₦airaland Forum

. . . . . . . . . the wailers, come out and celebrate . . . . . .you have been quiet since the news of Ali Modu Sherrif

[size=4pt]lalasticlala, ishilove, mynd44[/size]

The announcement in Yaounde contradicts Nigeria’s official claim that no Nigerian territory is under the control of Boko Haram.

YAOUNDE—
Cameroon says its soldiers have liberated the northeastern Nigerian town of Goshi from Boko Haram and handed it to the Nigerian government. A spokesman for the government of Cameroon said more than 160 Boko Haram fighters were killed and hundreds of hostages, both Cameroonian and Nigerian, freed.

Cameroon Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said between February 11 and 14, Cameroon's military launched raids on Goshi, where intelligence reports indicated Boko Haram fighters were running training camps and bomb factories. He said the terrorists were also training teenagers, especially girls, and brainwashing them to be suicide bombers. Cameroon obtained the approval of Nigeria to free Goshi from the insurgents.

"During this victorious assault 162 Boko Haram terrorists were neutralized, four artisan mine factories were dismantled, a previously identified training center was set ablaze, war weapons seized. The operation led by Cameroon special forces also led to the release of hundreds of people held hostage by Boko Haram. Several Nigerian hostages were also freed," said Bakary.

The spokesman said Cameroon lost two soldiers in the battle, adding that Nigerian troops celebrated the victory with Cameroon troops who have now left Goshi, a town 15 kilometers from Cameroon's border with Nigeria.

Regional forces from Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Benin have been launching raids on Boko Haram strongholds along the border since last year.

According to the United Nations and Amnesty International, Boko Haram's 6 year insurgency has killed over 20 000 people, and displaced 2.5 million people.

http://www.voanews.com/content/cameroon-claims-to-have-freed-nigerian-boko-haram-stronghold/3192741.html

. . . . . . . .no be by force, Jude (if he claims he is good at managing) should go find another artist and make him big . . . . . I repeat, Jude Okoye is a pest

[size=3pt]lalasticlala, you copy?[/size]

This is pop corn Wednesday

https://www.aprokocity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Peter-Paul-and-Jude.jpg


https://twitter.com/PeterPsquare/status/699887245696884737

remain Paul Okoye's own

Jude okoye has responded to Peter Okoye via twitter....only God can rescue you


https://mobile.twitter.com/judeengees/status/699854033314582532

. . . . . . . .whats with this funky pastorpreneur and the display of medusa head?

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7


"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long"
Matthew 23:1-33


“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire"
Matthew 7:15-20


“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
Luke 20:46-47


"For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world"
1 John 2:16

Kyase:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/tiv_people

A wikipedia link??......you are kidding, Nigeria has not had a census outlining ethnic composition in decades!!!!

word of advice, wiki is not a good source of information......it can be edited by even you

Kyase:
Who be imp

Anyways, those census took place when you weren't even born yet.

And which ones took place when you were born that outlined ethnic composition like those ones?

Don't argue for arguing sake, argue to learn. Past census give you a projection of what the future holds

factually speaking, neither the Tivs (munchi) or the Ijaws (izon) are the fourth largest,............the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria is the Fulani (Fulfulde), followed by the Kanuri (beri-beri), then the Ibibio, and then the Tiv...........the Ijaws come behind the Tivs..............infact, the Ijaws have always come behind the Tivs in all early census..................Ijaws became the fourth largest ethnic group over night when Ebere became president.

1931 CENSUS

Hausa ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ...3,604,016
Ibo ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ...3,172,789
Yoruba ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...3,166,164
Fulani... ... ... .... .... .... .... 2,026,189
Kanuri /or Beri-Beri) ... ... ... 930,917
Ibibio ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .749,645
Tiv (or Munshi) ... ... ... ... ...573,605
Edo ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..507,810
Nupe ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .326,017
Ijaw ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..156,324

source: http://libsysdigi.library.illinois.edu/ilharvest/Africana/Books2011-05/3064634/3064634_1934/3064634_1934_opt.pdf


1963 CENSUS

Hausa ... .... .... .... .... ...11,653,000
Yoruba ... ... ... .... .... ...11,321,000
Igbo ... .... .... .... .... .... ..9,246,000
Fulfulde ... ... ... ... .... ... 4,784,000
Kanuri .... ... ... ... ... ... ..2,256,000
Ibibio ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ..2,006,000
Tiv ... ... .... .... .... .... ... 1,394,000
Ijaw (Izon) .... .... .... ... .1,089,000
Edo .... .... .... .... ... .... ...955,000
Nupe ... .... .... .... .... ... ..656,000
Urhobo .... .... .... .... .... ..639,000
Igala .... ..... .... .... ... .... 582,000

source:http://www.nigerianmuse.com/20101205024305zg/sections/general-articles/ethnic-minority-groups-in-nigeria-current-situation-and-major-problems-by-abdul-raufu-mustapha/



