http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/04/05/former-ekiti-speaker-dumps-pdp-for-ac/

Former Ekiti Speaker dumps PDP for AC
National News Apr 5, 2010

…resigns as SSA to Oni

By Gbenga Ariyibi

ADO-EKITI—The former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Olusola Omolayo, has dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and defected to the opposition Action Congress, AC, saying his future and that of his supporters cannot be guaranteed by the PDP.

With his defection to the AC, the former member of the State House of Assembly, has resigned his appointment as the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the Governor, Engr Segun Oni on Rural Development.

But the state government has through the state owned radio and television stations announced the termination of the appointment of Omolayo as SSA on Rural Development

The former lawmaker who served as the Speaker of the House shortly after the interim Governor of Mr Tope Ademiluyi in the state, described the ruling PDP in the state as an embodiment of a party of injustice.

Omolayo who hails from Odo Ayedun Ekiti described the AC as a party that has the interest of the masses at heart and believes in justice and the rule of law, saying the future of the people of the state can only be guaranteed by the AC.

@ all peace b still

@ responses
this thread is not in any way targeted at someone or to the person of Aisha2.

but to seek knowledge and transfer idea and opinion on issue not clear of,

NO hard feelings,

God Bless My Village,

Niger-delta 4 life

Arsenal my constituency

mukina2:

The  User in question had no right to create a thread to insult the mod.
If he had any personal grievances, he should have emailed her or asked nicely.

This forum is governed by rules, and as long as anyone ticked the little box to obey the rules  of the forum.

they will be enforced.

If i read through his reasons he was or almost booted out of the forum because he make his view know about the re-nomination of Prof Dora. which in my personal fillings against the minister desig.

the initial cause of abuse was not Aisha2 personality but her action against the poster.

my bro. this forum has really helped me to capture people's excess and moderate status.

am blessed my this.

please let be human in all we do and see to people's opinion

@ subject

all should be diplomatic and constructive in all what we shared.

God Bless My Village,

Niger-delta 4 life

Arsenal my constituency

Let this forum be a level playing ground,  opinions shared and facts figures backed arguments should be review and support and counter support be made known


everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.

for the fact that someone shared an issue and gain more support those not mean the person is right or wrong. we learn from people animosity and their sapientus.


God Bless My Village,

Niger-delta 4 life

Arsenal my constituency

the sub topic above was stopped and members privileges were hampered.

please like i always say,  mode always exercise super powers and this are signs of proximity to fukc up if giving the chance in office.

Let Seun review and moderate  moderators too.

i am a victim of banning.

"n_delta" thats the Id.

tayo_ast:

kip it up, pls.

ds oda syd of u is much better

which other side,

Grean or Red?

the month will be filled with lots of surprises

So this is the brain behind ur questionable support for Kosovo? una try PDP, Una bring politics inside Politics,

I rest my case

Happy new Month

april fullllllll

Ministers lobby for juicy portfolios
Headlines Apr 1, 2010

*Akunyili, Olubolade tipped for health, works

By Ben Agande

ABUJA— INTENSE lobbying for positions, yesterday, characterised the placement of ministers into various portfolios as various political and interest groups lobbied for their candidates to be given what they consider ‘juicy ministries.’

Though the nominees who were all cleared by the Senate, Wednesday afternoon, will be sworn-in today, none of them was sure of which portfolio he/she would be assigned to by the President.

However, some nominees were being strongly associated with certain ministries in view of their perceived strength and bias. For instance, while the former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili was being strongly considered for the Health Ministry portfolio alongside Dr. Isa Hong as the Minister of State, Vanguard learnt that Senator Mohammed was being considered for the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory or Environment.

Ministers : Mr Nuhu Somo Way (left) chatting with Akinlabi Olasunkanmi (right) and Fidelia Njeze (middle) during the Ministerial screening at the National Assembly.

Although the immediate past Attorney General, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode was said to be favoured to retain the portfolio, sources in Abuja have revealed that Bello Adokie, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was virtually assured of the position. Since his nomination, Adokie was said to have embarked on an expensive and aggressive media campaign to clinch the job of AGF.

However, the name of Alhaji Maina Waziri who was the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, was also being tipped for the post of the FCT Minister.

It was authoritatively gathered that lobbists which included senators, major stakeholders in the petroleum sector and northern interest group besieged Aso Rock to prevail on Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on who to hand the portfolio to.

Senators who met with the Acting President over the issue, it was learnt, were well disposed to Engr. Chris Ogiewonyi, who recently retired as Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, after 34 years of service, while others were pushing the case of former Minister of State in the ministry, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, and former Steel Minister, Dieziani Allison-Madueke

While Ajumogobia and Allison-Madueke, it was learnt, were being pushed by two separate interests, a group that is lobbying the Acting President for Ogiewonyi who is representing Edo State, was said to have recommended him because of his technical knowledge of the petroleum industry. According to a source, “Those pushing for the nomination of a technocrat in the oil sector are looking for the achievement of so many things in one piece because oil industry is not only important but it is linked with the attainment of stable power supply and sustainable economy.”

