Consider United Front...

About 15 presidential aspirants for the 2019 election say they are considering a united front to challenge the current situation.

The aspirants stated this in a communique after their meeting on Tuesday.

The signatories include Omoyele Sowore, Fela Durotoye, Tope Fasua, and Kingsley Moghalu.

They condemned the current ethnic tension across Nigeria.

“The ties that bind us together are today under such enormous pressures, that we can say without any doubt that never in our history have we been confronted by such a scale and scope of existential crises,” they said.

Read the full communique below.

VISIONARY PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS COMING TOGETHER [PACT]

TOWARDS THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS

“ELECTION AS REVOLUTION” BEING TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AFTER A CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF UNDERSIGNED PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS ON TUESDAY 31ST JULY 2018

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

It is no longer debatable that our country Nigeria has been brought to her knees, and is tottering on the brink of collapse.

In no more than the life of a generation, our nation and people are witnessing the catastrophic failure of governance and the near collapse of virtually all our national institutions; such that we have now become the country with the largest concentration of poor people in the world.

The ties that bind us together are today under such enormous pressures, that we can say without any doubt that never in our history have we been confronted by such a scale and scope of existential crises.

We are very clear in our minds and share the collective conviction, that our present woes, in their history is as a result of collective failure of leadership by those who have been in the leadership of our country for decades, and the establishment that have institutionalised support in their self-interest and visionless leadership.

We share the grievance and anger of our people, as well as their yearnings and aspirations for a new Nigeria different from the one bequeathed on us by our leaders from independence in 1960 till date 31st July, 2018.

We are categorical about those who should accept responsibility for our failures as a nation 1960-2018; and as visionary presidential aspirants coming together under PACT, we are united in our convictions, that our national rebirth can be achieved through collective engagements to install a new political order 2019 by taking up leadership responsibilities in the overall common good.

We are conscious of the fact that, the ploy, by the establishment form new coalitions with the antics of defection from party to party, is a ploy calculated at ensuring that power does not slip out off their hands.

We denounce such coalition and defection forming pranks and antics as calculated attempts to deceive the mass of our people.

We call on the mass of our people, who are victims of their misrule, not to allow them to be deceived again.

This is why those of us who represent a new crop and paradigm shift in leadership, and embodiment of a new vision have agreed to come together and work for the realization a greater Nigeria for the actualization of our full potentials in human and materials resources.

Suffice it to say that, those of us who have indicated interest with our aspirations to lead our country avowed to engage a radical transformational developmental process by way of this resolution reached today Tuesday, 31st of July 2018 as we deliberate on the challenges of our country, with a commitment and resolve to begin the process of taking collective ownership of this renaissance struggle aimed at national rebirth in rebuilding the nation.

OUR RESOLVE AND DECISIONS

In the light of the foregoing and as a response to the collective yearnings and aspirations of our people; we have resolved as follows:

1: Recognising that at the core of our existential challenges as a people and nation is the failure of leadership;

2: we affirm, that as the new face of visionary leadership for our country, we are collectively stepping into the fray, to fill the leadership vacuum, and offer leadership at this momentous juncture in our history;

3: We affirm that collectively, we are committed to the process of building a United Front to mobilise our people to lead the change we desire during the 2019 general elections;

4: We understand that Unity is a process, and not an event, and as such, we undertake to effect necessary steps towards consolidating on the process of building a united front based on shared vision and ideas;

5: Towards this end, we are in agreement that internal party processes towards producing eventual party candidates and flag bearers should be allowed to reach its logical conclusion;

6: Furthermore, we are committed to step up the process of building a united front once party candidates have emerged; and shall continually hold consultations among ourselves and broker conversations with our parties towards ensuring that we are able to present a United Front towards the 2019 general elections;

7: Finally, we know that the 2019 general elections will be a historically decisive one; we know that the conditions are ripening for an electoral process with outcome that can be revolutionarily transformative.

8: We embrace this process of the 2019 election as a revolution.

IN CONCLUSION:

Recognising the crises we face as a people, and understanding that the collective leadership failure of the current ruling establishment is responsible for this failure;

we have stepped forward, to stand in the breach, and provide the new type of visionary leadership for our country;

Such new leadership, so sorely needed is the basic requirement for us to achieve national and human development and realise our full potential as a people and nation.

We affirm, that we are the embodiment of the new Nigeria, and of the process to achieve our national liberation as a country, social emancipation as a people, and societal rebirth and renewal.

We represent the future of our country, a future which begins now; and we know it.

We take collective ownership of that mission.

In attendance were:

Thomas-Wilson Ikubese

Comrade Eragbe Anslem

Sowore Omoyele

Fela Durotoye

Tope Fasua

Sina Fagbenro-Byron

Jaye Gaskia,

Ahmed Buhari

Mathias Tsado

Victor Ani-Laju

Alistair Soyode

Godstime Sidney Iroabuchi

Clement Jimbo

Elishama Ideh

Kingsley Moghalu – Represented

Our future is determined now

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/278651-2019-sowore-durotoye-moghalu-12-other-presidential-aspirants-meet-consider-united-front.html

Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday raised the alarm that insecurity was escalating in northwest Nigeria’s Zamfara state, with daily killings and kidnappings by armed bandits, leaving villagers in constant fear of attack.

Revealing the atrocities by the attackers, AI said thousands of people have been displaced by a conflict which began in 2012 as a result of clashes between farmers and herders.

“This is Nigeria’s forgotten conflict. The authorities’ failure to act has left villagers in Zamfara at the mercy of armed bandits, who have killed hundreds of people over the course of two bloody years,” said Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

“When we visited the region, villagers told us that they had pleaded with the government to help them after receiving warning letters from the bandits ahead of attacks but had received no protection. The Nigerian authorities have repeatedly claimed to be tackling the situation, but the mounting death toll tells a different story.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday deployed troops to Zamfara state to tackle insecurity bedevilling the rural communities.

Giving details, Amnesty International recalled that on Friday 27 July, 18 villages in the Mashema, Kwashabawa and Birane districts of Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state were attacked, leaving at least 42 people dead.

“At least 18,000 residents of the affected villages who were displaced over the weekend are now taking refuge at various locations in the local government headquarters. The following day a further 15 people were kidnapped in Maradun local government area.

“On Saturday 28 July, President Muhammadu Buhari announced the deployment of 1,000 troops to Zamfara. This is the third time since November 2017 that the authorities have deployed the military in response to attacks, but villagers told Amnesty International that this has not translated into protection for remote, vulnerable communities.

