₦airaland Forum

Former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, has reiterated his commitment to vote for an Igbo Presidency, come 2019, if only it will end the current secession agitation.

A source close to the former President who spoke with StateReporters News on Friday night, disclosed that Babandiga still maintained his stand on an Igbo presidency.

“I want to gladly inform you that IBB’s position has not changed when it comes to an Igbo Presidency. He has said it before without mincing words, that he will vote for an Igbo Presidency in 2019, if only it can bring a lasting solution to the waves of agitation for succession.

A quick search by StateReporters New , revealed that IBB as he is fondly called, barely a year ago while speaking with The Interview, a magazine focused on leading professionals and politicians, had described the agitation for Biafra republic as a distraction.

“We do not need this distraction now”, he had said, adding that, “I will vote for an Igbo President in 2019, if I find one.”
In that interview, he also revisited one of the most controversial issues involving him – the death of MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 election.
He said he recieved the news of his death with shock, but without regret.
Responding to the question whether he believed that Abiola died of natural causes, Babangida said: “I should know? I didn’t serve the tea…!”

Sources :StateReporters News


http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/26/will-vote-igbo-presidency-2019-ibb-declares/

Former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, has warned that if the threat by Northern youths asking Igbos to vacate their region is pushed too far, the Rwanda experience will be a child’s play.

source : StateReporters News

details

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/26/will-happen-northern-youths-push-threats-far-ex-minister/

Leaders of the three geopolitical zones– South West, South East and South South– under the aegis of Southern Leaders’ Forum on Sunday urged governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to expedite action on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 national conference.

It would be recalled that APC governors under the umbrella of Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) had called for restructuring of Nigeria which they said can address problems of agitations and ethnic-based tensions in the country.

The governors, who condemned the October 1 ultimatum issued to Igbos by some northern youth leaders to leave the North, equally condemned several inciting comments made by other Nigerians in response to the ultimatum.
The governors observed that the failure of leadership at all levels over the years and perhaps the outcome of the 2015 general elections aggravated ethnic nationalism and extremist positions by Nigerians across the divide.

Walking The Talk

In a statement titled ‘APC Governors on Nigeria in Crisis: Quo Vadis?’ and signed by Yinka Odumakin on behalf of the South West; Bassey Henshaw for South South and Okey Anieyiagu for the South East, the Southern leaders said the APC governors must move beyond the mere talk of restructuring but must take practical steps towards ensuring that Nigeria does not disintegrate.

According to the Southern leaders, to save Nigeria from further drift, urgent steps need to be taken to restore Nigeria to pre-1966 constitutional arrangements.

“The attention of Southern Leaders’ Forum has been drawn to the communiqué by the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) on the nationhood crisis bedeviling Nigeria, which culminated in a quit order to South Easterners living in the North to leave by 1st October 2017.

“This order was issued by the Arewa youths, apparently claiming to speak for the North. We commend the governors for speaking out at this critical time and for repeating what patriotic Nigerians have been saying: which is that the current structure of Nigeria is not working.

“We quote the APC governors: ‘Reforming Nigeria’s federal system: It appears that demands framed by different groups in terms of political restructuring or ‘true federalism’ can be met through adjustment in Nigeria’s federal system. Although such adjustment will not, on its own, address the root and branch of Nigeria’s challenges, it is worth pursuing in order to meet the demands of various Nigerian groups. The focus of this restructuring is to restore the principle of non-centralisation of power in the country’s federal arrangement being the defining element of a federal polity. There are options to consider in this regard.”

Review Of The Revenue Sharing Formula

“To achieve this objective, the governors suggested a review of ‘the long exclusive list in the 1999 constitution’ to allow for the transfer of several items to the concurrent legislative list, to enable states, which are the nodal points of development, to legislate on them. The PGF also called for the review of the revenue sharing formula between the Federal Government and the federating units.
“The PGF added, ‘However, alongside the imperative of political and fiscal decentralisation, contiguous states can pool resources to address common development challenges and embark on projects that can have maximum effect and efficiency through their endeavours.”

They stressed that these could only be made possible if the nation was allowed to remain as one indivisible entity.
“Southern Leaders Forum could not agree more with the PGF and wishes to state that we accept that Nigeria should remain an indivisible entity but the terms must be right for all the constituent units of Nigeria to have a feeling of inclusiveness and acceptance so that we can live together in peace and harmony with all groups pursuing their happiness according to their aspirations”, the statement noted.

In the same vein, “we note the observation by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo that ‘we have agreed to live together’ with the observation that the decision was made by British amalgamation. It is unfortunate, however, that we have not been allowed to move beyond amalgamation to integration by fashioning the framework necessary for peaceful co-existence in a multi-ethnic country.

“We obviously cannot in all honesty say our ‘agreement’ to live together has terms such as herdsmen terrorising farmers or cows chasing pupils out of their classrooms. Neither does it involve the palpable injustices built into the union to make some sections of the country subservient to the other through the politics of exclusion, command and conquest that characterise our union presently.
“The acting president has also been quoted in his address at Jaji to have said, ‘When you hear a person saying that my tribe has been marginalised, usually what he is saying is appoint me. The ethnic card is an effective bargaining tool.’ There is no doubt that many of our people from North to South and from East to West have depended on the ethnic crutch in pursuing their personal agenda.

Autonomy And Self-Determination For All The Constituent Units

While reiterating its earlier stance on autonomy and self-determination for the regions, the Southern leaders said, “Again, it is precisely for this reason that the Southern Leaders’ Forum like the vast majority of patriotic Nigerians has been speaking out in favour of autonomy and self-determination for all the constituent units of Nigeria; so that each can take its destiny and those of its people into its hands to manage its affairs, develop and pursue the aspirations of its people at its own pace.

“This is why while we appreciate the fence-mending measures of the acting president and the proclamations of the APC governors we want to see them move beyond the same rhetoric Nigerians have been hearing for so long into practical actions as leaders of our people.

“We want to call the attention of the acting president and the APC governors to: “Initiate action to amend our constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench true federalism and federal spirit.

“We want to see the acting president and the governors leading the way by taking concrete steps to facilitate the implementation of this all-important promise to arrest the continuing drift to the edge of the precipice at this critical juncture in the life of Nigeria”.

Continuing, the leaders said, “To facilitate action, we wish to draw the attention of the acting president and the governors to some vital recommendations contained in the 2014 national conference report. These include, but are not limited to: 1. Equity in the number of states per geopolitical zone with the states remaining as federating units. 2. Greater autonomy for the states including their individual constitutions, police and freedoms to manage their affairs and resources and to cooperate or even amalgamate if they so choose. 3. Devolution of more powers and resources to the states to allow them develop at their own pace.

“We do not think we need to impress on these leaders at this point that time is running out for the polity and concrete and urgent steps have to be taken to save the Republic not by mere platitudes but proactive measures towards building an inclusive country along federal line.

