[size=15pt]An Amazon Torn By Politics, Vindicated By Performance[/size]

26 Oct 2013


By Bello Mohammed

Unfolding developments in the Nigerian media on the purchase of armoured cars for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, has made an interesting reading and served as strong warning to accomplished leaders who are not politicians to steer clear of the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Stella became a scapegoat and fell on the banana peels planted by professional politicians with expertise in exaggeration and agenda setting. The purchase of armoured-cars for an agency under her ministry became a burden her motherly shoulders would bear for a long time except the public viewed the issues very critically and are able to separate the sentiments ballooned to envelope her transformational efforts at the decaying ministry that controls our nation’s airports from the crux of the matter.

The sequence of events are indicative of the intentions of mischief makers behind the travails of the minister whose fragile heart as a woman could not bear the pains and agonies that came with the crash of the Associated Airlines on Thursday, October 3, 2013 in which the country yet again lost some of her noble citizens. Unfortunately, the dust raised by the sad incident had not died down when Oduah slipped on the banana peels planted by anti-change agents and her political detractors.

In a proper sense, where politics and self-interest are not the motivating factors for the attack on the person of Ms. Stella Oduah, the case of purchase of the 2 armoured cars at an overprice and attribution of recent plane crashes to her ineffectiveness as minister of Aviation would have compelled the attention of the reasonable public but the gait and mannerism of the lead campaigners called for a total dismissal of the said infractions. If Stella purchased the cars at a padded price, it is unfortunate; but that an employee in the ministry, a civil servant who swore to an oath of secrecy volunteered documents revealing the details of the transactions told me that the campaign is for calumny, and not in the interest of the nation. I am certain that the facts masked in this charade will become public knowledge soon.

Also, to vilify Stella Oduah, dates of occurrences and events were altered to hold her accountable for all the plane crashes that have happened in Nigeria. However, this debauchery did not work as Nigerians still remember the dates of every mishap with undeviating effect on our psyche as a nation. Stella is an angel who unfortunately has sauntered into the coven; unfamiliar with the evil ways of the night marauders whose intention is to cripple the Nigerian aviation sector.

Expectedly, they cleverly orchestrated a process that will shift focus from the rot and inefficiency that have incapacitated the aviation industry and attributed the causes of plane crashes to a human being as if she does not have her own children. How? I find these unintelligent arguments bandied around by certain failed past aviation minister and one self-professing anti-corruption champion exceedingly ridiculous. The problem with the Nigerian aviation sector is not Stella Oduah, but its resistance to change. Stella is forcing a change that will transform the sector but not to the benefit of the stooges planted in the various agencies for political espionage.
For lending herself to political attack and unnecessary distraction, Ms. Stella Oduah owes the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria an unreserved apology. She is a servant of the people paid with taxpayers money and must create the long-sought value in the sector. It is high time she blocked her ears to noise emanating from the ring side. Indeed, if the noise makers were busy, they would not have had the time to start pointing at women they have dated in the past amongst the numerous on the streets, or impregnated a woman and refused to accept the pregnancy? But really, these men are funny. They seem to hate successful women or afraid of successful women. Don’t they have mothers, sisters or daughters? Or are they assuming that Nigerians have forgotten their misdeeds when they were public servants whose preoccupation was to serve themselves!

Anyway, the focus of this piece is nation building and transformational leadership which Stella Oduah characterizes. Not until recently, shortly after her appointment, passengers arriving Nigeria from other countries were always met with disappointment because little items such as air-conditioners never worked! The hundred of passengers disembarking from aircraft were usually packed like dozens of sardine with sweat running down their bodies like boxers on the ring.

Today, the story has changed. Stella started from the easiest to the toughest, demonstrating an uncommon sense of organization that resulted in the evident transformation the Nigerian Aviation sector is undergoing. Except for non-travelers, the level of infrastructural development at our international airports and technical advancement that have visited the existing obsolete equipments are clear testaments to the commitment of the Minister as an appointee of the Federal Government to transform the sector.

These efforts have also received international acknowledgments with consequent impact being the award of category one status to the Nigerian Aviation sector. Interactions with Stella Oduah revealed a woman so passionate about the development of Nigeria and an individual committed to the safety of the aviation sector for which she has direct oversight function. Testimonies of your efficient performance abound, and your focus on consistent adherence to the international best practice set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is evident.

Ours is a country where performance poses a major threat to mediocrity and sets evil men after the righteous. It is the only country where party members fight themselves over appointments and positions rather than focusing on achieving the party objectives as would have been expected of people bound by a common purpose. Nigerians are aware that your job is what is coveted hence the drama by the artistes from within and outside your party. However, your seeming understanding and evident transformation of the Nigerian aviation sector within this short period are reasons that would keep you in office. Any change at this time will take back the sector by another 25years. Stella Oduah is a victim of circumstance, an amazon torn by politics, vindicated by her good works.

Bello Mohammed, Public Commentator, writes from Lagos

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/an-amazon-torn-by-politics-vindicated-by-performance/162629/

Where exactly did this man get the kind of money spent on the bullet-proof car?

El-Rufai speaks on Dino Melaya's bullet-proof car

[size=15pt]Thank God for Dino Melaye's Life[/size]

by Kelechi Deca


We live in a very difficult time. So difficult that one can hardly focus on one thing without focusing on the other, and the more you focus on one, the greater the temptation to also focus on others.

I am threading a path many Nigerian commentators are not convenient with and would rather not venture. I also know in view of the most trending issue in town, some would not give themselves the opportunity to understand this post and also join me in this crusade to know those who are with us,and those who are not with us, but may not necessarily be against us.

For the avoidance of doubt, I vehemently condemn the acquisition of two BMW bullet proof cars by the NCAA for the amount reported. I am not against top public officers whose lives are threatened to take measures aimed at protecting their lives, but such measures must fall within what the law guarantees. But buying a car that is more expensive than the Cardillac 1, that Obama drives which is the most sophisticated amoured vehicle on earth, or the Jaguar that David Cameron uses, is way out of the calculation. Having said that, let me move to the subject of this post.

In April, when an assassination attempt was made on the life of Hon.(Otunba) Dino Melaye. I wrote condemning the act in its entirety but the bug of my profession could not allow me to ask how come a member of the House of Representative owns a Bentley Continental Flying Spur,if I am not mistaken. His saviour in that attempt was that that Bentley was superbly bulletproofed . I thought such cars are for the Aristos, yet the members of NASS claim there is no money in that chambers.

I may be very wrong then and now, because I do not know what the Honourable was engaged in before he came to NASS. He may have had an import license or oil bloc being a key member of the ruling PDP, then. But if anyone knows what his business was before he went to Abuja, kindly educate me,so that I wont continue to wallow in my ignorance. He may have acquired so much legitimately to support his awesome lifestyle. I was also informed,relibly so, that apart from the Bentley, he also owns more than 7 other high end luxury wheels, the ones I like so much, such as a 2012 Porsche Carera, A 2011 Land Rover Sport Signature,another Porsche Cayeene, among other awesome wonders on wheels.

It is important that Nigerians know those who are for them and those who are with them. I have pointed this out severally that the cost of running government in this land is exorbitantly worrisome.If Otunba Melaye made this much for the few years he was in the house, it means that people like Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila who have been there all along have amassed enough to own a country of their own.

Nigeria is unarguably one of the most corrupt countries in the world. How I wish we have the courage to do what is going on in China where even the judiciary is in tandem with the executive,thats why Bo Xilai will still go to jail. If it where in Nigeria, Bo would have got an injunction from a court barring everybody from harassing them. Thats why we have as many thieves moving around freely than, innocent men and women. A country where the best option left for pubic officials is to steal as much as they can steal, and keep some by the side,to buy as many judges as they can,so they can get a perpetual injunction to enforce their 'fundamental' human rights. Do these thieves who want to have their human rights enforced know that their actions in office were denials of the fundamental human rights of other citizens of this country.

Nigeria is fast becoming the Frankenstein monster consuming its very young, is this nation sustainable?

I cant afford to look at the messages alone, good as they are,I am also tempted to look at the messengers. I may be wrong, but this is my take.


Best regards.

Na wa o for Dino

Dino the fraudster.

[size=15pt]A CONSPIRACY BEYOND AVIATION CARS: THE AMAECHI- DINO MELAYE CONNECTION[/size]

Posted by: THEWILL Posted date: October 24, 2013


‘Dino Melaye will do anything for money if the pay is right from a willing paymaster,’ a friend, Mohammed, who is familiar with Dino’s antics right from his school days in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, once said disappointedly about this latter day activist .

Since losing out in his bid to continue his legislative journey in the House of Representatives, Dino has suddenly found a goldmine in the world of civil society business. For him, a vindictive anti-corruption crusade is the sure path towards sustaining a dwindling financial fortune. In the last one year, Otunba Dino (as he wants to be fondly called), has selectively pursued a shameful campaign against targeted PDP stalwarts holding key positions in Jonathan’s government to justify why Bola Tinubu must finance his Senatorial ambition for Kogi West ahead 2015.

By history and antecedents, does Dino have any moral justification or any good conscience left in him to fight corruption? Sadly, this man known for patronizing pharmacies at night for sex-enhancing drugs, is very gifted in seizing the moment, exploring loopholes and cashing in on existing frictions to negotiate a deal with a paymaster that is ready to play the ball in his anti-corruption crusade. Guess his target this time around: Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who has been secretly dolling out hundreds of millions to fight and discredit anything that is of the Jonathan’s administration. The Rivers State governor, gave the Deputy Senate President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) the sum of N29 million to mobilize students against the Jonathan’s administration recently. He has been fingered as secretly financing the ASUU struggle. About two months ago, he gathered some willing members of the Civil Society from all over the country in Port Hacourt, for a paid protest. Hundreds of millions of naira was sunk in that aborted covert operation.

Dino has been able to identify a spendthrift in Amaechi, hence looking for when it is right to have his own share of Rivers money. Unfortunately, the raging controversy over the car deal in the Ministry of Aviation has provided that sure link for Dino to hit yet another jackpot. Dino is fully aware that Stella Oduah has stepped on many toes in the ongoing reform of the aviation industry. It is on good authority that he once told a confidant that two individuals, Amaechi and Wale Babalakin would be good targets to make cool cash off. Both men, who certainly have deep pockets, are direct and indirect victims of the aviation reform. Dino is very much abreast of the impasse generated by the grounded airline belonging to Rivers State government for violating aviation rules and Babalakin running battle with FAAN, an agency of the aviation ministry. He knows all these and has been looking for that money-spinning moment to do some abracadabra.

Stepping on toes is usually one of the biggest challenges of carrying out a reform in any sector. Certainly, no reformist will find it easy to make a change in any sector with entrenched interests from some members of the political class or business cabals. Aside the alleged Aviation Cars scandal, Stella Oduah still has many battles to contend with. The protest being organized by Dino Melaye and cronies against Oduah is certainly one of those battles. For those that will be joining Dino to do this protest, kindly demand for a fair share of money sent in dollar denomination by Gov. Amaechi through his Chief of Staff, Tony . The cash was delivered 9pm on Tuesday (N72 Million in first installment), while the balance of N38 Million will be paid on Thursday. The agreement is for the protest to be sustained for three days. Wednesday – Federal Secretariat, Thursday – National Assembly and Friday – at a yet to be determined location in Lagos State.

Dino is full of tricks, so while he will be praying for security agencies to scuttle the planned protest, there is every tendency that he will be using a front to contact Wale Babalakin to key into this protest against Oduah by bringing out cash to ‘kill a common enemy’. Certainly this is a good moment for Dino to further make his empty noise and enjoy some cool millions. It is quite unfortunate that the car issue which should be thoroughly investigated to guard against witch-hunting has come at this time that the country is witnessing a massive turn around. However, it is expected, irrespective of the gang-up against the Aviation Minister or any of the agency, nothing should stop them from doing the right thing. Reforms come with pain, but the end certainly will justify the need.

Placing Dino side by side with his own history, one could only pity his obsession for dirty money. He was at the fore front of the Ettehgate scandal in the House of Representatives. He fought that futile battle to protect his pocket and chairmanship seat of a lucrative committee. The same man is today sermonizing about corruption. If Dino is serious about the fight against corruption and not motivated by money and politics, let him take to the streets to protest the Lekki scandal and Lagos government’ purchase of armoured cars.

The recent buy–back of the Lekki Concession rights is unarguably the biggest scandal ever perpetuated by a state governor. A deal by Fashola to settle Tinubu for 2015 election money. Yet Dino, his other twitter activists and Lagos critics will pretend not to know. The Lagos State government is reported to have bought three armoured cars for N600 millions, yet the likes of Dino and Femi Falana, SAN, will never ask questions from all these. Nigerians are fully aware of their antics. The only man that has remained impartial even in death is late Chief Gani Fawehinmi of the blessed memory. It is very sad.

