₦airaland Forum

Boko Haram: Civil servants to get counter-terrorism training
Written by Agency reporter


In a move to avert any possible terrorist attacks as predicted by the United States Government, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed urgent completion of the installation top security equipment in the country, before the end of November.

This is coming on the heels of an order by the National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to volunteer capable personnel to be trained by his office on counter-terrorism and emergency response strategies.

It was learnt that the selected personnel would be expected to manage related security issues in the respective MDAs to complement the efforts of key security agencies in the country.

The new security equipment, it was learnt was to complement the already existing tracking device put into operation a few months ago by the police as well as the over 2,000 units of Close Circuit Televisions being installed in Abuja and Lagos and the aerial unmanned vehicles which are also expected to be deployed in the nation’s borders.

Following the security alert, the office of the NSA, it was learnt, had ordered a 24-hour surveillance around all hotels that have over 50-room capacity while all public infrastructure and private recreational centres are now to be manned by plainclothes security operatives.

A top Presidency source, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the different security agencies under the office of the NSA had intensified physical security checks across the FCT and major cities as well as deployment of intelligence personnel in busy hotels and offices across the country.

The source said the Federal Government was also discussing with Nigeria’s neighbours on the need for a mutual cooperation in dealing with the emerging security challenges along the border towns and cities within the West African sub-region.

The source said, “We are doing our best to ensure that we protect the lives and property of the citizens and foreigners in this country.

“Once the government puts the entire new security apparatuses into use, you can be sure that these criminals causing so much troubles for the government will be taken care of adequately.”

The source urged Nigerians to ensure that the war on terrorism was not left for the government alone to handle.

“The fight on terrorism should be a collective one because the man or woman who has turned himself or herself into a weapon of destruction is difficult to monitor. So every Nigerian should consider this fight as his or her own. It must not be left for the government to fight alone,” the source added.

The multi-billionnaira state-of-the-art-security equipment is said to be designed to help the security services tackle emerging security challenges in the country and will serve the Army, Air Force, Navy, the State Security Services, the police, office of the NSA, and other arms of the security services.

The project, which is coming under the National Public Security Communication System and costing the Federal Government about N10bn, is reportedly fashioned along the line of the Global System for Mobile Communications.

http://www.punchontheweb.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4295:boko-haram-civil-servants-to-get-counter-terrorism-training&Itemid=542

Friday, 11 November 2011 02:59
Aregbesola seeks cabinet members’ support
Written by Ade Adesomoju


Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday urged members of his cabinet, civil servants and the people of the state to support the “unusual way” of running the government to transform the state.

The governor said, with his understanding of the peculiarities of the state, he was convinced that running his administration in the conventional way would not help him achieve his set goals.

The governor said, on Thursday, at a four-day retreat for the state Executive Council of the state, in Offa, Kwara State, that his administration would soon reel out more programmes aimed at revamping the economy of the state and making it “a pride of the Black race.”

In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy of the Governor’s Office, Semiu Okanlawon, on Thursday, Aregbesola advised members of his cabinet and civil servants to fully buy into the programmes for the administration to accomplish its vision and mission for the state.

In his presentation titled, ‘Osun State Development Agenda’ the governor listed some of his transformational plans

Some of the planned projects, according to the statement, include “establishment of a mid-regional market for the South West in Dagbolu; logistics centre for Osun State in Lagos; creation of commodity exchange to drive the market hub, and development of an agro-industrialisation blueprint for state”.

Others are “setting up of technical skills development centers, establishment of a Yoruba World Heritage Centre in Ile Ife (to be called New Ife), globalisation of all cultural festivals indigenous to Osun and facilitation of partnerships to develop the tourist potential of natural landmarks in the state.”

The governor added that MoU, signed with the Nigeria Railway Corporation, “would ensure free freight of agricultural products from Osun to Lagos State.”

He further said the facility alone had the capacity to draw people from different parts of South-West.

Aregbesola who said that the only reason for being at the helms of affairs was to change the lives of the people, urged the cabinet members to work with him in stamping out poverty, hunger and unemployment in the state.