“Previous military interventions have failed to end the killings, especially in rural areas of Zamfara. At least 371 people have been killed in Zamfara in 2018 alone, and at least 238 of these killings took place after the deployment of the Nigerian air force. The government is still neglecting the most vulnerable communities in this region,” said Osai Ojigho.

Ojigho added that between Sunday 7 and Thursday 12 July, Amnesty International visited communities in five local government areas of Zamfara state – Zurmi, Maradun, Maru, Anka and Tsafe.

“Although security forces were present in the state capital Gusau, researchers saw soldiers and air force personnel in only two of the villages they visited, Birane and Bagega.

“Villagers described feeling helpless and on edge, constantly bracing themselves for attacks. Men said they are sleeping outside their homes and in trees as a way of keeping vigilant, while women and children are sleeping together in groups for protection.

“Villagers described a pattern where they receive warnings ahead of attacks, including by phone, ordering them to pay huge sums of money or be killed or abducted.”

A villager from Gidan Goga was quoted as saying: “Before Ramadan, the bandits called with the same number they called me with two weeks ago and said if we didn’t pay them N500,000 (USD $1400), they would come and kidnap me or the village head. Right now, we are living in fear.”

Another village elder from Gidan Goga also told Amnesty International: “We cannot go to farm far from our village. Two weeks ago, I got a call from one of the bandits, saying they are the ‘owners’ of the forest. He asked me to tell the village head to tell all villagers close to the forest to vacate the villages and come here, Gidan Goga. He said the only way they’d allow the villagers to continue staying was if they paid them five million Naira.”

In a village in Maru, villagers said the only time they see security forces is when they are escorting workers to the state governor’s farm.

Ojigho further disclosed that senior police officer in Zamfara told Amnesty International that security agencies lack logistics and manpower to deal with the crisis.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/07/31/zamfara-killings-amnesty-international-makes-shocking-revelations/

Troops of the Nigerian Military deployed to Gubio Local Government in Borno State have accused the government and the chief of Army staff, Tukur Buratai, of abandoning them in the state.

The troops, who were recently attacked by Boko Haram, bitterly complained that the Chief of Army Staff sent them to Borno with inadequate ammunition despite the refusal of many soldiers to embark on the trip.

They said they had not been eating feeding well since their deployment to Gubio, particularly because they hadn't been paid their allowances since May.

The attack, according to one of the survivors, began at night and the soldiers were completely overpowered.

“The Boko Haram people came with nine gun trucks and military motors. We were surprised because the trucks were painted in the same colour of the army," the soldier, who asked not to be named for fear of losing his job, told SaharaReporters.

“They opened fire and when we could not face them because of our weapon, we all ran away. They followed us with big torchlights and killed many of us.”

Another source within the Nigerian Army revealed to SaharaReporters that the troops, who camped in a bush in Gubio, near Chad, were not given sufficient ammunition and materials to protect themselves and the territory.

“The troops were deployed to Gubio on 7th of June because of the Army Day that took place on the 6th of July," he said

“When they were asked to go, many of the soldiers declined but they were forced to go. They were given little combative weapons and ammunition to protect themselves. Many of them were afraid that Boko Haram would attack them.”

Lamenting the ugly situations they found themselves, the soldiers disclosed to SaharaReporters that they sometimes went two days without food because they are not well-paid.

“Since we have been on this assignment, we have not been eating well. No food for us to eat and we have no money to get food. We were supposed to be paid N1,000 daily but we were never given. The last time we got money was May, after the two weeks of training we had before coming to Gubio.”

Speaking about casualties of the recent attack in Gubio, another survivor told SaharaReporters that of the about 700 soldiers, less than 150 were alive and could be accounted for.

“When we did the last headcount, we were just 150. Fifty-two bodies were recovered dead from the attack and that means about 500 are still missing.”

The soldier added that some might be dead while fleeing the attacks.

The troops further criticised the Federal Government for not sending any aid since the attack; they added that they were "living like refugees".

“It is sad that nobody has come to see us or sent anything to us since we relocated to Gubi town," he added. “We are living like refugees because we are staying in a secondary school opposite 5 Brigade in Borno.”

The soldiers demanded that they are immediately taken out of Borno and returned to their units.

When contacted, Brigadier General Texas Jude Chukwu, Director Army Public Relations, debunked every claim, reiterating that the Army is not an institution that would send its personnel to a war zone and forget them there.

“Why would a soldier be complaining? Complaining of what? Are they owing any soldier?" he asked? “There is nothing like that, please. They are not owing anybody."

http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/30/exclusive-no-pay-may-were-living-refugees-say-soldiers-gubio

But when you people are begging them not to leave, they are not stones.. Tell us another lie pls, propaganda masters

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Two Nigerian nationals who attempted to defraud banks in Rhode Island and Massachusetts of more than $1 million have been sentenced to 13 months in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Stephen Dambruch says Olugboyega Akinloye Fasanya, of Woonsocket, and Anthony Chidozie Ezike, of Pawtucket, have admitted they altered checks and deposited them into the banks using counterfeit passports from Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa as identification.

Prosecutors say the two 36-year-olds deposited fraudulent checks totaling about $1.2 million and withdrew about $487,000 before the fraud was detected.

Fasanya and Ezike face deportation proceedings after completing their incarceration.

Fasanya has also been ordered to pay about $380,000 in restitution to the affected banks while Ezike has been ordered to pay back about $230,000.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-6000971/2-Nigerians-sentenced-prison-defrauding-banks.html

By Kayode Ekundayo
Lagos — Nigeria has renewed 25 oil block licenses with a total earning of $1 billion in the last one year.

Data made available to Daily Trust yesterday by the regulatory agency - Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) - also showed that it has granted approval for 16 new field development plans with capacity to increase the nation's oil and gas production by 560,463 barrels per day when fully commissioned.

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) last year said in its oil and gas report that discretionary decision-making and lack of openness drove down competition and returns to Nigeria, including over $2 billion in unpaid signature bonuses.

But a source told Daily Trust that the renewal of the licenses boosted revenue for government to fund its budget and improve the nation's upstream investment by ensuring security of tenure given the long gestation and pay back period for the oil and gas investment.

Some of the oil blocks that got DPR's renewal nod were those that belong to International Oil Companies (IOC) and some indigenous oil companies, a sources told Daily Trust yesterday.

