₦airaland Forum

Arik Air, Nigeria’s largest commercial carrier has condemned other domestic airlines in the country for complying with the ‘pay as you go’ mode of payment introduced by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for terminal navigational charges.

The airline argued that the charges were illegal and not approved by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), so the other carriers were unprofessional in going back on the agreement reached by their association.

“We believe they (other carriers) have brought the demise of AON (Airline Operators of Nigeria) by their actions. A meeting was held, everybody agreed and they went back,” said Ararume Johnson, Chairman Arik Air at the weekend during the airline’s unveiling of its fuel depot at its headquarters in Lagos.

The airline operators last week Sunday agreed not to fulfil the demands of the airspace agency, but after the management agency threatened to withdraw its services from debtor airlines, other carriers, apart from Arik, immediately complied. The mandate by the agency affected Arik’s general domestic operations for a whole day as the airline was grounded and all its 120 local flights cancelled.

According to Mr. Johnson, a committee has been set up by the president to look into the issues surrounding the navigational charges, stressing that though the airline was encouraged by the presidency to make a “deposit” of N50 million with the airspace agency, it will only work by the stipulated principles of the civil aviation regulatory body.

“That committee is working and we are very sure that very soon the outcome of that committee will be made known,” he said.

“But one thing is clear, Arik is right; we will not operate illegally even if other people can do whatever is unprofessional, we will not do it; we will operate within the laws as demonstrated by the regulatory authority. NCAA is the final authority on aviation in this country and whatever they did not approve, we will not do so.” Commenting on the development, Chris Ndulue, executive vice president of the airline said that the new terminal navigational charge has to be approved by the NCAA as “specified in Section 30, subsection 2(p) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006.” Meanwhile, the airline’s boss said the that the carrier’s fuel storage facility is aimed at providing enhanced services for travellers, adding that with the development, the airline will get its Jet-A1 directly for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“We believe that life does not have duplicate and we want to ensure that we give people the best services that they need which would make them to enjoy flying and not to endure flying,” he said. “There is a difference between enjoying flying and enduring it because people carry their hearts in their minds when flying.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5615465-146/we_were_betrayed_says_arik_.csp

THERE are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to strike a deal with leaders of key militant groups in the Niger Delta to strengthen his chances of winning the South-South zone if he decides to run in the 2011 presidential election.

Indications to this effect emerged in the light of efforts by leaders of the militants, who had given up on the government amnesty initiative to engage presidential aspirants from the North in exploratory talks on how to fit into their presidential programmes.

Two leaders of militant groups which surrendered arms in the wake of the Federal Government’s amnesty had arrived in Abuja last week to hold talks with northern presidential aspirants, including General Ibrahim Babangida and General Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigerian Tribune learnt through aides of the aspirants that the militants complained that they were not being consulted by President Jonathan.

The militant heads were said to have canvassed a view that their full participation in the ongoing political process would enhance their resolve to finally discard the toga of militancy, just as they reportedly expressed dismay that their efforts to dissolve into the campaign programme of President Jonathan were not being appreciated.

It is not certain which specific roles the militants desired to play in the presidential campaigns of the aspirants, whom they reportedly met. However, it was disclosed that tentative agreements were reached by the campaign team of General Buhari that they should make a bold appearance during his inaugural campaign summit scheduled to take place in Abuja any moment from now.

Checks within the IBB campaign organisation revealed that none of the militant leaders was able to meet the Minna general in person, but reportedly met his aides in Abuja and told them about their desire to feature in his campaign programmes.

When the militants met with the representatives of the ex-president recently, Nigerian Tribune gathered that they vowed to support him if he agreed to a one-term tenure and hand over power to a candidate from the South-South geopolitical zone in 2015.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that Babangida was told to rescind his decision of handing over to a candidate from the South-East, choose a vice-president from South-South, implement the white paper of the Ledun Mittee committee and create additional states in the South-South geopolitical zone.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the militants were working with notable South-South governors, who were said to be working underground for different northern presidential aspirants following their irreconcilable differences with President Jonathan.


http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/paperfrmes.html

All that is needed to stop this devilish act is only a bloody revolution where all those in power in past and present that have link to fraud should be killed and all their asset frozen. That will send a message to other would be government official that its no longer business as usual.