[url]http://www.punchontheweb.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4300:aregbesola-seeks-cabinet-members%E2%80%99-support&Itemid=542[/url]

lagerwhenindoubt (m)

Devil's Kitchen
Posts: 2988

Offline Offline


Re: Senator Wants Amnesty For Treasury Looters
« #7 on: Yesterday at 04:54:47 PM »

This buffoon of an excuse for a Senator is throwing up an Agenda to allow bast.ard crooks like drug-pushing, girl-friend snatching, coke-sniffing and Age-fraud., 1-eyed toad escape the claws of Justice. Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka (born. 14 May 1952) is a Nigerian politician who was elected Senator for Ogun East in the 9 April 2011 national elections, running on the A[b]ction Congress of Nigeria (ACN) ticket. -go figure. Tinubu is looking for any corrupt angle to get off da[/b] hook. BASTAR.D Grin

Progressive ACN sob

I see no bigotry on NL; what we have is individuals who are very passionate and sometimes throw meaningless words around.

@OP
if you believe NL Politic is affecting you negatively, I will suggest you try romance section.

Compartmentalising is the key to immunity from negativity; do that or get out.

T H I S I S C Y B E R ! !

They can run, but they cannot hide!

Inflation will jump to 300% next year - Economist Ahj Boko Haram

Nigeria is new global investment destination –Jonathan

10 Nov 2011

By Ahamefula Ogbu


President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday said that the country was a global investment destination with the growth rate of the economy even under the global meltdown and pledged to firmly tackle all security challenges to make the country conducive for everyone to live in.

Jonathan, who spoke at the 17th National Economic summit, said his administration was doing everything legislatively to make the country very fertile for return on investments, pointing that world opinion was already rife that Nigeria presents the best opportunity for investors put their money on.

He therefore called on global partners to see the reality and partner with the country for progress, pointing out that with all the policies and actions of the government in place, more investors should be attracted to the country.


Jonathan noted that: “There is now as a global understanding that Africa and Nigeria in particular, is the new investors’ haven,” and appealed to investors to avail themselves of the he numerous opportunities, adding, “We are taking necessary steps to put in place appropriate legislation to guarantee and protect your investments”.

Apparently referring to the security challenges in the country, the President said he was doing everything to arrest the situation and assured that all modalities have been put in place to check crime, arrest and punish those involved and make the country one of the safest in the world.

“We are not unmindful of the security challenges that confront us. Government is taking firm steps to address the problem.  We will continue to fight crime, punish offenders and do everything necessary to make our country conducive for everyone to live in and engage in genuine enterprises.

“To members of the global investor community, I want to tell you that our economy has maintained its growth, in the face of the global economic downturn.  Meanwhile, our external trade and tariff policies are being reviewed, even as we recognize the need to promote and protect domestic industries.  We are committed to creating a more responsive tariff policy which will make our prohibition list more manageable,” he said.

The President said he had to open the business floodgate to private investors as the government alone cannot go it in ensuring that thing work well within the global business setting which he said was being recognised by reputable financial rating institutions.

“We are fully aware that concrete progress needs to be made in terms of national development, hence we have introduced measures, including the establishment of a National Economic Management Team, to place the right emphasis in this regard. I want to assure you of the determination of my Administration to lay a solid foundation for economic prosperity, upon which successive Administrations would build.

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, there are many strong indications that the global community has renewed its confidence in our great Country.  I am pleased to be addressing you on the heels of the positive ratings of our modest effort by the rating Agency, Fitch, which recently upgraded our outlook from negative to stable.  The Agency has also affirmed our long term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BB’- and Long-term local currency IDR at ‘BB’.

“Messrs. Fitch also affirmed the short term rating at ‘B’ and Country Ceiling at ‘BB’-.  For me, this means that the effort we have made so far is yielding dividends.  I can only but thank the organized private sector for supporting the government in achieving this target.
“We must, however, not relent in our effort.  Instead, the recognition of our efforts by the ratings agencies should ginger us to be more diligent and strategically focused, in our response to the challenges we have as a country,” Jonathan assured.

He said there are deft plans by his administration to ensure that the huge population of over 167million, most of them youths are properly planned for and provided best opportunities and empowerment in life.

From his vantage position of knowing the performance of the economy, he assured that opportunities abound in the country especially in the power generation, transmission and distribution as well as education, health, agriculture, aviation, and fast moving consumer goods and transport sector which those who come first would like what happened in the telecoms sector, reap its rewards.

