₦airaland Forum

Federal constituencies

Isiala Ngwa North/South, Abia
Ukanafun/Oron, Akwa Ibom
Anambra East, Anambra
Anambra West, Anambra
Nnewi/Ekwusigo, Anambra
Oyi/Anyamelu, Anambra
Gwer East/West, Benue
Katsina Ala/Ukum, Benue
Abi/Yakurr, Cross River
Aniocha/Oshimili, Delta
Ethiope East/West, Delta
Bomadi/Patani, Delta
Ohaozara/Onichal/Ivo, Ebonyi
Akoko Edo, Edo
Ado Ekiti/Irepodun/Ifelodun,
Ekiti Ido/Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje, Ekiti
Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon, Ekiti
Ikole/Oye, Ekiti
Yamaltu/Deba, Gombe
Kaltungo/Shongom, Gombe
Dukku/Nafada, Gombe
Okigwe/Ihime/Mbano, Owerri
Taura/Ringim, Jigawa
Ikara/Kubau, Kaduna
Kachia/Kagarko, Kaduna
Kauru, Kaduna
Makarfi/Kudan, Kaduna
Zangon Kataf/Soba, Kaduna
Dala, Kano
Gwarzo/Kabo, Kano
Karaye/Rogo, Kano
Ekiti/Oke Ero/Isin/Irepodun, Kwara
Ifako/Ijaiye, Lagos
Shomolu, Lagos
Ikorodu, Lagos
Keffi/Kokona/Karu, Nasarawa
Bida/Gbako/Katcha, Niger
Lavun/Edasi/Mokwa, Niger
Abeokuta North/Obafemi_Owode I, Ogun
Odeda, Ijebu Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu North_East, Ogun
Egbado South/Ipokia, Ogun
Ijebu North/Ijegu North East/Ogun Water Side, Ogun
Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North, Ogun
Ibadan NW/SW, Oyo
Jos North/Bassa, Plateau
Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam, Plateau
Port Harcourt II, Rivers
Anka/Talata Marafa, Zamfara
Zurmi/Shinkafi, Zamfara.

Senatorial Districts

Bayelsa Central
Benue North
CR South,
CR Central
Ebonyi North
Ekiti Central
Ekiti North
Ekiti South
Gombe North
Kaduna North
Niger South
Plateau North
Plateau South
Plateau Central
Sokoto North

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, again assured the nation of the readiness of his commission for tomorrow’s National Assembly election even as the problem of logistics appeared to be far from over.

As the INEC Chairman was reeling out arrangements made for the election, yesterday, sources as at the commission disclosed that logistics challenges being faced by the electoral agency were still very much on ground and that “all he was saying was a mere window dressing.”

Jega confirmed at a news briefing the exclusive report by Daily Sun that election would not hold in some senatorial districts and federal constituencies, disclosing that elections had been suspended in 15 out of the 109 senatorial districts and 48 out of the 360 federal constituencies spread across 27 states.

The election, Jega said, had been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 26 when the governorship and state Assemblies elections would be held. According to Jega, areas where election would not hold represented 86 per cent of the senatorial districts and 87 per cent of the federal constituencies, and that the election would not be held in those areas because the commission could not meet up with the printing of ballot papers to cover all the areas.

He stated that the commission met both local and foreign contractors on the possibility of having fresh ballot papers printed before Saturday and seeing the impracticability and the fact that the commission did not want to take chances, it decided to postpone the elections so that printers would have two weeks within which to supply the papers.

The INEC boss also admitted the logistics challenges being faced by the commission was far from being solved as he said the commission could only boast of 600 pick-up vans for all the 774 local government electoral officers. He explained that the commission had mobilised the state electoral commission to arrange for transportation for the movement of Electoral Officers and materials.
He regretted that governors did not comply with the directive of the commission that they should not bombard the polling units with their retinue of aides and securitymen warning that securitymen had been placed on alert to resist such conduct tomorrow.

On the defaulting contractors, Jega explained that the commission was already exploring judicial means of redress because there were clauses in the contractual terms governing the contract and the breach of the term should necessarily be taken up.

However, he stated that the commission was being very cautious because of the clauses and since the commission was still investigating the matter. Jega said that was the reason the commission would not disclose the identities of the vendors. “We are fine-tuning our judicial options to take appropriate step,” he said.

Jega said the commission was trying all it could to revive hopes and confidence of Nigerians following their disappointment at the sudden shift of the elections last Saturday. On his rumoured threat of resignation, Jega would neither confirm nor deny it, saying “no comment, it is not everything in the media that I have to react to.”

Jega pleaded with Nigerians for understanding saying “when the commission last Saturday, April 2, 2011, rescheduled the National Assembly elections, it stated very clearly that the elections will hold this Saturday, April 9, 2011. We are happy to say that the elections will go ahead this weekend as planned.

We, as a commission, fully appreciate the enormous sacrifices made by millions of Nigerian voters who turned out for the exercise on April 2. I urge you to also do the same this weekend. “Since the postponement, the commission has worked tirelessly to address the challenges observed in the conduct of the rescheduled elections. Thus, result sheets have not only been delivered to the country, but have been received by states and local government areas nationwide.

Similarly, other election materials needed at the State and Local Governments have been supplied. Logistic challenges have been addressed and we have had further consultations with political parties, security services and other stakeholders to address other challenges that emerged last Saturday. Consequently, all is now set for the National Assembly election to hold across the country on Saturday.

“However, some challenges emerging from the fact that voting took place in some areas in spite of the postponement require more time than we have had since last Saturday. For example, in some areas a good quantity of ballot papers had been used and it is not possible to reprint enough replacement ballot papers before the elections. Also, in a few constituencies, party names and logos were missing on ballot papers. While some of these resulted from human errors in compiling the names of qualified candidates and parties for the elections, others are related to sudden changes emanating from several judicial pronouncements on party nominations. These challenges dictate that fresh ballot papers be printed prior to conducting the elections.

“The commission has made strenuous efforts to get these ballot papers printed within the available time; but given the security requirements of the printing of ballot papers and the inability of domestic and international companies to deliver on time, it has become imperative that sufficient time be given for the printing of these ballot papers. Consequently, while elections will in general take place on Saturday, it has become inevitable to postpone elections in a few affected constituencies, that is 15 Senatorial Districts and 48 Federal Constituencies which are as follows: [See Attached]

“I should say that the postponed elections affect only about 14% of all Senatorial Districts and 13% of Federal Constituencies. This means that elections will take place this Saturday in 86% and 87% of Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies respectively. “Elections in these affected constituencies will now hold on Tuesday the 26th of April 2011 together with the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“For purposes of clarity, it is not everywhere that voting took place last week that is affected by this rescheduling. In some areas, only very few ballots were used, which means that elections can go on unhindered in those places this Saturday. “I want to seize this opportunity to advise all voters to be orderly and peaceful during the elections. Those who choose to stay behind after voting must be orderly and non-violent. I appeal to political parties to implore their supporters to eschew violence. We are working closely with the security agencies to arrest political thugs and vigilantes. Also, underage voters will be arrested. I appeal to parents and community leaders not to allow their children to indulge in this illegal act.

“We also noticed last Saturday that some governors did not comply with the appeal to them not to move around with their security orderlies during the elections. Although we recognize that governors are chief executives of their states, I once more appeal to them to vote and return home in order to reduce political tensions during the elections. Security agencies will strictly enforce compliance with this directive.

“Let me once again thank Nigerians for their understanding and support for the commission in its efforts to deliver free, fair and credible elections. I urge you all to come out on Saturday, April 9, to exercise your right to vote,” Jega said.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/apr/08/national-08-04-2011-001.htm

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti questioned the courage of the referee after Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League quarterfinal first leg defeat by Manchester United on Wednesday.



Ancelotti said it was “clear” Patrice Evra fouled Ramires but Alberto Undiano Mallenco denied the hosts a chance to equalise after Wayne Rooney’s goal.



“It’s not easy to give the penalty in the last minute,” the Blues boss said.



“You need to have personality, courage and character. Not always do referees have these kind of skills.”



Ramires was through on goal when Evra wrapped his legs around the midfielder and hauled him to the ground inside the box.



The Spanish referee waved away strong appeals for a penalty and was confronted by Ancelotti on the pitch after the final whistle.



The west Londoners must now overhaul an away goal when the two sides meet at Old Trafford in the second leg on April 12.



“It was clear. For everyone. Everyone knows it was clear,” Italian Ancelotti added.



“I’m disappointed but this is the result. Not just the referee, but the assistant was in the right position to decide that was a penalty.



