₦airaland Forum

Who gives a hoot abt what they discussed? "Improve the country" and "IBB" should not be in the same sentence.

ud4u:
Rule of law in action

Which rule of law? Since Monday when the judgement was given, have they now arrested him or he has gone into "hiding"?

This is a lesson for all.

big_bug_ben:
I also remember dat during d last yr matriculation, d vc deliverd a small bt strict speech. He said "i believe matriculation is nt a time 4 celebration bt a time 2 sober. i'm so sure many of u here rigged various jamb scores (esp those of u dat came frm lagos & miracle centres), we tried to seperate d plants frm d weeds during d admission process bt d post-ume wasn't 2 sufficient either. well, we'll stil eliminate u. bt 4 d wise among u wil take dis precious 100l 2 fight bk even though someoneelse wrote jamb 4 u". he said 1.5 is d G.P for major dept, while medicine is 2.5 coupled wit dat u must nt cary more dan 1 course in 100l.
After d crazyness sum freshers had during d matric day, dey drived careless & fell a victim of a trible accident even within d sch premises, 3 died instantly while 2 were seriously injured bt  died d nxt day. I hope u picked a lesson frm dat too.
NEWS: 3 students were arrested for impersonification during d post-utme test, they ar too appear in court 2moro.

Two was from my department. The last departmental football competition was held in their honour. After that, the rest is history.

No lecturer in the prestigious Unilorin will write like you have done. You cant constuct a simple sentence. Shame on you and people who fall for your scam.

@OP Why are you misinforming peple? This happened in Kenya and you claimed it happened in Kastina as if it happened in your presence.
Lesson: (Re)search very well before you post.


See https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-250205.0.html

•Says sea level to rise in November

LAGOS State Government yesterday warned residents of Victoria Island, Lekki and the neighbouring areas about an impending rise in the water level at the Bar Beach, which could impact negatively on the environment.

According to the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, who gave the warning at a press conference, the water level is expected to rise by half a metre.

He said the purpose of the briefing was not to cause panic, but to inform people about what would likely happen in their environment.

Oniru recalled that there had been reports of ocean surges in the Caribbean and other parts of the world, stressing that there was bound to be a ripple effect, which could impact negatively on the Lagos Lagoon.

The impact, according to him, would be felt in November.

Oniru could, however, not state the level of devastation expected when the water rises, but he said it would not adversely affect the Eko Atlantic City project.

He said the government had been carrying out tests since the Eko City project commenced, and that on each occasion, officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) had been invited to give the assurance that the city would not be threatened by the Atlantic Ocean.

The commissioner noted that the state lacked the capacity in terms of equipment to predict disasters, but was working with an international organisation to carry out surveys on the Lagos shoreline to ascertain where the state is likely to have any problem in the future.



http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66735:lagos-alerts-residents-of-impending-ocean-surge-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

•Ribadu yet to join our party, says Lai Mohammed

AFTER taking a retrospective look at the affairs of the country under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last 11 years, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday described the Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo-led party as a complete disaster.

Besides, the ACN said the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, is not its registered member.

The party made the remarks during a courtesy call on the corporate headquarters of the Western Publishing Company Limited, publishers of the Nigerian Compass and The Westerner, at Isheri, Ogun State.

The leader of delegation of the chieftains of the newly-christened party and its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while condemning the PDP leadership, went into the specifics, saying: “Over the years, this particular government has shown a lot of insensitivity to the basic needs of the people. In the last two weeks, I think we’ve recorded about 2,000 deaths due to cholera. What could cause cholera, if not lack of access to potable water? This is 2010, and people are still dying of cholera, this is unheard of in developed countries. Yet, every week, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would announce award of contracts running into billions of naira for projects that would not touch the lives of the people.”

He, however, maintained that despite all odds, there is still hope.

His words: “We believe that all hope is not lost. Yes, Nigeria has gone through a lot of stress in the last 10, 11 years under the leadership of the ruling party. Our infrastructure have decayed, insecurity is on the increase, unemployment is at its highest level and it’s generally like a case of hopelessness. But we believe that all is not lost and that things can still change is not impossible.”

Mohammed, who was the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Kwara State during the 2003 elections, also affirmed that his party was poised for a good show at the forthcoming general elections.

He described the ACN, formerly the Action Congress (AC) as the only credible alternative to the PDP.

Flanked by Uche Onyeagucha, Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, Hajia Hauwa Baba Ahmed and Hajia Nafisat Molid Baba during the visit, the politician also urged Nigerians to take active part in the on-going electioneering process and not leave it to career politicians.

Consequently, he said that his political party has since its formation a few weeks ago been at the vanguard of canvassing for mass participation in the 2011 politics.

He stated that “the whole idea is to signpost a new era in Nigerian politics, and we did also say that the task of nation- building should not be left to career politicians alone. Everybody who has the opportunity to go for office or who has the opportunity to choose his leader and who does not do so has lost the moral right to criticise whatever form of bad government is foisted on him.”

Besides, he appealed to every Nigerian of voting age to participate in the voter registration that would soon be embarked upon by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the same vein, he urged them to ensure that their votes count in the 2011 polls.

He said: “And that is why we’re saying that ‘go out, register’ and as long as it’s a free and fair election, it’s immaterial who ends up wining. If election is deemed to be free, even the loser will accept his loss. But, once you perceive that the election is not free and fair, even the person who knows that ordinarily, he would have lost, would also go and contest its result.”

Mohammed stressed the need for generational change in the nation’s polity, noting that this is the trend in the world today.

Accordingly, he affirmed that his political party has made this as one of its cardinal objectives to feature youths and women for most of its elective offices.

He said: “We can also say we have made statements that we believe in generational shift and here we’re not just talking about age. By generational shift, we’re talking about a new concept giving it fresh visions and fresh ideas. All over the world, we can see that the age bracket and the quality of people coming into politics have changed. In Russia, in the U.K, in the U.S, you have people in their 50s or in their late 40s who have assumed serious national responsibilities.”

The politician, who was also the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct AC, also used the occasion to explain how and why the AC transformed to ACN.

He said: “We had our convention weeks ago and at that convention, the main business of the day was to get the mandate of the convention, which is the highest organ of the party, to change our name from AC to ACN (from Action Congress to Action Congress of Nigeria). And what informed that change was the re-branding of our party, which we commenced a long while ago. “More than a year ago, we came to the conclusion that to present Nigerians with an alternative political party and an alternative government; we need like-minded people so that we can form a synergy and form a formidable political party.

“There were many options opened to us then. It’s either we form a new party or we adopt an existing party. At the end of the day, the consensus was that let’s adopt an existing political party and the AC was the party to be adopted.

“Along the line, Atiku Abubakar was also part of this initiative alongside General Buhari (rtd), Attahiru Bafarawa and others. Along the line, some of them went back to the various political parties. (Atiku) Abubakar went back to the PDP; General Buhari went to the CPC. So, with some members of the DPP, the ANPP and others that started the initiative, we said ‘let’s stay and look from a common platform, which was the AC.

“So, the purpose of that convention was to formally adopt a new name. We could have also gone the way of merger, but we also saw the morbid traps in merger because under the old law, for you to merge, you must give a notice to be signed by chieftains of the parties that are merging, that notice must reach INEC, at least, six months before election.

