₦airaland Forum

The whole of Africa has not stopped talking about the girl to girl act in the all star‘s house. A few days before Kenya‘s Sheila was kicked out of the Mnet‘s Big Brother Africa, she and Namibia‘s Meryl made out under the same bed for over 30 minutes as the rest of the housemates were out there in the jacuzzi. Meryl and Sheila kissed, touched and did all silly things as the barn mates watched every move they made under the sheets.

This left all the barn mates perplexed because they watched a lot going down between these two.

This hurt Hanningtion so much that he kept on saying ‘‘I knew it‘‘ and he added that he wants to go back to the house. Yacob said that was cool because they showed them what viewers are able to see.

Tatiana said that it looks like it is not the first time they were doing, it looks like they have been at it all this while.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009051395245

To prevent external attack during the 2011 general elections, the Nigeria Immigration Service has said it will monitor movement of aliens into the country.

The Comptroller of the Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Emmanuel Gbuuga, stated this on Friday during a one-day stakeholders‘ meeting with hoteliers in the state.

Gbuuga said the move was part of the security measures embarked upon by the command to ensure hitch-free elections in 2011.

He explained that only foreigners that respected the immigration laws and regulation would be allowed to live and work in the country.

Urging hoteliers to keep data on aliens, Gbuuga said such had become necessary to safeguard the country against external attack during the election.

He said, ”In recent times, there have been reported cases of smuggling of drugs and other daily weapons. Children are also trafficked from our shores into neighbouring countries.

“It is also alleged that some of these crimes are often committed in the confines of hotel rooms.

”Our service has put in place structures and instruments that will assist us to identify illegal immigrants and people of questionable character.

“In our custody are stop lists, watch lists and suspect index to guide us in apprehending people that are a security risk to the people and government of Nigeria.

”The meeting will also help us to coordinate and monitor the movement of expatriates through daily returns on lodgers‘ register that will give us data on all lodgers in hotels and guest houses within the state.”

Apart from monitoring alien‘s movement, the comptroller also identified greed as the major reason why people go into trafficking.

Gbuuga explained that traffickers sneaked in through their local agents, saying if there were no suppliers, they would desist from coming into the country.

He reasoned that public enlightenment campaign would help in reducing the menace in the country.

The comptroller added that the command had intensified partnership with relevant agencies such as the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters in winning the war against traffickers.

”Child labour is not a problem of the elite. It is the problem of the people who are downtrodden and below the poverty line.

“They source for the human cargo in villages as a result of material wealth. Poverty is not usually the reason why people go into trafficking but greed.

”People who use children as labourers do not have the fear of God and they also lack respect for humanity.

“Poverty is a relative term. A poor man in Nigeria is a big man elsewhere. If you are satisfied with the basic things of life, there is no need using children as labourers,” Gbuuga said.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100905211520

Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State on Saturday in a 10-minute statewide broadcast tendered an unreserved public apology to Christians in Imo State and Nigeria over the humiliation of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Eustace Okorie, by officers of the State Security Service (SSS) attached to him.

In a broadcast, which was relayed on the state’s radio and television stations, the governor, who returned to the state on Saturday after a medical trip abroad, noted that he had led his cabinet members to apologise to the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. Obinna, under whose Ecclesiastical Province the priest serves.

But on realising how the matter has inflamed passion in the state for weeks on ends, he said, “That notwithstanding, I hereby once more tender an unreserved apology to Reverend Father Eustace Okorie, the Roman Catholic Church and the entire Christians in Imo State and Nigeria.

“I respect ordained people of God, no matter the religion or denomination. My wife was born and bred a Catholic; my mother was born and bred a Catholic; I was raised a God-fearing Anglican. I have solid Catholics in my cabinet. So it is unthinkable that I would disrespect or order the humiliation of any man of God. The incident is unfortunate and saddens us all.”

The governor however expressed dismay over the role of some politicians and mischief makers who took advantage of the situation to plant advertorials in newspapers with a non-existent “Catholic Mothers’ Forum.”

He said this was with the clear intention of aggravating the already tense situation, adding, “Religion and politics have never mix well. So I implore those who are bent on instigating a sectarian crisis or inter-denominational war to stop in the interest of the state.”

The public apology by Governor Ikedi Ohakim has stirred emotions and attracted commendation from a cross-section of the predominantly Christian state of Imo, especially the catholic community.

Meanwhile, the wife of the governor, Barrister Chioma Ohakim, had in the course of her August meeting visits to council areas across the state continued to apologise for the overzealousness of the security personnel who humiliated the priest. The incident, which she described as unfortunate and sad, she said is one that must not recur.




http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67066:catholic-priest-saga-ohakim-wife-apologise-to-imo-people-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

•Jonathan: Mbadiwe flays South-East govs

A former Governor of Abia State and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, will declare his presidential ambition for 2011 any moment from now.

The Nigerian Compass on Sunday exclusively gathered that Kalu had a meeting with his followers in his Abuja residence on Friday where plans were set on motion for his presidential ambition next year.

It was also gathered that Kalu may have finally buried the idea of the returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as he is said to be perfecting plans to return to the PPA, a platform he used to prosecute his presidential ambition in 2007.

It would be recalled that Kalu had earlier declared his intention to return to the PDP and also led some chieftains of the PPA on a courtesy visit to the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

But his intention to return to the party has been on the hold as some leaders of the PDP are alleged to be frustrating it.

They are said to prefer having the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, in the party’s fold.

A source close to Kalu told the Nigerian Compass on Sunday that the former governor’s main reason for joining the presidential race is to remain relevant in politics and use his relevancy to win the governorship of Abia State next year.

According to the source, Kalu’s plan is to have the impeached Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Chris Akomas, emerge as the governorship candidate of the PPA and eventually the governor.

But another source based in Aba, Abia State, told the Nigerian Compass on Sunday that Kalu has been making frantic efforts to reach out to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state for an alliance.

According to this source, Kalu’s move to work with the ACN might be frustrated by the party’s only governorship aspirant in the state, Prince Paul Ikonne.

Ikonne was Kalu’s former Special Assistant and Special Adviser.

The source said Ikonne told members of the ACN in the state that having Kalu in their midst would be a minus to his governorship aspiration and also present the party as an anti-people party since Kalu is already seen as an anti-people politicians in the state.

Efforts to reach Ikonne on his mobile telephone were unsuccessful.

He was said to be attending the Ngwa Convention in the United States of America.

Meanwhile, there were also indications that Kalu’s plan to return to the PPA could also frustrated by a faction of the party that had already expelled him.

In another development in the race to the 2011 presidential election, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Congo, Chief Greg Mbadiwe, has urged the people of the South-East to openly declare support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s presumed presidential ambition.

Mbadiwe chided the governors of the South-East geopolitical zone for not taking a stand at their recent meeting on the 2011 presidential election.

Mbadiwe said a solid support for Jonathan by the people of the South-East would brighten their prospect of occupying the presidency in the future.

Mbadiwe, a lawyer and Chairman of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) told newsmen on Saturday that the passive stand of the Igbos on the 2011 presidential election was not in the interest of the race.

“The South-East should not tremble, neither should they equivocate. We must move forcefully to access power by supporting President Jonathan in 2011,” he said.

The former envoy posited that the emergence of Jonathan as president through democratic means in 2011 would send across the right signal that Igbos could also be president.

According to him, the election of Jonathan would also break the myth of a particular section of the country holding power in perpetuity.

He said, “Jonathan’s presidency is a unifying factor in Nigeria. It is like the Obama presidency. When somebody from a disadvantaged area rises to the pinnacle of power in his country, it brings with it the hope that change can come to the region.”

On the non-commitment of the South-East governors to Jonathan’s perceived presidential project, Mbadiwe urged them to quickly queue behind the President as the masses of the zone are in full support of the project.

He said, “As leaders, I expected our governors to have consulted with their people before making any proclamation. If they did that, it would have been clear to them that the masses see Jonathan’s presidency as a precursor to one of them being president in future.