“In the language of precision: urgent steps have to be taken to restore Nigeria to pre-1966 constitutional arrangements to stop the drift in the land. To this end, we strongly recommend a meeting between the governors, National Assembly leadership and leaders of ethnic nationalities in the six geopolitical zones to agree on the critical areas of 2014 national conference that need to be incorporated into the constitutional amendment so as to move Nigeria forward in concrete terms and to demonstrate that the governors are ready to walk the talk”, the statement said.


http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/26/southern-leaders-apc-govs-need-action-restructuring/

These, indeed, are trying times for Nigeria. There is no gainsaying that the nation has precariously hanged on the precipice for some time now.

If it is not the marauding murderers called Boko Haram that has been ravaging the North East, it would be the Niger Delta militants and their nefarious activities that have brought the nation on its kneels.

There are also the problems foisted on her by cattle rustlers, the seemingly intractable Fulani herdsmen and farmers clashes that appear to be spreading all over the country.

Then there is also the issue of cries for self-determination from various ethnic nationalities, who feel short-changed in the national scheme of things.

Recently, the Nnamdi Kanu led Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) called out a sit at home order in the South East region. To say that the order literally shut down the entire region is only stating the obvious.

Perhaps, as a direct response to IPOB action in the South East, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum met in Kaduna and issued an October 1, deadline to all Igbos living in the North to quit the region.

Expectedly, the indiscretion of the Arewa group was roundly condemned by many Nigerians except for some like Ango Abdullahi, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) spokesperson, who, given his age and experience many would have thought would have applied wisdom, choose to further fan the embers of discord by sanctioning the action of the Arewa youths.

Between then and now it has been either one threat or the other and the presidency has been holding meetings with various stakeholders to address what is clearly a distraction, at a time when the nation’s recession is gradually and steadily decimating the ordinary citizens.

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, in his various meetings with concerned groups has also stated clearly that the nation’s unity is non-negotiable, while also warning to deal with anybody or group that plunges the nation into any crisis.

Since assuming responsibility as the head of government following the health challenges facing President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo has shown leadership, wisdom and maturity in most of his dealings.

He also has shown that, perhaps, if handled differently, many of the tensions around the nation, since the coming of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government, would probably not have arisen in the first place.

Easily the most common discussion today is project Nigeria. To be or not to be?

However, the general consensus is that Nigeria is better together than apart. For the average Nigerian on the street, this is not his problem. He is consistently worried by the fact that he can hardly put food on the table for his family.

That the Nnamdi Kanus are celebrities today is as a result of the injustice and inequality that permeate the nation. Address the problems and all these agitators would be out of jobs.

On June 14, the Senate called on Professor Osinbajo, to forward the report of 2014 National Conference report for appropriate legislative action.

According to the Senate, deliberations on the recommendations of the conference will be the way forward for the country, even as it harped on the nation’s restructuring as a way out of its numerous problems.

The request for the 2014 confab reports followed submissions made to that effect by senators, mostly of All Progressives Congress (APC), during debate at plenary

.

The senate should be commended for making this bold step. The issue as to the unity of the nation is not debatable. However, there is an urgent need to address some of the problems that have held us back as a nation.

There is the need to reduce the unhealthy concentration of power at the centre, at the expense of the federating units that make up a federation. We need to also ask why a child of a minister from Borno who scored 50 at the entrance examination into a unity college can gain admission, while that of a peasant from Lagos or Delta that scored 120 cannot, just because he is unfortunate to come from a part of the nation derisively referred to as educationally advantaged state.

How can a nation that cannot conduct a simple routine exercise as census, as a result of parochial interests attain greatness?

The obvious lopsidedness in the recent recruitment into the Department of State Services (DSS) also highlighted the fault lines that have been the bane of Nigeria.

The half-hearted explanations by Lawal Daura, Director-General of the DSS, further justified the worry by other ethnic nationalities of planned northern domination.

For as long as we continue to look at national issues only through parochial lenses, we would continue to grope in the dark. The time to discuss Nigeria is now. A Nigeria where federal character will be based on merit and or not on mediocrity. A nation where we consciously play up those things that unite us more than those that divide. A nation where a leader elected at the centre sees the nation as his constituency and not areas where he got more votes. Anything short of these would continue to throw up more Kanus and Dokubos.

source : StateReporters News

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/26/who-is-afraid-of-restructuring/

The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Osita Okechukwu, has defended the non-arrest of the Arewa youth who issued a quit notice to Igbos to leave the 19 states of Northern Nigeria.
Mr. Okechukwu described the non-arrest of Yerima Shetimma and other leaders of the Arewa youth coalition as strategic.
“Arrest and detention wittingly and unwittingly make agitators celebrities,” he noted.
Mr. Okechukwu was reacting to the speech of John Nwodo, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo during the inauguration of 100-member advisory committee on economic and political affairs, in Enugu at the weekend.
“What remains worrisome is the incapacity of the police to make needful arrests in the situation pointing to double standards from our security forces,” Mr. Nwodo reportedly said.
In a statement at Akpakwume Nze, Enugu State, on Sunday, Mr. Okechukwu disagreed with Mr. Nwodo that the security agencies were playing double standards by not making arrests over the quit notice.
He recalled that it was the arrest and long detention of an equally provocative and unknown Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that made him a celebrity.
“His detention gave rise to the disgusting and sordid situation in the country today. Methinks the non-arrest of Yerima Shetima and cohorts of the Arewa Youths for their arrant, unpatriotic, unconstitutional and provocative quit notice is strategic.
‘”Strategic in the sense that more than any other factor was the arrest and long detention of harmless, but as well provocative Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which led to this sordid scenario. Detention made Kanu with no fixed address became an instant celebrity.Had Kanu not been arrested his agitation could have fizzled out unnoticed.” the VON DG said.
Asked whether he consulted the Inspector General of the Police before coming to this conclusion, Mr. Okechukwu quipped: “I didn’t consult the Inspector General of the Police or any security officer for that matter, but common sense. The security chiefs might have reasoned that it is better to allow the storm to boil over, instead of creating another celebrity. As time is the healer of all wounds.”
“I’m surprised why Chief Nnia Nwodo, our President General, who loves us, the millions of Ndigbo who live in the north more than ourselves did not worry, why Nnamdi Kanu was not rearrested after serial violation of court order. Is it not double standard to allow somebody who flagrantly violates court order to move about freely? If by the same token, Kanu is not rearrested, I bet you that his sponsors will thin down,” he said.
While agreeing that as the President General of Ohaneze, Mr. Nwodo should be concerned about the fate of Ndigbo worldwide, Mr. Okechukwu said, “I have great and tremendous respect for Chief Nwodo and was part of his campaign against Professor Chinwike Ejike, who incidentally hails from my area.”
He, however, advised that in times like this, prominent leaders like Mr. Nwodo should be more pragmatic and strategic.
“We have passed this road before and we know that the fault lines can be strengthened,” he said.
Mr. Okechukwu said the Ohaneze leader should not bother himself with unknown Arewa youth or fringe groups in the North, but rather listen more to the likes of the Emir of Katsina, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Governors Forum and the Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Mr. Okechukwu argued further that, “Did you hear him talking of being in solidarity with Afenifere? Is that strategic choice among two contending Yoruba groups? Afenifere without being immodest is no more the Afenifere of yesterday. Does it make strategic sense being in solidarity with Afenifere, instead of the major Yoruba group, led by Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who today are quietly and smartly harvesting the silent infrastructural revolution going on under President Muhammadu Buhari.”
On the advisory economic and political affairs committee Ohaneze set up on Saturday, Mr. Okechukwu said it was a welcome development, and he would like to work with them.
He advised the committee to work with Igbo ministers and other officials especially Geofrey Onyeama of foreign ministry, Okechukwu Enelamah of trade and investment, Ben Akabueze of Budget Office and Abraham Nwankwo of Debt Management Office.
“It bothers one that Chief Nwodo seems to be playing politics with our destiny. Yes ooOh! we are marginalised, but has Chief Nwodo led Ohaneze ever found time to summon some of us to ask what our scant offices can offer Ndigbo? I doubt if he neither met nor replied the profound congratulatory letter President Buhari wrote to him?”
He noted that there are commonalities between the terms of reference of the committee and President Buhari’s projects in the south-east, which includes completion of the 2nd Niger Bridge, revamping of Enugu coal and establishment of University of ICT Campus in Enugu.
Asked if he was opposed to return to regional government and the report of the national conference of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Mr. Okechukwu said it does not matter whether he opposes or supports the conference report, arguing that the conference did not recommend regions, but creation of more states.
“If we join hands and demand one additional state based on equity and justice, Nigerians will listen to us, than outright secession,” he said.