“Since we were not sure of when elections would hold, we could not determine when it would be six months. So, we said the best thing for the AC to do was to go for a name change and for all the participating parties to fuse and adopt that platform. That was what led to that convention.

“At that convention, we also amended our constitution in which we gave more roles to women and youths. We also used that opportunity to open our doors to new members to join our parties. We also dissolved the executive of the party (AC) from the ward to national levels.”

Continuing, the lawyer-turned- politician also spoke on the preparation of the new party for the elections holding next year, saying that “as a matter of fact, by 24th of September, we will conduct ward congresses, local government congresses, state congresses and national convention, to elect officers to run the affairs of the party from the ward to national level. The idea is to be able to give those who are new members a level-playing ground to run offices, either at the party level or for political offices.”

Mohammed also spoke on the criteria recommended by the party for becoming an aspirant for any of the elective offices. “You must have noticed that a couple of weeks ago, we made a statement as to the kind of qualities anybody that is aspiring for elective offices in our party must possess, because we believe that rather than engaging in this matter of zoning, we should really focus on certain core competence in anybody that wants to run for our party, such as education, integrity, experience in either private or public sector, family background, computer literacy, exposure and the likes.”

On Ribadu, Mohammed said he has not registered as a member of the ACN.

He, however, added that any time the former EFCC boss signifies his intention to join the party, “he is welcome”.




http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66741:acn-pdp-is-a-disaster-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

The number of Americans who think that President Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim is one in five, and growing. That is not a good thing.

In America of today, being a Muslim is getting worse than being O.J. Simpson. For a president born in Kenya, smuggled to Hawaii in a basket (like Moses), and whose birth was registered some 47 years ago in Hawaii by the FBI who were preparing him to be president in 2008, he does not need more controversies. It is therefore very important for the president to take urgent steps to correct that impression.

Here are the ten steps I will recommend immediately.

1.) Obama should begin to use his official Irish name – Barry O’Brien. Clearing that tongue twisting challenge of calling Barack Obama will make 5% of doubters to begin to see him as one of them.
2.) The presidential motorcade should be sent to Campton, Los Angeles, for pimping. In place of the Cadillac limousine emblem, a figurine of Jesus should be places on the hood and on the trunk. While the flag of the United States flies in front, the flag of Heaven (obtained from Glenn Beck) will fly behind.
3.) At the next Kennedy Center honors, Obama should publicly rename Malia, Mary, and Sasha, Sarah.
4.) Jay-Z should present to Obama a Bling Bling made of Jesus on the Cross at the upcoming BET awards.
5.) At the White House, Obama should remove the portrait of George Washington to create space at the head of the table for the official portrait of Jesus obtained from Rev. Franklin Graham.
6.) In a Rose Garden press conference with Tom Cruise, Obama should announce that he has converted to Scientology.
7.) Michelle Obama should be ordered to tattoo the image of Jesus on her arm.
8.) Obama should launch a campaign to replace, “In God We Trust” with “In Jesus We Trust.” It should be written on U.S currencies and all the bombs to be used in Afghanistan. It will end all confusions about which God we are talking about.
9.) Obama should personally preach to Tiger Woods until he gives his life to Christ and accepts Jesus Christ as his lord and personal savior.
10.) Obama should invite Fox News anchors to a prayer breakfast at which Rev. Jeremiah Wright will lead the prayers.

If these ten steps do not work, Obama should use the nuclear option. He should call a world press conference at the White House’s West Wing. In the presence of the press, he should burn the Koran to ashes. From there, he should take the world press to the Potomac River and go ahead and walk on water.



http://www.saharareporters.com/article/ten-things-obama-should-do-prove-he%E2%80%99s-not-muslim

THE campaign organisations of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida denied Monday Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s impression that their principals are selfish.

The Atiku Campaign Organisation said: "Atiku has established over the years that his politics is not determined by personal ambition but national interest.

"In 1993, he stepped down for the late Chief MKO Abiola at the Jos Convention of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). That could not have been out of personal interest.

"In 1999, when he mobilised elected governors to support the candidature of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ensured the realisation of power shift to the South to assuage the feelings of marginalisation in the Southern parts of the country, it was not borne out of personal ambition.

"In 2003, when almost all the PDP governors urged him to contest the presidential race against Obasanjo, he resisted the pressure on the grounds of power shift to the South, it was not out of personal interest.

"Where were these new found patriots when Atiku made all these sacrifices for national unity and democracy in the country?"

The IBB Campaign Organisation also said the ex-military president had always been a nationalist.

The organisation, which spoke through its Director, Media and Communications, Kassim Afegbua, said: "What does Sambo mean by personal interests? Let him give us clarification of what he means by personal interest.

"Former President Ibrahim Babangida’s contribution to national development, unity and stability of the polity cannot be quantified. More than any president before and after, IBB’s records cannot be equalled. His desire to stage a comeback is borne out of altruistic and patriotic commitment to sustaining the nation despite all our diverse cultures and multiplicity of interests. It is therefore an unfair statement for anyone to see this elder statesman from the prism of personal interest. We take strong exception to that.""



http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/11631.html

Dis Guy:
duhh there must be a reason everyone initially directed their abused at you the OP!" think about it nobody made reference to the link or original author but yourself! Not saying you're claiming to be someone else

i mean there must be a reason you had to come out to say this.  .   .

you cant pull funny stunt here, you omitted the link before that's all i'm saying!

I just learnt that you are the MOD of this section and my question to you is very simple (though I doubt your honesty in answering it). What time was this post modified (if it was ever modified at all)? But I know that the super MOD (who exercise the power you dream of) can shed a light on this even if you are economical with the truth.

•Nobody can intimidate me, says President

•'Facebook' fans: He must run

Vice-President Namadi Sambo has a strong message for those who believe that if President Goodluck Jonathan declares his intention to contest next year’s presidential election, Northerners will not vote for him.

The former Kaduna State governor, who was sworn-in as the number two citizen on Wednesday, May 19, said if his boss joins the race, he would get more votes than some aspirants who hail from the zone.

Former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), his successor, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State and Mrs. Sarah Jubril have already joined the race from the North.

Sambo, the highest-ranking officer from the zone, also said that his position as Jonathan’s running mate is not threatened. He described as false the report that some governors are against the Jonathan/Sambo ticket for the election.

He declared in an interview in Abuja: “If the people that are talking do not have personal interest, then it will be a different matter. But when you see people that have interest, and they are the same people talking, then it becomes a kind of problem. It is not true that all Northerners are backing them. We will get more votes in the North. That is the truth.

“This issue is purely a PDP matter and I can tell you to go and investigate and find out the true position of the North. The majority of the North or the majority of Nigerians, their concern is who can save the present situation and let Nigerians live above poverty level. Their concern is about who can deliver so that our society will change to a society we can all be proud of so that our socio-economic status will improve. I think that is the major concern of Nigerians.

“We are 50 already. Our concern is not whether North or South, our concern is who can deliver Nigeria to us. And this is the situation. We are delivering Nigeria and I believe we are in a position to deliver the promise that Nigerians want”.

Also speaking with a tone suggesting his determination to contest the 2011 elections, Jonathan said yesterday that his various meetings with some power brokers should not be seen as an act of cowardice.

