₦airaland Forum

The normal nine months pregnancy period biologically acceptable for a pregnant woman to be delivered of a baby could be debatable in the light of recent development in the medical practice when a woman was delivered of a baby at Agnes & Ephraim Medical Centre three months after she had twins.
Mr and Mrs Kabeer Olakunle Oladeji from Oyo state got married nine years ago and had lived without a child until December 13, 2008, when Mrs Oladeji gave birth to a set of twins, male and female. In her joyous mood,she decided to visit her sister in Lagos only to develop stomach pains.
When she was rushed to the hospital for a medical examination the doctor discovered that the in her stomach was something extra ordinary-a baby! Instead of treating a minor stomach problem the doctor rushed the woman into a labour ward where she was delivered of a healthy baby on March 2, 2009
The question then was how could the woman deliver a child three months after delivering twins?
In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, Mrs Mosunmade Oladeji said that God can do without medical science.She said that at the end of December 2008, after she gave birth to a set of twins, she told somebody that she was experiencing a movement in her tommy and the person responded that it was womo, womo (which means worms).
The Oladejis, assisted by Dr. Ayanbadejo carrying their twins and the new born child.
So, Mrs Oladeji who works as a secretary at Ibadan Polytechnic decided to travel to Lagos on a short visit to her immediate younger sister with her set of twins which they christened Emmanuel and Mary before she resumes work on March 9, 2009. On getting to her sisters she complained of being sick and decided to go to hospital where she was given some tablets. From the hospital she said that the doctor told her she had placenta, and that made the medics to conduct several tests on her. "The doctor even advised me to go for scan for my tommy, but I didn't do so, I came to Lagos.
"On Saturday morning, I started seeing labour sign - water was gushing out of my body and at about 4.00 p.m, blood followed. It happened the same way it did when I was about giving birth to my set of twins. On Sunday, I could not walk again, so my in-law rushed me to the hospital but we didn't see the doctor when we got to the hospital, so the nurses gave me pain relief tablets but all to no avail. Then I began to pray to God and kept guessing what could be this again after child bearing. I was there when the junior doctor came and said it must be infection and I should go for scan and the following day Monday, I went for scan and it was confirmed that I was pregnant,but I didn't agree as I told the man doing the scan that I had just had a set of twins last December how can I be pregnant now?
He raised alarm that people should come and see my baby ready for delivery. Even when I brought the result to doctor, he called the man three times wanting to know if he was sure of the scan result. It was after that I was rushed into the labour ward and delivered of the child and was named Abdulkabir (God is great)",Mrs narrated.
I have not experienced this type of thing since 30 years of practice,
Dr. John Ayanbadejo is the owner of Agnes and Ephraim Medical Centre at Brown Street, Soluyi, Gbagada, Lagos, who took delivery of the miracle son(Iyanu-Olorun) Abdulkabir Olakunle Oladeji. Dr. Ayanbadejo told Saturday Vanguard in his office that he qualified as a Respiratory Physician in LUTH in 1974, and has been practising over 30years. Dr. Ayanbadejo who said he had worked in University College of Medicine, Ibadan 1975-76;Ministry of Defence, Enugu; Joint Ministry of Defence, Jos and Medical Commander ECOMOG forces in 1993 - 1995, and resigned as a Colonel to set up his own clinic which he said that the practice had been encouraging
Dr. Ayanbadejo revealed: "On Sunday night, Mrs Mosunmade Titilayo Oladeji's in-law brought her to my clinic and she complained of pain at her lower abdomen which I thought was a normal pain. But it continued till Monday morning I then concluded that it must be an infection. So we asked her to go for scan on Monday. When she came back, the result was pregnancy, though she had given birth to a set of twins on December 13, 2008, at Ibadan.
"As soon as she came back, at about 5.30 p.m. she entered labour and at about 6.10 p.m, she gave birth to another baby boy.
When asked how a woman who gave birth to a set of twins in December 13, 2008, can give birth to another on on March 2, 2009. Dr. Ayanbadejo said that in medical science, nothing is impossible, but at the same time he said that in his 30 years of practice , he has never come across such development.This unsual incident made him to call a colleague and told him of his experience and he his said it was a lie".
After guessing what might have happened, Dr. Ayanbadejo concluded that medically, the solution could be that the woman had second fertilisation after the first fertilisation, meaning that the her husband must have met her within the three months and there was second fertilisation, but since there was no room in the womb for the third baby to develop, so after the birth of the set twins the third one has the room to develop.
She did not come to Lagos expecting a baby
Mr Kabeer Olakunle Oladeji, a Muslim is the father of the set of twins male (Yasir Olasunkanmi Kelly Oladeji) and female (Yusro Olaide Nelly) delivered in December 13, 2008, and Abdulkabir Olakunle.
Mr. Oladeji who is a lecturer at Ibadan Polytechnic, joyfully told Saturday Vanguard that he met Miss Mosunmade Titilayo in 1992and in 2000 they got married. And since their marriage almost nine years now, they have not had a child until last December 13, when his wife gave birth to a set of twins and this one that came on Monday 2, 2009.
He said that all thanks and praise be ascribed unto Almighty God, Allah because he has proved that there is nothing He Allah cannot do.
From left is the couple, Mr. and Mrs Oladeji, carrying their newly born baby followed by a nurse who assisted in taking delivery of the baby boy baby

What shall it profit a woman who regains the whole world but loses her womb? This appears to have been the question which flashed through the mind of Adiaha King Jack, a 44- year-old woman who had spent 26 years in prison for killing one of her brothers.

Fate, however, smiled on Adiaha Jack recently when Governor Godswill Akpabio visited the Uyo Prisons and decided to grant her amnesty. The prerogative of mercy covered not only her; her brother, Akpan King Jack, also convicted of the same offence the same year but incarcerated in Ikot Ekpene Prisons, also breathed the air of freedom.

Thus, Adiaha and Akpan regained their freedom, each person received N500,000 lifeline. They walked away free from the gulag with joy but a heavy heart.

At 44, Adiaha prematurely, had been hit by the naturally irreversible female impotence. And considering the fact that when she was convicted in 1985, she was only 18, without a child, the joy of her release became tainted and she expressed her low value in the African society.

“I’m grateful to God and to the governor for granting me pardon. My only regret in life is that at 44, I have been hit by menopause which means I won’t be able to have a child again.”
Menopause at 44, for someone who never enjoyed being a wife or a mother before she was sent to prison may appear a cruel fate. In fact, a gynecologist in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital , Dr. Emem Bassey tends to agree.

“At 44, it seems menopause struck her a bit early because in our environment, it occurs in women between 45 and 50 years. Maybe it is because of the stress she went through in the prison. But it is still normal because menopause can occur in women at any age from 40 years upwards.”
But with modern science, can menopause be reversed? Bassey gave an emphatic No. “Menopause means that the woman is no longer ovulating she can no longer produce egg.

The condition cannot be reversed. However, the woman in question can still have a child if she can meet somebody who would be willing to donate eggs to her so that she can be made pregnant through invitro fertilization (IVF) method,” he said.

But isn’t there a concession that could be granted to such people who are condemned to life imprisonment at tender age to try and fulfill their natural responsibility like procreation within or outside prison?
The Public Relations Officer of Akwa Ibom State Prisons Command, Mr. Charles Isong told Daily Sun there is no such luxury.

“As emotional as it may sound, we cannot create a separate law for a separate case. The laws that we are operating is not our own laws, but the laws that the society entrusts on us. It is what they ask us to do in prison that we implement. We can’t allow that to happen. Once you are imprisoned, you are under confinement. Your right to movement, right to sex, if at all there is such a right; right to vote and be voted for, are all restricted. But you’re free to enjoy every other rights,” Isong explained.

