Tina A. Hassan
31 January 2010

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interview

Contaminated foods have been proven to be the cause of death of at least 2.1 million people globally and according to the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, developing countries lose billions of dollars annually to a particular type of food contaminant known as Aflatoxin which experts say they are about to phase out because of the development of a biocontrol drug by IITA known as Aflasafe. In this interview, Mr. Ranajit Bandyophadhay, a pathologist with the institute speaks on the journey that led to the development of Aflasafe and how to end Aflatoxin contamination in Africa among other issues.

Tell us about your work at IITA

I am a plant pathologist, and one of my main responsibilities is how to manage plant diseases. The other is to ensure food safety. This is so because 2.1 million people die by contaminated food every year.

What about your work on biocontrol?

This is one of the most exciting projects that I have ever had. The work on biocontrol is on a toxin found on maize and peanuts called Aflatoxins. The toxin causes a lot of harm to people's health and also makes farmers sell their products at lower prices. So, the loses are both in terms of health and trade. What I am trying to do is to manage the Aflatoxins using a holistic approach, such as using resistant varieties, better crop management practices, and also the biological control method.

What is unique about your biocontrol work?

One thing that is unique is that we are using the natural resources from Nigeria to manage an economic and medical problem. We are making use of nontoxic fungi to eliminate the harmful fungi (Aflatoxins).

What are Aflatoxins?

Aflatoxins are harmful chemicals that are produced by a fungus called Aspergillus Flavus.

The fungi produce toxins in maize, peanuts, and generally grains. When people eat them, it harms them and causes diseases such as liver cancer and kwashiorkor, among others. Worst still, farmers cannot sell their products at the premium price.

What makes you keen about biocontrol?

It is one of the strongest components of the holistic approach. If we can have the biocontrol approach adopted by farmers, most of the problems concerning Aflatoxins which they face during postharvest will be greatly reduced.

Do you see IITA in the position to offer the biocontrol option to farmers?

Absolutely yes. The reason is that we actually started with good science and that science has given birth to a new product which the farmers are willing to use.

Tell us about this product.

The product is "Aflasafe". We coined the name Aflasafe. When farmers use the product on their farms, they would produce grains that are free from Aflatoxins.

Did you face any challenge in developing the product?

The first challenge was developing the product itself. The fresh challenge now is how to get a large manufacturing firm to begin massive production, advocacy, and awareness so that it gets to the farmers.

Have any of them show interest so far?

We made a presentation to the Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, and he was so excited about the product. We also did a field deployment and the farmers were also very happy about it.

Who are your partners in this work?

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Sustainable Development
Many organizations and people were involved in this work. They include the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, farmers, United States Department of Agriculture, US Agency for International Development, Prof Peter Cotty, Dr Joseph Atehnkeng, and several others.

How were you able to handle these partners?

Every partner is a unique entity but one thing important is to build trust. Once that is done, the partnership gets smooth.

Research wise, what are you future plans?

My future plan is to get this product used on at least one million hectares. I intend to put all my efforts to see that this product is used for the benefit of the farmers in general and women and children who are more vulnerable to Aflatoxins


.http://allafrica.com/stories/201002010608.html?

is in the both heath, this serious matter, is for us to rethink, smoking is too dangerous to the health, i dont wish any of my bros to die, plz keep off in smoking

Nigeria: Smoking - 6.5 Million Risk Death in 2010
Ben Ukeji
1 February 2010

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Abuja — No fewer than 6.5 million Nigerian smokers may die this year from tobacco-related sickness.

An international expert, Akinbode Oluwafemi, who said this also said about 65 million Nigerians smoke cigarette.

Olwafemi said that inability of government to tax tobacco producing companies heavily was responsible for the cheap prices of cigarette making it easily available to low income earners.

According to him, increased taxation will lead to increase price of the product thereby, discouraging the youths who were the most vulnerable group from smoking cigarette.

He said a pack of cigarette that sells for N200 in Nigeria goes for about $5 in the United States of America (USA) due to the heavy taxation placed on the manufacturing companies saying "smoking is a sure gateway to drug addiction."

While describing smoking as a major risk factor for different cancer cases, Akinbode said it is also linked to about fifteen various cases of cancer in human body saying "apart from the high cost of treatment, infrastructural challenges, smoking related cancers accounts for 30 per cent of cancer related deaths."

The expert who is the Programme Manager, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria said that cigarette contains about 4000 toxic and cancer causing chemicals and is responsible for more than 85 per cent cases of lung cancer.

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Nigeria
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He said that smoking causes cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, uterine, cervix, kidney, ureter, bladder and the colon.

While urging the National Assembly to hasten the process of passage of bill on the ban on tobacco smoking in the country, Oluwafemi urged Nigerians to support the passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill.

The Secretary for Social Development of the FCDA, Habiba Kalgo while declaring the workshop open said the decision to ban smoking in public places in FCT was necessitated by the increase in the number of deaths arising from cancer cases in the FCT.

She, however, urged FCT residents to support the ban since they were the secondhand smokers were also affected by the fumes of the product

http://allafrica.com/stories/201002010204.html?

Nigeria: Smoking - 6.5 Million Risk Death in 2010
Ben Ukeji
1 February 2010

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Abuja — No fewer than 6.5 million Nigerian smokers may die this year from tobacco-related sickness.

An international expert, Akinbode Oluwafemi, who said this also said about 65 million Nigerians smoke cigarette.

Olwafemi said that inability of government to tax tobacco producing companies heavily was responsible for the cheap prices of cigarette making it easily available to low income earners.

According to him, increased taxation will lead to increase price of the product thereby, discouraging the youths who were the most vulnerable group from smoking cigarette.

He said a pack of cigarette that sells for N200 in Nigeria goes for about $5 in the United States of America (USA) due to the heavy taxation placed on the manufacturing companies saying "smoking is a sure gateway to drug addiction."

While describing smoking as a major risk factor for different cancer cases, Akinbode said it is also linked to about fifteen various cases of cancer in human body saying "apart from the high cost of treatment, infrastructural challenges, smoking related cancers accounts for 30 per cent of cancer related deaths."

The expert who is the Programme Manager, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria said that cigarette contains about 4000 toxic and cancer causing chemicals and is responsible for more than 85 per cent cases of lung cancer.

Relevant Links
West Africa
Nigeria
Health
He said that smoking causes cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, uterine, cervix, kidney, ureter, bladder and the colon.

While urging the National Assembly to hasten the process of passage of bill on the ban on tobacco smoking in the country, Oluwafemi urged Nigerians to support the passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill.

The Secretary for Social Development of the FCDA, Habiba Kalgo while declaring the workshop open said the decision to ban smoking in public places in FCT was necessitated by the increase in the number of deaths arising from cancer cases in the FCT.

She, however, urged FCT residents to support the ban since they were the secondhand smokers were also affected by the fumes of the product


http://allafrica.com/stories/201002010204.html?

My name missing from voters’ register — Ngige
National News Feb 1, 2010 …lauds INEC’s preparation

By Emmanuel Aziken

ABUJA—Dr. Chris Ngige, the Action Congress, AC, candidate in this weekend’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State is not on the voters’ register for the election, his campaign organisation revealed yesterday.

The Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation has nevertheless, affirmed confidence in the abilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a hitch free election and to remedy the errors so far discovered in the voters’ register released by INEC.

The Director of Communications of the Ngige Campaign Organisation, Chief Charles Amilo in a statement in Abuja yesterday affirmed the candidate’s satisfaction with INEC’s arrangements for the elections.

“The immediate release of the new or additional registers as INEC termed it is crucial for the success of the poll. The names of thousands of voters in many electoral wards, including our candidate, Dr. Ngige are currently missing from the registers so far displayed by the INEC,” the campaign organisation said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/02/01/my-name-missing-from-voters-register-%e2%80%94-ngige/

I ’ve failed my people —Niger governor
Written by MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR, Minna
Sunday, 31 January 2010 23:29




For the first time since he came into office about three years ago, the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has publicly accepted that there are serious flaws in the implementation of some of his administration’s programmes, especially the Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme.

Speaking at a PPP workshop at the UK Bello Art Theatre, Minna, he cited an instance where the state government paid N500 million to a private firm and also gave a parcel of land to the same firm for the construction of a five-star hotel, but the project was abandoned.

He said he was informed that the owner of the company was involved in an accident that rendered him invalid, just as he said another company collected N35 million counterpart funds for the IBB Specialist Hospital and did not meet its side of the agreement.

The governor stated that PPP was about risk and profit sharing, to provide the basic development framework for the people, but expressed disappointment that the peculiarity of Nigeria’s business climate was making it difficult.

Aliyu said this government would do everything possible to ensure that all the monies paid for these projects were recovered even if it would amount to resorting to legal actions.

Critics of the governor have been hitting him hard on his PPP projects, most of which have been abandoned or not executed at all, after the state government would have paid huge sums of money as counterpart funds.

It will be recalled that the government has signed a number of agreements for the construction of millennium plaza, five-star hotels, airport city and many others for close to three years, but none has been completed.

Some of his critics are also saying that the abandonment of the projects is with the connivance of some state officials and wonder when the state government will make good its promise to get the contractors refund the monies collected.