Harassed and cornered by public outrage over their jumbo pay, members of the National Assembly are desperately weaving a scheme to protect other allowances, an investigation has shown.

Under the new dispensation, legislators have agreed to halt the collection of the ex-legal payments, hitherto hidden under a sardonic pay head called “office running cost”, according to sources familiar with the new arrangement.

Legislators arrived at this mind shift, according to the sources, at a meeting of some members of the House of Representative, in Abuja on Saturday, June 19.

NEXT found out that in order to ensure they retain their pay haul, the lawmakers have decided to “re-channel their money into committees, which is then distributed to members on committee basis in a way that each member will still get the amount that is due to him.” One of the attendees at the meeting, who spoke off record, said the legislators were already getting wary about the noise their allowances are generating and have decided to ‘re-strategize.’ “They (the legislators) are worried about the public outcry, especially over the extra budgetary allowance each honourable gets. You know the senators also get their own. So, since all legislators belong to at least one committee, the idea now is to re-channel the money into committees and ensure that each person still gets his money,” he said. “You know that committee budget, expenses and allowances are approved by the legislators themselves.”

“Office running cost” and committee allowances

Each member of the House of Representatives already gets an RMAFC unapproved N35 million naira each as “office running cost.” “The money is broken down. I can’t recollect all now, but I remember that when I checked in 2007, each of us was getting about 500, 000 naira per quarter as stationery allowance,” the source said.

The source also confirmed that before the decision to divert the office running cost to committees, the various committees were already a way for them to make money.

“There is already enough money to be made from the committees. Do you know that we get our “overseas trip allowances” up front? So, if there is a budget of N5 million for each member of a committee to travel overseas for a quarter, you get the money up front. So whether you eventually go with other members for the tour or not, you already have your money, even if all the trips eventually get sponsored,” the source said.

Secrecy required

Unlike in the United Kingdom, where all the entitled salaries and allowances of the parliamentarians are made public and even put on the parliament’s website, that of the Nigerian National Assembly is not made public.

The annual basic salary of members of the House of Commons for example is 65, 738 pounds (1.6 million naira), though chairmen of select committees and ministers in the government earn more.

Also unlike in Nigeria where each representative earns N500,000 a quarter, totalling N2 million a year for stationery (it is higher for senators), whether he/she buys the stationery or not; in the UK, the stationery is bought centrally, with each parliamentarian entitled to receive from the common pool to the tune of 7,000 pounds (1.75 million).

Efforts to speak with House spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, were unsuccessful. But the Senate spokesperson, Ayogu Eze, refused to be drawn into the matter.

“What do you want to know about the issue of the office running cost. Your newspaper has been publishing fiction about the matter,” he said.

When NEXT explained that this was the opportunity for him to clear the air over it, particularly as we understand that the money has been diverted into committees, he said, “I’m not inclined to speak on this matter. Your newspaper published that the matter is in court. Let us wait for the outcome of the court process.” He then politely said farewell.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5614796-146/lawmakers_design_scheme_to_hide_jumbo.csp

For me OGD was excellent in his first term,his achievements are all over the state.Perhaps the politics of the state hindered a continuation of this feat.As for Dr Salako,am inclined to think his candidacy is divine like Goodluck.we wait and see how it plays out.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kunle Salako, has said he is not contesting the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state in order to cover up any alleged misdeeds of the incumbent governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.



Salako, who stated this while declaring his intention to contest the party‘s governorship ticket, on Friday in Abeokuta, said Daniel had not pushed him forward to contest as being widely speculated in the state.



The commissioner, a medical practitioner, who had also manned the Ministry of Housing and Agriculture under the current administration , is believed to enjoy a tremendous political goodwill of the governor, a factor many believed would be crucial in his political calculations.



Salako, however, dismissed the insinuation, saying the political realities in the country had made god-fatherism an unattractive political equation in the country.



He said, ”We have seen what has happened in the country in terms of god father and god child in this country. We have seen where those involved have parted ways; almost all cases in this country. Even if you put your wife in charge, her action will be dictated by the realities on the ground. So, I‘m not fronting for the governor; the truth is there is no way that I will be contesting without informing him being my principal.



