business to be searching for, or to disclose the whereabouts of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua.
A 300-Level student of the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan , Mr. Lekan Amusa, had asked the Speaker to tell the country the location of Yar’Adua and whether he was still alive.

Bankole, who was momentarily flustered by the question, however, said that it was not within the purview of his office to speak for the executive arm of the government.
The speaker was at the university to inaugurate a 500-capacity computer-based testing centre a private-public project between the university and a private company, Electronic Test Company Limited.
The student had grabbed the opportunity of an interactive session with the Speaker on the occasion to pose the question, which prompted an apparently embarrassed Bankole to inquire if he {Amusa} was only trying to be mischievous’
But, the student boldly repeated the question.

The Speaker in his reply said that strong institutions ran a nation and not an individual, stressing that the important thing was the smooth-functioning of the presidency and not the president as an individual.
As the speaker, he said he was privy to certain information, which the student that asked the question did not have.
“What we know is that the president is in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. But, it is neither here nor there.
“Presidents have been sick in all nations. Winston Churchill was sick for seven months during the war period and he was attended to by his personal physician and his wife.
“Let us not play unnecessary politics with this matter. I’m not the spokesperson of the Federal Executive Council and I don’t intend to be. I only speak for the country.

“Our essence is to preserve institutions to move forward and that is what we are doing.”
The Speaker had earlier revealed how the House uncovered a N40 billion fraud in the Federal Ministry of Works and thus prevented the country from being fleeced of the sum through the 2009 Appropriation Bill.
From the total budget estimate of N100 billion the ministry presented to the House, last year, he said the Lower House discovered that the said amount was budgeted for projects already completed, certified and paid for.
In the last 10 years, he said that the House also uncovered between N800m and N1tr accruals from the internally generated revenue that were not remitted to the national treasury.

Bankole expressed surprise that nobody had been arrested in connection with the alleged discovery and noted that the figure could be higher if the books were properly scrutinized.
The speaker swore not to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet, even if the culprits initiated a “campaign of calumny” against him in the next few weeks.
The Speaker said, “Chances are that the figure could be higher, because it was the civil servants themselves that gave us the figure.”

Imagine what N10tr could have done for this country in the last 10 years.
“This is an amount that could have been spent on education, power, or the health sector. And up till now nobody has been arrested despite the undisputed fact that we have submitted our report on the matter.
“Those involved will start campaign of calumny against Bankole soon, but I don’t care. I’m now used to it. You call me speaker and I will speak. When they start abusing me in the next few days, just know why.
“We will continue to exercise our oversight function without fear or favour, ”
Sometimes ago, he said that the country also lost the opportunity of having about $8bn invested in various sectors of the economy by a group of bankers.

He said that the five ministers designated by the president to work out the modality with the investors allegedly frustrated the move because of their conviction that they would not be in direct control of the money.
In his speech on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro emphasized the imperativeness of private-public partnership in moving the universities forward, He said the newly commissionedcentre would eliminate all forms of sharp practices during examinations
The Chairman of the donor-company, Mr. Tunde Yusuf, said that the firm had committed about N2bn to similar project in eight universities in the country to enhance e-learning and testing.
He explained that the centre was useful for e-learning and e-library and could also be commercialised as testing centre for government and the private sector; apart from being the modern facility for conducting tests.
.


http://www.nigeriannews.com/

kokoetemma
Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« on: Yesterday at 12:53:58 PM »
________________________________________
[b]ALLEDGED WORLD BANK DOCUMENT NAMES TOP NIGERIANS AND THEIR LOOT IN FOREIGN BANKS

A list of Nigeria's prominent citizens and the monies they allegedly looted from the treasury and stashed in foreign banks in London, the United States and Germany was said to have been allegedly despatched to President Umaru Yar'Adua recently by the World Bank.

The purported World Bank list which has the names of former Presidents Gen Ibrahim Babangida, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, late Gen Sani Abacha, former Adviser to President Shehu Shagari Alhaji Umaru Dikko, former Adviser to late
Gen Abacha, Alhaji Wada Nas, former Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Tom Ikimi, former Chief of General Staff Rear Admiral Mike Akhigbe, former National Security Adviser to late Gen Abacha, Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, former Central Bank
Governor Mr Paul Ugwuma and Mohammed Abacha, late Gen Abacha's son was emailed to xclusivenigeria.com yesterday.

Others on the list are former Petroleum Resources ministers Mr Dan Etete and Mr. Don Etiebet, late Gen Abacha's relative Alhaji Abdulkadir Abacha, detained Chief Security Officer to late Gen Abacha, Major Al-Mustapha, former ministers Mr. Anthony Ani, Bashir Dalhatu, and Alhaji Hassan Adamu.

Others are former Chief of Army Staff under Gen Abacha, Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi; former Chief of General Staff Gen T.Y. Danjuma; Gen Wushishi and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Gen Jerry Useni.

Gen Babangida topped the purported World Bank list with 6billion pounds sterling allegedly stashed in London banks, 7billion dollars in Swiss banks, 2billion dollars in US banks and 9billion deutsche marks in Germany. Former head of state Gen Abubakar allegedly has 1.3billion pounds in London banks, 2.3billion dollars in Swiss banks, and 800million in the USA. Late Gen Abacha was said to have 9billion pounds in London, 4billion in Swiss banks, 800million in the US, and
3million in Germany.

Rear Admiral Akhigbe, according to the purported World Bank document, is said to have stashed away 1.2billion in London; 2.4billion dollars in Switzerlamd; 600million in the US; and 1billion deutsche marks in Germany.
Gen Useni's loot was said to be 3billion in London; 2billion in Switzerland; 1billion in the US; and 900million in Germany.

According to the document which is currently being circulated in the blogosphere and was emailed to xclusivenigeria.com yesterday, Alhaji's Gwarzo's loot was said to be 1billion in London banks, 2billion in Switzerland; 1.3billion in the USA; and 700million in Germany. Alhaji Umaru Dikko, according to the alleged World Bank document, has 4.5billion in London; 1.4billion in Switzerland; 700million in the USA; and 345million in
Germany.

Former Central Bank Governor Paul Ogwuma has 300million in London; 1.4billion in Switzerland; 200million in the USA and 500million in Germany. The list goes on. Please see the complete list in the document attached.

Xclusivenigeria.com could not reach the World Bank and the office of the Nigerian President as at press time yesterday to verify the authenticity of the purported World Bank document.