With the likes of Dino Melaye, the fight against corruption has been totally compromised and is now a lucrative venture. The current noise by Dino is just a storm in a teacup. President Goodluck Jonathan is quite aware that this is part of an organized set up to pull him down. Those funding this campaign against Oduah know that she worked tirelessly for Jonathan’s emergence in 2011 and may be strategically involved for 2015. The battle is on, but for Dino, he should be conscious of the future of his children. Certainly this struggle is money making venture for people like Dino and by extension, a conspiracy beyond aviation car deal saga.


- See more at: http://thewillnigeria.com/news/a-conspiracy-beyond-aviation-cars-the-amaechi-dino-melaye-connection/#sthash.vw5emqT3.dpuf

[size=15pt]We bought N225m bulletproof cars for operations - NCAA[/size]

Written by Clement Idoko - Abuja
Saturday, 19 October 2013 00:00


Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Fola AkinkuotuDirector-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu, on Friday defended the purchase of two BMW 760 armoured cars, saying the vehicles are for operational use.

He denied media reports that the vehicles were acquired for the minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Uduah.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on the controversy that has trailed the purchase of the vehicles, NCAA said due process was followed in the acquisition of the vehicles. He put the cost at N255, 150, 000.

He said: “This press conference isto throw more light on emerging media reports on the circumstances surrounding the procurement of Two BMW 760 Li Armoured Series cars for the NCAA.

“The cars are operational vehicles used in the varied operations of the NCAA. Transporting the minister and aviation-related foreign dignitaries is part of this operation.

“We make haste to state that aviation is a global industry and the NCAA, the regulator of the industry in Nigeria very often plays host to dignitaries from international civil aviation bodies like, ICAO, IATA, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), among others.

“It is internationally customary to convey our minister and these visiting foreign dignitaries in security vehicles whenever they are in Nigeria.

“It must be noted that during such visitations, the security of members of the delegation is the sole responsibility of the host country,” he said.

According to him, the vehicles in question are in the pool of the NCAA for these special assignments and available at NCAA office.

Akinkuotu, further noted that the vehicles were budgeted for and that all necessary procurement and due process was followed.

He added that this was not the first time the agency had procured high security vehicles for aforementioned purposes.

He confirmed that vehicles were purchased from Coscharis Motors, the only dealer of such vehicles in Nigeria.


http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/24267-we-bought-n225m-bulletproof-cars-for-operations-ncaa.html

[size=15pt]History of Armed robbers, Company liquidators, Rapists and Notoriours official criminals in Nigeria. – By Shama Maliga[/size]

by nigeriangazette on Oct 18, 2013 • 2:52 am 20 214 Comments


First before treating the above subject, permit me to congratulate Mr. President and good people of Nigeria on our country’s election as non-permanent UN Security Council member. This to me shows that the world still respect us.

While President Goodluck Jonathan keep trying to face our many national challenges, we pray for more better news in the lives of Nigerians and pride with this moment, making it an opportunity to unite ourselves for better Nigeria.

Now to the subject of today.

Following the slogan that a suspect is NOT guilty until found guilty by a competent court of law, hence, this is the authentic list of Nigerian TOP TEN ARMED ROBBERS AND TOP TEN CRIMINALS IN HISTORY, according to their ranks and origin in the history file of Nigeria.

Many of you might be kids when some of these thieves invaded Nigeria. So before you argue blindly or baselessly, ask your parents or uncles first about them and how they brought Armed Robbery and Criminals in Nigeria, then you can come back with your comments or opinion. The lists are based on FACTS!

NIGERIA TOP TEN ARMED ROBBERS

1. DR. OYENUSI- The greatest Nigerian armed robber in history and number One Nigeria Armed Robber. Oyenusi is a Yoruba man from Osun State.

2. BABATUNDE – another notorious armed robber from Yoruba who bastardized white lace in his days with his gang. He operated with his gang almost the same time with Dr. Oyenusi- (the greatest Nigerian Armed robber in history).

3. FOLORUNSO – another powerful known armed robber of Yoruba origin who stole with blood in his hands. He was Babatunde’s best friend and they rob most times as a gang. He was said to have impregnated one of Babatunde’s wives before he was killed.

4. SHINA RAMBO: A no nonsense Armed Robber. Nobody knows whether he is for real or a myth. He is also proudly Yoruba.

5. LAWRENCE NOMAYAGBON ANINI- A celebrity Armed Robber that made dummies out of the Nigerian police in the 80′s. Lawrence Anini whose gangs caused fear and terror in Benin. He was from(Mid West) today’s Edo state and his mother is Yoruba. Many believed he’s smart in Robbery but not still as smarter or dangerous like Dr. Oyenusi(the greatest Nigerian Armed Robber).

6. MONDAY OSUNBOR- Another bloody Armed Robber of Yoruba origin. Osunbor is Anini’s deputy.

7. Inspector GEORGE IYAMU. Remember he was the senior Cop that made Anini’s career successful. He was a top Armed Robber in police uniform. He supplied intelligence and Arms to Anini’s gang. He was number three in Anini’s Gang and number seven in Nigeria’s Armed Robbers history book. He’s also a Yoruba man.

8. KAYODE WILLIAMS- Another brutal Armed Robber in history who later turned Pastor. The son of famous Mrs. Williams. Kayode was Oyenusi’s best friend and he is Yoruba.

9. OBIDIOZOR OTOKOTO- A ritualist, robber who killed people for ritual purposes, hitman, racketeering, loan sharking and general crime merchandise. He is igbo.

10. DERICO AND YEMO.

Its a known fact, that most Yorubas are fond of calling the Igbos thieves on every slight misunderstanding among them. The truth is that the Igbos before the war are known for their hard work, intelligent and innovative smart spirit. They are not thieves. Other tribes envy them including our men who admires their fair in complexion tall beautiful intelligent women. Any sensible man from our region will prefer calling the igbos cheats rather than thieves. We know that Yorubas are the original Thieves and Crooks in Nigeria.

The Hausa/Fulani before the Nigerian civil war are known for their honesty and hard work too. They are not thieves.

The Yorubas before the war are known for stealing from Nigerians even for “juju” (black magic) trading. They are the real Nigerian thieves till date. As the Yorubas then steal from igbo traders around them, the igbos initiated a tricky stories that they (Igbos) eats humans, Every Igbo trader tried claiming “Ngwa” a dangerous village in today’s Abia state that was known for Cannibalism practice and rituals in the ancient days. All these attempts by Igbo traders was to create fears among their Yoruba thieves, whom Nigerians generally also regards as natural born cowards and Lazy bones.

The civil war turned some Hausa/Fulani, Igbos and others tribes to thieves. The troubled Chad and Niger citizens who came to assist us in farming jobs and crisis with other Nigerians taught our people how to steal through looting during crisis. Stealing is not in our blood. We obey Allah’s message to the core. In our region, only the Tivs and some tribe in Jigawa are known to be natural born thieves. Tivs are not known for stealing before the war, our multiplication strategy during the civil war with our friends from Chad and Niger produced big thieves in Middle Belt and Yoruba.

Niger and Chad are natural home for thieves. Chad wasn’t a dangerous place until crisis hits them severally which resulted in criminal minded activities across Chad and even in Northern Nigeria.

Hunger that visited the Igbos during, and after the war forced some of them into stealing, especially when their money was seized by the FG. That’s the fact!

They are not natural thieves and was never the first in Armed Robbery in Nigeria. Till date, they are not the one leading in Armed Robbery but Yorubas.

Again, just like kidnapping which was first initiated by Niger Delta Militant, the Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba have never thought of Kidnapping as a lucrative job until Niger Deltans introduced it. Today, South South, South East, and Northern Region have found Kidnapping a good business. Though my research has shown that currently Delta state leads in the business and they mostly operate in the South East with dubious police officers as their intelligent agents.

TRUTH BE TOLD. YORUBAS LEADS AS TOP TEN ARMED ROBBERS, COMPANIES LIQIUDATORS, RAPISTS AND NOTORIOUS OFFICIAL CRIMINALS IN NIGERIA CRIMINAL HISTORY FILE AND THEY ARE STILL LEADING TILL DATE 2013

Again, Yorubas topped the history list of Official Nigeria Criminals. They are the most destructive and tricky corrupt tribe in Nigeria with their serving officials in ministries/government stealing huge among of Nigeria funds. Below is the TOP TEN OFFICAL NIGERIAN CRIMINALS

1. MKO ABIOLA (Remember Fela calling him ITT, Thief Thief) he was not jailed but was later punished by IBB.

2. TAFA BALOGUN(Yoruba): Jailed and served.

3. BODE GEORGE(Yoruba): Jailed and served. Celebrated by his own people as a “hero” on his return from Prison. Funny! Yoruba man goes to jail for stealing, he becomes a Yoruba Hero and gets the red carpet treatment by his kinsmen and Owambe declared on his head with joy all over the city. In other part of Nigeria, he would have been an outcast.

4. JAMES IBORI(Niger Delta): jailed and still serving in UK.

5. ALAMS- Forgiven and his file closed

6. FEMI FANI KAYODE(Yoruba): Stolen over billion of USD. To be jailed SOON. Case file very wide OPEN. He’s currently enjoying fresh air and social medias. He will still maintain number six in Top Ten Nigeria Criminal list when jailed.

7. FAROUK LAWAL

8. OTEDOLA: File still Open

9. DIMEJI BANKOLE: File still open

10. TINUBU: File still Open

11. Cecilia Ibro. Jailed and served./Iyabo Obanjor(two of them dragging same rank.

Apart from carrying guns, and stealing with pens, Yorubas still leads the TOP TEN COMPANY LIQUIDATORS IN NIGERIA with MR. RUFUS GIWA (Yoruba) as number One on the list. Rufus Giwa Liquidated UAC, and BABATUNDE JOSE(Yoruba) ranked as number two, he liquidated Daily Times.

More so, Yorubas leads the TEN TOP NIGERIA BRUTAL RAPISTS with a Yoruba traditional RULER from OSUN state who Raped a female Youth corp member as number one in the list, followed by other nine Yoruba notorious Rapists.

I am not in anyway glorifying these names but the reality is that I’m cautioning our brothers in South West Nigeria to reduce their crimes against humanity and stop accusing others of being criminals when they are historically known as Criminals and Naturally born with criminal blood. Yorubas who occupied most Nigerian top medias in Lagos have for long been in the business of changing history. Giving other tribes bad name while aiding and abetting evils around them. Its wrong to paint other innocent tribes or persons black while hiding your evil and most dangerous crimes among your people. We thank Allah for His light over darkness.

No one can change history. No one can stop born criminals from making news head lines no matter how stupid journalists tries to hide them because they are from their tribes. If the South west confused Journalists couldn’t stop DR. OYENUSI, ANINI and the rest from making black history for themselves in the 60s, 70s and 80s, then who are you to stop numerous deadly and natural born Armed Robbers, Rapists and Official Criminals of Yoruba origin, terrorizing Nigerians daily in the street of Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja road, Ore-Benin road, Alade road and other parts of Nigeria from making black history for themselves. Nine months pregnancy is too big to be covered with mere palms. Your criminal brothers are natural born crooks.

We shall be talking about Ritualists, drug traffickers and Kidnappers in full next time. I will deem it necessary to post authentic lists from NDLEA of 3,000 names of convicted drug traffickers in the history of Nigeria. So, don’t bother talking about them here. When we open the official file, you will be shocked to see that Yorubas still rank VERY HIGH and still top the list among Nigerians caught in Drug trafficking internationally and nationally. The dubious Ibadan-Lagos media couldn’t hind it but they only anchor their journalism in gossips and blackmails. Let’s now discuss this ten top Armed Robbers, Liquidators, Official Criminals and Brutal Rapists which Yorubas are leading and numbered most in history till date.
We need good investors in Nigeria. Crimes are our major problems as a nation and it have been stopping inventors from embracing the opportunities in Nigeria. I have not been happy since some of our brainwashed brothers with their friends invaded our region. Thanks be Allah, our region is gradually coming back to normal. I’m very glad that our people enjoyed Sallah without any bomb blasts.

Those who lost loved ones during the rains of these thieves, liquidators, rapists and criminals must have been reminded of their pain when reading this post, I therefore sympathize with them once again. Please bear with me.