Listing the gains of the summit from inception, he said that most of the policy directives and implementations derived from the position papers of past efforts that culminated in the Policy Commissions that would serve as engine room for the attainment of vision 20:2020 and the Transformational  Agenda.

“Let me commend the organisers of the Summit for the choice of this year’s Summit theme, which is “Attracting Foreign Direct Investment, through Global Partnerships”. This is quite apt and timely.  It is also consistent with the aspirations of the Transformation Agenda and Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020.  This also reinforces the need to do all that is necessary to guarantee the security and profitability of foreign investments in our country.

“We are committed to doing things differently and to fulfilling our role to our citizens and the global community.  We have established clear criteria and mechanisms for benchmarking and the setting of performance targets, so we can drive our economy in a positive direction, in line with global best practices.

“It is my belief that this forum will come up with far-reaching recommendations to address the challenges impeding our ability to fully harness our abundant human and natural resources endowment to the fullest.

“We understand that we cannot drive this change in isolation.  We urge you to be part of this process to rebuild our infrastructure, create jobs and greater wealth for our people.  We understand the demands which strains in the global economy are making on business.  That is why we have been deliberate in our decision to accelerate economic diversification, by improving our investment environment; ensuring that our high GDP growth rates translate to significant employment generation; and implementing fiscal policies that support the private sector.

“Our hope is that the private sector will become the real driver of economic development and growth in the country, leading to sustained wealth creation and poverty reduction. The Nigerian economy recorded an average GDP growth rate of 7.85% in 2010 and 7.72% in Q2 of 2011.

“With this development, our country is at a point in its history where it should attract more global investors.  There is now a global understanding that Africa, and Nigeria in particular, is the new investors’ haven,” he said.

He assured that relevant ministries and agencies would strive to implement the ideas generated in discuss like the summit while Ministers shall be made to work with private sector officials to ensure a good blend for an all sector growth of the economy.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-is-new-global-investment-destination-8211-jonathan/102548/

Boko Haram: NYSC bars corp members from Borno, Yobe
Written by John Alechenu and Adelani Adepegba

The orientation course for Batch ‘C’ of the National Youth Service Corps in Borno and Yobe states has been put off indefinitely in order to protect corps members from Boko Haram attacks.

The NYSC in a statement on Wednesday announced the indefinite suspension and asked corps members already posted to the two states harried by members of the violent Islamic sect last Friday to remain in their homes to await further directive.

The statement, a copy of which was made available to THE PUNCH on Wednesday, reads, “Owing to security reasons, (the) orientation course WILL NOT hold in Borno and Yobe states until further notice.

“Prospective corps members posted there should await further directives.

“All serving and new corps members are STRONGLY advised to strictly adhere to the contents of the security tips distributed to them.”

According to the statement, registration for new corps members begins on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, the cut -off date for Registration is 12 midnight Wednesday November 16, 2011 while the official closing ceremony is Tuesday December 6, 2011.

Boko Haram, Friday night, bombed drinking joints, churches, mosques and police stations in both Maiduguri and Damaturu, capitals of Borno and Yobe respectively, killing about 150 people.

Meanwhile the Federal Government on Wednesday said it was on top of the security situation in the country.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, told journalists that the government had in fact recorded many “silent victories” in the fight against the scourge of the militant Islamic group.

He, however, admitted that the operations of the sect posed a lot of challenges to security agencies.

He said, “All I can tell you for now are that Federal Government is working round the clock to check the activities of Boko Haram and the results will soon begin to show.

“All of us know that wherever terror raises its ugly head it is not a conventional war, where the military of Nigeria will go one side and the terrorists group on the other side for a confrontation.

“Terrorists use undercover attacks, what you call guerrilla welfare.

“They do not operate under the light of self- proclamation of who their identities are. There are several countries like Algeria and Pakistan and several others that have come under terror attack for almost over a decade and in those countries up till today, you still have isolated attacks in spite of all the deployments that have taken place.

“Let me give an example, all those who carried out the terrorist attack of October 1, 2010 have been arrested, all the vehicles they used, all the channels they used, all the individuals associated with it are in the custody of security agencies and are being investigated.