Only few weeks ago, the House of Assembly held at its plenary sitting, that the state government has failed to give the people the desired dividends of democracy.


http://www.newsstarng.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2046:i-ve-failed-my-people-niger-governor-&catid=71:news&Itemid=28

ACF dumps Yar’Adua, asks him to hand over to Jonathan
By John Alechenu and Segun Olatunji, Published: Monday, 1 Feb 2010







The North may have finally turned its back on ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua as the umbrella socio-political organisation for the region, the Arewa Consultative Forum, on Sunday in Kaduna, insisted that he should hand over power to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The ACF also threw its weight behind the eminent elders group which last week asked Yar’Adua to transfer power to Jonathan.

The group of eminent Nigerians led by former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, had last week during a visit to the leadership of the National Assembly, advised Yar’Adua to hand over the affairs of the country to his deputy while he sought medical attention abroad.

Yar’Adua has spent 70 days at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Saudi Arabia where he is receiving medical treatment.

The ACF, which late last year said that the provision of the Nigerian constitution must be strictly adhered to, stressed that an observance of the provision of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution would be in the overall interest of the country.

The Forum, in a text message sent to one of our correspondents in Kaduna by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, also condemned the resolution passed by the Federal Executive Council that the ailing President ‘is not incapable of discharging the functions of his office’ in spite of his worsening health condition.

It described the FEC resolution as lacking in ‘patriotic courage,’ and accused the council of deliberately shying away from the fact that Yar’Adua had become incapacitated and no longer fit to rule.

The Forum’s text message reads in part, “The Arewa Consultative Forum commends the Eminent Elders Group (as symbolised by former Presidents/Heads of State and elder statesmen) in lending its weight to the voice of those who have been saying that the National Assembly should pressure President Yar’Adua to transmit a letter to its leadership to the effect that he is on vacation or he is hospitalised in line with Section 145 of the constitution.

“This would be in the interest of constitutional democracy and in the interest of the nation and its economy.

“The resolution by the FEC that the President is fit as a fiddle reeks of attempt to cloak the fact and lacking in patriotic courage because such is aimed at playing down on the reality of the President being either on vacation or incapacitated, considering the obvious that the President has been away from his duty post for over two months now.

“This kind of resolution by FEC calls into question, our leaders’ commitment and adherence to constitutional governance, to the peaceful unity of the nation and to Nigeria’s image in the comity of nation.

“It is time for our leaders to enable the universal cliché which posits that great leaders are defined by great challenges to come onto its own.

“Difficult times should bring about vision in our own leaders who are expected to locate the courage of their patriotic convictions and demonstrate that they can pursue causes higher than themselves as worthy impulse


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201002015413989

AC faults allegation against Fashola, Tinubu
By Mudiaga Affe, Published: Monday, 1 Feb 2010




Gov Babatunde Raji Fashola


The Action Congress on Sunday said that the allegations of financial recklessness levelled against the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and the alleged involvement of a former governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the state legislators in the financial complicity, was unfounded.

The party’s reaction came in response to a story published in ThisDay newspaper on Sunday.

The story attributed those behind an earlier advertorial which revealed the alleged financial recklessness of Fashola to be working for Tinubu.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and a separate telephone interview with Mohammed by our correspondent, AC said it was illogical for Tinubu to be behind an advertorial that sought to damage his own reputation.

Specifically, the lead story in the newspaper stated, “The advertisement placed by a group known as “The True Face of Lagos” was signed by one Dr. Tunde George and Mr. Kasali Martins who are believed to be working on behalf of the former governor of the state.”

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adelabu Onibiyo, had last Thursday said that he established contact with those behind the advertorial.

He had said, “Immediately I finished reading through the publication, I called those that signed it and they told me that they stand by it and that they still have more to come.”

Asked if the party had contacted those behind the publication, the AC spokesman said it was not the job of the party to investigate such allegations or look for those behind it but that of the House of Assembly which was also indicted.

Mohammed told our correspondent on the telephone, “It is not the responsibility of the party but that of the House to investigate such allegation. What we said was that the insinuation that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was behind the advertorial was false, illogical and irresponsible. The body institutionally vested with the power to investigate any allegation against the government or any public officer is the House of Assembly. That is exactly what they have set out to do. Our concern as a party is the attempt by anybody to destroy the coercion within the party and definitely the insinuation that Tinubu is behind the advertorial is a clear attempt to create disunity within the party.”

In the statement by Mohammed, the party further said, “To our surprise, the newspaper insinuated that a two-page advert, published in The Punch of January 28, making allegations of financial recklessness against Fashola was sponsored by Tinubu.

“The AC finds this allegation absolutely baseless and irresponsible because the advert in question, placed by a faceless group, made reckless allegations, not only against Fashola but also attempted to tarnish the image of Tinubu, members of the state House of Assembly and indeed the members of our great party in Lagos State as a whole.

According to AC, it was only natural that fifth columnists would try to penetrate the ranks of the party, instigate crises, and cause disaffection in order to destabilise the AC in Lagos State, as well as impede the tremendous progress made in the state over the last decade.”

The party said as far as it was concerned, the allegations levelled against Fashola, Tinubu and the Lagos legislators in the advertorial remained unproven.

“Without prejudice to the constitutional responsibility of the House of Assembly to investigate any allegations against public officers, we affirm our faith and confidence in the integrity and credibility of the affected persons,” the party said.

The party also said another false and ridiculous aspect in the published story on Sunday was the claim that the House of Assembly had commenced impeachment proceedings against Fashola, based on the published allegations.


It queried, “Can the Assembly commence impeachment processes against themselves since allegations were also made against them in the advert? Constitutionally, it needs one-third of the members of the House to sign a statement, starting the process. For the Lagos House, the number should be 14 members. How then can a 6-member administrative panel start “impeachment” proceedings? It is obvious that no such thing has been commenced in Lagos State.

“We all know that impeachment of a chief executive can only commence after a petition has been formally received by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly. All we have now are unproven allegations by a largely unknown group to which the House has only understandably responded in the interest of its credibility, as well as that of our party.”

AC however expressed surprise that the report assumed that the anti-AC advert was planted by Tinubu, without any proof whatsoever.

Mohammed also accused ThisDay newspaper of mischief over the report.

He said, “The mischief of This Day is very clear on the matter. Or is This Day claiming that they did not know that to commence an impeachment process, you need at least two-thirds of the members of the House to consent to the plot. The one-third of the 40 member House is 14.”

The management of ThisDay, through a text message by its Editor, Mr. Simon Kolawole, however, said it stood by its publication. “We stand by our story and we shall reveal more information at our disposal as time goes on,” the message stated.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100201530770