He said it was unfortunate that while the South-East, which has a stake in the future of the country was still dilly-dallying, the South-West took the initiative from them by declaring support for Jonathan, adding, “My take is that we should learn to be proactive in order to strike a good bargain. In our bid to get power, we cannot keep shouting marginalisation while at the same time remaining docile. This is the time to make a move.”




http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67067:kalu-plans-return-to-ppa-for-presidency-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

A Nigerian, Okpako Mike Diamreyan, has been sentenced to more than 12 years in a United States prison for orchestrating an advance payment scam that swindled victims out of more than $1.3m (N180m).

Diamreyan, was also ordered to pay more than N150m to the 67 victims he duped from 2004 to 2009.

According to US prosecutors, Diamreyan and his accomplice worked doggedly to dupe their victims, calling one victim more than 1,200 times over a two-year period.

Diamreyan claimed to have various consignments stored in Ghana worth millions of dollars and promised his victims a 20-per cent commission in exchange for financial help in transferring funds to the US.

He reportedly began committing advance-fee fraud in Nigeria and Ghana no later than 2004. In 2008, he came to the United States, where he married a young woman who supported him by having two jobs and going to school at night.

Instead of taking advantage of this opportunity to start a new life, the defendant continued participating in the fraud scheme and, in fact, used his presence in the United States to further the fraud.

According to court papers monitored online, Diamreyan immigrated to the United States on May 30, 2008 and married a lady, Martine Javier, on June 19, 2008.

He was arrested on August 27, 2009 and convicted by a jury of three counts of wire fraud on February 16, 2010. Starting no later than August 2004, and continuing until his arrest in August 2009, he participated in an advance-fee fraud scheme both in Ghana and the US.

US prosecutors disclosed that the advance fee fraud involved, ” Sending email messages to potential victims about large sums of money or other assets; making false and fraudulent representations about advance fees that the victims had to pay to obtain the money or assets, among others.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009052315743

The outgoing Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, has blamed the crisis currently rocking his party on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Ume-Ezeoke, who is expected to finally step down as chairman of the party on Monday, stated this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent moments after the party‘s national executive meeting held in Abuja

The PDP, he alleged, had bought over some of the ANPP members with the intention to destabilise the latter.

According to him, because the PDP is crumbling, it has, therefore, decided that the ANPP will also go down with it.

He said, ”PDP is crumbling and is heading now for a disaster. I believe that the cause of their problem, which we are trying to avoid in this party, has led many of them calling and telling me to keep the doors open for them that they are coming over because they don‘t know what they are doing there.

”They have asked how can we allow ANPP to take away all the good men who are in our party after we have laboured to bring them back because all the people who trooped back to PDP are jumping back again.

“So, they had to purchase some of our men and told them not to allow the party to remain strong, telling them that we have agents of mass action who will take to the streets if they lose elections. Unfortunately, those people believed them and held an illegal NEC meeting.”

However, Chief Ume-Ezeoke commended the security agents and the Independent National Electoral Commission for scuttling what he described as an illegal meeting and vowed that ANPP had the men and strategy to win the presidency in 2011.

But in a swift response, the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, denied the accusation and said the ANPP was not strong enough to warrant any attention from the PDP.

Nwodo, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ike Abonyi said, ”Well, I don‘t think that party has been existing since Buhari left. Buhari gave the party strength and when he left there was no party left so the question of somebody creating problem to weaken the party is just by the way.

“The point is that PDP is so preoccupied with containing the numerous people seeking its ticket and does not have time to quarrel with people who have not been there before. With 29 of the 36 states controlled by PDP today and we are preparing for elections, where every elective position has a minimum of five persons vying for PDP‘s ticket, we are so preoccupied that ANPP is the least of our problems.”

ANPP has been facing leadership crisis, a development that has resulted in the factionalisation of the party and the purported sacking of the Ume-Ezeoke-led national executive.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100905230792

THE Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has called on the Nigeria and United States of America Bi-National Commission on Niger Delta Peace Process to investigate the sources of arms and ammunition surrendered by the repentant Niger Delta ex-militants during the amnesty programme.

Akpabio stated this on Friday when the Commission led by Amb. Bola Kuku, visited him at the government house, Uyo.

The governor explained that it was not just enough for the Federal Government to ignore the sources of arms surrendered by the ex-militants, but a full scale investigation should be carried out in order to prevent the proliferation of other small arms into the country especially in South-East and South-South.

Akpabio said, ”Nigeria should go beyond just collecting the arms to finding out where the arms come from. All the bombs that were returned when the militants laid down their arms should be investigated. The arms have manufacturing dates and countries of manufacture.

”Niger Delta is enmeshed in kidnapping and we must help in fighting the menace. Cross-border crime is getting out of hand and this should also be addressed.”

The governor said globally countries like Mexico topped the list of hostage taking followed by USA, adding that Nigeria had also witnessed a few cases of kidnapping recently.

He stressed that there was need for the body to co-operate in fighting the cross border crime, saying Abia State had been the kidnappers‘ haven.

While commending the late President Umaru Yar‘Adua, for tackling the problem of the Niger Delta through the amnesty programme, Akpabio charged the commission to assist in the implementation of the initiatives to reduce the high rate of militancy and to bring about sustainable development in the region.

He added, ”Niger Delta is not just a topical but a necessary issue. For over 45 years, Nigeria has relied on the region for crude oil which has led its mono-economy status. Yet, the region is the most neglected.

”In many places in the world, development moves from oil producing areas to the urban centres but in Nigeria, development moves from Abuja and Lagos while leaving the Niger Delta region out.”

Responding, Kuku said the pact for the formation of the commission was signed on April 4, 2010, between Nigeria and the United States of Amercia to provide development and regional security.

The body, he added, was designed to lift relations between the countries and to particularly assist Nigeria in ensuring transparency during the 2011 general elections, promote peace and provide infrastructure in the Niger Delta.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009052173692

Tougher times await politicians, especially the corrupt ones as the Code of Conduct Bureau has vowed to put a stop to their ambition of participating in the 2011 general elections, SUNDAY PUNCH has gathered.

Already, the bureau, it was learnt, has begun the compilation of a list of public office-holders believed to have compromised the code of ethics governing their offices.

The list, it was also gathered, would be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as a guide to check the quality of aspirants for the election.

It will similarly contain names of past and present government officials who have indicated interests to run for elections but are found wanting in character and conduct.

The Chairman of the CCB board, Mr. Sam Saba, who confirmed the bureau‘s fresh moves to stop questionable candidates in the forthcoming poll to our correspondent, said it would no longer be business as usual.

He said, ”In this dispensation, as we approach the electoral period, only officers who are transparent, honest and who have matched integrity with action will be recommended for elective offices. You cannot be a person who is not law abiding and now want to contest elections overnight.

”We are going to look into our records. If you are a public officer, while you are in office, have you declared your assets? If you have declared, when did you declare? Were you truthful and honest in filling the forms? If you are not, your names will be among the names that will be forwarded to INEC so that INEC will know what to do with them.”

While confirming that the list would soon be ready, he added, ”All governors, all deputies, and all members of the legislature that are due for elections and local government chairmen will be verified.”

Specifically, our correspondent gathered that the names of governors and their deputies, members of both state and national assemblies, special advisers, former military administrators and local government chairmen who are aspiring for positions in 2011 will be included in the list. Persons who had held or are holding public offices but failed to declare their assets before and after such offices are also said to be in the list.

Those whose names are being documented are said to have contravened the code of conduct for public officials stipulated in the Fifth Schedule, Part One of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

To be included are those who lied while filling their assets declaration forms, public officials who are operating foreign accounts and those who are currently being investigated for money laundering.

The EFFC has also confirmed that it was liaising with the bureau to frustrate corrupt politicians from seeking elective positions in the next year‘s poll.

The commission‘s Head of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, said, ”You know that the CCB has the constitutional power to ban some people from contesting. This is why we are collaborating with it.”

The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1990, gave the bureau the mandate to establish and maintain a high standard of public morality in the conduct of government business and to ensure that the actions and behaviour of public officers conform to the highest standard of public morality and accountability.

The Act also empowers the bureau in Section Seven to remove erring officers from their positions and to disqualify persons found guilty of contravening the code from holding certain elective positions.