Source StateReporters News

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/25/igbo-quit-notice-security-agencies-cannot-arrest-northern-youth-leaders/

okay true talk

okay but oga the registration fee for youth is high, stateReporters News Correspondent want to the street to interview youths in Enugu, and people opinion was that if they can help to transform Nigeria,and support the youth they will participate heavily but the fee is on high side for the youth to be a member do you want to create more income through Registration of members

the man too the dey make noise

No fewer than 44 universities across Nigeria have jerked up their fees.

The increment might be attributed to poor funding by the federal and state governments

Recall that Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), poorly rated the President Muhammadu Buhari in the area of funding of university education.

ASUU noted that it will be difficult for any Nigeria university to effectively compete globally with the attitude of Buhari not to allocate enough budgetary allocation as prescribed by UNESCO to fund education.

In a statement made available to Reporters, the Chairman, ASUU – University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, lashed out at the APC for promising “a minimum of 15 percent for education”.

The statement which assessed the two years of Buhari in office, lamented that the current government had made Nigerians poorer, adding that public education was not taken seriously because most children of the rich and those in high offices do not school in Nigeria.

Below is a list of tuition increment in some universities as collated by Vanguard, in the order of institution, old fees, new fees…

Source
click here to view

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/25/44-nigerian-universities-increase-tuition-fees-full-list/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would go on with the process of recalling Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

A source in the legal unit of INEC, explained that there are at least three precedents to follow in dealing with the case.

INEC would go ahead to conduct the referendum in so far as INEC is able to verify or ascertain the genuineness of the signatures. Every lawmaker that had faced the issue of recall in the past, from Plateau, Jigawa to Abia, ran to the courts but such actions never stopped the Commission from going ahead with the referendum,” he said, according to Vanguard.

Also, the commission’s Director in charge of Voter Education, Publicity, Civil Society and Gender Liaison, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, said they were not aware of any lawsuit filed by Melaye.

“We have not been served. We shall enter an appearance and defend what we have to defend (when served with the notice). But for now, we cannot start reacting to comments or statements we read in the media,” Osaze-Uzi said.

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/25/inec-not-aware-dino-melayes-lawsuit-will-proceed-recall-senator/

Kidnap kingpin, Chukwudemeje George Onwuamadike, alias Evans, has revealed that he installed close circuit camera (CCTV) in all his houses, to prevent his arrest.

Evans who is currently being detained by operatives of the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Lagos, said he had people on ground monitoring the CCTV.

The monitors gave him daily reports on the identities, of those who came suspiciously close to his house.

Evans personally carried out profiling of the CCTV footage, to ensure he was not being trailed by security operatives.

“I lived a simple life although I had money. My neighbors thought that I was a businessman. On the day I was arrested, I had this strange feeling. So I decided to stay indoors.

“I regret all my actions. As you can see I am reading my Bible, particularly the book of Lamentation. I don’t know what faith holds in stock for me with Lagos State’s laws on kidnapping,” he said.
i don,t know what will happen in next 48hours now


http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/23/billionaire-kidnapper-installed-cctv-house-evans/

Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Udom Ekpoudom, has warned Biafra agitators and Northern youths issuing threats and provocative speeches against Nigeria to take caution.

He said while it was easy to speak of violence, such persons will run away if they witnessed bloodletting on a large scale.

Ekpoudom appealed to agitators for Biafra to continue to draw attention of the Federal Government to issues of neglect and marginalization, instead of issuing threats to split the country.

He faulted the sit-at-home order issued by Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), saying the order also contravened the law.

Ekpoudom said IPOB had no constitutional authority to order a section of the country to sit at home without the consent of the Federal Government, adding that “It amounts to running a parallel government.”

On the ultimatum by Arewa youths, Ekpoudom urged the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to exercise their constitutional mandate of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians and ensure that those who issued the quit order were arrested.

The former top cop noted that the order was not directed at the Igbo alone but the entire South East, South South and South West residents in the north.

”It is an indirect call for division of the country which our founding fathers and nationalists suffered and died to protect”, he told Vanguard.

Those beating the drums of war have never experienced the pains of war. Most of those making inciting and hate speeches were too young or were not born when we had the Nigerian/Biafra war.

“It’s unfortunate that those people clamoring for war are being sponsored by people who don’t have value for this country or are having dual citizenship”, he added.

Ekpoudom, however, insisted that Nigeria needed to be restructured based on the principles of federalism to allow ethnic nationalities manage their own resources.

“This constitution came into effect on the first of January 1914. Subsequent inputs are only amendments here and there.

“We are still under colonial administration when we consider the ingredients of the existing constitution. There is need to restructure the country.”

follow this link for more story

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/23/biafra-northern-youths-will-run-away-see-war-retired-dig-ekpoudom/

A Nigerian guy with the name 'T Shine Sisi Eko' on Facebook has said he would kill lots of people if billionaire kidn apper, Chukwudi Onuamadike aka Evans, is killed by t he government.
T Shine Sisi Eko who is an artiste according to his profile on Facebook wrote that although he doesn't know Evans personally, he just does not want him dead.
more details
here

www.statereporters.com

Wealthy kidnap kingpin, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, also known as Evans told men of the Lagos State police command yesterday that he could not locate one of his dens after taking them round the state in a frantic search.
He told the police that he could not locate the hideout because it was rented by one of his gang members.

He, however, directed the police to where the gang member is.

According to Vanguard, the detectives left the command headquarters, Ikeja in the early hours of yestersay, in company of the suspect, but were shocked by the way he took them round the city aimlessly for hours only to inform them later that he could not locate the den.