Similarly, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Uyo Branch, Mr. Ekanem Ekanem, said there are no separate laws for those serving life sentence and others for those serving shorter sentences, which could have provided some respite for people like Adiaha Jack.

“Perhaps, the law may have to address that problem and fashion out a way to help people fulfill their natural obligations because for now, the prison regulations apply to every prisoner,” Ekanem reasoned.
But Akpabio, who is the first governor to visit the prison ever since the state was created in 1987, and the first to grant amnesty to those serving life jail, advised the King Jacks never to look back at their wasted period in prison but to match forward to live their lives to the full.

“We saw this in the life of Malcom X, and also in the life of Nelson Mandela, who did not allow 27 years of being political prisoners to embitter them against society,” the governor recalled.
He stated that the prison is an institution designed for people who have been convicted of crimes, saying, “that fact that there is restriction of movement in the prison does not mean there is restriction of the mind.”
While advising them to spend time developing their minds to overcome mischief and bitterness, Governor Akpabio reminded them that Malcom X was educated in prison to become a respected civil rights activist in the United States.

“Turn the hand of your destiny and become a new man. I believe you should tell the prison authorities that you need a counselor,” the governor admonished.
He lauded the state Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy for carrying out campaigns on rehabilitation and re-integration of former prison inmates and using mass media to sensitize the people not to discriminate against ex-convicts.

Will Adiaha King Jackson ever live a fulfilled life in Nigeria, as a woman, without a child or will miracle happen? Nobody even knows exactly what awaits her as she returns home after 26 years in jail for killing a brother.

Representatives of Abeokuta North Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Hon Kayode Amusan, has incurred the wrath of his colleagues for his open condemnation of the suspension of Hon. Independence Ogunewe, who is now to face a panel of the House.

Hon. Ogunewe, who had maintained consistent opposition to the Leadership of the House over the tardiness in the purchase of 380 units of Peugeot 407 cars for members at a whooping N2.3 billion, was suspended for two weeks on account of insubordination.

Both Amusan and Ogunewe were dragged before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges that probed allegations of fraud in the car deal by a Lagos based lawyer, Festus Keyamo.
In a surprise verdict, the committee returned a clean bill of health for the duo and other members that faced the committee.

But yesterday, Amusan was accused of misleading the public by alleging in press conference that the suspension of Ogunewe was in bad faith.
Bringing the attention of the House to a publication in yesterday’s copy of Daily Sun, Hon. Overah Joyce from Sapele Federal Constituency of Delta state said the statement credited to Amusan was injurious to his privilege.

According to him, it was unfair for any member that participated in taking a decision to turn around and condemn such decision.
Holding a copy of Daily Sun, he asked, “was the decision to suspend Ogunewe not supported by all of us in this chamber? Why then should Amusan go and misinform the public that it was a witch-hunting exercise”
Following this, Hon. Overah moved that the matter be taken up immediately, which majority supported.
But Speaker Dimeji Bankole opposed the call to debate the matter, instead, he referred it to the Ethics and Privileges Committee.

“Colleagues, I will not support the trial of any member or the leadership of this House on the pages of newspapers, instead, this matter will be referred to the Ethics and privileges Committee,” he said.
Amusan had addressed the press on Monday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital where he said the suspension slammed on Ogunewe was in bad faith.

He was quoted to have said: “Ogunewe is a victim of witch-hunting. That is the true position of things. He was suspended because he was part of those opposing the leadership of the House.
“I don’t see the reason for his suspension because walking out of the chamber during session is something that happens everyday,”
Meanwhile, President Umaru Yar’Adua had informed the National Asembly of the determination of his administration to amend the Land use Act, the memo to that effect was read to members by Speaker Bankole.

Taking a queue from the Senate, the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday passed a vote of confidence on the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, asking him to ignore criticisms against his continued stay in office.

The committee at a short press briefing, while proceedings were on inside the chambers, passed a vote of confidence on the INEC boss, saying he had not done any wrong to warrant his being sacked from that office.

Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Musa S’Adah, who addressed newsmen alongside his members, carpeted those calling for the sack of Iwu, describing them enemies of democracy.

“He must be allowed to continue with his tenure of five years which will terminate next year. That is if the president wants him there,” he said.
Describing the call for Iwu’s sack as uncharitable, the members said such calls only bordered on insincerity of many Nigerians, particularly politicians, including National Assembly members and governors who were beneficiaries of the elections conducted by Iwu’s INEC.

“The committee wishes to align itself with the position of the Senate on the confidence vote passed on the INEC boss. Prof. Iwu could not be blamed for everything that went wrong in the commission” he argued.
According to him, Iwu came in through due process as INEC chairman and could only be removed through the same process, adding that it was the position of the committee that the man should be allowed to enjoy his five- year tenure, which would lapse next year, except the president felt otherwise.
He disagreed with those people claiming that Prof. Iwu collaborated with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig elections, stating that “if it were so, the opposition parties would not have won in states like Bauchi, Lagos, Edo and Ondo states.”

Another member of the committee, Hon. Emmanuel Belo, pronounced confidence vote on Iwu, and warned against misinterpreting the stand of the committee because they refused to be paid agents of anybody.
“As a committee, we are merely observing the rule of law and the dictates of the constitution, as well as performing our duties as representatives of the people of Nigeria.”

Lending his voice in backing Professor Iwu, AC member from Lagos state, Hon. Jayeola Ajata said it was his party’s decision that Iwu should continue in office as it was in order.
“If Iwu could conduct Lagos election and my party, the AC won convincingly, then he should not to be blamed, since he was just the boss of INEC nationwide.
“Can Iwu be held responsible for all that went wrong in INEC?” Hon. Ajata queried.

Barely a week after he was thrown out as governor of Ondo State by Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, is back again in the news, as he was nabbed by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday. He was picked up at about 8:00am in Abuja.

As at press time, he was still being held at EFCC facilities in the nation’s capital.

According to Daily Sun investigation, the deposed governor who was at the helm of affairs in the south-west state for nearly six years and some of his commissioners were being investigated by the anti-graft agency for allegedly misappropriating a princely sum of N25 billion belonging to the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) when the operatives got information that Agagu was planning to escape from Nigeria to Austrialia via London where some of his aides were said to be waiting to assist him with relocation.

“Agagu and some of his commissioners had been under the EFCC scrutiny over allegations that he misappropriated N25 billion naira belonging to OSOPADEC. Then, the operatives got wind of plans by Agagu to flee the country tomorrow (today) and then, promptly nabbed him,” a source said.
He is said to be co-operating with the EFCC officials.
When contacted on phone, EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi confirmed Agagu’s arrest, but declined further comments.

An observer told Daily Sun shortly after the news of the arrest broke out that it did not come as a surprise. According to the source, but for the “bogus immunity cover which he has been enjoying, he should have been in jail long before now.”
Meanwhile, apart from the N25billion OSOPADEC fund, Agagu, former minister for power and steel under president Olusegun Obasanjo, according to sources close to EFCC, is also being investigated over several other cases bordering on corruption.

For instance, Agagu had earlier been indicted by the House Committee of on Power which investigated how $16billion was sunk into electricity power project without concrete result during his tenure as Obasanjo’s minister of power and steel.
When Agagu appeared before the House panel, he said the $16bn that the House had claimed was spent was no big deal.
It was, however, gathered that the EFCC, which had earlier interrogated Agagu while he was still governor, was not satisfied with his testimony as he was said to have answered only the questions that he liked and parried others.

Also, the EFCC had a cause to stop N14 billion cheques issued in respect of some contracts allegedly awarded hurriedly in the dying days of his occupation of Ondo State Government House.
The government was alleged to have awarded a contract to SCC Nigeria Limited for Owena Water Transmission Project for about N14.4bn.
According to the commission, out of the total amount, the Ondo State Ministry of Works paid N3.8bn as mobilisation fees to the contractor.