LOOTED MONEY DISCOVERED IN FOREIGN BANKS

NAMES OF DEPOSITORS
LONDON
SWISS($)
USA ($)
GERMANY (D)

GEN IBRAHIM BABANGIDA
6.25bn
7.41bn
2.00bn
9.00bn

GEN ABUBAKAR
1.31bn
2.33bn
800M


REAR ADMIRAL MIKE AKHIGBE
1.24bn
2.42bn
671M
1bn

GEN JERRY USENI
3.04bn
2.01bn
1.01bn
900M

ALH ISMAILA GWARZO
1.03bn
2.00bn
1.3bn
700M

ALH UMARU DIKKO
4.5bn
1.4bn
700M
345M

PAUL OGWUMA
300M
1.42bn
200M
500M

GEN SANI ABACHA
9.01bn
4.09bn
800M
3.01M

MOHAMMED ABACHA
300M
1.2bn
150M
535M

ABDULKADIR ABACHA
700M
1.21bn
900M
471M

ALHAJI WADA NAS
600M
1.32bn

300M

TOM IKIMI
400M
1.39bn
152M
371M

DAN ETETE
1.12bn
1.03bn
400M
1.72bn

DON ETIBET
2.5bn
1.06bn
700M
361M

MAJ AL MUSTAPHA
600M
1.001bn

210M

ANTHONY ANI
2.9bn
1.09bn
360M
1.66bn

BASHIR DALHATU
2.3bn
1.001bn
161M
1.43bn

GEN WUSHISHI
700M
1.301bn



ALH HASSAN ADAMU
300M
200M
700M


T Y DANJUMA
300M
200M
700M


GEN ISHAYA BAMAYI
120M
800M
[/b]

http://kanoonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=4599.0







kokoetemma
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #1 on: Yesterday at 12:55:10 PM »
________________________________________
how can we make anyway with all this criminals in our midst,god save nigeria






Nezan (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #2 on: Yesterday at 01:35:57 PM »
________________________________________
OBJ's name not on the list? What of Atiku? The list is not a current list I think







lookmangiw
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #3 on: Yesterday at 01:52:46 PM »
________________________________________
This is surely not the current list cos if it was it,then someone like obasanjo should be topping the list.is recent 16bn dollars power project funds that was awarded to ghost contractor and nothing to show for it is a good for source for him to be the topman.






kshow1 (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #4 on: Yesterday at 01:59:02 PM »
________________________________________
Quote from: Nezan on Yesterday at 01:35:57 PM
OBJ's name not on the list? What of Atiku? The list is not a current list I think
My broda you are absolutely right.

AND ALL THESES THIVES ASIDE ABASHA ARE STILL LIVING IN OUR AMONGST US.
INFACT AM SHORT OF WORDS







omar22
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #5 on: Yesterday at 02:05:42 PM »
________________________________________
you lot are just depressing yourselves!!!!






eina (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #6 on: Yesterday at 02:10:19 PM »
________________________________________
The real truth is that these posters above nailing the looters on the cross will even loot x5 of what is in the record if given the opportunity. as long as the opportunity is there, leaders will always loot.






posakosa
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Ba
« #7 on: Yesterday at 02:13:34 PM »
________________________________________

Unfortunately, there are many more not listed,






olasboy
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #8 on: Yesterday at 02:20:13 PM »
________________________________________
14 of the 24 (58%) of the people on this list are Hausas. Gold diggers who have nothing to offer!






lexyflexy (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #9 on: Yesterday at 02:26:01 PM »
________________________________________
@ Poster

Help us recover the cash, since you have connection with World Bank; and if you can, there will be no point for this thread






jassie
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #10 on: Yesterday at 02:29:06 PM »
________________________________________super story






Nemeziz9ja
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Ba
« #11 on: Yesterday at 02:37:03 PM »
________________________________________And the list continues,






noetic2
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #12 on: Yesterday at 02:39:47 PM »
________________________________________
@ poster

Everyone is now feeding on the helplessness and gullibility of nigerians.

The contents of that OP is simply impossible. . . . none of them has that kind of money. . . .they were simply thieving and bad rulers who mismanaged the nations wealth. It is simply impossible for IBB to have 9 billion pounds in a london bank.






al-qaeda (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Ba
« #13 on: Yesterday at 02:44:16 PM »
________________________________________
what a bunch of crap. how come no obj. do i smell tribalism here.






princekevo (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #14 on: Yesterday at 02:53:05 PM »
________________________________________
Wht are rich country? Even as the present days Criminals(rulers) still much left to loot.
Wht a great country? Many criminals their name appeared there are still alive and walking boldly on the streets of Nigeria. Monkey no get say,







puskin
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Ba
« #15 on: Yesterday at 03:06:03 PM »
________________________________________
Quote from: noetic2 on Yesterday at 02:39:47 PM
@ poster

Everyone is now feeding on the helplessness and gullibility of nigerians.

The contents of that OP is simply impossible. . . . none of them has that kind of money. . . .they were simply thieving and bad rulers who mismanaged the nations wealth. It is simply impossible for IBB to have 9 billion pounds in a london bank.

In as much that the list is incomplete, but what makes it impossible for IBB to have such.






noetic2
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #16 on: Yesterday at 03:17:29 PM »
________________________________________
Quote from: puskin on Yesterday at 03:06:03 PM
In as much that the list is incomplete, but what makes it impossible for IBB to have such.

because it simply does not make sense. It is possible for him to have secret investments worth that much, but not that kind of money stashed somewhere.






A-town (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #17 on: Yesterday at 03:30:45 PM »
________________________________________
I believe this list has been released before and it was denied.
Anyway, my issue is General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida
I used to despise this guy so much in the past but i am now nearing that point where i will start admiring him.
This is a man that has shown Nigerians that you are all mouth mouth mouth and mouth. No action.
This is someone that has been accused of a billion attrocities. His funeral was even performed in the 90's, yet the man is living a lavish lifestyle in Niger.
How can a man live the kind of his lifestyle without any notable establishments or companies to support his income.
You will all come here and crucify this and crucify that. Nigerians are a bunch of cowards and retards.






noble_gas1 (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #18 on: Yesterday at 03:38:48 PM »
________________________________________
Yet some Nigerians feed on less dan $1 a day, God Please help the Needy, cuz i know these ppl will surely reap wat dey sow, am sure not even der great,great,great,great,great,great,greatgreat, grand children can even suffer or be poor wiv dis kind of money,






RICHIE BOI (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #19 on: Yesterday at 03:41:29 PM »
________________________________________
this na old story. i think say na recent list






Fhemmmy
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Ba
« #20 on: Yesterday at 03:43:38 PM »
________________________________________
Waoh.
Nice to see the list, but what is being done to get back all these loots?
How come with all these kinda evidence, these people are still ruling us and not behind bars?






okokomeji
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #21 on: Yesterday at 03:47:40 PM »
________________________________________
This list is not complete
How about
Chukwu Ojukwu
Rochas Okorocha
Obasanjo
Atiku
Sonny Okogwu
Bode Jugde
e.t.c.






puskin
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Ba
« #22 on: Yesterday at 03:49:07 PM »
________________________________________
Quote from: noetic2 on Yesterday at 03:17:29 PM
because it simply does not make sense. It is possible for him to have secret investments worth that much, but not that kind of money stashed somewhere.

Anyway, whether the money is physical or in investments, the fact is they stole serious money.






canuck (m)
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Banks
« #23 on: Yesterday at 03:50:11 PM »
________________________________________
Lastest psychology research proved what we all have known for so long - Leaders have a sense of entitlement to the treasury. And I am referring to Oyinbo-based research.

But Naija leaders? They have a sense of dismemberment of the treasury.

My people say, "Person wey dey feed another person no dey go hungry" However, Naija leaders will eat the entire meal, and go on to chew on the body parts of the person they should be feeding, while he/she's still breathing!!!!

Unfortunately, it takes the active cooperation and collaboration of the general public, at every level, for such atrocities to continue.