Power blocks behind nominees

A source in the Presidency told Vanguard, yesterday, evening that close aides of the Acting President have come under intense lobby from supporters and power blocs behind the ministerial nominees to ensure that their preferred candidates did not get less prominent positions.

The source said: “This is the last cabinet before the next elections, so nobody wants to be left out. The position one occupies would, to a large extent, determine his or her relevance in the next elections so all the power blocs are keen on having their ways.”

For the Ministry of Finance, it was gathered that the consideration was between Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga and the former Minister of State for Finance, Remi Babalola. Navy Captain Olubolade was expected to go to the Ministry of Works of Housing.

The source added: “However, the consideration is that since Remi Babalola was part of the team that was sacked by the Acting President, it is not likely that he would go to the Finance ministry but he may be pushed to either the National Economic Planning or to the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory as the Minister since he was seen to have done well as supervisor of the Ministry when President Yar’Adua dissolved the cabinet.”

One portfolio that appears to have been settled seem to be that of Information and Communication which appear to have been left for the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa, Labaran Maku. He has the credibility and at this time, Nigeria needs somebody who will effectively and efficiently sell her. We have that in Maku” the source told Vanguard, yesterday.

John Odey was being tipped for either the Interior Ministry or Aviation

Ministerial screening: I’ll bring hope and energy – Yar’Adua
Cover Stories, Headlines Mar 30, 2010

Ministerial nominee, Murtala Yar’Adua (right) with Senator Ibrahim Ida (left) shortly after his screening at National Assembly,Tuesday.

By Emmanuel Aziken & Inalegwu Shaibu

ABUJA— PRESIDENT Umaru Yar‘Adua’s nephew, Murtala Yar’Adua, Tuesday, said he would bring hope and the energy of youth to the government of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan which was ushered in to replace that of his ailing uncle.

Alhaji Yar’Adua’s was one of the 23 nominees screened by the Senate during which the much expected showdown between senators and one of the nominees, Senator Sanusi Daggash was averted by the profuse apologies of Daggash over his alleged past indiscretions.

One more nominee, Dr. Idi Hong a former minister in the just dissolved cabinet was presented yesterday.

There were confusing signs concerning the fate of two of the nominees, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, a former Minister of Finance and subsequently of National Planning from Kano State and Alhaji Umar Aliyu from Taraba State.

Dr. Usman was stepped down from screening, yesterday, reportedly on the orders of the Presidency. Special Assistant to the President, Senate, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, however, asserted last night that none of the nominees had been formally withdrawn by the Presidency.

Former ministers in the just dissolved federal cabinet expectedly faced tough questions on their achievements in office. Mr. Nuhu Wya and Remi Babalola, erstwhile ministers of State of Power and of Finance, in their screening admitted their inability to meet the set 6,000 MW of electricity.

Those screened were Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Osun, Hon. Isa Bio Ibrahim, Kwara, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe, Delta, Nuhu Somo Way, Kaduna, Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, Rivers, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Bayelsa, Mr. John Odey, Cross River, Aderemi Babalola, Oyo, and Mr. Humphrey Abbah, Kogi.

Others were Mr. Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu, Abia, Josephine Anenih, Anambra, Mr. Labaran Maku, Nasarawa, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Edo, Alhaji Suleiman Bello, Zamfara, Alhaji Muritala Yar’Adua, Katsina, Sen. Sanusi Dagash, Borno, Sen. Bala Mohammed, Bauchi, Hon. Nduese Essien, Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Josephine Tapgun, Plateau, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, Kogi, Navy Capt. Earnest Olubode, Ekiti, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, Imo, and Sen. Jibril Martins Kuye, Ogun.

Murtala Yar’adua (right) chatting with Mohammed Buhari Yar’Adua (middle) and Umar Yar’Adau shortly after his screening at the National Assembly.

A number of the nominees who had served in the National Assembly were given the courtesy of bow-and-go after giving a brief of their projections in office.

The 40-year old Murtala Yar’Adua who was nominated for a ministerial position allegedly against the wishes of some elements close to President Yar‘Adua faced the Senate screening for eleven minutes.

Reflecting the fracture within the extended Yar‘Adua political family, the younger Yar‘Adua was escorted to the Senate screening by an enthusiastic crowd including family members, friends and officials of the Katsina State government who repeatedly hailed him as Tafidan, the traditional Katsina title he inherited from his father, the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar‘Adua, the number two man in the military administration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo.

Asked to explain what he would bring to the government, Yar‘Adua who said he was bringing hope to the administration deposed: “The energy of youth is very important. Around the world a lot industrialists and senior people running conglomerates are actually our age mates. A lot of our friends and colleagues are in private industry and I believe that I can draw a lot of experience and advise new ways of doing old things.”

He elicited a bout of laughter from several senators apparently in reference to his uncle’s cabinet. Apparently responding to the laughter, he clarified: “There is nothing wrong with the way things have been done, I think energy is what we need.”

Yar‘Adua also touched on the banking reforms which he endorsed as an attempt to save the country’s financial system and the spate of sectarian conflicts in the country which he centred on poverty and ignorance.

He added: “On conflict resolution, I believe that everything has to do with social problem, poverty, especially leads to discontent, people blame each other or their neighbours for their problems, it is not new to Nigeria. A lot of it has to do with education, it depends on what you were taught. Government has to get involved in the system.”