Similarly, the anti-graft agency had on Wednesday January 14, 2009 raised the alarm on the plan of the Agagu administration to spend about N8bn from the state’s treasury through the award of contracts.
Earlier in 2007, Governor Agagu’s Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Chief Tayo Alasoadura was invited by the EFCC for interrogation over N4 billion placed on fixed deposit account at the moribund Gulf Bank. The money was trapped at the bank while the interest of the money was claimed to have been collected by the former governor.

EFCC also invited the commissioner early last year over illegal deduction from all the 18 local government councils in the state since the assumption of office in 2003 amounting to N18billion. The anti graft commission also invited Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and other key officers of the ministry for questioning.
The commission and its sister anti-graft agency, ICPC also invited the Commissioner for Finance in 2007 over illegal diversion of fund meant to execute projects at the riverine areas of the state by OSOPADEC.

The commission’s chairman, Adewale Omojua was also invited to Lagos office of EFCC for interrogations
The EFCC also invited the state Accountant-General Mrs Funke Ogundojutimi over cars loans and other fictitious allowances approved by Agagu for all his Special Assistants, Personal Assistants and other aides running to several million of naria shortly after the state election Petitions tribunal led by Justice Garba Nabaruma nullified Agagu election. The commission eventually stopped the payment.

Also, the EFCC arrested the contractor and some bank chiefs in the state over N14 billion Owena project hurriedly awarded by Agagu government in November last year for which he paid 56 percent to the contractor as mobilization fee. The EFCC invited Agagu’s Commissioner for Works, Olaitan Ayeni and other key officers of ministries of works and finance. The EFCC was able to stop the payment through a stay-of-execution order obtained from a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Shortly after he was declared Governor of Ondo State by the Appeal Court, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko had told the world that he was going to probe the six-year government of Agagu, even as ordered the freezing of the accounts of the State.

ifesco4real@yahoo.com. thanks

LAGOS-The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reiterated its determination to work within the ambit of the law in its fight against all forms of economic crimes and corruption in the country.
The assurance was given yesterday by the Chairman of the Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, when she presented a cheque of N3 million to Dr. Sylvester Odigie, a Lagos-based businessman as damages for his wrongful detention by the Commission between May 24and July 6, 2006.
The presentation of the cheque was in obedience to an Abuja High Court order. While presenting the letter of instruction to Odigie, the EFCC boss stressed that the gesture was in fulfilment of the Commission's resolve to respect court judgments and operate within the ambit of the law in its fight against corruption.
"As a law enforcement agency, we have chosen to abide by this court judgment to further buttress our determination to always work within the ambit of the rule of law", she said, adding that the rule of law policy as exemplified by the Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua's administration has given beauty to the practice of democracy in the country.
The EFCC chair assured Nigerians that as a law enforcement agency, the Commission was determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past. "We are committed to upholding and protecting the laws we are established to enforce", she said.
Reacting to the development, Dr Odigie, who said he was wrongfully detained by the EFCC between May and July 2006 over some land transactions, expressed gratitude to the chairperson of the commission, for boldly upholding the court order.
"This is a special day. I never knew this day will ever come in Nigeria. It is here, and I want the world to know that this is a new era altogether, an era of rule of law."
He said Mrs. Waziri was a bold woman, who must be supported by Nigerians. "She had an easy way out and could as well say the incident did not happen at her own time", he said.
Dr. Odigie also thanked the Commission, the judiciary and the government saying that his prayer was for God to grant the judiciary the courage and wisdom to do the right thing, as it is the last hope of the common Nigerian.

Austin Jay Jay Okocha says he is still shocked by the way Etim Esin took the incident in his house at last year's Christmas Party and plans to do a thanksgiving session in the church for what he says God has revealed to him.
Okocha
Etim is suing Okocha for N100 million for the embarrassment he faced in his house during the party. A phone set of one of the guests was said to have been stolen and Etim said that accusing fingers were pointed at him. He said that Okocha ordered him searched and that the searching was extended to his wife. At the end, the phone was not found on them. Etim says he is more disappointed that Okocha has not apologised to him and he was bent on clearing his name.
In his second reaction to the controversy Okocha offered the following words:"I'm still shocked at the way Etim is taking this. One thing is clear. God has hand in this development. God is using it to teach me a lesson. God is using it to warn me, to make me to be more careful.
I say this because what Etim is doing is unbelievable. It was not good that he was searched over a missing phone. But he knew I knew nothing about it. Etim knew that when I came in and saw what was happening I ordered them to stop and fumed over that.
He knew that I apologised to him. Etim knew that I had no hand in what happened. He left the party and changed everything. In the first place, he said it was my phone that was allegedly stolen. I never complained that my phone was missing. It was one of my guests who complained and I was not with them when that happened. Etim knew he was not the only one they searched. Everybody was opening his bag to show he didn't have it. I saw that and stopped it. Etim later changed everything and said that I ordered them to search him. Actually, I did the opposite.
It is unbelievable. When everybody was avoiding Etim, I got close to him, gave him things including wears. There were times I came from Europe and did things for Etim. It was on the basis of our friendship that I invited him to the Christmas party where I still gave him gift. So, it's shocking that such a person will suddenly change and turn against you. God is simply sending messages to me and such revelation is worth going to church for thanksgiving. That I'll do. Who knows if this didn't happen, I might not have had the need to be careful over certain things and this man could cause one some harm. Now I know better and I'll be more careful. That's what God has done for me with Etim. I'll go and thank God and also pray for Etim."
Toyin Subair, the CEO of HITV, the cable station that Etim does soccer analysis for, has suspended the former Eagles star, arguing that Etim must apologise to Okocha before he could continue his television programmes.
"I did so because I found out the truth," Subair said.
"I found out that Okocha wasn't the one that ordered Etim searched, I found out that Etim was not the only one searched. I found out that Okocha apologised to Etim and Okocha's wife knelt down to apologise to Etim's wife, gave her a kiss and everything calmed down and the party continued. Etim claimed that he was searched in the presence of his daughter who wanted to know what they were doing to her dad and Etim told her they were playing a Christmas game.
I found out that Etim's daughter was upstairs playing with other kids when he was being searched and what Etim said wasn't true. I found out that Okocha also gave Etim money as Christmas gift and the man probably went home happy only for him to surface later and change things. I found out the truth from Etim's wife. When I found out the truth my body started shaking, I became scared of Etim and insisted he would have to retrace his steps otherwise he could do it to anybody including those of us on HITV. That's why I asked him to apologise," Subair said.
Etim immediately saw that as "two people working together to set me up and destroy my name. They are together. I'll not apologise to Okocha. I'll rather quit HITV than apologise for the wrong done to me."
He also said Okocha gave him N50,000 as Christmas gift and not N100,000 as reported and that the money was given before the incident.
"Again, it's not about money. It's about my integrity. The phone was not eventually found on me. I have a lovely wife and I'm not as poor as people think. If I need money I could go to former President Ibrahim Babangida who is the senior Maradona. We are only two in the country. He did things for me when I was playing for Nigeria. I have made name.
I made name before Okocha. Where was Okocha when Iwuanyanwu gave me a brand new car? Where was Okocha when I brought my first convertible into Nigeria? Obesere, the musician has a football academy, trying to develop football, Okocha has a night club. Is that how to work for football?