Witi
Re: Alleged World Bank Document Names Top Nigerians And Their Loot In Foreign Ba
« #24 on: Yesterday at 03:52:18 PM »
________________________________________
Please change the topic to ALLEGED WORLD BANK DOCUMENT NAMES OF SOME TOP NIGERIAN LEADERS BETWEEN 1985-1999 AND THEIR LOOT IN FOREIGN BANKS because the names of looters between 1960 to 1984 and 1999-till date did not appear in the document.
From Okotiebo the first Finance Minister down to Obasanjo, Buhari, Atiku, Bode George,, Ibori, Agagu, Fayose, Fani-Kayode, Babalola Borishade, Patricia Etteh, Tafa Balogun and co We can't exhaust the list, Nigeria is in trouble because these same people are being recycled and presented to the electorate during our elections.


naija for you

is police stations becoming bank? no nigeria can trust nigeria police to this level, police themselves re armed robbers, it will be foolish if anyone deposit or keep his cash with nigeria police, they are also armed robbers

Nigeria 'Taleban' threatens to widen its terror activities
Published Date: March 30, 2010

KANO: Nigeria's self-styled Taleban militant Islamist sect, whose short-lived uprising was brutally put down by the security forces last year, has threatened to widen its activities beyond the borders. "Islam doesn't recognise international boundaries, we will carry out our operations anywhere in the world if we can have the chance," said Musa Tanko, spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, in a rare interview given to AFP on Sunday.

The United States is the number one target for its oppression and aggression against Muslim nations particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan and its blind support to Israel in its killings of our Palestinian brethren," Tanko said, adjusting his starched bottle green kaftan. Thousands of Boko Haram Islamic sect militia launched an armed insurrection in July 2009 from their enclave in the northern city of Maiduguri and several other cities in the region in a doomed bid to establish an Islamic state.

We will launch fiercer attacks than Iraqi or Afghan Mujahedeen (Islamic fighters) against our enemies throughout the world, particularly the US, if the chance avails itself within the confines of what Islam prescribes but for now our attention is focused on Nigeria which is our starting point," Tanko said, as he placed a black file folder on his lap. Slim, dark, chin-bearded and soft-spoken, Tanko, 30, betrayed no emotion as he spoke under a defoliated tree, intermittently wiping sweat off his glistening
forehead with a white handkerchief, while his four colleagues nodded in approval between pauses.

The group draws its inspiration from the Afghan Taleban and sees Taleban spiritual leader Mullah Umar and the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, as its champions, Tanko said. "We see Mullah Umar and Osama bin Laden as the true champions of Islam who are fighting Allah's enemies and our allegiance and support go to them although we don't have any contact with them yet," Tanko said. Tanko said the group was not daunted by the police's extra-judicial killings of its members by security forces during the Jul
y rebellion. Nigerian police and troops crushed the uprising after a four-day street battle that claimed more than 800 lives, mostly of sect members. The killings, he said, "have made us more determined and committed in our struggle. We are undeterred," Tanko said in the local Hausa dialect.

Former Yugoslavia
In another development, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has suggested that Nigeria be broken up into several states along ethnic lines like the former Yugoslavia, in comments likely to worsen a diplomatic spat with Africa's most populous nation. Nigeria recalled its ambassador from Tripoli earlier this month when Gaddafi proposed that Nigeria split into two countries formed from the Muslim north and mainly Christian south.

His comment followed violent clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs that killed hundreds of people around the central Nigerian city of Jos and prompted Nigeria's government to question whether Libya might be sponsoring the violence. Nigeria said Gaddafi's comments were insensitive and irresponsible and "diminished his status and credibility". Responding to the Nigerian government, Gaddafi repeated the idea of dismantling the country, but this time suggested not two but several independent states for it
s multiple ethnic groups.

The partition into Christian and Muslim states will not resolve Nigeria's problems because there are other peoples claiming independence despite the religion issue," official news agency JANA cited Gaddafi as saying. He compared Nigeria to the former Yugoslavia, which collapsed after the end of the Soviet Union and split into several independent states, sparking conflicts in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and then Kosovo.

Nigeria , resembles the Yugoslav union which included several peoples, like Nigeria, and then these people gained independence and the Yugoslav union was ended in peace," said Gaddafi. "The model that fits Nigeria is the Yugoslav one." Gaddafi was chairman of the African Union until recently and has adopted the title "King of African Kings", but the veteran Libyan leader has a mixed reputation on the continent. Praised by some African leaders as a generous benefactor and champion of development, he stan
ds accused by others of financing rebellions and fomenting instability, often to counter the interests of the United States and its allies. - Agencies



http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTI5NDE0NzQxNA==

No governor has seen Yar’Adua, says Shekarau

BY EDWIN OLOFU


March 29, 2010 12:21AM
print email





Ibrahim Shekarau, the Kano State governor, yesterday debunked claims by some state governors that they have recently met with ailing president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Mr. Shekarau, who spoke on Radio Kano programme, Da Bazar Ku, said that none of the 36 state governors in the country has seen Mr. Yar’Adua since November 2009.

“None of the members of the Governors’ Forum can claim to have seen President Umaru Yar’Adua so far,” he said, adding that all of the governors only wish the bedridden president to recover his health.

The governor defended the decision of governors to support the idea of vesting presidential powers on Goodluck Jonathan, even though ‘there is nothing like acting president in the constitution’.

“In the constitution, there is nothing like acting president or acting governor,” he said. “It was not the spirit and letter of the constitution that guided their decision but the doctrine of necessity and their sense of right and wrong.

“In a situation whereby the president is around in the country, and cannot run the affairs of government, the constitution remains silent. Even a judge sometimes uses conscience to adjudicate.”

Dissolved executive

Mr. Shekarau also supported the recent dissolution of Executive Council of the Federation. He said the reality that the council was divided and for the country to move forward there was need for it to be restructured. “I think a divided FEC (Execuitive Council of the Federation) can’t deliver the best to the nation,” he said.

Mr. Shekarau also said that the governors cautioned Mr. Jonathan to ensure that he did not take any decision that would threaten the peaceful coexistence of the nation.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5546997-146/no_governor_has_seen_yaradua_says.csp

nl plz where to watch this match online

Yar’ Adua’s coup
•Fresh plot to return ailing President to office
•Ministerial nominees flood Abuja with dollars
By Olusola Balogun
Sunday, March 28, 2010


•Turai
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
Loyalists of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua are becoming desperate by the day and seem determined to stage-manage a public appearance for the former Katsina governor as a way of shoring up his fading influence and hold on power.

The group launched their fresh plot by flying the kite that the ailing leader would make a public appearance at Abuja central mosque last Friday. To lend credibility to the plot that has since broken into smithereens, the group reportedly drove the Presidential convoy around Abuja to create an impression that Yar’Adua has recovered and was the one in the convoy.
The appearance of the convoy with the insignia of the President was said to have created tension in the FCT.

Sunday Sun findings also show that as each of their plans fail, the group will launch a new one to continue to remind the nation that Jonathan is not yet a substantive President.
Indeed, palpable tension has enveloped Abuja ahead of Monday’s plan by the Senate to start the screening the 33 ministers nominated by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sources said senators are now beautiful brides being wooed by elements desirous of one favour or the other from the upper chambers. Members of the kitchen cabinet of ailing president Umaru Yar’Adua are also said to be out to frustrate Jonathan by erecting roadblocks on his path to effective governance.