He informed them that one of his gang members who rented the den, was in Abuja.

He told the police, “I cannot divide myself into two.

he person that rented the place is now in Abuja. You can look for him there

.“I have done my own and I cannot deceive you people. So, look for him in Abuja

.”

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/21/billionaire-kidnapper-evans-reveals-gang-members-location/

THE DINO AND BELLO MACABRE DANCE IN KOGI: A GAUGE OF THE FORAY OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS INTO POLITICS.
An average Nigerian youth sees an old politician as a leper and would hardly pause for a rethink if given a gun to pass a judgment on him. The sentiment is high. The informed are already getting used to the propaganda with which the old politicians further divide the youths through ethnic and religious lines just to drive home their selfish political ambitions, they are fed up with the godfatherism and suck my boot before you get there attitude of these gerontocrats.

I was involved in a political discussion with few friends. The most vocal of them kept reminding us of how the likes of Ambassador Wilberforce Juta, who was the governor of old Gongola state in 1983-October that year, Bamanga Tukur who succeeded Juta, Audu Ogbe who was a minister under Shagari and later PDP national chairman in their years of bounty, Sen. David Mark who was military governor of Niger state around 1984-1986 to mention a few would continue to dominate the political space of the federal republic.

READ ALSO: THE STATE OF BENUE STATE

He wondered if there are no young Nigerians of amazing potentials to be groomed and if the progenitor of the saying that youths are the leaders of tomorrow really contemplated Nigeria before proclaiming so. He was aghast as to when new names shall emerge in the scene-names of youths with no familiar surnames.

He therefore did everything permissible to his strength and knowledge to rouse the little spirit of patriotism in us to join the political revolution that to him would be inevitable in 2019 if Nigeria must be savaged and an average Nigerian youth given a comfortable home to hatch and harness his potentials.

MY TAKE

It is true that democratic process in Nigeria cannot birth a youth leadership in the nearest decades due to the faulty electoral and democratic structure we operate here and that for the youths to get involved, it must be a revolution as history clearly shows.

We must recall that when the honeymoon of the heroes of our republic came to an abrupt end, few youths at that period led by 28years old Nzeogwu revolted against the powers that be to reposition our nation and set us on the right path of progress, unity, self-dependence, integrity and development.

That revolution birthed the youngest president in our history, 31years old Yakubu Gowon whose infantile smile cannot only douse a raging volcano but also resuscitate an uncontrollable libido in an impotent woman.

A youth became president. God Almighty being so kind and inclined to youth leadership gave Nigeria the highest oil boom of her history under him.

How was it managed?

1.5million tons of cement running into billions of naira clogged at the harbour of Lagos and got destroyed after waiting for over 15 months to unload.

He rashly increased salaries by over 100% against sound economics advice and inflation which threw our economy into crises ensued.

Waste waste waste!!!!

The situation became more tensed and equally disappointing when the boyish Gowon lamented to foreign journalists that the country has lots of money but lacks the wherewithal to judiciously expend it.

What a clear sign of ineptitude and incompetence!

Was he under the spell of youthful exuberance?

We brushed it off hoping his kaki must have affected his leadership and political credentials.

Now comes the unfortunate Governor of Kogi who rode on the downfall of a political enigma to reap where he did not weed.

Kogi is currently boiling with uncountable lives lost due to the boyish cum youthful exuberance of the two unqualified youths of our time.

The situation in Kogi now is a clear attestation to the truism that when two elephants fight, the ground suffers.

Kogi workers and pensioners, with nobodies are bearing the brunt of this power play.

Dino Melaye is at the verge of being recalled from the senate via a constitutional process orchestrated by a governor who has joined the Ortom gang to throw kogi into turmoil and further make life bearable for Kogi people.

This governor has not paid single salary for over 10months which is almost his entire tenure but is spending billions of tax payers’ money on a kangaroo charade to recall one of the best senators of our time.

Dino Melaye too, who has proudly flouted all the ethics and decorum known to civilized politics and a thuggish fellow who looks more like a rascal and would be passed as a hooligan safe the little content of his brain is also on ground to help the Governor bring Kogi down to the rubbles through a squabble that has claimed lives and created avoidable tension in the state.

Can’t this energy and so much strength be exploited to radically bring Kogi to the times infrastructure-wise?

Dino is 43, the youngest Nigerian senator and Bello, 42 is the youngest Nigerian Governor.

Are the youths really mentally and psychologically prepared for the revolution my friend spoke about with so much passion and certainty?

Why is Macron 39, squarely making France great again when at 42, Bello is dragging Kogi to retrospect?

Does it have to do with the individual or are Nigerian youths generically affected by this sheer incompetence?

Should the elders continue?

What lesson have we learnt from history?

Does Gowon, Bello and Dino represent the strength, intellect and vigour of an average Nigerian youth?

Or are we all possessed?

God Bless Nigeria

Comrade Okpe Sylvanus
Political Commentator And Civil Right Activist
Chief Political Editor At statereporters news online news cable


http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/20/dino-bello-macabre-dance-kogi-gauge-foray-nigerian-youths-politics/

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has published the list of 72 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres that were sanctioned for misconduct and technical inefficiencies during the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

 
According to the list obtained by Premium times, the affected centres were located in 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A review of the list shows that while 38 of them were outrightly delisted for misconducts and gross technical deficiencies, 24 of them were suspended for one year for technical deficiencies.

Further analysis shows that 13 centres were blacklisted in Abia State, 10 in Rivers, nine in Anambra, six in Akwa Ibom, six in Delta, and six in Imo.

Other affected states have between one and three centres blacklisted.

SEE FULL LIST BELOW:



follow this link


http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/16/jamb-full-list-of-cbt-centres-sanctioned-after-2017-utme/

As a way of bringing succour to the victims of Fulani herdsmen attacks across the middle belt region of Nigeria, a federal lawmaker, Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah, has recommended the establishment of North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

It could be recalled that, the National Assembly recently passed the bill for the establishment of North East Development Commission (NEDC), to help rehabilitate the Boko Haram ravaged areas across the region.
Also, a Bill for the establishment of South East Development Commission (SEDC) scaled through second reading at the Senate last week.

Addressing newsmen in his office in Abuja, Hon. Gbillah said only establishment of agencies and commissions would help rehabilitate and reconstruct the middle belt region, which had suffered great wreck in the hands of Fulani herdsmen.

The lawmaker, who represents Gwer East/Gwer West Federal constituency of Benue State, also called on the federal government to declare Fulani herdsmen as terrorist group, in line with the position of the United Nations (UN).
“Our constitution in section 14, subsection 2b makes it clear that, the duties of government is welfare and security of all the citizens in this country.

“Now, members of my constituency, citizens of my state and other states in Nigeria are not feeling that sense of belonging, because the federal government has refused to recognise, first of all, that herdsmen attacks are terrorist actions.

“Even the United Nations has declared it, that they are ranking in the top 4, after ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, then comes the herdsmen.

