₦airaland Forum

dayokanu:
Thats evidence in the link I posted staring you in the face.

there were 4 Igbo states, Abiola lost 3.

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Abia* 151,227 58.96 105,273 41.04 334,490 TOFA
Anambra* 159,258 42.89 212,024 57.11 847,274 ABIOLA
Enugu 284,050 51.91 263,101 48.09 349,902 TOFA

Imo 195,836 55.14 159,350 44.86 228,388 TOFA

Places in the North Like Borno, kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Taraba and Yobe voted Abiola

Written by Olawale Rasheed, Abuja
Thursday, August 11, 2011

AS reports indicate soft-pedalling on the proposed single tenure presidency, opposition to further elements of the proposed constitutional amendments is deepening, as most state governors are said to be unhappy with recently leaked reports on the provisions of the proposed amendments.



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Recent reports had indicated that apart from the single tenure presidency, the package by the presidency also includes the scrapping of the state-local government joint account, with a view to granting the 774 local governments financial autonomy.

Other clauses include a new provision to grant indigeneship to Nigerians once they have resided in an area for at least six months, a clause meant to solve the perennial indigene-settler rift in some parts of the country.

Nigerian Tribune gathered in Abuja on Wednesday, that the governors are worried about the handling of the proposed amendments, even after President Goodluck Jonathan had promised full consultations with them and the party leadership before taking further action on the issue.

A very dependable source told the Nigerian Tribune that the piecemeal leakage of the provisions to the media by some aides in the presidency had only heightened suspicion and strengthened the hands of those opposed to the amendments.

"The handling is troubling. Why the piecemeal leakage of such sensitive proposals?" The source queried, stressing that most state chief executives even within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were uncomfortable with the approach adopted, even after the last assurances by President Jonathan.

Nigerian Tribune investigations showed that the governors regard any attempt to scrap the joint state and local governments account, as provided for in the present constitution, as an attempt by the federal administration to weaken the states and undermine the authority of the state chief executives.

A top state official from the North told the Nigerian Tribune that while there may be some problems in the operation of the joint account, "the way to go is not the scrapping of the accounts, as that may weaken the attempt to strengthen and accelerate development at the state levels.

"In any case, almost all state assemblies will vote against that proposed amendment, as laws exist at the state level which regulate local administration in line with the provisions of the constitutions," the source said.

Aside the anger over the joint account, the issue of indigeneship was said to have also alarmed states in the northern part of the country with the North-Central and the two other northern zones said to be regarding it as a joke.

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune within the North-Central zone revealed that the proposed indigenship amendment is considered a subtle way to entrench Hausa-Fulani domination of the zone, considering the subsisting issue of communal conflicts across the states in the zone.

"Such amendments will automatically empower the Fulani herdsmen to take over lands and grazing areas. Before long, the core North will be in charge of the North- Central zone," another state official from the zone noted.

For the core North, such amendment was regarded as a Christian-Igbo agenda, to dominate the core North and Christianise the zone.

A member of the House of Representatives from the North-West, who pleaded anonymity, said the governors from North-West and North-East would never support such a move, as, according to him, "it will create national security challenge for the nation.

"How will any governor or state assemblies from the core North accept such amendment. Nigeria is not ripe for that and I know our governors will convey the message of their people to the president. If not, the bill will be dead on arrival."

Meanwhile, the apparent revolt within the Governors Forum is said to have put Governor Rotimi Amaechi, a very close ally of the president, in a very difficult position.

Areas of consensus among the governors, it was learnt, included the amendment of the constitution to give more funds to the state and local governments, as well as the creation of state police to tackle the increasing menace of insecurity in the country.

Governors of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) were said to have adopted a charter of reform focussing on provisions to entrench true federalism in the constitution, while the PDP governors were said to be divided along the North-South lines over the president's proposed single tenure presidency.

A source in Abuja told the Nigerian Tribune that consultations were ongoing among the governors to take a stance on the proposed amendments, while the details of the amendments were still being awaited by the nation.

Mustapha Salihu

Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has lamented that some indigenes of the state have been absconding from military training.

While receiving the 26 ratings of Kano State origin, who visited him at the Government House on Wednesday, the governor said he discovered this when he was Minister of Defence during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.

Kwankwaso said, "All of you are young men and you have a future. Make good use of the opportunity."

The governor however urged the naval ratings to justify their recruitment and be good ambassadors of the state.

He warned them not to flee their duty posts, saying there would be no chance for them to be recruited again.

Kwankwaso urged them to conduct themselves in their areas of posting, adding that he was impressed so far with their performances.

He told the ratings that a committee set up by the state government was working toward compiling a data bank of qualified Kano indigenes as well as identifying vacancies for appropriate placement of deserving persons.

Speaking on behalf of the ratings, Jafaar Ibrahim informed the governor that three of them from Kano excelled and received awards during the training which lasted almost 10 months.