If you hate this truth so much, please kindly hit your browsing device on the wall or better still force yourself on a speed train for a kiss. Thank Allah, some of our trains are working now.
Written by: Shama Maliga


- See more at: http://thenigeriangazette.com/history-of-armed-robbers-company-liquidators-rapists-and-notoriours-official-criminals-in-nigeria-by-shama-maliga/?fb_comment_id=fbc_638820436169846_6194106_639678739417349#f5a3e3469cde46

[size=15pt]Age-long Yoruba Oduduwa untruths Debunked By Edo Facts![/size]


*The real origin of Oduduwa legacy and children proven by language by an Edo son
_________________________________________

Daniel Ogbegie wrote:

Language in aid of history

Language is a legitimate tool for constructing history and all the names associated with Oduduwa have deeper roots in Bini language than in the Yoruba. The Arabs or the Yoruba, do not have words like ‘Uhe’ (the sacred name for Bini and Ile-Ife, or words ending with ‘duwa,’ ‘noyan’ or ‘miyan,’ which are typical Bini vowels...... (see more)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=186117161573110&set=a.108421046009389.10559.100005244818648&type=1&theater



*The Alaafin of Oyo himself confirm that Oranyan, son of Oduduwa, just as his father is not from Ile-Ife and all stories opposed to this are lies. This gives more credence to the Edo origin of Oduduwa.
_____________________________________________

Oranyan was never a king in Ile-Ife, says Alaafin of Oyo....(see more)

https://www.facebook.com/chybuz.naijapropa/posts/186243938227099



*A prominent traditional ruler in Osun State confirms also that Oranya, son of Oduduwa, is not from Ile-Ife, supporting the Edo historical record of origin.
___________________________________________

“Prince Oranyan came from the war front and arrived in Ile-Ife. Oranyan’s nephew, Obalufon Alayemore was the third Ooni of Ife before he moved to Ido-Osun and he later returned to Ile-Ife where he became the first Oonirisa of Ile-Ife.".....(see more)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=186938864824273&set=a.108421046009389.10559.100005244818648&type=1&theater



*YORUBA MYTHOLOGY DEBUNKED BY EDO HISTORICAL FACTS... Oduduwa Pt.4
______________________________________________

"There is no evidence suggesting that Ife is older than Benin , no evidence at all . Edo tradition say 31 Ogisos reigned before Oduduwa (Ekaladerhan) in the 12th century AD including two women and Benin tradition gives account of the names of these rulers yet Ife does not have an account of its rulers before the arrival of Oduduwa . Even if any exists , it is doubtful if....(see more)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=187847611400065&set=a.108421046009389.10559.100005244818648&type=1&theater

Press Statement by CAN: FG should Withdraw Query to Odimegwu and Apologize to him

By 247ureports

The call by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on President Goodluck Jonathan to make sure that the chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Festus Odimegwu does not supervise the 2016 census is misplaced. The question we are asking is: which part of the North are they saying has higher population? Since when has ACF become a political party that every time they will always dabble into politics?

There was a census that was conducted during the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s administration. Lagos was oven a figure more than Kano. Then the late General Sani Abacha came and split Kano into two, making Jigawa and Kano states. As at today, half of that Kano is more than Lagos. So are we saying that Lagos is not growing, meaning that it’s only the core North that is growing?

Before the 2006 census, we confronted the former chairman of NPC, Mr. Samu’ila Makama from Plateau state on why religion and ethnicity are not included in census matters to be able to ascertain who is who in Nigeria and the man was sweating. We wanted to know which tribe and religion exist in Nigeria and that these information must be included in census data. The man was sweating. The North then blackmailed and intimidated ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that if the indices were not removed, they won’t participate in the exercise.

Why is it that it is always the North that is causing problems, claiming that they are in the majority but always afraid of coming out with a true figure that will enable Nigeria to plan well?

Odimegwu has not said anything worse than that of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. We christians are always sacrificing because we want the unity of Nigeria to remain. We are also shocked that Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano state went so far to intimidate Jonathan and the Federal Government into issuing a Query to Odimegwu. Why did Kwankwaso not go to Jonathan to demand that a civil servant in the person of Sanusi who has turned CBN into an Islamic agenda ne sacked? Why have they not called him to order? This is a man who will dress islamically to office in a manner that is contrary to the banking code. Yet, the heavens didn’t fall.

Why are they now calling for the head of Odimegwu? Is it because he is a Southerner? We hereby warn that Jonathan should not try to do anything that will undermine Christians in Nigeria this time especially with the next census matter; we will not accept it.

What Odimegwu said was the truth; the figure of the 2006 census was cooked to support and Favour the core North. The Middle Belt was grossly undermined and we are not happy with that. Odimegwu has stated the fact of the matter. The coming census must be addressed in such a transparent way.

We in CAN hereby demand that the Federal Government should withdraw the Query issued to Odimegwu with immediate alacrity. Why would the government be blindfolded by Kwankwaso? The government should also apologize to Odimegwu; Jonathan should make sure that nothing happens to him. We are surprise that Jonathan is allowing himself to be intimidated by the Islamic North.

The North is using all these as a blackmail for the 2015 elections. Obasanjo sacrificed for them, yet they opposed his third term agenda. Therefore Jonathan should not allow himself to be deceived into sacrificing Odimegwu because of 2015 elections.

The core North never voted for Jonathan pand they will never vote for him. We know those who voted for Jonathan, it’s the minority Christians in the North who gave him the vote. When we put the figures together, we know the impact of our votes. Jonathan should therefore not be afraid of the majority. All things being equal, God will allow him to get re-election.

The only solution to these problems is a national conference come 2014 to address all the issues in Nigeria where it would be determined whether we will remain together or peacefully part ways. We will not accept and agree with a situation where one part of the country will always be dictating for others.

Signed:
Sunny Oibe
Public Relations Officer, CAN
(19 Northern States and Abuja)

http://247ureports.com/press-statement-by-can-fg-should-withdraw-query-to-odimegwu-and-apologies-to-him/

Jonathan, 2015 and The Ominous Cost of Alleged Interference

By admin on Aug 18, 2013 in Featured, Politics
By John Okiyi-Kalu


One valuable discovery I made from participation in Facebook political discussions is that Nigerians define political loyalty in narrow and strict terms to mean “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” of the candidate of your choice.

In a way I think it is a carry-over from the politics of the 60s and 80s where you are either, a Zikist, Awoist or Belloist. As the legend goes, those leaders were men who could not make mistakes hence it was assumed that everything

and anything they did must be right and defended without questioning by all and sundry. Any attempts to question, advice or correct those political demi-gods was seen as
rebellion that will attract consequences.

Naturally the children of Zikists, Awoists etc of those days will still see political support the way their parents saw it, unless conscious effort is made to re-orient them. To that generation of political supporters, telling truth to those in authority is anathema, the person to be advised is their political enemy or opponent. Quite unlike in the case of the foregoing scenario, the advice I subscribe to here, is meant to achieve the direct opposite of what used to be. Good supporters are able to see positives, offer generous praise and also point out lurking dangers. As far as you are not a paid PR person, it should be easy for you to navigate from praise singer to critic if you truly want the best for the candidate and your constituency. Blind support, which by far, is more dangerous than critical support, destroys faster than anything in politics or leadership.

Early this year, I warned that the plan by certain elements in the presidency to pick an unnecessary fight with Amaechi will not only backfire but will potentially cost Jonathan the presidency. Naturally my chest thumping friends and brothers in the school of political support for Jonathan were up in arms and even couldn’t hide their disdain for me and my position. The boast then was that Amaechi would be gotten rid of, within weeks and in his place, an unknown replacement would be installed. Those who lived on such assumption also shifted their hypes to Gov Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom as the new champion in the Niger Delta. I just siddon dey look dem, as they say in Nigerian pidgin parlance.

Of course an unsuccessful attempt was made to remove Amaechi with one of the consequences being the hospitalisation of a member of the Rivers state house of Assembly from injuries received by an Honorable thug called Chidi Lloyd.

True to my prediction then, Amaechi dug into his political experience bag to keep his job as well as make the President look like a half-witted aggressor who could not even muster the necessary support to defeat an ordinary governor in NGF election but rather chose to discard democratic common sense by awarding victory to 16 in a contest against 19. From initial denials of involvement we have now heard the truth from the President’s wife on who was actually behind the “akpako” dance in Port Harcourt. For those not conversant with current behind the scene happenings in this saga, the president’s men are negotiating the terms of a truce with Amaechi that will involve both sides giving up something for semblance of peace to be restored. Nobody is talking about “Amaechi must go” again. But even Amaechi know that peace is no longer possible, only a truce to preserve interests. Yet the President’s men have not told him the cost of the ill- advised misadventure. I will help him here to find out.

First, permit me to once again send out another free warning or advice, for the records or corrective action by Mr President. The Presidency orchestrated disqualification of Prof Chukwuma Soludo from the APGA primaries in Anambra State will cost Mr President a massive chunk of votes/support in the South East. Combined with the effect of the roforofo with Amaechi, I hereby warn that defeat looms for President Jonathan in 2015 if nothing is immediately done. You can ask TB Joshua or Olumba Olumba. If you don’t believe me, that’s your business.

I read Reuben Abati’s response to our complaints yesterday and had a good laugh. From the olympian heights of Aso Rock he probably looked down and saw kids and “mumus” before responding with: “It is definitely unreasonable to assume that President Jonathan will dictate how APGA Anambra chooses its gubernatorial candidates. Do we need to remind the mentally indolent that President Jonathan is a member of the PDP and not APGA and that there is no way he can possibly interfere in the internal processes of an opposition party? My answer to your enquiry therefore is that there is no truth to the allegation.”

May be “hard working” Abati should tell us how a President who is a member of PDP ended up being endorsed by APGA in 2011 as the party’s Presidential candidate. He can help us understand how the national leader of APGA was appointed Ambassador to Spain by a PDP government. Are there no qualified PDP members to be so appointed? By Abati’s “indolent logic”, APGA shouldn’t have endorsed a PDP candidate who is not their member for President in 2011. I leave it to those involved in that good decision, in my view, to respond to Abati and tell him the relationship between APGA and a PDP President. I can only wait till 2015 to replay Abati’s response if and when push comes to shove.

It is possible that we might also not wait that long given the Rivers experience where same Abati swore that the first lady had no hand in Amaechi’s travails until Bishops visited the First Lady and we started reading “my problem with Amaechi blablabla” Before then Jonathan’s foot soldiers were busy denying and insulting anyone who connected her Excellency to the crisis. It won’t be surprising for me to get similar response to this note from the uninformed ones among them.

For those my friends trumpeting the official line for Soludo’s disqualification based on APGA constitution, I have a little information for you. APGA have not changed their constitution since 2011. The current constitution is the same one used to deliver Rochas Okorocha as APGA governor of Imo State. Just like Soludo, Okorocha joined APGA from PDP just before the elections and was given necessary waivers to run with APGA flag. The only difference today is that the oga at the top does not want Soludo and had to lean on his friend and church member Peter Obi and Victor Umeh to scuttle Soludo’s ambition early in the day. Bianca Ojukwu was the message bearer.

We have heard from sources that President Jonathan was initially positively disposed towards Soludo’s candidacy until he met his political father and “misleader”, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Of course Obasanjo wants to reward his boy, Andy Uba, with Anambra governorship and by so doing ensure he has a personal pipe connecting him directly to Anambra state purse. The President’s initial protest must have been because his old friend and Special Assistant, Sullivan Nwakpo will also lose out after being assured and re-assured that PDP ticket for Anambra is his to take. At what point did the discussion between OBJ and Jona veer off to APGA candidate for the election? If Abati is to be believed in his funny response, ordinarily both men are members of PDP. It should therefore be assumed that only Peter Obi can effectively influence who flies APGA flag. Was it therefore Peter Obi who engineered 3 members of screening panel (as against the APGA constitution’s required 7) to seat and disqualify the most qualified governorship candidate in Nigeria? If it is not Peter Obi then it must be Victor Umeh. Whoever gave the order and those who sanctioned or executed the order are all anti-APGA and anti-Igbo.

The funniest part of the disqualification was the mention of “ongoing EFCC” probe. When did that translate to conviction bikonu? When President Jona ran with YarAdua there was an ongoing EFCC probe of the President’s stewardship in Bayelsa. What does our law say about the difference between a probe and a conviction? What has happened to the doctine of “innocent until proven guilty by a law court”? Will those who purported to disqualify Soludo on the grounds of ” ongoing probe” accept that we apply same standard to all the candidates for this and future elections? That will simply mean that any candidate with even a police case, regardless of how frivolous, will not contest primaries. Is it not funny the level we are descending to just to stop a man of his people?

Even if Mr President is scared of the political clout of Prof Soludo, his executioners in APGA could have done better than stopping him before the primaries. Why not allow him to contest and lose to whoever you have annointed? Did the people involved know that Soludo is the most popular Igbo politician among the educated youths of Igbo land? Are you prepared for backlash from that segment of Igbo population who incidentally are setting the agenda for the Igbo nation for now?

For those who don’t know, let me spell it out better. If those who disqualified Soludo from APGA Anambra Primaries do not find a way to “requalify” him we will not only ensure that APC wins the election but also make it difficult for Jonathan to get more than 60% of South East votes. Before you ask me how, I will tell you in the hope that you will tell the President.

If Soludo leaves for PDM tomorrow, next tomorrow I will dump my PDP card and get a PDM card. I won’t be alone. And that will happen across Igbo land, diaspora and in the North and West of Nigeria. Concurrent with Soludo joining PDM, Governors Amaechi, Babangida Aliyu, Sule Lamido, Aliyu Wamakko, Murtala Nyarko and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will swing to PDM after the coming PDP congress. I am sure governor Amaechi already know that his office is not really safe and just like his other PDP colleagues, know they have no part or lot with APC that is at best Boko Haram supporting contraption. Once Amaechi and the other 5 governors join PDM with Soludo in Anambra, Rochas Okorocha will decamp to PDM. That makes them 7 governors plus or minus Soludo.