One of the methods being employed by Yar’Adua’s men is to get the Senate to reject several candidates sent to them as members of the about to be reconstituted Federal Executive Council. That way the new cabinet would not be constituted as quickly as the Acting President wants.

“ Those desperate men are doing everything to patch up the President and bring him out even if it is for a few days. That way they would tell Nigerians that Yar’Adua has returned and Jonathan should hand over to him. We would then be taken back to square one. Of course the poor man is as unfit as they come and can hardly stand on his feet but those who see him as a meal ticket and key to the corridors of power are going to deploy every trick in the book to destabilize the country.” Our source alerted.

Sources at the National Assembly also disclosed, “ the group has moved in money, I mean real money, in foreign currency to woo senators to reject some key nominees so as to slow down the Acting President.”
The source specifically said that two senators, one from Katsina and another from Kebbi, are distributing $100,000 each to senators to get them to reject the nominations of Dora Akunyili and Adetokunbo Kayode specifically.”
According to the source, the offence of Akunyili is her decision to break ranks with other former ministers by calling for the ouster of Yar’Adua, while Kayode’s offence is his alleged closeness to Jonathan.
“The game plan is to ensure that Kayode does not scale through the senate screening so as to allow Mohammed Bello Adoke, another Senior Advocate of Nigeri, from Benue as the attorney General and minister of justice instead of Kayode.

“The plot of the pro-Yar’Adua elements and some Northern hawks is premised on the way Akunyili broke ranks with other ministers when she presented a memo that jolted the council, asking that Yar’Adua hand over to Jonathan while he recuperates”,he added.
The source said, “She caused a lot of problem for the Yar’Adua people the last time she was in the cabinet, so allowing her in that place now is very dangerous. She has to be stopped. Akunyili has demonstrated that she is more of an activist politician than an establishment person.”

The concern over Akunyili, a northern legislator said, is that “they are afraid that Akunyili’s passion for the people is a clog in the wheel of the own political prowess and future. It is true we have said that everyone can aspire to be President, but we all know the north is yet to have eight years and we will want it to go back to the North. But with a person like Akunyili and Kayode in the cabinet, you can’t be sure of anything.”
Recently sacked Senator Joy Emordi is also not making things easy for Akunyili as she is said to be spreading rumours that the former information minister was behind her predicament at the court of Appeal though the duo are from different Senatorial zones.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu had on Wednesday sacked Emordi from the upper chamber and replaced her with the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Anambra state.
However, reliable presidential sources hinted that Jonathan is determined to do what is right.
“He does not talk much and though he has heard all the permutations, it is not likely he would take a decision against Akunyili.”

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/mar/28/national-28-03-2010-001.htm

N’Delta: Jonathan, Sylva in test of strength
By Sola Adebayo, Published: Sunday, 28 Mar 2010



View All (3) Comment(s)

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan


The much-advertised meeting between the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and the repentant militant commanders in the Niger Delta was abruptly postponed on Friday as the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timpre Sylva, allegedly prevailed on the ex-fighters in the region to spurn the invitation of the Nigerian leader to the forum.



Jonathan had invited the ex-fighters to a crucial talk in the Presidential Villa, Abuja to seek the way forward for the region and he had anxiously waited to receive them before information got to him that the major ex-militant leaders had been asked to ignore him by Sylva.



Sunday Punch learnt that the action has further deepened the animosity between Jonathan and the governor of his home state, who had been widely speculated to be spearheading opposition against him.



Sunday Punch recalls that the governors and some unidentified political leaders of the South-South zone have been accused of making futile attempts to frustrate the emergence of Jonathan as the interim leader of the country.



Consequently, reliable sources in the Presidency told our correspondent that Sylva prevailed on some former freedom fighters in the region to shun the meeting convened by Jonathan to formally meet with them and seek their understanding in the concerted efforts to return the region to the path of sustainable peace and development.



One of the sources in the Presidency told Sunday Punch that Sylva, who moved to Abuja to perfect the plot to frustrate the meeting, returned to Yenagoa, the state capital through the Port Harcourt Airport on Friday, when he was convinced that the plot had succeeded.



Findings revealed that among the ex-militant commanders, who acceded to the position of Sylva and avoided the audience with Jonathan were the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Group, Chief Ateke Tom and Mr. Victor Ebikatowei, alias Boyloaf.



Although the Niger Delta ex-militant kingpin, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was not present at the meeting, our correspondent could not ascertain if his absence from the Abuja meeting on Friday was induced by Sylva.



The meeting was earlier slated for 5pm on Friday by Jonathan.



A source in the Presidency told Sunday Punch that Jonathan had eagerly waited at his Akinola Aguda residence to receive the visitors before information was made available to him at 7pm that Sylva had persuaded the ex-fighters to shun the forum, apparently to spite the acting president.



Sunday Punch gathered that a few players in the crisis in the region, especially the Secretary of the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, the spokesperson of the Ijaw Republican Assembly, Ms Ann Kio Briggs, one of the lawyers to the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Mr. Henry Okah, Wilson Ajuwa, and other stakeholders, who had arrived for the meeting were politely asked to return home.



They were told that the meeting had been postponed by Jonathan, adding that a new date would be communicated to them in the next few weeks.



One of the guests at the meeting said, “The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipre Sylva, is doing whatever he can to undermine the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The truth is that Sylva is identifying with the people planning to fight Jonathan. He (Sylva) wants to frustrate the meeting and embarrass Jonathan. Sylva wants to paint the picture that Jonathan could not coordinate the post-amnesty and restore the region on the path of peace and development.



“That is why Sylva prevailed on some ex-militant leaders loyal to him, especially Ateke Tom and Boyloaf to avoid the meeting with Jonathan. To this end, Jonathan believed that the best decision is that the meeting be cancelled instead of it to fail. That it should be cancelled so that the Presidency can re-strategise.”



Briggs, who confirmed the postponement of the meeting in an interview with Sunday Punch on Friday, however, said she was not aware of the reason for the action.



Briggs said a future date would be announced by Jonathan.



However, another presidential source who confided to our correspondent attributed the postponement to logistics problems.



For instance, he stated that Tompolo and some other militants missed their flight due to inclement weather



But Sylva has denied that he plotted the failure of the meeting, adding that the allegation was aimed at smearing his image.



Sylva, who spoke to Sunday Punch in a telephone interview on Friday night, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, said the ex-militant leaders were mature enough to determine their actions and activities.



Ola said the former militants should be held responsible for their actions and utterances.



The spokesman to Jonathan, Mr. Imma Niboro, declined comment on the report. Niboro neither answered persistent calls nor replied text messages sent to his cell phone by our correspondent on the matter.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100328523087

Why I stopped visiting Obasanjo in Aso Villa – Soyinka
By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Published: Saturday, 27 Mar 2010



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Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka


Nobel laureate and social activist, Prof. Wole Soyinka, paid a surprise visit to the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday at the Presidential Villa.