Although no available data from the DPR on the renewed licenses, Daily Trust identified some of the companies whose oil licences had expired to include AITEO/NNPC with OML 29. The oil block license expired last month; Amni's OML 112 expired on February 2, 2018; Atlas Petroleum with OML 109. The license expired since May, 2016; Conoil' OML 103 expired since March 2013. OML 111 belonging to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, a subsidiary of NNPC expired in 2016.

In Oil Prospecting category, Sahara Energy OPL 452 expired in 2017; OPL 257 belonging to Conoil expired in 2016; OPL 289 owned by Cleanwaters consortium expired in 2012; Conoil' OPL 240 expired in 2016; Crownwell Petroleum OPL 305 expired in 2016; Essar Exploration and Production's OPL 226 expired in 2015 and Newcross Petroleum's OPL 276 expired in 2017.

OML is usually granted only to the holder of an oil-prospecting licence (OPL), upon meeting set regulations, and the term of the licence shall not exceed 20 years, and may be renewed in accordance with the Petroleum Act.

DPR in its 2017 Service Requirements release, said oil companies seeking to renew their oil licenses or leases would be expected to pay a statutory application fee of $2 million.

Alfred James Nigeria Limited's OPL 302, which was awarded in 1991, expired since 2001; Continental Oil and Gas's OPL 2007, expire since October last year; while Summit Oil International OPL 206 expired in 2014.

Amalgamated Oil Company Limited's OPL 425, which was given licence in 1992, is expected to expired on May 23 this year.

OPLs 305 and 306, which belong to Crownwell Petroleum Limited was due to expire in June this year.

Also, KNOC's deep offshore OPLs 321 and 323 have already expired since March 9, 2016.

However, it was further learnt that 19 expired leases in 2017 had been renewed to enhance upstream investment influx and accelerate oil and gas reserves and production growth.

In similar vein, DPR is said to have issued 10 new licenses for development of gas production and processing facilities that culminated in the commencement of operation (license to operate) of 2.5 million tons per annum fertiliser plants.

A source said the regulatory agency has also issued new guidelines for the determination of quantity and quality of petroleum products in the country.

The total income generated by DPR within the period was N747,614,888,823.04 for the federation.

https://allafrica.com/stories/201807270338.html

The Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has prophesied impending disaster following the defection of 15 Senators from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Mbaka said this on Wednesday during a live programme titled ‘E No Dey Again’, stating that Buhari would not sleep very soon as more disasters would follow news of defecting senators.

According to him, “the defected senators are coming to destroy Nigeria more.”

The fiery Cleric again attacked the Buhari-led government over its failure to protect Nigerians, describing his government as ‘Demonocracy’.

Mbaka said “Heaven is watching Buhari with a whistle. The whistle has been blown. The administration is tyrannical

“As for the defected senators, they are coming to destroy Nigeria more.

“This is just the beginning of disaster following Senators decamping,this is just the kindergarten until Buhari delivers Change he promised.

“Heaven is not happy with Buhari, his administration is ‘demonocracy’, not democracy. Buhari will not sleep again.

“Those putting Nigerians in hardship will be ready to face more disasters and fire.

“I prophesied before Yar’Adua travelled to Saudi Arabia and died, I prophesied before Jonathan became president and also said that Buhari will win. So if Buhari messes up I will be directed by God to tell him, Buhari where is the change you promised?”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/07/26/fr-mbaka-reveals-impending-disaster-following-defection-senators-attacks-buhari/

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has raised an alarm over a fresh plot to arrest the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris in connivance with the presidency.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, obtained by PoliticsNGR, said he has reliable information that the IGP has ordered operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to raid Saraki’s residence any moment from this night and effect his arrest.

He described the plot as an act of desperation and utter wickedness by the IGP who is overly eager to redeem his image following the failure of the police to prevent Saraki from attending the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday where 15 APC lawmakers defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Frank said that the Presidency is equally anxious to get back at Saraki over the defections and therefore has mandated the IGP to ensure his arrest and detention simply to embarrass him.

“Recall that the police on Tuesday morning laid siege on the residence of the President of the Senate and that of his deputy in a bid to arrest and prevent them from attending plenary. Saraki was able to escape and presided over the Senate.

“Following the development the presidency summoned the IGP and after berating him for failing to gag Saraki, gave him a fresh ultimatum to arrest Saraki using every power at his disposal.

“This act of desperation by the IGP, backed by the presidency against Saraki is condemnable as it has no place in democracy.

“I hereby call on all Nigerias and members of the international community to rise in unison to condemn this act of tyranny and barbarity being perpetrated against the President of the Senate by the present administration using the police.


“As you read this statement the SARS may already be storming the residence of the President of the Senate and I want to call on

Nigerians to hold the IGP and the presidency responsible should any harm befall him following the plot to invade his residence in the dead of the night,” Frank said.

He added that Saraki is a respectable and responsible leader who cannot hurt a fly, saying all efforts being made by this administration through the police to tie the Offa Robbery allegations on him will once again collapse like the CCT trial.

“They are only out to victimize Saraki for being the only responsible voice in this administration. They know that their allegations cannot withstand legal scrutiny, therefore they want to intimidate, embarrass, arrest and treat him like a common criminal.

“But I am rest assured that their present satanic plot against Saraki shall be frustrated by God who has been standing by him in the last three years,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to pray for Saraki as he faces this monumental trial once again.


https://politicsngr.com/defection-saga-fresh-plot-arrest-senate/

What's happening?

Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal has reportedly decamped from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to Daily Independent, Tambuwal and all members of the State House of Assembly members on Wednesday evening dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, and joined the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.


More details soon…..


https://politicsngr.com/breaking-sokoto-governor-tambuwal-defects-apc-pdp/

The United States of America on Wednesday said it is carefully watching the developments in Nigeria’s politics.

The U.S. government said it strongly believes in elections and democratic process globally including in Nigeria.

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, David Youn‎g, made his government’s position known to journalists in Kaduna.

Mr Young also called for neutrality of the police and other security agencies in the country.

According to him, his country believes democratic process goes hand in hand with basic freedoms and fair treatment for all according to the rule of law.

‎”We are all watching very carefully the political development in Nigeria in the last two days,” he said in apparent reference to the defection of dozens of federal lawmakers from Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, on Tuesday.