YOLA-A high powered delegation comprising the Adamawa State Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) officials and some consultants have left Yola for Cameroon for further discussions on the desirability of the Lagdo Dam to supply electricity to the state.
The team, made up of experts in energy is on a fact-finding mission to see the viability in terms of financing, technical content of generating power in Adamawa and improving the economic base of the state.
Addressing the team before their departure, Governor Murtala Nyako believed that the composition of the team is an indication that the project will take-off on a sound footing, be viable and, on the long run, a successful venture.
Nyako noted that the idea of the project was muted because of the handicap in the power sector of the country generally, saying that states are required to source for means of using power rating at their disposal to remedy the situation.
The Governor observed that the choice of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon was because it is in its immediate neighbourhood and they share many things in common.
"Because of the cultural ties between us and Cameroon, the state government spoke to them on the need for them to give us source of energy, which they obliged. After their approval, we wrote the Presidency and the Ministry of Energy and Power and the whole concept was developed," the Governor disclosed.
He added that the slight delay experienced in the take-off of the project was because of the issue of Bakassi Peninsula which has been resolved, adding that moments after the resolution, serious discussions were held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and their Cameroonian counterparts in Yaounde during which the Cameroon government endorsed the project.
The governor told the team to convey to the authorities of Lagdo Dam and Cameroon in general, the need for them to close ranks and carry out feasibility studies soonest as the government places much emphasis on the project.
Nyako gave an assurance that when the project eventually come on stream, some neighbouring states in the sub-region, especially Taraba State, will benefit from it.

The Senate yesterday endorsed the revocation of landed property it claimed were illegally transferred by erstwhile Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other friends of the former minister
Also to be revoked is the purchase of the former guest house of the Vice-President by Mallam El-Rufai when he was Minister of the FCT, and the allocation of 4,352 plots made by the former minister in his last month in office.
The Senate directives were upon findings from the probe report on its investigations into the affairs of the FCT administration during the Obasanjo regime anchored by its Committee on FCT.
The report affirmed that the former minister arbitrarily signed the allocations for 4,352plots of land in less than 30days and that 3645 plots were allocated on his last day in office and another 665 plots even after former President Obasanjo had dissolved the cabinet.
The parcel of land granted the former President was originally allocated to the National Primary Education Board (NPEB) and subsequently transferred to Inter-Projects Associates Limited a private company under the Accelerated Development Programme of the FCT administration.
The plot of land was, however, allocated to Obasanjo Farms on 28th May, 2007, a day before the former President left office.
The Committee in its findings on how Obasanjo Farms acquired the plot of land said:
"The company developed the structure up to the third floor of the 13 storey tower of the project. However, the Development Control refused to release the approved building plan to the Company for undisclosed reasons.
While waiting for the release of the Company's building plan from the Development Control, an agent of Obasanjo Farms approached the company and laid claim to the plot having been so allocated to Obasanjo Farms on 28 May, 2007 by the then Hon. Minister for FCT, Nasir El-Rufai, being the last day of Obasanjo's administration in office. hence, the company's structure was demolished at mid-night at about 2.00. a.m."
The Committee in its report endorsed by the Senate yesterday approved that the transfer to Obasanjo Farms should be reversed and original title restored to Inter-Projects.
The Committee in its findings and recommendations also deposed:
"That the federal Capital Territory Administration should withdraw all land allocation signed between the 17 and 29th of May, 2007.
"That the present Minister of Federal Capital Administration should review all land allocation and revocation carried out by the former Minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufia within 30 days of his leaving office. Restore all allocations/ revocations of land on which Court Order subsisted before revocation/ demolition and/ or reallocation.
"Reverse all revocations in respect of land use act which did not contravene the Land Use Act or terms of their grant."
On the demolition of houses, the report indicted El-Rufia for denying those whose properties were demolished the right of appeal as well as carrying out the demolitions without due process.
As such, the senate recommended that the Federal Capital Territory Administration should: "Ensure that every person with a valid Certificate of Occupancy and approved drawing and those whose structure was demolished should be compensated appropriately and restore to the land or be given another allocation.
"Future demolitions must follow due process. And that development control must be alive to its responsibilities."
On the sale of federal government houses, including three guest houses of former Vice President Atiku, the report stated that El-Rufia using his personal assistants Mr. Cyril Ezeamaka and Babatunde Olajide fraudulently sold Federal Government houses to his cronies including himself without regards for sale guidelines, adding that persons were ejected illegally and forcefully without recourse to the Recovery of Premises Act.
The Senate therefore recommended among others:
"All original sitting government workers ejected from their houses but who had complied with all the necessary sales guidelines and had paid for such houses should have the houses restored back to them or their dependants.
"All persons who had paid at least 10 percent for their houses and has complied with all sales guidelines and are willing to effect the payment of the remaining 90 percent should be allowed to pay immediately to the federal government and be restored to their houses."

The Nigerian Bar Assocition has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to appeal against the verdict of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna over the James Ibori's case.
The appellate court had held that suspects were better tried in places where they committed the offence.
But the NBA said the development could have negative effect on the prosecution of persons currently standing trial for alleged corruption and money laundering.
The President of the association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said this when the Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri, led the management staff and members of the board of the commission on a courtesy visit to the national secretariat of the NBA in Lagos.
A statement by the EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, also quoted the NBA boss as promising to recommend competent lawyers that could bolster the legal team of the anti-graft agency. He, however, warned against the practice of appointing as a prosecutor, a lawyer that was already defending a client against the commission to avoid the conflict of interest that could arise.
He said, "We know of one or two people today who are prosecuting and defending. That is not right."
Akeredolu also expressed relief over Waziri's explanation that she was 'betrayed' in the plea bargaining arrangement that culminated in the conviction of former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion.
He said he could have been scandalised as a plea bargaining presupposes that the parties had reached some kind of understanding.
To avoid such confusion in the future, Akeredolu suggested a workshop on plea bargaining that would be jointly organised by the commission and the NBA.
But Waziri had urged the NBA to prevail on its senior members to assist the commission in the prosecution of high profile cases stalled in various courts across the country.
She lamented that some of the EFCC's cases in court had dragged unnecessarily.
Waziri also blamed the situation on the antics of some senior members of the Bar whom she said were in the habit of exploiting the weakness of the nation's judicial processes to file frivolous applications to frustrate the trial of suspects for corruption and money laundering.

BAMAINA, DUTSE-Founding National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Second Republic Governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar has said he proposed the re-entry of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar into the ruling party because, according to him, "the anti-democratic forces that once forced Atiku to seek relevance in the Action Congress have been dismantled."
He spoke to Vanguard in an exclusive interview, the elder statesman at the wedding fatiha between Fatima, daughter of Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido and a member of the House of Representatives, Nasiru Sule Garo at the Bamaina Juma'at Mosque last Saturday.
Chief Lar said this just as politicians loyal to Ambassador Mohammed Buba Marwa in Adamawa State resolved to support the former Vice President in his bid to return to the PDP.
The backing of Marwa's supporters is coming against the backdrop of reports that the political camps of the state Governor, Murtala Nyako, and Senator Jubril Aminu were opposed to Atiku's return to the PDP.
Chief Lar disclosed during the chat that he mooted the idea for Atiku's re-entry into the PDP after democratic processes clearly became instituted in the party, because according to him, "the garrison commander who used to be there has been cleared. And so, I feel he now has a free access to be back in the fold.
"It was I who said Atiku should now come back to PDP because the PDP is now safe for him."
Chief Lar also advised critics of the political move by the immediate past vice president to embrace the decision because Atiku never wanted to leave the PDP.
According to him, Atiku's planned return to the is "a welcome thing, after all, Atiku never wanted to leave PDP; it was the PDP that left Atiku and so, it is correct for Atiku to return to his rightful place."
Adamawa AC backs Atiku
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Action Congress under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Bapetel in a statement said it would support Atiku and follow him to any political party of his choice.http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/27725/42/