1952 CENSUS: Ijaws were not even considered

Edo.................468,501

Fulani.............3,040,736

Hausa.............5,548,542

Ibibio..............766,764

Igbo...............5,483,660

Kanuri............1,301,924

Nupe..............359,260

Tiv..................790,450

Yoruba...........5,046,799

source: compiled from GoN, 1952a, Population Census of Northern Region of Nigeria 1952; GoN, 1952b, Population Census of Western Region of Nigeria 1952; & GoN, 1953, Population Census of The Eastern Region of Nigeria 1953 http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/documents/UNRISD%20Nigeria%20Mustapha.pdf

The goon tonyebarcanista and the imp kyase......take note

Crisis has hit the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as party elders are prevailing on Daniel Onjeh, the party’s Benue South senatorial candidate to step down for Chief Mike Onoja, a former Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence.

Trouble started when party elders converged on Otukpo after Daniel Onjeh’s senatorial re-run declaration, which was held last Saturday. The elders, The Trent gathered from an informed source, were concerned over the dwindling fortunes of Daniel Onjeh in the senatorial race. Onjeh, the party elders argued was no longer sellable, hence the need to step down for a candidate who can match David Mark experience for experience.

“The party elders in Benue South came together in Otukpo on Sunday after last Saturday’s declaration and told Daniel Onjeh that they had settled for Chief Mike Onoja as a more viable candidate based on his wealth of experience. But Onjeh was very furious about the suggestion and insisted he was going to run. After a meeting that lasted for almost 4 hours, the party elders could not convince him to step down for Chief Onoja. The meeting ended in confusion”, the source said.

It will be recalled that Chief Onoja was one of the aspirants for Benue Zone C Senatorial seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but stepped down for Senator David Mark who later clinched the party nomination. Chief Onoja later decamped to the APC.

The Benue State chapter of APC, The Trent gathered is still in confusion as plans to sell Onjeh to the people of Idoma have continued to hit the rocks. Onjeh’s declining chances have forced the party to begin to reconsider the option of a new candidate who can face the former President of the Senate, David Mark.

Some observers of Benue South politics who spoke to our reporter say the APC is determined to unseat Senator David Mark, hence the desperation to get him out of the Senate at any cost.

“The APC sees David Mark as the last major threat they have in PDP in the Senate. So if they are able to remove David Mark, it would send a big statement across the polity. That is why the APC is very desperate to remove David Mark”, Gabriel Yogbo, a political analyst told The Trent on Thursday.

Another major factor playing out in Benue South is what one political observer who spoke to The Trent described as the Tiv agenda against Idoma land.

“David Mark has always been a beacon of hope to the Idoma people. He is seen as a threat by Tiv politicians like George Akume. So for them, this election is about weakening the Idomas and further reducing them to a political minority in Benue State. If Tiv politicians like Akume can get a yes man like Daniel Onjeh, then they would have pocketed Idomas for the next couple of years”, the political analyst from Idoma land who did not want to be named said.

As confusion rages in the camp of the Benue State APC over a possible replacement for Daniel Onjeh, the Benue South senatorial re-run has been scheduled by INEC for February 20, 2016

http://www.thetrentonline.com/confusion-in-benue-apc-as-party-elders-ask-daniel-onjeh-to-step-down-for-mike-onoja/

lalasticlala, ishilove, mynd44

Fresh hurdles are threatening to make the multi-billion naira 215 megawatts power plant in Kaduna to miss completion target for the third time.
The federal government awarded the contract in November 2009 to General Electric and Rockson Engineering for a dual thermal plant using Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and natural gas, to be located in Kudenda, Kaduna. It had a December 31, 2013 completion period.