”I have carried out my assessment; I have carried out a soul searching; I have spoken to my God and I‘m convinced that I have the goodwill and the qualities to make a success of this assignment. So, I‘m not here or contesting for the governorship because I want to cover up OGD; I‘m not contesting to witch-hunt anybody. My aim is to take Ogun State to the next level.”



Salako explained that his focus would be to leverage on the geographical advantages the state had by being the only state that surrounds Lagos on all sides, to fast-track the economic and industrial development of the state.



”Four of our local governments here surround Lagos: Ifo, Obafemi Owode, Ado Odo/Ota and Sagamu. This is very strategic. What we need to do is to capitalize on this to ensure rapid growth of the communities in Ogun,” said the commissioner, who added that the state was blessed with adequate natural resources.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009051412010

What does IBB know about constitution or the rule of law? Where is MKO Abiola? Where is Dele Giwa? I wonder what our "ball-less" President is waiting for before he can have the Attorney general make IBB to answer for his numerous crimes. Jonathan must know that if he doesn't take IBB down; IBB will take him down as soon as he gets a chance. History does not lie. Jonathan must learn from what IBB did to Buhari, Idiagbon, Dele Giwa, MKO, the numerous Army Officers in the Ejigbo plane crash; to name a few. We need to desist from being "A mule of forgiveness".

Former head of state and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has said the party must explain its position on the zoning arrangement ahead of the 2011 presidential election.

Mr. Babangida, who was speaking in Kano over the weekend, said it is ambiguous for the party to say it believes in zoning and at the same time encourage candidates from all regions to run.

“The party must explain itself on its stand, because it is ambiguous to say that every person will contest the presidency as well as also accepting or believing in the concept of zoning, it must clarify its stand,” Mr Babangida said.

He said that the PDP has laid down rules and regulations, which ought to be adhered to and respected by all members irrespective of their positions, saying that the zoning arrangement was one of the principles governing the affairs of the party.

“Zoning must be respected by all member of the party as it has been enshrined in its constitution. The party has the right to formulate rules and regulations for its members which should be respected by all; the party is superior to any other persons,” he said.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5615432-146/babangida_asks_pdp_to_clarify_position.csp

Mr info commissioner,are reacting from your trip in Dubai?or what?It is quite unfortunate that Oni appointed you and Mr cowboy(the drunkard of the year)as his image makers. You choose to enrich your pockets instead of promoting the laudable projects of mr Gov.on radio and t.v both (local and network).God will jugde you.

Former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for insisting that governorship election will take place in the state in January 2011.



The electoral body had, in an advertorial in some national newspapers, said that governorship polls would not hold in January 2011 in Rivers, Edo, Ondo and Anambra States because their governors took the oath of office at a time different from the others.



But Oni has since kicked against this comment from INEC saying his tenure started counting after he was inaugurated following the controversial supplementary poll held in April 25, 2009.



But one of his predecessors who is now a chieftain of the Labour Party, Fayose, said that INEC’s comment on the election date was a confirmation of the ruling of the Federal High Court, Jos, that Oni’s tenure would expire on May 28, 2011.



Fayose, who spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Ado-Ekiti said that Oni had known that his tenure would end in 2011 if he could survive the appeal filed by Dr Kayode Fayemi of the Action Congress of Nigeria against his victory. Fayose said that the governor just feigned surprise at the advertorial because he was aware that he would either be sacked by the court or by the people through their votes.



He said, “ Oni has no case at all. He should not pretend that he is shocked. The INEC’s advert is just a reminder of the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos that Oni’s tenure would end in 2011.



“ His case is peculiar and it is a shame that he is afraid of election. He has spent close to four years and he is surprisingly afraid of an election. Either way, I am set for the election. If he survives Dr Fayemi at the appeal, I will sack him at the poll. I have told my people to begin to celebrate my victory in advance. I will return to the Government House in Ado-Ekiti as the governor in 2011.”



Also, the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ekiti State has described the comment of the INEC of the election time in the state as a welcome development.