In fact, Jonathan, who became the President after the death of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on May 5, this year, said nobody could intimidate him if eventually he decides to declare his intention to contest next year.

In a statement issued by Presidential spokesman, Ima Niboro, the President said it was unfortunate that his various meetings with other politicians have been misinterpreted.

Niboro also said a report by a national newspaper that South-South governors were out to sabotage his boss was not only inaccurate but misleading.

The statement reads: “It is extremely uncharitable for any one to spin these meetings in such negative lights, and attempt to force the President into retreat from these well thought out engagements with political leaders of all hue and disposition in the interest of the country.

“The newpaper continued it’s on going campaign of calumny against President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, when it served up a tissue of lies today (yesterday) on the President’s recent meeting with former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida. This comes after an outrightly false claim served up on Sunday, to the effect that the President complained to some Northern group that visited him that some South-South Governors were out to sabotage him. The newspaper refused to correct this false report even after it was firmly reminded that it failed to double check its information, and that the story is completely untrue.

“Twenty four hours later, it is at it again. This time, it is another lie that the President tried to talk Babangida out of his ambition to return to office.

“Anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with the President knows he is not one who dissuades people from pursuing their personal ambitions. This is even more so when there is no purpose to be served by it, since the long suffering mass of the Nigerian people would decide who governs them in a free and fair contest.

“Since June 12, 1993, Nigerians have in successive elections become wiser. The next presidential elections, no matter who the candidates are, would sound a resonant Never Again! Never again shall the will of the Nigerian people be quashed underfoot by the vaunting ambitions of a few.

“This is what the President has promised Nigerians, and he is fully committed to delivering on this pledge. It is therefore unfortunate that any self-respecting newspaper should lend its pages to reporting a series of lies against the person and the institution of the Presidency. These tales are unverified and sourced from openly interested parties. They are lies, pure and simple.

“The fact is that President Jonathan has been meeting different leaders on different occasions and platforms. Some have come to inform him of their intention to run for the presidency. Others he has met with as a matter of courtesy being a sitting President, and keen to ensure that the next presidential elections do not degenerate into a do-or-die affair as our elections are sometimes wont to do.

“He has met former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; he has met Babangida; he has met Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and will meet him again soon. He has met with Gen. Yakubu Gowon, two time President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. He will meet with even more leaders and political actors as the race to 2011 heats up.

“It is extremely uncharitable for any one to spin these meetings in such negative lights, and attempt to force the President into retreat from these well thought out engagements with political leaders of all hue and disposition in the interest of the country.

“We think it is time to put an end to this long line of false stories and verify what is served to the general public”.

Also on the popular social network site, Facebook, the President thanked his numerous admirers calling on him to contest.

He said before declaring his intention, he must consult with God and Nigerians. He also unveiled the efforts he has made since May 6 when he became the President to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

He said: “Let me dedicate today to thank all of you who have in your reactions and comments on this page urged me to run in the forth coming 2011 presidential elections. Like I said elsewhere, offering myself for further service is not my decision to make alone.

“It is one decision that I must take in solemn consultation with God Almighty and Nigerians. The decision must ultimately be based on clarity of conviction and vision. It is in this regard that I want to thank the people of the North-Central, South-South, North-West, North-East, South-East and South-West zones of the PDP for their encouragements, prayers and urgings.

“We have launched the Power Road Map and have also made some progress in the areas of Electoral Reforms with the appointment of Prof. Jega, signing of the Electoral Act and the prompt release of N87.7 billion to INEC and peace in the Niger Delta with the commencement in Obudu of the re-orientation of repentant militants.

“I have also taken time to inform you of the progress made in tackling issues such as stimulating economic growth by providing generous credit facilities to the tune of N500 billion to the real sector, cleansing the financial sector with the signing into law of the AMCON Act to serve as a safety net against bad loans as well as the political support given to the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to take decisive action to protect investors in the capital market.

“In the anti-corruption war, I am pleased to state with a clear conscience that this administration has not interfered with the EFCC and the ICPC and I have instructed the Attorney-General to treat every Nigerian equally under the law with no sacred cows.

“I also told you of the implementation of the one-year Action Plan for the education sector to increase the capacity of the sector to attract funding and ensure that such funding is channelled into increasing the service delivery capacity of the sector.

“Indeed, I took time to enlighten you of our plans to pay living wages to all workers under the employ of the Federal Government in addition to the N150 billion set aside for the bail out of the textile industry with N30 billion of that already disbursed.

“In addition to these, I gave you details of the progress we made in the aviation sector such that our efforts bore fruit with the Category 1 certification awarded Nigeria which means that Nigerian registered airlines and aircraft can now fly directly to any airport in the United States.

“In the down stream sector of the oil industry, I took the time to enlighten you of plans now in advanced stages to build new refineries so that we can refine locally and export to fuel thirsty neighbours.

“I also ordered the Petroleum Minister to clean up the sector so that exports can be maximised and further downstream to make fuel available in our filling stations.

“I am constantly pleased to read your comments on this page, testifying to the ease with which you now buy petrol for your cars. These and many other programmes and plans I have shared with you to let you know that in as much as there is a frenzy of activities occasioned by the coming elections, I have not deviated from my primary responsibility which is to provide leadership for Nigeria that is geared towards maintaining law and order and ensuring the peace and economic progress of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“I thank everyone and group that has so far endorsed me and this administration and say to you that your endorsement strengthens and inspires me to keep on serving Nigeria to the best of my abilities so help me God”.

By Lateef Ibrahim & Akeem Oyetunji, Abuja




http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66649:sambo-jonathan-ll-defeat-ibb-atiku-in-the-north&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a London-based Nigerian spinster, Okpala Ifeoma, with 1.525kgs of a substance that tested positive to cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

A statement by the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchel Ofoyeju, on Monday, said the 37-year-old suspect was arrested during the screening of passengers on Arik Air’s flight to London at the weekend.

The concealed narcotics were discovered on her through a body frisk, according to the statement.

He said, “NDLEA’s checks uncovered that she ingested 20 wraps of the drugs weighing 300 grammes while 54 wraps weighing 1.225kgs were packed and worn by her as diaper.”

According to the agency, Okpala is a 1997 graduate of Banking and Finance Department of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

“While under observation, she successfully excreted the drugs she ingested. She is from Anambra State but has been working in London for five years as a support worker in a mental home. The suspect allegedly smuggled the drug for a fee of 5,000 with which she intend to holiday in the United States,” the statement said.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100831352350

Dis Guy:
why you dey lie, you didn't post a reference last night! you only posted it after getting cursed out for being a crook!!

Heed to my words; SEE AN EYE DOCTOR. Ask anyone here if the link is there last night or not. I'm sure NL is not full of people suffering from myopia like you. Better still, check my other posts (if you can find a link to every story or not).



If you have brain (I think otherwise) you can ponder on this; Why on earth will a person claimed to be someone who is awaiting deportation from the UK (not the Nigerian girl who recently had 15 A's in her GCSE exam)?

Dis Guy:
Them no teach you how to reference before?

Is your eyes so concealed that you cant see the reference in the first post? See an eye doctor before your next post.

BLACKSNIP:
raul_y, its like that for everyone.