At the time she was appointed Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the anti-graft agency was synonymous with her predecessor, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. It was, therefore, not unexpected that her choice was widely criticised by those who felt Ribadu's removal was unnecessary and vindictive. However, Mrs Farida Waziri, a retired Inspector-General of Police and a lawyer, took the controversies that greeted her appointment in her stride. Over a year in the saddle, she has been prosecuting the anti-corruption war quietly, but not many Nigerians are impressed with her style. Fielding questions from Vanguard Editors last Friday, she expresses her frustration in the fight against corruption saying that 1000 EFCCs cannot effectively fight corruption in Nigeria. Her panacea; all hands must be on deck in the crusade. Speaking on her predecessor, she admits that he did a good job but unwittingly shot himself in the foot. Excerpts:
HOW has the journey been so far, with you at the helm of affairs of the anti-corruption agency?
I came here to thank you for supporting the EFCC amidst so much controversies and I have observed that you have been steadfast and not given in to what has been happening. For me, I felt from the beginning, that awareness was created on the war on corruption. Nigerians are wary of corruption and want to know who goes where and why. That was why I came amidst such controversies. I have remained focused. I have not been deterred at all. I felt I should come and thank you and solicit your assistance because there is no way we can fight this battle without your full support and cooperation.
I told someone when I travelled out (of the country) that the Metropolitan Police said I was not doing anything on the war against corruption and I asked them how they knew. They sit there in England and talk about Nigeria. I asked them the yardstick they are using and they said it is our newspapers. I told them that it is not everything they read in the newspapers, that should be taken seriously.http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/27726/48/

@ joobeel, here is the link u can confirm it. http://www.champion-newspapers.com/sunday%20files/News/article4.htm

A middle-aged man, Mr Sunday Eze yesterday raped a 4 year-old boy at Marabara in Karu LG.A of Nasarawa State. The incident happened at about 7 pm in the evening along the Word House Church's Street.
According to an eye witness account, the man lured three of the children in the compound with the offer of biscuits, and later tricked the rape victim into his room where he committed the criminal act.
LEADERSHIP
gathered that the compound got to know about the incident when they were attracted by the wailing boy.
The boy whose anus was bleeding was rushed to the hospital for medical attention by his mother.
Meanwhile, the rapist who is said to be a driver with the Ezike Oba Transport Company is no where to be found as he was said to have disappeared into thin air immediately after the case was reported at the Mararaba police station.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), weekend asserted that the restoration of the victory of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, by the judiciary is a positive electoral reform signal that the ballot of the people would count and that their votes would be protected in the country.
Fashola who spoke at the presentation of Silverbird Man of the Year 2008 to his Edo State counterpart at Eko Hotel, added that the victory has also placed a burden on the governor and it behoves on the people to give every support to him to ensure that the expectations are not only met but surpassed.
He expressed the belief that all of the skills Governor Oshiomhole has and which he has displayed in Labour matters and to fight his election petitions would be brought to bear in the governance of Edo.
Fashola said Oshiomhole has done a great work in fighting for the rights of the people of Nigeria and in the process disagreeing with public officials and opinion leaders without making enemies which is not an easy task.
He urged the people to reflect on the purpose of the honour which has been given to Oshiomhole for the doggedness with which he has pursued the mandate Nigerians gave to him.
The SAN said while some people have been undeserving and honoured, some have been deserving but not honoured, but that Oshiomhole has been one who is deserving and honoured, congratulating him for the deserved honour.
In his response after the award, Oshiomhole encouraged all Nigerians in whatever fields they find themselves to be totally committed to their tasks and leave the rest to God.
He said the decision of the chairman of SilverBird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, to allow the voice of the people to represent voice of Silverbird is a reflection of courage in the country.

The Kenyan half-brother of United States President Barack Obama has been arrested for alleged marijuana possession.
George Obama was arrested in Nairobi with one joint of marijuana, police chief Joshua Omokulongolo said.
"He is not a drug peddler. But it is illegal, it is a banned substance," he said. Mr. Obama has denied the allegations.
The U.S. president and George Obama share the same father, but are thought to have only met each other briefly.
George Obama, who is in his 20s, is due in court tomorrow.
"They took me from my home," George Obama told reporters in Nairobi from his jail cell. "I don't know why they are charging me."
Last year, George Obama told Vanity Fair magazine that he had only met his more famous half-brother twice, once when he was five and once when he visited East Africa in 2006.
Of their second meeting, George reportedly said: "It was very brief, we spoke for just a few minutes. It was like meeting a complete stranger."
He has also said that he is studying to be a mechanic and works with a local youth group in Huruma, the area in Nairobi where he lives with his extended family.
He is the youngest of his father's seven children and was born six months after his father died in a car crash in 1982.
Several of the president's Kenyan relatives went to Washington for his inauguration on January 20, though George Obama did not.
The American president described his half brother as a " handsome, round headed boy with a wary gaze" in his book, Dreams From My Father.

A 50-year-old man, Enilari Suraju, died on Friday in Lagos from a head injury he allegedly sustained on Wednesday in a fight with two soldiers, who had a disagreement with him in Apapa, Lagos State.
Saturday Punch learnt that Enilari, a father of four, incurred the wrath of the soldiers from Arakan Barracks after he was nearly knocked down by their car and he angrily warned them to drive carefully.
It was further gathered that Enilari who lived in Adeniji-Adele Housing Estate Phase 2 on the Lagos Island, had gone to Apapa office of the Nigeria Flour Mills, to sign for a consignment of flour he wanted the company to deliver to his office.
"He was coming from the place when the car the men were driving hit him. He fell down and angrily told the men to be careful not to kill him. It was the mention of 'kill' that got the soldiers infuriated and they challenged him.
"One of them initially beat him up with his big belt. Later the other man came down from the car and joined in the beating. Before anyone could do any thing, he carried a plank and hit Enilari on the head. All the while he had started bleeding from the beating he received from the first officer, but when the second man hit him with the plank his head started to gush out blood," a family member narrated.
At this point Enilari was said to have refused to let go of one of the soldiers. Not quite long, the police came to the scene and took him and the soldiers to the police station. "They (police) told him to go and treat himself and report to them the following day. But he was in so much pain on Thursday that he could not muster the strength to go to the police station. We planned to go today, but he died in the early hours of today (Friday)," the family source said.

The Presidency declined to comment on a newspaper report that President Umaru Musa Yar'adua would spend eight weeks abroad having medical checks from January 26.
A newspaper report on Friday quoted a Special Assistant in the presidency as saying that aides and ministers were trying to get approval for government business ahead of Yar'adua's departure in 10 days' time.
"I'm not going to react to that story, whether it is true or false, papers can go ahead speculating on the health of Mr. President. I won't talk about it," presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi is quoted as having said in a Reuters report.
Yar'adua, known to have a kidney problem, travelled to Saudi Arabia for more than two weeks in August last year.
Official statements said he was on pilgrimage but senior government officials and a medical source in Saudi Arabia said he had received treatment in Jeddah during the trip, raising fears about his fitness.
Ministers must obtain approval for certain expenditures and projects, and a prolonged absence could stall government business as the Vice President does not automatically have executive powers.
Yar'adua's health was long a source of concern even before he assumed the presidency.
He had to be rushed to hospital in Germany while he was campaigning just weeks ahead of the April 2007 presidential election when former President Olusegun Obasanjo phoned from the stage at a Peoples Democratic party (PDP) campaign rally so he could confirm if he was still alive after rumours spread to the contrary.