The Director of Communication of the party, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Ado-Ekiti, said that although the party was okay with the INEC’s comment on when governorship election would be conducted in the state, the party was optimistic that Oni would be sacked by the Court of Appeal before the election time.



Adaramodu said, “We have an appeal against Oni victory at the court. He will be sent parking by the Court of Appeal before the election date. But the INEC’s advert is confirming the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos which said that Oni’s tenure expires next year.



“There is no tenure elongation for Oni because it will be wrong to make him to benefit from his sins by elongating his tenure.”



However, the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun, while reacting to the electoral body’s comment, said that the state government would not allow anybody to sneak into the Government House through the backdoor.



The commissioner said this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.



He said, “There should be no contention on the issue which is a constitutional matter. The case is still in court for proper adjudication.



The people from my home town for example, would be disenfranchised if the governor was erroneously forced to vacate office next year as they voted for him to be governor in 2009. It would mean that he would utilise their mandate for only about two years.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100903632678

well done lagos state government, we shall be grateful if this kind of gesture be extended to ikorodu road from yaba to mile 12. eko oni baje o, amen

The Lagos State Government has denied a report that it has terminated the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway into 10 lanes.



In a statement on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, said it was unprogressive for anybody to allege that such a highly beneficial project that would enhance the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians had been terminated.



He noted that substantial progress had been made on the newly constructed bridge at Mile 2, which he said was nearing completion.



A team from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, headed by Johnson, had on Wednesday conducted a media tour of the road and light rail projects being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.



The special adviser said the Orile and Alaba service lanes, which are part of the road project, would be put to use within the next few days.



He said, ”The technology of construction being used by the construction company is the latest in bridge construction. The company has observed the minimum standard of 40 Newton per millimeter square concrete strength, otherwise referred to as grade 40 concrete in local parlance.”



Speaking further on the new bridge technology in the country, the project‘s Resident Engineer, Mr. Samuel Olumuyiwa, said it was economical, faster and relied less on heavy equipment.



He said, ”It involves the launching system done on land and drawn on water by a machine underneath. So, the bridge is cast on land instead of the old technology, where the coaches of the bridge are cast on water.”



JBN‘s Site Manager, Mr. James Casas, said the 170- metre bridge, which is being built on the Festac Canal at Maza Maza area, near Mile 2, was at 72 per cent completion.



He said two bridges would be built on the left and one more on the right to make up for the 10 lanes, which the state government planned on the road.



The lanes now being used by vehicles would be turned to the light rail line at completion of the road project, he said.



The pier for the second bridge on the left is also ready.



In the statement, Johnson assured Lagos residents that the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration would not relent in keeping its words.



He said all projects embarked upon by the administration would be completed within the scheduled time frame.



He said, ”We have done it before and we will continue to deliver first class infrastructural facilities to the good people of Lagos State, because our word is our bond.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010090378300

Mr Nwodo talked about the Niger Delta and telecomms, he cleverly avoided talking about education, roads, water, Agriculture, and could not explain why a aprty contorlled by ex generals cannot guarantee security for nigerians. after 12 of pdp can Mr Nwodo send his wife and children to his village withoout mopol, and he can sleep well? PDP did 1 thing rite but got all others wrong. 1 upon 5 is failure.

The Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday assessed 12 years of its existence, and said that it had not only stabilised the polity, but also put the country on the right path.



In a statement by the PDP‘s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, the National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, said that the party had done well in the past 12 years.



According to the statement issued to mark the 12th anniversary of the party, Nwodo said that the PDP had brought stability to the Nigerian polity,



He added that it was the first party in the history of the country to have nurtured the first ever civilian-to-civilian transition in Nigeria.



The chairman boasted that under the PDP government, the Nigerian economy had witnessed a quantum leap in the last 11 years.



Nwodo, who on behalf of the members of the National Working Committee congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on the party‘s anniversary, said the party had led the nation aright.



He said the PDP was formed on August 31, 1998, by ”great leaders in the country from diverse political ideological, cultural backgrounds, who converged on Abuja, Nigeria‘s capital to launch what has now become the most successful political party in Nigeria‘s history.”