“If they have assumed such prominence as terrorists globally, why is it taking the Nigerian govt so long to recognise that, this is a national security problem”, Gbillah asked?

The lawmaker also queried the exclusion of victims of Fulani herdsmen attacks from the many intervention programs of the federal government and international donor agencies.

He said, “there are several intervention agencies and schemes, that this government has put in place since they came into office, like Victim Support Fund, Presidential Committee on North East Initiative, in the past, we had also had the NDDC, to intervene in the restiveness in Niger Delta; but why has this issue not assumed this level of prominence, when my people are being killed daily. When the entire Benue State and middle belt region is under siege?

“The very essence of agricultural backbone of this country is threatened. We cannot go to farm, we cannot maintain any means of livelihood, and the government has not done anything about this.

“I want to make it clear, that I’m very disappointed and the people of my constituency are also very disappointed in this government and in the international development agencies like the UN, EU, UNDP, DFID; they have shamefully turned the blind eye to what is going on elsewhere in the country. And it seems as if it is a farce, to be throwing all your money in one section of the country so you could be seen to be doing something, when there are other parts of the country now that are wallowing in penury, without any intervention from the government.

“No agency has been set up about the issue of herdsmen attacks. We know of communities that have been sacked, thousands of people that have been killed.

It is on records that in 2016, Boko Haram killed less people than herdsmen, the herdsmen killed more people. Between 2015 to 2017, the number of people killed by herdsmen is almost the same with those killed by Boko Haram. What has been done by the government? Nothing!

“At the inception of this crisis when this administration came into power, I was one of those who raised first motion about this issue in 2015.

“They said they set up a committee, nobody here can even tell me where is the committee, or who are members of the committee, what the committee is doing, nobody knows.

“It leads us to no option but, just like there is clamour for South East Development Commission, that it’s time, our people in the middle belt start canvassing for a North Central Development Commission, because, we too, envisaged, that the level of damage done to our communities, requires years of reconstruction and rehabilitation.

“This is clearly a time that our people need to rise up and start to pursue the creation of some form of agencies or commissions that will handle this matter. I appreciate the fact, that other parts of the country too, like Ekiti, Enugu, have had these attacks, but the whole world recognises that, the core of the interest of these herdsmen is in the north central, and it is not farfetched, and that is simply because, that is the most fertile ground in Nigeria for agricultural activities.

“So, it is something that we will not relent to lift up our voices as the representatives of the people, to say that we are no longer keeping quiet over this matter, the international development partners will be called”.

The lawmaker had earlier moved a motion on the green chamber, on the need to intervene in the incessant killings, destruction of property and displacement of communities by rampaging herdsmen.

It was unanimously resolved resolved at the plenary, that an ad-hoc committee be set up, to interface with relevant ministries and agencies of the federal government, the affected state governments and international agencies.

While appreciating his colleagues for their cooperation during the plenary, Hon. Gbillah promised to secure the attention of the federal government and international agencies to the plights of the victims of herdsmen attacks.

“We will go to the UN, we will go to the EU, we will go wherever they are and meet them and ask them, why are you ignoring this? This is not acceptable to our people, you cannot just focus on only one part of the country and then turn the blind eye on the other side.

“This is really the essence of what we are looking for intervention from FG for. I want to point out here that the Victims Support Fund, for instance, in their mandate, they are supposed to be involved in the rehabilitation and the welfare of victims of terrorism, but because our federal government does not view herdsmen attacks as terrorism, the Support Fund focuses attention on only one part of the country and this is ridiculous.

“Do they want all of us to be killed in the North Central before they realise that there is a problem?

“A lot of people have alluded to the fact that, these herdsmen come from other parts of the region, not from Nigeria, so if that is the case, then it is a clear case of national security and it is a war situation. You do not allow foreigners to enter and kill your people without any intervention. It’s a very funny situation,” he added.



http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/15/benue-reps-member-canvasses-north-central-development-commission/

Ezugwu Okike
AND A VULTURE FLEW TO AREWA HOUSE.
.
Raphael Uwazuruike was at Arewa House to make case for his people. Before now, I had thought that “somebody” is a barefaced fraudster. However, after Uwazuruike made that shameful and patronising appeal, I have identified a more unmistakable and remorseless fraudster.
.
The vulture-faced old fellow silently and cautiously alluded to separation. He did not want to to provoke his listeners. The question that now cries out to be answered is : what has Raphael Uwazurike been doing with his MASSOB for the past 18 years? The answer is no rocket science : defrauding people. Defrauding people. Defrauding people.
.
His demeaning stance at Arewa House marked him off as a man with neither principle nor ideology. This is driving me up the wall. Above all things, the Igbo race needs a sincere and earnest leader. That is the only way we can surmount this gigantic injustice rapidly clipping our wings in Nigeria. There has never been an exodus out of any Egypt without a patriotic and honest Moses.
.
Raphael was there to act an ingratiating and appalling coward. And to publicize the leadership squabble between him and Nnamdi Kanu. We owe no apology to Arewa youths. If any apology is to be offered, it should come from those children of impunity who woke up one unblesssed morning to spread the fear of tribal persecution.
.
Sadly and unfortunately, Uwazuruike after apologizing appealed to the authorities to abort plans of arresting the lawless purveyors of hate — the Arewa youths. That appeal was needless. The Kaduna state government was not sincere about arresting anybody. The day after that ultimatum was broadcast, the ring leader was in Channels TV, unapprehensively and unrepentantly answering questions and carefully elaborating on their plans. He made it incandescently clear that he was yet to receive any summons from the police. So by making that appeal, Uwazuruike only hawked coal in Newcastle.
.
But let us assume that Nasir El Rufai was serious about putting anybody behind bars. It is shocking that that same vulture-skulled Uwazuruike was mute when Nnamdi Kanu was illegally clamped in detention even after being regularly granted liberty by a court with complete jurisdiction. Uwazuruike, the ancient crook, did not deem it worth his time to put in words for his three brothers remanded in detention by Justice Binta while granting bail to Kanu under some queer and draconian conditions.
.
They are all hate preachers and separatists. I refere to Kanu, his comrades and Arewa youths. But while the government is at absolute liberty to incarcerate and shoot Kanu and his comrades at the slightest provocation, it must not get close to the untouchables. This is simply revolting. The goddess of justice is outraged when a cooking pot for the chameleon is not a cooking pot for the lizard.
.
Nigeria shall be rippled apart and split asunder. This is not because we have angry separatists and energized agitators. This country shall crumble into dust because injustice dwell in her. Injustice is a reprehensible thing which even Mother Nature herself frowns upon. Nigeria shall split because she is unjust.
.
Qua Raphael Uwazruike the fraudulent old vulture, the Igbos have a saying that ” a thief is not as ashamed as his father “. Uwazurike has put us to unspeakable shame. He did not offer apology to outlaws on our behalf. He was at Arewa House to inflict egregious profanity upon his own manhood. Let the skull-faced vulture continue to pick the entrails of sacrifice. One day it shall stuck in his throat. Nonsense and dust!