i dont like pdp as party, but will vote for chukwuma soludo,

Obi wins Nigeria’s Most Trustworthy Gov Award
31 January, 2010 04:47:00 ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU, Awka
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Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State
“I think the governor is right on the mark. We have to thank God that eventually the long period of the struggle in terms of uncertainties of governance has come to an end. The governor is committed, focused and determined and he also carries a large segment of the entire population with him. He has a plan, he has the will to see it through, and, God willing, he will be able to do so”.
That vintage Prof Chukwuma Soludo, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and now governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra state February 6, 2010 governorship election giving his candid opinion on Governor Peter Obi’s administration in Anambra state before he joined the fray.
This simply signifies why after a painstaking search and assessment of the public perception of the Governors in the 36 states of the Federation over the period of one year, Governor Obi stood head higher than other governors to attract the award of the Most Trustworthy Governor in Nigeria in 2009 from Champion Newspapers Limited.
For the period between January and December 2009, the Board of Editors of Champion Newspapers painstakingly and thoroughly screened for the Most Trustworthy Governor.
Their criteria, according to the Managing Director/Editor in Chief of Champion Newspapers , Mr Ugo Onuoha, were but not limited to assessment of the public perception of the Governors of the 36 states of the Federation during the period under review.
The approach included collation, distillation and evaluation of reports in newspapers, magazines , radio and television stations as well as wire services over the period; analysis of public statements/comments of high networth individuals/ institutions concerning the various governors and governance ; observed prudence in the handling of public funds and the public temperament of the governors; the noticeable disposition of governors to interact and mix freely with the people they are governing and break down of the walls of isolation.
Champion Newspapers criteria also read that the commitment to transform their areas of jurisdiction and improve the lives of the people and openness, transparency and willingness to account to the people in the conduct of public or government affairs were considered.
Onuoha said in their wisdom during the judgment, the Board of Editors considered Obi to have excelled in these criteria in 2009. The Board also admitted that Obi, the Anambra state Governor is head and shoulders above his peers.
Apart from the Champion Award, Gov. Obi had last week also garnered outstanding awards including the Best Governor in Integrated Development 2009 by the Sun Newspapers which also gave him the Man of the Year award in 2007. ThisDay Newspapers, on its own bestowed him with the Best Governor in Fiscal Management in Nigeria 2008 award. Awards have been coming and coming but because Obi is not a man interested in appellations and appendages, he did not accept all the awards that came his way. He believes in action hence the former Finance Minister and now World Bank Managing Director, Dr (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had described Obi as the most financial prudent governor in Nigeria.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was Nigeria’s finance minister had said: “Obi is the most fiscally responsible governor in Nigeria. I discovered him when I was the finance minister. Then, my policy is that those who are fiscally responsible I would work with them’’.
Even the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra state chapter led by Comrade Tochukwu Udoji has chosen Governor Obi as the NUJ Man of the Year 2009. Its criteria were tough but Obi scaled through and would be bestowed with the award tomorrow.
Obi has surmounted many odds to remain as number one citizen in Anambra state. He has demonstrated true service to his people of not only Anambra state but Igbo nation as the Chairman of Governors Forum in the South East.
Obi’s aggressive development of the state has compelled the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Board of Trustees Chairman and Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to appeal to the people of Anambra state to vote for Governor Obi. He said a vote for Governor Obi for a second term in office is a vote to consolidate his achievements.
Obi had distributed over 150 units of 30 KVA generators to Anambra state secondary schools and 50 Internet ready laptops each to over 110 schools, which is the first of its kind in any state in Nigeria.
It was noted that Obi has built over 420 kilometres of roads in the state including building bridges in the state that collapsed during the civil war.
For that, the National Chairman of APGA, Sir Victor Umeh re-echoed the need for Anambra people to shun politics of desperation by people who have destroyed the collective heritage of Anambra people by voting for Governor Peter Obi on Saturday, February 6, 2010, to enable the party consolidate its development strides. He said Obi, their candidate has done well for the people of Anambra state. He expressed optimism that Obi would win a free and fair poll and break the jinx of re-election by becoming the first Anambra state governor to be elected for a second term.
At the launch of Internet connectivity for the 110 secondary schools for a start by the Galaxy Backbone at the Government Lodge, Awka, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Plc, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe had said he was happy to be associated with the giant strides of Gov. Obi in all sectors, particularly in his attention to the development of education.
He said that the gesture meant that Obi understood the place of education in development. He also said what the governor was doing is in line with the global requirements of building human infrastructure.
The Managing Director, who noted that the schools involved are 110 for the first phase, said that they would also provide facilities for video conferencing.
Also speaking, the Head of Education Development of Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Yusuf Kadiri, said that with the connection of 110 schools to the Internet would make Anambra the state with the largest Internet connectivity in Nigeria. He said the strides in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) were in line with Vision 2020 and the Millennium Development Goals that placed development of human capital as one of the priorities.
Recalling the efforts and successes in the education sector, Gov. Obi said that Anambra came first in the South East in education development and the fourth in the country for which, according to him, it won a prize money of N100 million from Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). The governor recalled that part of the money is what the government has committed to improving infrastructure in schools.
The governor said in two weeks’ time, all the schools in the state would receive buses.
He also recalled that the state government has started the construction of 4,000 classroom blocks in addition to the supply of 108 units of 30 KVA generators to the schools. He also said that the state had started taking delivery of computers for the Microsoft Centres for 100 schools.
Interestingly, all the people toured the state have always maintained that Obi administration is unrivalled in performance and that his development mantra found in ANIDS-(Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy) is working.
Anambra state under Obi has donated five Armoured Personnel Carriers to the Police, over 100 patrol vehicles and over N15 million monthly subventions. The government has also rehabilitated the Central Police station, Awka, and provided it with borehole.
The state has also built or renovated barracks at Okija, Ojoto, Nnewi (CPS), SARS (Nnewi), Otolo, Abagana, 33 (Onitsha), Rank and File Barracks at Nnewi among others. Other security agencies have also received his attention in one way or the other.
Some international organizations in the country are now doing business with state government just as it has gained their confidence. For instance, the European Union recently rated Anambra best in the implementation of its programmes in Nigeria.
Obi’s vision and mission for the state is to stop all capital flight and create employment for the people as well as to make Onitsha very attractive for investors from all over the world by providing infrastructure needed for good business. Onitsha today has over 30 township roads tarred and reconstructed by Governor Obi among other physical infrastructure. An ICT centre, already in use in the Onitsha, is being expanded to empower more youth.
Work is to commence soon at the site of the N20 billion Anambra state Mixed Development Center in Onitsha which, when completed, would drive the economy of the state. Two South African companies, Shoprite and Protea Hotel, have already bought spaces in the Mixed Development Center located on the over 15 hectares of land in the city centre.
Apostolic Nuncio to Central Africa and the Republic of Chad, Most Reverend Dr. Jude Okolo, had said that Anambra state represented good governance and people oriented leadership. Many others given similar testimonies.
For the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Obi provided equipment needed for monitoring and surveillance, for evacuation and relief delivery to the door steps of emergency victims. He has provided facilities worth several millions of naira to the agency with a state of the art emergency building complex at Awka almost completed.
Governor Obi has reinvented the state’s owned Transport Corporation (TRACAS) with some new range of 40 vehicles. This is in addition to another set of 120 taxi cabs for inter-city routes . It has never happened since the creation of the state in 1991. Thousands of motorcycle helmets have also been distributed free of cost to commercial motorcyclists in the state.
He has chosen to rehabilitate one school in each of the 177 communities, standardize all the General Hospitals and to build five new ones to enable the state attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDSs) by 2015.
Obi must have completed over 600 kilometers of roads before the end of his first term. He became the first governor to do a road project in Anambra West through Umueze-Anam-Mmiata road, where he has to sandfill the land.
The Obi administration has given life to the Anambra state College of Agriculture at Mgbakwu that was almost dead. Today, the college has ten buildings under construction while accreditation is in progress.
Now, a permanent site for the Anambra State University is being developed at Igbariam, while the state College of Education has been transformed, with every department having a feel of due supply of manpower and other resources, including laboratories, books and computers.
More than 150 boreholes have been sunk in communities, schools and other places by the administration while the 165 meter Odor bridge is under construction. Over N100 million faith-based microfinance scheme for rural women and children has also been floated.
Primate, Church of Nigeria , Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Peter Akinola has since endorsed Obi for a second tenure. Akinola described Governor Peter Obi as a special gift from God to the people of Anambra state. He said Obi should be celebrated.
Similarly, the boss of Horizons, the biggest computer training firm in the world, Mr. Tim Akano, has commended the giant strides of Gov. Obi in information and computer technology, noting that Anambra was clearly the number one following the massive deployment of ICT in the schools.
On his own part, an official of Microsoft Computers, Mr. Ken Span, said it was wonderful to see a governor who is concerned about the future of the people of the state. Describing what he is doing in ICT as legendary, he said that Microsoft has offered the state software packages for the computers, including Windows 7, Office 2010 for free.
National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh in conclusion said he was happy that the governor had digitalized education and learning. He said that APGA would remain grateful and proud of having given Anambra state a governor that could be described as the best and who understand what development is.



http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=27060

Woman, ‘pregnant’ for 7 years, delivers 3 buckets of fluid
•Recounts painful ordeal
By JOSSY IDAM
Sunday, January 31, 2010


•Mrs Olotu
Photo: Sun Publishing
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THE expectation of the coming of a new baby unleashes torrents of anxietyand a gamut of other emotions. And so, when Mrs. Idowu Olotu, a businesswoman, observed what she thought were the usual, normal signs of pregnancy she was elated and worried at the same time. Already a mother of three- two boys and a girl- she had always wished to balance the number of her children. She is one of those who think an only girl or boy in a family would be lonely and miserable.

Medical attention
Her worry stemmed from the sudden, unusual bulging of her stomach. She and her husband, Titus decided to seek medical advice. Like in a normal pregnancy, her monthly period ceased and she began having early morning sickness, fatigue, cravings and distaste for some food.
She even registered for antenatal care but the result of her pregnancy test shocked her and the medical officers handling the case. Series of scan tests in different general hospitals in Lagos didn’t show the presence of any foetus. But her stomach strangely kept enlarging and bulging as though she was laden with quadruplet.

Going spiritual
When her condition seemed to defy medical diagnosis, the Olotus decided to go spiritual. “We began going from one church to another. There is no prayer house that we didn’t go to in this Lagos. Most times, they told me to bring my wrapper for prayers and burning. I lost all my expensive wrappers and blouses. Yet, nothing changed”, Mrs. Olotu said.

Worsening condition
From 2003 until recently, she oscillated between the hospital and church. But her stomach continued to bulge unabated. It got to a point that she couldn’t move, get up or lie down without help. Simple functions like going to the toilet, kitchen or even preparing meals for her family failed her.
“For years, I just sat almost in one place and did nothing. I couldn’t sleep. So, my radio was always on. I got to know all the radio stations and the voices of all the radio presenters. When people leave the house, I’m always the only one at home. I just was there waiting and dying slowly, she said, sobbing.

Dwindling fortunes
When she was on her feet, Mrs. Olotu used to move around bakeries and shops in her Igando, Lagos neighbourhood with a van. She used to supply bread to shops around. The once fair, restless, tireless woman used to supply different brands of bread to notable supermarkets and shops there. She also did petty trading and made some money. Her husband, Titus, a fashion designer, had a shop at Festac Town and was quite popular, and comfortably. His wife’s sickness ruined everything. It drained all that the family had. The family businesses and means of livelihood crumbled.

The family began selling household items and furniture, television sets, fans, refrigerators and so on. Their children stopped going to school because the family couldn’t pay their school fees in the private schools they were attending. As the family income nosedived, diminished and eventually dried up, they packed from their three-bedroom apartment and moved to a two-room apartment at 4, Akodu Ibrahim Street, Akesan, Igando, Lagos.
Their new accommodation is owned by their first landlord whom Mrs. Olotu described as a good, God-fearing man. To prove her claim, she told Sunday Sun that their “rent is overdue but the man doesn’t bother us. When my husband went to pay him one month rent, he refused to collect it. He said he was more concerned with the children going to school. He told us to use the money to pay for my children’s school fees. The man is not like the typical Lagos landlord.” she said.