Most of us know that Rochas is uncomfortable with APC and is looking for a safe alternative that ensures Imolites and Ndigbo don’t have to make a choice between a party seen as terrorist supporting and Igbo killing/humiliating party and PDP. Similarly, many Igbo political gladiators left in the cold by the 2011 Jonathan for President campaign in Igbo land will surely relish the opportunity to give one back to 3 of the outgoing SE governors as well as reposition themselves within a more natural political environment. Men Like Ken Nnamani, Sam Egwu, Nwodo, Orji Uzor Kalu, Chinwe Obaji, Uche Chukwumerije etc will naturally see an opportunity to relaunch themselves politically in association with the progressives of the North.

The simple implication of what I stated above is DEFEAT for Jonathan in 2015. Unless he opts not to contest. Without solid support of minimum 80% from the South East there is simply no path for Jonathan 2015. To be re-elected the President must repeat his numbers in the South South in 2011 and also prevent his opponents from getting 25% in the East. If either of those scenarios is threatened, the President must decide either to drop his ambition or move swiftly to correct things. At the moment he is walking a thin line with near zero error margin.

Regardless of smart arguments made or to be made by the President’s team, the Soludo situation is a major threat to Jona in 2015. I am not from Anambra state but can tell you that Soludo’s support cuts across Igbo land. He is seen by many as the return of Nnamdi Azikiwe part 2. It is therefore difficult to find any Zikist that does not also support Soludo. Those who don’t know might ask me what has Soludo done for Ndigbo. I am not sure I have a list of achievements to give you but I can assure you that I feel like a Soludo. Among Igbos he is a humble achiever who is proud of his root and ready to drop Charles for Chukwuma after struggling through a poor beginning. Among the Hausa, he is supremely trusted to always do the right regardless of who is involved and yet the Yoruba see him as a detribalized intellectual with positive convictions.

If you know Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe from history books, then it won’t be difficult to connect with Prof Soludo. It is therefore natural that the young man represents the hopes and aspirations of a generation of Ndigbo, including my humble self. If you have doubts, please ask 10 Igbos on facebook who they will present if 2015 is zoned to South East. My guess is that 80% of them will mention Soludo’s name. Somebody should have told President Jonathan that before he embraked on meddling with our choice.

While Soludo’s profile makes him a possible contender for President in future, even a blind man can see that he can’t possibly contest for President in 2015 and hence no direct threat to Jonathan. The problem of those in power appears to be that they are not sure he will do as told when necessary. In other words, they expect a professor to become a zombie to guarantee Jona’s re-election? How laughable and idiotic. Why won’t you be able to convince him with superior argument or even bring him close to support your govt? Could it be true that the Jonathan regime trully has a phobia for men with brains? May be that explains why arguably one of the best fit individuals for President in Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan is yet to reach cruising altitude and deliver steady power supply. There appears to be a nest of anti-intellectuals in his regime that ensure that people with brains are kept out in favor of loyal mediocres. No wonder Prof Barth Nnaji got kicked out for political reasons.

Soludo will not be anyone’s stooge or puppet. But because he knows that most of us his supporters will rather keep Jonathan in office for another 4 years, that alone is enough assurance for President Jonathan. But if they insist on doing it their way we will mobilize and elect Ngige then mobilize again and ensure Jonathan does not get more than 55% of Igbo votes in 2015. Those in doubt can bet us with Anambra Governorship election and see how it will go.

Elections are not necessarily lost through one major blunder. Most times series of small missteps are enough to cost you an election you are otherwise poised to win. Like the Rivers misadventure, the meddling into APGA affairs will hurt President Jonathan. It will likely rally Igbo progressives too. If anyone is assuring Mr President of suport from South East Governors forum, let him forget it. 3 of them are in their last tenure and are only interested in planting their men as replacments to avoid probes. There is no incentive to go all out for a “sinking” Jonathan who created his problems by himself for himself.

It is safe and easy to remain silent and/or say it is not true that the President meddled whereas we know that he did. If we cannot support him with truth better not to spin him into trouble with lies because in politics everything is ultimately revealed. The man who asked you to remove your hand from fire is a better friend than the man denying that your hand is on fire. Soludo is an untouchable in Igbo land and if you wish to touch, do so at your own risk knowing the political consequences.

For me, na like joke like joke the butterfly dey take enter bush. Once it enters, it will be difficult to recapture.

Whoever disqualified Soludo must “requalify” him for the sake of Jonathan. Let him win or be defeated in an open APGA primary as we cannot find any legal reason for his disqualification. All we see is 2015 politics.


http://www.africanewscircle.com/2013/08/18/jonathan-2015-and-ominous-cost-of-alleged-interference/

I came across a post in facebook that asked why the second alleged terrorist's name was not reported. Can anybody answer this question instead of focusing on Adebolajo being a Yoruba or not? After all, he is the one who was shot down and killed after, according the the police, he ran at them with the dangerous weapons. How come the name of the dead man and his and a brief story about is background was immediately discovered and release,but the man who is alive,the second suspect, has no name, no photo, and no bio being release about him? It seems like the British are trying to paint Nigeria bad and cover their own yansh. The second suspect may be a Black British man. Something that they don't want us to find out. Nairaland what's really going on?

[size=18pt]S’West military pensioners protest over arrears[/size]

Monday, 06 May 2013 00:00 From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan and Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta News - National


• Task Mark, seek Ajimobi, Amosun’s intervention


AGGRIEVED military pensioners in the South-West Monday expressed regrets for fighting for the unity of the Nigerian nation during the civil war that lasted between 1967 and 1970.

The group at a protest in Ibadan, Oyo State over the inhuman treatment being meted out to them by the government, stated in anger that they always regret their role of defending the territorial integrity of the nation during the Nigeria civil war.

The placard-carrying military pensioners who disrupted activities at the government secretariat in protest against their plight maintained that fighting to ensure the unity of the country was a regrettable decision.

Chairman of the pensioners, Gabriel Oaikhena, speaking on behalf of the protesting ex-soldiers said that if they had known that they would be so poorly treated, they would have fought for the survival and sovereignty of Biafra.

He said they came to draw the attention of Federal Government to their 53 per cent unpaid arrears and other allowances and not necessarily to disrupt government activities in the state.

To however, prevent untoward situation that may lead to breakdown of law and order, all gates leading to the secretariat complex were shut against the angry pensioners in addition to the deployment of Armoured Personnel Carrier, five police Hilux vans and scores of armed policemen that were stationed at the entrance of the secretariat.

With placards bearing different messages of condemnation of the attitude of the Federal Government described as discouraging, the ex-soldiers displayed the injuries they sustained during the Biafran War.

According to the chairman, “it is unfortunate that we are being treated in this inhuman manner after fighting for the unity of the country. Our mission to the office of Governor Abiola Ajimobi is to present a letter on our plight to him for onward delivery to President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We will not allow the government to rest until our money and other entitlements are paid. Many of us are still being paid N10, 000 as monthly pension while they are wasting millions over there, it is not fair”.

Another ex-soldier, Gabriel Ohabana said, “we have been pushed to the wall. The families of over 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives in Biafra are suffering. We who are alive are just living as destitute.

“Many of us have died because they did not have money to treat and fend for themselves. Senator David Mark has spent about 12 years and he has done nothing for us. When the militants were pushed to the wall, they took up arms and fought with the last pint of their blood”, the angry ex-soldier stated.

Also, military pensioners in Ogun State yesterday appealed to the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to prevail on the Federal Government to pay their outstanding pension arrears immediately.

The pensioners, under the aegis of Military Pensioners of Ogun State made the appeal during a protest to the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. They decried the “nonchalant attitude” of the Federal Government towards their welfare, saying it (government) had only paid lip service to their well being.

Chairman of the Association, Sgt. Samuel Awosanya (rtd), who spoke, noted that since 2009 when the Federal Government approved a 53 per cent increase in their pension, it had not effected it, lamenting that with the present economic hardship what they currently earn as pensions could not sustain them.

“Most of us can no longer meet up with our responsibilities to our families. We live in hunger and most of our children are out of school because we cannot pay their fees. Our members are dying on a daily basis because they cannot afford hospital bills. This is why we are calling on you as a listening governor to help us take our case to the Federal Government. We have suffered enough for the country”, he disclosed.

According to him, the decision to approach the governor stemmed out of their conviction that Amosun was a listening and caring leader who “Is always concerned about the welfare of the entire workforce, including retirees in the Ogun State Civil Service”.

The pensioners also commended the state government for its rebuilding mission, which impact, according to them, was being felt throughout every nook and crannies of the state.

Responding, Amosun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa promised that their case would be taken to the Federal Government with a view to ensuring that the matter was resolved within the shortest possible time.

He commended the protesters for conducting themselves in a civil manner and appealed to them to continue exercising patience, as the case was beyond what the state government could handle on its own.

“Although what you have come for is a Federal Government matter, I can assure you on behalf of Mr. governor that necessary steps will be taken to assist in getting your case to the appropriate quarters. For us in Ogun State, whatever affects you affects us because you are our people”, the SSG said.


http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121001:swest-military-pensioners-protest-over-arrears&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

[size=18pt]Fasehun and I must share S’West pipeline security contract equally –Gani Adams[/size]

April 20, 2013 by Adeola Balogun 15 Comments




Leader, Oodua Peoples Congress, Otunba Gani Adams, in this interview with ADEOLA BALOGUN speaks on the controversial contract for the protection of pipelines in the South-West, his disagreement with OPC founder, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, kidnapping and his family life

Now that kidnapping is taking place in the South-West, which is the home of the Oodua Peoples Congress, what is happening?

It is happening because we don’t have proper backing from the governments of the states in the South-West. For any security organisation to be successful, there must be some backing from the government. The state governments of the South-West, except maybe Osun, don’t think that OPC has anything good to offer. Even where I’m living in Lagos, the governor of the state has not called me as the leader of OPC to ask my opinion about Boko Haram or kidnapping. A very good leader should be able to carry along all stakeholders for a successful administration, especially on the issue of security. But in a situation where they display a nonchalant attitude, what can one do? There was a time I called the governor and told him that I wanted to have a discussion with him, he didn’t give a damn. When the former governor was there, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, within three months, he would call you and ask you what you thought of the goings on in the polity. He was accessible but I don’t understand the present governor, Raji Fashola. I know of a number of important personalities that have called me to ask whether I could help them have access to the governor but I told them that I don’t have such access. So, when you don’t have access to a governor, it is difficult for you to offer any form of assistance on the basis of security. We have played our part without any support from government. The government of Lagos State is not encouraging us at all. If Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan (Ejigbo Local Council Development Area chairman) had been kidnapped during the administration of Tinubu, he would have called me to ask what I thought about it. If he didn’t call, his works commissioner then, who is now the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, would have called me. But there is nothing like that in the present government of Lagos State; they carry on as if our group does not exist. Even when the issue of Boko Haram happened, the governor consulted with only the RRS, the Neighbourhood Watch, we only watched it on television. You can secure an environment in both modern and traditional ways. For most Lagosians to employ our members to secure their areas shows that we are effective. So if our low cadre can secure streets without incidents, why can’t we the leaders do more at the state level?

There had been reports that OPC warned Boko Haram members to keep off the South-West. The impression has been that you work hand in hand with the state governments.

We are working within the resources at our disposal but we need more to build on our capacity to be able to help the entire South-West. This is not the issue of money; I’m not saying we don’t need money but this is not the issue of money alone. We are talking of encouragement and recognition for what you are doing. It is not that I need any recognition from any government; God has been very kind to me. But in a situation where you think you have money to set up RRS, Security Fund and have your officers as LASTMA, it means you don’t need us. But the only focus we have is that we have vowed to protect the interest of the Yoruba people. We cannot say we are packing out, we need encouragement.

Is that why you applied for pipeline security job from the Federal Government?

The issue of securing the pipelines is a different thing entirely. Securing the pipelines is an empowerment programme for members of an organisation that has been in existence since 1994. There is nothing wrong for leaders of such an organisation to apply for that because they have suffered detention and illegal arrests in the past and have been brutalised. For a group that has been doing a lot of things for the society free of charge, it is not too much to apply for a security job. Protecting pipelines is not a rosy job too because it involves lives. If OPC is offered the job, I don’t think it is asking for too much. Most of the people in government have business connections that cuts across party affiliations. We know some governors in PDP and some governors in ACN that have shares together in the same companies and when they are talking about their business interests, they don’t clash. They know how to resolve their differences when it comes to business issues. The pipeline security job is purely business; it is not as if we are asking for free money. OPC getting involved in pipeline protection is not a bad idea; for any organisation to be accepted, it needs empowerment. Let me tell you something people don’t know; I was expecting Dr. (Frederick) Fasehun to throw more light on it but he didn’t have information regarding that. For a period of eight years, our low cadre officers secured the pipeline from Sagamu to Ore. It was just last year when the police bid for the job that NNPC gave it to them and they began to have vandalism issues. The pipeline that passes through Imota from Ikorodu, it is OPC that is securing it. But when the problem of Arepo happened, we then decided to write a proposal to the NNPC and the minister of petroleum that OPC has the capacity to secure the entire South-West. Dr. Fasehun sent a proposal but I don’t know whether he was aware that I sent mine; you know we have two parallel groups. Since the reconciliation, we still have OPC led by Gani Adams and the other led by Dr. Fasehun. The former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, saw to the reconciliation that made me the national coordinator and Dr Fasehun as founding father and spiritual leader. Nobody made Fasehun founder of OPC, I will give you the document that we jointly signed together.