“You will also find out that in many places where similar attacks have taken place earlier, arrests have not been made even in countries that you can say have greater sophistication in terms of technical capacity.”

Meanwhile, soldiers have taken over security in and around the Abuja NYSC Camp in Kubwa ahead of the commencement of the Batch “C” orientation camp for corps members.

Vehicles going into and coming out of the camp are thoroughly searched for weapons and other contraband.

Although none of the soldiers was willing to speak on the deployment, a source in the NYSC confided in our correspondent that the measure was pre-emptive.

The source pleaded for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media on security issues.

He said, “You know the situation in the country; management cannot leave anything to chance.

“The safety of our corps members is of utmost importance to us, especially in the light of the avoidable loss of innocent lives during the post- election crisis in the north.”

In recent past, quite a number of serving corps members had been killed in sectarian attacks in Jos, Plateau State, and during the post-2011 general elections violence in some parts of the northern region.

But NYSC has continued to post corps members to volatile areas of the north despite calls by concerned Nigerians, especially parents, that the areas are not safe for the young graduates.

http://www.punchontheweb.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4137:boko-haram-nysc-bars-corpers-from-borno-yobe&Itemid=542


, abandoning a sinking ship?

PointB:
@Poster, search no further, Sanusi Lamido, CBN Governor has the answer:


My views on the Yoruba political leadership have been thoroughly articulated in some of my writings, prime among which was " Afenifere: Syllabus of Errors" published by This Day (The Sunday Newspaper) on Sept 27, 1998. There was also an earlier publication in the weekly Trust entitled " The Igbo, the Yoruba and History"  (Aug. 21, 1998). In sum, the Yoruba political leadership, as mentioned by Balarabe Musa, has shown itself over the years to be incapable of rising above narrow tribal interests and reciprocating goodwill from other sections of the country by treating other groups with respect. Practically every crisis in Nigeria since independence has its roots in this attitude.

The Yoruba elite were the first, in 1962, to attempt a violent overthrow of an elected government in this country. In 1966, it was the violence in the West which provided an avenue for the putsch of 15th January. After Chief Awolowo lost to Shagari in 1983 elections, it was the discontent and bad publicity in the South-West which led to the Buhari intervention. When Buhari jailed UPN governors like Ige and Onabanjo, the South-Western press castigated that good government and provided the right mood for IBB to take over power. As soon as IBB cleared UPN governors of charges against them in a politically motivated retrial, he became the darling of the South-West. When IBB annulled the primaries in which Adamu Ciroma and Shehu Yar Adua emerged as presidential candidates in the NRC and SDP, he was hailed by the South-West. When the same man annulled the June 12, 1993 elections in which Abiola was the front-runner, the South-West now became defenders of democracy.

When it seemed Sani Abacha was sympathetic to Abiola, the South-West supported his take-over. He was in fact invited by a prominent NADECO member to take over in a published letter shortly before the event. Even though Abiola had won the elections in the North, the North was blamed for its annulment. When Abdulsalam Abubakar started his transition, the Yoruba political leadership through NADECO presented a memorandum on a Government of National Unity that showed complete disrespect for the intelligence and liberties of other Nigerians.


Subsequently, they formed a tribal party which failed to meet minimum requirements for registration, but was registered all the same to avoid the violence that was bound to follow non-registration, given the area-boy mentality of South-West politicians. Having rejected an Obasanjo candidacy and challenged the election as a fraud in court, we now find a leading member of the AD in the government, a daughter of an Afenifere leader as Minister of State, and Awolowo´s daughter as Ambassador, all appointed by a man who won the election through fraud.

Meanwhile, nothing has been negotiated for the children of Abiola, the focus of Yoruba political activity. In return for these favours, the AD solidly voted for Evan Enwerem as Senate President. This is a man who participated in the two-million- man March for Abacha´s self-succession. He also is reputed to have hosted a meeting of governors during IBB´s transition, demanding that June 12 elections should never be de-annulled and threatening that the East would go to war if this was done. When Ibrahim Salisu Buhari was accused of swearing to a false affidavit, the Yoruba political elite correctly took up the gauntlet for his resignation.

When an AD governor, Bola Tinubu, swears to a false affidavit that he attended an Ivy League University which he did not attend, we hear excuses.