Unilorin resumes 27th of next month. Check this link below for more INFO.

http://www.unilorin.edu.ng/bulletin/Bulletin%20Monday%2030th%20August%202010.pdf

Yeah. Page 2 (last paragraph)

childhood:
plz,kindly help me about aaua admission,i a currently far away from there,i will greatly appreciate any genuine information, THANKS

It seems you are a newbie on NL. Go to the education section and you will find a loads of info/help about AAUA.

@all
This is just a story I came across on Sahara Reporters, so referring to OP as the guy in question somehow amuses me when reading through the posts. The name of the person who sent this story to saharareporters is Oyinlade Itunu. From now henceforth, note that OP is not Oyinlade Itunu.

FORMER Senate president in the aborted Third Republic and three times minister, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has indicated his intention to run for the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ayu, who unveiled his plans for the polls at the weekend in what he called a family meeting with his supporters in his Gboko home in Benue State, said he has finished “apprenticeship in politics”, having served as the Director-General of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s campaign organisation and produced him as the President, as well as contributed to the formation and sustenance of the PDP.

His words: “I have completed my apprenticeship in politics and I am now ready to serve. I have paid my dues adequately, having served as number three citizen and having served as the DG, campaign organisation for President Obasanjo in 1999 and produced him as the president. I have also been contributing over the years, in the making of leaders at all levels.

“But most importantly, I was actively involved in the formation of the PDP and have been contributing in sustaining it. The party is not just the ruling party in Nigeria but the largest in Africa.”

The leader of the Northern Elites, a group that has insisted on zoning and power shift to the North against the recent resolution of the Northern Governors’ Forum meeting held in Kaduna, who spoke in Tiv, insisted that zoning has come to stay with the people and must be allowed to be.

Ayu said he was still making consultations in very high places and will, very soon, make public his ambition.

He urged the people to remain calm and await the next line of action.

By Jeremiah Tyosase, Makurdi




http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66558:ayu-declares-intention-to-vie-for-presidency-in-2011-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

ELDER statesman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Abel Goubadia, at the weekend expressed doubt over the possibility of next year’s general elections taking place in January, as being planned by the commission, and its ability to conduct water-tight polls.

Saraki, who just returned to the country after a two-month sojourn abroad, said while addressing journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, that much still needed to be done by the electoral umpire before a credible election can take place.

According to him, INEC must come up with a credible voter register, a process that is yet to begin.

He said: “Prof. (Attahiru) Jega is a man of integrity, but I doubt if they are going to achieve that January date. Will they be able to do everything in four months? I don’t think it is feasible. To compile voter register, display voter register for claims and all that with the election all in four months, that will be very difficult.”

Asked whether the election should be postponed, he said: “No, I don’t know how four months will be adequate before you train the personnel and get the equipment ready. Have they procured the equipment? If they have not got the equipment ready, to place an order for them and manufacture take time and if you factor all this into it, it will be very difficult to achieve in four months. I think they should work it out again, but I doubt if four months will be enough.”

The INEC chairman has, on several occasions, warned that any further delay in the release of funds for the exercise may affect its conduct.

Even, the Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) has advised that the election be postponed till April to enable INEC do a thorough job.

Guobadia took a critical look at the various plans being put in place by the commission ahead of the general elections and declared that the electoral body is walking on a tight rope.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Compass in Abuja, Guobadia, who was the Chairman of INEC between 2000 and 2005, equally pointed out that too much registered political parties imposed a lot of difficulties on the commission during past elections.

There are no fewer than 60 registered political parties in the country presently.

The former INEC boss noted with regrets that most people do not usually consider the pressure on the commission in the conduct of its task.

According to him, “if we play it (2011 general elections) free and fair, there is no fear. But, INEC is on a tight rope. Already, we are in August, they (INEC) are going to compile the register of voters newly. Time is running out because planning for election is not just easy.

“The pressure on INEC is what people are not considering. But a lot will depend on the political establishment. I cannot predict but I think we have had enough experience in this country that in approach to the polls, we should learn to be quite moderate and considerate in our desires and wishes for those who we want to get elected.”

Asked to comment on the large number of registered political parties and the effect on next year’s polls, Guobadia said: “Personally, I think a large number of national political parties impose a lot of load on INEC.

“In 2003, that was the first time we had 30 political parties in the country, the ballot paper was long. That is one. The burden of providing for 30 political parties is something else.

“So, my advice will be, at least, at the national level, the condition should be made a little more stringent. There can be local political parties that are not for National Assembly elections, not for Presidential election.

“Local parties can be of two types, those that can contest state elections and those not qualified to contest State elections. As big as India is, their democracy has never relaxed since they gained independence, it has been on course.

“The national parties in India are not more than two or three, but there are numbers of small parties not heard of at national election, which border themselves at the local level. I think this is what we should be thinking about.”

Guobadia, who conducted the 2003 elections that returned former President Olusegun Obasanjo to office for the second term, however, stated that his happiest day as the Chairman of INEC was on My 29, 2003, when the nation successfully transited from one civilian regime to another in a very peaceful and orderly manner.

According to him, “everything to me in INEC was like any other day. I went to work, which is to achieve a certain goal and came back fulfilled. If am to talk of a particular day, the particular day will be the day former President Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in on May 29, 2003 for a second term.

“I felt very happy personally that I supervised the election that enabled us to transit, for the first time, in a peaceful manner. I was personally present at Eagle Square that day and I felt a sense of pride seeing some dignitaries watching the proceedings.”

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja & Victor Oriola




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THE President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, took the biggest credit at the weekend for bringing Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamefule Orji, into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when he became a beautiful bride being chased by other political parties.

As he stood holding the PDP flag gleefully at the Umuahia township stadium on Saturday, Orji, who dumped the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) that brought him to power in 2007, revealed how Jonathan’s wife won his heart, as she was calling and coaxing him every night.

While thanking the President at the event, Orji described the First Lady as the powerful force that finally pulled him into the PDP.

He said: “I can never forget your wife, who was always on my neck every day. I made up my mind because of her efforts.”

The Nigerian Compass learnt that the President’s wife had used the same method to win over the Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, from the PPA to the PDP, thereby bringing back two of the three PDP-controlled South-East states lost by the party in the last election.

Before the election, the PDP was controlling all the five states in the zone, including Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra.

The party later lost three of the states, and two of those three, Imo and Abia, are now back in PDP’s control due to the efforts of the First Lady, who is apparently out to secure the zone for her husband in the forthcoming elections.

Jonathan said that now that the PDP had taken over Abia, the next target would be Anambra.

Orji and the President also revealed at the event that Mrs. Jonathan hails from Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

Jonathan announced at the event: “I’m here with my wife, who is from Umuahia”.

Then, he gave the microphone to his wife, asking her to speak to her people.

The overcrowded stadium resounded with songs, with the President’s wife and PDP leaders, including the National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Ike Nwachukwu and Senator Nkechi Nwogu acting as cheerleaders.

There were outbursts of emotions and general excitement, when Orji started singing: “I can see everything turning around; everything turning around, ”

Then, as he assured Jonathan, who he described as his in-law, that Abia would be his number one supporter, he said: “You will continue to be President till they Kingdom come. You’ve been anointed. But I know there are bad people; we’re not praying that they should die, but we’ll say, (And he began to sing another song) “Yee Opagara, Opagara”, meaning God will give them crisis.