Our correspondent gathered that the bureau through its department of investigation and monitoring, had been compiling complaints from members of the public, of breaches of the code of conduct by public officers.

Such breaches include indiscipline, abuse of office, lack of accountability, corruption and unethical conduct in government business.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100905222042

YOUTHS in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have protested the proposed creation of the Bori State out of the state.

The youths, who gathered under the aegis of Asama Eleme Movement, said Eleme was against the proposed state because those interested in it were doing so for selfish reasons.

Displaying placards to buttress their rejection of a new state, the youths numbering up to a hundred pointed out that the people of Ogoni would dominate Eleme in the scheme of things if the new state was created.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, ‘Eleme cannot be forced to be part of Bori State;‘ ‘Rather a minority than a slave. Keep your Bori State;‘ ‘Asama Eleme says No to Bori State;‘ and ‘Eleme for Rivers, not Bori State‘.

The spokesman of the group and coordinator, Asama Eleme Movement, Mr. Jonah Chujor, who led the youngsters to King of Elemeland, Emere Samuel Ejire, said the name given to the proposed state was strange to them.

Chujor recalled that the people of Ogoni had stated in the draft for the creation of the state that they were the major stakeholders, describing the action as undemocratic.

H said, ”The name of the state (Bori) is strange to us as a people, but peculiar to only the Ogonis. To the best of our knowledge, there is nowhere in Nigeria that the name of a state reflects only a set of people among all that make up the state.

”We are not comfortable with the language of the demand for the proposed state. For an instance, on Page 12 of the draft, the Ogonis have stated that they are the major stakeholders in the proposed state. This is not only undemocratic, but connotes possessive tendencies.”

He expressed the fear that the people of Eleme might lose their identity, adding that the Ogoni had always sought a way to subsume the Eleme ethnic nationality.

Chujor, however, noted that the group would soon take its protest to the National Assembly, saying ”Asama Eleme Movement rather considers the move to force Eleme to be part of the proposed state as a grand design and ploy by the Ogoni to swindle Eleme into eternal captivity and slavery.”

Responding, King Ejire, explained that the identity of Eleme must be considered in the proposed state, but urged the youths not to personalise the issue.

The royal father promised to wade into the matter in the interest of peace.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009052125053

The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kunle Salako, has said he is not contesting the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state in order to cover up any alleged misdeeds of the incumbent governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Salako, who stated this while declaring his intention to contest the party‘s governorship ticket, on Friday in Abeokuta, said Daniel had not pushed him forward to contest as being widely speculated in the state.

The commissioner, a medical practitioner, who had also manned the Ministry of Housing and Agriculture under the current administration , is believed to enjoy a tremendous political goodwill of the governor, a factor many believed would be crucial in his political calculations.

Salako, however, dismissed the insinuation, saying the political realities in the country had made god-fatherism an unattractive political equation in the country.

He said, ”We have seen what has happened in the country in terms of god father and god child in this country. We have seen where those involved have parted ways; almost all cases in this country. Even if you put your wife in charge, her action will be dictated by the realities on the ground. So, I‘m not fronting for the governor; the truth is there is no way that I will be contesting without informing him being my principal.

”I have carried out my assessment; I have carried out a soul searching; I have spoken to my God and I‘m convinced that I have the goodwill and the qualities to make a success of this assignment. So, I‘m not here or contesting for the governorship because I want to cover up OGD; I‘m not contesting to witch-hunt anybody. My aim is to take Ogun State to the next level.”

Salako explained that his focus would be to leverage on the geographical advantages the state had by being the only state that surrounds Lagos on all sides, to fast-track the economic and industrial development of the state.

”Four of our local governments here surround Lagos: Ifo, Obafemi Owode, Ado Odo/Ota and Sagamu. This is very strategic. What we need to do is to capitalize on this to ensure rapid growth of the communities in Ogun,” said the commissioner, who added that the state was blessed with adequate natural resources.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009051412010

Professor Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), will this month begin his mobilization of voters for the forthcoming general elections with a lecture titled: ‘Credible Leaders: The Role of Faith-Based Organisations’ in Abuja. The event is part of activities organised to mark the opening ceremony of the 2010 FCT/Niger Seminar of Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God.

A statement from the organisation said the public lecture was being organised as a part of the social service of the religion, to help Nigerians better understand their roles and necessary contributions towards credible leadership at every sphere of life.

The Eckankar Area Director of Abuja and environs, Engr. Emeka Ezeh, who is also the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), said the annual seminar is scheduled for between September 23rd and 26th.

He enjoined members of the public to seize this opportunity for self-improvement, enlightenment, and acquisition of spiritual skills for survival.

Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, Chairman of the Seminar Planning Committee, and organisers of the lecture, said the topic was informed by the fact that Nigerians are highly faith-based people. He said because every Nigerian belongs to one faith or the other, assigning special roles to faith-based organisations throughout the country would be as good as involving every Nigerian in a special way towards raising credible leadership at all levels.





http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/12201.html

The Bishop of Ijesa North-East Anglican Diocese, Rt Rev Alaba Olusola, has described some past leaders of the country as rogues, who should be behind bars for ruining the country‘s economy.

Olusola, in a synod address entitled ”Our nation, Nigeria,” which was obtained by our correspondent, on Saturday, described some of these past leaders as ‘shameless‘.

He said, ”It is unfortunate that these shameless people, who ought to be languishing behind bars in maximum prison yards, are warming up to come back to power, going about displaying their ill-gotten wealth with impunity.

”Ours is a nation where lies, lawlessness, greed, corruption and apathy have become acceptable style of life and instrument of governance; speaking the truth has become strange in our polity.”

Olusola said it was high time elected offices were made financially unattractive in order that people with commitment and passion to serve would emerge.

He lamented that Nigerian legislators receive stupendous salaries and emoluments without contributing positively to the betterment of the masses‘ lots.

He said, ”There is nothing that makes a man more socially irresponsible than to have such amounts of money these legislators have access to without giving account to anybody. The misconception of public service being a fool‘s errand does not hold with our legislatures and executives.

”With the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, claiming that they spent N21 billion last year as travelling allowance, why should we have expected them to do serious work?

”Of course, they are spending nobody‘s father‘s money, so, they can choose to spend more time in the air than in their ‘hallowed chamber‘.”

He said Nigeria needed a President that would be driven by a sense of urgency and sense of speed because this was a critical period in the history of the country.

He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle the ever-rising problem of insecurity across the country, saying the phenomenon posed danger to foreign investment drive of the government.

The cleric also charged the president to tackle the problems of religious intolerance, poor social infrastructures and poor funding of education.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009052231492

Dan Iwuanyanwu, Chairman of the Labour Party, states the party's preparation for next year's elections and his ideas about Nigerian politics. Excerpts:

EFCC's power to disqualify candidates

EFCC cannot do it. They don't have the capacity. The law is also not on their side. Don't forget the last Supreme Court judgment, Atiku vs. Obasanjo and INEC, the Supreme Court was very unequivocal that it is only the court of law that can stop any candidate from running or contesting a position in the land.

We knew elections will come up in 2011; all the cases investigated by Nuhu Ribadu, about 32 of the former governors, more than 80 per cent of them are not even in court. It has been frustrated. Look at the systematic way that the war against corruption was truncated.

Immediately Yar'Adua came in, he appointed an attorney general who didn't believe in the fight against corruption so he decided to dismantle all the monuments set up by Ribadu. If we had continued with them, by now we won't be talking about stopping corrupt politicians. I'm not saying Ribadu was indispensable, but we had somebody who got the job done. We refused to do things that right way and today we are crying wolf.

Special court for corruption cases

Even without the EFCC, our laws are strong. But the point is that we must have anti-corruption courts that will not tolerate unnecessary adjournments. Corruption is an exceptional circumstance and should be fought through exceptional means. Once a prima facia case has been established against an accused, that accused must remain in detention until after trial. That was how they fought corruption across the globe. In Japan and Korea, they don't want to be dragged to court. They look for the tallest building and take a jump in order not to disgrace their family name. But here, we have lost shame. The same people will come back and they want to be president.