“I said to the referee [after the game] that it was a penalty and he needed to whistle. He said nothing. No answer.



“The players are aggrieved. But we have to forget it and be focused for the next game. We have to try our best there.”



United boss Sir Alex Ferguson took a different view and suggested that if his side were fortunate it was no more than they deserved.



“Yeah, someone said it could have been a penalty. It was the first penalty decision we’ve had in seven years, so we’re due one,” the Scot said.



“But I don’t feel guilty about that at all. It was a 50-50 from where I was and I don’t know what the contact situation was.”



And regarding a second penalty claim from Chelsea, this time when Fernando Torres tumbled, Ferguson took a stronger stance and insisted: “He dived, he got booked for it.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110408102335

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere on Thursday ordered Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello to allow her tenant at M10, Road 2, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagos, to remove his property from her premises.



Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbeji gave the order at the resumed hearing of the case filed by Mr. Martin Abhulimhen against Obasanjo-Bello.



The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Abhulimhen is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from evicting him without recourse to the due process of law.



He is also seeking a declaration that the attempt by Obasanjo-Bello to forcefully evict him from the property was illegal, unlawful, null and void.



The claimant is also praying the court to award him the sum of N200m as damages for trespass on his quiet enjoyment of the property.



In his affidavit, Abhulimhen alleged that he entered into a tenancy relationship with the defendant for a period of two years at an agreed sum of N5m.



He also alleged that after payment, he and his family had quiet enjoyment of the apartment without any disturbance from the defendant.



According to him, he departed the premises with his family to pursue a doctorate degree programme in the United Kingdom, leaving his sister, Faith Ajayi, in occupation of the apartment.



“It came as a shock to me when in March 2010, I was informed by my sister that the defendant stormed the premises with armed mobile police officers who forcefully broke into the apartment,’’ he said.



Abhulimhen also stated that while his tenancy had not expired, the defendant stationed armed mobile policemen at the gate, with an instruction to bar him and his family members from entering the premises.



NAN reports that Obasanjo-Bello is yet to file a defence despite being served with the court processes.



Justice Olateru-Olagbeji adjourned the case till July 4 for trial.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201104085331789

Former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, on Thursday said her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, forced her to quit the Peoples Democratic Party.



Akunyili, who left the PDP last December to contest the Anambra Central Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, said her husband could no longer accept the violent nature of the PDP in Anambra State.



She recalled how she called a stakeholders’ meeting of the PDP in Awka in 2010 after the party lost the governorship election, saying developments at the meeting shocked her husband, who gave a choice between her marriage and the PDP.



She said some PDP members organised hoodlums, who released teargas cannisters at the meeting venue and sent everyone scampering to safety.



“There and then, my husband asked me to choose between my marriage to him and attending PDP meetings,” she said.



Akunyili said in contrast with the situation in the PDP in Anambra State, APGA was fostering peace and unity, fostered by the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi



On her campaign for the forthcoming National Assembly election, she lamented the high cost of electioneering in Nigeria, but said she had been able to sustain her campaigns because of the goodwill she enjoyed from people both in Nigeria and abroad.



She said, Akunyili said, “Politics is a rough and difficult terrain. It is crazy. It saps one emotionally. When you are dealing with agbero politicians, it becomes more stressful.



“My experience in the field is bad. There are all sorts of campaigns of calumny, but I am happy I have overcome all of them. I have to go to the market and dance like a crazy person.”






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110408523590

Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel has allegedly terminated the appointment of political appointees in the state over their loyalty to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.



The affected members are Mr. Femi Ogunsola, Mr. Deji Ogunsola, Mr. Deji Orebiyi and Mr. Taiwo Jimoh.



The crisis in the PDP degenerated after the party’s primaries, leading to the defection of members loyal to Daniel to the Peoples Party of Nigeria to contest the forthcoming polls.



The former state Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Joju Fadairo, had recently alleged that some political appointees loyal to the PDP in the state were being intimidated by the governor.



Investigations by our correspondent revealed that before the letters of termination of appointment were issued to the political appointees, a meeting was held at the Asoludero residence of the governor where it was allegedly agreed that the political appointees must support the PPN.



Some of the political appointees in the state, who attended the meeting alleged that the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Adegbemi Onakoya, asked them to support the PPN or resign their appointments.



In what appears as a realisation of the threat, four members of Yewa South Local Government in the state, were last Monday sacked and replaced for allegedly refusing to defect to PPN.



One of the victims, who was a former Governor’s Liaison Officer, Mr. Bashorun Soyeye, confirmed the development and lamented the termination of his appointment.



He said, “I am shocked and surprised to receive the letter. I was loyal to the governor until the morning of Wednesday when I received a letter terminating my appointment as the GLO in Obafemi/Owode Local Government.”



A copy of the letter with the headline ‘Termination of Appointment’ dated March 10, 2011 and signed by the SSG, said the termination was as a result of re-organisation of government machinery.



The letter reads in part, “In view of the ongoing re-organisation of government machinery, I wish to inform you that your appointment as GLO for Obafemi/Owode Local Government is no longer required with effect form Thursday March 10, 2011.”



The SSG directed him to handover government property in his possession to the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Political Affairs and Administration, Governor’s Office, Abeokuta.



It was further learnt that the erstwhile Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Mr. Segun Sowunmi; the Special Assistant to the governor attached to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Tokunbo Fakeye; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Niyi Salako; and Dr. Leke Otegbeye, the son of the late elder statesman, were also said to be under pressure to denounce the PDP.



Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Sina Kawonise, debunked the claim, saying at no time did Daniel sacked anyone in his cabinet because of his/or her affiliation.



Kawonise, who reacted through a text message said, ‘’This is to formally disclaim the falsehood that Governor Gbenga Daniel has sacked members of his cabinet who refused to join the PPN. Governor Daniel did not sack anyone in his cabinet because of his/her political affiliation. Governor Daniel himself remains in PDP and continues to solicit votes for President Goodluck Jonathan in all the PPN’s rallies he attends.



“I must also use this opportunity to alert the general public of the evil ploy of some elements in Ogun State who have little or no significant following in the state to peddle falsehood against the government and governor of Ogun State in order to weaken his potent political structure, confused the good people of Ogun State, particularly the voters and subvert the electoral and democratic process,” the commissioner stressed.



He claimed that the political appointees were sacked was as a result of dereliction of duty and not because of their political affiliation.







http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201103302184343

The North-east presidential rally of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, rescheduled for Tuesday in Maiduguri was disrupted mid-day as gunshots from a nearby filling station caused pandemonium at the Ramat Square venue of the event, leading to stampede. Daily Sun gathered that the gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers, had attacked a popular filling station behind the Ramat Square at about noon.

“They came on two motorcycles and started shooting, forcing everybody to lie down. Two of them then proceeded to the cashier’s table and carted away all our income for the day and thereafter left on same motorcycles,” an attendant told Daily Sun on condition of anonymity, an hour after the incident.

Eyewitness said the gunmen had continued shooting as they fled the filling station, a development that prompted the anti-riot policemen stationed around the Ramat Square to give them a chase and then exchanged fire. Expectedly, the gunshots caused pandemonium while the large crowd hurriedly dispersed.

“Unfortunately stray bullet from the gunmen hit a man along the way,” another eyewitness disclosed.
While the pandemonium was go on, another gang of gunmen invaded Gwange, a rustic community in the metropolis, and attacked a textile shop located along the Ahamadu Bello Way, killing three persons. The gunmen were said to have come to the area on two motorcycles.

Daily Sun visited the accident and emergency unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) where the corpses of the deceased were being examined. Efforts to ascertain the numbers of injured persons were unsuccessful as hospital attendants and medical personnel at the accident and emergency unit prevented journalists from gaining access to the area.

Meanwhile the police said they had foiled attempts by the Boko Haram men to detonate bomb at the venue of the ANPP rally on Tuesday.
Assisstant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, Adamu Zakari, who briefed journalists on behalf of the Borno command said three occupants of a Honda car were intercepted at the West End Roundabout, few metres from the Ramat Square, venue of the rally on Tuesday afternoon.

“Our men were on the stop and search exercise and the Honda car was stopped like every other vehicles but as soon as they saw our men coming to search their car, they took to their heels. So, we chased them and in the process, killed one. One of them was also arrested while the third one fled,” he edisclosed.
Zakari maintained that the police had reasons to believe that the men were out to bomb the ANPP rally, adding that the men were members of Boko Haram. The police also showed the locally made bombs to journalists with the arrested suspect and the corpse of the one killed.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abdullahi Lawal, an ASP, told journalists at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday that the bomb suspect led a team of police detectives to an area within the metropolis where four other suspected Boko Haram members were arrested with two magazines of AK 47 rifles and pistol and 60 rounds of live ammunition.