The contract missed the initial deadline for nearly two years due to lack of suitable trucks in Nigeria at the time to transport the turbines from Onne Port in Rivers state to Kaduna.
However, as another deadline approaches, Daily Trust investigations have revealed that a “disagreement” has recently developed between the federal ministry of power and one of the contractors on the mode of fuelling the power plant.
Sources said the disagreement could further extend the N23 billion project completion period.
Official documents obtained by this newspaper shows that the power ministry had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Greenville Oil and Gas Company Limited in November 2014 to supply the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) required to operate the plant.
More than a year later, the agreement did not transform to a Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) “because of the lacklustre attitude of some ministry officials,” multiple sources privy to the project said.
A source told Daily Trust that the plant which was expected to take-off before June this year was allegedly being frustrated by the project office in the ministry headed by Mrs Briscilla Sabke.
She is said to have issues with the trucking of LNG fuel to the plant. She is in favour of using Automotive Fuel Oil (AGO - diesel) which experts say would create additional cost of $70million annually to run the plant.
They added that the additional cost apart, the gas pipeline to connect to the plant from the south will take years to construct and consequently cause more delays.
But Mrs Sabke was said to have argued that it would take only two years to get the pipelines ready, insisting that trucking gas to the plant would destroy the road.
Energy experts, who spoke to this newspaper, even said the plant had extended beyond six months of its completion timeline with an additional cost of $2million.
The initial relocation of the plant to its current site, a source said, had already cost the government one million Euros.
Some equipment are still at Onne Port awaiting clearance including the black-start diesel generators and other transmission equipment since 2015, it was learnt.
The clearance delay was attributed to missing Import Duty Exemption Certificates (IDEC), a source said.
Other factor that may delay the plant even if the fuel supply arrangement is complete is the incomplete power evacuation component that would convey power from the plant to the Kudenda substation.
The contractor, Skipper is said to be owed N870million and four million Euros.
Its 132 kilovolt substation being handled by the Rockson Engineering is incomplete while another 123KV transmission line to the Mando substation valued at about $6million is yet to be done, a ministry official said.
When contacted, Mrs Sapke told our reporter that all queries should be directed officially to the ministry as she is not authorise to speak.
A ministry official said the plant is designed since 2009 to be dual-fired because natural gas is not available in the area.
“It can use both natural gas and diesel and if Greenville said there is an agreement, then an MOU is not the same with a contract agreement. They submitted a proposal on supplying LNG. It is an ongoing process,” a source said.
But a Greenville official said several attempts to discuss the issues with Mrs Sabke were not successful.
He added that the contractor had already incurred cost of over $200 million by setting up facilities in Port Harcourt and Kaduna for the fuel supply contract.
Another source said the project manager’s attitude towards Greenville may not be unconnected to the plan by some top officials of this administration to re-award the fuel supply contract to another oil firm which they had interest.
“That is why Mrs Sabke insisted that installations of AGO tanks must go on and even six extra storage tanks should be ordered and installed immediately,” a source close to the project said.
Daily Trust attempt to obtain the actual budget releases to the power plant from the federal ministry of finance through Freedom of Information request was not successful as of time of filing this report.
But a five-year budget plan of the federal ministry of power between 2012 and 2016 showed that about N24.8billion was budgeted for the project.
Analysis of budget estimates shows that N1.76billion was allocated to the plant in 2012; N5billion in 2013; N3.7billion in 2014; N115million in 2015 and N13billion in 2016 budget proposal being considered by the National Assembly.
A ministry official said the money allocated to the power plant in 2015 was not released due to the budget situation.
Several factors have been delaying the project since its inception. In December 2012, Daily Trust reported that the turbines and other components of the plant were trapped at the Onne Port and could not be transported up North because the roads were bad and the bridges weak.
Months later, the equipment was successfully moved to Kaduna, following repairs to the affected roadways. Sources told Daily Trust then that the planners of the project appeared not to have reckoned with the nature of Nigerian roads and quality of the LPFO produced at the Kaduna refinery, which was supposed to be used to power the plant.
With the eventual successful transportation of the equipment, the issue of the fuel to power the plant has come up again. Between 18 and 30 trucks of diesel are required daily to keep the plant running when it is completed, Daily Trust learnt.
Given the condition of the roads and the non-completion of the new rail line, it would be difficult and costly to sustain the plant, which is meant to be the biggest in the North.
On the project completion, the power ministry’s spokesperson Timothy Oyedeji said the Kaduna power plant is among those projects the ministry is giving priority.
Minister Raji Fashola “has made provisions in the budget to complete it. The plant is about 90 per cent completed, so it is a critical project and it is almost completed now, and is among the projects that would be realised soon.”

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/fresh-hurdles-hit-north-s-biggest-power-plant/130572.html

lalasticlala, ishilove, mynd44, seun........Fashola must hear, that is the head of the cabal in the power sector

I guess this is one accident that had happy witnesses.

The truck fell off in the wrong state.

About nine years after preferring the charges of alleged diversion of the Plateau State’s N1.126bn ecological funds against a former governor of the state, Joshua Dariye, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission finally opened its case before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gudu, Abuja, on Monday.

The trial began with a Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on February 27, 2015, laying to rest an interlocutory application filed by Dariye and which had stalled the trial since it was filed in 2007.

The apex court after dismissing Dariye’s appeal in the judgment ordered Dariye, who was the Plateau State governor between May 29, 1999 and May 18, 2004, to submit himself for trial.




Dariye, who is currently a senator representing Plateau Central, dressed in a brown kaftan, and looked unruffled as the first prosecution witness testified in court on Monday.