Suicide option
Her sickness took a huge toll on her family and friends. She even traveled to her hometown in Ondo State, for traditional medical treatment. Worried by her condition, her father died.
“This sickness killed my father. He tried everything to help me, and when he didn’t see any improvement he died,” she said as tears trickled down her lean face.

Realizing that people around her were suffering too much because of her sickness, she began to consider ending it all via suicide. But her brave, loving husband got an inkling of what she was contemplating and removed all the sharp objects around the house. She even wanted to drink acid and die but it wasn’t within her reach. I honestly wanted to kill myself. I felt I was giving people too much trouble and that killing myself will help them to move on, she said, twisting her lips with contrition.

Help from radio
About eight months ago, she was listening to the radio when someone mentioned the eficacy of Dr. Shehu Dauda Usani Yakafi, a traditional medicine practitioner’s treatment. She called the radio station and got the doctor’s telephone number. She quickly booked an appointment and went over to the man’s clinic at Yakafi Traditional Medicine, Cure and Maternity Home, 59/55 Matairu Ali Street, Ijegun, Lagos.

Unusual doctor
On the appointed day, the doctor observed that Mrs. Idowu and her husband had difficulty in paying the clinic’s N500 registration and card fee, he breached the hospital’s procedure and registered her free of charge. He even opted to go to the woman’s house and treat her every day. For about eight months, the doctor administered traditional medicine derived from herbs on her.

Strange delivery
Last week Tuesday, January 12, 2010, Mrs. Idowu Olotu delivered three buckets of brown fluid. Speaking through an interpreter, the barely literate traditional medicine practitioner told Sunday Sun that the case was more of spiritual nature than medical.
“Somebody close to her did it to her. She ate in her dream and got it. She was very sick. We made her well before starting the treatment. We made the evil thing she ate to come out through a superior force .

And all these while, the doctor didn’t demand for a kobo. He instead spent and lavished his money, giving her food, drugs,and praying for her. Hear him: “I don’t normally collect money until after treatment. When you register, we treat you until you are well. Mrs. Idowu’s case is not normal. Even now that she’s okay, we can’t ask her to pay. She doesn’t have money. So, why bother her? God says we should save life first. That’s what I have done.”

Doctor of a kind
The Igboora, Oyo State-born tradtional medicine practitioner has no formal Western education and training. He claims herbs talk to him. “When I go to the forest, I tell the beings I meet my mission and the herbs I see and touch talk to me. I take the herbs home and prepare the drugs I give to my patients.

“I have also learned under some masters at Benin Republic, Kogi and so on. I use traditional method to treat and cure people. Prayer helps also. I call on both Prophet Mohammed and Jesus Christ. Both are prophets of God. Ignorance make people to discriminate. The clinic of the 41-year-old trado-medicine practitioner is always teeming with strange cases of mental illness, pregnancy and so on.
In December, he delivered a young lady of a baby girl and a live tortoise. Asked about that strange birth, he said it was the handiwork of evil people. He has six apprentices. Three of his children are also under his tutelage.


http://www.nigeriannews.com/

Yar’Adua develops skin cancer?

Written by Taiwo Adisa

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Doctors treating Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua are suspecting that the ailing leader is suffering from skin cancer aside the acute pericarditis announced in November.




Sources confirmed to Sunday Tribune that contrary to insinuations coming from government circles in Abuja that the President would return to the country any moment from now, the first family has actually been battling with unpleasant news from the medical experts in recent times.

It was gathered that the president’s condition relapsed in the last one week and that recent diagnosis tend to indicate that the president may be suffering from skin cancer.

That must have ruled out any attempt to rush him back to the country early. It was gathered that while rumours of the imminent return of the president was being spread in Nigeria, his immediate family has been battling with reports of continued breakdown in his system.

His condition is said to have become unpredictable to the extent that no member of his kitchen cabinet can put a finger to the exact time of his likely return.

Investigations in Abuja also revealed that members of his immediate staff are unaware of his imminent return. No plans were being put in place to receive him as at Saturday afternoon as the situation in the presidential villa remained calm.

As a result of the unpredictable nature of the ailment, it was gathered that the kitchen cabinet is only seeking to rely on legalities to hang on to power in the name of the ailing president.

According to sources, there is the fear that once power slips off their hands now, there is no assurance that the president will return to office in any foreseeable future.

“There is a wide difference in living a private life and serving as the President, if we are talking of coming home to sleep quietly in his house, that is possible, but for him to resume office may be a tall order in the foreseeable future,” a source said on Saturday.

Following the failure of the bid to stop Senators from passing a motion seeking the transfer of power to the Vice president Goodluck Jonathan, it was learnt that the kitchen cabinet was hovering between outrightly disobeying the Senate and intimidating the lawmakers from any process of impeachment, which the lawmakers may want to resort to if there is no letter from the ailing president within the next one week.

A source also said that Senators and members of the House who are rooting for the transfer of power to the Vice president Goodluck Jonathan are also studying the ruling of the Federal High Court which indicates that the president is not duty bound to present a letter of vacation to the National Assembly.
A source close to the lawmakers said that the group in the Senate and the Reps would compare notes when the Assembly resumes from the weekend break.

http://www.nigeriannews.com/

I can heal Yar’Adua—Prophet
30 January, 2010 04:18:00 DENNIS NAKU, Yenagoa
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A prophet with the Presbyterian Church, Kerry Ikechukwu, has claimed that he can heal President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and bring him back on his feat, following a revelation he received from God.
The prophet stated with emphasis that Yar’Adua’s ailment is no longer medical, but spiritual, adding that God has solution for the Number One citizen, which was going to manifest through him, if only he would be given the opportunity to see the president.
Ikechukwu, who disclosed this to newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, said the solution to Yar’Adua’s condition was revealed to him in a dream exactly 3:30am this week’s Wednesday, saying, “I prayed over it and God has given me the understanding on how He will establish Himself on Yar’Adua for people to see His power.”
Hear him, “Yar’Adua’s problem is no longer medical, but spiritual. He no longer has single energy, even to stand up for even a moment. I want to see him and pray for him and he will be made whole based on the understanding I have concerning his ailment.
“God has kept Yar’Adua alive because of his pure heart. He has a pure heart to do good for this nation and for humanity. That is why God has kept him alive. God wants to establish His power to those who don’t believe,” the prophet posited.
On how he would beat the security to see the president, Ikechukwu said once Yar’Adua’s aides hear this message, God will minister to them in order for them to invite him, adding that “when things are revealed, men should take control of it” and insisted that “God will restore Yar’Adua’s energy and bring him back on his feet. God operates through understanding.”
The prophet also stated that he interprets dreams and that he knew about Barrack Obama becoming President of America and former President Bosanko too, as well as how Osama Bin Laden would terrorise the world, pointing out that he got revelation on all of these several years before, but noted that he was not ready to talk then.
“God is going to manifest himself again. I just need a bottle of water and I will say something to Yar’Adua in the presence of people and that will be it, if only I see him,” Ikechukwu declared.

http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=27024

By Emmanuel Ogala and Elizabeth Archibong


January 31, 2010 12:38AM
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Seen from a distance, Okhwan Yoon, looked like an ordinary tourist taking his time to relish the beauty of Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. Upon a close look, it became clear that Mr. Yoon was not just a tourist. He had a placard held up to his chest. The inscription on Mr. Yoon's placard read: "PEACE IN NIGERIA."

"Something is wrong!" a passerby whispered to a friend - a foreigner staging a one-man protest in Transcorp Hilton hotel junction, one of the busiest junctions in Abuja under the scorching sun of about 38 degrees centigrade.

"He has been there for six hours," a nearby construction worker told the passersby.

Okhwan Yoon is a South Korean cyclist and peace activist who has been travelling the world since 2001 with a message of peace.

On January 7, when his flight touched down in Sao Tome and Principe, he was visiting the 180th country in his nine-year-old peace campaign. His target is to visit 192 countries by 2011.

He started the campaign in 2001 travelling on his bicycle but dumped it for faster and more efficient modes of transportation. Now, he flies in planes and rides in cars.

On Monday, he came into Nigeria from Chad for his second visit to the country on the same mission. His visit coincides a period of political and leadership crisis in the country as well as the wake of the riots in Jos.

He was in Lagos in 2004 but said his decision to visit Nigeria again at this moment is only a coincidence.

"I love humanity; I love Peace. That is why I am here again," the activist said in Pidgin English. "I know it (Nigeria) is a peaceful country, but we need a stronger peace."

He said Nigeria is very important to the world, but is unstable.

Mr. Yoon said he believes that, with his style, he can bring peace to Nigeria and other African nations such as Sudan, which he said was also unstable.

The Korean said that a peaceful Nigeria will promote peace in Africa and subsequently get peace to South and North Korea. He strongly hopes that South and North Korea will re-unite some day and that the peace will come from the outside Korea.

"We Koreans need unity, so we support peaceful Africa," he said.

Even though he has been to many countries with his message of peace, he has not being to his nation's closest neighbour and rival - North Korea, where he wishes the effect of his nine year long labour will be felt.

Standing silently at the traffic junction, he held up the placard for every passerby to see. He, however, said he also approaches persons spiritually and extends his message of peace in that realm.

Importance of peace

The 47-year-old is a college graduate with a degree in law. He speaks eight international languages.

He described himself as a messenger of peace and said he abandoned everything he had to embark on the trip.

Before the mission, he owned a cloth trading company in South Korea but sold it off and used the proceeds and his savings to fund his tour.