Ezugwu Okike

Ezugwu Okike is an Online Political Editor with StateReporters News Cable . With a decade experience in investigative journalism, Public Affairs Commentator , political analysis and a graduate of law. Ezugwu also produces Interview shows with StateReporters News Cable

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/14/and-a-vulture-flew-to-arewa-house/

Benue under Ortom is drifting; the people are dying of starvation and frustration in a state of mass poverty ostensibly orchestrated by the ineptitude and unpopular policies of the Ortom govt.

Children wake to the ear-piercing news of the gruesome murder of their parents and breadwinners by the monster herdsmen. Children of the victims of this terrorist’s nefarious and barbarous activities loiter the streets in a pitiable state of dejection. Regrettably, being abetted by the clear lack of concern, omission and discernible indifference of the govt. They have no clothing, two square meals per day is only obtainable on Christmas days not to talk of security and shelter.

He has closed down Benue state university for about a year now, gave out wheel Barrows, Hoes and Pigs to the students of the institution and other youths instructing them during a shambolic youth empowerment charade aimed at rendering the youths useless and forcibly bringing the massive development of the state to an abrupt and even devastating end, to venture into barrow pushing, petty farming and pig rearing with a sinister objective of strangulating their futures and making sure that no youth acquires the minimum knowledge to rationally challenge his lacklustre policies by the next elections.

The youths in Benue have no future as we speak. The institution of learning is desolate. Benue is in total ruin. The leaders of the ever elusive tomorrow will be no more.

Civil servants are been owed for several months despite the humongous amounts that has accrued to the state coffers through bail out and Paris funds.

Pensioners are dying daily in their numbers as a result of the total neglect and non payment of their pensions and gratuities by the state government.

Civil servants wander in abject want which has ushered in untold hardship on a considerable population of the state citizens as a result of the moribund programmes perpetually pursued by the conscienceless government of Ortom.

Should this continue unabated for few more months, Benue will become a failed if not an unworkable state. A pariah state will be tantalizing heaven!

There is clearly no government presence in Benue at the moment as insecurity has precipitated to an alarming state.

Benue is nearing precipice.

Crime, insecurity and massive death would become the order of the day in the nearest weeks.

The whole Benue should urgently be designated an IDP camp where well meaning Nigerians would be encouraged and inundated to as a matter of topmost emergency, channel relief materials to in order to save the few living as the situation is exacerbating by the day.

It is a total feeling of despondency as the governor in a desperate bid to extend his unproductive, retrospective and archaic policies and the genocidal agenda to the length and breadth of the state, recently in collaboration with the APC state chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, imposed his foot soldiers on the 23 local council areas of the state during the recently conducted kangaroo (sel)election.

May God help Benue!

Comrade Okpe Sylvanus
Political Commentator And Civil Right Activist

Political Editor @ StateReporters News. Political Analyst,Lawyer,Voice of the Voiceless, Public Affairs commentator and a Civil Right Activist Email via Sylvanus@statereporters.com

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/14/hot-article-state-benue-state/

THE ARREST OF HON. BAR FRANC UTOO ESQ. IS CONDEMNABLE, RASH, UNDEMOCRATIC AND A WANTON INFRINGEMENT ON HIS INALIENABLE RIGHTS CODIFIED IN OUR LAWS AND RECOGNISED CONVENTIONALLY.

The tormentors of humanity, the oppressors of the powerless and the scavengers of our human rights are at it again.

The arrest of Hon. Bar Franc Utoo clearly orchestrated by the ruffian who parades himself as the APC chairman in Benue state, Comrade Abba Yaro is a big blow to our democracy, fundamental values as a nation and our collective good.

This is a big mistake. Franc Utoo is a sacred cow who enjoys the unflinching support of all the Benue youths. He must therefore be released forthwith.

We can no longer fold our arms while our leaders and progressive minded Democrats are sporadically hounded into detention for the sole reason of washing the linen of the evil men before the public.

We call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Utoo else, we will mobilise the youths to expend every resources within the armbits of the law and at our disposal to ensure the enforcement of his rights and the enthronement of the rule of law.

Comrade Okpe Sylvanus
Political Commentator And Civil Rights Activist

Political Editor @ StateReporters News. Political Analyst,Lawyer,Voice of the Voiceless, Public Affairs commentator and a Civil Right Activist Email via Sylvanus@statereporters.com

Bauchi – Bauchi State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Nuru Kobi, on Saturday urged students in the state to contribute to the anti-corruption crusade by “blowing the whistle” to expose unwholesome practices in their schools.

Are your ready to blow the Whistle? Addressing students of Anne’s Queens and Kings College, Bauchi, during a sensitisation lecture, Kobi said students were the future leaders of the country, as such the ‘Change Mantra’ of the Federal Government must also “begin” with them.

He said moral values and civic education were key in the learning process, adding that the knowledge garnered would effect a positive change in their mind-set. “Moral and civic education will make the students to end all malpractices because they would be aware of the negative consequences. “Using sticks on students as punishment should end, while dialogue and clear reasoning should be employed to train the younger ones. “Students should also blow whistle in their school whenever they notice unwholesome practices, especially examination malpractices immoral acts in their schools,”

he urged. In his remarks, Principal of the College, Mr Lawrence Oluyemi, thanked NOA for embarking on the campaign in schools in Bauchi, adding that students were key to the future development of the nation. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in recent times, the Bauchi government had been battling with reported cases of unwholesome practices in secondary schools, resulting in the closure of some of the schools.

In two incidents, government-owned Sa’adu Zungur Model School in Bauchi metropolis had to be shut indefinitely when some male and female students illegally organised marriage ceremony and tied the nuptial cord amongst themselves, right within the premises of the school. Also, Anne’s Queens and Kings College had to be sanctioned some time ago over reports of alleged immoral behaviour displayed by some students of the school. This development prompted NOA to embark on sensitisation campaign in schools to check the ugly trend. (NAN)

if you have any News or  Corrupt Practices going on in your school 

kindly feel free to Report to us via email

Editor@statereporters.com

StateReporter News will Review and publish it if worth

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/10/blow-whistle-whenever-notice-unwholesome-practices-schools/

ojun50:
Don't worry am working toward it

Are you serious

it don,t matter the region , all will need is a capable youth who can transform Nigeria

France recently made a history by electing 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron as its president. Since Macron became the president, many people, especially Nigerians are also calling for young and vibrant person to become the next president of Nigeria.

In a Facebook user, Omololu Omotosho, writes on the prospect of Nigeria having young president in the next general election.

Nigerian youth need to stand up and be counted. Power is never given but earned. Spending valuable time insulting politicians will not change Nigeria but to be strategically involved in civic duties will.

One of the main problems of Nigeria apart from the much publicized issue of “corruption,” is that we lack leaders that are adequately prepared for leadership positions in all levels of government.

Youth are fortunate enough to be political appointees should use the unique opportunity and experience they gained in government to mentor other youths genuinely interested in service.

Political office holders should set up think tanks after their tenure of service intended to promote education about leadership, governance, and research.