The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, tasked on the past cabinet’s inability to address the supply of petroleum products to the country put the blame on failure to resolve the issue of deregulation. He said: “Nobody is going to invest his money in an enterprise that he cannot see how he will get a return. ”

Power supply situation
Architect Nuhu Somo Way, former Minister of State for Power noting the failure to meet the 6,000 MW set by the government, said: “I met a programme of 6000 megawatts project and we were assigned to pursue this programme to ensure that it is executed. By the grace of God, we were able to improve the power situation in the country to a level which is not commensurable to the mandate.

“We were faced with a challenge of what we could not control, that is the source of fuel and this source of fuel is gas. I am not trying to put a blame to anybody, I am just trying to say that we did rehabilitate our plants and got up to 5200 available generation capacity as at the end of December, last year. But we had stranded facility of 1500 megawatts due to inadequacy of gas. This inadequacy of gas cannot be blamed on a single source. We know the challenges we went through, they are challenges of security, vandalism, challenges of inadequate funding contributed to some of the issues that militated against our achievement of 6000 megawatts.”

Following the screening of the returnee proposed ministers, the Senate commenced the screening of the fresh nominees which were sometimes interlaced with political humour. The first fresh nominee screened was Mr. Emeka Wogu, a member of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission from Abia State who, like most of the other fresh nominees promised to help the Acting President in realizing his agenda.

The expected confrontation between senators and Senator Daggash turned into an anti-climax as Senator Daggash offered profuse apologies to the lawmakers over his role in the face off between him and the Senate during his earlier stance as Minister in the first cabinet of President Yar‘Adua. Daggash was alleged to have accused senators of padding their budget and at the same time padding the budget of his own Ministry of National Planning.

But as he stepped in for his screening yesterday, Daggash said: “Having found myself in the deep end of an arm of government which operates slightly differently from the legislative branch, I tried to learn the ropes, I found myself that I went into that arm of government as a senator with the respect and dignity of this office and I felt I had to maintain that. Certain misinformation, happenings and so on, but yes, I stood, I took it as a man and the bottom line is that anybody is in a position to err.” Following, his submission, he was asked to bow and go.

so u can see now, those of u that were planting seed of discord

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/03/30/uproar-as-senate-screens-akunyili-kayode/

Uproar as Senate screens Akunyili, Kayode
Headlines Mar 30, 2010

*5 new ministerial nominees emerge
*Jonathan plans special court to try indicted politicians
*Senate refers allegation of $.1m bribe for probe

By Emmanuel Aziken, Shuabu Inalegwu & Chris Ochayi

SENATE President David Mark had to step in, yesterday, to stem the uproar generated in the upper house when Prof. Dora Akunyili was being screened by the Senate.

This was even as a fresh list of five ministerial nominees was forwarded to the Senate by Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Among the five named in a letter to the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and read out on the floor of the Senate were four former members of the immediate past federal cabinet.

The names were read out at the commencement of the screening of the 35 nominees earlier proposed by Dr. Jonathan, just as the Senate referred to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the allegation of inducement of some senators to the tune of $100,000 for the purpose of scuttling the screening process.

Prof. Akunyili and Prince Kayode

One of the nominees screened, Mr. Kayode Adetokunbo, SAN, the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation at his confirmatory hearing disclosed plans by the Federal Government to establish special courts for the purpose of trying indicted political office holders.

Adetokunbo also endorsed the Doctrine of Necessity used in empowering Dr. Jonathan as valid in law as he said it was applicable where a vacuum was established in law.

The former ministers proposed by Dr. Jonathan are: Mr. Humphrey Abbah, Kogi, Mr. John Odey, Cross River, Aderemi Babalola, Oyo, and Hon. Isah Bio, Kwara. The fresh nominee is Mr. Sam Odeh, presently serving as Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on Special Duties. He is nominated to represent Benue State.

As exclusively reported in Vanguard, yesterday, former ministers in the immediate past cabinet were lined up to be screened first and received tough questions from senators. Prof. Dora Akunyili was especially challenged on her outburst against members of the purported kitchen cabinet of President Umaru Yar‘Adua.

The three screened were Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, Enugu; Adetokunbo, Ondo, and Akunyili representing Anambra whose screening ended in an uproar.

The screening commenced in the afternoon despite attempts by Senator Julius Ucha, PDP, Ebonyi Central, to compel the abolition of the office of Minister of State which he claimed was against the provision of Section 147 of the Constitution which recognized only the office of minister and not minister of state.

President of the Senate, Senator Mark, who presided, was quick to stop Senator Ucha by noting that the Constitutional Point of Order he raised on the issue was anticipatory.

Allegation of $100,000 inducement
Just as the screening got on, Senator Garba Lado, PDP, Katsina South, raised a point of order with respect to the publication by a newspaper of the inducement of senators to the tune of $100,000 each to frustrate the screening exercise.

Senator Lado who is well known for his opposition to the enthronement of Dr. Jonathan as Acting President, said the news publication was an act of blackmail directed against him and other Katsina senators who were fingered as conduits for the distribution of the alleged bribe.