According to him, the trips are now financed by his friends around the world, the mass media, and voluntary donors who value his mission.

He is unmarried and plans to remain single till he achieves his vision.

"This is more important and the journey is long," he said. "I have given up personal happiness, pleasure, and love life for peace in the world."

During his trips, he has had six car accidents, five malaria attacks in Africa and endured other ailments in other parts of the world. He has also gone for days without food and water.

"I have had a hard time but I feel very happy," he said.

Even though his message seems not to be giving him a quick result, he said he feels that the world will, someday, be peaceful and South and North Korea will re-unite.

From Nigeria, he intends to visit the Republic of Niger in continuation of his peace tour.

"We need to teach people the importance of peace," he said.


Back


By Emmanuel Ogala and Elizabeth Archibong


January 31, 2010 12:38AM
print email






Seen from a distance, Okhwan Yoon, looked like an ordinary tourist taking his time to relish the beauty of Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. Upon a close look, it became clear that Mr. Yoon was not just a tourist. He had a placard held up to his chest. The inscription on Mr. Yoon's placard read: "PEACE IN NIGERIA."

"Something is wrong!" a passerby whispered to a friend - a foreigner staging a one-man protest in Transcorp Hilton hotel junction, one of the busiest junctions in Abuja under the scorching sun of about 38 degrees centigrade.

"He has been there for six hours," a nearby construction worker told the passersby.

Okhwan Yoon is a South Korean cyclist and peace activist who has been travelling the world since 2001 with a message of peace.

On January 7, when his flight touched down in Sao Tome and Principe, he was visiting the 180th country in his nine-year-old peace campaign. His target is to visit 192 countries by 2011.

He started the campaign in 2001 travelling on his bicycle but dumped it for faster and more efficient modes of transportation. Now, he flies in planes and rides in cars.

On Monday, he came into Nigeria from Chad for his second visit to the country on the same mission. His visit coincides a period of political and leadership crisis in the country as well as the wake of the riots in Jos.

He was in Lagos in 2004 but said his decision to visit Nigeria again at this moment is only a coincidence.

"I love humanity; I love Peace. That is why I am here again," the activist said in Pidgin English. "I know it (Nigeria) is a peaceful country, but we need a stronger peace."

He said Nigeria is very important to the world, but is unstable.

Mr. Yoon said he believes that, with his style, he can bring peace to Nigeria and other African nations such as Sudan, which he said was also unstable.

The Korean said that a peaceful Nigeria will promote peace in Africa and subsequently get peace to South and North Korea. He strongly hopes that South and North Korea will re-unite some day and that the peace will come from the outside Korea.

"We Koreans need unity, so we support peaceful Africa," he said.

Even though he has been to many countries with his message of peace, he has not being to his nation's closest neighbour and rival - North Korea, where he wishes the effect of his nine year long labour will be felt.

Standing silently at the traffic junction, he held up the placard for every passerby to see. He, however, said he also approaches persons spiritually and extends his message of peace in that realm.

Importance of peace

The 47-year-old is a college graduate with a degree in law. He speaks eight international languages.

He described himself as a messenger of peace and said he abandoned everything he had to embark on the trip.

Before the mission, he owned a cloth trading company in South Korea but sold it off and used the proceeds and his savings to fund his tour.

According to him, the trips are now financed by his friends around the world, the mass media, and voluntary donors who value his mission.

He is unmarried and plans to remain single till he achieves his vision.

"This is more important and the journey is long," he said. "I have given up personal happiness, pleasure, and love life for peace in the world."

During his trips, he has had six car accidents, five malaria attacks in Africa and endured other ailments in other parts of the world. He has also gone for days without food and water.

"I have had a hard time but I feel very happy," he said.

Even though his message seems not to be giving him a quick result, he said he feels that the world will, someday, be peaceful and South and North Korea will re-unite.

From Nigeria, he intends to visit the Republic of Niger in continuation of his peace tour.

"We need to teach people the importance of peace," he said.


Back


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5519566-146/story.csp

By Gavin Evans

Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Nigeria’s main militant group has ended a cease-fire with the government and pledged to renew attacks on the nation’s oil industry, the Associated Press reported, citing a statement from the group.

The government, which offered a weapons amnesty package before the Oct. 25 ceasefire, had acted “like a victor over a conquered people” the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said, according to AP. Oil companies can expect an “all-out onslaught” against their pipelines and workers, the news service said, citing the statement.

Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil producer and is the U.S.’s fifth-largest supplier. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., Total SA and Eni SpA, operate in joint ventures with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. and are the country’s major producers.

After years of attacks by militants, Nigeria’s output has risen in the past five months amid the cease-fire, putting it back ahead of rival Angola and prompting analysts to forecast further production gains.

The industry will see “positive growth” for the first time in four years due to the lull in fighting in the oil-rich Niger Delta, Citibank said in a Jan. 28 report. The West African nation is producing about 2.25 million barrels a day at a time of relatively high crude prices, Citibank economist David Cowan said in the report.

Daily production peaked at 2.46 million barrels in June 2005 before plunging the following year as the militant group, known as MEND, led attacks and kidnappings in a bid to get a greater share of the nation’s oil revenue spent in the delta.

MEND ordered the October ceasefire after thousands of fighters accepted an amnesty offer by President Umaru Yar’Adua and disarmed.

The group twice warned of a lack of progress in subsequent talks with the government and last month carried out a “warning strike” on an oil pipeline used by Shell and Chevron near Abonemma. It was the group’s first attack in five months.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gavin Evans in Wellington at gavinevans@bloomberg.net

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601207&sid=aj9mBzQK0GHw

Written by Andrew Oota (Abuja) and Abiodun Oluwarotimi, New York
Saturday, 30 January 2010 02:11
The United States of America yesterday attributed the Jos crisis, which claimed many lives and property to the poor state of health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and urged the federal government to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book. Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state said this yesterday.
America also condoled with the Nigerian government over the deadly crisis.

The US secretary of state, who described Nigeria as one of the most crucial countries in the sub-saharan Africa, stated that the Jos crisis was as a result of uncertainty caused by Yar'Adua’s illness.
According to Mrs Clinton, "Nigeria is one of the most important countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a member of the UN Security Council, a global oil producer, a leader in ECOWAS, a major peacekeeping contributing country, and a stabilising force in West Africa. Nigeria's stability and democracy carry great significance beyond its immediate borders. We, therefore, extend our support to the people of Nigeria during the current period of uncertainty caused by President Yar'Adua's illness. We extend our best wishes to the president and his family, and join the Nigerian people in wishing him a full recovery,” she said.
She also extended sympathies to the bereaved and injured, while urging all parties to exercise restraint and seek peaceful means to resolving differences between religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria.
She further called on the federal government to ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice, and to support inter-ethnic and inter-faith dialogue.
Her words: "Nigeria has expressed its resolve to adhere to constitutional processes during this difficult time. We commend that determination to address the current situation through appropriate democratic institutions. Nigeria's continued commitment and adherence to its democratic norms and values are key to addressing the many challenges it faces, including electoral reform, post-amnesty programmes in the Niger Delta, economic development, inter-faith discord and transparency. The gubernatorial elections in Anambra on 6th February will be a milestone in the journey towards electoral reform and a signal of Nigeria’s commitment to the principles of democracy. We are committed to continue working with Nigeria on the internal issues it faces while working together as partners on the global stage."
When approached to comment on the statement by Mrs. Clinton, the chairman, Senate committee on Media and Information, Senator Ayogu Eze told LEADERSHIPWEEKEND that, " I don't speak for the executive, the best person to comment on such matter is the spokesman of the executive, so try and establish contacts with him.”
Efforts to get the response of the minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili to respond to the US comments proved abortive as she rebuffed several calls put to her phone.
Meanwhile, the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, Honourable Vic Toews, minister of Public Safety, and John Baird, Canada's Transport minister, on Thursday met to bolster cooperation and coordination between the United States and Canada on aviation security measures and standards specifically addressing challenges that have come to light following the attempted bombing on December 25, and seek for a way forward to enhance global aviation security to protect passengers around the world.
"The United States and Canada are committed to working with all international partners to improve information sharing and enhance screening procedures while protecting “the privacy of the global travelling public," said Deputy Secretary Lute.
"Canada is a full partner with the United States in securing aviation in North America. It is important that we continue to work together to develop and implement effective and complementary measures and standards to ensure the safety and security of our citizens.
"Our government will continue to work with the United States to develop and implement effective and efficient measures to keep our two countries safe." We will remain vigilant to the threat of terrorism, and we are unwavering in our determination to safeguard our national transportation system”, said Toews.


http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/index.php/news/cover-stories/11353-us-attributes-jos-crisis-to-yaraduas-illness

Written by Iyobosa Uwugiaren
Saturday, 30 January 2010 02:12
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua appears to have finally bowed to pressure from world powers, eminent elder statesmen and pro-democracy groups by accepting to hand over to his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, pending his return from his long medical vacation to Saudi Arabia.
The vice president, who has been filling in for his ailing boss, has been unable to assume full constitutional power, because Yar'Adua refused or failed to formally inform the National Assembly of his medical trip.