After the closed-door meeting with the Acting President, Soyinka told newsmen that he was at the Aso Rock for the ”unfinished business of the ill-executed amnesty programme,” as well as the reform of the country‘s electoral system.



He said, ”As you can imagine, what was uppermost on my mind was what was happening in the oil producing region. The issue of the amnesty, the unfinished business and ill-executed amnesty programme which is a brilliant idea, but as I said to his predecessor, the person he is acting for, Yar‘Adua, I hope he will remember I did have a meeting with him, where we had a one-on-one, in addition with meeting him with the rest of the team.



”So it is a continuation of my dialogue with the presidency over the Niger Delta region. So those are the overriding things (discussed).”



Soyinka, a supporter of the Save Nigeria Group, which is still protesting the unconstitutional issues surrounding President Umaru Yar‘Adua‘s ill-health, expressed confidence in Jonathan‘s commitment to the success of the amnesty programme.



On the electoral reform, he said, ”We also discussed electoral reforms, which he (Jonathan) is a very clear supporter; he is very keen a believer in it. I got very good vibrations from him.



”Unfortunately, one cannot transmit the same vibrations from the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, many of whose members are unelected anyway, and would like to leave things as they are because they hope to benefit from this illegitimacy and the whole corruption of the electoral system.”



Journalists observed that it was unusual for Soyinka to visit a sitting President in Aso Rock.



In response, the Nobel Laureate disclosed that he used to visit former President, Olusegun Obasanjo in the Presidential Villa until he became disappointed in the retired General.



”Well, you know, people tend to forget that presidents are human beings, first of all, and they have relationships. I used to visit Obasanjo, at least when I thought there was something in him to benefit the nation. When I found there is nothing, I stopped. So it is not unusual for me to visit presidents,” he said.



Pressed to give further insights into their discussion, Soyinka said, ”I don‘t think one should ever talk of conclusions, you just exchange ideas, and that is exactly what we did.



”He told me of the motions that he has been making to revitalise the (amnesty) programme. I don‘t even like to use the word amnesty programme, I never liked it, really.”



Soyinka went ahead to recommend a recipe for the success of the amnesty programme. ”Let me begin by saying that it (amnesty programme) was a marvellous initiative; it was a great initiative on the part of Yar‘Adua, no doubt about that, but it was ill-organised, ill-thought out.”



Soyinka said his role as a member of the SNG did not feature in his discussions with Jonathan. He said, ”In fact we never mentioned Save Nigeria Group, we didn‘t. You see, we like to compartmentalise things as much as possible; he (Jonathan) has his presidential responsibilities, I have my responsibilities to the civil society, of which Save Nigeria Group happens to be one, and the Citizens Forum, which I am the head, is also another.”



Asked to comment on the ministerial list sent to the Senate, Soyinka admitted that he congratulated Jonathan for dissolving the cabinet, but added that he could not comment on the nominees because he was not familiar with most of them.



After addressing journalists, Soyinka met briefly with his daughter, Mrs. Moremi Soyinka-Onijala, a Senior Special Assistant in the State House, before departing the Presidential Villa. Soyinka-Onijala was appointed by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100327923250

Soccer News of Friday, 26 March 2010
Source: Ghanasoccernet
Black Stars invited for Obama tournamentEmail this
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Three African countries - Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana - are among the countries invited to the inaugural President Barack Obama Cup Football tournament in the United States in May.

Other countries invited to the tournament are Mexico and Argentina.

Hosts US, Mexico, Ghana, Argentina and Nigeria will use the event as a build up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, billed for June-July in South Africa.

Disclosing this Tuesday, Football Kenya Limited (FKL) secretary-general, Thabit Mohammed, said foreign-based professionals, among them Dennis Oliech and McDonald Mariga, would be called up by coach Twahir Muhidin to represent Kenya.

For the Harambee Stars, it will be a different story altogether because Kenya failed to qualify for the World Cup.

They will, however, take pride in featuring in the event because Obama is an American of Kenyan ancestry.

President Obama of the US will open the two-week event to be held in Michigan.

"Since this is a serious tournament that is being played in honour of President Obama who has ancenstral roots in Kenya, we shall send a strong team. We shall also send our professional players like Oliech and Mariga to give our team the true face of Kenya," said Thabit.

Thabit said the Kenyan squad would be picked at the earliest opportunity, emphasising the need for early preparations.

The team will also embark on preparations for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) second-round match against the winner of the match between Uganda Cranes and Burundi.

Kenya sailed into the second round of the continental event after Ethiopia pulled out, citing financial constraints, among other problems



http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/artikel.php?ID=179274

nigeria is heaven, sorry hell fire

The Nigerian city of Lagos is one of the world's fastest growing, but it is also considered one of the five worst places on earth to live.

Officials say they are doing all they can, but getting around the city is a problem as its infrastructure is at a breaking point. Meanwhile, Abuja, which was made Nigeria's capital in 1976, appears to lack those problems.

Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege reports on what is one of Africa's most overcrowded cities.


http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/03/2010326101151716330.html?

what is wrong with nigeria? is yara'dua cloned? this comedy what part re we now? lord have mercy on nigeria

Revenge killings sweep through the Nigerian city of Jos
AMINU ABUBAKAR Published: 2010/03/26 07:21:27 AM


DESPITE tightened security in the restive Nigerian city of Jos following recent sectarian massacres, a wave of revenge killings has claimed the lives of both Muslims and Christians.



The tension is so marked that inhabitants find it difficult to venture out in some parts of the central city, which lies on the fault line between the Muslim-majority north and the mainly Christian south. “We now live in fear as a result of killings in the city, which make it difficult for us to move about freely,” Muhammad Sani Mudi, spokesman of the Hausa community of Muslims in Jos, said .



“We have lost 23 members to secret killings in the past two weeks, while 58 others are still missing,” he said on Tuesday.



On Tuesday, student Adamu Haruna, 25, became the latest victim of the violence, said Mudi. He disappeared on the way to Friday prayers. “He was last seen on Friday when he left his home for the central mosque,” Mudi said from Jos . His body, disfigured with machete cuts, was discovered at a morgue .



The dead and missing were mostly street sellers, newspaper vendors and drivers of motorcycle taxis, Mudi said.



But the same fear has gripped the other side of the sectarian divide.



Donald Maiyaki, a Jos resident, said: “Everybody lives in fear in Jos due to these silent killings going on. I know of two Christian teenage students separately kidnapped in the past week. They are still missing.”



The information commissioner of Plateau State, Gregory Yenlong, confirmed the problem. “In the last two weeks not less than 20 people have been killed in selective killings.”



Nigeria’s acting President Goodluck Jonathan deployed troops in Jos after the clashes in January, which left more than 300, mainly Muslims, dead.



For a while, the troop presence brought a semblance of peace. But earlier this month, in apparent reprisal attacks, Muslim Fulani herdsmen went on a killing spree in raids on Christian villages. And though police say about 100 people were killed, government officials have insisted that at least 500 ethnic Beroms perished . Sapa-AFP




http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=104719

ThisDay question

Should Jonathan consult the PDP, Governors and ex-leaders on reconstituting the FEC?
Yes
No
Undecided


View results




2 Nigerians Linked to Al-Qaeda Deported
From Damilola Oyedele in Abuja, 03.26.2010

The two Nigerian students-- Abdulsalam Luqman and Abdullahi Bolajoko Uthman, who were arrested by Malaysian authorities in January for alleged connections to al-Qaeda have been deported back to Nigeria Accused of being associates of Farouk AbdulMutallab, who is currently standing trial in US for the attempted bombing of s Detroit airline last Christmas, the two men were deported about two weeks ago after being arrested and held under the Internal Securities Acts (ISA) 1960.

Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ozo Nwobu in a text message sent to THISDAY yesterday morning said the men were deported to Nigeria on 13th of March, 2010.

It is however not clear what arrangements the Federal Government had with the Malaysian authorities which allowed for the deportation of the students although Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Martin Ohomoibhi had stated at a recent press conference that Nigeria had ‘very friendly relations’ with Malaysia.
He had stated at the briefing last Wednesday that he was not aware of the status of the two men, but promised to make their status available to newsmen.


http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=169508

why nigeria seeks asylum in the foreing land, is becouse of bad leadership in their country, caused by mismanagement of their country's enormous resources, i will never blame any nigeria that want to survived in a foreing land, by seeking asylum, nigeria need change in govt. to put life again in their people life. in nigeria today no good road, no good water, no light, no good hospital etc etc etccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

58 Nigerians deported from Sudan
By AGENCY REPORTER, Published: Thursday, 25 Mar 2010



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Fifty-eight Nigerians deported from Khartoum, Sudan were flown back home on Wednesday through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, aboard an Air Libya flight.



A source at the Nigeria Immigration Service told the News Agency of Nigeria that the deportees comprised eight males, 41 females and nine minors.



The source, who spoke under anonymity, said the deportees were escorted back to Nigeria by five Sudanese policemen.



He added that the Nigerians were sent home for offences ranging from overstaying in the country, possession of irregular travel documents and involvement in crime.



The source said the deportees had been released to their families.



It was gathered that some of the deportees were also involved in street begging.



NAN reports that 85 Nigerians had earlier been deported from the United Kingdom on March 12; 58 others from Dublin, Republic of Ireland on February 15; and 28 from Trinidad and Tobago on March 19.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003251205235

Sex abuse: Pope accepts resignation of Irish bishop
By AGENCY REPORTER, Published: Thursday, 25 Mar 2010



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Of a sexual treat gone awry


The Pope has accepted the resignation of an Irish bishop found to have mishandled allegations of clerical sex abuse in his County Cork diocese, British Broadcasting Corporation reports.



Bishop John Magee stepped aside in March 2009 after an independent report found his Cloyne Diocese had put children at risk of harm.



“I take full responsibility for the criticism of our management of issues in that report,” he said on Wednesday.



The 2008 report cited an inability to respond appropriately to abuse claims.



It was conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, a body set up by, but independent of the Catholic Church.



The inquiry was separate to last year’s Murphy report on decades of abuse mishandling in the Dublin archdiocese and the Ryan report, which detailed physical and sexual abuse at Catholic-run orphanages and industrial schools in the Irish Republic.



Bishop Magee was born in Newry, County Down, and served as private secretary for three popes.



The NBSC inquiry examined how the Cloyne diocese dealt with a series of complaints of sexual abuse against two priests.



One woman reported “Father B” in 1996 as saying she had a year-long sexual relationship him and that she had seen him kissing her 14-year-old son.



Three other complaints of abuse were made against this priest between 1995 and 1997, and in 2005 a woman claimed that she had sex with the priest from the age of 13.



The conclusions of the report were a devastating critique of child protection practices in the diocese.



It said child protection practice was inadequate and in some respects dangerous as it apparently focused on the needs of the accused rather than victims.



It failed to act effectively to limit the access to children by individuals against whom a credible complaint of child sexual abuse was made.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003252142825

Nigerians still top list of asylum seekers
By AGENCY REPORTER, Published: Thursday, 25 Mar 2010



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Nigerians have been ranked top on the list of people seeking asylum worldwide in 2009, according to a report released by the United Nations Refugee Agency on Tuesday.



For the second time in two years, Nigeria maintained its seventh position on the UN High Commission for Refugees ranking on country of origin of asylum seekers.



The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria quotes the report as saying that 12,307 Nigerians applied for asylum during the period under review, mainly in European countries.



It, however, said the leading country with asylum applicants in 2009 was Afghanistan with 26,800 applications, representing a 45 per cent increase over 2008, the report said.



Iraqis dropped to second place with 24,000 claims, while Somalis moved to third with 22,600 asylum applications.



They were followed by people from the Russian Federation, China, Serbia.



The UNHCR, however, noted that the overall number of asylum-seekers in industrialised nations was stable in 2009, dismissing claims that asylum-seekers were rushing to developed nations



“The notion that there is a flood of asylum-seekers into richer countries is a myth.



“Despite what some populists claim, our data show that the numbers have remained stable,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said.



The data, which measure asylum levels and trends in 44 industrialised nations, shows that compared to 2008, the number of asylum-seekers last year, remained the same with 377,000 applications.



According to the report, the number of asylum applications increased in 19 of the countries and fell in the other 25 under review.



Of note was the Nordic region which recorded a 13 per cent increase with 51,100 new applicants, the highest in six years.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003251214935

INEC chair: No more Igbo
People & Politics Mar 25, 2010 By Ochereome Nnanna

THERE has been some excitement since the news broke that, after all, there might be a change of guards at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). If this happens, it will further heighten the expectation that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan may have chosen to chart a course that is not business as usual. The INEC Board led by Professor Maurice Iwu was already looking forward to conducting the next general elections.

Vanguard Newspapers had on Monday, March 22, 2010 in its lead story, quoted a Presidency source as saying that six names had been short-listed for the INEC Chair. These were Professor Attahiru Jega, a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities; Dr Jibrin Ibrahim, an apparent dark horse; retired Major General Ishola Williams, the President of the Nigeria chapter of Transparency International; former Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili; former Military Governor of Kaduna State, retired Col Abubakar Umar and former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr Olisa Agbakoba.

All these are interesting names. Since we have less than three months to the time the next INEC Chair will assume office, it is safe to suppose that the Acting President will be making the appointment since it is unlikely that the electoral reforms would have been concluded. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to ensure that the next person to occupy that hot seat must be a person whose integrity is above suspicion. Such a person must be absolutely above partisan politics. Luckily, all the names listed are within this categorisation, even though some are more so than others.

Let me start by advocating that the next INEC Chair should not be of Igbo stock, neither should he/she come from the South-South. These two groups have exclusively produced all our electoral umpires till date since independence. We must do away with this quaint tradition of parcelling out some jobs exclusively to any part of the country, for whatever reasons. There is nothing that says only people of the South East and South-South must preside over our elections, just as nothing in our laws suggests that only Northerners and (when it is convenient) South Westerners must preside over the affairs of the nation. The next INEC Chair must, therefore, be a Yoruba or Northerner. I find it suspicious that these two sections of Nigeria that have swapped political power between them since the end of the civil war have never complained about not heading the Electoral Commission.