He later went on to plead with Jonathan to give Abia State people something that they would always remember his wife for.

The President, however, restated his commitment to a free and fair election in 2011 and charged members of his party to work hard to achieve that in order not to be queried by the international community.

He said: “We have to do what is right in order to continue to bring good leaders.

“I have to thank PDP elders in Abia for what is happening today. Let me specially thank Chief Onyema Ugochukwu for making this event possible, because he was the one that contested election with the governor and there were so many litigations in court over the election. Without him dropping the suits, all we are witnessing today would not have been possible.”

While pointing out that Abia is now leading as the most peaceful state, Jonathan said: “In Abia, PDP members are now united, and they are repossessing their possession. Our primaries will be an election before election and once we do that we will go and start celebrating.

“The whole of South-East is a critical place and I have never seen a people that work hard like the Igbo. Lagos is where 63 per cent of the money in this country is spent. If you remove men and women of Igbo origin doing business in Lagos, Lagos would be like a nation without men.” He added that he had noted the request of the governor and would together help him to build the state.

“If I have problem, I can freely go to him and say help us. When I was in another party, he could say that helping us is anti-party (activity). But today it will no longer be anti-party to help members of your own party,” Orji said.

Nwodo, who, a month ago, made the first move to woo the governor into the party, said that the PDP in the South-East had finally found its missing rib.

“This is a historic occasion that will usher in good governance in the state. What we are seeing here today can only be done by God alone,” he said. He later handed over the PDP flag to the governor.

Also at the event were former PDP National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Madueke, who said that “the evil days are over in Abia; the golden days are here now”.



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• UNESCO lauds Oyinlola on culture

IT was a quintessential Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who chaired the opening occasion of the Global Conference of Black Nationalities, last Monday in Osogbo, Osun state. The former President of Nigeria was in his intellectual elements as he appraised the current status of the Black race to the gathering of some of the most erudite brains in African and African American studies.

Speaking ex-tempore in his opening remark, Obasanjo observed that the contemporary world appears to have been structured to keep the Black race perpetually under but no black man should accept that. “When they tell you that you are nothing because you are black. Tell them no. When they tell you that you must do everything according to their own standards because you are black, tell them that is not acceptable, All my live I have committed myself to rejecting that lie and kicking strongly against it, We are black people, we have our own values and pride, The so called international standard which they use to excude us is one thing I have remained resolutely against because we have our own standards and as long as it is for the general good of our people, that is my standard, let no one intimidate us with his said international standard,” Obasanjo advocated to a loudly cheering hall full of several delegates from several African countries, the Carribbeans, USA and Europe.

Citing issues like general elections and obvious slants in international trade, Dr. Obasanjo noted that even in scholarship, global economic equation and politics the Black race have been clearly marginalised and is still being trounced by the said global standard which actually were “a few people’s wish” being forced down the throat of the rest.

The event hosted by Osun state government with the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the endorsement of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), received goodwill massages from the presidents of such countries as Brazil, Senegal, Benin, Gambia, among others. Presenting the message of President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Teritory, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd) communicated his urge for the global media to be more objective in issues that involve the developing nations, especially, Africa.

Spectacular performances were staged by cultural troupes from such states as Akwa Ibom, Benue and Osun.

Professors Runoko Rashidi from USA and Karim Bangura from UK made presentations at the opening. Rashidi who gave the keynote traced the source of all major civilizations in the world to Africa. His presentation was replete with visuals and citations. The five-day conference which ended last Friday held at the same time with International Colloquium on Slavery, Slave Trade and its Consequences held at Iloko Ijesa, Osun state. The later conference was also opened the same day as Global Conference of Black Nationalities.

Meanwhile, UNESCO has expressed its readiness to continue to partner Osun state in promoting cultural tourism. UNESCO’s Programme Specialist, Mr Edmund Moukala, who spoke on behalf of the organisation at the opening of the International Colloquium on Slavery, Slave Trade and its Consequences said UNESCO was impressed by the commitment of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola to cultural promotion.

He noted that the two conferences holding simultaneously in Osogbo and Iloko Ijesa organised by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo with the support of Osun state government were in tune with the objectives of UNESCO.

The UNESCO official added that the organisation was not surprised that the governor could be so committed to matters of cultural tourism given his pedigree. Moukala noted Osun state as a frontline cultural location in Nigeria.

Oyinlola in his remark commended the participants at the Colloquium for honouring the invitation of the state, adding that the conference would go a long way in explaining the current state and place of the black man in world affairs.

The saw scholars from all over the world presenting papers on Slavery and related issues. Among topics discoursed were, Slave Market, Routes, Monuments, Relics and Tourism, Globalisation and New Forms of Enslavement; Enslavement and Global African Diaspora; Women, Slavery and the Slave Trade; Regional Perspectives on Slavery and Slave Trade and Historiography of Slavery and the Slave Trade.




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•Unregistered firms grabbed 400 deals in three days

•Commission: Report is false

OFFICIALS of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have begun a probe into alleged shady multi-billion naira contract deals at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The anti-corruption agents are trying to figure out why and how over 400

contracts were awarded within three days and some of the jobs were given to 26 companies with no fixed addresses.

The probe began barely three weeks after the Chief Isaac Jemide-led Presidential Monitoring Committee on the NDDC concluded its sitting over the circumstances surrounding the squabble among members of the board of the commission.

Even as the committee’s findings were yet-to-be made public, state governors in the Niger Delta region met in Port Harcourt, and ordered a revocation of all the contracts awarded by the management of the agency, including those endorsed by the Managing Director, Mr. Chibuzo Ugwuoha, and other executive directors, which had been a subject of controversy.

Before the governors’ directive, however, the NDDC board had met on the issue and revoked over 400 contracts running into billions of naira alleged to have been single-handedly awarded by Ugwoha.

Shortly thereafter, the Chairman of the Board, Air Vice-Marshall Larry Koinyan (rtd), sent a petition to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the

Federation (SGF), urging the Presidency to intervene and call Ugwuoha to order.

But, feelers from the ICPC indicate that an interesting phase may soon unfold at the NDDC and heads may roll at the end of investigations prompted by a petition written to the anti-graft agency by a rights activist and Grand Patron of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Prince Collins Eselemo.

In the petition dated June 9, this year, and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (rtd), Eselemo attached a list of contracts running into billions of naira, which he alleged were awarded without any iota of compliance with existing government laws and regulations on due process.

“The particulars and details of the unlawful award of contracts are found in Annexure A hereof. The managing director of the NDDC at different times in March 2010, in clear violation of the Public Procurement Act and the NDDC Authorisation Manual Section 500 did engage in a plethora of corrupt practices to wit – brazen award of government contracts all issued in contravention of tender procedures,” says the petition.

Consequently, Ugwoha and two other directors of the commission were summoned to report at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja on July 6, to be grilled by a team of detectives assigned to investigate the alleged sleazy contracts.

But, they did not report until August 18, when the managing director was quizzed for about eight hours.

He arrived at the ICPC headquarters, Abuja, about 10.30 a.m.