The prosecution called its first witness, Musa Sunday, who narrated to the court, presided over by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, how Dariye allegedly diverted the state’s N1.126bn ecological funds.

Sunday, a detective with the EFCC, said he was involved in the investigation into how Dariye allegedly diverted Plateau State’s funds while serving as governor.

The witness said investigation by the EFCC operatives revealed that the former governor had, in 2001, applied for the ecological funds in the name of his state but collected the money in person and lodged it with the Abuja branch of the All States Trust Bank Plc (now defunct).

The witness added that the bank manager, allegedly acting on Dariye’s instructions paid N100m in the name of ‘PDP South-West.” The money he said was later traced to a company – Marine Float Nigeria Limited – allegedly owned by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Sunday, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said efforts to ensure that the firm refunded the money failed.

He said Dariye instructed the payment of N178.8m to an unregistered company – Ebenezer Retnan Venture Limited, which was later discovered to belong to the former governor.

He said investigation also revealed that Dariye ordered the payment of N80m from the ecological funds to the Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Fund Office, Kingsley Nkumeh.

The witness said although the EFCC later recovered the N80m from Nkumeh, he fled the country on learning that he was to be prosecuted.

He said Nkumeh had yet to return to the country.

Sunday added that Dariye paid N250m to a firm – Pinnacle Communications – owned by a contractor to the Plateau State Government.

He told the court that the decision to investigate Dariye was informed by a request by the London Metropolitan Police for Nigeria’s assistance in investigating some parties and companies linked with the former governor.

The witness said, “We invited Pinnacle Communications and the representative of the company actually confirmed collecting the N250m, but told us he is a contractor of the Plateau State Government.

“The N80m paid to Union Homes turned out to have been paid to a Permanent Secretary, Ecological Funds Office, Kingsley Nkumeh.

“When interviewed, he said that was his share for facilitating the payment of the ecological funds to the state. The said amount was recovered by the EFCC from the Permanent Secretary of Ecological Funds Office.

“Charges were later prepared for him to be charged to court in Lagos. He was granted an administrative bail; he resigned and left the country. Our investigation at Union Homes revealed that the cheque was cleared into an account owned by the Permanent Secretary, Nkumeh.

“The bank gave us the mandate card of the Permanent Secretary, into whose account the N80m was paid. The N176.8m was traced to Ebenezer Retnan Venture’s account domiciled at All States Trust Bank. From investigation at the Corporate Affairs Commission, we found it was not registered. There was no record of the company’s existence.

“The N100m paid to the PDP South-West was traced to Marine Float Limited. The mandate we received from the bank showed that Marine Float is owned by a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Efforts at recovering this money have been going on. We did not succeed in recovering it.”

The court proceedings were interrupted by an outage.

Sunday, also in the course of his testimony, narrated how the bank, All States Trust Bank Plc (now defunct), aided the former governor to lodge the cheque into his (Dariye’s) account instead of the state government’s accounts.

The witness said, “The CBN cheque and the handwritten disbursement letter were recovered and another additional type-written disbursement letter by the defendant to the bank’s branch manager was all recovered.

“When we recovered those documents and cheques from CBN, we traced it to where it came from. Investigation led us to the Ecological Funds Unit, under the Presidency. At the Ecological Funds Unit, we interviewed one Mr. Adewusi, who told us that there was a time the Plateau State Government applied for ecological funds for ecological problem in the state, and approval was given for N1.126bn.

“And that before the cheque was prepared, a payment voucher covering the said amount, which had other documents attached to it, were prepared and audited, at the end of which payment was made.

“When the cheque was ready for collection, the defendant and his orderly, one Inspector Victor, went to the Ecological Funds Office and, upon instruction by the defendant, the aide signed for the cheque and the defendant took the cheque to All States Trust Bank, Abuja.

“Investigation revealed that in the office of the bank manager, the defendant instructed the bank manager how the money should be disbursed to some individuals and companies. The bank’s branch manager complied with the defendant’s instruction.

“Instead of the money to be paid into any of the Plateau State Government’s accounts, the bank used its own bank accounts to clear the cheque and disbursed to individuals and companies as instructed by the defendant.

“Copies of his instructions, both type written and handwritten were made available to us during investigation.”

Sunday is expected to resume his testimony today (Tuesday) by 10am.

The EFCC, in 2007, preferred money laundering and charges bordering on the diversion of the ecological funds against Dariye.

http://www.punchng.com/dariye-diverted-n1-126bn-gave-atikus-firm-n100m-witness/

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has declared that the war against corruption has just begun.