The Action Congress (AC) has dissociated itself from the unusual visit which former Vice President Atiku Abubakar paid former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta on Monday, saying Atiku did not consult the party before he made the move.
Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday in Abuja, AC's National Secretary, Dr. Usman Bugaje described the visit as "an event that has great implication for political development in the country", saying Atiku might be summoned by the national leadership of the party to explain the motive behind the visit.
"The implications would be known very soon. I was not aware, I heard it the way you all heard it, it is for him (Atiku) to explain to us what the visit actually means," Bugaje said.
Asked whether the visit signifies Atiku's imminent return to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bugaje said " it is only Atiku that can say that himself. He needs to say that himself, nobody can say it on his behalf, we are waiting to hear from him what he went there to do."
Also speaking on the issue, AC's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed said "Atiku did not inform us before he visited Obasanjo. May be what he went there to do on Monday might be in the realm of private matter between him and Obasanjo."
He said he was unaware of any plan by former Vice President to return to the PDP. "If Atiku tells us that he is leaving for the PDP, then we shall react appropriately", he said.
In the same vein, the spokesman of former Head of State and presidential candidate of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), General Muhammadu Buhari, Engr. Buba Galadima, described the visit as an indication that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) "is on the verge of collapse."
Galadima said "Atiku has long defected back to PDP, his visit to Obasanjo is a way of putting finishing touches to his defection. By this, we should know that something is coming up, it is a big irony for Atiku to be seen with Obasanjo, after what they had said and done to each other. This shows that the two lack principle, they are selfish and this means that PDP is moving closer to collapsing. This is what happenes when evil men move together."
PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali however refused to comment on the issue. Alkali said the party would react on the development, if necessary, after getting enough information on the development.
In its own reaction, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) said eventual defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not deter the on-going efforts towards forming a 'granite opposition.'
A statement by the group's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Osita Okechukwu however expressed displeasure with the former Vice President.
It said Atiku's legal battle at the court was only an offshoot of personal survival and reaction to Chief Obasanjo who instead of handing over to him, wanted to for a third term.

Two contrasting positions emerged on Wednesday on why former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, travelled to Abeokuta on Monday for a two-hour meeting with his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo.
An aide to Obasanjo said the meeting was preparatory to Atiku's return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by March to re-launch his political career for 2011. But this is denied by the Atiku Media Office.
The Media Office was, however, silent on his alleged return to the PDP. It only said the meeting was meant to cement a common approach of the two men to national matters.
According to the Obasanjo aide, Atiku needs a PDP membership period of at least two years to be eligible to contest for the Presidency on its platform.
It was learnt that Atiku's reunion with the party would only be delayed as he seeks to calm the nerves of associates and democracy activists who view his return as a sell out.
"This is because he did not anticipate the reaction of the democracy activists to the visit and those who would expect him to permanently be in the opposition," the source said.
Those who arranged the meeting, including Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, believe that Atiku needs to win back Obasanjo's confidence before formally approaching the PDP.
"Atiku needs the PDP more than the PDP needs him if he must regain his political relevance. His return might not lead to an automatic ticket to the throne but he needs a credible platform," the source added.
But a statement issued on Wednesday by the Atiku Media Office in Abuja explained that "the meeting was not about the 2011 Presidential election as some people have misinterpreted it. The two leaders decided to bury the hatchet and focus their attention, redirect their energies, and harness their collective experiences for the benefit of the country.
"It was not about the two of them. It is about the future of our beloved country. At a critical moment, such as this, in the life of a nation, great men and women must put aside political differences and work for the progress of the country.
"This is the context in which the Abeokuta meeting should be seen by all well-meaning Nigerians."
The statement recalled the example of Nelson Mandela who spent 27 years in prison and went on to work as South African President with former foes in a spirit of forgiveness.
It cited the example of United States President, Barack Obama, who has decided to work with those who competed with him for office.
"This should be encouraged. More so, Nigerians should heave a sigh of relief that a long running political feud had finally been laid to rest.
"Politicians should learn from such rare show of the spirit of tolerance and forgiveness. Carrying animosity to the grave will never help the country," it advised.
"Nigeria is bigger than all of us and true national leaders must be prepared to make personal sacrifices in the interest of the nation."
Nevertheless, Atiku's former Presidential running mate, Ben Obi, is reportedly opposed to his reconciliation with PDP.
When contacted on his mobile telephone on Wednesday, Obi answered from Washington where he went to attend the inauguration of Obama.
He could not respond to enquiries as the communication was marred by network problems.
But Action Congress (AC) National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, spoke out, noting that "in view of the fact that the wounds and humiliation inflicted on the AC by the Obasanjo administration was largely due to the 'war' between him and Atiku, its members should be wary and should realise that it is not in the collective interest of the party to hobnob with Obasanjo."

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday deno-unced rigging in the nation's electoral system, stressing the need for a partnership to stamp out the trend in 2011.
Atiku spoke in Ibadan at the birthday ceremony of former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina.
The representative of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the Minister of State for Finance, Remi Babalola, and Oyo State Governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, all paid glowing tributes to Adesina for his pro-democracy activities which, according to them, led to the dawn of a new republic in 1999.
Speakers at the occasion which included, former Governors of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, Ekiti State, Adeniyi Adebayo, as well as the Action Congress (AC) gubernatorial candidate in the April 14, 2007 polls in Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, declared that the nation and the electorate had suffered enough in the hands of election riggers and must be called to order in the next general poll.
Atiku who was the guest at the event said, "election rigging has been the bane of Nigeria's electoral process ever since the First Republic. It has become a permanent feature in the electoral process. We must take measures to stop it."
The erstwhile number two citizen lamented that with every election, the nation got worse with rigging and declared that unless it was stopped, the electorate would lose faith in the nation's democracy and may lead to the collapse of the democratic project.
Unfortunately, with every election we have gotten worse and that is not encouraging. It is the responsibility of all of us to make sure that the cankerworm is stopped and not allowed to continue. Unless it is stopped the, the electorate will lose faith in the so-called democracy," he said.
He called for a joint partnership between the contestants and the electorate to stamp out electoral rigging.
Former Ogun governor in his comments hinted that a revolution was on the way by 2011 poll unless the perpetrators of election rigging were able to come to their senses. He however declared that the revolution would not be a bloody one.

The management of the Independent National Electoral Commission will soon begin preparations for the 2011 general election, its Chairman, Prof, Maurice Iwu, has said. "We will soon commence a formal opening of the 2011 electoral cycle. That of 2007 has gone a little longer but it has not been too long because in 2003, we had litigations that lasted until 2005. We hope that all the litigations will end soon," Iwu stated at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
He, however, made no reference to the critics who had been calling for his replacement.
Speaking with members of community groups from the various parts of the country, Iwu stated that INEC had found reasons to rely more on them in educating the citizens, including the political class, instead of non-governmental organisations.
He said, "Preparatory to 2011 elections, we are embarking on series of reforms and one of the cardinal issues that we want to focus upon is to have improved interactions with civil society groups on electoral matters.
"It is my belief that in 2009, we should commence preparatory steps towards 2011; the beauty of it is that you are essentially community-based organisations.
"In 2007, there was too much emphasis on the so-called national organisations that did not draw membership from communities.
"I think we should be able to change that now. I am proud to say that with your collaboration and because of the very hard work that you did, the electoral violence in 2007 was one of the lowest in our country's history."
Acknowledging that not much had changed in the efforts to curb money politics, the INEC chairman said that there could not be fair electoral contests if someone could deploy billions of naira while a better candidate might not have resources to campaign.
He also spoke on the need to improve women's participation in electoral matters between now and 2011 to ensure fairness and equity.
Responding to Iwu's call for a strong partnership with community groups, the leader of the Northern Development Initiative, Mr. Abdul Ishiaq, and a former labour leader, Mr. Ayodele Akele, emphasised the need for citizens to promote, effective grass-roots mobilisation.
The National President of the National Council of Women's Societies, Hajia Ramatu Usman, warned INEC against dealing with "pocket NGOs".
He added that in 2011, Nigerians must ensure the promotion of women's representation, while corrupt politicians must be stopped.
She said, "There are privileged persons indulging in economic and moral corruption. Those set for 2011 include those who have no regard for women and posterity; we must ensure that corrupt men who rape and impregnate our young girls are stopped."