But one thing I am happy about is that time does not run against crime. You can still charge the same people to court 20 years to come. They are only postponing the evil day. A time shall come in this country when one man will come as president and bring all these people to book. From that day, put on your socket, and you will see light. Turn on your tap, and you will see water; you get to the road, you wouldn't know when you have done 20 kilometres. All these are things that will come to pass when you have good leadership.

Does the Labour Party have such candidates?

We have not reached there yet. The problem with Nigeria is that anything that happens, we will begin to call PDP. You will see surprises; the candidate that will win the election, you have not seen them. Let them exhaust themselves. Labour Party will present a presidential candidate in this election. We hand him over to Nigerians. Nigerian people, if you are happy with what you have seen in the past years, don't vote for him. But if you want a change, vote for him. In case you don't vote for him, then keep your mouths shut and don't you ever complain of anything till thy kingdom come because you would have given out your rights. You see, that vote will be important this time around. Enough is enough.

Up till now, we have four solid candidates. All of them will go into one room and give us one person. We don't know where he comes from. We will hand him over to Nigerians and say this man will work for you. We are not interested in zoning; that's a PDP affair. Forget about this tribal thing. I agree we must not lose sight of it in trying to unite the country, but that is when it comes to appointments.

You can no longer push Nigerians to a point where all we will be talking about is tribe.

The party's criterion for selecting a candidate

Even if you go through the constitution of our party, our party is a growing one; we don't have limitations except the guidelines that will be set up by the National executive Council. They will meet on Tuesday and approve the guidelines both for the congresses and for the primaries. What is important and paramount to us is to have a presidential candidate that can stand the test of time and understands Nigeria and that is ready to work. We don't want a situation where we have a candidate who does not understand Nigeria but, because he is from one part of the country, he is voted into office.

The relevance of the CNN to emergence of candidates

We agreed in the CNN (Coalition for New Nigeria) that this 23 + 3 political parties will have one presidential candidate under one political party. We are serious because there is no way we can continue with this number of indigent parties that we have. These parties are not working hard to get even a councillor seat, but are working hard to endorse the presidential candidate of PDP. Today, they are all sleeping and meeting in Trancorp Hilton. Who is paying the bills? Tax payers' money, just to meet and endorse the candidate of PDP. There are also parties that are working hard and they will work had till the end because they are not there to give endorsements.

The ideology of the Labour Party

The motto of our party is equal opportunity. Our party is hinged on the ideals of equal social opportunity and social democracy. We want the poor to leave poverty. We are not interested in whether the rich is getting richer or poorer, so that we will not be seen as a party that is against the rich because we are poor. No. The rich can get richer if they so desire. But the poor must leave poverty. No child will go to bed without food in his stomach. That is why we have problem with the ruling party. They don't care about what happens to you.

In Labour Party, we are committed to change and we are not talking rhetoric. We have the blueprint that will be launched immediately a Labour Party president emerges. We have a blueprint that will turn around this country. On a daily basis, you would see changes.

Membership of Donald Duke in the party

As of yesterday, I don't think Donald Duke has joined our party. But he has the right to be a member of our party. I am aware he resigned from the PDP but he is not yet a member of our party. Donald Duke is my friend. I know he intends to play a major role in 2011, but I don't know under which platform. In our party, we don't force people. Labour Party is a brand name. We can only talk to you, without being immodest, that you are in the wrong place; why not come and run under our platform? Some have moved, but we don't pressurize people because if you pressurize them, they may jump out when things get worse.

What about Nuhu Ribadu?

He has also not joined our party.





http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5614687-146/labour_party_will_make_a_difference.csp

Babatunde Gbadamosi is the Director of Amen Estates and a PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Lagos State. He speaks on governance and politics in the state. Excerpt:

What is your political background?

I lived mostly with my grandfather, who was one of Action Group’s financiers. He taught me that service to the people is more than any amount of money one could ever make in the world. As I grew up, I began to see what he meant as I observed different governments fail their people repeatedly.

I was a member of NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) in the UK and we internationalised the fight against Abacha’s dictatorial rule. I want to believe that my activities then contributed in some small way to the advent of democracy in Nigeria.

Your grandfather was a member of Awolowo’s party, why did you join the PDP?

Many people from Awolowo’s political heritage moved into PDP by 2003. So, those claiming to be Awoist now are the furthest from Awoism. If Awolowo is to rule Lagos for 12 years, it won’t be like it is now.

I have been a sympathiser of PDP since 2002 because of things I heard President Olusegun Obasanjo say then and started supporting the party actively since 2006 prior to the general elections. I admired Obasanjo for being a quiet achiever. He never makes noise about his achievement. If you are a businessman before Obasanjo’s regime, you will appreciate how he stimulated the economy within a few years.

He sorted our poor international image almost totally. Nigeria’s debt was a millstone around our neck and we could have drowned because of it. We had our first reconnaissance equipment, an imaging satellite, also. What about the Universal Basic Education, anticorruption campaign, the national economic empowerment strategy, revamping of NIPOST, increase in agro-allied and nonoil exports.

If AC builds a drain, they will construct a billboard that is costlier than the drain itself but Obasanjo just got on with his work, refusing to buy into media hoopla. And that is what I will do when I get into office.

The PDP is the only party with a national outlook. The interest of Lagosians will be better protected in PDP because government at the centre does not interfere with those at the state level.

I simply want to key Lagos into all the exciting things that are happening at the federal level. We are missing out on a lot. Whatever is being done at the federal level will be replicated and improved upon.

What are your plans for Lagos?

I believe I can make a difference in issues that matter to Lagosians. Power generation and road infrastructure are important.

We did a study and discovered that an estimate of N30 billion is expended on power generation daily in Lagos. So, power generation will be a major problem I will solve. Again, we are hearing of fantastic figures being spent on infrastructure by the current government. The figures and the projects do not match at all. We have not seen the money they say they are spending in action.

Can you imagine that LASU-Iba road costs N500 million per kilometre? Adeniran Ogunsanya is just about 3km and there is allegation it was awarded for N11.6 billion. The backstreets of Lagos is in complete mess because the local governments are not allowed to function. The only impact local councils have is in revenue collection. After 11 years, Lagosians still spend about 20 percent of their time in traffic.

I am not saying they didn’t spend the money; all I’m saying is that I will spend a lot less for the same quality of roads. What I want to do is to make our taxes go further than they presently do. Roads construction won’t cost as much as they do now because corruption will be fought to the minimal. Of course we know that will be difficult but it can be done.

Public education, water supply and hygienic environment will closely follow. Healthcare is almost beyond manageability in Lagos now because hygiene is low.

What are your chances in the PDP, knowing that some have been in the race for years now?

PDP in Lagos still has the best internal democracy and our people are sophisticated electorate who know the quality of leaders that can match any competition. The party elders and executives are very wise people who know the terrain and I believe in their ability to lead the party aright. I believe the best aspirant will emerge the party candidate and any such aspirant will surely win Lagos’s gubernatorial election in 2011.

Do you foresee a credible general election in 2011?

A credible election is the job of every Nigerian, especially the youth. I want to tell the youth that it’s not cool not to vote. You have no swagger if you don’t vote. So, get your swagger on, register, vote, and defend your vote because you are taking control of your future by doing that.

Also, the media, especially electronic, has a major role to play and we must harness it. We can use our mobile phones to record election proceedings, take pictures and upload such content unto the Internet.

What’s your assessment of Fashola’s administration?

Of course you can see what he has done but I want people, when assessing the governor to do so in the knowledge of the amount of money at his disposal, not only the internally generated revenue but also the international grants.




http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5614761-146/any_pdp_candidate_will_win_in.csp

Too much of weed coupled with beer.

In a country where 3-square meal cannot be guaranted, N10b and its multiplier effect would have changed our story.

I think Atiku will also like to gain media influence just like his brother(IBB) dey do. LET NIGERIANS DECIDE WHO THEY WANT, WHEN AND WHY.

Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP initiated by leaders of thoughts in the progressive and labour movement led by Chief Anthony Enahoro is to be launched in October 2010 with its pro tem National Chairman, Prof Pat Utomi declaring his presidential aspiration.

The approval letter dated September 1, 2010 was signed by INEC Secretary, Abdullahi A. Kaugama

The Logo of the Party is a gladdening White Horse in a revolutionary orange colour background enclosed in the Nigerian map.




http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67002:utomi-to-announce-bid-in-october&catid=43:news&Itemid=799

Lawyer and coordinator of the Goodluck Support Group in Abia State, Chike Kalu, says the nation needs generation change in its leadership. He speaks with ADEMOLA OLONILUA

It is a surprise that people like you declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan even at a time he had not indicated interest in the presidential race,

From our knowledge of him, he is not a do-or-die politician. He is taking his time, and that is why we want to encourage him and sensitise Nigerians that the President should come in and contest in the 2011 election. He is capable. But he is doing the proper consultation, which is very necessary in view of our own polity. It is very important that he consults widely, which is what he is doing. Our aim is to sensitise the people of Nigeria on the need to make the president run again, based on merit, and, if eventually he wins the primaries, to campaign for him during the general election.

Does the President need so much consultation to declare his interest?

Because of the geographical composition of Nigeria, before you can win the presidency, you must have spread all over the country. He is consulting the various segments of the society – professional groups, ethnic, political, and religious leaders all over the country – to make sure he has the full support of Nigerians before he embarks on this project. And that is what we are doing now. We are consulting and sensitising people in every nook and cranny of this country to make sure we get enough support to see that Mr. President runs and wins the election.

Don‘t you think that it could constitute a distraction when people are campaigning for him when he has not shown interest?

It would not. He banned his aides from campaigning for him probably because it was distracting them. We are the Goodluck Support Group, made up of credible Nigerians, friends, associates, well wishers. We are totally independent of government. We are not employees of the government, and we are not aides of the President. We are just concerned individuals who saw how the economy was drifting apart, who had seen that the system was collapsing and wanted a change. We are trying to convince Nigerians why Mr. President should run in the election. It is not distracting the President at all because we are totally independent of government. If we were, for instance, aides of the government, it could have been distracting us. But we are committing our time, resources and contacts, and mobilising people all over the country to make sure that the President runs for the election, to win the primaries and win the main election.

A lot of people believe that people like you are campaigning for the President for selfish reasons, maybe to secure political appointments,

That impression is erroneous. Our group is made up of is made up of credible Nigerians who are accomplished in different sectors of the economy – politicians, lawyers, doctors, and well wishers. We are asking the people to look at what the President has done in the first 100 days in office. We can see that the economy is turning around. We can see that there is fuel supply. Power is becoming regular and security is getting better. We should send the message that Mr. President is doing well. We are not doing it for our personal motive, but for a patriotic motive; to make sure that the economy of this nation stands and the polity is not heated up, and that our children would have a bright future. One of the leaders said that the the nation is almost a failed state, but we are saying that it is time for generation change. People should come in and support the President. All over the world, young people are ruling. In America, Britain and Russia, they have people below the age of 50 ruling them. But if we just sit on the fence, bad people would come up to rule us. We are saying enough is enough. We are galvanizing the support of Nigeria to come and campaign for Mr. President, not because of our personal reason, but because we love this country. We do not receive any funding from the government. This is a private arrangement where friends, well wishers and individuals come together to put up a structure in support of Goodluck Jonathan. Because we believe that this country has a future and we should not cross our hand and sit on the fence.

A group of women who are also supporters of Goodluck did say that if the President does not declare his interest in the presidential race, they would starve their husbands of sex. Do you subscribe to such measures?

Because of the popularity of the President, there are various groups. But our group is not using threats or cajoling people to garner support. We are saying that based on what the President has done in the past 100 days; based on the fact that he is transparent and we have had so many old leaders in the past and it has not taken us anywhere; that is why we are campaigning. We are only asking him to come out. We are not forcing him.

Some people believe that Jonathan lacks the political clout to succeed as the president. Do you think he can perform?

That is the essence of what we are saying. We are asking for competence. We are not saying you must be from a particular place; we are saying that Mr. President is very competent and the evidence of his competence is what he has done in the past three months. It is so glaring. He has a clout. Who would believe that there would be an attempt from a sitting president to try to re-organise INEC or to engage in electoral reform? And he is even trying to contest in the same election. It means that he is not a do-or-die politician. He wants to do the right thing.

With people like IBB and Atiku also seeking the PDP ticket for the presidential race, do you think Jonathan stands a chance?

He has the brightest chance because of his goodwill and the need for generation change. Most governors are behind him because of what he has done. There are big names in quote, but when it comes to what is on the ground, you would be surprised. The President will have more delegates to be able to run for this election. He has set out what he wants to do. Power reform can not be finished in six months. The Niger-Delta problem can not be finished in six months. He has signed the INEC bill. But it has to be followed up, otherwise it would turn to nothing. Everybody has applauded his appointment of Prof. Jega to head INEC. If he wanted to rig the elections, he would not make that decision. Even opposition parties have said he did well by appointing Prof. Jega and reforming INEC. These alone have endeared him to most Nigerians.

Don’t you see Ibrahim Babangida‘s camp as a threat to that of Jonathan?

He has ruled this country and we thank him for that. But it is not good enough, and that is why we are asking for a change. He does not pose a threat because the President has more support.

Don‘t you think that if Jonathan decides to run, his decision could ruin the PDP?

No, it would not. The PDP had been in worse crisis than this and overcame it. By November, everybody would have known their places in the party. What we are asking for is a chance for the President to contest. We are not saying he must win the election. We believe he is the best candidate. If they have the primaries and another person wins, I can assure you that we will mobilise our support for that person.

People are sceptical about the possibility of a flawless election because of its time frame. Do you also nurse the same fear?

Yes, that fear is well founded because of the time frame. But election must be held. It is under the constitution. Funds have been provided for INEC and its chairman has assured Nigerians that within the time frame, it would be able to hold a fair and credible election. The most important and difficult issue is the voter register. Other things being equal, we are sure that this election will be more credible than that of 1999 election. In Ghana, an opposition party won the election against the party in government. Ghana is a smaller country. What we are saying is that every vote must count. Even if it is PDP that is losing, every vote must count. Let the election be free and fair, and we are confident that INEC would hold a credible election.

What exactly is your reason for supporting Goodluck Jonathan?

There are several reasons we are in support of him. He is a transparent and credible leader who wants to change Nigeria. His ascension to the presidency is divine. He did not plan to be president at this point in time. There is a purpose for his being there, and that is why we must encourage this generation shift.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100904822970

The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, has dismissed rumours that some people are planning to attack Jos residents after the Muslim fasting period.

Aduba, who addressed journalists in Jos on Thursday, dismissed insinuations in some quarters that a number of mosques had been marked for attack before the end of the fasting period, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

The Commissioner of Police said that the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Jama‘tul Nasir Islam, had assured him of peaceful co-existence when he separately paid them working visits recently.

He said, ”While the security agents are working round the clock to trace the source of these rumours, machineries have been put in place to nip any possible upheaval in the bud.

”In its continued effort to ensure that the existing peace in the state is sustained, the command has commenced a meticulous midnight patrol of the Jos metropolis and other parts of the state.”

The city of Jos was the scene of many sectarian riots that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of residents in the last few years. In January 2010, another clash between Christians and Muslims had left several hundreds of people dead and no fewer than 17,000 displaced.

Aduba‘s words may eased fears that the Muslim Ramadan could herald yet another round of violence and wilful destruction of property in the city.

The commissioner of police said the pro-active initiative had started yielding positive results, noting that policemen on midnight patrol had succeeded in ”bursting a gang of notorious robbers”

He said that three suspected burglars and receivers of stolen goods were arrested during the patrol, while the stolen goods, arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

According to him, while some of the suspects apprehended have confessed their crimes, the police are working hard to arrest those on the run.

Aduba advised the public to go about their lawful businesses and report any suspicious movement to security agents.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100904720948

The federal government at the weekend filed two different sets of charges in two courts in Abuja, against some men alleged to have been implicated in the Halliburton bribery scandal.