The Executive Secretary, Kano state Guidance and Counselling Board, Alhaji Habu Fagge in his remark, restated commitment to ensure that Kano filled its vacancies in all federal agencies

News Thursday, August 11, 2011

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI – Imo State Government has recovered N567 million public funds stashed into private accounts in the past nine years.

The Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chuks Okafor, said this in an interview with newsmen, adding that the recovery was part of the administration's rescue mission agenda.

He said: "This was made possible through useful information by some members of the public. The funds so far recovered have been deposited into government coffers and would be used to procure more security vehicles as directed by Governor Rochas Okorocha."

Okafor reiterated government's determination to recover its property illegally acquired by unauthorised persons, adding that "with the current verification in ministries and local councils , government is sure to save more money."

President Goodluck Jonathan has warned coup plotters to have a rethink as the Economic Community of West African States will no longer treat them with kid gloves.

Apart from resisting what he called the outdated adventure, he said governments of the 15-member regional body would punish coup plotters severely.

Jonathan, who is the Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, read the riot act in Abuja on Thursday during the inauguration of the third legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament.

While condemning the July 19 assassination attempt on the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, and security problems in Niger, he advised the brains behind the incidents to have a rethink.

He said, “ECOWAS member states and their governments will not stop at anything to bring such unpatriotic elements to book.

“Forciful takeover of power through coup d’etats will no longer be tolerated and henceforth appropriate sanctions will be meted out to persons accused of complicity in such acts.

“ECOWAS is prepared to ensure strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the supplementary protocol on democracy and good governance as it concerns illegal overthrow of elected governments.

“The sub-region needs to move away from the point of political uncertainty, economic stagnation and social degradation, characterised by coups and other forms of forciful seizure of power.

“We must end the culture of political impunity and establish a society where transparency, accountability and egalitarianism subsist.”

Jonathan said that these and other attributes of good governance could only accrue to the region when leaders embraced democracy and respected the wishes of the people on all issues.

He urged members of the ECOWAS parliament to strive to understand the various programmes of ECOWAS and to work towards improving on them for the betterment of their people.

Jonathan said, “Such programmes as the free movement of persons, services and capital, right of residence and right of establishment, ECOWAS energy programme as well as ECOWAS Agriculture, he added, had the capacity to transform the sub-region and improve the living condition of its people.

“In all our 15-member states, there exists hunger, famine, disease, poor housing, poor infrastructure, infant mortality and several other issues. Common problems normally require common solutions.”

The research reveals that scientifically, polygamy is good for men but bad for women. The research shows that while polygamists have many children, polygamy has a contrary effect on women involved. For every wife added to the fold, the average number of children per wife dropped by one. This implies that women who are married into polygamous homes have fewer children than women in monogamous ones.

KnowAll:
I did not say a Ngige/Fashola is a good combination, I said it is desirable, in any other sane democracy that would be the obvious choice but we are talking Naija here. You need to go and re-read my post again, I said an Ngige/NC or Middlebelter would be a winner anyday and anytime, because Ngige is already an inherent and staunch ACN man, the SW would vote for him if that is what Tinubu wants.

[b]I cannot not see the PDP presenting a SEasterner, they are ALREADY hell bent on fielding a NWestern even North Central is not good enough for those MOFOS. That would be their greatest undoing. Meanwhile in the absence of PDP presenting a SEASTERN, Rochas should just continue doing what he knows best for Imo State, he has 2 terms to turn Imo State into El-dorado, I think the Imo people would relish that than losing him to the uncertainty of PDP politricks.
[/b]

9jaganja:
people just don't learn!!!

Occupation!!!!

kofoshi:
You know something is definitely afoot when the Igbos are calling for a forum of national unity.

Yorubas better not fall for this.

So long we are united in our land, you land grabber can pee off!

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Onyeabo Ihejerika, has said an army unit will be established in Ekiti State soon.

Ihejerika said when he Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi visited him in Abuja on Wednesday that the Nigerian Army and the state government would collaborate to ensure the effective take-off of the planned military unit.

He also called for a collaboration between the army and the state government, adding that there was no way the army could secure the state if there was no effective collaboration.

The COAS added that the collaboration had become important because of the huge resources required for the military unit.

Ihejerika said having a military base in the state could not be overemphasised, adding that the project would be done in phases, so that the financial burden would not be too much for the two parties.

He assured the governor that surveyors from the Nigerian Army would be posted to Ekiti to work with their counterparts in the state to work on the the project.

The army chief said he was happy that the governor with his background in war studies was familiar with the workings of the military.

He said, “Your request for an army unit is in line with the revised Nigerian Army structure. I am happy Ekiti is ready to partner with the Nigerian Army to actualise it.

“Because it is capital intensive, we can do it in phases. Our surveyors will link up with the state surveyors to get it done.