For so many years, the Yoruba have inundated this country with stories of being marginalised and of a civil service dominated by northerners through quota system. The Federal Character Commission has recently released a report which shows that the  South-West accounts for 27.8% of civil servants in the range GL08 to GL14 and a full 29.5% of GL 15 and above. One zone out of six zones controls a full 30% of the civil service leaving the other five zones to share the remaining 70%. We find the same story in the economy, in academia, in parastatals.

Yet in spite of being so dominant, the Yoruba complained and complained of marginalization. Of recent, in recognition of the trauma which hit the South-West after June 12, the rest of the country forced everyone out of the race to ensure that a South-Westerner emerged, often against the best advice of political activists.

Instead of leading a path of reconciliation and strong appreciation, the Yoruba have embarked on short-sighted triumphalism, threatening other "nationalities" that they ( who after all lost the election) will protect Obasanjo ( who was forced on them). No less a person than Bola Ige has made such utterances.

To further show that they were in charge, they led a cult into the Hausa area of Sagamu, murdered a Hausa woman and nothing happened. In the violence that followed, they killed several Hausa residents, with Yoruba leaders like Segun Osoba, reminding Nigerians of the need to respect the culture of their host communities.  This would have continued were it not for the people of Kano who showed that they could also create their own Oro who would only be appeased through the shedding of innocent Yoruba blood.

I say all this, to support Balarabe Musa´s statement, that the greatest problem to nation-building in Nigeria are the Yoruba Bourgeoisie. I say this also to underscore my point that until they change this attitude, no conference can solve the problems of Nigeria. We cannot move forward if the leadership of one of the largest ethnic groups continues to operate, not like statesmen, but like common area boys.

iii.The Igbo Factor and the Reasonable Limits of Retribution.

The Igbo people of Nigeria have made a mark in the history of this nation. They led the first successful military coup which eliminated the Military and Political leaders of other regions while letting off Igbo leaders. Nwafor Orizu, then Senate President, in consultation with President Azikiwe, subverted the constitution and handed over power to Aguiyi-Ironsi.  Subsequent developments, including attempts at humiliating other peoples, led to the counter-coup and later the civil war. The Igbos themselves must acknowledge that they have a large part of the blame for shattering the unity of this country.

Having said that, this nation must realise that Igbos have more than paid for their foolishness. They have been defeated in war, rendered paupers by monetary policy fiat, their properties declared abandoned and confiscated, kept out of strategic public sector appointments and deprived of public services. The rest of the country forced them to remain in Nigeria and has continued to deny them equity.

The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have conspired to keep the Igbo out of the scheme of things. In the recent transition when the Igbo solidly supported the PDP in the hope of an Ekwueme presidency, the North and South-West treated this as a Biafra agenda. Every rule set for the primaries, every gentleman´s agreement was set aside to ensure that Obasanjo, not Ekwueme emerged as the candidate. Things went as far as getting the Federal Government to hurriedly gazette a pardon. Now, with this government, the marginalistion of the Igbo is more complete than ever before. The Igbos have taken all these quietly because, they reason, they brought it upon themselves. But the nation is sitting on a time-bomb.

After the First World War, the victors treated Germany with the same contempt Nigeria is treating Igbos. Two decades later, there was a Second World War, far costlier than the first. Germany was again defeated, but this time, they won a more honourable peace. Our present political leaders have no sense of History. There is a new Igbo man, who was not born in 1966 and neither knows nor cares about Nzeogwu and Ojukwu. There are Igbo men on the street who were never Biafrans. They were born Nigerians, are Nigerians, but suffer because of actions of earlier generations. They will soon decide that it is better to fight their own war, and may be find an honourable peace, than to remain in this contemptible state in perpetuity.

The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have exacted their pound of flesh from the Igbos. For one Sardauna, one Tafawa Balewa, one Akintola and one Okotie-Eboh, hundreds of thousands have died and suffered.

If this issue is not addressed immediately, no conference will solve Nigeria´s problems.


By Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

[size=18pt]Again, by SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI, GOVERNOR Central Bank of Nigeria [/size]
I am not even the messenger, just in case you want to him!

alj harem:
Hey can you stop this crap you are posting

[s]what does ethnic affairs got to do with yorubas and Igbos in Lagos ?[/s]

Are reasoning at all ?