He assured that they were determined to safeguard the people during and after election even as they urged the people to participate actively in the voting while also conducting their daily activities without fear.
Reacting to the disruption of the rally, National Coordinator of Exemplary Leadership for Shekarau 2011, Alhaji Hassan Maimadara, told journalists in a telephone conversation that the ANPP presidential candidate had already decided not to attend the proposed rally, following the cancellation of the earlier one on March 24.
“We decided not to come to Maiduguri rally because we heard that the state was not secured and also due to the fact that the ealier rally last week was sabotaged by Gov Ali Sheriff,” he declared adding that the party gathered the large crowd from different states in Maiduguri but were suddenly turned down.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/mar/30/national-30-03-2011-01.htm

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The Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Dalhatu Tafida, on Monday said the party would not beg the presidential candidates of the Congress for Progressive Change, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), his counterparts in the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, to attend the presidential debates which began in Abuja on Monday.



Tafida, who stated this while speaking with journalists in his office, added that it was left for Nigerians to judge the three presidential aspirants.



He said, “Their decision shows the level of respect they have for the Nigerian electorate.



‘’As far as the PDP is concerned, our presidential candidate and his running mate will attend.



“It is left for them to come and if eventually they do not come, it is up to them to also explain their position of not coming to Nigerians.



‘’They might have a reason and I don’t think that the reason for their absence will be good enough for not coming.



“ PDP will not reach out to them to come because this is a Nigerian affair and the body organising this debate is purely Nigerian, comprising the major broadcast and print media in the country.”



The three presidential aspirants in a joint statement signed by their spokespersons said they would be boycotting the debate because of the refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the presidential candidate of the PDP, to attend the earlier debate organised by the NN24.



But Tafida explained that the organisers of the first debate did not have the reach like the debate by the Nigeria Election Debate Group.



Meanwhile, the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Haliru Mohammed, has said that last Saturday’s Abuja grand finale of the party’s cross-country presidential campaign rallies marked the beginning of the much-awaited process of enthroning a golden era of genuine and total transformation of the country and that the event has served to put the opposition on notice.



He explained that beyond the pomp and pageantry of the campaigns, what was more important was pledged by President Jonathan and his running mate, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, that they will not let Nigerians down no matter the circumstances.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110329150565

Nigerians, who thronged Transcorp Hilton Hotel, venue of presidential debate organised by Nigeria Election Debate Group, yesterday were stunned as one of the vice- presidential candidates did not express himself in English Language.
Moderator of the programme, Eugenia Abu, had disclosed that the vice presidential candidate of United National Party for Development (UNDP), Alhaji Galadima samari, would need the assistance of an intepreter to translate his message to English.

Zamari, who spoke inHausa disclosed that he started politics in 1967 as a member of the defunct Action Group but later moved to the Great Nigeria Peoples Party in the second Republic because a party rooted in the southern part of the country was not acceptable in the North. He assured Nigerians that under the UNDP-led Federal Government, wealth would be equitably distributed.

“I want to see the development of people and that is why I joined the party and that is why I am supporting our presidential candidate. I appeal to Nigerians to cast their votes for our party. We will not relent in our efforts to see to the development of Nigeria.”

National Transformation Party, vice presidential candidate, Gabriel Ogbonna, promised Nigerians an integrated road network to stimulate economic growth.
“If we can embark on such grand plan, Nigeria will be better off because it will create employment. It will help any foreign investor to know where they can put their industry and ferry their goods from one location to the other.”
Vice presidential candidates of the Social Democratic Mega Party, Alhaji Lawal Kazeem, and his counterpart of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party, Alhaji Rasheed Shitta Bey,
Journalists made attempt to find out why Samari decided to address the audience in his native language but he still would not speak english.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/mar/29/national-29-03-2011-01.htm

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has broken his silence over the allegation of N2.4bn car scandal levelled against him by some members of the House.



The House of Representatives, between 2009 and 2010, was embroiled in a controversy over N2.4 bn meant for the purchase of 370 cars for the House committee members, but which was allegedly misappropriated by the Speaker. The development gave rise to a plan to remove the speaker by a group called Integrity Group, led by Mr. Dino Melaye



Bankole, who spoke as the guest speaker at a lecture, organized by Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, described the allegations by the members as saddening.



He said,, ‘I escaped the plot because I did not steal any kobo of the House, If I steal, I will know I have stolen, but I have stolen nothing and I have a good parentage history which I cannot afford to destroy”



Bankole alleged that his accusers superimposed the old price list of the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, the company saddled with the supply, on the new price list.



“Out of desperation to nail me, they superimposed 2006 price list over 2009 price list but what they did not know was that original prices of PAN have special code on them . I did not know that, until I was told.



“The number one exhibit was thrown away following the discovery. They even said that the transaction was made with Zenith Bank cheque. We called Zenith Bank and Zenith Bank said the House did not have any account with the bank , the Speaker or any of the concerned people did not have any account with them, their second exhibit became null and void,” he said.



He said he was shocked when the same group after some time later came up with a seven day ultimatum for him to resign or risk impeachment.



“I had to come home to report them, let us thank God, the seven-day ultimatum given to me by those people lapsed and something happened seven days after the ultimatum. All the people that gave me the ultimatum were removed from the House,” Bankole said.



He stated that the crisis then was over the allocation of members of committees of the House, saying that some members of the group felt aggrieved that they were not made members or heads of “juicy committees”.



He charged the youth to see themselves as the leaders of today and not tomorrow, adding that a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, became the Head of State at the age of 29 and former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Murtala Muhammed ruled the country in their early 30s.







http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201103282313934

Strong indications emerged yesterday evening that the northern political leaders were not impressed by what one of them described as “tokenisms” handed out by President Goodluck Jonathan through the former President, General Olusegun Obasanjo.

One of the leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity said point blank that “the northern leaders will not be hoodwinked by former President Obasanjo’s belated admission that tenure and power rotation, better known as zoning, exists in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and would form the basis of negotiations when President Jonathan’s tenure runs out in 2015.”

Obasanjo had, at the grand finale of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign at the Eagle Square in Abuja at the weekend, affirmed the existence of zoning along the lines of the constitutional provision on federal character.
But northern leaders have said that they were not impressed on account of former President Obasanjo’s credibility problems and believability and the fact that he was usurping the functions of President Jonathan as head of government and leader of the ruling party.

For the avoidance of doubt, the leaders recalled that the negotiation with President Jonathan was premised on three key issues namely: that he serves for one term, agrees to zoning in which case the power will return to the North in 2015 and execute key projects that are important to the nation and the North as a sub-section of the country.

According to one influential leader of the North, the demand was that President Jonathan as head of government and leader of the ruling party should convey this message to Nigerians and not have a surrogate do it on his behalf. “Under the PDP constitution, the President (Jonathan) is both the head of government and leader of the party. Chief Obasanjo is neither head of government nor leader of the ruling party. For the President to have failed to seize this moment in publicly conveying this message to Nigerians at the Eagle Square rally on Saturday and instead conceded the task to Obasanjo raises even more concern for us,” the top northern leader said.

A cross section of G15 members whose views were sampled on the Obasanjo speech said that it was a negation of what President Jonathan had set to achieve. According to them, Obasanjo who is now a “latter day apostle” of zoning carries huge credibility problems of his own to the extent that whatever he says will have to be taken ‘with a pinch of salt.’” The were unanimous on the position that the unwarranted political situation the country has now found itself in, was created single-handedly by Obasanjo.

“For how long will former President Obasanjo continue to delude himself that the nation’s destiny is his to canvass? It is to the former President’s credit that the seeds of confusion and bitterness across the country were planted for the sake of satisfying his own private malicious agenda against the unity of the country. How then can you take the words of such a man seriously,” one of the top leaders queried.
And quoting the Indian sage, Mahatma Gandhi, one of the leaders noted that “nobody is an elder by a mere lock of grey hair; you are only an elder in whom reside truth and justice.” He contended that Obasanjo’s attitude was inconsistent with the virtues of a statesman who should be a role model to his fellow citizens.

He noted that the admission of former President Obasanjo that zoning existed and was still relevant “is a vindication of all those who have struggled on the principle of power rotation as an integral part of unity and stability in the country.”

He said the open acknowledgment by Obasanjo that zoning was sacrosanct has morally strengthened his and others’ position that power rotation was the fairest arrangement in which any section of Nigeria, no matter how small, has an equitable opportunity to occupy the nation’s highest public office.
According to him, the zoning arrangement of the PDP has not harmed anybody in the country more than 12 years that it was put into practice. Instead, he said, “it has strengthened unity, stability and reduced the fear of domination by any section of Nigeria over another.”