Apart from that, we don’t want any partisan politician as INEC Chair anymore. Professor Akunyili, as competent as she is for the job, is a politician, a very ambitious and power-hungry one at that. Members of her Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused her of playing subterranean roles in ensuring that Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the party’s candidate in the last election in Anambra State, failed. It may not be true, but she has not debunked this allegation. If Akunyili is to be brought back to government, let her be given the challenging task of rebuilding our electric power infrastructure. She does exceptionally well in non-politically sensitive posts.

My number one nominee for the INEC Chair is Col. Umar. He is above politics and above suspicion. He is not a tribalist, regionalist or religious fundamentalist. He is a true patriot who can look anyone in the face and refuse to be used. This is the time in Nigeria’s history to bring the likes of Col. Umar back into the centre stage of our governance if we want to start moving forward.

My second nominee is Major General Ishola Williams. He is exactly the Yoruba copy of Abubakar Umar – totally above all primordial political mundanities. Unlike typical partisan candidates, I cannot imagine Umar or Williams descending so low as to work for the success or failure of any particular candidates. I am positive that even the appointing authorities will not be able to sway these two gentlemen.

Umar and Williams are strong enough to resign their appointment if the ruling party or president resorts to arm-twisting the Commission, possibly through the denial of adequate funding; or the many dirty tricks that former President Olusegun Obasanjo resorted to and Dr Abel Guobadia and Professor Iwu played along.

With Umar or Williams in the INEC saddle, Nigeria can afford to take her time and reform the electoral processes. Both of them have been exposed to the highest level of intrigues in the Nigerian political terrain even in the blood-soaked military era and came out spotless. But because they are clean and straight with the truth, the system has found a way to sideline them because the Olusegun Obasanjo type of Nigeria does not like genuine and strong materials in the system for fear that they will rock their post-civil war boat.

Otherwise, how on earth can a Col. Umar be alive, strong and active and Obasanjo will search the whole North and only a terminally sick Umaru Yar’Adua will be found worthy to be given the affairs of Nigeria to govern? Conversely, how can people of proven integrity like Williams be there and only an Obasanjo, who was convicted for coup plotting, would be found by the North to be worthy of being given the presidency of Nigeria in preference to the murdered Chief Moshood Abiola?

Dr Goodluck Jonathan must continue to demonstrate that Nigeria is no longer interested in recycling proven deadwoods and political hypocrites just because it favours the interest of the equally discredited few who have ruined this country and are not tired of doing so.


http://www.nigeriannews.com/

Don’t ignore Ghadaffi’s comment, Aliyu warns
By Francis Falola, Minna, Published: Thursday, 25 Mar 2010



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Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu


Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu has warned Nigerians not to ignore a recent comment made by the Libyan leader, Muammar Ghaddafi, about Nigeria.



Ghaddafi had stirred controversy when he said dividing the nation along two religious line (Islam and Christian) was the only antidote to the incessant killings in some parts of the country.



Speaking at the capacity development programme organised by the Niger State Development Company in Minna, Niger State, on Wednesday, Aliyu said the Libyan leader might have made the comment out of what he heard about the country and stated that there was the need for the nation to take the comment serious.



He said, “When people like that talk you must know that they speak out of what they hear.



“That comment is unfortunate. It is potently dangerous. The Federal Government should take a serious look at the comment and react appropriately.



“I am sure he was speaking on a wrong assumption that the problem in Jos is religious, but we in Nigeria know there is nothing religious about the crisis.



“As a Muslim, I know if I kill anybody, the sins of the persons will be visited on me.



“So why should I carry another person’s sin together with mine when I am already pleading with God to forgive me of mine.”



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003252392093

me sacrifice for nigeria on what basic, nigeria don't wot sacrifice period

earthquake nation

nigeria wowoooooooooooooo great

Breaking News: Acting President Goodluck Jonathan adds five more names to ministerial list.
03.24.2010

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan adds five more names to ministerial list. They are Dora Akunyili, Shamsuddeen Usman, Emmanuel Iheanacho, Musa Sada and Prof Sheikh Abdullah,

more details shortly.





http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=169355

Religious leaders promote corruption, alleges Bakare

By Idris Akinbajo


March 24, 2010 02:06AM
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Tunde Bakare, activist and the pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, has described some religious leaders as promoters of corruption.

Mr. Bakare spoke yesterday at a “Consultative Forum on Curbing the Burden of Corruption: Challenges to the Nigerian State,” organised by the Movement Against corruption (MAC), a coalition of civil society groups and faith based organisations in Abuja. Like others at the event, he prescribed different ways of tackling Nigeria’s corruption problems.

“Except the people of this nation are willing to take their destiny into their hands, and hold the corrupt and perverse leadership accountable, I do not think we will see the end of this situation so soon.

Because, in a situation where (some) pastors in churches and clerics in the mosque everywhere are benefitting from the corruption that is so endemic in our nation, they will not be part of the group that will fight it. They will be part of the group that will protect it,” he stated.

Mr. Bakare berated past Nigerian leaders, saying that “rather than deal with the root causes, our leaders over time have tried either to rebrand our tattered image or rebuild our national reputation, forgetting that those who are overly interested in recognition have no character.”

The pastor, who is also the convener of the Save Nigeria group, described the secrecy surrounding the health status of our president, Umaru Yar’Adua, as an act of corruption.

“It is the depth and height of corruption for us not to know what has happened to our president, even up till now. A man is sick, a man is sick. A man cannot continue, he cannot continue. But we have all kinds of things because telling the truth is no longer part of our national consciousness,” Mr. Bakare stated.

Anti-corruption efforts are waning

Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, the president of MAC and spiritual leader of the Ansar-udeen Society of Nigeria (an Islamic organisation), condemned the recent performance of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies.

“In the last few years, the style and the fight against corruption in Nigeria has taken a nosedive. It has slowed down considerably. It is the responsibility of civil society to ensure that the issue of corruption is in the front burner,” he said.

Also, Uchenna Udoko of the Centre for Democracy and Development, said that glorification of corruption promotes corruption too.

“One of the basic causes of corruption is the show of affluence, especially by politicians, and the way we glorify them in churches, with chieftaincy titles; and people will look at them and say: I want to be like that,” Mrs. Udoko stated.

Take corruption battle to schools

Mrs. Udoko explained that, apart from bringing corrupt public holders to book, corruption can be addressed by “taking the anti-corruption crusade to secondary schools”. She added that “we should begin to build activists and change agents in children and young ones.”

Chido Onumah, the coordinator of “Make Your Votes Count”, identified corruption as a reason for Nigeria’s electoral instability.

“One of the areas in this country where corruption is most pervasive is the electoral process. It is corruption that has nurtured the system. It is corruption that has made it impossible for us to have a free and fair election,” Mr. Onumah stated.

He also explained that his organisation was continuing with its ongoing peaceful protest demanding the removal of Maurice Iwu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) because “having an unbiased INEC chair is the minimum condition we need for a free, fair and credible election in this country. We are not saying that if we have a good INEC chairman or chairwoman tomorrow, the problem of this country will be solved.”


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http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5544821-146/story.csp

Giant


sleeping gaint

na waaaaaaaaaa for nigeria police.