This may well put an end to speculations that the federal government may just never bring those involved to book.

“There are two sets of charges filed. One set was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, while the other was filed at the FCT High Court,” a top government official told NEXT at the weekend.

Both charges were filed on Friday afternoon.

Investigations by United States law enforcement agencies had listed past Heads of State, including the late Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo, amongst those involved in the scandal.

The charges filed at the federal high court have numbers FHC/ABJ/CR/146/2010, FRN vs Bodunde Adeyanju amongst others include: BillFinger Berger GMBH, Julius Berger etc.

The second batch, filed at the FCT High Court, is filed with charge number FCTHC/CR/95/10, FRN vs Henrich Stockhausen amongst others.

The other names include: Ibrahim Aliyu, AVM A.D Bello, Mohammed Gidado Bakare, Urban Shelters ltd, Intercellular Nig Ltd, SheerWood Petroleum Ltd, Tri Star investment Ltd, Tecnik SA, BV and Kellog Brown and Root.

Determined to prosecute

This is following a promise made by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, who told NEXT in an interview that the government was determined to prosecute all those involved.

“This is an expression of bravery on the part of the AGF, making the move to prosecute that calibre of people, what his predecessors could not do. He should be commended and encouraged to do more,” our source said, hailing the actions of the AGF.

This may be a mile stone in Goodluck Jonathan’s fight against corruption, as this may sound out that no man is above the law.

Meanwhile, the federal goverment has also made moves to put some of its best hands to handle the case.

“They are top prosecutors selected: JB Daudu SAN, Emmanuel Ukala SAN and Godwin Obla,” our source said.




http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5614835-146/government_opens_trial_of_halliburton_bribery.csp

The Freedom of Information Coalition has faulted the statement credited to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Iyiola Omisore, which blamed media practioners in Nigeria for the delay in passage of Freedom of Information Bill into law by the National Assembly.

In the past few years, the struggle for the passage of FOI Bill by the National Assembly has been a tortuous one for FOI advocates in the country bacause of the unwillingness of the lawmakers at the national pass it into law.

Only recently, Omisore was said to have told a select group of journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, that the refusal of the National Assembly to pass the bill was due to the inability of journalists and other key players in the mdia industry to assent to the inclusion in the bill, clauses for penalties for publishing inaccurate information and falsehood.

The FOI Coalition in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Edetaen Ojo said Omisore was not speaking the mind of the National Assembly.

He said, ”We do not believe that he speaks for the National Assembly or indeed the Senate. But we are nonetheless constrained to respond to his claims so that members of the public are not misled into believing that such excuses are tenable.

”It is difficult to understand how the existence of a Freedom of Information Act, which is intended to enable Nigerian citizens, including journalists, obtain authentic, accurate and reliable information from public institutions, will become the instrument to facilitate the publication of falsehoods or inaccurate information.

”However, if the desire of the distinguished senator is to have journalists jailed for publishing falsehood or inaccurate information, he does not need penal sanctions in a Freedom of Information law to enable him do that.”

Acording to the body, there exists in the statute books, many provisions which impose serious sanctions on any journalist that goes beyond his professional boundary.

”In addition to laws on civil defamation, criminal defamation already exists in Nigerian laws, both at the federal level and in several state laws. It is extensively covered in the Criminal Code Act of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. It is also separately provided for in the Defamatory and Offensive Publications Act, also contained in the LFN.

”It is therefore difficult to accept the distinguished senator‘s statement that despite the existence of such laws, concerns about the possibility of abuse of information are responsible for the failure of the National Assembly to pass such an important piece of legislation,” the coalition said, while urging the National Assembly to pass the FOI Bill into law without further delay.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009047255264

Some legal practitioners in the country have said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is not constitutionally empowered to bar corrupt people from contesting the 2011 general elections.

In separate interviews with our correspondent, the lawyers spoke against the backdrop of recent comments made by the Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri.

Farida had said that the commission would collaborate with other anti-corruption agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission to stop corrupt politicians from contesting the elections.

But, constitutional lawyer, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, said only a court of competent jurisdiction could declare someone corrupt.

He said, ”Maybe the EFCC plans to use the court machinery to stop corrupt candidates. Declaring a candidate corrupt and unfit to contest an election requires a conviction for corruption or other economic crimes by court of competent jurisdiction.”

Also, another constitutional lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, said he had no doubt that what the EFCC had been doing was to stamp out corruption from all facets of the economy.

He noted, ”But in our quest to fight corruption, and to ensure purity in our social, economic and political life, we must do so in accordance with the rule of law.

A legal practitioner, Mr. Wahab Shittu, noted that before the EFCC chairman made her statement, she must have been convinced of applicable laws and limitations guiding such policy action.

”Since the commission is yet to provide details of how it intends to bar corrupt people from contesting elections, let‘s believe that it won‘t do anything outside the purview of the law. Whatever measures will be put in place will be within the purview of the law,” he stated.

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed for the support of the coalition of the 46 political parties as pledged by the parties‘ leaders, who paid him a solidarity visit on Thursday in Abuja, if he eventually decides to contest the 2011 presidential election.

Jonathan said after the declaration of support signed by the National Chairmen, and National Secretaries of 33 out of the 46 parties was presented to him by the newly-formed Grand Coalition of Political Parties, that he was humbled by their declaration of support in appreciation of his achievements in office.

”I thank you for your kind words and appreciation of our achievements. With your support, we will work even harder to move Nigeria forward. We must build a country that our children will be proud of and we will contribute our best effort to this project,” he told the leaders of the coalition.

The President assured the group that they would be actively involved in the national campaign if he eventually declares.

The declaration of support by the coalition was presented to Jonathan by Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, the National Chairman of the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy, who said that the 46 political parties had come together to support him in the overriding interest of the country, continued well-being, and progress.

According to Mohammed, 33 out of the 46 political parties signed the declaration of support presented to the President.

”We have chosen to support you because while all other candidates are only offering us proposals, you already have ongoing projects to improve the living conditions of Nigerians. We will not only work for you, we will go out and campaign actively for your victory,” Mohammed told the President.

Others who spoke in the same vein on the occasion included Chief Udemba Chukwudolue, the National Chairman of the National Solidarity Democratic Party and Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke, National Chairman of the African Liberation Party.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009047185875

The Independent National Electoral Commission is adopting an uncompromising posture on its decision to conduct elections in six states of the federation in the January 2011 general poll in spite of opposition from the affected governors, where rerun elections had been held.

In a SATURDAY PUNCH interview conducted on Thursday, the commission insisted that those who were not comfortable with the position of the commission ”that was taken in strict compliance with the electoral laws of the country” had the option to seek a legal interpretation in the courts.

In a telephone interview with our correspondents, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said that the commission was not under any pressure on the raging issue, which means that the tenure of the governors in the affected states would end on May 29, 2011.

The six states are Ekiti; Bayelsa; Sokoto; Adamawa; Kogi; and Cross River.

Idowu said that INEC would not be swayed by pressure from any quarters because the decision of the commission to conduct elections in the states next January was based on the constitution and the Electoral Act.

He maintained that the position of INEC could only change if those opposed to it got another interpretation on the issue.

Idowu said, ”INEC took this position based on the provisions of the law. The present leadership of INEC is absolutely not under any pressure on this issue because it has made it clear from the beginning that all its actions will be based on the Electoral Act.

”The only option left to those who feel strongly about this issue is to take it up with the law. If they get another interpretation from the law court different from the present understanding, then that will be a different ball game.

”But as things stand, INEC stands by this lawful act.”

Meanwhile, the CPS to the INEC chairman said that while the Federal Government had released some fund to INEC to facilitate the smooth conduct of the election, not all the N87.7bn required for the exercise had been released.

He said that the funds were being released in tranches accordance with the agreements reached with the FG on an agreed funding plan.

”Before the funds were released, an agreement was reached with the Federal Government on a funding plan. What has been released is what INEC agreed with the government to release,” Idowu said.

He however denied the widespread claims that the first set of equipment required for the conduct of the voter registration would arrive in the country in the next two weeks.