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2011/mar/28/newsbreak-28-03-2011-001.htm

Former Minister of State for Interior, Mr. Demola Seriki, the Vice Chairman and Publicity Secretary of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Tunde Salau and Dr. Wale Ahmed, on Sunday dumped the party to formally join the Action Congress of Nigeria.



At the ceremony in Lagos, which attracted no fewer than 3, 000 supporters of the former PDP chieftains, an elated leader of the ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Babatunde Fashola, said their decision to dump the opposition PDP for the ruling party in the state was a big boost that was coming barely a week to the commencement of the general elections.



Seriki, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said their decision to join the ACN was based on the conviction that the Lagos PDP was in a shambles with problems that were irreconcilable.



However, the Secretary of the Lagos PDP, Mr. Tunji Shelle, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said the former minister and all other defectors were deceitful members of the party.



The former minister lost to the governorship candidate of the PDP, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, during the party’s primaries in January.



Seriki said, “The problem in the Lagos PDP has defied solution. Imagine, with just one week to the commencement of April general elections, the candidate of the party is still at the lowest ebb of political performance. Since our primaries, I have never been invited for any meeting, not even when President Goodluck Jonathan requested for a meeting with the party leaders.



“If they do not want us, we have to move on. I have never seen any leadership of a party that lacks coordination like that of the Lagos PDP at the moment. We are joining the ACN because of our desire to make Lagos better.”



Seriki noted that he had been a dedicated member of the PDP since 1999, adding that those referring to himself and others as deceitful were in the PDP because of money.



On his part, the former Publicity Secretary of the Lagos PDP said he was happy to join the ACN because he would no longer have to cook up lies to defend the party.



In a related development, a group within the PDP, the Social Reformers Group, has also dumped the party.



Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the leader of the group, Chief Adekunle Oshinoiki, said few days ago, he had to call a meeting of the leadership of the group across the state and “when we spoke, we decided that the time had come for us to bid the PDP goodbye.



“So we decided that we are no more in the PDP but we are not going to join any party now.



“We have to stay on our own and consolidate our position, strengthen our position and also strengthen our philosophy in such a way that it should be well entrenched in all the local governments where we exist.



“That is our position. We are no more in the PDP or any other party, we remain the Social Reformers Group.”







http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110328356440

The North will not fold its arms and watch President Goodluck Jonathan complete its remaining term of four years in the presidency.
Second Republic governor of Kaduna State, Lawal Kaita, who spoke to Daily Sun in Katsina, said the North remains adamant on zoning and is furious over the handling of this year’s presidential primary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Kaita says part of the game plan is to get other candidates from the North to step down for General Muhammadu Buhari.

His words: “For the first time, you will see that the people of the North have honour. It is just unlike (some) people of the South who have no honour. We entered into agreement with these,
“We have come to the general elections where the ordinary people will vote. Have you heard a Katsina man shouting ‘Sai Jonathan?’ You can never hear it.”

Kaita, who is a close associate of the erstwhile consensus presidential candidate of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said the North has remained unhappy following the decision of President Jonathan to contest 2011 election, contrary to his agreement with the North. “That is why we are going to the election with everybody drawing his sword. You don’t know what is going to happen at the election. Only God knows how many people will die. We don’t pray for anything but you, as a journalist, knows how hot the country is,” Kaita, 78, stated.

He also revealed that the North is likely to throw its weight behind the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive change (CPC) and former Head of State, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), in the April 9 poll. The highly respected septuagenarian who spoke on several issues however, said that Atiku may have put the forthcoming presidential election behind him for now.

Excerpts:

You were conspicuously absent at the PDP presidential rally in Katsina. Are you still opposed to President Jonathan’s ambition?
I don’t believe in him being the next president; I believe this, the (2011) presidency is the turn of the North. I believe this should be a Northerner’s turn, not a Southerner’s. I am not against Jonathan as a person; as a principle, I don’t welcome him.

The presidential election is around the corner, but many do not know what your close associate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has up his sleeves. What are his plans?
Leave Atiku alone as far as this election is concerned. We are talking of three weeks to election now, what can he do with that? The PDP has rigged him out, what else can he do?

Sir, the coming elections promise to be of great expectations. Do you think it is better for the North to support PDP in the presidency?
No! You see, we are fighting based on principle, it is not for something to eat; When you are fighting on principle like this, there is no reason for us to succumb or give up the fight. We will fight up to the day the election is held. We still want a Northerner to be the President; it doesn’t matter whether it is Atiku or not.

There are reported moves for the North to field a consensus candidate outside the PDP. What are the chances of such moves?
The negotiation is still on with Buhari, Shekarau and Nuhu Ridadu.

If they fail to reach a consensus, do you think any of them can defeat Jonathan?
It is going to be difficult for any of them to beat Jonathan as an individual, we agree, that is why we are fighting desperately for these people to come together; at least, for one of them to concede so that we can have our forces behind him (the consensus candidate).

What are the chances of such effort coming to fruition?
We will meet with the three of them.

On what platform are you meeting with them?
On PDP platform, I can say we are trying; we are pushing them, we have asked Emirs and chiefs to join hands with us to get all the votes of the North together. That is what we are doing; getting our votes together, which is several millions above the votes of the South.

With the support Jonathan has garnered, will it not be virtually impossible for any group or individual to stop him in the April 9 poll?
What support? What endorsement has he garnered in the North? He has come to Katsina, you were at the rally ground, his crowd was less than that of Lado Danmarke (governorship candidate of the CPC in Katsina State). And in any case, when people go to rallies, more than 50 to 60 per cent are paid agents. People were given N2,000 to come to his (Jonathan’s) rally but they will collect his N2,000 and vote for a Northerner.
I assure you, Nigerians will see a shock election of their lives. These people you have seen in his rally will take his N2,000 and will vote for the candidate of their choice.

You expressed the same confidence ahead PDP presidential primary, but we saw the power of incumbency at play against your candidate?
This is a world of difference. When the power of incumbency was at play, it was only a handful of people involved. In Katsina, there were about 200 to 300 people (delegates) whom the governor or government could corner or tie them up; they were all appointed anyway; about 90 per cent were appointed.
I know here in Katsina a day before the election, about 18 national delegates were changed, and these were chairmen of local governments and so forth.

They could be removed overnight; they know it and none of them was allowed to fill the name of the candidates he likes. The forms were filled and given to them.

Ahead the NPLF’s meeting with Buhari, Ribadu and Shekarau, who among them is your favourite?
If I have the opportunity, I will support Buhari, he is the one that definitely has the chance to win. Even now, he has an equal chance as Jonathan.

Do you entertain the fear that some of the Northern presidential candidates are being influenced by PDP to remain in the race?
How can they be influenced? They have never been in PDP any way. Shekarau was never in PDP, he is a governor in All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). Nuhu Ribadu is a new comer; he was never in PDP. Why should I fear that PDP will influence them; because PDP has money or what?

The concern is that the plan would be aimed at splitting northerners’ votes. How do you see such fear?
That is what some people say, but what is likely to happen is that for the first time you will see that the people of the North have honour. It is just unlike the people of the South, who have no honour. We entered into agreement with these…

(Cuts in) Many Northerners are equally supporting Jonathan…
(Cuts in) Hold it, that was for the purpose of the primaries. We have come to the general elections where ordinary person will now vote. Have you heard a Katsina man shouting: “Sai Jonathan?” You will never hear it.
Even if a Katsina man says “sai Shema” hundred times, he will never say: “Sai Jonathan.” So, you people will be shocked over the (presidential) election outcome.

Are you confident that there will be free and fair elections?
Yes, I believe there will be free and fair elections. I believe Prof. Jega had been quite honest and decent; I trust him, I reason with him.

What is your message to President Jonathan?
He should not have contested in the first place. It is his intention to contest that has brought all these confusion. After all, Obasanjo contested yet, we Northerners gave him our votes to win, even though he is a Christian and a Yoruba man.

So, it is the dishonour, the dishonourable action of people that has brought the whole of this country into confusion. That is why we are going to the elections with everybody drawing his sword. You don’t know what is going to happen on that Election Day; only God knows how many people will die. We don’t pray for anything but you, as a journalist, know how hot the country is.

It is simply because of a dishonourable act. Obasanjo has done his two terms and Umaru did one term before he died, but Jonathan from the South wants the other term again. It is honourable for him to say he won’t contest again and there will be no quarrel.