Senator Mark referred the issue to Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions saying that neither he nor any other senator received the reported amount. He described the report as an act of blackmail.

As the Senate screening commenced, Senate President, David Mark gave the procedure that the immediate past ministers nominated for another term would be screened first.

Mrs. Njeze was the first to be screened and she took questions arising from her stewardship as Minister of State, Agriculture, and notably on the availability of fertilizer to farmers.

Senator Lado erupted again when Adetokunbo was being screened. He asked Adetokunbo to cite constitutional basis for the proclamation of the doctrine of necessity, which was used by the Senate to empower Dr. Jonathan as Acting President.

Replying Adetokunbo said: “It speaks for itself. It is when you must do something that is necessary for things to move on. This doctrine is not our creation it is an international convention. If there appears to be a vacuum within the law you can just jump over that breach to ensure that you do the right thing. Many of us who study the doctrine of necessity believe that it was the right thing that was done and it was rightly applied and that many of us are grateful to this Senate for what it did.”

Adetokunbo also dismissed allegations to unnecessary delay in the trial of Major Hamza Mustapha and some others indicted in some unjudicial killings during the administration of erstwhile Head of State, late Gen. Sanni Abacha.

He said: “There are two criminal jurisdictions, federal and state. The persons you have mentioned fall under the state jurisdiction. Many of the delays were caused by counsel.”

Adetokunbo also disclosed plans by the Federal Government to establish special courts to try indicted politicians accused of corruption.

Uproar over Akunyili

Following Adetokunbo, Prof. Akunyili came in. After her brief introduction, she was immediately tackled by Senator Kanti Bello, the Senate Majority Whip who asked her to buttress her outbursts against the alleged cabal she said was against constitutional provisions on public officers to seek the unity and the promotion of the culture of the country.

Senator Bello also challenged her on the viability of her nomination against the background of claims of the lopsidedness of appointments from Anambra Central Senatorial district against other senatorial zones in the State.

Replying, Akunyili said: “The distinguished senator said that I was supposed to be part of the cabal. I was not in any way part of the cabal. I want to state here very clearly that President Umaru Yar`Adua is my boss, my big brother, and he remains my brother and everybody knows that he is a fine gentleman and with beautiful spirit. When we started having problems…,” Mrs. Akunyili said as she was interrupted by clamour from several senators. The situation forced the President of the Senate to rise up from his chair.

It was the first time that Senator Mark would rise up in an open session to calm an uproar in the Senate since the inauguration of the Senate in 2007.

Senator Mark took almost two minutes to bring senators to order with a sharp rebuke on them to comport themselves.

Akunyili then continued: “When he became ill, I organized a fast with my staff and my household and the DG of the FRCN was part of the fast. I also booked 90 days novena prayers for him at St. Leo Parish, Ikeja when he went to the hospital. It can be cross-checked. That shows you that I have nothing against our President. I am loyal to him, I am loyal to the Constitution and I am very loyal to the country,” she said amidst an uproar from several senators.

Lawyers reject ministerial nominees
Despite the ongoing screening of the ministerial nominees by the Senate, Lawyers of Conscience, LC, a civil society organization, has rejected the list of nominees submitted to the National Assembly by the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, saying the nominees were incompetent and funny characters.

The group’s National Co-ordinator, Barrister Benedict Ezeagu, Secretary General, Princewill Akpakpan and the PRO, Sadiq Mohammed, who made this position known at a news briefing in Abuja, said the list of nominees was the worst in the history of the country.

The group also accused the Acting President of recycling spent forces into the new FEC, regretting that Dr. Jonathan still believed in business as usual because nothing has really changed.

The lawyers said: “the team Jonathan is assembling to run the government of this country is even worse than those of Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua. Our ship in this nation seems to be heading for the rock with his recycling of the likes of Aliyu Gusau, Theophilus Danjuma and the funny names and characters in his ministerial list – a clear backward stride it has been so far.”

shining gurl

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/03/29/uproar-as-senate-screens-akunyili/

There was uproar at the Senate today when Prof. Dora Akunyili was placed on the spot light as the Senate commenced screening of ministerial nominees in Abuja.

Hardly had Akunyili finished reeling her intimidating biodata and performance in her previous portfolios when Senator Kanti Bello from Katsina State fired the first salvo accusing the former Minister of Information of betrayal of the first family by her actions with her memo presented at the Executive Council meeting calling for the ceding of presidential powers to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

This caused a stir as the hallowed chambers erupted with cacophony of reactions from Senators and at the gallery of the chambers.

Senate President David Mark had a herculean task in his bid to keep the sitting under control as Senator Kanti Bello almost walked out of the chambers in annoyance.

However, after a failed attempt to prolong the Senate sitting beyond 6pm, the Senators adjourned to 10am tomorrow but not before Akunyili had responded to the question raised by Senator Kanti Bello on her role in the last political imbroglio that brought in Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

More details later….

Jonathan woos Anyaoku for INEC job
By Sam Akpe (Abuja) and Emma Nzomiwu (Enugu)


Acting President Goodluck Jonathan may persuade the celebrated former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Emeka Anyaoku, to accept the





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position of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in June this year.