Idowu said that the contracts for the equipment, which are critical to the conduct of the poll, were about being sealed.

He added though that the time line set for the exercise would be adhered to in strict terms.

INEC had on Wednesday announced through advertorials in some national newspapers that governorship elections would not hold in the five states.

However, INEC listed the timeline for the elections in the remaining states, which would not be part of the January 2011 exercise.

According to the advertorial titled, ‘Independent National Electoral Commission Conduct of Governorship Elections‘, the commission said elections would hold in Rivers (June 2011); Edo (July 2012); Ondo (November 2012); and Anambra (November 2014).




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009047491543

By Femi Falana

The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections in all the states of the Federation in January 2011 except Anambra, Edo, Ondo and Rivers deserves commendation. The courageous decision is in line with the letter and spirit of the Constitution, which provides for a 4-year term for a state governor.

If the INEC had accepted the position of the ruling party on extended tenure for governors who won rerun elections the electoral body would have encouraged the rigging of elections by candidates who plan to have extended terms on the basis of fraudulent elections.

It would be recalled that in the case of Gov. Ladoja v INEC (2008)40 WRN 1 the Supreme Court rejected the prayer of Governor Ladoja for 11 months’ extension to cover the period he was kept out of office through illegal impeachment. Also in the case of Balonwu v Gov. of Anambra State (2009) 18 NWLR (PT 1172) 13 the Supreme Court made it abundantly clear that the proclamation of the Anambra State House of Assembly by the then Governor Chris Ngige remained valid notwithstanding the subsequent annulment of his election by the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. The apex court held ex abundanti cautela that:

“It follows therefore that the subsequent proclamation by Governor Peter Obi following the nullification of the election and return of Governor Ngige was clearly superfluous as it cannot be used to determine the four year tenure of office as envisaged in section 105 (1) of the 1999 Constitution”.

In the light of the foregoing those who are canvassing for extended tenure for governors under the current democratic dispensation should not be allowed to turn law and logic upside for selfish motivations.

Femi Falana
Chairman
National Conscience Party.

Desperate politicians have resorted to self-help ahead of the 2011 general elections, by hiring and training thugs to use during the period.

A top police source in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, confided in P.M.NEWS today that intelligence gathered by its officers and men across the country indicate that thugs are already undergoing training ahead of the 2011 general elections.

According to the intelligence reports, the killer squads have already commenced training in 16 states of the federation in the area of weapons handling and shooting, under the watchful eyes of ex-military men.

P.M.NEWS gathered that states involved include: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Abia, Anambra, Edo, Taraba, Adamawa and Imo among others. The police source who declined to give further details, so as not to jeopardise police response and strategy, vowed that the police would map out strategies to thwart the sinister plot of the desperate politicians.

The revelation is coming on the heels of an alarm raised by a community leader in Taraba State that there is a massive stockpile of weapons in the southern part of the state. The community leader, Malam Yusuf Yakubu called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Security Committees of the National Assembly to immediately investigate the arms pile up.

Yakubu made the call in Wukari on Wednesday during an interactive session with journalists. He said those behind the weapons pile-up had ill motives against humanity. He said the alarm became necessary in view of the recent arrest of persons with large cache of weapons in Borno State that were alleged to be Taraba and Plateau State-bound.

Yakubu claimed that weapons were being stockpiled especially in Wukari and Takum, noting that this has been going on for years. He recalled the Kutep/Jukun and Jukun/Tiv ethnic and communal conflicts as examples of violent combustions during which different types of weapons were used.

He held that although people in Takum at a time agreed to surrender their weapons to the police, only a few did. According to him, the weapons surrendered were publicly destroyed at the Taraba Police Command headquarters in Jalingo, but that the people later resumed acquiring other weapons in large quantity.

According to him, the weapons that were brought out during the recent religious crisis in Wukari were part of such pile-up, adding that people of the area now live in perpetual fear. He blamed the elite for this sad development and urged the police to be more vigilant in order to prevent any ugly incident in the state.

When contacted for comments, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Aliyu Musa confirmed that the police have received reports to that effect. Aliyu added that investigation into the matter was in progress and that the police was on top of the situation.

Investigations further revealed that politicians are not taking chances about their safety and their desire to win at all costs, considering the spate of assassinations that usually characterise election period in Nigeria. Only recently, an aspirant to the House of Representatives under Uriomhwon/Uhunwonde Federal Constituency in Edo State, Oghogho Omoregbe, aged 36, was assassinated at Idubor Avenue, 2nd Ugbor Road in Benin on the day he declared to contest the 2011 election.

He was a civil engineer and farmer.

Also in Ekiti State, Kunle Ayaga, a House of Assembly aspirant under the banner of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, was killed recently in what many believed was politically motivated. Another high profile murder involved Dipo Dina, an ACN governorship candidate in Ogun State in 2007.

Politicians are grooming and hiring armed thugs because of the loss of faith in the ability of security agencies to protect them and the motivation to rig election rather than lose and go to tribunals where they believe they can’t get justice. The politicians have even gone the extra mile in terms of protecting themselves against any attack by their opponents by acquiring bullet-proof vehicles.

A top American auto armouring company revealed recently that with the approach of the 2011 elections, more Nigerians have placed orders for heavily fortified antiballistic vehicles. Executive Vice President of Texas Armouring Corporation, Mr. Jason Forston was quoted as saying that the presidency, governors, politicians and other wealthy Nigerians are among those that have placed orders for bullet-proof SUVs.

He said the company has sent close to 800-900 armoured vehicles to Nigeria over the years, with more orders coming ahead of the 2011 polls, adding that about 30 percent of the auto armouring company’s market is in Nigeria.





http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/09/03/killer-squad-training-for-2011-%E2%80%94top-police-source/

Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State has lauded Nigeria’s contributions and active participation in international peace keeping operations dating back to 1960.

Oyinlola disclosed this yesterday at the University of Ibadan while delivering a lecture titled “The Imperative Of Peace And Development”, at the10th anniversary lecture of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, (CEPACS).

The governor said that to date, Nigeria has participated in about 33 peace keeping operations around the world, adding that over 250,000 Nigerian army officers and soldiers have also taken part in peace support operations so far.

According to him, Nigeria is the fourth largest contributor of troops to the United Nations (UN) peace keeping missions in the world and the country has spent $10 billion on the pursuit of global peace in the last 50 years.

He, however, lamented that it would have profited humanity a great deal if such fund was channeled to human and societal development.

Oyinlola advocated for the expansion of the permanent membership of the UN Security Council as well as the admission of Nigeria as a permanent member.

While answering questions from journalists about the crises in Africa, he urged African leaders to refuse to become the political chessboard of the world powers.

He said he has lost hope as regards any solution to the on-going crisis in Somalia, stressing, “I don’t know whether there will be solution in Somalia. Let us forget Somalia.”




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/09/03/nigeria-has-spent-10-billion-on-peace-keeping-%E2%80%94oyinlola/

The leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force and stalwart of Action Congress of  Nigeria, Asari Dokubo, says he is ready to die for President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure  that he is elected as president next year.

He said he would rather die for Jonathan than support other aspirants who have been symbols  of oppression to the people of the oil bearing region of Nigeria.

Dokubo who featured recently in a current affairs programme on LOVE FM 97.7 Port Harcourt,  South-South Nigeria, called Editor’s Roundtable, said it will be inconceivable for anybody  from the Niger Delta to be lending support to those he called symbols of oppression of the  people of the region.

He argued that as far he was concerned, those calling on Jonathan not to contest are not  only political enemies of the region, but people who still harbour the primordial sentiment  that the people of the region are second class citizens.

He said that after taking “a good look at those coming to rule us again, I have no doubt in  my mind that Jonathan is the most qualified, not because he is an Ijaw, but because he  satisfies the constitutional requirement and he perhaps possesses the last chance of the  people of the South-South region.”

Dokubo also argued that from the pre-colonial era to date, the people of the South-South  have been supporting the other regions to govern the country.

“Why will they not support us now that divine providence has thrown up someone from the  region to govern this country? When will a South-South person govern this country at the  highest level?”