He stated this Monday during an ineractive session with online journalists in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

According to Magu, nothing will be left to chance in bringing corrupt elements to justice, whether the persons are highly placed or not, adding that the extent of the looting of the nation’s treasury was mind numbing.

On whether former president Goodluck Jonathan would be invited over the Dasuki arms scandal, he said Jonathan has not been invited because memos and documents regarding the disbursement of the $2.1 billion indicate that the money was not approved for political campaign.

He said Jafar Isa who was arrested recently for receiving N170 million from former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), has refunded N100 million and signed an undertaking to refund the balance.

He said in spite of the refund, Isa would still be prosecuted.

Magu also said Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said he would rather go on hunger strike than refund the N400 million he allegedly collected from Dasuki.

At the event it was also revealed that Patrick Akpobolokemi, former boss of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, was re-arrested recently outside the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, after new evidences of alleged embezzlement of N34.5 billion and another N600 million were linked to him when he was in charge of the maritime agency.

He was said to have jumped bail and the lawyer who stood surety for him had to be arrested in his place until his rearrest outside the court in Lagos after he resisted their directives to return with them to the EFCC office.

Magu said it was most unfortrunate for anyone to say that the war aginst graft was selective, adding that his agency is not teleguided in the ongoing anti-corruption fight.

He said EFCC cases drag in court because of many cour applications, adding that “when a politician steals N10 billion, he keeps N5 billion for litigation. He hires Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). Judges accuse us of not conducting thorough investigation in order to compromise.”

He said the anti-corruption war was a collective war and advised the media to join EFCC to fight the war whose victory would be for the benefit of the next generation.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/01/11/anti-corruption-war-has-just-begun-magu/

lalasticlala, seun, ishilove

ENOUGH OF THIS ACTIVATION OF THE BIAFRAN DEBACLE

By Wantaregh Paul Unongo, OFR – DEPUTY LEADER OF NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM

Gentlemen of the Press,

In the recent past, we the citizens of the great and beautiful country of Nigeria have once again, been inundated and bombarded by hysterical shrieks of an unbridled, unparalleled, destructive nature, on our streets: leading up to even the shutting up of important public highways and bridges, such as the recent confusion on the famous Onitsha-Asaba Niger bridge which disrupted travel for over 11hours! Divisive, abusive demagogic rhetorics, similar to the incredulous and incredible irrationality that pervaded the country, just before the nation-state of Nigeria was plunged into the most devastating calamity – a most terrible, most painful, most destructive civil war, in which we killed and maimed almost 3 million men, women and children of Nigeria!

The then apostles of hate and destabilization, masquerading as proponents and exponents of the rise of “the Biafran sun,” in the heart of Africa, to lead the whole of Africa, pushed hapless, unsuspecting youth of Nigeria into that terrible mass slaughter!
In that mass hysteriasis of gargantuan proportions called the Nigerian Civil War, the Federalist Forces prevailed and the Secessionist Forces, were defeated.

However, the war time leader, General Yakubu Gowon, of the Federalist Forces would, throughout the war period, keep on insisting and repeating, times without end, that the Biafran Secessionists, were not enemy of the Federalists.

He probably understood the implications of the historic opportunity provided by the victory over the forces of disintegration and disunity that at the amnestice declared, he incorporated the concept that “there is no victor and no vanquished” in our civil war! We were all, VICTIMS!

Perhaps, this great advocate of ONE NIGERIA, - a viable, strong, but flexible, all inclusive Nigeria – a Federation, visualized a stronger Union, that could and would be versatile – hence his immediate launching of National Policies designed to unite and programmed to strengthen national cohesion and advancement of all the people of the nation-state of Nigeria, immediately after the cessation of hostilities!

These programmes were for sustainable unity to guarantee the indissolubility of the Nigerian-state, distilled from the excruciating suffering of the Nigerian Youth – in battle.

This was a war fought with the ferocity, the resilience and an inventiveness which would forever resist and discourage all future efforts at disintegration of the country.

The General’s launched programmes of unity were referred to, and called, the 3Rs: Reconstruction, Reconciliation and Rehabilitation.

This initiative, known as the 3Rs, was immediately to be followed by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) which has remained a visible evidence of integration to promote unity, development and patriotism across the common nation-state of Nigeria.
It is equally instructive to bear witness to further unfolding issues that tended to consolidate the unity of the nation. The Second Republic that came along after the war, restored the participatory right and dignity of the Ibos, who became routinely elected and appointed into key offices, in the presidential consolidation of 1979-1983.

Also, the Architect and leader of the Biafran secessionists, late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, in addition to his earlier surrendering posture, openly repudiated the concept of Biafra and accepted and declared in public the supremacy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He also accepted a state pardon at the instance of President Shehu Shagari.