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But Ikemba Nnewi and leader of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, thinks that the current INEC boss, Professor Maurice Iwu deserves to be reappointed.

Authoritative sources told Sunday Independent on Friday that Anyaoku had already been suggested to Jonathan with the Acting President only worried whether the Anambra high chief would accept the appointment.

Anyaoku’s unique selling point, according to those pushing his nomination, is that he would bring credibility to the Commission if he accepts to handle the job.

“The world knows Anyaoku and what he stands for. He has a name to protect and a name that can inspire confidence and also create positive image internationally for INEC,” said a Presidency source on Thursday night.

The source hinted that among the names touted in the media so far, none of them is qualified. “Olisa Agbakoba is a politician, Dora Akunyili is a politician; just like that. We need somebody who is a little bit apolitical and with the required clout to handle the job.”

He observed that Anyaoku has a global administrative ability to handle the bureaucracy at INEC, “because from whatever angle you look at it, that is not a job for a new comer, the bureaucracy is huge; and Anyaoku is capable.”

Anyaoku’s profile went higher while he also faced his greatest challenge in his career during the late Sani Abacha’s military regime when Nigeria came under international condemnation over the killing of Ogoni activists, among them, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Our source added that although he was not sure if the renowned administrator had been contacted for the job, “the prayer on every lip is that he accepts the offer when made and move in to clean up the place.”

Iwu’s tenure will expire in June this year. He was confirmed by the Senate for appointment in June 2005 for a five-year term.

Iwu’s first test as INEC chairman was the 2007 general elections, which were almost marred by logistics problems and allegations of irregularities perpetrated by the political class.

Both local and international rights organisations have mounted pressure on the Federal Government to sack Iwu although none could specify in which particular area the INEC chairman could be blamed for the failure at the polls.

The argument, however, has centred on the feeling that most of the elections conducted by INEC and winners declared have been overturned by the courts for various reasons.

Sources confirmed on Friday that Iwu had concluded arrangements to quit INEC and may not honour any reappointment if offered.

“He has even started recruiting staff for his private office in Abuja. It is becoming clearer that he is eager to quit the job, he is not keen about staying back,” said one of his aides on Friday in Abuja.

He said: “From the best of my knowledge, nobody has asked Iwu if he wants to stay back, that is if he is interested in a re-appointment. So I don’t think there is any doubt about his exit.

“This is why a fresh appointment has to be made immediately; someone has to understudy Iwu for a specific time before his term expires, except the next appointee is already a staff of INEC.”

On whether Iwu could possibly be reappointed, he said: “One thing that is certain is that he will not have his tenure renewed, no matter how much he has improved, his tenure will not be renewed.

“Yes, some of the bye-elections conducted by INEC are better than the previous ones. That is not sufficient reasons for him to be kept back. Can you imagine the outcry that will follow an announcement that Iwu has been reappointed?

“The 2007 elections under his watch brought a lot of image problems to INEC. I am not saying he was responsible for the rigging, but the fact remains that whatever happened was on his watch and people naturally attributed those irregularities to him.”

Meanwhile, Ojukwu has endorsed the re-appointment of Professor Maurice Iwu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), provided that future polls would be modelled after what most observers considered as the success story of the February 6 Governorship ballot in Anambra.

Ojukwu, APGA Presidential Candidate in the 2007 general election, was in court alongside Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress (AC) to challenge outcome of the ballot superintended by Iwu.

Regardless, Ojukwu dismissed widely-held claims that Iwu performed woefully and does not merit reappointment, saying that nobody can satisfy human beings.

Ojukwu spoke on Saturday at his Enugu residence where he held a three-hour closed door meeting with the INEC chairman whose tenure lapses in June. Talk of his replacement has dominated the political landscape, with people torn into different camps on whether or not to replace the man.

Ojukwu reiterated that he was in politics to defend the interest of Ndigbo – the same reason he went into the famed 30-month civil war against the Nigerian state and for which the Ikemba Nnewi insisted he owes “no apology” to anybody.

He said he was glad to be part of the Anambra ballot won by Governor Peter Obi of APGA, and extended the appreciation of the Anambrarians and entire Ndigbo for the success of the exercise.

His words: “I welcome you, but not only that, I want to use the opportunity to transmit to you the good feelings and thanks of the entire Igbo race.

“I speak with authority and thank you for your efforts and congratulate you for your ability to present to the world and Nigeria a Nigerian first free and fair and successful election. Mr. chairman, some day, not too long ago, I was being asked, what was my opinion and what was it that propelled my political career. I remember very clearly my response. It is appropriate that I repeat it here that I came into politics because I see a gap. My aim is to fill that gap and that gap is the defence of Igbo interest.

“I repeat it because I want people to remember that I am not making any apologies about it. I have come into politics to protect the interest of Ndigbo and that is it. I don’t stop anybody hiring whatever structure to protect as they wish any tribal interest because for me if tribes were not necessary, God will not have created the Igbo tribe and allotted me to it.

“Having said that, we saw, we witnessed, and am glad we have been able to be part of that whole exercise, an election, open, transparent, cool, which has been and is still being applauded by not just the participants, Ndigbo, but the entire world.