There were also instances of security siege on the two presiding officers of the Senate on Tuesday, ostensibly to prevent them from presiding over the Senate on that day. Senate President Bukola Saraki eventually maneuvered his way to the Senate where he presided over the defection of 14 senators, majority to the opposition PDP. His deputy, Ike Ekweremadu could not due to the siege on his home.

“I want to reiterate very strongly the United States Government’s position about elections and democratic process. This ‎implies in Nigeria and indeed all around the world,” Mr Young said.

“In all countries, my country believes very strongly that democratic process goes hand in hand with basic freedoms and fair treatment for all according to the rule of law.

“So, importantly, matters of rule of law goes hand in hand with transparency and justice which include neutrality of police and security agencies.

“Again, United State is a partner with Nigeria and we strongly believe in the principles of free, fair, transparent and credible democratic process and elections‎ before, during and after elections,” he said.

Mr Young was on a fact finding trip to Zamfara, Plateau and Kaduna states over the ongoing security challenges in those areas.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/277774-u-s-closely-watching-nigerias-political-developments-diplomat.html

Following the political eclipse that submerged the popularity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the defectors have told Nigerians to expect more defection in the next few days.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Hon. Rasaq Atunwa from Kwara State said what happened on the floor of the House on Tuesday constituted the first batch of those who had signified their intention to dump the party.

"This constitutes the first batch of those who signified that they would leave the APC and therefore you should expect in the next few days defecting members of the APC on the floor of the House of Reps," Atunwa said.

"Having said that, it is important to put on air some of the reasons why we felt it was important to leave the APC.

"Firstly this was a party that we all laboured for, a party that we all joined together from our various parties pre-2015, campaigned heavily for it in 2015 and we formed a government. We came together because we believed in what we proposed to the people of Nigeria; we believed in change.

"We believed that this country needed to be better ruled; we believed that the youth of this country deserve better; we believed that the men and women of this country deserve better; we believed there ought to be a better method in social integration; we believed that job opportunities must be provided."

He explained that APC has deviated from the ideas of taking the country's economy to the next level and deepening the democratic values.

"We took the step today. Like I said, 37 members left the APC as a first batch; more people will leave the APC in the nearer future."

http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/24/just-first-batch-%E2%80%94-37-apc-defectors-say-there-will-be-more-exits-soon

President Muhammadu Buhari has offered his support to the security agents that laid siege to the residences of Bukola Saraki, Senate President and Ike Ekweremadu, his deputy.

On Tuesday, the residences of the two senior officials of the Senate were barricaded by security agents, believed to be a move to halt the impending defection of All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) subsequently invited Ekeremadu over alleged money laundering, while Sararki already had pending, from Monday, an invitation from the Senate over his alleged linkage to the Offa Bank robbers.

On Tuesday, the President waded into the debate generated by the day's earlier occurrences, asking the people to allow security agents do their job.

Buhari maintained that the law of the land is intended for all, not for the poor or those at the lowest rungs of the social ladder, hence there should be no noise about the security agents' invitations to Saraki and Ekweremadu.

"The Presidency has taken note of the orchestrated campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari each time a Very Important Person (VIP) is invited by the law enforcement agencies, in the discharge of their legitimate duties and functions," read the statement, released by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President.

"The law of the land is intended for all, not for the poor or those at the lowest rungs of the social ladder.

"It is odd, strange and bizarre that while ordinary citizens can be called up to answer questions or be interrogated, the VIP cannot be questioned without the annoying insinuations of partisanship, persecution or outright politicization.

"This country cannot achieve development in peace when important cases are viewed through a political prism and the law is considered as being applicable to some, and not applicable to others.

"The workings of law enforcement agencies are set out in the constitution and the laws of the country. If they worked at the discretion of past presidents, who decided who to question and who to detain, Nigerians should get used to the fact that this President is different. President Buhari does not and will not influence or interfere with cases.

The constitution clearly directs law enforcement agencies to promptly report and investigate any actual or potential infringement of the law and also initiate proceedings against all those involved. This President is not the one who directs them on what to do.

"President Buhari does not stand in the way of law enforcement either. Under our constitution, he has no powers to stop the investigation of anyone or institution. When they are set to investigate anything and anyone, the best friend of the law is the one who lets them do their work.

"The President’s constant refrain is that he will not tolerate any form of illegality including corruption and the law enforcement agencies have been given complete freedom to identify and bring all culprits to justice. His instructions to them are very clear: Anyone with a case to answer or found guilty should not be spared.

"Accused persons should approach the courts to plead their innocence rather than going to the public to plead persecution. The country is better served when the law enforcement agencies are allowed to do their work and we must stop the actors of this dangerous game of politicizing law enforcement.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/24/just-buhari-supports-police-saraki-and-co

Cool

I hear

Who go push am go twitter for the world to see..

Good

The federal government through the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has set the guidelines for the marginal oil field bid round scheduled to take place later this year or early 2018 and could potentially see scores of investors jostling to acquire 46 oil acreages during the exercise, THISDAY reports.

Of the 46 acreages up grabs, it was however gathered that the DPR is considering setting aside some of the oil blocks for discretionary award to firms owned by Niger Delta indigenes, in order to sustain the prevalent peace in the oil-rich region and give its citizens a sense of ownership in Nigeria’s oil wealth. According to DPR sources, at least 25 of the marginal fields in the current bid round are promising and if developed could produce 5,000 to 10,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent (bpoe).

Under the guidelines for the current marginal field bid round, interested investors will be required to pay $50,000 each for a Competent Persons Report (CPR). The CPR will require bidders to provide details of their shareholding structure, names of their directors, track record in the oil and gas sector, audited financial statements, partnership and/or collaboration with indigenous firms, and financial resources to bid and pay for the oil acreages.

After the CPR stage, investors will also pay $15,000 each as data mining fees to enable them gain access to the relevant data on the acreages that will be placed on offer. At this stage of the process, investors will be availed information on the size of the fields, seismic surveys, and past appraisals conducted by IOCs, among other relevant information. After the data mining stage, the DPR will commence the technical evaluation of the bids submitted by the firms, during which several investors which fail to meet the criteria will be dropped.

Investors that have passed the technical evaluation process will then be invited to submit their commercial bids in a process that will be open to the public. Expectedly, the oil acreages will go to the highest bidders who will be given a timeline within which to pay for the oil acreages. Where a bidder fails to meet the payment terms, the second bidder (reserve bidder) will be invited by the DPR to take up the block.