To confirm the terminal point of the Biafran agitation, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu urged and led the Ibo people of the South East to return back into the mainstream of Nigeria.

He repeatedly aspired to elective offices under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, before his demise, including even vying for the topmost position. He did not make it, but his tribesman, Goodluck Ebele Nnamdi Azikiwe Jonathan made it to the top, as the President of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and did run this Republic for five plus, years!

Now, with all these step by step unity, encouraging acts, what does this sudden, reinvigorated passionate renewed agitation, for the realization of the state of “Biafra” mean, and what does it portend for the future of our country? This once great country of ours, which had been almost ruined by the reckless maladministration and impunity of past leaders, who were so incredibly insensitive to the plight of the ordinary people of Nigeria?

Why particularly now, so soon after inauguration of the President Mohammadu Buhari Administration – an Administration which was so very well received, locally and internationally? Its “change mantra”, appeared to be on a steady course to arrest the institutional decays in governance and government! Why did this energetic resurgence not appear under President Jonathan Administration’s watch?

Then like a thunderbolt, why this sudden hostile biafranization of the Nigerian polity, soon after the departure of an Administrations which had made itself so unpopular, that it was “popularly” voted out! Are we, the ‘leaders and misleaders’ of this country seriously contemplating leading Nigeria, once again into another costly war, the kind of which was Biafra’s? REALLY!!

Before I attempt an answer to that question, Distinguished Gentlemen of the Press, permit me to take a peep into world history relevant to our case, even though I wonder if man ever learns from history!

In nineteen seventeen (1917), the World was confronted by a Germany that sought to dominate it, espousing, a very demagogic, and a very dangerous philosophy of the superiority of the Germany race over all races. The then world rejected this phenomenon.

Germany confronted the world with a war which was fought with a tenacity and ferocity that took an incredible casualty Eleven-Million Dead! The world had hitherto, not seen this kind of casualty in the whole history of mankind. Consequently, the world termed that war, the First World War!

This World War of the Germans which killed 11 million people, came to an end in 1918, when Germany became thoroughly beaten and defeated. In history, this war also became known as “the war to end all wars”.

Incredibly and amazingly, Gentlemen of the Press, Germany did not learn a lesson from the experience of this costly war!
As the world slumbered and slept, dreaming of a glorious era, free of all wars, Germany was quietly preparing for a return match, still considering themselves to be a special specie, better than, and superior to, all races! They just had to dominate everybody else.

In 1939, Germany was ready to make war.
She officially launched Germany’s blitzkrieg – a most terrific, shockingly destructive and devastating sudden war, on an unready, unprepared, un-suspecting word! This war shocked, and shook the world to its very foundations!

Gentlemen of the Press, this second horrendous adventure, of the Germans too, became contained. The world prevailed. Germany was defeated once again, in 1945!

The World however, lost 47 million men to the war! Russia alone recorded 22 million men killed!

Gentlemen of the Press, The “Biafran” Civil War of 1967-1970 killed approximately 3 million Nigerians, including those who called themselves “Biafrans”!

Can we, in the relative comfort of our places of abode, in this beautiful Nigeria, just sit tight and do nothing about what portends us, in the event of another “Biafran” experience brought about by innocent, screaming kids, who had no experience of the First Biafra – just waiting to compute statistics of the casualties of the second Biafran encounter?

Is this what we want for our dear country? Or is this what we want for our Youth? Can we the leadership of the Youth of Nigeria, Can we the Elders of the Youth of Nigeria, not even contemplate what is likely to happen, in a second biafran encounter, which is feasible and possible, the way these unemployed Youth are being energized, organized, and then sent into the streets, deliberately? The casualty was approximately 3 Million dead! What will the casualty be today – 6 – Million – or reach perhaps, 12 Million – What – Gentlemen of the Press?

If you look at Nigeria and Nigerian politics, Gentlemen of the Press, are you not perceiving some hidden agenda bursting through!

I see even though, you may not see, a strong indication that beyond this Biafran agitation is perhaps, the underline factor of resistance, by interest groups, to the emerging approach/order, which has surfaced stubbornly, and is gradually restoring order, sanity and discipline in the old system we had.

This resistance is provoked by the feelings of dissatisfaction arising from the clear policy direction of the new leadership on issues of probity, discipline and corruption.

This clear vision or direction has compelled a new order on all legitimate activities. This “change mantra” is what beneficiaries of the old system resist and oppose, and are actively organizing the unsuspecting Youth of some sections of our society, to oppose and work against it. They want to frustrate this “change mantra”!

Unfortunately, this new order, appears to be solidly anchored on the initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari who has been acknowledged with global reception, (a reception) that has restored the lost image and glory of Nigeria. I do truly believe that this is what is earnestly at stake, Gentlemen of the Press!
Otherwise, what is this imaginary marginalization the Ibos are complaining about, when all the 5 South Eastern states representing the entire Ibo race, “biafra”, are represented in the Federal Cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari – all by only Ibo people?