Yar'Adua, 58, who has been away from the seat of power for 69 days, has been receiving treatment for a killer heart disease known as pericarditis in a Saudi Arabia hospital.
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered last night that Vice President Jonathan spoke with Yar'Adua on Thursday night, when the issue was discussed. Consequently, the source said the president had agreed to comply with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution by transmitting a letter to the National Assembly, informing it of his long medical vacation. "Unless some of the people who are benefiting from the situation dissuade him (the president) again, Yar'Adua will in the next few days, hand over to Jonathan as acting president," a source told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND.
"The vice president spoke with Yar'Adua on Thursday night; he briefed him about the political uncertainty in the country and the president has eventually promised to hand over to Jonathan.
"And, unless some hawks in the presidency prevent him again, he will surely hand over in the next few days."
The source said the interest of the nation matters most at present. "Let us tell ourselves the bitter truth: the president has a long way to go in his health challenges. We must do the right things to avoid the looming socio-political and economic crisis in our country," the presidential aide added. World powers - including the United States, Britain, France and the European Union - had expressed serious concern over the swelling row Yar'Adua's health is generating both within the country and in the international community.
"Nigeria is going through a period of uncertainty because of the prolonged illness of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua," the United States, Britain, France and the European Union had said in a joint statement on Thursday.
The powers said they welcomed constitutional efforts being explored to "resolve the question of governing authority in the president's prolonged absence".
The world powers' statement came the same day the eminent elders group - made up of former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former President Shehu Shagari, former Defence Minister Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, former chief justices of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore and Idris Legbo Kutigi, among others also advised Yar'Adua to hand over power to his deputy.
According to the group: "It is important to resolve this issue by inviting the president to formally issue the necessary communication that will enable the vice president to be acting president, in accordance with section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, as soon as possible.”
Yar'Adua's handpicked cabinet members had resolved on Wednesday that their boss was not incapable of performing his constitutional functions.


http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/index.php/news/cover-stories/11354-yaradua-speaks-with-jonathan-

Cecilia Ibru: EFCC uncovers assets worth N800bn
30 January, 2010 04:15:00 PATIENCE AKPURU
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Dr. Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, former boss of Oceanic Bank Plc
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that it has so far uncovered assets worth N800billion belonging to the former Managing Director of Oceanic International Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru.
This came as a Federal High Court in Lagos presided by Justice Akinjide Ajakaiye, yesterday, refused an application by the former bank chief, seeking to stop the commission from further seizing her property.
The judge held that there was no basis to restrain the commission by granting an interim order because the EFCC has completed the execution of an earlier order of the court, empowering it to confiscate Ibru’s assets.
The court also held that it lacked the powers to restrain the commission from continuing its investigation of the former Oceanic Bank boss and identifying new assets suspected to be owned by her.
The judge also refused to stop EFCC from seizing the newly identified property because there was no evidence before the court relating to the newly discovered property.
Justice Ajakaiye had last week granted an order ex-parte, for temporary forfeiture of assets and freezing of Ibru’s accounts.
The court’s decision, yesterday, was sequel to an oral application by Ibru’s lawyer, Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), for an interim order, restraining the EFCC from further seizing Ibru’s assets.
He told the court, yesterday, that the application was informed by his realisation that even after he had filed and served the EFCC with an application for stay of execution of the court’s order, the commission was still executing the said order.
Prof. Osipitan urged the court to stop the EFCC from further executing the said order pending the hearing and determination of his two pending applications by either granting an interim order or extracting an undertaking from the commission’s lawyer, Konyisola Ajayi (SAN).
He stated that his client has filed two applications one seeking a stay of execution of the court of temporary forfeiture pending appeal, and the other seeking to invoke the coercive powers of the court against the EFCC for persisting in the execution of the said order, despite being aware of an application for stay of execution.
Responding, Ajayi said he was not sure the court has the power to stop an agency from exercising its statotury powers to investigate and identify asset belonging to an individual being tried for alleged criminal conducts.
He said after the court’s order, empowering EFCC to confiscate Ibru’s assets, the commission has uncovered new set of property belonging to Ibru.
Such property, he said, are No 30A, B, and C Lugard Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, No 1 Ozumba Nbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos and some funds recently transferred to accounts in Dubai.
Ajayi declined to give an undertaking to stop his client from further confiscating Ibru’s identified assets. He said the commission has completed the execution of the court’s last order and that there was no need for a stay of execution of the order.
He said the amount involved in the crime allegedly committed by Ibru has been estimated at N800billion. Ajayi told the court that since Mrs. Ibru’s last application was served on him late, he needed time to respond.
The court subsequently adjourned to February 11 for the adoption of parties’ written addresses.
The commission stated that from the information it received from the incumbent Managing Director of the bank, Mrs. Ibru’s apartment on 20 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos was leased for a cumulative term of eight and half years until 2017 at the sum of N225million paid in full.


http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=27031

waooooo this can't be true, i can't believe this at all, naija have finished, the war never start we will see the end,
naija for show ooooooooooooooo comedy

Federal High Court judge Dan Abutu. Photo: NAN


High Court judge rejects demand for acting president


By Ayo Okulaja


January 29, 2010 04:53PM
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A Federal High Court has rejected a demand by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that an acting head of state be appointed until ailing President, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, returns from Saudi Arabia where he is currently receiving treatment.

Federal High Court judge Dan Abutu ruled there was nothing illegal about President Yar'Adua's failure to write to the legislature about his absence before he left for treatment on November 23.

"The failure to transmit a written declaration to the National Assembly before proceeding on vacation is not unconstitutional," Mr. Abutu said.

"There is no mandatory requirement for the president to make a transmission to the leadership of the national assembly before proceeding on vacation or treatment outside Nigeria," he said.

"The functions of the office of the president cannot be held in abeyance on account of the omission of the president to transmit a written declaration," said Abutu.

He also ruled last week that the Executive Council of the Federation determine if the president is still capable of ruling the nation, in a case filed by a former member of the House of Representative.

The cabinet of ministers however declared on Wednesday that the President is still fit to rule the nation, after calls from the Senate urging the president to hand over to his vice-president.

Former Nigerian leaders have also joined the call on the sick president to cede power to his vice.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5519242-146/high_court_judge_rejects_demand_for.csp
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oooohhhhhhhhh we have finished in this country,

Page last updated at 12:59 GMT, Friday, 29 January 2010
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Nigeria court backs sick President Umaru Yar'Adua

President Umaru Yar'Adua has both heart and kidney problems
A Nigerian court has dismissed a call for an interim leader to be appointed while President Umaru Yar'Adua is in hospital in Saudi Arabia.

The federal high court said there was no constitution requirement for him to formally write to parliament, informing them he is on "medical vacation".

This would automatically lead to his deputy becoming acting president.

President Yar'Adua has been away for two months, raising fears of a power vacuum and calls for him to step down.

The president flew to Saudi Arabia in late November for medical treatment and has not been seen in public since.

In his only broadcast interview since he left the country, he told the BBC's Hausa service on 12 January that he would return to resume his duties as soon as his doctors would allow.

As well as the flurry of court cases brought by his opponents, crowds of demonstrators have sporadically taken to the streets in Abuja and Lagos demanding power be handed to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Correspondents say one reason for Mr Yar'Adua's reluctance to allow Mr Jonathan to act on his behalf is the ruling People's Democratic Party's tradition of alternating power between north and south.

Mr Yar'Adua is a northerner, while the vice-president is from the south. So if Mr Jonathan took over, that would shorten the north's stay in power.

The president is suffering from an inflammation of the lining around the heart and has long suffered from kidney problems.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8487474.stm?

Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:05am GMT Print | Single Page[-] Text [+]
* U.S., Britain, France, EU urge respect for constitution

* Say Anambra state elections next week will be "milestone"

* Call for those behind religious violence to face justice


By Nick Tattersall

LAGOS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The United States and Europe have urged Nigeria to abide by the constitution in resolving uncertainty over President Umaru Yar'Adua's absence, saying the nation's stability has ramifications well beyond its borders.

The 58-year-old leader has been receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia for more than two months but has not formally handed over power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, an omission his critics say is in breach of the constitution.

The Senate, former heads of state and ex-ministers, the Nigerian Bar Association and the opposition have all called on Yar'Adua to formally notify parliament of his absence, a move which would allow Jonathan to become acting president.

But the cabinet -- most of them Yar'Adua's own appointees -- and the ruling party have said they see no reason for him to transfer power, creating an impasse which threatens to bring government in Africa's most populous nation to a grinding halt. Continued


http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFLDE60S0AL20100129?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=nigeriaNews&rpc=401

just one day in nigeria all eyes all ears we see and hear, the begining and the end of andoakaa, he have been holding nigeria backwards.,.,, he talks anyhow, foolish man called himself san, san my ass

Cover Stories Jan 29, 2010
By Dayo Benson, Political Editor, Ise-Oluwa Ige, Emmanuel Aziken, Abdulwahab Abdulah, & Henry Umoru
LAGOS —ANGRY reactions have trailed Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, SAN’s claim that prolonged absence of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua does not make him unable to continue to perform his duties even as the Federal Executive Council FEC, has given him a clean bill of health.

While President of Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, described Aondoakaa’s comment as a baseless argument that does not merit a response, Prof Itse Sagay, SAN, referred to the AGF’s pronouncement as rubbish and an insult.

Aondoakaa had said, at a media briefing after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting in Abuja, that only President Yar’Adua could say whether he is still fit to continue in office.

Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN

The NBA President said: “The argument is puerile It is somebody that is at his desk that can perform his duty. Someone that is not at his desk can not performing his duty. And if somebody has been away for over 60 days and everybody is aware that he is ill and he, himself said ‘I’ll return and resume my duty,’ that means he is not on duty.