Contacted yesterday for comments on the issue, the commission’s spokesman, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed the report.

He said: “We have an on-going case. We’re doing a painstaking investigation, and

we had invited the accused persons. The next stage is for the investigators to write a report that will be forwarded to the ICPC chairman.”

The Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mike Sowe, had earlier confirmed that the commission was in receipt of the petition, but was not categorical on the present stage of investigations.

“Yes, I am aware of the petition and it is undergoing the necessary processes.

But I cannot say how far the processes have gone,” he said.

Further checks, however, revealed that investigators might have unearthed a can of worms going by available pieces of documented evidence, including letters of award of multi-billion naira contracts personally signed by the NDDC helmsman to allegedly unregistered companies, and results of company validity searches at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) by Eric Apia & Co., an Abuja-based firm of legal practitioners, property consultants and Notary Public.

For instance, Ugwuoha had on March 26, this year, awarded a contract valued at N101,026,440 million to a company – Reimiport & Co. Limited for the installation of solar street lamp at Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The letter of award personally signed by Ugwuoha, and marked NDDC/HQ/MD.18/DTS/06, was addressed to the managing director of the company, but routed through “c/o NDDC office, Warri, Delta State”.

Perhaps, the absence of an identifiable office address of the company may have fuelled suspicion and subsequent searches at the CAC, which report indicated that the name, Reimiport & Co. Limited, had not been registered with it as a company.

The commission further went ahead to approve a request by the applicants to reserve the name till July 10, 2010.

The availability search printed report reads in part: “The CAC is pleased to inform you that one of your requested names has been approved and will be reserved for 60 days.”

The request was made in May and endorsed at the CAC by one Joel Awoke.

Earlier in the same month, precisely on March 16, the NDDC boss was said to have personally signed a letter of award of contract, valued at N53,065,169 million, to a company – Nemberek Industry Limited - supposedly based at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for solar water project at Isi Otoyo, in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area.

As in the case of Reimiport, the letter of award marked NDDC/HQ/MD.18/AKS.8, was addressed to the managing director of the company “c/o NDDC office, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State”.

Again, CAC search results also cast a slur on the status of the company.

In response to an application for availability of the company name for registration submitted in May, 2010, the commission in a report says: “The CAC is pleased to inform you that one of your requested companies has been approved and will be reserved for 60 days.”

The report with Nemberek Industry Limited as the approved name was endorsed by one Samuel Iyapo, and had been reserved for registration by the applicant till July 10, this year.

Similarly, four other companies awarded contracts by Ugwuoha running into millions of naira were allegedly found to be unregistered at the CAC.

Besides, between March and early April, this year, the NDDC chief allegedly embarked on a contract bazaar, awarding 61 jobs at the first instance, and over 350, thereafter within three days, which ran into billions of naira.

Of the 61 contracts awarded, 26 were given to companies with no fixed addresses.

And out of the 26, 24 went to contractors supposedly based in Rivers, Ogwuoha’s state of origin, while the other two with no addresses were awarded to companies in Imo State.

He has, however, been ordered to revoke all the contracts, including several others awarded by executive directors of the commission.

Although there had been no love lost among members of the commission’s board, particularly between the managing director and the Executive Director, Projects (EDP), Mr. Esoetok Etteh, since it was inaugurated about 11 months ago, Ugwuoha’s decision to personally sign letters of award for the 61 contracts was said to have angered Etteh, who fired the first salvo openly, via a petition to the office of the SGF.

In the petition dated March 31, this year, the EDP alleged that the NDDC boss unilaterally awarded 61 projects to his cronies and associates without authorisation of the approving bodies and against the commission’s standing financial regulations.

He further alleged that Ugwuoha usurped his powers to initiate and sign letters of award of contracts.

Citing Section 560 sub-section F (IV) of the NDDC Amended Authorisation Manual (2002), Etteh claimed exclusive authority to issue and sign letters for award of contracts.

Under Procedure for Award, sub-section F (I) of the NDDC Amended Authorisation

Manual, it is stated that “all contracts by the Commission should evolve from the Tenders and Procurement process as approved in the authorisation limits by the Board, and in line with due process”.

Sub-section F (IV) further stipulatesthat “the Executive Director, Projects, issues letters of awards and endorses the copy of BOQ/BEME to the contractor”.

Etteh insisted that the managing director’s resolve to sign letters of award amounted to a serious breach of his designated functions.

Another source of friction between Etteh and Ugwuoha is the CEO’s directive to suspend action on some contracts, which were allegedly awarded to some key repentant militant leaders by the EDP in December, last year, which Ugwuoha considered as not captured in the budgetary provisions for the year, and done without following due process.

But, sources close to the commission hinted that the managing director decided to personally sign the contentious letters of award, when earlier attempts at making the EDP to allow the letters pass through the proper channels failed.

He was allegedly enraged, on discovering that the EDP had unilaterally awarded 44 contracts without his knowledge, out of which three were said to have been awarded to Etteh & Partners, a Warri-based company suspected to be owned by his brother, where he (EDP), was also a staff member.

While the cold war lasted, before it eventually snowballed into an open confrontation, the NDDC boss had reportedly been taken to several top level official quarters, including the Presidency, on the issue of authority to sign letters of contract award, but had consistently insisted that as the MD/CEO, he is the accounting officer and the buck stops on his table.

Ugwuoha, sources said, derived his strength and conviction from the superiority of the Public Procurement Act 2007 over the Amended NDDC Authorisation Manual (2002), contending that while the former is a statutory creation, the later is a mere manual, lacking the force of law initiated by the NDDC Board for the smooth running of the agency in the absence of well defined procurement regulations.

He is said to have hinged his resolve on the provisions of Section 20, sub-sections 1 and 2 (a-e) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, which vested powers of procurement and supervision on the accounting officer of a ministry or agency.

Specifically, Section 20 (2) states that “the accounting officer of every procuring entity shall have overall responsibility for the planning, organisation of tenders, evaluation of tenders, and execution of all procurements; and in particular, shall be responsible for (a) : ensuring compliance with the provisions of this Act by his entity and liable in person for the breach or contravention of this Act or any regulation made hereunder whether or not the act or omission was carried out by him personally or any of his subordinates; and it shall not be material that he had delegated any function, duty or power to any person or group of persons”.

Meanwhile, the battle of wits over authority for initiation and signing of contract letters has been rendered irrelevant, as the ICPC progresses in its probe into the alleged contract scam.

Though President Goodluck Jonathan appeared to have been in a fix, and opted to watch as the NDDC drama played out, there are strong indications that buoyed by pressures from the international community and ex-militant leaders on the need to instill sanity at the commission and checkmate a re-occurrence of violence in the volatile oil-rich region, the Presidency may soon wield the big stick.

But, rather than having a clean sweep of the board, Jonathan is said to be considering the sack of two key members of the management believed to be fuelling the crises at the NDDC.

Long before the ICPC investigations, several concerned groups in the Niger Delta had petitioned the Presidency over developments at the commission. There was, however, no response from the authorities until April 16, this year, when some repentant militant leaders, under the aegis of the Niger Delta ex-Militants Forum, dispatched a strongly-worded two-page letter to ambassadors of 14 major foreign embassies in Nigeria, in which they warned that another orgy of violence was looming in the Niger Delta, if the Federal Government failed to take drastic steps to curtail the excesses of the NDDC managing director.