According to him, the reason for the formation of the party was to ”create a political party which would serve as a viable and robust platform that would bring all Nigerians together in the march towards building a new Nigeria rooted in popular democratic governance, transparency and accountability.”



Nwodo added, “Today, that vision of unity and freedom has endured and has continued to grow from strength to strength.



”Due to the sustenance of this dream, the electoral fortunes of the Party have continued to improve over the years.



”The Presidency of Nigeria has remained in the hands of the PDP since 1999. From our initial control of 21 states at the governorship level, the party now has 29 state governors.



”The PDP also has 96 out of the 109 Senators and over 260 out of the 360 members of the Federal House of Representatives.



”The party is now the beautiful bride of Nigerian politics with prominent Nigerians joining on a daily basis.”



He said that the PDP-led Federal Government had brought succour to the ordinary Nigerian by resolving the Niger Delta crisis through the instrumentality of the amnesty programmes, which he claimed had remained a reference point in conflict resolution worldwide.



Nwodo boasted that under the party, Nigeria had witnessed an unprecedented telecommunications revolution, adding that statistics in the sector had shown that Nigeria was currently one of the fastest growing communication markets in the world.



He expressed optimism that the President had made the provision of electricity the cardinal principle of his administration and that by personally driving the process, there was hope that the log jam would soon be unlocked.



But in separate reactions, the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Campaign for Democracy, said that the PDP had wasted 11 years of democracy in Nigeria.



The National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said, ”When you start telling yourself lies, you will end up believing it. How can they say they‘ve stabilised the economy when there is unemployment of unimaginable proportions?



“There is insecurity all over the land and infrastructure in a state of decay. What they should do is to take some time to be introspective and apologise to Nigerians for wasting their time and also promise never to stay in office forever.



“In economy, infrastructure and other areas, they have failed Nigerians. There is one thing you can‘t take away from them. That is, they have been able to douse the Niger Delta issue. I can tell you that if we had been in power, we would have been able to find lasting a solution to the problem instead.”



According to him, the PDP has wasted the opportunity to put Nigeria in the comity of developed nations.



He stated that the only area of achievement of the party was the amnesty granted to militants in the Niger Delta.



He said, ”Twelve years of the PDP in power, I do not think Nigerians have benefited anything commensurate with the resources available to them and rather than celebrating, I think they should apologise to Nigerians for the wasted opportunity.



”The only credit one can give to them is the fact that the late President Umaru Yar‘Adua was able to douse, not completely, the Niger-Delta crisis.”



Also, the President of CD, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said that PDP’s 12 years of existence and 11 years in power were wasted.



According to her, what the PDP can showcase are failed promises and wasted opportunities.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100903653526

It's going to be a long weekend come next week

The presidential ambition of Goodluck Jonathan for the 2011 elections has received a boost from the National Reformation Party (NRP) led by Anthony Enahoro, which said the need for a renewed obligation to nation-building and his constitutional right empowered him to contest.

In a communiqué issued and signed by Soni Chukwumah at the end of its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Benin City, the NRP said it foresaw a glimmer of hope in President Jonathan’s personal conduct and devoted approach so far exhibited in critical sectors of energy and power generation, as well as his restated global commitment to conduct free, fair and credible elections in our country in 2011.

The party recalled that its foundation was based on the desire of patriots drawn from all parts of Nigeria and the diaspora to arouse reforms that would transform the country into a modern nation-state as envisioned by the founding nationalists.

“To this end, it affirmed its position that parliamentary federalism was the driving force for the growth of critical regional sectors that came before unitary system was imposed on the country to the country’s collective disadvantage till date,” the party said.

The meeting, which was presided over by Mr Enahoro, said any patriotic leadership with practical commitment to advancing the course of true federalism and welfare of Nigerians would bring fulfilment to Mr Enahoro’s lifetime persuasions.

Jonathan versus Babangida

Meanwhile, political tension is building in Edo State, as supporters of Mr Jonathan and those of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida trade words over the suitability of their candidates for office.

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Albert Legogie, had last Monday in Benin City, declared that Mr Babangida was the best candidate of the PDP owing to his experience and numerous achievements while he was military president of the country.