“One of the reasons I am making this little statement is that I want everybody living here to feel free and to claim the success of Ndigbo in conducting for the first time, the election which Mr. Chairman, you (Iwu) conducted in Anambra State. Accept the entire gratitude of the entire people of Anambra State.

“I understand there are now a few voices now rising, saying, perhaps he didn’t do this quite so well as the chairman. If I have to comment on that, let me say this, if you even gave to every voter in that Anambra election from your pocket say a thousand naira each, there will still be complaints after some time that you didn’t ask for your wife’s permission before spending your own money. I acknowledge the goodness of that election. If you continue like this, I will endorse you for re-appointment.”

Iwu said he was on a working visit to the South-East to inspect a special project of INEC in Abia to set up a National Voters Registry that would serve as a repository of voters’ registers in Nigeria.

The INEC boss, who was accompanied by some resident electoral commissioners (RECs), thanked Ojukwu for the role he played to ensure that the election was free, fair, and peaceful, beginning from the campaigns to the day of the election.

i just know that Igbo, yoruba and Hausa will always want to associate with minority when they know they will benefit from this minor but when the worse is to be there will be a clear border diffn to tell these ppl are not ours,

Ikwere are not Igbos,

pls press bring peace not discord to the region,

pls where u c this one,

i dnt believe it.

THIS MAN PLATOON 18 WETIN BE UR OWNSELF,

U WAN TURN US ALL TO ALMAJIRIS?

GO 2 LIBERIA.



Vote Niger-Delta

Jos crisis: Jang is naive - Army •Plateau gov declares 3-day fasting •NYSC approves redeployment of corps members in Plateau

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Written by Dare Adekanmbi and Isaac Shobayo

THE Nigerian Army has taken a swipe at the governor of Plateau State, Mr Jonah Jang, describing him as having “demonstrated embarrassing naivety in interpreting the dynamics of land operations.” Jang, had on Tuesday, accused the Army of complicity in the latest Jos crisis which has claimed hundreds of lives.



The army’s displeasure was contained in a statement signed by Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General A.C. Olukolade.

The statement said that the governor’s substantial military background should have guided him in commenting about the incident, adding that Jang should have “consulted sufficiently before making his inciting declaration.”

“That Governor Jang visited the Defence Headquarters today (yesterday) Wednesday, 10 March, 2010 clearly indicates that he knows the appropriate authority to consult in the event of dissatisfaction with the action of any army commander.

“Rather than follow this process, he resorted to inflammatory remarks targeted at rubbishing the army. His allegation insinuating bias is, indeed, unfortunate,” the statement read.

Olukolade said it was common knowledge that the internal security operation in Jos, Plateau State, was a joint operation involving the various services and the Nigeria Police, expressing displeasure at the singling out the army for blame.

“The governor may have his political or other intents to achieve, but he should desist from compounding issues, at least in the interest of the people, who are endangered by his proposition and disdain for the army in particular,” Olukolade added.

He absolved soldiers of any complicity in the crisis, adding that the army would continue to make input into the joint operations of the special task force as mandated by the Federal Government.

The Army spokesman said the preoccupation of the soldiers was to ensure that peace returned to the troubled state, charging all stakeholders to lend their support in achieving the objective.

While commiserating with the families of the casualties in the Jos skirmishes, the Nigerian Army said it was working in concert with the Defence Headquarters to guide the operations of the Joint Task Force in Plateau State.

Meanwhile, Governor Jang has called on the people of the state to undertake three days of fasting and prayers, following the latest bloodletting in the state. He asked them to fast from today till Saturday to pray and cry out to God for the forgiveness of sins and pray to Him to return peace to Plateau State and Nigeria.

The governor, who made the call in a broadcast to the people of the state, on Wednesday, charged them to pause and ask themselves what had happened to the peace and brotherliness synonymous with the state.

He implored the people of the state to have respect for one another, irrespective of any affiliation, adding that without peace, no meaningful development could take place in the state.

“We must not allow this to continue. Violence cannot be used as a way of solving conflicts. We must all respect each other, irrespective of any affiliations. The responsibility of achieving peace is a collective one. Therefore, all hands must be on deck for us to achieve this goal,” he said.

Governor Jang warned all those contemplating any reprisal attack or vengeance to desist from such because the acting president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, had, since, put the security agencies on red alert to deal with any further breach of the peace.

He warned rumour mongers to stop their nefarious activities and other acts that had generated anxiety among the people and implored residents to be vigilant and pass any useful information to the security agencies for verification.

The governor directed all local government chairmen and traditional rulers to hold regular meetings in their domains so as to promote harmony.

Jang said the government would establish information desks, where information could immediately be passed to security agencies and encouraged communities to watch strangers in their midst and report suspicious behaviour to relevant authorities.

“The challenge before us all now is how to move forward as a people and put this sad episode behind us. It is time to forgive and allow peace to reign. We must sheathe our swords and embrace harmonious coexistence,” he said.

The governor implored all security men and women to demonstrate high professional standards and ethics in the course of their duty on the Plateau and show themselves as men and women of honour and integrity.