On whether he will run for any political post in 2011, he said: “I don’t believe in the  entity called Nigeria, and I cannot swear by its constitution. I don’t believe in the  Nigerian constitution because we were not consulted before it was written. I will, however,  support anybody who contests.”





http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/09/03/i%E2%80%99m-ready-to-die-for-jonathan/

Saidi Balogun is one of the most familiar faces in the movie industry in Nigeria. But like other things that go with fame, he is trailed by a lorry load of stories. He speaks with ‘NONYE BEN-NWANKWO about his career and what his ex-wife, Fathia, must do if she wants to keep Balogun as her surname.

You once said you were going to do a two-cast movie. Did you eventually do it?

I did a two-cast, Mo dupe Temi, in Yoruba. I did another one in English. It is titled You or I? It is yet to be released. I wanted to get it across the border. Again, the film is also in audio.

Is that really possible?

Oh yes! Some people asked the same question before the movie came out.

How come you are always coming up with such ideas?

The people who buy our movies are not fools. We should be creative in this country. We should think deep and be vast.

How did this idea of a two-cast movie come about?

One day, I was sitting down and a good friend of mine inspired me. He asked me about my goal and I told him I wanted to break records. I sat down and I thought of it and went to work.

But would you rate the movie a commercial success?

At the beginning, the marketing was very slow. But it has been settled now. The movie has taken me to where I wanted. I made a statement. I became the first to do a two-cast movie in Nigeria, if not in Africa. Till kingdom comes, my name will be written as the first to achieve that.

How come the movie is yet to win any award, as novel as the idea is?

That is a comical thing. I have won only one award with it. It won an award outside Nigeria, but in the country where the movie was made, it is yet to win any award. Where are we going in this country? Anyway, those who give awards in this country will soon get there. They are not there yet. Don‘t let us dwell on that.

Now that you have set the record of a two-cast movie, are your dreaming of another idea?

Oh yes. I am doing another movie titled Ankara. The movie was shot in America. Everybody in the movie wore Ankara. You have to think differently. Kate Henshaw stole the show in the movie. She gave me the depth of acting anybody could think of. Thank God for companies like Unilever and Lupcon. They gave us some support. People said they had gone to Lupcon, but they were not given any support. But I tell them that if they give somebody a good product, the person will support them. I have just finished a one-cast movie as well.

Did you say one-cast? That would be boring,

No way! I did it. And it is not like newscasting or a documentary. It is a movie. I am sick of doing movies that are not challenging. You have to encourage those who think deep. Don‘t encourage the noise makers.

How come you have not been doing much of English movies?

I have just done one apart from You and I. It is called The Rider. It is a comedy. But then, a movie has no language. If you can watch an Indian movie that is not subtitled and yet you find it interesting, you can watch any movie not minding the language.

Since you had an accident, you seem to have become more successful in your career. Will it be wrong to say that the accident enhanced your growth?

No and yes.

What do you mean?

No in the sense that I have always had my goal and target. The Managing Director of Lupcon told me about five years ago to set a target for myself. I set the target before the accident. The accident drew me back a little. But then, I didn‘t allow anything to distract me. I had to remain focused.

But you seem to be associated with a lot of scandals. How come you are still able to rise above the scandals?

I live by that grace and the grace of Almighty God. I was chosen to be great. I cannot deviate from that. I don‘t allow scandals to affect me. I see myself as a white cloth in the dark. Can you put a white cloth in the dark and you will not see it? No way! Am I the only actor who is divorced? No!

A story just broke about you and one actress. They said your ex-wife was fighting the actress because of you.

I heard of it. One magazine even published it. But what can I do? I cannot fight them. In the past four years, one story or the other has been written about me every week.

Are you saying the two women are not fighting over you?

I want to see money fighting over me. I still thank God Almighty. If you are walking on the streets and some people are talking about you, you have to thank God. There are people who are running but nobody is looking at them. I have left people who talk and write what they want about me. But my plea is that they should verify first. If I were to sue people, I would be living in the court. One magazine went to the extent of writing my house address when my car was stolen. Is he not inviting thieves to come and finish the job?

Have you seen your car?

No. It is still hanging.

So what are you using now?

Okada. If they steal my car, do you expect me to be riding planes?

But we learnt you bought a car for a woman.

How can? When I have not replaced the one that was stolen? I don chop? Where I see that kin money? It is not possible. I have gone to the police again to ask them how far they have gone in search of my car. They told me not to worry. Okay-o. I am launching Etiketa on Sept. 26. I want to launch it with the recovery of my car. That is the donation I want the police to give me. Let them help me to recover my car. But now, okada riders are enjoying my patronage. I am enjoying it as well. The breeze on okada is better that air condition.

So, you don’t feel bad riding okada?

Hypertension will kill you if you start feeling bad. The Lord said you should take it as it comes. Let the guy that is eating gold today get prepared for brass. I take things the way they come. I am a simple guy. I walk on the streets. I eat amala in the buka. I am who I am.

You once told us that you were in one relationship. Is it no longer working?

You see, you have started asking about my private life. I told you I am a white cloth. My car was snatched in Oshodi. Another one was snatched in Idumota. I am now alone. I beg, don‘t allow anybody to snatch me as well. Leave my relationship alone for now.

The Yoruba movie industry seems to be divided. Which faction do you belong to?

Nigerians make the crises. I can wake up tomorrow and form my own association. When there is a central law guiding us, I cannot just wake up and form my own association. The Yoruba have their own guild, the English have their own and the Arewa have their own. Which one do you want the government to associate with? Let us try and do things right.

Do you feature in other producers movies or you feature in your movies alone?

I act for producers who are good.

Would you act with your ex-wife on the same set?

If the bill is good, I will do so. Those days, in the beginning, I used to say no for one reason or the other. But now, money is good. If you put the two of us together, don‘t you think it will make noise? Just put the right bill on the table, put the money down and I will do the movie with her. She is my ex. As for my name that she is still answering, the deed will be done soon. The Nigerian law says that after three or four years, you can do something about it. If somebody wants to keep my name, what of the new person coming in? This has nothing to do with grudges.



Are you saying she cannot

keep your name?

She can if the bill is right. How many wives do you want to keep my name? How many wives does the Nigerian law permit us to marry at a time? What does the Nigerian law say about that?

But there is this female politician who divorced her husband and still kept her husband‘s name, though the man is dead.

Okay, kill me so that you will keep my name.

Do you regret the break-up of your marriage?

Do I look like somebody who is suffering? When God says yes, nobody can say no. I am happy in the Lord. Great men don‘t stay alone at times. If one door spoils, you remove it and put a better one. I respect women a lot. Remi Adiukwu-Bakere will kill me if I abuse or fight any woman. She will not find it funny.

You seem to like Adiukwu-Bakare a lot. You are always talking about her.

Oh yes. I like her and her husband a whole lot. Four years ago when I left the hospital and the person who I felt was the back of my bone went away with the same man that sent me on the errand that caused the accident, I would have died. But the Bakares were there. They talked to me and nurtured me. I will not forget them, for they were God sent. When I had the accident, the first two weeks, I was not normal. I was insane. I was a walking corpse. Why won‘t I say thank you to these people?

How were you able to survive?

I have advisers. Remi Adiukwu said she wanted to run the governorship race. She kept me busy. I was everywhere campaigning for her. After the campaign, the husband told me that he and his wife deliberately kept me busy. I was not myself, so they decided to keep me busy. But today, I am over them. Jani Ibrahim, the Managing Director of Lupcon told me to leave woman matter alone and face my job. These are the people that stood by me.

Are you on talking terms with your ex?

That is private. My best love now is business.

Are you not going to marry again?

I told you I am now married to my business. There is love in my life now. Our good Lord said that before the end of the world, eight women will cling to one man. Why then should I die because of one woman?

Will you ever marry an actress again?

Why not? Is it because they are in the limelight? If you have four boyfriends now, nobody will say anything. Who knows you? But let an actress try it; everybody will explode. I can marry an actress if the person is the right one God has chosen for me.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009040402576