Why are you rooting for Buhari?
I am not saying Buhari is better than Shekarau or he is better than Nuhu Ribadu. What I am saying is he looks set to be the best person to challenge PDP and Jonathan. So, giving him the consensus help will simply facilitate his victory.

It is not that he is better than any of the other two contenders, but he has a better structure and a better followership than the others. On individual basis, none of them has more followership than Buhari . I am Atiku’s man; 100 per cent, but I know the support for Buhari among ordinary people.

Is he doing enough to maximize the goodwill of the people?
Yes, he is everywhere. He has been to Port Harcourt, Katsina, everywhere. What can he do? He hasn’t got government’s money or machines but he is trying.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/mar/28/national-28-03-2011-001.htm

Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel on Thursday vowed never to support the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state during the forthcoming general elections.



The governor, who insisted that the party had derailed from the noble ideals upon which it was founded, spoke in Ijebu-Ode during the disbursement of grants-in-aid to Community Development Associations in the state for various self-help projects.



At the event organised by the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives, a sum of N50m was disbursed to over 600 associations across the 20 local government areas of the state.



Speaking against the backdrop of the crisis that trailed the emergence of candidates in the PDP, Daniel noted that the development had dealt a big blow to the party’s relevance in the state.



He said, “The PDP that you hear about, in Ogun State, has become a shadow of itself and as somebody well brought up, there is no way I can afford to support the PDP in the state.



“The PDP of today, where you conduct primaries in the open and some people change the process through the backdoor, that cannot be a party I would associate with.



“But our President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is of good character and I am sure he did his best , we worked assiduously for his presidential ambition.



“The President was not part of the conspiracy that occurred in Ogun PDP. But let us go and vote en masse for the Jonathan.



“However, after that, there is nothing else we can do than to support the new political party in Ogun State; that is the Peoples Party of Nigeria. The founding fathers of Ogun State built the state on truth and we cannot go back to falsehood.”



Speaking on how PDP won the election in 2003 he said, “When all of you did not know the party called PDP, we thank God that we came and toured all the 236 wards in the state, appealing to you that despite the fact that we do not like the PDP, let us vote for the party because of our baba, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. And I thank God that you agreed with me and we succeeded in the election.”






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110325515446

There was palpable tension and panic in Abuja yesterday following an alleged warning by suspected members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) directing workers to stay away from the vicinity of the Bayelsa State House situated few meters away from the Federal Ministry of Justice as series of pre-laid bombs would soon be detonated.

The panic by residents and workers within the area increased with additional information from an anonymous informant that the high powered explosives would claim large casualties if detonated.
It would be recalled that the Independence Day twin bomb blasts that claimed several lives took place a stone’s throw from the Federal Ministry of Justice.

MEND, which claimed to have carried out the Independence Day bombing had earlier warned that it was going to bomb three cities including Abuja and Lagos.
For Abuja residents, the sad memories of last year’s blasts and their attendant devastation re-echoed in their hearts as they ran helter skelter for dear life.

When Daily Sun visited the scene, policemen had already cordoned off the entire vicinity just as anti-bomb squad was immediately summoned to sweep the pin-pointed locations.

However, after a thorough search was conducted by the anti-bomb squad no bomb was found in either location.
Briefing newsmen after the futile search, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, implored Nigerians to disabuse their minds from such rumours, which he said, were being peddled by some unscrupulous persons to create unnecessary tension in the polity.

He warned such persons to desist from acts capable of undermining the security of lives and property in the country, stressing that the police would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found to be mastermind of yesterday’s bomb scare at the end of its ongoing investigations into the matter.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/mar/25/national-25-03-2011-001.htm

r.i.p

The police in Lagos State have arrested five young men for their involvement in the theft of a Hyundai Accent saloon car in Anambra State and the attempt to sell it in Lagos.



The police also accused the men; Tom Ogbangwor, 25; Christian Chukwu, 28; Sikiru Kareem, 28; Wasiu Bello, 28 and Tayo Akinyemi, 34 of other robberies in the state.



According to the spokesman for the state Police Command, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, Ogbangwor and Chukwu had specialised in robbing people of their handsets. He added that they graduated to snatching cars earlier in the year and had been selling the stolen cars in Lagos in collaboration with Kareem and Bello, who were operating their own robbery gang in the state. He said Akinyemi was the one who usually found buyers for the stolen cars.



“From our investigation, the duo of Ogbangwo and Chukwu snatched a Hyundai Accent saloon car at Ofege Junction in Onitsha, Anambra State. The car was brought to Lagos where the gang contacted another robbery gang headed by Bello. The Lagos gang in turn linked the gang with Akinyemi who tried to sell the car for the gang. Some policemen posed as potential buyers and managed to arrest the gang,” Jinadu explained.



Ogbangbor, who said he hailed from Iseleukwu area of Delta State, told PUNCH METRO that he decided to become an armed robber because he was tired of his job as a labourer.



“I met Chukwu where we were both labourers in Anambra. He introduced me to robbery; we were robbing people and collecting their handsets. We would sell the handsets and share the profit mostly N5,000 each. We decided to go for big money and do business with it. That is how we decided to snatch the car.



“Our research showed that we could make up to N700,000 on the Hyundai and the plan was that I would collect N300,000 because Chukwu was my leader. I was desperate to start my business.



“In my village, if you are up to 25 years and you don’t have money or business; you are anobody. I wanted to start something and my expected share of N300,000 would have been enough for me to start a business.



Chukwu, who claimed the Hyundai was the first car he snatched, told our correspondent that he started his career by using a gun to snatch phones from people. “It is not everyday that I do it; only when I am hungry. But when I met Ogbangwor, I decided to move to snatching of cars.



“We picked the Hyundai because we saw that the owner looked gentle and not the type that would argue with us. After snatching the car, I called my wife and she and our 10-month-old child followed me to Lagos. Their presence and the fact that I was generous, prevented policemen at all the checkpoints along the expressway from becoming nosy,” he said.



The duo of Kareen and Bello said that although they were robbers, they only snatched phones from people.



Bello, who was the leader of the gang, said, “Sikiru brought them to me, saying that he used to know Chukwu’s wife who was a former prostitute. I was not interested in the car and the gun Chukwu wanted to sell. They later went to a guy in our area, Jacob, who linked them with Makalele, who in turn linked them with Akinyemi. I head a robbery gang, but I was not involved in the snatching of the Hyundai.”



Akinyemi, who said he was deported from Canada last December, insisted that he was never a member of the gang or had been selling any cars for them. He said, “I was told that that car belonged to Chukwu and I contacted my friend Lanre, a fellow deportee, who I believed set me up.”



Jinadu said the suspects would be charged to court.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110324285865

Statement on Buhari: PDP campaign council suspends director


The Presidential Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party has suspended its Director of Research and Strategy, Mr. Mike Omeri.



He was suspended for issuing unauthorised statement that was considered to have impugned on the character of the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in which he described the former head of state as being corrupt.



Investigations by our correspondent showed that President Goodluck Jonathan had raised the issue when he came to the PDP presidential campaign office located at Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.



He was also said to have verbally queried Omeri for issuing the statement without clearance from the leadership of the campaign.



The President, it was further gathered, was livid with anger, saying that he had not authorised anyone to abuse his opponents just because election was on hand.



Omeri had, in a statement he signed on Saturday, accused Buhari for being the mastermind behind the 53 suit cases that were not searched at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos during his regime.



He also said in the statement that President Jonathan would soon expose Buhari for his “hypocritical stand on anti corruption.”



Jonathan was quoted as saying that “General Buhari is a former Head of State of this country and therefore should not be rubbished because he is contesting the April presidential election.”



He was also said to have said that he believed in issue-based campaign and not in character assassination of anyone.



Omeri was also accused of issuing a statement during the Suleja bomb blast, accusing the CPC and Buhari of being responsible for the blast.



The statement was later withdrawn.



His last statement compelled the spokesperson of Buhari, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, to issue a response to the allegation, in which he also impugned on the character of the wife of the President, Patience.



While condemning the CPC’s reply to Omeri, the President had, through his spokesperson, Mr. Ima Niboro, described Omeri’s statement as unfortunate.



The letter that contained the suspension of Omeri, dated March 22, and signed by the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Dalhatu Tafida, was titled “Query and Suspension.”



He was queried and suspended for making unauthorised statements.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201103242351414

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Chief Adetunji Olurin, has resisted pressure to quit the forthcoming governorship election.



As part of efforts to improve the chances of Ogun West producing the state governor, various groups are said to be mounting pressure on both Olurin and the Peoples Party of Nigeria governorship candidate, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka, on the need for one to concede to the other so as not to jeorpadise the over 35 years ambition of the area to produce the governor.