“I am however happy that someone of your calibre, who has a background in military and security tactics, is at the helms of affairs in Ekiti State. I believe you will now have an ample opportunity to practicalise all you have been teaching over the years.”

Fayemi explained to the COAS how the state had relied on military support from the army unit in Okitipupa, Ondo State since the creation of Ekiti in 1996.

He said though Ekiti had benefited from the military unit in Okitipupa, it was important for the state to have a unit in order to boost security.

Fayemi added that timely interventions were usually difficult to achieve because of the distance between Ado Ekiti and Okitipupa where the nearest army unit is located.

The meeting was attended by divisional heads and sectional directors of the army headquarters as well as commissioners from Ekiti.

kofoshi:
Two faces do not suit you, PB, stick to one!

Negro_Ntns:
To Ibos,

We will bookmark this and remember in 2015 how to vote.

KnowAll:
Even though Ngige/Fashola or Fashola/Ngige would have been desirable, It would be discriminatory to the North and it would mean the South are spoiling for a fight with the North and that includes Middlebelters.

The last thing the South wants is to unruffled those loyal Middlebelters. But with Ngige / and a Middlebelter running, that combination would achieve Orkar’s plan in the ballot box.

Fashola / a Middlebelter might exclude Igbo votes and those votes need to be on board that is why Ngige seems the perfect antidote having already been a staunch ACN member to win or force a win for the ACN come 2015.

Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke stated further that with a 24-month mandate to fix the old refineries, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has already embarked on consultation to ensure that the TAM takes off next year, which is expected to take off with Port Harcourt refinery.

“The nation’s refining capacity would receive significant boost in the next three years, with the coming up three new refineries and the TAM of the traditional refineries, which is now being handled by the companies that first built them to ensure that this time the facilities will actually give us the result that we desire in this country and take us to 95 per cent capacity utilization in all our traditional refineries.”

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Austen Oniwon said: “We have given ourselves 24 months to raise the three refineries, we are starting with Port Harcourt refinery, and we have engaged JDP of Japan, which is partnering with Tecnimont of Italy and they are presently in talks, with the hope that by the third quarter of next year they will move into Port Harcourt refinery and commence rehabilitation. It is not just the Turn Around Maintenance; it is the full rehabilitation of the refineries.

seanet02:
Seanet would have been banned for this

OAM4J:
Seanet was also warned several times before we started banning him.

From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri

A NEW general manager has been appointed for the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) by Governor Rochas Okorocha with the mandate to clear Owerri, the state capital of debris and filth and restore environmental sanity to the state.

He is Chief Lawrence Agbasoga, an environmentalist who replaces Chief Willie Amadi, who had acted as Special Adviser on Transport and Sanitation to the immediate past governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

Briefing journalists on Thursday at the premises of the commission's offices on Okigwe Road , Agbasoga, disclosed that the commission under him now has 20 zones to cover the 27 local councils of the state on sanitary matters.

He appealed to street-sweepers in the state to exercise patience as their outstanding emoluments of between two and five months were being cleared.

He decried the poor sanitary condition in some parts of the state, adding that additional units were been created to settle the problem.

The new ENTRACO boss also said functional administrative, parks and garden, security public relations, workshop, billing, junk yard and other units were been created to serve Imo people better in sanitation.

He said within three months all the units would have been in place, stressing that de-silting of drainages would commence to save the city of Owerri from flooding.

Agbasoga also promised that ENTRACO under him would have human face in approach of dispensing its duties.

The Senate ad-hoc Committee investigating the privatisation and commercialisation exercise of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Tuesday told the Bureau to return the Delta Steel Company Limited it sold to Global Steel Infrastructure Limited to Bua Group, which was the original winner of the sales bid.Chairman of the committee, Senator Ahmad Lawan, who gave the directive at the resumed public hearing of the probe, said: “By law, Global Infrastructure should be ejected from Delta Steel and by law, Bua should take over because the transaction by law is not complete”.


Delta Steel was sold to Global Infrastructure in 2006 for $30 million despite the fact that it did not participate in the bidding process.
BPE Director General, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, told the committee that Global Infrastructure only submitted an expression of interest but did not submit any technical bid.

BUA, which initially bidded $20 million and later increased its bid to $25 million, was denied the sale while Global Infrastructure was given the company after intervention from the Presidency and the Ministry of Power and Steel.
Onagoruwa’s predecessor at the BPE, Dr. Julius Bala, under whose tenure the transaction was carried out, had earlier told the committee that Bua actually emerged as the winner of the bid, adding however that: “But there is a difference between the winner and the preferred winner because after the bid there is need for approval by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).”
Bala said when the NCP Chairman, the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar submitted details to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, “the directive thereafter was that the enterprise (Delta Steel) should not be sold for less than $25 million.”