The man said he is not on duty, so, if any other person is advancing argument that he is on duty when the man has said that he is not on duty, he is making a very puerile argument, and it doesn’t need anybody to comment on it.”

Prof. Itse Sagay said: “The Attorney-General has been insulting the intelligence of Nigerians. The man is just so full of himself, how can he remain Attorney General. President Yar’Adua has been out of the country for 63 days and the constitution is very clear that when he is going on vacation or is unable to perform his duty he should transmit to the National Assembly a letter.

I think he is the worst Attorney General we’ve ever had. He is a disgrace to the legal profession and I’m very ashamed of him. Obviously, Yar’Adua, at this stage, having refused to transmit that letter and leaving this country for 63 or 64 days, has committed an act of gross misconduct, which makes him open to be impeached. We’ve not had any government.

And he refuses to allow his own Vice President, his running mate, fellow party man, to carry out his constitutional duties. Obviously it is a breach of the constitution and very great disregard for Nigeria and Nigerians. As far as I’m concerned, what Yar’Adua has done can be characterised as impeachable offence.

Now, how can an executive council made up of lawyers, engineers, pharmacists, agriculturists and so on, give the President a clean bill of health? How can they be so openly fraudulent? And it is the same thing: How do I keep my job?

If Goodluck is made Acting President how am I sure he will retain me? Of course, that is the bane of Nigeria; that is what has destroyed the country. People in public office think of their own interest at the expense of national interest.”

Mr. Tani Molajo, SAN: “Here is an Attorney-General who celebrated the judgment which gave the Vice President the fiat to perform the functions of the President, relying on Section 5(1) of the constitution. Now, he’s gone back to the position he took originally, which is that the President can govern this country from anywhere. Apart from that, there is evidence that the President has not been discharging the duties of his office because he is not in the country.”

Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, said he was not disappointed by the resolution passed by members of the Executive Council of the Federation declaring President Umar Yar’Adua fit to continue governance. He said that in the first place, the council of ministers which passed the resolution never had any information on the health status of the president in view of the fact that none of them had either seen him or has access to his medical record.

Akintola said passing such resolution without any medical record stand logic on its head, adding that the provision of section 144 (1) (a) of the 1999 constitution was written for sane people and not the uncivilized bunch we have in this country.

Femi Falana said: “Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, the Attorney General of the Federation is not talking law but politics. The fact on ground has exposed the entire federal cabinet to ridicule. Whereas the minister is giving the impression that President Yar’ Adua is sick to govern the country, the President himself in an interview with the BBC told the world that he is incapacitated to rule the country.

“Yar’Adua said he is expecting a tremendous improvement on his recovery process in his sickness, and that it is only his medical doctors that can say exactly when he will be fully recovered to resume duty. Therefore, the Federal Executive Council decision or the Aondoakaa’s reaction should be ignored by Nigerians and they should continue to press that the President should hand over power to the Vice-President.”

Mr Jiti Ogunye said: “The decision of the Executive Council of the Federation that President Yar’Adua is not suffering from permanent incapacity, and that he is, thus, in a position to continue to discharge the functions of his office, communicated to the world by the Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, is unreasonable, irresponsible and capable of instigating a subversion of the democratic process.

We will even go as far as to suggest that the statement is treasonable, for treason, in the context of the current political situation in Nigeria, is not only an act that is calculated to truncate the presidency and bring it to an abrupt end, but also every decision that is taken by or in the name of the Federal Executive Branch of Government which incites or is capable of inciting mortal hatred against the democratic system.

“While it is not in doubt that the FEC, under Section 144 of the Constitution, has the power to take the decision it has allegedly taken, there is no doubt that the decision is unreasonable. Being a decision, it is subject to the Court’s power of judicial review of all administrative and executive acts and decisions; and if the Court comes to a determination that it is unreasonable, it is subject to be quashed. Every administrative or executive action is, within the context of administrative and constitutional law, subject to the test of reasonableness.”

FEC is a total failure–Ken Nnamani

Former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani toungue-lashed the Federal Executive Council, FEC, for saying that the ailing President Umaru Yar’adua was not incapacitated, describing their actions as total failure of leadership. He called on FEC to immediately have a rethink of the entire scenario and do the proper thing as enshrined in the Constitution, just as he said that the decision of the ministers and other members of FEC lacked merit as it was not based on medical evidence or history of the President’s health condition.

According to him, the refusal by FEC to declare that President Yar’Adua was incapable of exercising executive power and replace him with the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan amounted to a breach of the Constitution, and was, “in fact, treasonable.”

CNPP challenges FEC to produce evidence of Yar’Adua’s medical fitness

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, charged the Federal Executive Council to publish the medical report of President Umaru Yar‘Adua upon which it based its submission that the President was fit to govern the country.

CNPP in a statement, yesterday, equally challenged the House of Representatives to follow the example of the Senate in adopting a resolution to compel the President to transmit authority to his deputy, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The CNPP statement by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu expressed dismay that the President’s handlers would want to reject the window of opportunity given the President in transmitting a letter of his absence from his duty post.

Chief Mike Okoye: “My observation is that they reacted in a manner not to lose their jobs. One should say that the President is incapable to perform. It means that they as ministers will lose their seats. So, they want to preserve their office.

It is not the incapability of the President that is the issue, it is the unavailability of the President. He has to be available for the issue of incapability to be determined. Since he is unavoidably absent, in my mind, the Chief Justice of the Federation ought to proceed to swear-in Jonathan because there is a difference between incapability and unavailability.

When a person is unavailable, it means that the person is nowhere to be found and for the length of period which he has been unavailable, one would suffice to say that the same incident happened when the then Vice President, Atiku, was elevated from Governor-elect to be Vice President

http://www.nigeriannews.com/

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two former executives of Willbros International Inc. (WII), a subsidiary of Houston-based Willbros Group Inc. (Willbros), were sentenced today for their roles in a conspiracy to pay more than $6 million in bribes to government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and officials from a Nigerian political party, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and Acting Assistant Director in Charge John G. Perren of the FBI's Washington Field Office.

More on Press Releases Innovative Enterprises Launches The Innovative Data Solutions Web PortalCode Hennessy & Simmons LLC Announces Sale Of Suture Express, Inc.American Medical Systems And Tissue Genesis Sign $1.1 Million Collaboration DealPro-Dex, Inc. Announces Fiscal 2010 Second Quarter Financial Results Conference Call And WebcastUnited Financial Bancorp Reports Fourth Quarter 2009 Results And Declares Dividend Of $0.07 Per ShareSenate Approves Extension Of SBA ProgramsMary J. Blige, Andrea Bocelli And David Foster To Perform 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' On The Grammy(R) Awards; Live And Studio Versions Available Exclusively At ITunes.com/Target To Benefit Haiti Relief EffortsBloodless Bullfighting Back In Las VegasAnthem Institute North Brunswick Student Wins National Graphic Design CompetitionReportlinker Adds World Rubber & Tire Industry Jason Edward Steph, 40, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Simeon T. Lake III in Houston. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Lake ordered Steph to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay a $2,000 fine. The court acknowledged at the sentencing hearing the assistance Steph provided in ongoing investigations.
Jim Bob Brown, 48, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison by Judge Lake. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Lake ordered Brown to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay a fine of $1,000 per month while Brown is on supervised release. The court acknowledged at the sentencing hearing the assistance Brown provided in ongoing investigations.

Steph and Brown both had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) before Judge Lake in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. In pleading guilty, Steph and Brown admitted that Willbros, a publicly traded company that provides construction, engineering and other services in the oil and gas industry, conducted its international operations through WII and that they were both employees of WII. Steph admitted that beginning in approximately late 2003, he conspired with others to make a series of corrupt payments totaling more than $6 million to various Nigerian officials and officials from a Nigerian political party to assist Willbros in obtaining and retaining the Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS) Project, which was valued at approximately $387 million.

Steph also admitted that in early 2005, he, along with former WII executive Brown and others, arranged for the payment of approximately $1.8 million in cash to government officials in Nigeria to further the conspiracy. Steph admitted that in order to make these payments, he obtained $550,000 in cash from another co-conspirator for the purpose of paying that money to Nigerian government officials. He also admitted that he obtained approximately $350,000 from a petty cash account, which was raised over several weeks by falsely inflating petty cash funding requests transmitted to Willbros and by covering the inflated amounts with invoices from fictitious vendors representing purportedly legitimate business expenses.

Brown admitted that in early 2005, he conspired with others to pay bribes to government officials in Nigeria for the purpose of retaining the EGGS Project. Brown admitted that to further this conspiracy, he, with the assistance of others, obtained a suitcase filled with $1 million in cash from WII's German construction company partner, which Brown then paid to another co-conspirator for the purpose of forwarding that money to Nigerian government officials.

Brown also admitted that in at least 1996 and continuing through at least 2004, he conspired with others to negotiate lower federal and state tax obligations in exchange for corrupt, "under the table" payments to Nigerian revenue officials, including officials responsible for auditing and enforcing taxes, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business and for securing an improper advantage. Brown admitted he also conspired with others to make corrupt payments to officials of the Nigerian judicial system in exchange for favorable action on pending cases, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business and for securing an improper advantage.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10669803/1/former-willbros-international-executives-sentenced-to-prison-for-their-roles-in-6-million-foreign-bribery-scheme.html?