An official of the DPR who preferred not to be named, said that successful bidders in the forthcoming exercise will also be expected to confirm their willingness to pay $300,000 as signature bonus. He also disclosed that the indigenous companies, which must have “at least 51 per cent of the beneficiary interest in the company, must be registered solely for exploration and production business”.

http://energymixreport.com/dpr-sets-bid-round-guidelines-award-46-marginal-oil-fields/

Oyetunji Abioye

Banking and insurance industries’ workers under the aegis of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees have pulled out of the planned nationwide strike directed by the United Labour Congress.

The association, in a statement on Sunday, said there were critical issues facing the financial services, allied industries and the economy in general and, as such, shutting the sectors was not an option.

The statement, which was signed by the new President, NUBIFIE, Abdulrasheed Lukman, read in part, “The union just emerged from its delegate conference and a new leadership emerged. There are a number of issues that beg for attention in what has been happening in our industry. Shutting the financial industry at this critical period of our economic life is not an option.

“The congress in session did not discuss neither did it ratify any industrial action. Therefore, we dissociate NUBIFIE from the planned action of the ULC. The affiliation of NUBIFIE to ULC was done out of the context of the procedure and constitution of our great union and the congress in session resolved and passed a resolution for the return of NUBIFIE to its original affiliation, NLC, as contained in the union’s constitution.”

Lukman said that following the development, the association directed its members in banks and insurance companies to shun any contrary directive.

The NUBIFIE leader, therefore, maintained that the association would not partake in any planned industrial action as called by the ULC.

“The process of engaging in industrial action is well stipulated in the laws of the land and rules of engagement,” he added

http://punchng.com/bank-workers-pull-out-of-planned-nationwide-strike/

The Igbo National Council (INC) has given the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Burutai, a 21-day ultimatum to end the recently launched ‘Operation Python Dance II’ and withdraw his men from the Southeast region.

This was made known in a statement issued to newsmen in Owerri by its National President, Chilos Godsent.

The release also warned that it would sue the Nigeria Army to the International Criminal Court, (ICC) for genocide against the Southeast region, if its demand was ignored.

The statement reads: “In view of the above, the Igbo National Council, INC, has analysed the state of the Southeast and the Nigerian state and hereby state the following.

“The Nigeria state is not at war with the people of South-East Nigeria, and therefore wish to call on the president and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces.

“The leadership of the National Assembly to mandate the Minister of Defence staff, Chief of Army Staff, to immediately withdraw the military arbitrarily deployed to Southeast to murder innocent civilians.

“If this is not adhered to within twenty one days (21) the Igbo National Council, INC, will petition and also sue the Nigeria Army and the Federal government, to International Criminal Court, ICC, for genocide against the armless people of the southeast Nigeria.”

http://dailypost.ng/2017/09/10/biafra-inc-gives-nigerian-army-21-days-end-operation-python-dance-leave-south-east/

The Igbo National Council (INC) has given the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Burutai, a 21-day ultimatum to end the recently launched ‘Operation Python Dance II’ and withdraw his men from the Southeast region.

This was made known in a statement issued to newsmen in Owerri by its National President, Chilos Godsent.

The release also warned that it would sue the Nigeria Army to the International Criminal Court, (ICC) for genocide against the Southeast region, if its demand was ignored.

The statement reads: “In view of the above, the Igbo National Council, INC, has analysed the state of the Southeast and the Nigerian state and hereby state the following.

“The Nigeria state is not at war with the people of South-East Nigeria, and therefore wish to call on the president and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces.

“The leadership of the National Assembly to mandate the Minister of Defence staff, Chief of Army Staff, to immediately withdraw the military arbitrarily deployed to Southeast to murder innocent civilians.

“If this is not adhered to within twenty one days (21) the Igbo National Council, INC, will petition and also sue the Nigeria Army and the Federal government, to International Criminal Court, ICC, for genocide against the armless people of the southeast Nigeria.”

http://dailypost.ng/2017/09/10/biafra-inc-gives-nigerian-army-21-days-end-operation-python-dance-leave-south-east/

inappropriate presently; but this is another topic! The Nigeria government for years now have always put the
BY IJ ONUIGBOJUL 18, 2017

Bottom-line up front, if things don’t change quickly in Nigeria, your future is at risk if not completely doomed. I was alarmed to hear the Nigeria minister of finance, few days ago, along with other government officials make a justification as to why the Nigeria masses must start paying taxes including the beggars on the street. That is what the giant of Africa have come to! What a big shame – This is not to say that taxation is something not done, but it is inappropriate presently; but this is another topic! The Nigeria government for years now have always put the kart ahead of the horse on every issue; lazy or inept enough to continue failing to do their jobs while getting paid.

I have listened to Nigeria citizens lament of increasing NEPA bills on masses who hardly get electric power in their homes from NEPA for the bills already paid; and while not getting the product they paid for, crazy government are raising the prices on them. Now the newest lunacy is their plan to tax even the beggars on the street. On a side note, how will they even know who is who to tax as they have completely failed in implementing a system that accounts for every citizen just like in civilized societies.

Further, they forget they have not created jobs and aren’t consistently paying salaries to those who have the handful of jobs in the country – how do you tax people who have no employment and those that you have not paid for the work they put in? If these doesn’t scare you, you are not awake. You are unconscious though not physically dead. Every person of minimum mental ability in Nigeria should see by now that there is no light in the tunnel – Nigeria is not going forward, it is not even stagnant, it is rather retrogressing; why because we have visionless, directionless, thoughtless and wicked people in leadership.

These set of people in leadership have bankrupted Nigeria by stealing collective wealth to settle their pockets without regard to the duty their offices are called for. They borrow to pay themselves and finally, when there is no other way to raise money for themselves, they must now tax you the masses to continue to assuage their bottomless vices. Youths, let me break it to you, if you continue to enable this leaders by fighting against change and antagonizing the Biafra agitators, who are the only people putting on action to bring a change for a more secured future, there will never be peace in that country, those clueless leaders will never make the effort to build a country that will sustain its people’s needs.

Just think about it, for 57 years, these group of people have continued to recycle themselves in government and amassing wealth that they can’t spend for 10 life times at the expense of YOU the masses. It is outrageous and irresponsible for the youths to remain loyal to these evil cabal. I am not advocating violence. I am advocating that you stand up and protest and demand to take your destiny into your own hands alongside the Biafra peaceful protesters. Biafrans are already doing what is necessary to affect change and that is why you must support the cause. And by the way, the Nigeria military should protect the people and be for the people instead of killing the people at the government bidding.