But the immediate past deputy governor of the state and coordinator of the President Goodluck Jonathan campaign in Edo State, Lucky Imasuen, described the claim as laughable.

“They are supporters of IBB; therefore, they have the right to support him anyway. But Nigerians are very civilized now. IBB is a great man, and he was president of this nation for eight years. But the question is what else he wants to achieve for the nation. I read Legogie saying that IBB helped in laying foundation for the nation’s democracy, but I remember that this same man singlehandedly annulled the freest and fairest election in this country,” Mr Imasuen said.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5614236-147/enahoros_party_to_adopt_jonathan_.csp

ANARCHY already sets in Here is a man supposed to preserve and defend the the Law of the land, suddenly he’s now the LAW, nothing can touch him, MR. double 007, licensed to kill at will. Jonathan should fire this criminal immediately, what in a hell does he think he is. This is one of the main reasons why the country refuses to improve, PERIOD.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, on Thursday failed to appear before an Abuja High Court, which had issued a bench warrant for his arrest over alleged contempt.



The court had on Monday ordered the arrest of the IG over his alleged refusal to appear before it in respect of the unlawful detention of two police corporals, Onyebuchi Eze and Kenneth Chikwe.



But Justice Olukayode Adeniyi ordered the Federal Capital Territory of the Nigeria Police Command, to ensure that Onovo was arrested and produced in court on Tuesday. Onovo and two of his surbordinates: a Commissioner of Police in-charge of Special Investigation Unit and Chief Superintendent of Police Audu Abel, had allegedly disobeyed four different court orders served on August 9, 12, 18 and 20, 2010, for Eze’s bail.



The corporal, who was found to be suffering from acute appendicitis, was recommended for surgery. The judge, who was not happy that its order for Onovo to be arrested and produced in court on Thursday, however, acceded to a request by the lawyer to the police and IG’s representative, Mr. Henry Njoku.



The lawyer, who is a Chief Superintendent of Police, pleaded for more time to enable the force to sort out the matter. Njoku, who had maintained that Onovo would not intentionally show contempt for its orders, added that the police authorities got to know about the pendency of the suit as well as the warrant of arrest against the IG in The PUNCH.



“My Lord, I was at the registry of this court yesterday (Wednesday) after reading the publication. The Registrar, Mr. Malik, then showed me a bench warrant directed against the IG, and informed me that a copy of it was served on the FCT Police Command for eventual execution.



“I think, my Lord, that there is an avoidable lacuna in respect of this case; as the respondent will not do anything intentionally to undermine the honour and integrity of this court in particular and the judiciary in general. In the circumstance, my Lord, we most humbly and passionately apply for a very brief adjournment to enable us to regularise appearance and perfect the orders of this court.



“With regards to Section 36 of the 1999 constitution, it will amount to a great injustice if the respondents are not given fair hearing in this case,” he said.



But the applicants’ lawyer, Mr. Asekome Oteiku, while refuting claims by the force that it was yet to be properly informed about the order, urged the court to ensure strict compliance with its orders.



Delivering his short ruling after listening to lawyers to both parties, Justice Adeniyi said, “There is enough proof before me to show that the warrant of arrest issued against the IG of Police on August 30, was duly served on the FCT Police Command. However, I shall in the over-stretched interest of justice, accede to this request, though grudgingly; but at least nobody from today can claim ignorance of this order.



“This case bears on the issue of life and death and Order 4, Rule 3 of this court calls for its speedy disposal. The constitution does not give anybody, no matter who he is, the right to keep Nigerian citizens in custody indefinitely.



“The law that made him (the IG) is no respecter of anybody; I am guided by the procedures of this court and he must also be properly guided. The records before me show that he was properly served. Consequently, I hereby set down this case till September 7 to await the compliance of the respondent.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009032535231

Bolton have terminated the contract of Super Eagles defender Danny Shittu.



The 30-year-old signed a three-year deal with the Trotters when he moved to the Reebok Stadium from Watford for a reported £2m fee in August 2008.



The big defender made 12 appearances in his first season at Bolton but he fell down the pecking order and did not feature for the first team last season.



However, the centre-back was still named in Nigeria‘s 2010 World Cup squad and played in all three of their Group B games in South Africa.