If this is not done, maybe we should join major political parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressives Congress (APC). Or is the best option that Omololu Omotosho forms his own political party, gets it registered, and raises money from Nigerian youths at home and the Diaspora?

Nigeria is not France. But if President Emmanuel Macron can form his political party and win, maybe we can also do this in Nigeria.

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/10/opinion-will-nigeria-ever-get-young-president-like-france/

Governors of the five states in the Southeast have told their citizens in the North not to panic, stressing that they are free to live anywhere in Nigeria.

The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, who is also the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, called on northern leaders to take actions that would counter the intended plot of the youths to ensure that the grim history of the past was not repeated.


He said, “We must call on all serious-minded patriots, particularly the religious leadership in Northern Nigeria; the leadership of other socio-cultural groups in Northern Nigeria; the Nigerian Governors Forum; and all the service branches to rise up with voices of peace and wisdom to counteract the mischievousness and exuberant excesses of the northern youth.

“The ugly lessons of history are too grim to be stoked with carelessness. As leaders, we must exert the full measure of our powers and influence to forestall a repetition.

“We call on all Igbo sons and daughters resident in Nothern Nigeria to go about their lawful daily activities without fear of intimidation, hindrance or molestation.”

Umahi reiterated the governors’ commitment to “the existence of a virile, united prosperous and progressive Federal Republic of Nigeria where justice, fairness, equity, mutual respect and equality of opportunity to all citizens, regardless of creed, ethnicity or gender, will reign supreme under the inflexible rule of law.”

The SEGF Chairman also denied insinuations that a meeting resolved to send buses to evacuate Igbos in the North.

“The rumours being peddled on conventional and social media platforms that we, the governors of the Southeast have met and agreed to mobilise vehicles and cash for repatriation of Ndigbo resident in Northern Nigeria must be disregarded, as they are nothing but tissues of lies.

No amount of provocation would lead us to such precipitate and irresponsible action at this time.

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/09/quit-notice-igbos-remain-southeast-governors/

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai for ordering the arrest of leaders of the Coalition of Northern Youths, CNY, for asking Igbos to vacate the North in three months.

Buhari’s commendation was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday.
The Minister, who took to his twitter handle, @MohammedLai wrote: “The President Buhari commends the Kaduna state government for arresting those miscreants. Jobless youths.

“The Buhari Administration vehemently condemns such a wicked plan by faceless Northern youths to evict Igbos from the North. This is their country na.”

Recall that the spokesperson of a Northern Coalition group, Coalition of Northern Youths, CNY, Abdulaziz Suleiman, had 

Speaking yesterday, Suleiman had said the entire Northern Nigeria was tired of coexisting with the Igbos and asked that “all Igbos currently residing in any part of Northern Nigeria are hereby served notice to relocate within three months and all northerners residing in the East are advised likewise.

“The persistence for the actualization of Biafra by the unruly Igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria has lately assumed another alarming twist which involved the forceful lockdown of activities and denial of other people’s right to free movement in the South-East by the rebel Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its overt and covert sponsors.”

more details view the link

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/07/buhari-commends-el-rufai-ordering-arrest-asking-igbos-vacate-north/

The federal government said on Wednesday it had released about N375.8 million for payment of 20 whistleblowers who provided information that led to the recovery over N11.6 billion.

The Ministry of Finance, which confirmed the release in a statement, said the payments were the first under the Whistleblower Policy.

The government did not disclose the identities of the beneficiaries, apparently for security reasons.

“This payment is the first under the Whistleblower Policy,” the Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said in the statement.

“The payment underscores the commitment of the President Muhmmadu Buhari-led administration to meet its obligations to information providers under the Whistleblower Policy, which is an essential tool in the fight against corruption.”

The minister said recent amendments to the Whistleblower Policy of the government include the introduction of a formal legal agreement between information providers and the Federal Government.

The agreement is executed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, she said.

In line with the policy, each whistleblower would be entitled to a minimum of five per cent of the money involved in the corruption case reported.

The payment of the money would however be made after the successful recovery of the affected sum to government coffers, while informants whose info provide false hint, risk prosecution and jail.

The minister said standard procedures had also been introduced to ensure the protection of the identities of information providers during the payment process.

Mrs. Adeosun explained that all payments were taxable and were only made upon confirmation of the final recovery of related assets, after confirmation by the Attorney-General of the Federation as being free of legal disputes.

The Minister also gave details of the Whistleblower Unit, a multi-agency team resident in the Ministry of Finance Headquarters.

The unit is staffed by personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), State Security Services (SSS), the Nigeria Police Force and Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), among others.

“The Whistleblower Unit is the first line of response to whistleblower information, where initial review is undertaken before cases are forwarded to the relevant investigative agencies,” Mrs. Adeosun said.

The Executive Council of the Federation approved the Whistleblowers Policy launched by the Minister of Finance in December 2016 to encourage members of the public volunteer credible information about corruption cases in the country.

The policy, which is part of the government’s anti-corruption campaign, has seen the government receiving about 2,150 communications and 337 tips through the Whistleblower Unit’s dedicated channels from various Nigerians.

The minister said this has led to the recovery of substantial assets illegally acquired by individuals across the country.

Details of such asset recoveries are still not made public by government.

Despite several demands by Nigerians, the government has continued to withhold the information, claiming most of the affected assets were still subjects of legal processes yet to be completed.

Mrs. Adeosun said the primary purpose of the Whistleblower policy was to support the fight against financial crimes and corruption, promote accountability and enhance transparency in the management of public finances.

She assured that the present administration would continue to encourage all Nigerians with information on misconduct, violation or improper activity, which could negatively impact on the country, to report to the appropriate authority.

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/07/breaking-fg-makes-payment-of-n375-8-million-to-20-whistleblowers/

The unveiling of the new political party, Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance, APDA, to the public last Monday came with much apprehension from members of the new party and some other interested political stakeholders.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

APDA has for some weeks been rumoured to be the alternative platform canvassed by some members of the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who would not contemplate having Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as their national chairman.