Are you saying that each of you sent a proposal asking for the security job unknown to each other?

I don’t know whether he was aware about my own but I heard that he sent a proposal to the government. There is no group that can secure the entire states. The job given to Tompolo is just for about two states, some part of Ondo and Delta states for about N8.5bn. The one given to Asari Dokubo was for part of Rivers State for the sum of N1.6bn and the same job was given to self determination leaders in Bayelsa State. So when you are talking of the South-West, I’m not saying you should give me everything. They should share it between us.

Have you got a response to your own proposal?

You know how government bureaucracy works. We have sent the proposal and we have discussed at the level of the presidency. We are still expecting a response.

But Fasehun said if you don’t want the two of you to work together, he could give you 30 per cent of the job.

Maybe he doesn’t have the information that I have sent my own proposal. How can he say he will give me 30 per cent of the job when I have more than 90 per cent of OPC members as my followers? Even if they give the job to Dr. Fasehun, he does not have men to do the job in some areas. From our intelligence report, he is using the pipeline contract job to mobilise some people now. Even those who are not members of OPC are scrambling for membership forms from him now and paying. With due respect to Dr. Fasehun, he blew the issue out of proportion. Did you hear from me that I sent a proposal? When you bid for a contract, you don’t make a noise until the approval is secured. Did you hear it anywhere when Tompolo or Asari Dokubo were applying for the pipeline job? Even the people that got the job in Bayelsa, I can’t tell you their names here, I was informed that they had been given the job.

Maybe Dr. Fasehun was forced to reveal it when he was accused of using the money from the security job to fund a party that would challenge the Action Congress of Nigeria in the South-West.

Well, that is where Dr. Fasehun missed the point, to the extent that those who want to give him the job are confused. Yoruba say you don’t put two irons in the fire at the same time. Although there is nothing wrong with Dr. Fasehun resuscitating the Unity Party of Nigeria, which was one of the best parties that ever ruled in the South-West, but we as OPC led by Gani Adams are not ready to join partisan politics.

So you are not part of that?

No, we are not ready to join partisan politics now. Any member of OPC that is partisan belongs to Dr. Fasehun’s OPC. Let me tell you something, if Dr. Fasehun gets the contract, he will not give even one per cent to anybody.

Are you talking from experience?

Of course, yes. He was my leader from the beginning and he is someone we know very well. Initially, I did not want to join issues with him and Lai Mohammed and the ACN that has now seen OPC as an enemy. So we had to be very careful until Dr. Fasehun raised some wrong issues that he gave me the post of the national coordinator of OPC and I thanked him. That even Governor Gbenga Daniel thanked him also. It is wrong; there was nothing like that. That day, Gbenga Daniel was on seat, so also was Niran Malaolu, Wale Adedayo, Engr. Bayo Banjo and the two of us were there. The governor asked me to say what I wanted and I told him that the only thing I wanted straightened out was the issue of Fasehun calling himself founder. I said nine of us founded OPC together and I suggested that we can call him the founding father because he was the oldest and most prominent among us by then. That was how it was agreed that he would be the founding father and spiritual father while I would be the national coordinator. I told them that I was not bothered about any position they gave me but my name. There is a written document that the two of us signed and I don’t expect someone who is about 80 years to twist history. There is no rancour between us but we have to set the records straight. Another thing he said was that some people want to be using me for some nefarious things; how can anyone use me? I am the most independent person; I have never held any rally for any political party before. But he has done that many times. He held more than two rallies for former President (Olusegun) Obasanjo. Even when Gbenga Daniel was launching PPN (Progressive Peoples Party of Nigeria), I was invited but I turned it down even though I took him as a mentor. Fasehun was there with his boys and then OPC still remained a non-partisan organisation. I have never aligned with any political party and I have never worked for one.

But people have always taken members of OPC as one.

No, we have two parallel organisations. After the reconciliation, Dr. Fasehun did not allow us to merge the two groups. After we left Abeokuta, the venue of the reconciliation, Engr. Banjo called us together at the LTV8 for the merging of the two groups, but his man, Toyin Jomoh, truncated everything. Fasehun did not do anything to stop him. We managed the issue so that it would not turn to a crisis then, at least to respect those who tried to bring us together.

Why are your members so loyal to you?

Sincerity, honesty and being open to everyone. That is why I command unflinching loyalty from my members. I open my doors to all of them and I’m a leader that is easily accessible. I make sure that I reach out to the people and I make the issue of finance open. I have a very robust relationship across the place with market women, the academia and the artisans. If I met the President today, I would tell them. I would not wait until they hear it elsewhere.

How have you been able to develop yourself educationally?

I have a diploma in tourism management from International Relations School in Ghana; I have another diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University. My degree in political science at LASU is in view. By next year, I will round up the programme. I develop myself by reading and learning from leaders and people that are more knowledgeable. Before I leave my room, I would have read about four newspapers at least and I don’t like to be lagging behind in information.

What would you say is your own weakness as a leader?

I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and I don’t fornicate. I don’t think you have read anywhere of any scandal involving Gani Adams. My integrity is very important to me and I guard it so jealously. I sometimes take a glass of wine; that is all. I have never smoked in my life and if you are a drunkard or a chain smoker, you can’t be very close to me. I don’t quarrel with those who smoke, I don’t do that.

When you wanted to get married, did you have a problem in choosing someone?

I believe that what happened was what God had ordained for me. It was beyond the issue of beauty or any other considerations. I met her when she was studying accounting at Kwara State Polytechnic and I had the feeling that she would be my wife. I watched and investigated her background and found out that she was from a highly religious background. Her mother is a prophetess and has churches while her father is a lawyer. I met her when I was declared wanted when Okiro was the commissioner of police in Lagos State. She was surprised that I could be declared wanted from the way she met me. When I explained to her why I was declared wanted, she said what I was doing was noble and she gave me her support. In fact, she was always with me in the car when I was mobilising underground during those tough days. Although her mother expressed some fears initially, that passed away after she had prayed about it. Her father did not have any hesitation at all and he gave his blessing straight away.

What religion do you practise?

I practise the three religions. If you go downstairs now, you will see Muslims holding prayers. Every Thursday in my house, both Muslims and Christians hold special prayers and vigil. The traditionalists too come to hold their own too. I have many prominent sheiks and prophets praying for me. Last two years, my wife went on pilgrimage to Mecca. Although people expect me to go, I am careful so that people don’t see me to be partial to one religion. But if I go to Mecca, definitely I will go to Jerusalem. I can pray more than many pastors but because I am not too knowledgeable in the Quran. I can pray in the Islamic way to an extent. For the past three years, I never miss 30 days of fasting. My father was a Muslim while my mother was allowed to take us to church. But all of us would not miss the fasting period.

What of your children, what names do you call them?

My first born is Oluwaseun Emmanuel Abdumajeed Ifakorede and several other names.

http://www.punchng.com/news/fasehun-and-i-must-share-swest-pipeline-security-contract-equally-gani-adams/

[size=18pt]Relocate NNPC headquarters to Port Harcourt – Wali[/size]

Posted by: hoohaaadmin Posted date: April 18, 2013 In: News




A Port Harcourt based legal practitioner and founder of Freedom Avenue, Mr. Kingsley Wali has called on the Federal Government of Nigerian (FGN) to relocate the corporate headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to Niger Delta. He also condemned the practice of situating the corporate headquarters of other oil prospecting and producing companies in Lagos instead of their operational bases.
Polluted Niger Delta waters

Polluted Niger Delta waters

Mr. Wali who is also an environmentalist was speaking on AIT television programme, “Niger Delta Matters.” He urged the government to thoroughly implement the policy that necessitated the relocation of the headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from Abuja to Lagos. “Obasanjo moved NPA headquarters from Abuja to Lagos on account of the water being in Lagos. Why is NNPC headquarters in Abuja? Where is the oil? Niger Delta or Abuja?” He queried.
Mr.Kingsley Wali

Mr.Kingsley Wali

He lambasted a section of Niger Delta leaders for their poor appreciation of the propaganda war waged against the region by interests outside the zone. He specifically pointed out the south west for always promoting its perspective irrespective of what other regions think. “The South-West people always want you to see things from South West perspective, hence the “ignorant comments from the likes of Lai Mohammed. That’s not to say we (Niger Deltans) don’t have our faults. Our people don’t seem to plan for the next level.” He opined.

Commenting on the slow pace of development in the region despite huge monetary inflows, he tasked the leaders to desist from irrelevant talk shops that have yielded nothing to the ordinary citizen. “For me, conferences, master plans don’t matter. What counts is the will to govern. What master plan was used to build third mainland bridge?” He asked. He admonished leaders and policy makers to have the will to execute the master plans.

Speaking to Hoohaa online after the programme, Mr. Wali stated that the absence of truth in public discourse is one of the challenges the country is facing. “People are scared of calling a spade by its name due to pecuniary dispositions.” He said.

http://www.hoohaaonline.co/relocate-nnpc-headquarters-to-port-harcourt-wali/

[size=18pt]Gani Adams cautions MEND on threat to bomb mosques[/size]

Written by Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos

Thursday, 18 April 2013 01:13



THE national coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has condemned the recent media statement credited to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to attack mosques, clerics and other Muslims, describing it as a “rude shock.”

The OPC, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by Adams, also described the threat from MEND as a” call to anarchy” and advised the group to be cautious.

According to the statement: “ The said plan by MEND, coming at a time when our nation is still struggling to put an end to the violence unleashed on some parts of the Northern Nigeria by the Boko Haram sect is a sure call to anarchy.”

Adams, in the statement also claimed that: “This is surely capable of causing a religious and sectarian crisis of a magnitude that could be worse than the three years civil war. While the OPC appreciates MEND’s fundamental right to genuine struggle for self-determination in the Niger Delta,” OPC, however, expressed its reservation with the threat, when it stated in the statement that “ we, however, disagree in totality with its latest threat to attack mosques and Muslims.

“Let me, at this juncture, remind MEND that Yoruba make up about seventy per cent of the Muslims population in the Niger Delta area and we will not tolerate any further killing of Yoruba in any part of the country,” Adams warned.

He further warned that “let us all take some lessons from the experience of the Bosnian war, which left hundreds of thousands of people dead, mostly innocent civilians. Good students of History will know that events which led to that war are very similar to recent developments in Nigeria. A word is enough for the wise.

“We would like to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan in particular, to as a matter of urgency, put machineries in place, to put a stop to this very dangerous trend,” the statement read.

The OPC also advised that: “The president should use his good office to make MEND and other similar groups across the country to see the need for peace and stop this unnecessary bloodshed, while Nigerians continue to look for solution to end the Boko Haram crisis.

“I wish to call on the leadership of MEND to reconsider its threat and join hands with other well meaning Nigerians in this our long search for a solution to the country’s security crisis,” Adams advised.

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/news/item/9815-gani-adams-cautions-mend-on-threat-to-bomb-mosques

[size=18pt]Omisore blasts Oshun over Afenifere[/size]

Our Reporter March 27, 2013

By SAM OTTI



Senator Iyiola Omisore has blasted a leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Wale Oshun over his comments on the ongoing reconciliation process in the pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere. He said Oshun has no moral justification to castigate Afenifere simply because the group has chosen the path of genuine reconciliation. In a statement made available to Daily Sun, Omisore described the statement credited to Oshun as “careless,” insisting that the former lawmaker had no justification to denigrate the Yoruba group.

According to him, Oshun was quoted to have said that the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) refused to join the mainstream group because Senator Omisore was at the reconciliation meeting held recently in Akure. Part of the statement read: “It is an incontrovertible fact that Oshun has held no job since he left the House of Representatives in 1993, except the crumbs he picks as national administrative officer of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), so one could excuse him as a jobber that can cut his nose to spite his face,” he said.

The Senator explained his loyalty to the group, tracing his membership of the national caucus of Afenifere way back in 1999. He further recounted how he emerged one of the rallying points of the pan-Yoruba group, as deputy governor of Osun State, before the divisive politics that polarised the state was introduced. “Those familiar with the antics of Oshun will not forget in a hurry, how he destroyed the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2000 during the convention of the party in Lagos between the late Ganiyu Dawodu faction and Bola Ahmed Tinubu faction.