I have been observing what’s going on among Nigeria youths. Majority of them do not understand what is at stake regarding a way forward for there to be progress in that part of the world. These youths are resolute and fight really dirty against each other in defending politicians, religion and tribe, ignorant to the fact that the politicians they defend have never had the best interest of them youths at heart – It has been so bad that I myself have been aggravated and drawn into such situations in a bid to awaken people to their blind spots. They are hell bent on proving that they are more eloquent on promoting their politician, tribe and religion while defending one Nigeria (which begs the question, if you hate one another so much, why do you want to remain as one Nigeria) and fail to see the following:

-The problems of tribal differences will continue to retard any meaningful progress in the country: This will never change unless Nigeria is broken up. The masses tend to focus on defending their tribe men who have done wrong instead of protecting the interest of the whole Nigerians. Every tribe does this and I do not see it changing until the country is divided up by tribe and then people can focus on the real issues and no longer defend evil for the sake of tribe. And this very reason is one that shows that things will not work out if separation is not considered. There won’t be peace and progress in a house where they fight and hate on each other perpetually? Think about that!

-Consider the fact that dividing into smaller regions will bring out the best in each region. It will foster easier accountability of leadership by the people. It will enable people of every region to appreciate and better utilize every God given resource to sustain themselves and fashion more creativity among the people. I remember that Nigeria main stay used to be agriculture and since the advent of oil, agriculture was abandoned for easier money. There are many countries that the totality of their economic sustenance comes from agriculture.
-Breaking up Nigeria into smaller or it’s original parts will encourage healthy competition within each region and eliminate the toxic competition among the tribes within Nigeria. Lack of toxicity facilitates creativity among people and within units. And one of the best things is that dividing Nigeria does not have to change the economic relationship among each region. As I mentioned in a previous writing, the regions will remain neighbors and can or should continue to do business with each other. Let’s all make it a peaceful undertaking. A divorce does not have to be bitter.

It will only be bitter if someone makes it so. There is no problem that cannot be solved by peaceful dialogue.
I have more to say but will stop here until next time!

Thanks for indulging me on this!
Ij Onuigbo
Ex US Army Captain
Follow me on Facebook.

http://saharareporters.com/2017/07/18/why-every-nigerian-youth-should-support-biafra-agitation-ij-onuigbo

A fire outbreak in an oil tank farm owned by controversial Nigerian Senator Andy Uba in Calabar has killed at least 9 people according to the Cross River police commissioner of police, Hafiz Inuwa.

Linc Oil and Gas tank farm exploded early morning on Sunday according state emergency officials. The inferno quickly grew engulfing the entire facility.

Linc Oil and gas tank farm is solely owned by Senator Uba a controversial politician involved in massive corruption during his time as the Senior Domestic aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. SaharaReporters obtained Mr. Uba’s latest assets declaration form where he stated that he obtained a bank loan to set up the tank farm from defunct Enterprise bank in 2013, this claim could not be verified.

http://saharareporters.com/2017/07/16/nine-killed-senator-andy-uba’s-tank-farm-explosion-calabar

Fulani groups in Taraba State have allegedly commenced massive recruitment of armed militias in an effort for reprisal attack.

DAILY POST learnt that the Fulani groups rejected all efforts to make peace between them and the Mambilla people in Sarduana Local Government Area.

Following the crisis in the area, it was learnt that while the Mambilla leaders have continued to meet to find ways of resolving the crisis, the Fulani have stopped attending the peace meetings.

The source, who wished not to be named said, “This is the third time they are rejecting all attempts to sit with them at a peace meeting.

“If they are invited, they would say they are waiting for Miyetti Allah to tell them what to do. It means they don’t take any directives from the state government, but only from Miyetti Allah.

“And this is also after the governor (Darius Ishaku) had sat with all of them recently to fashion ways for peace. They agreed only Fulani to pull out.”

The source disclosed that the state government had been alerted of the alleged ongoing recruitment.

“There are only two percent Fulani on the Mambilla Plateau. They know they are outmatched but now they have to go recruit from outside. They went to one state in the North East to pick militias.

“They would also get reinforcements from Chad and Cameroon,” the source alleged.

Recall that the State Governor, Darius Ishaku had recently said he had intelligence reports of such attacks and had reported to the appropriate quarters.

Efforts to get the clarification from the State Police Command yielded no result as the spokesperson of the Command, Kwaji Joseph could not be reached on his mobiles. A text message sent to him was yet to be replied.

http://dailypost.ng/2017/07/16/fulani-reject-peace-moves-recruit-militia-revenge-attacks-taraba/

By Judd-Leonard Okafor
More than half of the foreign-trained doctors and dentists failed examinations to secure practice licence of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, this year.

A total 334 doctors and seven dentists who graduated from medical colleges outside Nigeria sat for the assessment this year, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered.

Only 160 doctors and four dentists passed--a 40 per cent success rate.

At their induction at the MDCN headquarters, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, called the pass rate "worrisome."

"Parents, please ask questions before you send your ward to overseas institutions. The fact it [the institution] is foreign does not make it good or excellent. Shine your eyes before you spend your hard-earned dollars sending your child to a school that's not good," he said.

The acting MDCN Registrar, Tajudeen Sanusi, said the council's examination was to ensure that the medical training Nigerian students get abroad measure up to standards in Nigeria.

Passing the examination determines eligibility of new practitioners to be provisionally registered by the council.

Meanwhile, a mandatory one-year housemanship for new doctors goes online and it will be centralised from next year, it was gathered.

Potential house officers will seek random slots through online application for posting to any hospital nationwide.

The health ministry said centralising housemanship placement will remove favouritism.

With 4,000 young doctors and 4,300 slots, there's enough placement but desire to serve in favourite hospitals means many doctors don't ever get placement.

A committee setting up the online centralised placement for house officers would start work next week.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201707160013.html

cc: Seun Mynd44 Dominique

The Arewa Youth Forum has warned that the North will not accept anything other than the presidency in 2019.

The youth group gave the warning in a statement by their National President, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gunjunju yesterday in Abuja.

The youths said they were aware of the “political games” some political leaders in the South-West were playing over the health of the President to edge him out and take over.

The Northern youths said the South-West politicians were using Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and a PDP chieftain to champion their cause.

They maintained that the North would resist any attempt to take over power from them now or in 2019.

“These South-West people think that we do not understand the politics they are playing but we want to assure them that we perfectly understand their game and will shock them when the time comes.