The Yewa Think Thank Group had urged Isiaka to withdraw from the race in the interest of the Ogun West people of the state. The PPN, however vowed to pursue the mandate.



Also, three different groups from the area- Ogun West Next Level, the Yewa Awori Youth Congress led by Odu Olufemi and Ogun West Democracy Watch, in a statement urged Olurin to withdraw from the race in the interest of the area.



Olurin, however, in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, vowed not to exchange words with the groups which he described as ‘faceless.’



He said, “We know where those calls are coming from and we are not surprised. It is unfortunate that some people because of the pecuniary benefits of today are bent on destroying their future and that of their children.”



Olurin, who reacted through his Media Consultant, Mr. Dele Agekameh, vowed never to be distracted by the calls from “the baseless groups.”






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110324153332

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For ignoring his directive not to join opposition parties in smear campaigns, the Peoples Democratic Party, [PDP] Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has suffered a casualty as President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, ordered the suspension of the PCC Director of Research and Strategy, Mr. Mike Omeri.

A Daily Sun source revealed that at its stormy meeting held on Tuesday at the Legacy House with members of the PCC in attendance, President Jonathan expressed his displeasure over a statement issued last weekend by Mike Omeri, in which he cast aspersion on the integrity of the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) presidential candidate, General Muhamadu Buhari and his Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) counterpart, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and threatened to expose them.

In the statement signed by Omeri and published in some national dailies, the PCC noted that the antecedents of ‘’the two self-acclaimed anti-corruption ’stars’ had proved that they had their hands soiled with acts of corruption when they were in government.” On Buhari, Omeri recalled that in 1984, as Head of State, the CPC presidential candidate exhibited double standards in public administration by allowing 52 suit cases suspected to be filled with hard currency brought in by his ADC to enter the country without passing through checks for the mandatory Customs clearance.

The PCC Director of Research and Strategy, therefore submitted that the 1984 incident was a clear case of money laundering and ‘’wondered what moral right such a candidate had to talk about corruption.’’ The statement also took the ACN presidential candidate to the cleaners and recalled that in 2007, while answering questions before the Senate on the alleged acts of corruption by some governors, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the former chairman of the anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) said the alleged sleaze perpetrated by former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu “was of international dimension.”

“Is it not curious that the same person with such a tag is now the political godfather of Ribadu and sole financier of his political campaigns?’’ Omeri further stated in the statement. Daily Sun source revealed that the President also demanded explanation from Omeri on why he persisted in ignoring his instructions that the PCC Publicity Department should focus on issues and restrain from indulging in spurious attacks on his main opponents.

“President Jonathan was not convinced with the defence put up by Omeri and his boss, Director of Publicity, Abba Dabo and ordered Omeri out of the meeting. He further gave an instruction for his suspension from the campaign activities.’’ Daily Sun findings revealed that the PCC Director of Research had since been suspended until further notice.

A copy of his Query/Suspension Letter dated 22nd March, 2011 and signed by the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Dalhatu Tafida, accused Omeri of pronouncements on the campaigns without clearance and accordingly placed him on suspension until further notice.
The letter, a copy of which was made available by a Daily Sun source reads:

‘’In spite of repeated warnings to you to desist from pronouncements on the campaign without clearance from either the Director of Publicity, or Deputy Director-General, or Director-General, you have persisted in this direction and thereby embarrassed the campaign with unauthorized statements that are at variance with the values and principles of our presidential candidate.

You are accordingly suspended from your duties as Director of Research and Strategy until further notice while you are required to respond within 24 hours as to why stronger sanctions should not be applied to you.”




Link;http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/mar/24/national-24-03-2011-001.htm

Why did you accept to become General Buhari’s running mate?
Ordinarily, I have no business in partisan politics. Politics is too important to be left in the hands of politicians alone. I thought my job is just to raise the standard of God’s consciousness in our nation and to ensure that righteousness exalts this nation by way of preaching and instilling the fear of God in our people. I have been harassed myself by military dictators and their civilians counterparts in mufti, but I never thought that a day would come that I would do this.

The last time I marched on the streets was in 1978 and that were the days of Ali-must-go, and all that happened was that they increased our fees from N30 to N90 and that was killing in those days. When I left school, I thought the marching had ended, until the crisis that almost put Nigeria into the precipice and we rose by the grace of God, gathered all civil society organisations together on January 7 and fixed a date for January 12.
Using our networks within the country to pull our people down to the streets, to protest what was happening.

A culture of impunity against a sitting Vice President, not a candidate at this time and by the grace of God, the people joined us in the protest. We had our way. The President was endorsed and that was it.We thought Save Nigeria Group (SNG) should not end there, that we should go to the next phase; the next phase is unblocking the minds of our people to know that sovereignty truly lies in their hands and to ensure that many of them this time around, would register to vote. We began to open SNG chapters across the nation, until one fateful afternoon, the 3rd of May (2010). I will never forget it. Someone asked me a question that: “Pastor Bakare, are you raising responsible people to vote for irresponsible people.” That hit me like a thunderbolt and that was the turning point for me.

There is no quality leadership to provide not just direction, but to supervise our development. That day after that question came to me, we decided to engage the political class and not just cry out, let’s come out with what we will show Nigerians that is the irreducible minimum that we should be looking for in a candidate that you will cast your vote for. So, we came up with a contract for Nigeria, which was launched in Nigeria on the May 5, 2010, we held a meeting in the afternoon, the rest they say, is history.We began to engage the political class; I personally engaged Abubakar Atiku and we drew our seven points irreducible minimum that we want to see in parties and politicians and key players in every political party. High level transparency, internal democracy which is germane to our development. We engaged the political class and finally we took a stand. We went to the President with a document, which we gave to elders in some parts of the country and religious leaders like Pastor Adeboye on why we will not support Jonathan.

We listed three or four things.The culture of impunity we rose to fight had returned full circle back into our country, and we gave him examples like what was happening in Ogun State which SNG had to intervene and we followed alongside Prof Wole Soyinka at a town hall meeting to decry what was happening in Ogun State. The same thing happened in Bauchi. The governor moved from All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); his deputy did not move along with him, the governor used the House of Assembly to impeach him. The man went to court and won, but another person was sworn in as deputy governor.

Now these two people, the governors of Bauchi and Ogun states are now the co-ordinators for President Jonathan’s campaign, which means he has made up his mind, whether there is violation of people’s right or will, it does not matter. The cry of my heart has been that except we return to true federalism, Nigeria cannot make progress because we were better than this when we had little resources. These were the things we were saying and began to position our people. July 31, 2010, we summoned the first meeting, 10 people were invited but only eight showed up. At the meeting, was Nuhu Ribadu himself, Malam Nasiru el-Rufai, Donald Duke, Oby Ezekwesili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Fola Adeola, Jimi Agbaje, Governor Fashola was also invited.

So, we called these arrowheads together, because we wanted to go all outside of normal party structure, raised a new caliber of people that will move enmasse to a political party or start one. That day we decided to use a new party because I loved the name, the Liberal Democrats. The name was good and I said to them that day the only way I would participate in this process is to give two conditions: I will spend and be spent for it, but I will not touch elective office and I will not join a political party. Those were the two conditions I gave them.

I’m fulfilled the way I’m functioning and everybody knows by the grace of God whether you like what I’m saying or not, when I rise to speak, I say it the way it is and leave it there and we agreed. But unfortunately, the man who registered Liberal Democrats, which we were going to use, decided to become the campaign director in the diaspora for IBB. The rest is history. And so, we decided to use Labour Party (LP) and we engaged LP because it is generic; but one of us pulled the trigger, Ribadu decided to pick the ticket of ACN, that was a good development, and I said if that’s the way you want to go, we will still go together and we were all going together on the platform. We now thought who we should present as candidate. I’m giving you this background because stories have a way of being muddled up and I like saying it the way it is because there is nothing you can do to truth. Even if people don’t believe you, your conscience is clean. It was Duke that we were going to feature as vice president and Mallam el-Rufai as the presidential candidate. But Duke came back and said right now, I’m not able to accept such responsibility, it was even him that suggested Labour Party to us.