Senator Abraham Adesanya appointed Oshun as the chairman of the convention committee. “Instead of providing a level playing field for credible convention, he decided to team up with the Tinubu faction when he gave each of the factions, different venue for the convention and showed up at Tinubu convention to rig the Dawodu faction out,” he said.

Omisore said it was the spillover effect of his highhandedness and brazen manipulation of the convention that led to AD being factionlised in Abuja and polarised Afenifere and nearly destroyed the Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation that was formed in 1951 by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his associates.

He noted that the cries of marginalisation by the Yoruba nation in the political system was partly due to ‘crass opportunism by Oshun and his paymasters, who teamed up with a northerner to rob the Yoruba of the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which was zoned to it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/omisore-blasts-oshun-over-afenifere/

[size=18pt]Army retirements followed due process –Sekibo[/size]

March 25, 2013 by OHN ALECHENU Leave a Comment





In this interview with JOHN ALECHENU, the Chairman Senate Committee on Defence (Army), Senator George Thomson Sekibo, speaks about Nigeria’s military involvement in the Malian conflict, recent promotions/retirements in the Army and other issues. Excerpts:

Sir, is our Army not presently overstretched considering its involvement in internal security operations. Why did Nigeria send troops to Mali?

Our military may be stretched but not overstretched. You will remember that in the last three, four years especially with the resurgence of the Boko Haram problem, the armed forces are recruiting much more than they were doing before. I know that in the past two, three years, they engaged close to 4,000 persons or more annually. After recruitment they are trained and as soon as you are trained you are already a member of the force and we are not losing that number of persons because we are not having external aggression or problems with any of our neighbours. I don’t think that we are overstretched but the Army is stretched because it is fighting an unconventional battle against extremists within our borders. People who are fighting them are faceless.

The Malian problem is a regional problem and we are part of the region. It’s like having problem in one of our states and you say it is in Abuja, it should not be solved. It is not exactly the same, but it is something close to it. If the Malian problem is not attended to and then the illegal arm bearen whether they are called militants or terrorists overthrow the government and overrun the country, there will be a spillover effect in the sub-region. And of course, you know that Nigeria is like a mother to the sub-region. It is the most populous and also very large in terms or size.

Between Mali and us is just one country. They may trickle down and eventually see themselves in Nigeria. If the entire sub-region is in trouble, Nigeria has a problem as, the whole world is a global village. Then what do you call the sub-region? The sub-region is like a small village. Whatever happens to Sudan, Liberia, Mali, Ghana is considered to have a likely effect on Nigeria.

If there is a major problem in Ghana, Nigeria will bear the brunt of the refugee crisis because we are a big country and because they see us as a big brother so to say. That is one. The second issue is that Mali has been identified as a training base for the terrorists in Nigeria. There is a training ground for them in Mali. Most of the terrorists operating in some parts of Northern Nigeria are being trained and funded from that area. It’s also believed that all those who are terrorising the country are not Nigerians.

They are foreign elements and some of these elements are taken from a country like Mali. If there is a problem in Mali, it means that we have a problem and we have to go in immediately to support and see how to solve the problem. How the activities of illegal arm bearers can be brought to a halt or eliminated if it is possible. Then you also know that River Niger flows from that part of the continent down to Nigeria. We have a direct channel of communication.

We are talking about proliferation of arms in the sub-region. If there is surplus because of the problem in the north central Africa including Mali, if it is not checked, it will be a channel through which those arms will come down to the lower Niger and of course, we are at the bottom of the lower Niger. It means that it may not take a long time for this stretch of the river to be awash with illegal arms.

I don’t even think we are doing enough, I think that by now our Navy should be carrying out daily patrols on the river. That step we are yet to take. I think that is one of the reasons we went to Mali.

And Nigeria of course is the big brother to the sub-region. It was agreed that Nigeria should lead the contingent. One of our Generals is leading the contingent in Mali. We may not derive financial benefit but in the long run we will derive some benefit.

Your committee recently invited the Chief of Army Staff with respect to complaints about recent promotions and retirements in the Army, what did you find?

The armed forces including the army are standardised. Apart from the Act that establishes the armed forces, or part of the Act that established the Army, there are rules and regulations that govern their operations. Promotions of officers did not just start. It has been on for as long as the Army has been in existence. Every year, they have a period when officers are promoted and immediately after promotion, some are always sent on retirement.

Many of them are due for retirement based on age, some of them are due for retirement based on rank. There are different ways of retirement. I did not see politics in it but when there is this hue and cry in the whole country we had to invite the Chief of Army Staff and he appeared before us, I think exactly about two weeks ago and from the graphic presentation and explanation including names of people that were promoted, we passed a vote of confidence in him. We saw that the promotions were not done arbitrarily.

Following their rules as strictly as possible, he was able to pass at least three people from each geo-political zone. It may perhaps not affect all the states but all the geo-political zones. And from his explanation and analysis, we saw that the army is so detribalised because, he did not come alone, he came with about 12 Major Generals and they were spread across the different regions.

There were no two generals that came from the same region the day they came and that was what he said was applicable to the rank of Brigadier Generals. That is what is also applicable to their postings not just promotions. Even though in the postings, efficiency is a priority, if you are not efficient for you to rise to the rank of Brigadier General you must have been efficient in one area.

So, one may not be efficient in one area but be efficient in another area, you are posted to such an area. When he listed those who were posted to various Brigades or as General Officer Commanding, we saw that there was no repetition or that one part of the country was more favoured than the other. But, I have a fear, the fear is that some former military officers who have been retired based on the rules which they too had used on other people became critical of their retirement.

They would have wished they could serve for more years. There was a particular officer whose name was mentioned (names withheld) whose service was even extended by one year. He was due for retirement but his service was retained by the current Chief of Army Staff for one more year before his discharge. He too is among those petitioning to all departments of government complaining that they were retired unjustly. If you are due for retirement in the army, you should be retired.

But in this one, the rules were strictly adhered to. The Senate Committee on Defence and Army will not support any irregularity in the army or the Defence Headquarters.

Did you also have a briefing on recruitment into the rank and file?

Yes. In the recruitments, nothing has changed. Before now, we are all aware that Kaduna enlisted more than any other state in the country. Today as we speak, Kaduna is still leading with about five or six thousand soldiers. It is followed by Benue with about 4,500, followed by Plateau with about 4,000 plus, followed by Kogi, followed by Adamawa in that order. So it is this graph that has been the same for a long time. If you go to some states like Rivers, it is slightly over 2,000, Abia is about 1,800 and something, maybe Anambra 1,200 or something Bayelsa also, FCT is less than 1,000. If you look at the graph you will see that people have not just been recruited from one side of the country. This has been the case for several years.

If for example, you look at the graph and all of a sudden you see 5,000 recruits from the FCT, then you begin to ask questions why the sudden rise but this is not the case. You also know that some of these states over the years have been split. For instance, you know that Kano, Kaduna, Katsina were one state before, after this split Kaduna is still leading, it is known to lead, it was called Kaduna in those days. It is still Kaduna today after having given birth to several other states and those states are also doing very well.

For instance, Kano is doing well, Katsina is doing well and so on. There is no way you will get an equal number of recruits from all the states, some states may not have the interest, some other states may have very huge interest and that is what they want to do most. Other states may like the police more, other states the Navy, for instance the riverine states prefer the navy because they are riverine people. Other people may like to join the Airforce.

For us to determine whether there is a balance or not is for us to super-impose this graph upon the graph of the Airforce, Navy and the Police, then we may be able to know whether there is discrepancy or what eversentiment we want to express.

From your interaction and visits to our troops in Liberia and other areas, how would you rate the state of our equipment?

From the confessions of the Chief of Defence Staff and all other officers, including the Minister of State for defence that if Nigeria had prepared for an assignment which met the UN criteria, this is the first time according to them. Our soldiers are well-kitted, transportation has improved, their feeding and welfare are superb that even the Malian leadership was very happy and some journalists picked that to say they were giving our people food. From what we know, those on the ground have enough food that will take them for two years because every supply required is already on the ground. The Committee ought to be there but we were asked to wait awhile.

The panel set up to investigate the bombing incident at Jaji Military Cantonment was a national embarrassment. What has happened to the report?

The Jaji incident report is a security report, it will not be brought to someone like you to expose because if we do that it will be opening the door for our enemies who went to bomb the place. We will not talk about it but I am aware that the report is out and I am also aware of the content of the report if there are areas that we need to improve upon. Those ones have been addressed. That is all I can assure you.

http://www.punchng.com/politics/army-retirements-followed-due-process-sekibo/

[size=18pt]Boko Haram in Lagos: We’ll defend Yorubaland[/size]

Our Reporter March 24, 2013
By OMONIYI SALAUDEEN



The National coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has warned members of Boko Harm group to steer clear of Yoruba land in the interest of peace, unity and stability of the country. Speaking in an interview with Sunday Sun after the Thursday’s arrest of some terror suspects believed to be members of Boko Haram insurgency in Lagos State, Adam said his group would defend Yoruba land against any aggression with their last drop of blood.

His words, “We never thought that Boko Haram would ever think of coming to Yoruba land. We condemned what happened on Thursday out rightly and we are sending a warning signal to them that any attempt to bomb or destroy any part of Yoruba land will be met with severe resistance. Any group of person who attempts to attack Yoruba land will meet their waterloo. As an organization, we are prepared to defend Yoruba land with everything we have, including the last drop of blood in our veins. We will defend Yoruba land both physically and spiritually.”

He further expressed the willingness of the OPC to cooperate with
security
operatives in their efforts to ensure peace and safety of persons in the Southwest and Nigeria as a whole. “We are ready to co-operate with any security agent working to restore peace and tranquility in Yoruba land. Yoruba is not known for religious fanaticism. As a people, we believe that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows for freedom of religion. Whether you are a Christian, Muslim or traditional worshiper, everybody should be free to practice what he or she believes in. We are sending a warning signal to the hierarchy of Boko Haram or Ansaru that they should not try what they are doing in the North in Yoruba land,” he added.

Adams said though none of the Southwest governors had approached him on the best possible strategy to adopt to safeguard the region, he assured that Yoruba would not be caught unaware in case of any eventuality. “I can’t count the number of calls I have received from well meaning Yoruba leaders between the incident of Thursdays and today. In my own opinion, Yoruba are prepared for any eventuality. Some of our Obas have called me; some other important personalities have also called me. Yoruba will not be caught unaware. I don’t know about the people in authority especially the governors and members of the state
Houses
of Assembly because I have never heard from them. No governor in Yoruba land has called me for us to sit down and map out strategies. All the same, we will contribute our own quota to ensure that Yoruba land is safe. From all indications, we are prepared for any eventuality,” he maintained.

Similarly, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, also commended the security operatives for their proactive measure which led to the unraveling of the terror suspects before they could carry out their planned bombing. He said, “The security operatives need to be commended for the arrest of these terror suspects. It would have been terrible if they were able to carry out their planned bombing, but the security operatives were able to foil their planned attack.”

Urging the security agencies to be ahead of the terrorists, he added, “They (security operatives) need to ensure that they are several steps ahead of terror in Lagos. That this happened in Lagos calls for concern. There is a reason for everybody to be worried because Lagosians are not known for terrorism. Lagos is not known for terror of any kind. Lagos is a community where communal life is a way of life. People living together know one another.”

Solomon also advised residents of Lagos to be more vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agencies. “We need to pay more attention to our environment and live with a higher sense of vigilance. We should not take anything for granted. We need to be more vigilant and support efforts of security agencies”, he enjoined.

But a former Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, cautioned against creating unnecessary panic in the polity, saying “we only need to be more vigilant and conscious of movement around our environment.”

Odumakin warned that Yoruba would not succumb to any intimidation under whatever guise. “It is clear that all is not well in the country. Yoruba have no issue with anybody. We suspect that fifth columnists who want to instigate fear in Yoruba land are the one behind this thing. But Yoruba will not be vulnerable to any attack where ever it is coming from.”

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/boko-haram-in-lagos-well-defend-yorubaland/

[size=18pt]Rants Of Antelope(Igala) From Igala Kingdom By Bayo Oluwasanmi[/size]

Posted: March 19, 2013 - 14:25




Quality leadership is a product of deeply bred traditions. It’s not shaped by odd historical accidents, but by communities that nurture talented and gifted persons.

I’m proud to be of Yoruba stock, one of the most civilized and cultured ethnic groups in the world.

Ahmadu Ali’s sweeping denigration of Yorubas as ingrates in defense and praise of former President Olusegun Obasanjo exposes Ali as a classical example of ignorance and error.

No one should be surprised at the sudden appearance of Ali in the public glare.

Having been consigned into the remote dustbin of irrelevancy, Ali is undoubtedly suffering from a life of horrifying meaninglessness, hopelessness, and more importantly loneliness.

Ali’s voice of mysterious import was echoed in a recent interview with Duro Adeseko. He accused Yorubas as “ungrateful kind of people,” who do not appreciate what others have done for them.