Allow me to play the tribal card, just a little bit, Gentlemen of the Press.

I am a Tivman, belonging to the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. I come from Benue State and form almost three-quarters of the population of Benue.

I voted APC and President Muhammadu Buhari almost, 100 percent! I returned two Senators from the two Tiv Senatorial Districts to Abuja, on the platform of APC.

I threw out the PDP Governor that was Governor of Benue, and voted in, a new Governor, on the platform of APC. Yet, I am not represented in the APC Federal Cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari, despite voting massively all the way for the APC Government!

And, I am not agitating, blocking roads and the Makurdi Bridge, which is the link between the NORTH and the SOUTH, more especially, the South East!

I also have kids and children called Youth. But I have NOT sent these kids to prevent traffic plying nor entering, neither the Railway Makurdi Benue Bridge, nor Motor Vehicles Makurdi Benue Bridge! And, I am CERTAINLY NOT sending, and WILL NOT send, these young people – mere kids, into the streets, in harm’s way, to protest “marginalization” of my Tiv people!
Now, contrast this with the situation in the 5 South Eastern states – the Ibo states.

Not a single State in the Ibo South East, voted for President Muhammadu Buhari, nor gave APC majority votes!
Yet in distributing political patronage by Mr. President and the APC, the President and APC gave the Ibo South East, a minimum of 5 Cabinet Ministerial slots, in addition to other critical appointments in public Parastatals, Boards and even in Federal Ministries, as Permanent Secretaries, etc!

What should Nigeria, APC and Mr. President do again, to appease the leadership and followership of the Ibo race, so as to avoid been charged with marginalizing the Ibo race of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so that their Youth will not confront us, with violent, threats, of another Biafran bout?

Perhaps, the Ibo people of the South East, and the PDP, are simply insisting on the Buhari Administration continuing with what their kith and kin, Pius Anyim and President Jonathan, were doing during their tenure!

Let us just take a peep at how Goodluck Ebele Nnamdi Azikiwe Jonathan, got the correct combination, for the Youth of Ibo race, to avoid demonstration and charges of marginalization of the Ibo race, in the multiethnic Federal Republic of Nigeria: Senator Anyim Pius Anyim – Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Ngozi Okonjo Iweala – Coordinating Minister of the Economy & Minister of Finance; Chief Ojo Maduekwe – Minister of Foreign Affairs; Stella Oduah – Minister of Aviation; Deziani Alison Madueke – Minister of Petroleum Resources; Mr. Edem Duke – Culture and Tourism; Mr Osita Chidoka – In charge of Road Safety; Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu Minister of Health; Hon. Chukwuemeka Wogu – Minister of Labour; Dr. Stephen Orinse Oru – Minister of Niger Delta; Dr. Tamuno Danagogo – Minister of Sports; Professor Chinedu Nebo – Minister of Power!
Should I also give you the appointments in Boards, Parastatals, Ministries and Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Ministries, etc. so we can establish the obscene skewed numerosity and preponderance of members of the Ibo race of Nigeria? Is this what is missed, and yearned for, with the demise of the Jonathan Administration?

Gentlemen of the Press, Perhaps it is indeed these unwholesome, discriminatory, divisive, unconstitutional, unfair, unhelpful, sectional biased practices and acts, which were meticulously supervised and implemented with impunity, under President Jonathan’s watch, that appeased the great Youth of Ibo race of the multiethnic Federal Republic of Nigeria, to refuse being sponsored for agitations, for the realization of the “Sovereign State of Biafra” under the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan!

Fourty Five years ago, with a horrendous casualty tag of over 3,000,000 DEAD, in Nigeria’s brutal war of Unity and Federalism as opposed to Confederalism, Secessionism and Immediate Breakup of our Federal Union, the fate of Biafra was sealed in that most painful war of attrition, successfully fought and waged to a finish! The FEDERALISTS prevailed. The charlatans threatening war now, do NOT KNOW what war is. We do!
We fought a most horrid, most terrible, three-year-brutal-painful war against ourselves! We do not want, EVER, to be made to fight again!

Nigeria fought to actualize and consolidate the Indissolubility of our Federal Union, 45 years ago, just like the USA fought, in a similar manner, to found the United States of America. They too paid that price, approximately 200 years ago to consolidate their kind (type) of Federalism in the United States of America, and I am sure, they too WILL NOT WANT TO HAVE another go, at a new Civil War!