WASHINGTON-President Barack Obama announced on his first day in office yesterday that he is freezing the pay of the about a hundred White House employees who earn over $100,000 a year.
In a statement, Obama said "families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington."Aides making above $100,00 include the high-profile jobs of White House chief of staff, national security adviser and press secretary. Other aides who work in relative anonymity also fit into that cap, if Obama follows a structure similar to the one George W. Bush set up.
"They deserve a government that truly is of, and by, the American people," Obama said.
He also announced a change in policy that will require each federal agency and department to give full attention to Freedom of Information requests and said he expects members of his administration to be responsive to such pleas.
And Obama also revealed what he called a "clean break" from existing rules spelling out when and under what circumstances administration officials could work on issues on which they lobbied governmental agencies before.
He said there would be a two-year, rather than a one-year, waiting period for government officials to be able to work on such issues and said they would "not be able to work on matters you lobbied on or White House agencies you lobbied during the last two years."
"Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this administration," Obama said in a statement to reporters.
He said the orders he was issuing Wednesday do not go as far as he would like, but that they do go a long way toward "marking a new era" in America.
Vice President Joe Biden swore in several senior White House aides at Obama's announcement event

Abuja-Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, insisted he neither sold out nor mortgaged his principles on account of his 2011 presidential aspiration through his reconciliation with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But former Minister of Education, Senator Jubril Aminu, dismissed Atiku's peace moves with Obasanjo, saying his people in Adamawa will not forget the eight years of wastage they suffered under the former Vice-President.
Responding to public reactions to his reconciliation with Obasanjo, Alhaji Abubakar in a statement yesterday said that the interests of the country were greater to him than his singular interest and hence his decision to bury the hatchet with his former boss.
"The meeting was not about the 2011 presidential election as some people have misinterpreted it. The two leaders decided to bury the hatchet and focus their attention, redirect their energies and harness their collective experiences for the benefit of the country," the former Vice-President said through a statement issued through his campaign office.
"It was not about the two of them. It is about the future of our beloved country. At a critical moment, such as this, in the life of a nation, great men and women must put aside political differences and work for the progress of the country. This is the context in which the Abeokuta meeting should be seen by all well-meaning Nigerians," the statement added.
Citing the example of former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa who spent 27 years behind bars and subsequently went on to work with his former foes and the example of United States President Barack Obama, Abubakar said:
"Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain sat down one-and-one in November in Chicago for a meeting with the man who defeated him in the U.S election, then President-elect Obama. They talked about how they could work together to solve America 's economic and social problems. They realized that the country is bigger than both of them."
The statement continued that "that the two leaders have decided to forgive and forget. This should be encouraged. More so, Nigerians should heave a sigh of relief that a long-running political feud had finally been laid to rest."
"Politicians should learn from such rare show of the spirit of tolerance and forgiveness. Carrying animosity to the grave will never help the country.
"Nigeria is bigger than all of us and true national leaders must be prepared to make personal sacrifices in the interest of the nation." He added.
He is not welcome in PDP, says Aminu
However, Senator Aminu dismissed the reconciliation of former Vice-President with former President Obasanjo as a political ruse.
In his reaction to the Monday peace talks between Atiku and Obasanjo, Senator Aminu said the people of Adamawa have long memories of Atiku's period in government and were not eager to welcome him back into their fold.
Senator Aminu who acted as the political leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa following the exit of Atiku from the mainstream of the party during the Obasanjo regime said he had not laid his eyes on the former number two man since 2005 when he acted as the PDP linkman to Adamawa State.
"Well, I do not know if he ever said he is coming back, but it is very clear that that is what he is trying to do.
"By inference, he has found that his political future is zero without the PDP, and I suppose without the support of former president Obasanjo that was why he went and there was pretence that this was a happy New Year visit. It is not,'' Senator Aminu told Vanguard in his office yesterday.
"My information is that he has tried three times to see the former president before he was granted audience. Whatever it is, it looked very political. He is obviously hoping to use this to sort of make another effort in 2011 to become the president of Nigeria. This is definitely what he is doing,'' Aminu said.
Affirming that Atiku has not made any formal contact with him, he said:
"He has not contacted me. In Adamawa, the people have very good memories about those eight years of wastage, when we lost not only eight years but because during the time the price of oil was high now it is low, we probably lost about 20 years, and he is the political agent for all that.
"So the people of Adamawa would not forget and I am sure they will not be in a hurry to take him back to PDP. He is entitled to do his media activities and do whatever he likes, but when he really comes back to it, he will go back to Adamawa, he will find that the people are resentful, they will always be since they discovered the kind of leader he is."
I am in schock - Harriman
Also, former member of the House of Representatives and Action Congress candidate in the Delta South Senatorial contest in the 2007 elections, Ms Temi Harriman, expressed outrage and disappointment over the reported reconciliation between former President Obasanjo and his former deputy, Alhaji Abubakar.
Ms Harriman in a telephone interview on the development expressed regret that Atiku who stood as a symbol for the battle against third term may have betrayed the hope and trust of the opposition. Harriman in her reaction expressed disappointment that Atiku's reconciliation with Obasanjo may redefine his crusade against the third term aspiration of President Obasanjo as a personal battle for his own advancement and not for Nigeria.
Harriman was the only member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the south in the immediate past House of Representatives who canvassed against the third term aspiration of President Obasanjo. She eventually decamped to the Action Congress (AC) on which platform she contested for a seat in the Senate.
"I am in a shock, though we saw it coming. There were issues that were causing concern by one person or the other but were reassured by several concerned persons but yesterday I was totally shocked and disappointed,'' she said.
"Nothing has changed in Nigeria as concerning electoral reform and the issues that got us to where we are now. Many of us, because of third term, took a conscious decision to sacrifice for our motherland. It was not because of Atiku, it was because of Nigeria,'' she said.

JOS-IN what looked like a further assertion of status as a state government in the federation, the Plateau State Government yesterday dared the Federal Government and swore in the elected chairmen in the 17 local government areas in the state amidst tight security.
The first effort to inaugurate the local governments in December 2008 was allegedly suspended at the behest of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who was said to have told Governor Jonah Jang that the inauguration could lead to more violence in the state. But Jang has since denied this, insisting that the suspension was his own initiative.
A source had disclosed that "the President was highly incensed that the governor could contemplate inaugurating the councils in the face of the development when tension was still high and people still counting their huge losses. The President told the governor to shelve the idea."
Swearing in the local government chairmen yesterday, Governor Jang tasked them to take steps to assist in the healing process in the state.
The swearing-in which took place unannounced was without the usual fanfare and was held amidst tight security.
The event, in apparent submission to pressures from a cross section of the state, came almost two months after the elections of November 27, 2008, which resulted in the violence that erupted in the state capital for the next day.
Governor Jang who warned that there would be zero tolerance to corruption charged the new chairmen to avoid abusing the mandate of the people or spending recklessly.
He urged them to build bridges of harmonious co-existence in view of the recent crisis in the state and serve as true agents of development at the grassroots through programmes that would impact on the people.
He spoke against the tendency by those he called desperate politicians to turn conflicts into an enterprise from which they reap partisan dividends, stressing the need for all to assist in strengthening democracy in the country for the benefit of present and future generations.
According to Jang, "by this inauguration, we are completing the chain of the democratic process that saw to the emergence of elected representatives at the local government during the November 27th 2008, election.
It is this democratic drive that has propelled us to give the people their chosen structure with today's inauguration."
He said the beauty of democracy was that it provided avenue for redress adding that the Local Government Elections Petitions Tribunal set up after the election was already entertaining complaints arising from the election.
The swearing-in of the chairmen who all belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have been held shortly after the election but was put off because of the violence in Jos North Local Government area which led to the loss of lives and property.
Several groups including the state House of Assembly had in the past few weeks called on the governor to swear-in the chairmen to enable them actualize their mandate.
Meanwhile, an appeal panel was on Wednesday inaugurated by the state Chief Judge, Justice Lazarus Dakyen to take appeals arising from the decisions of the tribunal. The six-member panel is headed by Justice Yargata Nimpar who had once chaired a local government petitions tribunal years ago.
It will be recalled that events in the aftermath of the Jos violence have spawned great controversy. First, President Yar'Adua set up a panel of inquiry headed by Emmanuel Abisoye, a retired general, to unravel immediate and remote causes of the Jos mayhem, and proffer solutions.
But Yar'Adua's action was challenged in court by the Plateau State government, which sued the Federal Government, and indeed sought the court's order to restrain the government at the centre from probing the tragedy, insisting that it is better placed constitutionally to set up a probe panel.
The House of Representatives similarly set up an ad-hoc committee which began conducting hearings into the causes of the event, but was also dragged to court by the state government, which later set up its own inquiry panel, headed by eminent jusrist, Prince Bola Ajibola.