Ali berated Yorubas for not given due recognition to Obasanjo for what he did for them.

“And you people still don’t recognize him, especially the Yoruba people who are totally ungrateful kind of people in this country… the Yorubas are another character,” said Ali.

It is true there is an indignation that is justifiable. But in this case, Ali’s effrontery lashing out at Yorubas amounts to a blind and boring purpose.

His lash out, round up condemnation of Yorubas as unappreciative people shows Ali’s wavering and half-hearted in allegiance to truth, and his choice of darkness of error and satanic delusion.

Ali’s statement is a foolish distraction. Nothing is too insane to say by an Igala – the antelope.

Do Yorubas need any person of Ali’s depraved and convoluted admonition to help pick our leaders and heroes/heroines?

Do we have to go by Ali’s prejudiced warped rubrics in selecting our leaders in Yoruba land?

Do we have to be coerced by Ali’s hysterical nonsense to pay homage and gratitude to Obasanjo? God forbid!

Of what benefit to the Yorubas was all the eight years of Obasanjo as president? The Lagos-Ibadan road could have been transformed into a 21st century high way. But, he didn’t give a damn.

We still remember the political subterfuge and sabotage employed by Obasanjo to starve the Tinubu administration of funds all in an attempt to force the ACN government to its knees.

The Yorubas are not so gullible, manipulable, and downright callous. We have a long and enduring memory.

Ali served three administrations as minister of education – Gowon, Murtala, and Obasanjo – without any remarkable achievement. Rather, his tenure was marred with cruel, crudity, and murder.

Ali is another name for injustice, abhorrence, and intolerance.
His tenure as education minister was a festering sore at the center of scholarship and civilization.

As minister of education, his signature achievement was the erosion and suppression of academic freedom.

His incompetency, blindness, rashness, inadequacies, and high handedness ruptured the fabrics of student unionism which fomented, brewed, and bottled “Ali must go” saga which among other things snuffed out Akintunde’s life.

The decimation of our university education was actively initiated and pursued by Ali.

He made sure the quality of our once enviable university programs was diluted with mediocrity and mendacity. He wrecked the system.

As director of NYSC, Ali didn’t perform better. No innovation or any relevant reforms were made to the program by Ali.

He has never been an impressive personality of sterling performance. He’s known for his cantankerous marginal ability.

Though, we’re proud of Ali for one thing: he never missed any opportunity to show case the plague-spots in his character. His personal and public life reveals much.

Ali’s hostility to the Yorubas demonstrates that the world loves lies and hates truth. While Ali is punctilious, his life mirrors he basest hypocrisy.

That the Yorubas reject Obasanjo as a leader or hero or ungrateful to him says what type of character fiber and finesse we’re made of.

We Yorubas do not anoint thieves, fools, saboteurs, traitors, and hoodlums as leaders or as heroes/heroines.

We of the Yoruba stock stand out distinct from the brute Igala man as midday in contrast with midnight.

We vehemently reject Ali’s philosophy of Pharisees known for threadbare and hoary emptiness. His Pharisaical righteousness belongs to Igala Kingdom and not Yoruba Kingdom.

If Ali wished to direct others in the path of righteousness, the principles of righteousness must be enshrined in his own heart.

*** We cannot drive a car forward by looking at the rear view mirror. We cannot use shoes for hammers, newspapers for umbrellas, and a finger nail to tight a screw!

http://saharareporters.com/article/rants-antelope-igala-igala-kingdom-bayo-oluwasanmi

[size=18pt]Alams: Jonathan has endorsed corruption in Nigeria – CNPP[/size]

On March 19, 2013 · In News
3:30 pm
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BY PETER DURU




MAKURDI – Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has described the controversial pardon granted former Bayelsa State governor, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha by President Goodluck Jonathan as an “endorsement of corruption and corrupt practices in Nigeria.”

Benue state chairman of the CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan who stated this Tuesday in Makurdi said “the decision of the administration was a clear indication that we are in the most corrupt era of our national history and development.

“How can Nigerians trust this government anymore when it is glaringly supporting and encouraging individuals to loot the collective wealth of the people. What they have done is nothing but a rape of our collective interest as Nigerians because the world would continue to despise us as a people.

“Nigeria has suddenly become a reference point when the issue of corruption is mentioned in any part of the world just because our leaders have suddenly taken our collective destiny to a gambling table for reasons best known to them”, he stated.

The CNPP boss further lamented that the inability of the federal government to effectively tackle corruption in the country would encourage the looting of states and local government councils in the face of the present economic crunch.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/alams-jonathan-has-endorsed-corruption-in-nigeria-cnpp/

[size=18pt]S/West PDP in fresh bid to oust Tambuwal[/size]

Posted by: Dare Odufowokan on March 17, 2013 in Featured, News 31 Comments




The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest has launched a fresh move to unseat Mallam Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mr. Solomon Onwe as acting national secretary of the party.

The Southwest PDP wants the two positions restored to the geo-political zone to redress what it calls undue marginalisation in the country’s leadership structure.

Stakeholders of the party in the region believe that the party’s chances in the 2015 elections will depend largely on its own occupying the two positions.

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the PDP National Secretary, was eased out in the festering intra-party crisis. The national leadership of the party, however, said Oyinlola’s removal was in compliance with a court decision.

The Southwest PDP also lost the slot of speaker to Tambuwal from the Northwest on account of the Southwest’s inability to agree on a common candidate.

They unanimously agreed that there is need for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and general -secretary of the PDP to be occupied by South-westerners if the party’s quest for a good showing in the region during the 2015 general election is to be realised.

The Nation gathered that party leaders and stakeholders told the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, at a meeting in Ibadan that unless the Speaker’s position is returned to the Southwest, the cry of marginalisation by the people of the region will not stop. The leaders said as politicians, they are expected to support the aspiration of the people and as such, it has become important to address the issue of alleged marginalisation of the region.

Tukur was in Ibadan to resolve the crisis which has torn the party into shreds in the geo-political zone.

The reconciliatory move, however, hit the rock following the boycott of the meeting by Segun Oni, the sacked Deputy National Chairman of the party.

Tukur, according to sources at the meeting, appealed to the PDP Southwest leaders to be patient and allow the party to address what he admitted was lopsidedness in the distribution of political offices by the ruling party.

One PDP leader in the zone said:”Yes, we are in a position to push for the redistribution of political offices. Specifically, we want the position of the Speaker and that of the party secretary to be given to us in the Southwest. It doesn’t matter that some people currently occupy the positions. The party’s zoning principle gave them to us and so they should be ours.

“If we must tell our people to look in the way of the PDP again, we must be able to tell them the party respects and desires them. If the people feel they are not wanted by the party, it will be difficult to tell them about the party.

“From the presidency to the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, that is about ten top positions in the country, no Yoruba is there. We can feel it that the anger of our people against the party is just because of that. We are determined to push for redistribution in line with the constitution of the party.

“Initially we wanted the issue raised publicly at the reception but the leaders prevailed on us to allow for a private discussion of the matter given how sensitive it is. That was why a brief parley followed the reception same day.”

The complaint, which was to be formally presented to Tukur at a reception held in his honour at Premier Hotel on Friday night, had to be dropped by those delegated to speak for the zone.

However, former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu in his own submission at the reception, harped on the need for the PDP to respect its constitution and promote equality and fairness among its members if it intends to continue to do well as a political party in the country.

“There is too much arbitrariness in our party. There are too many people claiming leadership positions. The earlier we found a solution, the better for us,” he said.

Other party chieftains at the deliberations, according to our sources, include former Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, Erelu Olusola Obada, Senator Teslim Folarin and Chief Buruji Kashamu.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/swest-pdp-in-fresh-bid-to-oust-tambuwal/

[size=18pt]The North, South-West, And The Stealing Of Nigeria’s Common Patrimony[/size]

Posted by: Our Reporter on March 11, 2013 in Articles & Opinions Leave a comment

By Sam C. Oveje, March 11 2013

Over the years we heard and read of how the North has cornered Nigeria’s oil blocs, and of recent Wikileaks has revealed that the Yorubas have monopolized and cornered most of the juicy oil industry jobs for their own while alienating other Nigerians begging the question: does Nigeria belong to only the North and South West? Is Nigeria not supposed to be a democracy? Why do I get the feeling that we are still living in the dark days of military dictatorship where cronyism and open and blatant nepotism was the order of the day? What is happening to my country Nigeria? When are we ever going to outgrow this self-destructive behaviour? It is blatant nepotism, greed, and avarice such as this that brought down the First Republic. The difference is that today’s nepotism, greed and avarice seems to be exponentially worse than was the case during the First Republic. All indications point to the fact that we have not learnt from our past as a nation. We appear to be rolling down the self-destructive slope again.

What makes this sorry situation even sadder is the fact that Nigerians have continued to suffer and smile while their commonwealth is usurped by a greedy but tiny select few. What will it take for Nigerians to realise that our country belongs to us ALL and not to the Hausas, Fulanis, Yorubas, Military/Ex Military, or any other select group? Funny enough, Nigerians were recently characterized as the happiest people on Earth. But the truth is that we must be the saddest happiest people ever. Our timorous nature allows us to accept whatever treatment is meted out to us by a narrow self-imposing minority and yet we are ‘happy’, as they say, to ‘siddon look’ – which is another one of our favorite Nigerianisms used to describe our helplessness at the sad predicament we find ourselves as a nation. Well, happy people read on and see how you have been continuously raped by your so-called countrymen and deprived of your own commonwealth. I doubt that our much-vaunted, albeit misplaced happiness, will last longer than it sadly has after recent events recounted below are unfolded.

A sad scene played out on Wednesday March 6 2013 amid a raging debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill, when Chairman of the Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Senator Ita Enang, revealed that 83 per cent of oil blocks in the country are owned by Northerners.

“There should be equity and federal character in the allocation of oil blocks in this country. Eighty-three per cent of all present oil blocks are held by northerners,” Enang said on the floor of the Senate, without any of the senior lawmakers contradicting him.

The Nigerian Tribune of March 9 2012 featured an expose on how the country’s oil blocs, which should be a national resource used for the good of all, has been shared amongst some cabal of buddy buddies that can best be described as a Northern Army Arrangement. Of course our usual siddon look populace paid no attention to it. There was no outcry.

According to documents exclusively obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, most of those to whom the nation’s juicy oil reserves have been conceded are individually richer than some African oil-producers such as Ghana and Sudan. (How North Cornered Nigeria’s Oil Blocs, Nigerian Tribune, March 9 2012)

The Tribune went on to elaborate that for instance, Cavendish Petroleum, the operators of OML 110 – with good yielding OBE field was awarded to Alhaji Mai Deribe – the Borno patriarch, by General Sani Abacha on the 8th of July, 1996. OML 110 has a proven oil reserve in excess of 500 million barrels (more than the entire 300milliom barrels reserve of Sudan) with capacity to produce about 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily from its OBE 4 and OBE 5 wells. At current production levels, the Mai Deribes net an average of N4billion monthly in crude oil sales (using oil price estimates of $100 p/b). Deribe, a man known for smuggling petroleum products to neighbouring Cameroun and Chad even as there is endless scarcity of the product in Borno, will even in death remain the richest man in the history of Borno state.

Another major partaker in the oil and gas sector is Mallam (Prince) Sanusi Lamido, a cousin of the Central Bank Governor, who is a key shareholder and director in Seplat/Platform Petroleum, operators of the Asuokpu/Umutu Marginal Field with a capacity of 300,000 barrels monthly and 30mmfcsd gas plant capable of feeding 100MT of LPG.

But the oldest of all northern-annexed oil and gas concerns is South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO), a Nigerian Oil Exploration and Production Company established in 1995 by General T. Y. Danjuma, who is also the Chairman of ENI Nigeria Limited. General Sani Abacha awarded the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 246 to SAPETRO in February 1998. The block covers a total area of 2,590km2 (1,000 sq. miles). SAPETRO partnered with Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd (TUPNI) and Brasoil Oil Services Company Nigeria Ltd to start prospecting on OPL246. Akpo and Egina the two main fields under OPL246 export over 300,000 barrels of oil/condensate daily (three times what Ghana currently exports).

Operators of OML 112 and OML 117, AMNI International Petroleum and Development Company, is owned by Alhaji (Colonel) Sani Bello from Kontagora, Niger State. OML 112 was awarded on 12 February, 1998 and OML 117 on 4 August, 1999 by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar whose eldest daughter is married to Bello’s son, Abu. AMNI produces twice as much as Cavendish Petroleum.

Furthermore, a former Petroleum minister, Rilwanu Lukman, another Fulani multi-millionaire with fronted controlling holdings in Afren Resources, a UK based Oil Prospecting Company, manages AMNI oil blocks and with very key interest in the NNPC/Vitol trading deal. Vitol is a London based oil trading company. Vitol, which lifts 350,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Nigeria, is owned by the former minister who has since gone on self-imposed exile to Switzerland. The Okoro and Setu fields in OML 112 which has about 50 million barrels in reserve is operated by Afren Resources.