“It is annoying and disappointing that while we in the North are making efforts to stabilize the country against the backdrop of the recent call for the expulsion of those from the North, some people want to show us that they understand the game of politics more than us. But they are in for a surprise.

“Let us reveal that after our recent meeting in Kaduna, a delegation was sent to London. We sent that delegation because we wanted to to know the truth of the situation.

“We met with the President and he told us some things. All we can say now is that our President will soon be back and people would witness drastic changes in the country. Many people will be surprised when he comes.

“Also we want it on record that youths from the North will not accept a repeat of what happened during the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua presidency. In 2019, the North must complete its eight years.

“This region can no longer continue to be taken for a ride”‎, he vowed.

http://dailypost.ng/2017/07/16/2019-election-well-fight-last-blood-keep-presidency-arewa-youths/

By Gbenga Oke

The National Assembly, yesterday, said Nigeria would be restructured.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who briefed reporters at a retreat in Lagos for the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on the Rewiew of the 1999 Constitution, said some of the contentious issues would be reviewed to meet the yearnings of the people.

Ekweremadu said the 1999 constitution needed reforms to enhance the development of the country, saying railway would no longer be in the exclusive list.

He said: “We have broken all the issues into specific bills. Between yesterday and today we have looked at about 23 separate bills with separate issues. The idea is to ensure that by the time we vote, each of them succeed or fail on its own when we conclude the work and send it to the house to approve.

“ We will collate and ensure that the provisions of the constitution have been fulfilled regarding the alteration and we will send it to the president for his assent. And the president will decide which one to assent or not to assent.

“The implication, therefore, is that if he assents to some, then those ones become altered parts of the constitution. And the one he refuses to give assent, then we might decide whether to override the veto. So, we want each of them to have a separate life on its own. And this is based on our own experience in the last exercise where everything was in one single bill and when the president withheld his assent, all of them collapsed.

“This is just an improvement on what we did last time. It is something we innovated based on our experience in the last exercise. “Now, we have gone through some specific issues like the time timeframe within which a governor or president will be able to assent to a bill. If you look at our constitution, I think Section 58, if you pass a bill, you need to send it to the president for his assent and he has to assent to it within 30 days. “

Ekweremadu explained that it was imperative for the Federal Government to shed some of its powers.

His words: “We also tried to withdraw some powers from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. You know we have been talking about the restructuring of Nigeria, one of the components of restructuring is that they are saying that there is too much power in the hands of the federal government and we need to strip some of them from the federal government.

“What we have done is to look at the nitty gritty issues where some of the items which they actually needed will be removed from the exclusive list to the concurrent list where the federal and the states can make laws regarding some of those items.

“And where there is conflict, the laws of the national assembly will prevail. So, things like railways will have to be moved to the concurrent list, the idea is that state can build railways within their states and then a couple of states can even decide to build railways across their states. The federal government can also be building railways across the country and make policy around it.”

He noted that the country would continue to have minimum standards for wages in both the public and private sectors.

“There should be minimum wage for both the public sector and private sector, that is to say that if it is N5000 don’t pay any person less than N5000 but it can be increased, that is to say if Lagos has more money it can pay beyond the minimum wage. All those who don’t have money cannot pay below the minimum wage no matter how poor they are. So, in that way, we have a minimum standards for workers in Nigeria.

“We also looked at the removal of the Joint local government account. The challenge there has been how do you take care of the issues of teachers’ salaries because it is from that joint local government state account that primary school teachers’ salaries are paid. So, we wanted to be sure that if we remove the joint local government- state account we will not jeopardise the payment of teacher salaries.

“So that is a very contentious issue and we said we have to do further consultation with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and other stakeholders before we can take a decision on that to be sure that we don’t create more problems when we are trying to solve and existing problem.

“We believe we have done sufficient work. This is an incremental approach that we have adopted in the amendment of the constitution. So, what we are saying therefore is that after we have finished with this, if we still have more time before election issues come up, otherwise, maybe the next assembly will decide what to do”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/nigeria-will-restructured-national-assembly/

Those who attended the meeting of Southeast and South-South governors held in Enugu last Sunday, where the two zones agreed to work together, would readily agree that a new beginning that may positively affect the two regions has started. This is not because meetings of such nature have not held in the past among groups in the regions, but because the enthusiasm to drive this new beginning is now being driven by their political leaders.

At the meeting were governors Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (Rivers); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); and David Umahi (Ebonyi), Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo) Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Benedict Ayade (Cross River) and deputy governor of Anambra, Dr. Nkem Okeke.

At various times and levels, people of southeast and south-south zones had cooperated and seen themselves as brothers, despite political creations that excised one from the other. For instance, the agitation for Biafra actualisation being championed by Igbo youths has always received support of the south-south.

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on the other hand, has always promoted this brotherhood and had engaged leaders of the zones in meetings. So also the South East South-South Professionals (SESSPN), led by Dr. Emeka Ugwuoju, which at various times had articulated ways of cooperation on economic development agenda for the two zones.
The professional group, which has always rotated meetings among the states, as well as involved indigenes in the Diaspora, believes that the two zones would serve their needs better, if they cooperate in areas of agriculture, energy, healthcare, education, tourism and power, among others, especially going by the nature of the areas and the ingenuity of their people.

In what has been termed a bold move, last week, their governors gathered at the meeting held in Nike Lake Hotel, which was the second in less than two months, and agreed to “politically work together as a people bounded by same culture and affinity.”

Akwa Ibom State governor, Emmanuel Udom, who read statement from the meeting, said it centered on discussions for regional and political cooperation. He noted that they reviewed the state of the nation, particularly as it affects the two regions and agreed to “pursue inter-regional cooperation.”

He said: “This forum will be for integration and economic benefit of the two regions. We have also resolved to politically work together and realign as a people that shared common heritage, culture and affinity. I was unanimously chosen by “my brother governors as the interim chairman of the forum.”

Although he said the group’s next meeting would be in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on August 27, analysts believe the current scheme of things in the country, which has forced the two zones into agitating for restructuring, could have given rise to the creation of the common platform.

Those who hold this view said it is predicated on the fact that governors produced in the zones before now never deemed it necessary holding such gathering, apparently due to their belief that they were in the comfort zone. They insisted that while the southeast had claimed marginalisation in the scheme of things, especially on political appointments and federal presence, the South-South has not received the kind of attention it deserves, as the hen that lays the golden egg in its contribution to national economy.