What our country needs, we submit humbly, Gentlemen of the Press, is fairness, justice and equity. We need these attributes firmly (to be entrenched) in our practice and statutes.
We need a good social order, and an acceptance that penchant chronism and sectionalism, which gives unfair advantage and confer huge unearned financial and economic dividends to, “my people”, as was done with impunity, under Jonathan’s Administration, with no regards to the feelings and sensibilities of others, is not right and thoroughly condemnable!

This is what we must tackle seriously in this plural Nigeria, of multiple ethnicities, multiple religions. A leader should not flaunt such prodigious propensity for favouring only his ethnic people!
One more example, then I am done, distinguished Gentlemen of the Press, let me give you the differential discriminatory and unfair treatment of the Tiv by the Federal Government, in sorting out the gruesome military invasions in two separate host communities:

i. ODI – a little place in Bayelsa – the home state of President Goodluck Ebele Nnamdi Azikiwe Jonathan.
ii. ZAKI-BIAM – located in Benue – the home State of the TIV citizens of Nigeria
The unlawful, unwarranted, unconstitutional killings resulting from the military invasions of ODI, in Bayelsa State and Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, Katsina-Ala and other villages in Benue State, became subject of litigation.
Solicitors representing individuals and interests-groups, of the two host communities, took the Federal Government to Court for unlawful military invasion and killings of people from the two host communities.

Eventually, under President Jonathan’s watch, judgment was entered against the Federal Government that:

(i) The people of ODI, from President Jonathan’s home State, BAYELSA, be paid a compensation of N37.6 billion.
(ii) The Tiv people of Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, Katsina-Ala and four other villages, from Benue State, be paid a compensation of 41.8 Billion Naira – because more killings and more extensive destructions were inflicted upon them!

There ensued serious negotiations to settle out of court.
President Jonathan’s Administration ordered that the people of ODI from Bayelsa, President Jonathan’s home state, be paid an out-of-Court settlement sum of 15 billion.

The same Administration of President Jonathan, ordered that the Tiv people of Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, etc., from Benue State, be paid 8 Billion, as out-of-Court-settlement sum. Why?

The people of Odi suffered less casualty, less and limited structural damage and destruction, as compared to the Tiv people of Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, etc, who took horrendous casualties and very expansive destruction spread over two Local Government Areas! They who suffered much-much more, were awarded a mere 8 Billion. ODI, who suffered far far less, were awarded a whopping 15 Billion! Why?

Subsequently, President Jonathan still doing nothing about the Tiv, ordered that ODI be paid, the full sum of 15 Billion immediately! This sum was so obediently released – and released intoto - COMPLETELY, since November 2014 by President Jonathan’s ethnically biased Administration!

Is this not what the whole misconstrued and distorted clamour for “Biafra” is all about, Gentlemen of the Press?

What about the Tiv, who had far more killings and sufferings inflicted upon them, now suffering discrimination and unfair treatment, again, at the hands of the tribally jaundiced Administration of President Jonathan, he who swore to do justice to all manner of people not minding tribe?

Gentlemen of the Press, guess what: As I address you here-in Makurdi – today, the Zaki-Biam, Gbeji, etc, Tiv people of Benue State, have NOT yet been paid a single DIME – today-at the tail end of 2015! NOT EVEN ONE KOBO!

For more of the Press statement, visit the link below...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1090673644310598&id=100001039186543

http://allafrica.com/stories/201512071975.html


By Yaboa Ndula Munteh

Four financial hackers of Nigerian nationality are currently helping the Judicial Police in Douala with investigations after they were napped for reproducing Automated Teller Machine, ATM, cards and clearing victims' accounts.

Their modus-operandi was simple. They would place a device beside an ATM machine that films important information on clients' cards, including the access code. After the client leaves, they retrieve the device, reproduce the card, empty the account and transfer the booty into their various accounts back at home.


Following tipoff, operatives of the Judicial Police led by the Head of Laboratory, Scientific and Technical Police Service, together with men of the Special Rapid Intervention Units, stormed a hotel room in the Nkololoun neighbourhood on December 2, 2015 and arrested them.

Police also recovered three reproduced ATM cards, 50 virgin cards, two machines for card production, two camera pens, three Iphones of 4, 5 and 6 makes, two flat screen television sets, four passports and many money transfer forms. Asibeuo Cecil, Odion Prosper, Tony Daraugo and Obiagu, are said to have robbed many people of their hard-earned money.

lalasticlala

okomogo:
She actually started this tweet campaign before the elections results were announced , check her tweets and as for ur point, someone writing these whole episode with all the emotional damage this could be doing to her at the moment is bound to mix up some details, do you know what it means to carry such huge burden in ur heart for years and then pour it out once and people start questioning it's authenticity?

The fear of the position of the parents is a key point in the story, surely she couldn't have mixed that up