The letter reads in part: “We are writing to intimate you on this development and its security implications, and to also solicit your urgent intervention by calling on the Presidency and the Federal Government of Nigeria to act now.”

It was addressed to the Ambassadors of Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Canada, Britain, Italy, France, USA, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, Netherlands, the European Commission, and the Embassy of the Holy Sea (Apostolic Nunclature).

Before the diplomatic initiative, the ex-militants had written to Jonathan, urging him to order an investigation into the management of the NDDC.

The Nigerian Compass gathered that on receipt of the complaint from the ex-militants, some of the ambassadors contacted their home governments and prevailed on the Presidency to act on the issue, prompting Jonathan’s directive to the Presidential Monitoring Committee on the NDDC to probe the activities of the management of the agency.

It was barely two weeks after the committee concluded its assignment that the ICPC launched its investigations based on Eselemo’s petition.

While speaking on the recent developments at the NDDC, Special Assistant to the Managing Director on Media Affairs, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, dismissed as false and unfounded, reports of procedural irregularities allegedly committed by Ugwuoha in respect of contract awards.

He said that all was well at the agency, adding that reports of cracks and in-fighting among the top hierarchy were the creations of opportunists and mischief-makers who did not wish the Niger Delta people well.

He also gave assurance that the present management of the commission is poised to ensure that the post-amnesty programmes put in place by the Federal Government achieve the desired result.

Ogbodo, however, declined comments on the ongoing ICPC probe, saying he was not aware of any invitation of his boss by the anti-graft agency, and was not in a position to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, President-General of the Niger Delta Restoration Initiative (NDRI), Mr. Pupagha Ekpedekumor, has said that his group would not hesitate to mobilise youths in the Niger Delta for “spontaneous protests”, if the Federal Government did not take appropriate and positive action on the NDDC within the shortest possible time.

He also warned the ICPC to ensure that in the course of its investigations, nothing is swept under the carpet.

“We are waiting to see the outcome of the probe and how the presidency will handle the issue. We are ready to create discomfort for them if things are not done properly,” he added.

The contract mess was said to have spurred several other concerned groups and individuals in the Niger Delta with a resolve to cleanse the rot at the regional interventionist agency, by providing useful documentary evidence to the investigators.



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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Saturday arrested two members of a gang that abducted Dr. Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa, son of the late prime minister of Nigeria, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who was kidnapped on Friday night at the business premises of his wife.

Tafawa-Balewa had gone to visit his wife in the Federal Capital Territory, when two men accosted him and took him away at gunpoint to a hideout in Mpampe area of the city.

He was taken to a hilly area where he managed to escape from his kidnappers. The gang was said to have demanded a N100m ransom from his family.

Tafawa-Balewa’s family and friends were already making arrangements to pay the sum to secure his release when he escaped from his kidnappers.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the FCT Police Commissioner, John Haruna, explained that a suspected member of the gang, Adamu Adamu, who was arrested when he came to collect the ransom, led the police to their hideout where another suspect was apprehended.

He suffered gunshot wounds and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Two other suspects are being sought, he added.

Tafawa-Balewa stated that the gang took him away in a Honda car and seized his wallet and wristwatch. The car was recovered in Minna, Niger State where it was taken to after the operation.

Speaking with newsmen, Tafawa-Balewa said, “It was raining when they took me away, so I had no idea where they took me to. But I know that we ended up on a mountain. But when I got an opportunity to escape, I took it.

When I came out, I saw policemen searching everywhere, I didn’t know they were looking for me.”



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100830492979

THERE was pandemonium in Iwofe Area of Port Harcourt on Sunday when a naval rating shot a police constable to death after a heated argument over a girlfriend.

The police constable, who was identified as Osaro Osame, was said to be on a special duty at Saipem, an oil servicing company, before he was killed.

PUNCH METRO gathered that Osame, who was in company of a lady, had engaged the naval rating in an altercation over the woman.

Angered by the constable’s audacity, the naval rating (name withheld) brought out a rifle and shot Osame at close range.

Those around the area, according to an eyewitness, took to their heels when they heard the sound of a gunshot after the disagreement between the two security agents.

The police constable, according to an eyewitness died on the spot while the naval rating was arrested after the incident.

“The sound of the gun really made people to be afraid. Those who were curious after they heard the gunshot went straight to the scene of the incident to see things for themselves,” an eyewitness said.

Confirming the incident, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey, said the incident took place at about 1.30am on Sunday.

Disclosing that the naval rating was arrested by the Navy Command, Inoma-Abbey said the suspect would soon be handed over to the state police command.

She said, “One police constable, Osaro Osame of the 45 Police Mobile Force on a special duty at Saipem, Port Harcourt was shot dead by a naval rating at about 0130 hours today (Sunday).

“The deceased left camp in company with a lady. It is highly suspected that the lady may be the cause of the misunderstanding between the naval rating and the deceased.”

Inoma-Abbey said the lady, who was suspected to causing rift that led to the policeman’s death, was in police custody.

She said the policeman’s corpse had been deposited in a mortuary, adding that the Criminal Investigation Department of the state police command had begun investigation into the incident.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008304182264

Samuel Peter is confident of scoring a knockout victory over reigning IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko, when both get to slug it out on September 11 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Five years ago, Peter had Klitschko in big trouble, having knocked him down three times, including twice in the fifth round, during their heavyweight fight in Atlantic City, United States. But in the end, Klitschko rallied to win the bout, with winning scores of 114-111 on all three judges’ cards. It has been a long wait for the Nigerian, but he now has a chance to redeem himself and become a world champion when he takes on the big Ukrainian five days after his 30th birthday.

Proving a point

“I have a lot to prove. I have a chance to redeem myself from the 2005 fight. It is going to be a great fight. I am getting another chance to prove that I am the best heavyweight champion in all,” said Peter, who will turn 30 on September 6. “The loss was a bad mistake. This time I am going to prove that I can become a champion again,” said Peter. “For sure, on September 11 in Germany it is going to be a great fight. I don’t have much to say because I know that my gloves will speak for me in the ring.”

With a record of 34-3 that includes 27 knockouts, the Nigerian Nightmare’s resume includes victories by split decision and unanimous decision over former world titlist, James Toney, as well as a March 2008 sixth-round knockout of Russian Oleg Maskaev that earned him the WBC belt. In his next bout after beating Maskaev, Peter was dethroned as WBC champion via a knockout loss to Wladimir’s brother, Vitali Klitschko, in October 2008. That bout saw Peter churning out a lacklustre display against the older of the Klitschko brothers which he followed up with yet another uninspiring performance in March 2009 against Eddie Chambers, which the Nigerian Nightmare described as the low point of his career.

Thinking ahead

“I will be looking for that boy again after this fight,” said Peter. “I don’t know how that boy did what he did but after this fight I will take care of him. Everything was frustrating at that time. I had lost the championship, and the promotion was so bad. But I am okay now, and everything is straight up. I have the best promoter in the world, and the best coach in the world. I have the best manager in the world, and I am going to be the best.” Peter, who has been training with his trainer Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, California, said he is enjoying his training. “Everything in Big Bear is great,” he said. “It is a great place to train. It is very peaceful. I didn’t know about Big Bear for all these years, but it is a great place to train. Abel brought me up here, and he doesn’t take my nonsense. He doesn’t take ‘No’ for an answer. He wants to see working. I am happy about being here.”