It is remarkable that the PDP had in the past also distanced itself from the new political party. However, believing that was difficult especially for those who had followed the PDP’s recent dance of death. However, the deep connection of PDP chieftains in the new party could not be hidden despite the overt effort to portray the party as a convergence of political stakeholders from different persuasions but sharing the same political philosophy of social democracy. Among the fronts presented to show off the party as being distinct from the PDP was the appointment of the veteran party organiser, Alhaji Shittu Mohammed as interim national chairman of the party. Mohammed was before now, chairman of the Republican Party, one of the fringe parties that had not made much impact on the political landscape. However, more crucially, he was not too long ago, chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, an outfit formed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for political parties to interact among themselves. Another face projected to distinct the party from the PDP was the very visible presence of Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, a former national chairman of Labour Party, LP.. After his exit from Labour Party, about two years ago, Nwanyanwu had remained seemingly partyless until now. The most visible PDP stakeholder at the unveiling which took place at the Ritz Continental Hotel in Abuja was the broadcast mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi who had vied for the office of national chairman of the PDP last year. Dokpesi, who stayed at the back of the hall when challenged on his presence at the non-PDP event shied away from the newsmen saying only that “it is not my show.” Many other PDP bigwigs Reporter  learnt, however, preferred to remain in the shadows and monitored the event from their homes which was broadcast live on the AIT network owned by Dokpesi. However, the emergence of the new party Vanguard learnt is only one of the options for the Senator Ahmed Makarfi led tendency in the PDP. Other options reportedly being canvassed include a merger into the Social Democratic Party, SDP one of the many parties that the Makarfi group had been negotiating with. Other parties that have been in talks with the Makarfi faction Vanguard learnt include Labour Party, the Advanced Democratic Party, ADP which had initially styled itself as the mega party that political commentators had for the past months been predicting would birth in the polity. Sources said that the Makarfi faction in the PDP which is presently the only major critical political group to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has in a bid to strengthen itself ahead of the 2019 general elections had mandated the Gana committee to negotiate with new and old political groups. “The idea is to see which of them has enough social democratic credentials so that even if the Supreme Court judgment is favourable,” the party would know how to go a source close to the development disclosed yesterday. A leading stakeholder and former journalist said that the emergence of APDA would remove the controversies that normally shadow the nomination of candidates. “A situation in which governors and some bigwigs determine who is the party’s candidate for president or governor cannot obtain in APDA,” the former journalist told Vanguard as under the new dispensation voting for nomination of candidates would be done electronically from the wards. “Party members would not need to come to Abuja to elect a presidential candidate as they would do it from the wards and no one can influence them as it is the practise when they come to Abuja,” the stalwart said. The crave for internal democracy has understandably shaken some PDP governors who were believed to have been in support of the new party at the beginning. Whether the governors turn against the APDA would depend on whether or not they are able to find an alternative platform to project their political aspirations. Understandably, even before the unveiling ended last Monday, the PDP was again denying any association with the new political party. Spokesman of the Makarfi faction, Prince Dayo Adeyeye in a statement said:  “For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate once again that we are not in any way associated with the new party in any form or guise. The APDA is neither an offshoot of the PDP nor its alter ego as some are speculating.” “This statement is made purely to set the records straight and to avoid unnecessary innuendos, speculations and ambiguity that may threaten the continued unity and solidarity of our party members. “We thank millions of well meaning Nigerians for their concern and   commitment to the defence of our nascent democracy. In the end this   democracy cannot survive without a strong and vibrant opposition,” the statement read.

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/07/apda-threat-apc-pdp/

ENUGU—Leader of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, has stated that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is not really demanding secession but agitating for self determination, which he said is an inalienable right of every individual.

This came as Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State denied the allegation by his political opponents that he was funding IPOB, including donating two SUVs and $50,000 to the IPOB leader, Mazi Kanu. The foremost constitutional lawyer further described Kanu as a great Igbo man with utmost courage, exploring where others shy away from. Nwabueze made the remarks when the IPOB leader visited him and other members of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, in Enugu.

Also part of the visit were the deputy leader of ECA, Mrs. Maria Okwor; Secretary, Elliot Ukoh and Publicity Secretary, Rev. Fr. John Odey, among others. Nwabueze said: “I must say, today is one of the greatest days in my life, meeting you. Whatever anybody may say, you are a great Igbo man. How many of us are prepared to fight for Ndigbo? “You are sticking out your neck for Ndigbo.

We are supposed to be one of the leading ethnic groups in Nigeria but today, we are in the minority; we have been so marginalized. “The case of Nnamdi Kanu is a lesson in good governance and good leadership.

Nnamdi Kanu’s case teaches that repression is seldom the right response to complaints and agitations for amelioration in the conditions of things in the society. Repression seldom settles grievances.

If anything, it forces them underground. “In this case, the long imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu and his mates for demanding self-determination has caused the spirit of the agitation to come to live in countless number of people of Igbo extraction.

It is a mistake to think of self-determination for which Nnamdi and others are agitating as meaning secession. “Another lesson to learn from Nnamdi Kanu’s case is directed to him and the other agitators. This self-determination should be a graduated process. It should begin with regional autonomy. “The country should be restructured into six more or less self-governing zones or regions, with the powers of the central government drastically reduced, so as to minimize the fierce contest for its control.” Responding, Kanu said he had always hoped to meet Nwabueze, stressing that the elder statesman had shown “so much focus and determination towards championing the cause of Ndigbo. Obiano denies car, cash gift to Kanu Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications, Prince Oliver Okpala, Governor Willie Obiano described the allegation of car and cash gift to Kanu as untrue and a complete falsehood. According to him, the allegation was most worrisome, satanic, ungodly and capable of creating unnecessary tension in the polity. Okpala said that as a consummate financial expert, Governor Obiano has been managing the state’s scarce resources with prudence, emphasizing that all government expenditures were judiciously done and wondered what some people hoped to gain by peddling such rumours and lies, instead of engaging in meaningful ventures. …IPOB too Also yesterday, IPOB dismissed as baseless and lacking in substance, the allegation that its leader, Mr Kanu, was offered $50,000 and two SUVs by Governor Obiano for yet to be disclosed favours. IPOB in a statement issued through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, said its leadership worldwide “condemns in its totality, the baseless, unsubstantiated and spurious allegation published by a group called Intersociety, to the effect that Willie Obiano offered financial inducement of $50,000 and two SUVs to our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for a yet to be disclosed favours. “It is on record that IPOB is a global organisation with presence in over a 100 countries and territories around the world and therefore, is more than capable of supporting itself financially. No politician of whatever persuasion can stand today to say he or she is a financier of IPOB because they are neither worthy nor capable of doing so.” FG sponsoring rights groups to malign Kanu —IPOB IPOB also alleged that the Nigerian government was sponsoring some human rights groups based in Onitsha, Anambra State, to malign its leader, Mazi Kanu, warning those involved to retrace their steps before it was too late.

IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, said Kanu had promised never to respond to what he described as a distraction and gossip from government-sponsored individuals or groups operating without concrete evidence and facts. According to him, rather than dissipating energy responding to such comments, Mazi Kanu was more concerned with embarking on a move to mobilise the people of Biafra on the need to support what he called the coming referendum by the United Nations and other relevant world organisations in no distant future on Biafra.

He said: “We have discovered that the government of Nigeria is sponsoring some unscrupulous individuals and groups in Biafra land, to gossip against the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, without substantial evidence and facts. “IPOB will not stoop so low to entertain or to reply such people who do not understand what IPOB stands for. Everyone knows that IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu means business, which is to restore Biafra and not to respond to gossip and distraction from faceless groups parading themselves as Non Governmental Organizations. “The efforts by IPOB leader to unify our people from all clans and tribes in Biafra land mostly, the old Eastern Region, including their brothers and sisters in Delta, Edo, Kogi and Benue states with the people of Biafra, remain intact no matter the plans of the enemies to stop the movement.”

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/06/07/kanu-not-demanding-secession-prof-nwabueze/