Meanwhile, the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brigadier-General Ismaila Tsiga, has said any corps member in Plateau State seeking re-deployment would be granted if the crisis in the state persisted.

The Director-General said this when he visited the NYSC camp in Plateau State, on Wednesday, while he assured the corps members that none of them would be posted to rural areas.

“Your security in the camp is guaranteed. Soldiers will be deployed here to stay with you in the camp for 24 hours a day, but you must not leave the camp if you are not authorised to do so. Security is a collective responsibility,” he said.

General Tsiga said period of registration had been extended for those posted to Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states because of the latest Jos crisis, adding that there was the possibility that they might experience delay as a result of the upheaval.

“By this courage you have demonstrated by coming to Jos in the face of this crisis, you have thrown the challenge to us in authority, to your families, to government and, indeed, to all Nigerians, to ensure that you are not disappointed.

“And we are going to live up to it. It shows that you really believe in the unity of Nigeria,” Tsiga said.

He gave his phone number to the corps members and told them to call him in the event of any trouble.

peruso:

SAHARA REPORTERS AGAIN!!!!!!!!1

we know u ppl, u are just a bunch of confusionist, nothing honest has ever come out of you so,

sharaaap!!

may be u one of the paid tout.

Vote Niger-Delta

kosovo:

    are you a religious quilibet?
     The Position of  Super Moderators prevents the incrimination of various Criticism on the Moderator.

@ Kosovo and Others,

Let learn not to be sentimental in our judgment. And let deal with thread without fear or favour. let the interest of the Topic remain

18 platoon:

@ezeuche, we're at advantage numerically, you'll be surprised when it start, we've heared this song of we're ready over and over again, but we keep dealing with you guys all the time. btw i dont have problems with igbo guys i've got so many of them as freinds the people i have problems with are those southern kaduna porks and jos swines, but since you igbos wanna come into the beaf then you're welcome. ANYTIME.

Military Goat,

I is time for the Egbesu, NDVF and MEND to blowu people up,

U r a military man disgrace to the Uniform

honsule:

Minus this one

Why Minus?

He has his reasons

what about threads on Yaradua health and rumor of his death,

by the time thread are edited and banned it might be in the interest of the mod.

there was a time a thread on a particular issue was on question and those of Igbo extract now ve a upper hand over others why because other thread out the one that supported Igbo interest were edited, deleted and rearranged to portray the IGBO well.

so i think there is politics going on in this forum

I was once a victim.

Vote Niger-Delta

I think Mod has been given so much power that they do and undo like Nigerian Govt.

my grive with Mod.

Blocking of Topic,
Editing of Post,
Deleting of Post
and Banning of members

the topic below is banned by the power that be,

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-410138.0.html

Jos massacre: Hold army responsible - Plateau gov •Soldiers shoot 3; women protest •Fear grips military officers, ministers after Mukhtar’s sack •Why Jonathan settled for Gusau •CAN faults Gusau’s appointment

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Written by Okey Muogbo, Isaac Shobayo, Taiwo Adisa and Kolawole Daniel

PLATEAU State governor, Mr. Jonah Jang, on Tuesday, blamed the army for the recent killings in his state, saying his earlier information on arms build-up in the villages was ignored by the army.



Speaking with reporters after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held at the State House, Abuja, Jang said: “I received reports at about 9.00 p.m. that some movement of people with arms was seen around those villages, and I reported to the commander of the army and he told me he was going to move some troops there, and because it is near where I live, I even saw a tank pass through my house and I thought it was going towards that area.

“Three hours or so later, I was woken by a call that they had started burning the villages and people were being hacked to death and I started trying to locate the commanders but I couldn’t get any of them on the telephone.”

He said “this attack could have been avoided if they acted on his report,” lamenting that though governors were chief security officers, they did not have any control over the soldiers and the law enforcement agents.

“I have said it several times, state governors are highly incapacitated. You are the chief security officer of a state, you don’t command even a fly. What do you use to stop anything? Security report that I gave, I didn’t even get that security report officially; it was the villagers themselves that saw the movements and reported. I didn’t receive any security report about what was going to happen.

“So the security people should have to double up their efforts, particularly the army that said they have now taken over security in Plateau State, because the police are unable to cope. I expect that the army should live up to expectations and stop the carnage in Plateau, if they cannot, then they should as well get out of the place.”

Governor Jang went further to say that “we were caught unawares. The present attack I don’t know for what, but what was written in the Daily Trust today (Tuesday) tried to justify it as a reprisal attack for what happened in Kuru-jenta on January 17.

“To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think Fulanis were involved in what happened in Kurujenta. If you look at the houses that were burnt there, Kurujenta is a tin-mining camp and houses burnt there, I mean everybody who lived there was involved.

“You could not say it was one-sided because the houses that were burnt cut across, which means the killings cut across. But what happened there, some people moved Aljazeera there and then covered dead bodies and started labelling them. When you cover dead bodies and start labeling them, who knows who you are covering?

“And then today, Daily Trust was saying it was because of what happened in Kurujenta, because Fulanis were killed in Kurujenta. Fulanis don’t live in Kurujenta.