[s]Let me remind you that hausas, ibibios etc are all in Lagos and are far more than Igbos or yorubas[/s]

[s]why are they not talking ? Why the Igbos ?[/s]

Why bring ethnicity to Lagos ?

[s]DO you think in Lagos people care about the ethnic group you are from be it yoruba ?[/s]

[s]Has an other group complain discriminated against in Lagos apart from the Loud mouth leaders of urs ?[/s]

[s]Trust me don't start what you cannot finish be it would not be easy I would make such Arewa support the Yorubas along side the Ibibios and co.[/s]

Not even a single shred of truth/fact in what you wrote!
Aboki, you are a clown!

Pukkah:
This concept is good for a country that is grappling with housing and waste disposal problems. But how do they hope to deliver each plastic house at 75% cheaper than a conventional house?

The style of building seems to use as much (if not more) cement than the conventional way of building. Also, the only building component that is being replaced here is blocks; every other thing remains the same: windows, doors, roof, roof carcass, plumbing, electrical works, beam, etc. So how will the 75% savings be achieved when the only items being replaced (not for free) are the blocks?

In other words, more like using bottles to aggravate the North's housing problem?

alj harem:
Yes certainly, but Beaf one, I can understand because he is collecting money for the job he is doing here

Point B one is the stu.pidest reason to be a Bigot.

I mean he sees this as a sort of game where he would not be affected if kasala burst. He lives in America only for him to be dictating the affairs of Nigeria to others and calling them ethnic bigots ??

I find it very irritating and silly really !!!!

The dude is dull and very unintelligent but sometimes I am forced to reply him because I don't want other dull people to be absorbing his rubbish.

And for your effort a medal,
https://www.clker.com/cliparts/R/A/q/t/b/L/gold-medal-md.png

CITATION:

Awarded to Ahj Boko Haram of Boko Haram fame, who rejoices at the murder
of innocent women and children in North, and turn round to blame it on the president.
A lost and confused Almajiri, who shadows PointB around like a man will pay attention his nemesis:

Please join me in
https://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/kh/answer-fella-applause-0209-lg.jpg
for him!

News Flash!! [/b]PointB has lost the plot: - Gbawe

https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1359/683708096_517b13e85c.jpg




[b]Below: PointB, looking for the plot!
https://www.dreamstime.com/lost-businessman-searching-for-a-way-thumb18208089.jpg

@Poster, search no further, Sanusi Lamido, CBN Governor has the answer:


My views on the Yoruba political leadership have been thoroughly articulated in some of my writings, prime among which was " Afenifere: Syllabus of Errors" published by This Day (The Sunday Newspaper) on Sept 27, 1998. There was also an earlier publication in the weekly Trust entitled " The Igbo, the Yoruba and History"  (Aug. 21, 1998). In sum, the Yoruba political leadership, as mentioned by Balarabe Musa, has shown itself over the years to be incapable of rising above narrow tribal interests and reciprocating goodwill from other sections of the country by treating other groups with respect. Practically every crisis in Nigeria since independence has its roots in this attitude.

The Yoruba elite were the first, in 1962, to attempt a violent overthrow of an elected government in this country. In 1966, it was the violence in the West which provided an avenue for the putsch of 15th January. After Chief Awolowo lost to Shagari in 1983 elections, it was the discontent and bad publicity in the South-West which led to the Buhari intervention. When Buhari jailed UPN governors like Ige and Onabanjo, the South-Western press castigated that good government and provided the right mood for IBB to take over power. As soon as IBB cleared UPN governors of charges against them in a politically motivated retrial, he became the darling of the South-West. When IBB annulled the primaries in which Adamu Ciroma and Shehu Yar Adua emerged as presidential candidates in the NRC and SDP, he was hailed by the South-West. When the same man annulled the June 12, 1993 elections in which Abiola was the front-runner, the South-West now became defenders of democracy.

When it seemed Sani Abacha was sympathetic to Abiola, the South-West supported his take-over. He was in fact invited by a prominent NADECO member to take over in a published letter shortly before the event. Even though Abiola had won the elections in the North, the North was blamed for its annulment. When Abdulsalam Abubakar started his transition, the Yoruba political leadership through NADECO presented a memorandum on a Government of National Unity that showed complete disrespect for the intelligence and liberties of other Nigerians.