The feeling is that the pattern of voting during the 2015 elections, where the two zones massively opted for opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) exacerbated their predicament.

Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, brought this uncomfortable state of affairs to the fore, while justifying need for the meeting in his opening address, when he said: “Today, it is difficult to travel from Enugu to Port Harcourt, following dearth of roads in the region.
Currently, about five percent of power generation in the country is allocated to the southeast, and in the same manner, people cannot also fly from the southeast or south-south to other zones, but must fly to Abuja to get connecting flight to any of the regions, unless you can afford chartered flight. We have poor socio-economic infrastructure and the tourism sector is under-developed in the Southeast and South-south zones.

“These two regions are joined not only by history, geography and brotherhood, but also by challenges. I believe that a sustained Southeast and South-south consultation will foster the much-needed inter-regional cooperation and will accelerate competitive development, thoughtfulness, economic prosperity, industry and socio-political harmony. Even the Bible teaches that two heads are better than one. So, working together, we have a chance of addressing socio-economic challenges facing the regions.”

Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, took the position further, when he said the coming together was to talk about economic survival of the two regions, as well as look at possible ways of “bringing our ingenuity and making use of our huge deposits of both human and natural resources to attain economic viable zones in Nigeria.”

Umahi noted that there are assets in the zones that are presently redundant in the areas of roads, seaports and industrial expansion among others, explaining that the desire was to do something new and differently.

However, Edo and Delta States were not at the meeting. Analysts insist that the two regions fared better under the defunct Eastern Region before they were divided by political creations.

Immediate past Secretary-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu, who recalled the relationship between the two zones, stated that they had not only worked together economically, but also bonded politically. He added that the constitution that created three regions in the country saw the late Prof Eyo Ita as leader of government business in the east.

He told The Guardian that the defunct Eastern Region voted together under the now rested National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), a political platform formed before independence, adding that the1963 incident, where the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe colluded with some Igbos to remove Eyo Ita from headship of the Eastern Region, sowed the seed of discord between the two regions.

He said: “That was the point of departure, as it angered the minority tribes and led to the formation of Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers (COR)
movement, where they decided to be in opposition against the Igbos. This resentment and antagonism movement was led by E.O Eyo from Uyo and this made them align against Igbo, as they tilted toward the Action Group.

He added that it was a further attempt to break the hegemony that led Federal Government into fusing Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom with Delta and Edo, which were originally part of the defunct Mid-western states.

“So, it was to breach this gap created by the late Zik that informed the philosophy of Ohanaeze to unconditionally support the candidature of a minority person, Goodluck Jonathan, in the 2011 and 2015 elections,” he explained. “It was a well-thought out attempt aimed at asking for forgiveness for that 1953 (mis) adventure and that is why I said no regrets voting for Jonathan. What we are considering had no connection with the crumbs of political office from the presidency. We are pursuing more lasting objectives.

“A synergy with our brothers from South-South is for greater economic and political benefit, because an eastern economic bloc will be more competitive in performance than a segmented hand- in-gloves approach for political offices. This synergy is exactly what we require and when it must have been achieved, they should reach out to the West, Middle Belt and then Northeast.

“In terms of economic integration, we need the ports in Port Harcourt and Onne. Our Imo River in Owerri crossed into the Atlantic Ocean at Opobo, and if we can dredge the river, we will boost business in the regions. We will no longer need to go to Lagos to clear our goods. There is a bigger market in Onitsha and Aba, and we will grow the eastern cluster. We have the Aba, Onitsha/Nnewi cluster. We will also retain our population and prevent them from moving out of the zone in search of jobs. There will be foreign attractions to investments in the zone. So, it is kudos to Ohanaeze Ndigbo that has always said and sang the mantra of ‘think home, invest home.’ There is no better time to do this than now that Igbos are being threatened in the country. It is the right step in the right direction.”

Also speaking, elder statesman, Chief Ralph Obioha, stressed that such a move is needed to usher in development, peace and stability in the country. He stated that such gatherings would have reduced the clamour for restructuring going by the objectives being pursued by those behind it.

He said: “The series of agitation is for the betterment and welfare of the people, and even when there has been clamour for political power, it has not been as loud as the clamour for economic emancipation. So, be that as it may, any reasonable gathering of such nature, which advances good governance, should be encouraged. This is because the impact would be felt on areas of health, education and security, among others. If they can advance this forum to a level, where they can make monthly financial contributions, you will be amazed at where they can be in the shortest possible time.

“These are nine states that have been under one government before now. They have natural endowments that have remained untapped; they have the ingenuity, as well as the market. All that required to be done is to have such infrastructure as ring roads, sea and airports where they can effectively benefit from it, and you would see a boom in the region.”

Obioha said he did not see any obstacle in the way of the forum, since its essence was advancement of development and economic wellbeing of the people, adding that membership of two states belonging to different political parties – Anambra and Imo, which are APGA and APC respectively, was not a threat to the union.

“If the states buried their political leanings to agree to work together, it shows they have realised it will be a win-win situation, which will further advance their political fortunes, if sustained. I quite agree it should be extended to the southwest zone,” he explained.

A political analyst, Dr. Jude Kalu, stated that the affected zones could have become “economic giants before now,” had they taken into accounts suggestions and certain proposals and memos made by different groups asking for the cooperation.

He said his major fear was if the forum would not become “another political jamboree, as well as a platform to actualise 2019 general election.”

“Some of the governors are presently on the last lap of their tenure, and where that is the case, others coming after them may not see this vision as a reality. But where they all believe in it, then the job would have become easier,” he said.

On the long run, however, he believed a sustained meeting of the two zones could be used to negotiate political power.
“Modern day politics take into consideration areas of comparative advantage, which could be harnessed for the development of the society,” he said. “You can see the trend in the movement of political power in the country. It is such that has not factored the two zones, except the circumstances that brought former President Goodluck Jonathan to power. Now in the event, where you don’t have the population, which of course determines the election, your next alternative is economic power.

If the two zones can pull resources and position their economy in such a way that it could be attractive to other zones, it could be used to negotiate political power. That to me is very important.

“The efforts to transform the country have been frustrated and will remain so, as long as a section continues to benefit from it. To look inwards and work out survival strategies remain the best option and the togetherness in these two divides is very vital.”
https://m.guardian.ng/politics/southeast-south-south-governors-to-recreate-old-eastern-region/

Seun Lalasticlala mynd44