Similarly, there is Oriental Energy Resources Limited, a company owned by Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, a close friend of General Ibrahim Babangida. Both are in-laws (IBB’s first son, Mohammed is married to Yakolo, Indimi’s daughter). Yakolo is a director in Oriental. Oriental Energy Resources Limited runs three oil blocks: OML 115, the Okwok field and the Ebok field. OML 115 and Okwo are OML PSC, while Ebok is an OML JV. All of them are crown offshore oil blocks.

Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s Express Petroleum and Gas Limited floated for the purpose of winning oil block(s) on November 1, 1995, got General Abacha’s approval to operate OML 108.

The Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Jambo-owned NorthEast Petroleum Limited, registered as NorEast Petroleum, is the holder of OPL215 license, covering an area of 2,564 square kilometres in water depths between 200 to 1600 metres. NorEast, which is the parent company of Rayflosh Petroleum, was awarded the blocks OPLs 276 & 283.The license was awarded to him by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in 1991 and then renewed in 2004 by former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Intels, owned by the three families of Yar’Adua , Ado Bayero and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku is another major northern concern in the oil and gas sector. The Oil and Gas Free Zone and Oil Services Centres, as well as Support Bases operated from government-owned facilities, are leased to Intels under long-term agreements. Intels thus, runs a ‘private port’, as a counter venture to the Calabar, Warri and Port Harcourt ports. At the Port Harcourt’s facility of the company for instance, there are over one hundred major companies.

Does this story of how a section of Nigerians have stolen our commonwealth still make the impoverished majority a happy lot? Now let us turn to the situation in the local oil industry sector.

According to a wikileaks report – http://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/09/06ABUJA2423.html – a 2006 US Embassy cable with the subject title ‘A Yoruba Plot To Control Nigeria’s Economy?’ reveals the concerns of the Niger Deltans voiced by Chief David Serena-Dokubo Spiff, an attorney for the Halliburtonia’s Economy subsidiary contracted for the Bonny Island LNG cuss Bonny issues and the Delta situation in general. According to the cable Spiff said that much of the problem (Niger Delta) is the result of a “Yoruba plot.” He echoed the longstanding complaints that the Yorubas (from the southwest of Nigeria) control most of the workforce of the oil industry and much of Nigeria’s economy. Spiff blamed the Yoruba for scuttling an attempt to require more local content in oil services, a plan that should have put more business into the Niger delta and its indigenes. He also noted that while indigenes “know that the Yorubas are behind this,” the international companies are much more visible and provide the rallying point for the wide range of complaints from the region. The cable goes on to add that “Spiff’s analysis of the situation tracks with the general comments floating around the area for many years, particularly the accusations against the Yoruba tribe. The difference appears to be that the complaints are becoming much more public.”

In essence, the goose that lays the golden egg, the Niger Delta, has been marginalized both in oil well allocation and employment within the oil industry. So much for Nigeria’s style democracy.

If we are indeed a happy people, are we still happy? Or are we still going to prefer to ‘siddon look’? I have my doubts.

http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/articles-opinions/the-north-south-west-and-the-stealing-of-nigerias-common-patrimony/

[size=18pt]Fashola Begins Monthly Disbursement To Boko Haram[/size]

By 247ureports




The State Security Services [SSS] in Lagos have kept a tight lip over recent activities of the Nigeria security agencies concerning the movement and detention of Boko Haram suspects and other Jihadist operatives.

Information available to 247ureports.com indicate that the SSS and the relevant security outfits have opted to move the many Jihadist suspects in their custody away from prisons and detention centers located in hotspots of northern Nigeria – to safer regions of the country – such as Lagos and other States in southern Nigeria where their destructive tentacles have yet to show a presence.

Recently over 80 arrested suspects of Boko Haram were transferred from the various detention centers where they were detained – to the Kirikiri correctional facility in Lagos.

A competent source who is close to the activity in Lagos Government House revealed that following the embarrassing ordeal of January 2012 in Kano State where Jihadists launched a simultaneous attacks on six police stations killing over 250 persons and setting free their men held police custody – the federal body of the SSS have remained concerned over properly securing the Jihadists suspects in their custody.

The Kano attack has since been exacerbated by the numerous attacks on detention centers scattered across the north western region of Nigeria – including the early morning attack at the SAR headquarters in Abuja in October 2012 where 25 of Jihadist suspects were released – and two police officers lost their lives in the process.

Our source points attention to the national security adviser’s chosen solution to abating the continuing increase in attacks – as a catch 22 quagmire. The NSA had issued instructions for gradual transfer of Jihadist suspects from northern detention centers to southern centers – without installing prohibitive security structure to counter the expected Jihadist reaction towards the new centers.

It is against this background that some State governors of southern States find themselves in a bind – as how to handle the potentially volatile situation. The Lagos State Governor, Barrister Fashola, a Muslim by religious faith, is reported to have his plate full by the recent transfer of Jihadist suspects to the Kirikiri Correctional Facility.

Our source indicated that Fashola finds himself in a precarious situation where he is forced to maintain a proactive posture -to avert the operatives of the Boko Haram from importing violence onto the streets of Lagos.

According to highly credible but unverified source, Fashola had since opened communications with agents of Boko Haram – to engage creatively. The source added that lines of communication between the two have led to fruitful outcome for the agents of Boko Haram. The Governor agreed to the monthly disbursement of an agreed amount of money to the Boko Haram as “stay away” money.

The financial agreement was reach with the breakaway group from the Shekau led Boko Haram. They had turned down the cease fire pronouncement by the Shekau led group.

The breakaway group, according to unverified reports, had reached final stages in the plan to strike heavily at the Kirikiri Correctional facility – till the lines of negotiation were opened. The group had intended to use the attack to show its reach and power.

Our source however cautioned that Fashola’s disbursement to the Jihadist may not mean all is well or that attack on Lagos has been averted. The agents of Boko Haram are believed to have momentarily postponed they attack plans to enable raise highly needed money from the Lagos Government. It is suspected will happen in due – if the suspects remain at Kirikiri.

In addition to the monthly disbursements, the Jihadists have laid other demands. They asked for the access of interrogation agents to their men be stopped. They do not want their men facing continued interrogation by the investigating security officers.

The monthly amount disbursed is not certain but our source discloses that amounts in excess of N25million have been remitted to the Jihadist. Calls pleased to the Chief Press Secretary and information managers for State Government – were not answered – and the text messages were not responded to.

The Director of SSS in Lagos, Achu Olayi was reached but he declined to comment.


http://247ureports.com/fashola-begins-monthly-disbursement-to-boko-haram/

[size=18pt]Nigeria Asks Foreign Countries To Warn Citizens Over Illegal Oil Bunkering[/size]


Published on Saturday, 26 January 2013 09:49
Written by Bola Olajuwon, Addis



NIGERIA has appealed to foreign countries to enlighten their citizens on the implication of engaging in illegal oil bunkering in any part of the country.

Ashiru, who revealed this after a meeting with a delegation of United Kingdom’s (UK) government at the ongoing 22nd Ordinary Session of African Union, asserted that most of the ships arrested for crude oil bunkering in the past belong to foreigners, arguing that if there is no willing foreign buyer, there won’t be a seller.

The minister, therefore, asked the delegation and by extension, other foreign governments to dissuade their citizens from engaging in oil bunkering in Nigeria.

He said he informed the delegation that he would not be in a position to help if any of their citizens is caught by Nigerian security forces.

Ashiru added that his appeal is coming after a similar warning to accredited diplomats in Nigeria during a meeting he had with them about two weeks ago.

He added that with this warning, any foreigner caught for bunkering would automatically face the Nigerian court process.

However, the practice of illegal hacking into pipelines to steal crude, then refining it or selling it abroad is now common in Nigeria.

Flooding and large-scale theft of crude drove Nigerian oil output to the lowest level for more than two years in October, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said recently, highlighting challenges facing Africa’s biggest producer.

Oil production in Nigeria fell to 1.95 million barrels per day in October, the agency said a report, with production in recent months having ranged between 2.0 and 2.5 mbd.

The drop from September to October last year was around 110,000 barrels per day, it said, leaving Nigerian production at “the lowest level in around two and half years.”

It said: “By early November, production levels were recovering, with export schedules showing increased volumes for December.”

It was enough to keep Nigeria as Africa’s top producer ahead of Angola at 1.79 million barrels per day, but the drop came amid growing warnings that the country must take action to avoid stagnant output in the future.

The IEA report cited heavy flooding, which hit Nigerian production during rainy season as well as the continuing problem of large-scale and organised oil theft in the continent’s most populous nation.

http://www.codewit.com/europe/4953-nigeria-asks-foreign-countries-to-warn-citizens-over-illegal-oil-bunkering#.UQPbVxHPKfw.facebook

[size=15pt]Nigeria: Egba, Ijebu unfair to Ogun West – Obasanjo[/size]

Published on Thursday, 10 January 2013 08:13

Written by Segun Olatunji







Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday declared that the people of Ogun West Senatorial District had been marginalised by the other zones in the state.

He said this while receiving the leaders of the party from the district, who paid him a solidarity visit at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta.

He accused the Ogun East and Central zones, made up of the Ijebu/Remo and Egba, of working against the interest of the senatorial district comprising the Yewa/Awori.

Ogun West remains the only senatorial zone in the state yet to produce the governor of the 37-year-old state.

Obasanjo urged the PDP leaders in the senatorial district to put their house in order ahead of the 2015 general elections to ensure that their zone was not left out in the political arrangement in the state.

He said, “Ogun West politics or no politics, some people have been saying that Ogun West does not have competent people. Tunji (Olurin) and I were soldiers and can a nonentity be a soldier? Is Tunji not from Ogun West?

“Initially, some people said the South had no competent people but God has helped us and we’ve been able to prove that the South has competent people as well as the North, West and East. Ogun West has competent people.

“Why I said Ogun West needs a proper attention is that, if we don’t make efforts, we won’t find anyone to assist us.

“When there are two opportunities in Ogun State, if all the two don’t go to the East, both the Central and the East normally share it. If it were to be three, two will go to the East while one will go to the Central but West will be left out. If the opportunities were to be four, both East and Central will share it equally.

“For how long are we going to perpetrate this injustice? When I was a military Head of State, whenever there was anything to be shared, particularly in the area of education and health facilities, we usually had this problem. The polytechnic we established in Ogun State, I was the one that insisted that it must be established in Ilaro.”

http://www.codewit.com/africa/4159-nigeria-egba-ijebu-unfair-to-ogun-west-obasanjo#.UO54z2-S4K4.facebook

[size=15pt]Osun prioritises infrastructure, plans 10km roads per LG[/size]

Published on Tuesday, 08 January 2013 18:02

Written by Remi Feyisipo




Rauf Aregbesola of 0sun State has flagged off the construction of 218.12 kilometres of roads estimated to cost N16.21 billion.

The roads are to be constructed in 30 local government areas and one area council of the state.

The project tagged ‘10km roads per local government’ is to be financed by the local governments but coordinated and implemented in conjunction with the state government.

According to the governor, part of the money for the project came from funds accruable from the Excess Crude Oil Fund (ECOFUND).

Out of this amount, N6 billion has been put down while permission was taken from the state House of Assembly to borrow the balance, which would be repaid within 60 months (5 years) as a way to make the repayment easy for the local governments.

Aregbesola said there would be no excuse for any contractor not to perform and deliver because all of them would be adequately mobilised soon.

The roads, billed to be completed across all the local governments between March and September 2013, according to the governor, have been awarded to competent contractors through due process.

“What we are doing today is to tell the people that the road project is entirely the brainchild of the local government councils; the state government only partnered with them in the area of coordinating execution of the projects.

“What our administration is demonstrating with this road project is to tell the people that not all politicians are wasteful with regards to resource management,” the governor said.

According to him, the cardinal objective of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is first and foremost to improve the welfare of the people. He commended the Osun State House of Assembly for its understanding and cooperation in making the project a success, saying without the support of the lawmakers, nothing would have been achieved.

Meanwhile, Kolapo Alimi, commissioner for local government, said the success of the road project hinged on the governor’s innovation and financial ingenuity. In his remark, Gbenga Ogunkanmi, executive secretary of Ayedire Local Government, whose council area hosted the flag-off ceremony, lauded the vigour with which Aregbesola was pursuing the development of the state.

The quality of the roads to be constructed is a departure from what used to be the tradition, he said, saying the roads after their completion have minimum of 20 years lifespan.

“I can tell you people today that the achievements of the Aregbesola government in just two years have by far surpassed the more than seven years of the past administration,” Ogunkanmi said.

Present at the ceremony were the secretary to the government, Moshood Adeoti; deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, Akintunde Adegboye, other members of the House and executive secretaries of the 30 local governments and one area office.

http://www.codewit.com/nigeria-news/4093-osun-prioritises-infrastructure-plans-10km-roads-per-lg