Shittu, who is also part of Nigeria‘s squad for the African Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar in Calabar, began his career as a trainee at Charlton, moved in 2002 to Queens Park Rangers after he impressed during a loan spell.



He played more than 160 games for the QPR before moving to Watford for £1.6m in the summer of 2006.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009035295592

Nigeria on Thursday requested for increased support from the European Union and other development partners for a successful election in 2011.



President Goodluck Jonathan made the request while receiving the new EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria, Mr. David Macrae.



The President said that the Federal Government was aware of the great importance of the elections to the future stability of Nigeria.



The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Jonathan said the government would welcome more assistance from the EU and Nigeria’s other development partners for the success of the elections.



The President told Macrae, who was at the Presidential Villa to present his letters of credence, that the Federal Government also recognised that because of Nigeria’s strategic importance in Africa, the international community had a keen interest in the general elections.



“The elections are very important and your concerns are genuine. Nigeria is very important globally because of its huge population, amongst other factors. A stable Nigeria will foster stability in West Africa and the rest of Africa. Successful elections next year will help us achieve greater political stability and we will appreciate further assistance from the EU for the elections,” he said.



Also on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan received the letters of credence of the new Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Mr. Kyle O’Sullivan, and the new Australian High Commissioner, Mr. Ian McConille.



At separate audiences with the new envoys, he called for improved economic cooperation between Nigeria and their countries, saying that Nigeria particularly wished to learn from Australia’s expertise in the commercial exploitation of solid minerals.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009035544493

This is just confusion. I think this matter was settled, Siasia was selected as coach and they were in the midst of a contractual negotiation. Maybe this man has somebody in mind for the post. I think HIS election should be nullified or we are due for another disappointment in 4 years. Unbelievable.

What do you get when you put someone that is to breed cow in charge of football

The Nigeria Football Federation says the post of Super Eagles coach will now be advertised while elections into the local government and state football bodies will hold in December.



At its inaugural meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the NFF also suspended the commencement of the 2010/2011 Nigeria Premier League season, which was scheduled for September 25.



Briefing the media on the meeting’s seven-point communiqué, a member of the new executive committee, Mr Chris Green, said the decisions were part of efforts to streamline NFF’s activities.



“The vacant position of Super Eagles’ chief coach is to be advertised and filled by October 1, and in this regard everybody, including foreign coaches, is free to apply,’’ he said.



The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this resolution reversed the decision of the immediate past NFF executive committee which had already commenced contractual negotiations with former Eagles striker Samson Siasia.



Green explained why the body suspended the NPL season.



“We also took this measure so as to iron out all outstanding issues in order to ensure a smooth take-off of the league,’’ he said.



The NPL board had earlier in the day met to reaffirm the September 25 date and further outlined its preparations for the new season.



The NFF dissolved all its standing committees and promised to constitute new ones soon. It also deliberated on elections at state and local government levels.



“Elections into the local government councils and state football associations shall be conducted in the month of December, 2010,‘‘ Green said.



The decision on local and state levels’ elections was in line with the promise by new NFF President Aminu Maigari in his inaugural speech.



The controversy generated over elections at the state and local government levels had led to calls for a postponement of the NFF elections.



The inaugural meeting, which was held at NFF secretariat, was attended by 10 of the 11 members elected into the new executive committee on August 26.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009035274271

•This man is a shameless idiot. I know he will still be working with PDP to get his families into thier cabinet. Politicts of self enrichment is mainly the problem of some people. Apology to few good ones.

The Chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, on Thursday handed over to a seven-man Transition Management Committee, which would run the party until its convention scheduled for September 16-18.



The tenure of the controversial chairman is expected to expire on Monday. This was one of the decisions taken at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting, which held in Abuja.



The party also said that its presidential candidate for the 2011 election would emerge through consensus, while others would be decided through direct primaries.



The party also reappointed Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Geidam as the chairman of the Convention Planning Committee while a former Minister of Interior, Alhaji Abdullaraman Adamu, would head the party’s TMC.



Geidam was the chairman of the former convention committee, which was dissolved at the NEC meeting. Other members of the convention committee are Chief Razak Folarunso(Secretary), who replaced Livinus Nwambe.