“And so to say it was a reprisal for what happened in Kurujenta was a distortion of facts. We know that what happened was that some people came across the border of Plateau State and started attacking villages, because nobody within Plateau got to these villages and started attacking them.”

Meanwhile, the troubled Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State was thrown into confusion again, on Tuesday, as members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed in some parts of the area killed three people, leaving one of them with fatal injuries while trying to arrest some fleeing Fulani herdsmen.

This came as the Berom women, in their hundreds, on Tuesday, trooped to the streets to protest the attack on three villages in Jos South Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that some people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen were sighted at Kuru, within the vicinity of the Police Staff College, Jos, around 12 noon, on Tuesday and the people in the area quickly alerted members of the JTF to their presence.

As they were being chased, the Fulanis ran into the Police Staff College, leading into a serious commotion, especially between the police at the college and members of the JTF, who had gone to the college in two armoured personnel carriers and two Hilux trucks.

It was gathered that the soldiers tried to force their way into the college to effect the arrest of the fleeing Fulani men who entered through the fence, but the police insisted that they needed to take permission from their superiors before they could be allowed into the college.

An eyewitness disclosed that the soldiers, in an attempt to force their way into the college, shot into the air to scare people who had gathered and, in the process, shot dead three people while two others sustained injuries, including a military man.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that those felled by the stray bullets were immediately rushed to the Air Force Hospital, where they were confirmed dead, while the injured were admitted at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

When the Nigerian Tribune got to the hospital, a relation of one of the deceased was seen lamenting the death of her son, while none of the people on duty at the hospital was willing to comment on the incident.

Attempts to get official reaction to the development from the military authorities failed as those contacted said only the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Three Armoured Division, General Saleh Maina, could speak on the operation.

However, an officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissed insinuations of extra-judicial killings against the military men, saying their acts would always be dictated by circumstances.

The Berom women, in their hundreds, trooped to the streets of South Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday, in black attires, carrying placards with different inscriptions, condemning the Sunday attack on three villages in the area by the Fulani herdsmen.

The leader of the women, Mrs Serah Dennis, called for the removal of General Maina, alleging that his men were not being professional the way they were carrying out their operation.

In a related development, a civil rights group, the League for Human Rights, has warned that the people were gradually losing confidence in the ability of the military to protect them over allegations of lopsidedness on the part of security personnel.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the Director, Peter Shamaki, said people were also worried that the killings had continued despite the security alert in the state.

Also, the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has ruled out reprisal attacks on Muslims in Lagos and other parts of the state following the killing of over 400 women and children in Jos.

Fashola, while reacting to the later massacre in Jos, during a chat with journalists at the airport, said “I don’t think anybody should begin to talk about reprisal attack. We must continue to foster peace and understanding,” adding that security was a natiuon issue and not the individual component of the federation.

Meanwhile, the appointment of Lieutenant-General Abdullahi Gusau as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) has thrown top military brass and members of the kitchen cabinet of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua into confusion, following indications that more heads may roll soon.

Investigations revealed that members of the kitchen cabinet were initially confused when they learnt that Acting President Jonathan had removed the former NSA from office.

It was gathered that the former NSA was well rooted in the kitchen cabinet, having successfully coordinated the defence network around the ailing president for more than 100 days.

Apart from ensuring the secrecy around the ailing president, the former NSA was said to have ensured that necessary information did not filter to the office of the acting president, including information that some groups could strike in Jos.

It was gathered that the new NSA had the responsibility of reviewing the situation on the ground and recommending anyone who had compromised his position for appropriate punishment.

Sources in the government said the removal of the former NSA had sent jitters to all categories of security networks, with the top echelons awaiting the next line of action.

A source said the widespread fear was not restricted to the top echelons of the agencies, as some of the foot soldiers, who apparently orchestrated the recent political logjam, might also get appropriate punishment.

More facts emerged on Tuesday to justify the resolve of Acting President Jonathan to replace Major-General Mukhtar with Lieutenant-General Gusau.

It emerged on Tuesday that the choice of Gusau was targeted at achieving a manifold of results for the emerging government.

Sources said that the choice of Gusau came up in a twist as he was originally on the list of possible vice presidential hopefuls.

Sources said Gusau was considered as a buffer between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.

The Senate, on Tuesday, also endorsed the replacement of the former NSA, saying in a resolution that it endorsed all decisions taken so far by the acting president.

The senators emerged from a closed session which lasted more than three hours and released a nine-point resolution.

But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday, faulted the appointment of Lieutenant-General Gusau, saying that government ought to have shopped for a more acceptable candidate for the exalted office.

The Christian body also called on the Federal Government to ensure that the perpetrators of killings of people believed to be Christians by Fulani herdsmen in Jos, on Sunday, be brought to book.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the General Secretary of CAN, Mr Samuel Salifu, said “it is clear that the crisis in Jos is purely religious, though it may have the undertone of culture, it may also have the undertone of politics.”

na which languiage be locked and Open?

If all off unaa dey claim right to the post of the moderator,

I think U shud try me with my little contri to this forum,

coz i will go a revenge war,

why?

I was once a victim of banning with my ID n_delta

Make me a mod and i will scheme some people out like Goodluck Jona did to Sarki Mukhtar

Vote Niger-Delta