How policeman killed council worker over N20 bribe
Crime Alert Mar 24, 2010 By Dayo Johnson

Akure-THE craze for the collection of N20 at illegal check points by overzealous policemen has caused the untimely death of a 26- year-old promising Dayo Adeola in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Late Dayo left his residence that day like any other day without the premonition that it was going to be his last day on mother earth.   No thanks to a gun shot by a mobile Policeman, Corporal Mayowa Abolarin who was pursing a bus driver conveying cartons of Turkey from an illegal check point right into the heart of Akure metropolis.


• The policeman that was beaten to pulp.
The deceased who arrived early for work at Akure South Local government area of the state after spending about an hour went to a nearby canteen together with two other co-workers.

As they were coming back after the breakfast, just few metres to the entrance of their place of work, his friends just noticed that Dayo was falling down and blood was gushing out of his neck.  That was when they noticed that he had been shot.   It was learnt that the bullet hit him in the neck and he died on the spot.   The policeman that released the shot fled the spot while shooting sporadically to scare people away from him.

His colleagues claimed they saw the policeman that shot him as he was about to escape on a motorbike with another policeman in mufti.   Crime Alert learnt that Immediately information reached the deceased worker’s department,  they mobilized and trooped to the street, protesting the killing by a policeman.    However, another policeman, Jimoh Audu who owns the bike that was used to pursue the bus driver to the scene of the killing was not lucky as he was caught and beaten to pulp by irate workers of the local government council.

His bike was set ablaze by the workers.   The timely intervention of the Council Chairman, Tayo Oluwatuyi and the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi and other security personnel that raced to the scene, saved the policeman from being burnt by the irate workers.

However, when news of the incident spread to other areas of the town, tempers rose and major streets of Akure, the state capital were rowdy while born fires were made.   The stampede that followed made motorists to abandon the roads for fear of being attacked by the aggrieved workers who became unruly and took to the streets.

It was learnt that the police officer had trailed a bus containing frozen foods from the road block along the Akure-Owo expressway to the spot but decided to shoot at the driver when it was becoming impossible to catch up with him.    The driver of the bus conveying the frozen Turkey was reportedly flagged down for the “usual settlement” but the drivers refused to stop.

The infuriated policeman reportedly stopped one of his colleagues called  Jimoh Audu who was riding on a motorbike to help him catch up with the run- away driver of the bus.


• B.M. Nassarawa, Ondo CP

Meanwhile, the killing of Dayo Adeola has sparked off protest by the state Chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) who called for the trial of the killer-cop.   NULGE has asked the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo to investigate the killing of their member by Police Corporal, Muyiwa Abolarin.

Addressing newsmen in Akure, the State President of the Union, Mr. Ayo Omorege, said that police authorities should ensure justice on the matter adding that members of the union had been subject of police brutality in recent times.   Omorege said Adeola was shot dead by the mobile policeman almost in front of the Secretariat of the Local government along Ilesha road, Akure.

Crime Alert later gathered that few days after the killing, Police authorities set up a three- member panel to investigate the matter and the panel recommended Abolarin’s dismissal from the force.

He was subsequently charged to court for murder and brought to Akure Chief Magistrate Court in handcuffs.  Surprisingly, the killer-cop was limping when he appeared in court.  Sources alleged he also shot himself after the incident claiming that the driver he was chasing shot him (the Policeman) first before he went after him in retaliation.  The suspect is being remanded at the Olokuta maximum prison.

Meanwhile, the family of the slain council worker has pleaded with Police authorities in the state to release of the corpse of their son for burial.   They made the request when they paid a visit to the Chairman of the Council, Tayo Oluwatuyi.


• The killer-cop in handcuffs.
According to members of the family,  the deceased was a good Muslim before he was killed by the policeman and needed to be buried in line with Islamic injunction.

Spokesperson for the family, Alhaji Ahmed Adeola, said “We are begging you to intervene so that the police will release the corpse of the late boy to us for burial according to Islamic injunction.   Islam does not permit a corpse to be delayed before burial. We want you to use your good offices to talk to the police to release the corpse of our son to us without any further delay.

Following this development, Governor Olusegun Mimiko has paid a condolence visit to the management and staff of Akure South Local Government over the killing of Adeola and assured that justice will be done on the matter.    The Governor said he appreciated the way and manner the council staff handled the matter, adding that their high level of maturity was a demonstration of their civilization.

“I must commend you for your maturity and the faith you have in your leadership.  For refusing to take laws into your hands, I’m very proud of you.  You have demonstrated a high sense of maturity which shows that we are civilized in Ondo State.   This is very sad.  I was particularly sad; especially after the unfortunate incident that happened recently,” said the Governor.

While thanking the State Commissioner of Police and the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) for their quick and timely intervention during the incident, the Governor assured the people of the state of government’s determination to sustain the prevailing peace and tranquillity in the state.    He noted that government has put in place a measure to fortify the responsiveness of security agencies in the state and make them more proactive in addressing their challenges.   He commiserated with the family of the deceased and promised adequate compensation for them.

The State Police boss, Mogaji Nasarawa also told Crime Alert that the suspect would face the music to serve as a deterrent to others in the police force adding that the suspect is presently facing a murder charge in Court.   He promised that the matter would be pursued to a logical conclusion and assured that it would not be swept under the carpet




http://www.nigeriannews.com/

beware this no more a rumor anymore, the information is been passed on air by the broadcasting corperations, please stay indoor when it rain, don't expose ur body to the naked.

UN chief allays fear of acid rain in Nigeria
By Niyi Odebode and Everest Amaefule, Published: Wednesday, 24 Mar 2010



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A United Nations space chief, Mr. Takao Doi, has allayed fears of acid rain accompanying the current harmattan haze accross the country.



Doi, a Chief Space Applications Officer at the UN Office for Outer Space, spoke at the Third Governing Board Meeting of the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education held in Abuja on Tuesday.



According to him, the hazy weather is a natural occurrence resulting from climate change. The UN chief said this would not lead to acid rain, as had been speculated.



A text message circulating through mobile networks had warned that there could be acid rain in the country between March 20 and 28.



The text message said, “Be careful from the 20-28th of this month. There is the possibility of an acid rain. The dark circle appeared on 17th of last month and this is an indication of acid rain. Apparently this happens once in 750 years. It rains normally but it may cause skin cancer if you expose yourself to it. This information is from the National Space Agency in the United States.”



But Doi said, “No acid rain is coming. The haze is a natural phenomenon. It is a result of climate change. There is no case for alarm. Don’t entertain any fear; the haze will go with time.”



Doi said this just as an environmental expert, Dr. Adeleke Adedoyin, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said that industrialised areas were more prone to acid rain.



Adedoyin, who is also the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, said, “Acid rain cannot occur where there are no industries. It occurs when vapour mixes with emission from industries. So, industrialised areas of the country such as Lagos, Ota, Sagamu are susceptible to it. Niger Delta where there is emission of gases, is also susceptible to it.”



Adedoyin advised Nigerians to ensure that their activities were environment-friendly, adding that the hazy weather was the effect of over-exploitation of natural resources.



The Nigerian Metrological Agency had last Thursday warned that persons with respiratory conditions should avoid prolonged exposure to dust so as to minimise the associated effect to their health.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003243422921

jonathan plz am afraid of this anenih's wife, nigeria needs change, how comes corruption anenih? with this corruption people on the head, nigeria will never change.