So, we retained Mallam el-Rufai, who the first day I met him, was the one saying to me, let’s use Nuhu Ribadu and I said we can’t present Ribadu for obvious reasons that were known to us at that point. You will be doing so many things and having to correct and explain so many things. So, we decided to pair el-Rufai and Oby Ezekwesili; he (el-Rufai) was away and I called him to return and that we are going to galvanise everyone to fight this monster called PDP, because there are some things that I know, if time permits, I will expose them.With another four years of PDP, you can kiss Nigeria, goodbye. Mallam el-Rufai returned to the country and gave us some stiff conditions that for as long as Ribadu is out, he would not come out. It will look like competition and it will just divide the North further. I saw the point and we said let’s forget this, we are not guilty of not trying. Before we got to that stage, we also engaged General Muhammadu Buhari. We went to him in Kaduna like we sat with Jonathan and Atiku as well as Ribadu.

I will never forget my encounter with Nuhu Ribadu at a town hall meeting in Washington which was put together by Professor Aluko. This time we were pure SNG, we weren’t partisan and Nuhu rose up that day and said “ladies and gentlemen, I’m here to tell you why I want to rule Nigeria.” It was my time to speak and I said “Nuhu, I would have almost cursed the day I met you, but because you are my younger brother, I will not do that, you want to rule Nigeria, who would be your subjects” I told him that all these anti-corruption czar, we have stories we can tell, but we keep quiet for now, until the appropriate time. I came back to Nigeria to engage Buhari because we didn’t give him any chance at all. If you read in the press all that I said about him (Buhari), I said they were all part of the whole, who can’t produce anything for us, there is no point lying. I won’t say something and deny it. Until I engaged the man and I discovered that he has changed from what he used to be. And of all the people I sat with, he is the most credible that gave all the right answers and that was willing to engage us and to seek help. A good leader is not an all rounder, he is the one who knows his weakness and can starve that weakness and will engage in people who are much more competent than himself and release them to accomplish a task. If you don’t mind who takes the credit, you will get much more done.

When Mallam el-Rufai said he would not contest because he would be seen as competing with Ribadu, we felt that the other candidate that is left is Buhari, but we wished them all the best and washed off our hands. I was tidying my wardrobe when the phone call came and it was General Buhari on the other side and he said ‘Pastor Bakare, after deep thoughts, I will consider it a great honour if you can run with me as my Vice Presidential candidate for the 2011 elections. The answer was not far-fetched, it was in my lips waiting to explode: thanks, but no thanks and I gave him the reasons that I didn’t come because I wanted to play politics. I want to be part of those who reshape Nigeria and create a party that can be respected. I called Pastor Adeboye and he surprised me because I thought he would say no way, but I played into his hands. When we went to meet with President Jonathan, the documents we gave to him, we also submitted them to Pastor Adeboye and he asked who is the best person that can salvage Nigeria. I told him, from all I have seen, the person that can rescue us right now, is Muhammadu Buhari, but he has no money, he is popular in the North, he does not have a clue of how to come into the South because of so many things they’ve hung on his head over the years.

I was still not persuaded. I went again to see Pastor Adeboye, submitted what we were doing; he said ‘if you are ever considering Muhammadu Buhari, then you need to look for a strong christian to be his running mate and the emphasis was strong. And I stood up and said we will look for the strong christian, but I want you to know that it cannot be me, I’m satisfied with what I’m doing. I did not know when I was doing all these, I was warming myself in the heart of Buhari. But it was ACN who first came to me through their publicity secretary and said can you persuade General Buhari to run on our platform; that was part of the engagement, to let the best of the North and the best of the South pair. I preached it that let ACN and CPC form an alliance and let’s call it ACPC and PDP will be history, but there are other issues that did not make that work. Move forward, I called him (Adeboye) again the second day and said sir, will you support me, he (Adeboye) said ‘with everything I have got in my own way, just go for it, I will be praying.’

What actually are you bringing to the table, that other people can join you in making your aspiration fruitful?
One of the things that we made a condition precedent before accepting this, and all my friends were there in Kaduna before I signed any paper, General, you can fight corruption. You have the courage and the will, because you have been adjudged a clean man, a man of probity, but beyond fighting corruption, I don’t know you to be an economist and me that you are asking to come, I am not an economist. Would it be acceptable to you that we build a change team, a people who are not just technocrats, who have been there before, who understands the issues, so that we build a formidable team from within our nation and outside of our country in the diaspora, to bring in this people, for this first and foremost rescue operation, because we need to recover Nigeria, we need to rescue Nigeria.

If you ask me to give those names, permit me to still keep them where we keep them behind the scene. Because at the crucial time their faces will be out and you will know who they are.
But if you are asking me if I am adding any value, if that is the question, politics is a game of number. Someone said, he has no political structure and I said, you didn’t build your own in one day either. There was the first day that the man who has political structure also stepped in without structure. Where was your political structure when Nigeria was sliding into precipice. And when I rose and people said you can’t pull it through, I remember the ACF person, Shettima Yerima, he said don’t go to Abuja to protest, stay in Lagos where you have people; but you do not know what we have done over the years building networks across this country.

There is no part of this country, no zone that we are not represented. If politics is the game of number, Dr Akingba pointed us in the right direction when he said, are you raising credible people to vote for unreasonable men. Look at the last voter’s registration, Lagos State has the highest number, 6 something million people is it because Lagosians are aware? We knew what we did. SNG started what we call VEAC-Voters Education Awareness Campaign. We sent 10 men to every ward to knock at people’s doors to bring them out. Those we have on our data will shock you.

Also in our deliberation, we decided that there was no point wasting our energy and resources. Fashola is good in Lagos. You can’t beat Fashola in the next election except if the Almighty decides otherwise. So, instead of you looking for one candidate that is not going anywhere and you waste your resources around him, let’s build party structure. Let’s build a Unilateral Strategic Alliance, USA, go to such governors and , say ‘here are our people, they will vote for you, we want you also to help our own cause so that when it comes to presidency, we will have such collaboration’. And we know we don’t want them involved in any anti party activity. We don’t want that.

But nobody has monopoly over South-West right now. It is so open. And we are going to do what people don’t do. We are not going to win this battle just on the pages of newspapers, just as much as we need the press. We need the press so that what we are doing is communicated accurately out there. We need the Press to also showcase some of the things behind what we are doing and what we stand for.

What our government can do for the people of Nigeria. And there is no place in Nigeria that the Press is so powerful like in the South West. But we are not going to be paper tigers like you call them. It is not just going to be television appearances. We are going to the people where they are. And that is why after the flag-off, you are not likely going to see us doing rallies and doing fashion parade.

I told them at the NN24 debate, you see how many times (President) Jonathan has changed clothes, it is because he is conducting a farewell party across Nigeria. That’s all. Let him enjoy it. We don’t have time for that. We are rolling our sleeves to go to where the people are, in the hinterland, in rural areas, everywhere to give them hope.

Many years I transverse this county going from campus to campus, there is no university in Nigeria, except the ones just being established that have no foundation, no classrooms, I went to all those universities to begin to raise new generations. We call them, a new breed without greed. If you are asking about people and numbers, you will be shocked at the right time.





http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/politics/2011/mar/23/politics-23-03-2011-001.htm

Super Eagles manager Samson Siasia’s hopes of a rock-solid rearguard with Nedum Onuoha the powerhouse during Nigeria’s two-legged 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia were dashed on Tuesday after the Sunderland star insisted he was not interested in playing for Nigeria now.



The defensive frailties which have haunted the Eagles since the likes of Uche Okechukwu, Austin Eguavoen, Taribo West and Ben Iroha quit the stage may have forced Siasia to mount pressure on former England junior international Onuoha to pledge his international future to Nigeria.



Fenerbahce’s Joseph Yobo is arguably the only quality player in the heart of Nigeria’s defence, and Siasia might have planned to add the highly experienced Onuoha.



However, the 24-year-old says he is in no hurry to make a decision on his international future.



“It was dealt with earlier in the season,” Sunderland Echo quoted the player, who was born in Warri, Delta State on Tuesday.



“I won’t be playing for Nigeria this season.



“The chances are I’ll still be on holiday in the summer!”



The European football season ends in May. The Eagles are scheduled to engage the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in the first meeting in Abuja on Sunday. The second leg in Addis Ababa takes place in June.



Siasia said he would no longer persuade Onuoha to commit to Nigeria, saying it was up to the player to make a move.



Reports on Monday had claimed that Siasia was planning to invite Onuoha after facing problems in defence, but Siasia said that was not the case.



“I don’t know where they got that story from, but I have no plans to get in touch with him anymore,” Siasia told KickOffNigeria.com.



“When we spoke last time, he told me he hadn’t made up his mind.



“Since then, we haven’t spoken.