Subsequently, they formed a tribal party which failed to meet minimum requirements for registration, but was registered all the same to avoid the violence that was bound to follow non-registration, given the area-boy mentality of South-West politicians. Having rejected an Obasanjo candidacy and challenged the election as a fraud in court, we now find a leading member of the AD in the government, a daughter of an Afenifere leader as Minister of State, and Awolowo´s daughter as Ambassador, all appointed by a man who won the election through fraud.

Meanwhile, nothing has been negotiated for the children of Abiola, the focus of Yoruba political activity. In return for these favours, the AD solidly voted for Evan Enwerem as Senate President. This is a man who participated in the two-million- man March for Abacha´s self-succession. He also is reputed to have hosted a meeting of governors during IBB´s transition, demanding that June 12 elections should never be de-annulled and threatening that the East would go to war if this was done. When Ibrahim Salisu Buhari was accused of swearing to a false affidavit, the Yoruba political elite correctly took up the gauntlet for his resignation.

When an AD governor, Bola Tinubu, swears to a false affidavit that he attended an Ivy League University which he did not attend, we hear excuses.

For so many years, the Yoruba have inundated this country with stories of being marginalised and of a civil service dominated by northerners through quota system. The Federal Character Commission has recently released a report which shows that the  South-West accounts for 27.8% of civil servants in the range GL08 to GL14 and a full 29.5% of GL 15 and above. One zone out of six zones controls a full 30% of the civil service leaving the other five zones to share the remaining 70%. We find the same story in the economy, in academia, in parastatals.

Yet in spite of being so dominant, the Yoruba complained and complained of marginalization. Of recent, in recognition of the trauma which hit the South-West after June 12, the rest of the country forced everyone out of the race to ensure that a South-Westerner emerged, often against the best advice of political activists.

Instead of leading a path of reconciliation and strong appreciation, the Yoruba have embarked on short-sighted triumphalism, threatening other "nationalities" that they ( who after all lost the election) will protect Obasanjo ( who was forced on them). No less a person than Bola Ige has made such utterances.

To further show that they were in charge, they led a cult into the Hausa area of Sagamu, murdered a Hausa woman and nothing happened. In the violence that followed, they killed several Hausa residents, with Yoruba leaders like Segun Osoba, reminding Nigerians of the need to respect the culture of their host communities.  This would have continued were it not for the people of Kano who showed that they could also create their own Oro who would only be appeased through the shedding of innocent Yoruba blood.

I say all this, to support Balarabe Musa´s statement, that the greatest problem to nation-building in Nigeria are the Yoruba Bourgeoisie. I say this also to underscore my point that until they change this attitude, no conference can solve the problems of Nigeria. We cannot move forward if the leadership of one of the largest ethnic groups continues to operate, not like statesmen, but like common area boys.

iii.The Igbo Factor and the Reasonable Limits of Retribution.

The Igbo people of Nigeria have made a mark in the history of this nation. They led the first successful military coup which eliminated the Military and Political leaders of other regions while letting off Igbo leaders. Nwafor Orizu, then Senate President, in consultation with President Azikiwe, subverted the constitution and handed over power to Aguiyi-Ironsi.  Subsequent developments, including attempts at humiliating other peoples, led to the counter-coup and later the civil war. The Igbos themselves must acknowledge that they have a large part of the blame for shattering the unity of this country.

Having said that, this nation must realise that Igbos have more than paid for their foolishness. They have been defeated in war, rendered paupers by monetary policy fiat, their properties declared abandoned and confiscated, kept out of strategic public sector appointments and deprived of public services. The rest of the country forced them to remain in Nigeria and has continued to deny them equity.

The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have conspired to keep the Igbo out of the scheme of things. In the recent transition when the Igbo solidly supported the PDP in the hope of an Ekwueme presidency, the North and South-West treated this as a Biafra agenda. Every rule set for the primaries, every gentleman´s agreement was set aside to ensure that Obasanjo, not Ekwueme emerged as the candidate. Things went as far as getting the Federal Government to hurriedly gazette a pardon. Now, with this government, the marginalistion of the Igbo is more complete than ever before. The Igbos have taken all these quietly because, they reason, they brought it upon themselves. But the nation is sitting on a time-bomb.