By Agency reporter, Published: Friday, 29 Jan 2010







Political leaders from the South East on Thursday asked President Umaru Yar’Adua to say how long he would continue to lead Nigerians from his sick bed in Saudi Arabia.

The leaders, who met in Abuja under the aegis of Igbo National Caucus, said they believed that “this country cannot be run from Saudi Arabia for so long.”

Yar’Adua’s absence from the country, they said, had been tolerated enough.

The leaders called on well-meaning Nigerians to rescue the country the strong hold of from those they referred to as “some unpatriotic self-seeking political clique who have conspired to hold Nigerians hostage and grind the nation to a halt.”



“We believe that the only way to avoid a deepening of the constitution crisis and save Nigerian from further ridicule and shame in the international community is to hand over the reins of government to Vice-President Goolduck Jonathan as acting President with immediate effect,” they said.

Those who were at the meeting included Chief Simeon Okeke, former police service commission chairman, Dr. Kalu Idika, former Finance Minister; Kalu, Prof. Ihechukwu Maduike, former Health Minister; Chief Rex Onyeabo, Senator Pius Anyim, former Senator Presidient; Chief Chinyere Asika and Dr. Chinwe Obaji, former Education Minister.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201001292533412

Yar’Adua: Gowon, Shagari, Shonekan, others back Senate
By John Alechenu and John Ameh, Published: Friday, 29 Jan 2010




Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon


Twenty-four hours after the Senate passed a resolution urging President Umaru Yar’Adua to respect the provisions of the constitution, a group of eminent Nigerians under the aegis of the Eminent Elders’ Group, on Thursday, asked Yar’Adua to hand over power to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group, which was led to the National Assembly by former President Shehu Shagari, made the call during separate visits to the President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Demeji Bankole.

A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who chairs the group was not with the eminent Nigerians during the visit.

Other members of the entourage are former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; a former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; as well as former Chief Justices of Nigeria – Idris Kutigi; Mohammed Uwais and Alfa Belgore.

Others are Lt.-Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Edwin Clark, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Prof. Jerry Gana and Senator Jonathan Zwingina.

The group said it took the decision after a meeting of some former Presidents, Heads of State, former CJNs and elder statesmen, at the ECOWAS Parliament.

Shagari, who spoke for the team, said Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence called for concern.

He explained that the concern of members of the group over the tension generated by Yar’Adua’s absence to their meeting and subsequent decision to act.

According to him, part of the resolution reached after the meeting reads, “It is important to resolve this issue by inviting the President to formally issue the necessary communication that will enable the vice-president to be acting President in accordance with section 145 of the 1999 Constitution as soon as possible.”

Shagari told Mark, “We were worried about the situation in the country. We were happy to know that you were discussing the same thing that we were discussing yesterday. Everything depends on you. Everything depends on your decision.’’

The former President also said a copy of the letter had been forwarded to Yar’Adua, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole.

In his response, the Senate President said Nigerians would surely benefit from the experience of members of the group.

According to him, “I am sure your words of wisdom will benefit all Nigerians. Our decision was based on the need for stability, unity, cohesion and the conscious need for power balancing in the country; above all, the security situation in the country.

“We believe that we need to be notified that the President is on medical vacation.

“In doing this, we were conscious of the security, political and power balancing in this country. The unity of this country is of utmost importance.

“We are humbled by your humility. We are anxious to put this impasse behind us so that we can make progress.’’

The group’s letter, which was signed by Gowon, was entitled “The State of the Nation” and presented to the President of the Senate by Shagari.

The letter reads in part: “I have been mandated and have the honour to address this letter to Your Excellency on issues of fundamental importance to the well being of our dear nation, Nigeria.

“For well over eight weeks now, our President has been ill and out of the country.

“This illness and long absence from the country is causing serious concern not only to Nigerian citizens but to all those who do business with Nigeria and have the well being of the country at heart.

“It is for this reason that I called the meeting of some of our former Presidents and Heads of State, former Chief Justices of Nigeria and elder statesmen.

“The meeting was held at the ECOWAS Parliament and was well attended.

“Following a critical review of the general political situation of the country in the recent past, but more especially since the illness of the President and his prolonged absence, it was decided that this letter be addressed to Your Excellency, the vice-president and the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.”

The elders also visited the House of Representatives on Thursday and presented the same letter to Bankole.

The Speaker thanked them and said that he did not know the content of the letter but would respond appropriately after he might have read it.

The Senate had on Wednesday passed a resolution urging Yar’Adua to comply with the provisions of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

The elder statesmen later met behind closed doors with Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan in the Aso Rock Villa.

Danjuma told journalists after the meeting that lasted about 30 minutes that their presence in the seat of government was to convey their decisions on the current political logjam in the country.

Danjuma, a former Minister of Defence, said, “We came here to convey to the vice-president the decisions of the elders who met under the leadership of Gen. Gowon.

“Gowon was not here because he had to travel last night.”

Meanwhile, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, participants at a Niger Delta Forum, urged that Jonathan be made an acting President.

The forum, under the aegis of United Niger Delta Development Security strategy, was chaired by a former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas.

They argued that the failure of the various arms of the government to apply the relevant provisions of the law in addressing the country’s political impasse was dangerous.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201001293194412

mmmmmmm naija people keep on ur fasting and prayer, very soon ur leader will be back soon,,, no date---

sooon may be vesion 2020

GOD HELP NAIJA OUT OF THIS PLZ

AFP) Thursday 28 January 2010
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Mali have sacked their Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi following the country's group-stage exit from the 2010 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the Malian football federation have announced.

The decision, taken on Wednesday, was in direct response to Mali's poor showing at the tournament in Angola, where Mali drew 4-4 with the hosts, lost 1-0 to Algeria and beat Malawi 3-1. Keshi took up the post in April 2008 with the stated aim of qualifying Mali for the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2010 World Cup, which he failed to do.

In a press release seen by AFP, the Malian football federation states that its executive committee undertook "a thorough analysis of the factors that led to the premature elimination of the national team from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations". The federation criticised the "barely professional behaviour of certain players and some of the backroom staff" and revealed that it was terminating the contracts of all the coaching staff and medical team.

The press release also recommended the employment of consultants to improve the national team's technical set-up and vowed to embark upon "a radical reconstruction of the national team", based on "well-defined technical, ethical and moral criteria".

"No place on the national team is guaranteed," the federation added. "All the places are open to competition for Malian players who wish to come and serve their country."

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1163434.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

43 mins ago
ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP) – World powers Thursday waded into the row in Nigeria over the president's health, lamenting the "uncertainty" caused by his absence as his deputy promised that he would return home soon.

"Nigeria is going through a period of uncertainty because of the prolonged illness of President Musa Umaru Yar?Adua," said a joint statement by the United States, European Union, Britain and France.

The powers said they welcomed constitutional efforts in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and one of the world's top oil producers, to "resolve the question of governing authority in the president's prolonged absence".

The 58-year-old president has been receiving treatment for a serious heart condition in Saudi Arabia since November 23.

Three separate legal challenges are currently underway in the Federal High Court to force the government to hand presidential powers to his deputy Goodluck Jonathan.

Separately, the government and the Senate have openly clashed over how to deal with Yar'Adua's prolonged absence and his apparent refusal to hand power to his deputy from his hospital bed in Jeddah.

"Nigeria?s stability and democracy carry great significance beyond its immediate borders," given its importance as a global oil producer and stabilising force in west Africa, said the statement.

It was signed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton.

It is the first time foreign powers have openly expressed concern about Yar'Adua's absence amid concerns by opposition groups that the president's illness has made him incapable of ruling the 150 million-strong population of Nigeria, Africa's second-biggest oil producer.

The statement was issued in London as foreign ministers met to discuss how to aid war-torn Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Jonathan on Thursday said the president will return "soon" but gave no date.

At a ceremony to receive letters of credence from new ambassadors, Jonathan thanked them "for their concern , and assured them that the president would soon be back in the country," his office said in a statement.

The Senate on Wednesday demanded that Yar'Adua take steps to transfer power to Jonathan, in line with the requirements of the country's constitution.

However, his hand-picked cabinet deemed him fit enough to remain in office, after the High Court ordered the executive body to decide on his ability to discharge his duties.

The cabinet said the fact that he is receiving treatment outside the country did not warrant his removal on grounds of incapacity.

A federal high court will on Friday rule on a suit filed by lawyers seeking an order for Yar'Adua to hand full powers to Jonathan until his return.

The case is one of three legal challenges to Yar'Adua's authority.

Jonathan, who has been filling in for the president, has been unable to assume full powers because Yar'Adua has not formally informed parliament of his absence, which his opponents say is a breach of the constitution.

They also accuse the government of covering-up the extent of Yar'Adua's illness.

An unwritten policy of the ruling PDP allows a rotation of power between the Christian south and the Muslim north. Yar'Adua is a Muslim, while Jonathan is a southern Christian.

"We extend our best wishes to President Yar? Adua and his family and join the Nigerian people in wishing him a full recovery," said the foreign ministers' statement.

But it nonetheless commended efforts to break the political deadlock gripping the country, pointing to the recent outbreak of religious and ethnic violence in central Nigeria which claimed hundreds of lives.

"Nigerians have launched an important conversation in examining how constitutional processes can resolve the question of governing authority in the President?s prolonged absence.

"We commend these efforts and their pursuit through appropriate Nigerian democratic institutions to address its citizens? concerns."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100128/wl_africa_afp/nigeriapoliticspresidentuseu?