He may not even come back to vie for another term, so i think if obj supports Atiku for the 2011 election, he may be d happiest person. Reason being that his health is worsening.

The directive by Governor Adams Oshiomhole requesting former governor and public officers to return vehicles allocated to them by the immediate administration of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor is causing heat in Edo with a former Governor of the State, Dr. Sam Ogbemudia threatening legal action against the state government.
The chairman of the Assets Verification Committee, Mr. Elamah Oseni, had earlier apologized to Dr. Ogbemudia over the government's directive when it was discovered that the Ogbemudia ought not have been included amongst those to return their vehicles as allocation of vehicles to him was covered by law passed by the state House of Assembly.
But the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, insisted on Monday that Dr. Ogbemudia and former deputy to Governor John Oyegun, Rev. Peter Obadan, should return their vehicles to the state government within 24 hours, failing which they will be arrested.
"I direct Dr. Ogbemudia and Rev. Obadan to return those vehicles within 24 hours and if they haven't, we will either have them arrested or we will take other reasonable means to recover those vehicles.
"I do not want to do anything that will lead to some form of embarrassment but on the other hand, it will be far more embarrassing that people who are already very privileged are appropriating vehicles to themselves while majority of our countrymen cannot find panadol in public hospitals.
This is not negotiable. If anybody know them, they should just quietly return the vehicles before we take the matter to the Ring Road," Governor Oshiomhole said, shortly after he received the report of the Assets Verification Committee in Government House on Monday.
Continuing, he said: "I have heard stories that he (Ogbemudia) was a former governor. To the best of my knowledge, the law does not include former military governors.
If it does, all the former military governors who have been here one time or the other ought to have benefited. And if it is about his stewardship for three months, then, how do we explain that Chief John Oyegun, who was governor here for over a period of two or two and half years was not given any vehicle. And yet, his own deputy, Rev. Peter Obadan, was given vehicles. So, it is obvious that these vehicles were given merely as political patronage to friends of Prof. Osunbor."
The governor stressed that if there were other people who are in custody of government property, his administration will take every reasonable and legal means to recover those vehicles and put them to government's use, adding that records show that Dr. Ogbemudia was allocated three vehicles.
But Dr. Ogbemudia in a swift reaction on Tuesday through his Special Assistant, Mr. Iro Omorodion, recalled that two vehicles, a Toyota Prado Jeep and a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep were allocated to him by the state government in 2007 in a letter signed by one O. Idahosa (Ms), who incidentally also signed the government's letter requesting Dr. Ogbemudia to return the said vehicles.
"We want to state categorically that the two vehicles mentioned above were, duly allocated to His Excellency, Dr. S. O. Ogbemudia, pursuant to his pension rights as provided for by law.
By Government's letters of allocation signed by the same Ms. O. Idahosa. Ref. No.401/3/2dated 19th October 2007, and Ref. No.A.401/2/T/135 dated 24th September 2007, the two vehicles were conveyed to Dr. Ogbemudia.
"The embarrassment your said libelous announcements and publications are causing Dr. Ogbemudia is enormous, and we are by this letter, demanding a retraction with due apologies within 48 hours. Meanwhile, we are passing your letter and publications, together with our title documents to our lawyer for further action," Dr. Ogbemudia's letter forwarded to the Edo State Government through the office of Head of Service, said.

Even in his present travails, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC], Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, remains unperturbed and unrepentant over his conduct that culminated in his demotion and subsequent dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.
Specifically, Ribadu had in his reply to a query issued to him by the police authorities justified his action for appearing with his colleague at NIPSS before the president in mufti instead of police uniform, saying he was not on official police assignment.
"With regards to my appearance before the president in plain clothes, please be informed that neither the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) nor any person or body instructed me to appear in official uniform. Furthermore, I was not on official police duty during the said visit.
"The said visit was for participants of NIPSS-an institution of higher learning. There was no rule of NIPPS that stipulates that I should have worn police uniform on that occasion. In any event sir, if I violated any rule of NIPPS on that or any other occasion, it is my most humble submission that it is NIP SS, under whose control I was at that time, that can call me to order," he told a Federal High Court as the police authorities said the former EFCC boss was given adequate and ample opportunity by way of fair hearing to respond to the allegations against him that led to his eventual dismissal from the Force.
Responding to the suit filed by Ribadu, the police accused the former EFCC chairman of deliberate refusal to appear before the disciplinary committee set up to investigate the allegations against him.
It would be recalled that the Police Service Commission [PSC] announced the dismissal of Ribadu from the Force on November 27, 2008, after his failure to appear before a committee set up to investigate some allegation leveled against him.
At a separate meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, the Police Affairs Minister said that Ribadu's dismissal from the Police Force was final.
He was demoted from the rank of an Assistant Inspector -General of Police (AIG), to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
On November 21, 2008 allegations of improper dressing, discreditable conduct, negligence, conduct prejudicial to discipline, serious acts of misconduct and disobedience to lawful order were raised against him.
Ribadu filed a suit against the IGP, the Police Service Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation to challenge his dismissal from the police.
He said in the suit, "the first defendant (Police Service Commission) did not at anytime afford me an opportunity of making representations to her on any of the allegations contained in the letter of dismissal before it took its decision at fourth statutory meeting to dismiss me from the Nigeria Police.
"If the first defendant had afforded me an opportunity to make representations to her, I would have shown to her that I was not in any way guilty of any of the alleged acts of misconduct contained in her letter - Exhibit NR 11.
"I verily believe that the 1st Defendant has a duty to afford me an opportunity to make representations to her on all the allegations contained in her letter dated 22nd December, 2008 before taking its decision to dismiss me from the Nigeria Police Force.
"I also verily believe that the decision of the 1st Defendant dismissing me from the Nigeria Police Force on the basis of the allegations contained in her letter of 22nd December, 2008, without first affording me an opportunity of making representations to her in respect of the various allegations was a serious violation of my rights."
But the police, through their counsel, Paul Milton Ohwovoriole SAN, filed a notice of preliminary objection to Ribadu's suit. In the object, the police counsel said Ribadu's suit was incompetent and also a gross abuse to court process because he (Ribadu) has instituted four cases against the IGP in the same court. He added that the former EFCC boss do not have the legal right to initiate the action.
The police in their counter affidavit to the suit Ribadu filed said that Ribadu was given fair hearing before he was dismissed.
"The plaintiff (Ribadu) was given adequate and ample opportunity by way of fair hearing to make representations before the said disciplinary committee but frittered away the opportunity when he deliberately refused to appear before the committee," the police said.