German factor

Klitschko has never lost a fight in his adopted nation, Germany. It was also in the European nation that Peter lost by TKO to Wladimir, but he is confident the upcoming title fight will not last the distance thanks to his punching power. “The victory and my judges I have in my right hand and the judge is my left hook,” he declared.

“There will not be a decision this time around. This time he will not get up from my left hook. I am ready and I am prepared and I will not need a referee or a judge. This time around anyone I touch will not be standing up. I don’t think Wladimir will be able to stand me after four rounds.”



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Following the United States Category One certification to Nigeria, Arik Air, an indigenous commercial carrier involved in domestic and regional air transport business, yesterday said it will commence direct flights to America.

Describing the United States Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) certification, known as Category One, as a welcome development, the carrier disclosed that it will start operating a Nigerian registered aircraft on the Lagos to New York JFK route.



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Nigeria’s only surviving club in the CAF Champions League, Heartland on Sunday recorded their first win of the group stage of the continent’s top club competition when they beat visiting Egyptian club side, Ismaily.

The encounter played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri ended 2-1 in favour of Heartland but the team’s coach Samson Siasia will still have cause to complain about his misfiring forward line as all of his side’s goals against Ismaily came from defenders.

Heartland needed to win in order to keep alive their fading hopes for a semi final berth after failing to win any of their opening three games of the group stage. And to make matters worse for Siasia’s side, it was the visitors who shot into the lead after 29 minutes through Mohamed Soliman Ali.

That lead, however, lasted for only nine minutes before the team’s skipper Ike Thankgod pulled them back on level terms with the Egyptians who two weeks earlier defeated Heartland in Egypt 1-0.

Heartland’s last home encounter against another Egyptian side Al-Ahly, back in July, had ended in a one-all draw and Owerri fans will be forgiven for thinking that it was going to be the same case scenario against Ismaily until former Enugu Rangers captain Chinedu Efugh popped up to score the match winning goal with five minutes left on the clock.

The win saw Heartland swapping places with Ismaily in the Group B standings but anything less than a win in their upcoming game against Al-Ahly in two weeks time will mark the end of the Owerri side’s Champions League aspirations.

Eaglets grounded in Congo

It was, however, a different story in Pointe Noire, Congo where the Nigerian Under 17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of their hosts in an African Junior Championship first round, first leg qualifier.

The Golden Eaglets, silver medal winners at the last FIFA World Cup held in Nigeria last year, fell behind after just eight minutes through a penalty kick goal, but they afterwards kept the Congolese at bay to go into the dressing room at the half-time break just a goal down.

Worse was to come their way in the second half as they conceded a second goal two minutes before the hour mark before the match’s centre referee from the Central African Republic Bertrand Bekai issued a red card to the Nigerian coach Monday Odigie for challenging some of his calls.

Odigie’s expulsion means he will not be on the bench when both sides meet in the return leg encounter in Nigeria on September 11.


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The new President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, has revealed his plan for Nigerian football, saying the new board will emphasise on developing the sport from the grassroots.

Maigari was elected as the NFF President on Thursday amidst controversies on the legality of the exercise, winning the presidential poll with 31 votes ahead of Oyuki Obaseki, Sani Toro, Shehu Dikko and Lumumba Adeh.

He told our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday that he was ready to work with anyone interested in improving the standard of football in the country.

”I believe we have time and resources to improve our football before any major competition,” Maigari said.

”My basic plan for the sport is to emphasise on developmental programmes. I believe we have talents in all parts of the country and these people should be given opportunity to reach their potential.

”If we start a purposeful programme this year, I‘m confident we will be getting the best out of our football before the next World Cup in 2014.

”Emphasis will also be on the domestic leagues. Both the Premier League and the National Professional League will get more attention because we cannot deny the fact that our players come through these competitions before going on the world stage.

”The NFF is also aware that women football has not got it fair share recently. This will change in the new programme we have outlined. We will initiate a package that will put the women‘s league in the eye of the world. The Falconets did well in Germany by coming second at the World Cup; we want to build on their success and improve the game in Nigeria.”

Maigari said he would appreciate suggestions from Nigerians on how best to improve football in the country.

”I have an open-door policy. We all cannot be members of the NFF board at the same time but that does not mean the board will not welcome any good idea from well-meaning Nigerians. You don‘t have to be on the board to contribute to the game. Developing Nigerian football should be seen as a collective action,” he added.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008301573631

President Goodluck Jonathan has met with ex-military president Ibrahim Babangida over the 2011 elections and his plan to bid for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket.

But the meeting ended as soon as it started because the President’s intention to sound out Babangida on the possibility of getting him to step down failed.

Babangida, according to sources close to the meeting, stuck to his guns, vowing to contest the election.

The meeting was held in Minna at the home of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State, who handed over power to President Olusegun Obasanjo at the outset of the return to civil rule in 1999. Gen. Abubakar brokered the meeting.Jonathan reportedly told Babangida of his intention to run, stressing that the pressure from the Southsouth to contest for president "is too much to resist."

A source said: "The President said he decided to meet with Babangida to inform him of his intention to seek a fresh term in office.

"He said courtesy demanded that he should put Babangida in confidence and solicit his support."

But Babangida reportedly explained that there was no going back on his ambition to contest. He was quoted as saying that he had nothing against President Jonathan but added: "I have also been under pressure from my people since 2007 to run for this office."

He then wished the president well in his electoral pursuit. The source added: "The two leaders will now meet on the battlefield."

It was learnt that with Babangida’s comments, the parties knew it was time to call it a day. The meeting lasted only 10 minutes.

Although the Director (Media and Communications) of the Babangida Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kassim Afegbua, declined comments on the meeting last night, top brass in the two leaders’ camps confirmed the meeting.

There are strong indications that the President and his strategists are targeting 10 of the 29 PDP states as their stronghold for the PDP primaries. They met on Wednesday night to review their plans. There are fears that governors may not back him.

The President’s camp is targeting 100 per cent in those 10 states. It will join the scramble for 40 to 50 per cent of the votes with other presidential aspirants in other states.

It was gathered that the review meeting with the President was attended by the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Another source said: "At the meeting, it was agreed that Jonathan camp’s target is to get 100 per cent support from 10 governors and fight its way through the primaries in other states."

A statement by the Babangida campaign organization spokesman Kassim Afegbua criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest Zone for endorsing Jonathan for 2011.

"The reported endorsement of the undeclared intention of President Jonathan by the Southwest PDP does not reflect the actual permutations on ground."



http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/11502.html

Professional drivers caught driving recklessly in Lagos State and found not to have attended the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute for retraining risk a N50,000.00 fine.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Mr. Ayodeji Oyedokun, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos.

He explained that if an erring professional driver was privately employed, he would be made to pay personally and if he was employed by a corporate entity, his employer would have to shoulder the fine.

Oyedokun implored all professional drivers to avail themselves of the retraining and recertification opportunities which the institute had been providing by attending its one-day mandatory course.



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