“When he decides what he wants to do, let him call us. The ball is in his court now.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201103233151079

The highly influential Wigan winger Victor Moses and Chelsea midfield star Mikel Obi attracted the attention of the fans at the National Stadium in Abuja when 20 of the 22 invited players for Nigeria’s first leg 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Ethiopia had their first training on Tuesday evening.



Moses decided to defect to the Super Eagles despite playing for England at the U-21 levels after much pressure on the 20-year-old by the Nigeria coach Samson Siasia.



He arrived in the country on Tuesday morning along with Everton’s Victor Anichebe, Mikel and Osaze Odemwingie.



Other players at the training session were Dele Aiyenugba, Sunday Rotimi, Joseph Yobo, Taye Taiwo, Olubayo Adefemi, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Dele Adeleye , Efe Ambrose, Julius Ubido, Joel Obi, and Kalu Uche.



The rest were Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Obinna Nsofor, Obafemi Martins, Ikechukwu Uche, Victor Anichebe and Peter Utaka.



According to the Nigeria Football Federation Chief Media Officer Ademola Olajire, the Norway-based duo of midfielder Fengor Ogude and striker Solomon Okoronkwo, were scheduled to arrive in the country on Tuesday night.



According to Olajire, the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia are expected to hit Abuja on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s encounter at the National Stadium, Abuja.



He said the Ethiopians would have their first training at the stadium on Thursday.



Meanwhile, all invited 15 foreign-based players arrived in Benin City on Tuesday ahead of the the national U-23 team’s 2012 Oly mpic Games qualifier with Equatorial Guinea on Saturday.



Team officials confirmed that with the situation, only 15 domestic League players would be retained, to make for a total of 30.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110323333632

A Nigerian professor, Odunayo Adegboye, has made a breakthrough in vegetable research at Bonn University, Germany.



In the research, Adegboye proved that the Nigerian snake tomato, whose botanical name is Trichosanthes cucumerina, is richer than vine tomato.



He said that people looked down on the plant, grown in South-West, Nigeria, but that research had shown that the plant “does not go sour as quickly as the paste of the vine tomato.”



Adegbooye, who is the Head of Department, Agronomy, Osun State University, Osogbo, said his research had caused snake tomato to be cultivated in Germany.



In his inaugural lecture delivered at Osun State University, Osogbo, on Thursday, Adegboye said that many people were unaware of the potential of snake tomato to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.



He said, “Despite the good qualities of the fruit of snake tomatoes and its wide consumption by poor rural population in Nigeria, many people are not aware of its protective potential against many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cataract.”











http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201103235402739

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has blamed the Senate for the non-resolution of the crisis in the Ogun State House of Assembly.



Bankole, at an interactive session with journalists in Abeokuta on Tuesday, said if the Senate had considered a resolution by the House, the crisis in the state assembly would have been long resolved.



The House had on October 14, 2010 passed a resolution directing the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, to open the “assembly within seven days and provide security to allow members under the leadership of the Speaker, Mr. Tunde Egbetokun, to perform their constitutional duties.”



Relying on “Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution which empowers it to intervenene when an assembly is unable to sit for 181 days each year,’’ the House warned that it would take over the functions of the assembly if the police failed to comply with its directive within seven days.



The Assembly was closed on September 6, 2010 when a group of nine lawmakers loyal to Governor Gbenga Daniel suspended Egbetokun, and 14 others known as the G-15, perceived to be against the governor.



Following the development, Egbetokun wrote letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking their intervention in the crisis. He also requested that the Assembly be reconvened under his leadership.



But Bankole, who fielded questions from journalists at the Iwe Irohin secretariat of the Nigeria Union Journalists, Ogun State council, absolved the House of blame in the non-resolution of the crisis.



The speaker, who did not say if the House passed its resolution to the Senate for concurrence, added that in Edo and Ondo houses of assembly where similar crises happened, the House acted promptly by passing resolutions but the Senate failed to do the same.



He said, ‘If the House of Representatives passers a resolutions and the Senate fails to support such, the resolutions cannot be effective.



“It is our duty to make laws for good governance but not to enforce those laws and even in making laws, we also have our limitations.”



Efforts by one of our correspondents to speak with the Senate spokesman, Mr. Ayogu Eze, on Bankole’s claim proved abortive as calls to his telephone line indicated that it was switched off.



But the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Dr. Olorunibe Mamora, said he was not aware that the House resolution on the Ogun assembly crisis was sent to the Senate.



“If the resolution was sent, it would have been read on the floor and a collective decision would have been taken on it,” he said.



Bankole also said on Tuesday that he considered the series of plots to impeach him as ‘a storm in a tea cup’ since no direct attempt had been made on the floor of the House to oust him.



Bankole said, ‘’I am not aware of any motion moved on the floor of the House to impeach the Speaker of the House of Representatives. If you have one please show me.



“But I am aware that gentlemen like you made (all) sorts of reports based on information you must have received, either from the House or otherwise.



“Until a motion is moved on the floor of the House and the normal process of impeachment followed (signatures and the rest of them), we cannot discuss the issue of impeachment. But I think what had happened in the past was more of storm in a team cup.’’



He also dismissed the allegation that the budget of the National Assembly was overbloated, saying that that of the Central Bank of Nigeria was higher.



The speaker told the journalists that the current National Assembly had made history by making the Executive arm of government accountable and transparent.



“We have made executive accountable and transparent. In the past four budgets that I presided over, we have saved for the country huge sums of money that could be used elsewhere for the development of the country,” Bankole added.



According to him the National Assembly has so far saved the country over N1tn through oversight functions.






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110323742565

Embattled Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, has lost one of his sons according to reports late on Monday night. The son, named Khamis, was killed by a kamikaze Libyan air force pilot. Khamis, 32, was said to have been blown up when the rebel airman crashed his jet into a military compound in Tripoli.



Muammar Gaddafi, who is in hiding in a desert bunker, was devastated by the attack on his son, who ran the feared Khamis brigade of elite troops.



In sick revenge for the Allies’ attacks on Sunday, Gaddafi on Monday, ordered his henchmen to round up innocent women and children as human shields.



Several hundred civilians were being taken to key locations in the capital Tripoli and nearby Misrata to prevent further attacks on his compound.



One resident said: “They are taking people hostage so the resistance cannot engage them.



“They don’t care who they round up but they know once the intelligence services learn there are women and children involved, then they are safe from attack.”



Sources claimed Gaddafi’s sixth son died at a hospital in Tripoli from burn wounds, but the regime quickly denied the reports.



The tyrant’s sons in Tripoli include Saif al-Islam, 38, who claims to be the leader of the modernising wing in the family and regularly appears on TV.



Saif has travelled widely and wrote his PhD thesis at the London School of Economics on the role of civil society in democratisation.



Saadi Gaddafi, 37, was once a professional footballer in Malta and Italy, but he re-emerged as head of the Libyan special forces.



Mutassim, 33, is Gaddafis fourth son but possibly the most powerful, holding the position of national security adviser.



Security experts believe the biggest threat to Gaddafi could come from those closest to him.



MI6 agents on the ground will be actively tapping up Gaddafi’s aides, hoping for a tip-off to his location or future movements.



A senior American military official told Reuters Monday that the results of a British airstrike on Gaddafi’s compound over the weekend were not clear, adding that the attack did not directly target the Libyan leader but was aimed at hurting the regime’s military capabilities.



However, on Monday British Defense Secretary, Liam Fox, suggested that Gaddafi could be directly attacked. “Mission accomplished would mean the Libyan people free to control their own destiny,” he said.



“This is very clear - the international community wants his regime to end and wants the Libyan people to control for themselves their own country.”



Meanwhile, An American fighter jet crashed in Libya’s rebel held east, with both crew ejecting safely as the aircraft spun from the sky during the third night of the US and European air campaign.



The crash was the first major loss for US and European forces, which over three nights appear to have hobbled Gaddafi’s air defenses and artillery and rescued the rebels from impending defeat.



But the opposition force, with more enthusiasm than discipline, has struggled to exploit the gains.



Gaddafi’s forces shelled rebels trying to regroup in the dunes outside a key eastern city on Tuesday, and his snipers and tanks roamed the last major opposition-held city in the west.



The international alliance, too, has shown fractures as officials struggle to articulate an endgame.



The plane crashed on Monday at 2130 GMT (5:30 p.m. EDT), said Vince Crawley, a spokesman for US Africa Command. The US Air Force F-15E came down in field of winter wheat and thistles outside the town of Bu Mariem, about 24 miles east of the rebel capital of Benghazi.



A Marine Corps Osprey search and rescue aircraft retrieved the pilot, while the second crew member, a weapon’s officer, was recovered by rebel forces and is now in American hands, another US official said in Washington. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110323630167