After the First World War, the victors treated Germany with the same contempt Nigeria is treating Igbos. Two decades later, there was a Second World War, far costlier than the first. Germany was again defeated, but this time, they won a more honourable peace. Our present political leaders have no sense of History. There is a new Igbo man, who was not born in 1966 and neither knows nor cares about Nzeogwu and Ojukwu. There are Igbo men on the street who were never Biafrans. They were born Nigerians, are Nigerians, but suffer because of actions of earlier generations. They will soon decide that it is better to fight their own war, and may be find an honourable peace, than to remain in this contemptible state in perpetuity.

The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have exacted their pound of flesh from the Igbos. For one Sardauna, one Tafawa Balewa, one Akintola and one Okotie-Eboh, hundreds of thousands have died and suffered.

If this issue is not addressed immediately, no conference will solve Nigeria´s problems.


By Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

deco2come:
That is a good policy is they carry it out.

[color=#990000]It would also be nice if they will show us what kind of road, house, or other project they plan to build before the contract is given to them. In most of the develop countries, before any construction firm start any project for example, road, bridge, market, etc, they have a complete design in form of 3D, or any graphical design. Citizens will have the chance of seeing what the project would look like if when the project has been completed.

Mr President, ask all of them to carry out the same procedure so that we will know when they are cheating us. Beside, it will help of people in graphic and design industry[/color]

@italic

I wonder why this practice is not the norm. Besides it not very expensive to acquire models and prototypes.

Dede1:
@POST

I do not give a ratarse if Middle Belt is real or imaginary. It does not constitute an inch of space my daily political stream of thoughts.

I would be lying if I say I dont understand how you feel about the middle belt. However, that feeling is albeit mixed. Some are willing to move on and let the middle belt sort out themselves, but some seeing what could become of middle belt, if Plateau/Jos falls are genuinely concerned, if not alarmed.

emmke:
one thing is for sure, the younger middle belters, especially the christian ones (myself inclusive), coming up are not gonna be used and manipulated by any major tribe as in the past. Within a space of a decade, 2001-date, we've learnt alot (the bitter way though, but nonetheless we've learnt). Things will never be the same again. U-know-who had shot themselves on the foot.

Ultimately, your generation will have to chart your identity, and future. But should the middle belt (or any of it component) need allies or want to choose a foe, they will need to think deep and long, and of course, it wont come cheap nor without compromise, either way.

Beaf:
This policy will greatly help to lessen corruption. I wonder what the state governors will have to say about extending the practice to their domains?

Very much so.
Fighting corruption does not necessarily mean bundling people to jail, and hounding political opponents as we saw in pasted years.
Plugging loopholes is brilliant, very subtle, yet effective way of ridding the populace from the corrupt men and practices.

Good one - GEJ!

KnowAll:
The whole Northern Region is highly polarized. Middlebelt is just a figment of our imagination. Although during electioneering it helps and allows for political expediency just like what happen in the last election when the bulk of this imaginative zone threw their lot behind Jo-Boy. But carving it into a dinstint zone like SW or SE or even SS would be a bit far-fetched.

Do you know even in Boko-Haram Country of Borno State the whole Southern Borno Senatorial zone is majority Christain's centered on the town of BIU,  that is one fact that would surprise most people yet these Christina's are part of the far North Eastern zone.

In throwing throwing their lot's behind GEJ, there appear a sort of unison is their action. It was quite co-ordinated, very much similar to the SS/SE block vote.

Do you know even in Boko-Haram Country of Borno State the whole Southern Borno Senatorial zone is majority Christain's centered on the town of BIU, that is one fact that would surprise most people yet these Christina's are part of the far North Eastern zone.

Frankly, I didn't know this. Which ethic groups inhabits this part - certainly not hausa/fulani, or the Kanuri, or?
And what is their relationship with the accursed sect -Boko Haram is this part of the state - victim, or valuable?

Joey82:
@point b

There's hardly any possibility since the comprising ethnics hardly have anything in common.

hmmmn
Not even a chance? So what in your opinion do you think will happen to them in the even of a split. Any conspiracy theory?