The erstwhile secretary has pitched his tent with an ANPP faction, which sacked Ume-Ezeoke’s led National Working Committee last Friday. Four motions were said considered at the meeting, which included the setting up of a caretaker committee to act for the NWC, following the expiration of the tenure of its members.



The second motion was for the dissolution and reconstitution of the former convention committee. The party claimed that the former committee was a product of the defunct NWC and since its tenure had ended, there was the need to reconstitute a new one.



But a member of the ANPP faction, Vitalis Ajumbe, told newsmen that the decisions taken at Thursday’s meeting were illegal, since his group had sacked Ume-Ezeoke’s executive.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009036422045

BUHARI is a great man. What i understand about him is that he wants free and fiar election. Going to presidential villa ,it show that he is man of peace. he can go any where he likes , he is not killer like IBB.

The presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday in Kaduna said he did not hold any discussion with President Goodluck Jonathan on the 2011 elections during his visit on Monday to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.



Buhari, however, said he had no doubt that Jonathan would ensure the conduct of credible elections next year, stating that the President’s participation in the poll would not affect its conduct.



He assured that he would back any government put in place as a result of free and fair elections conducted in the country.



The former military head of state also vowed to continue his fight against election rigging by politicians, to protect the nation’s democracy.



Buhari, who spoke during a Kaduna State Radio programme, “Vision Nigeria,” explained that his visit to the Presidential Villa was informed by the invitation extended to him by Jonathan to break his fast there.



He added they didn’t discuss the forthcoming elections while the meeting lasted.



He observed that although it was normal for two leaders to discuss issues affecting the well-being of their nation, he and the President did not do so.



“I went there to honour the President’s invitation to break my fast. There were about 20 people there. We did not talk on any issue.



“Right from my car, I went straight to the breakfast table; and after that, I went back to my car and left. So, I don’t know where people got the idea that we discussed. That is not true,” he said.



Buhari also recalled that he spent 50 months in the courts challenging the conduct of both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections, because the results of both reports by local and international observers said they were fraught with irregularities.



He noted that when the Supreme Court declared the late President Umaru Yar’Adua as the winner of the 2007 presidential election, his fate in the Nigerian judiciary was shaken.



He, however, added that since the Supreme Court was the nation’s highest court, there was nothing anybody could about such a judgment.



He argued that the conduct of credible elections was not the responsibility of candidates. It said it was the responsibility of Nigerians, especially the elite, to deliver credible election results to the people.



“If people are well informed and well led by their constituencies, I don’t think we should be afraid about whoever wants to contest, including the President himself. I always bring the case of Bauchi, Kano and Lagos.



“When the elite there believed in changing the government, they mobilised their constituencies and they changed the government. If the governance of those states eventually becomes something else, it is a different matter.



“But the fact is that the capacity to organise and deliver is there and the elite must take it this time around,” he said.



Buhari declared that steps taken so far by the President, including the nomination and appointment of Prof. Attahiru Jega as the chairman of the Independent National Commission, the signing of the Electoral Act 2010 and the release of funds to the electoral body were clear indications that he was ready to fulfill his promise of conducting credible polls next year.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009032403034

Wednesday is going to be 29th of Ramadan and if Allah will the moon is sighted by that night then eid will be thursday but if not (the moon is not sighted)then eid will be friday. anyway it goes, thank you Mr. Jonathan but two days is not enough

The Federal Government has declared next week Thursday and Friday as public holidays to mark this year’s eid-el-fitr celebration, which ends the holy month of Ramadan.



This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Assistant Director (Press), Federal Ministry of Interior. Mr. Timothy Oyedeji.



The statement quoted the Interior Minister, Mr. Emmanuel Iheanacho, as advising all Muslims to use the occasion to pray fervently for peaceful co-existence and progress of the country.



He said this was important, especially as the 2011 general elections were fast approaching.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009032495718

"COLLECTIVE AMNESIA” Hennn That was how Oluwole Soyinka described 150 million poverty stricken Nigerians well, if Wole is not part of collective amnesia, we still want to know who killed Commerade “Cicero” Bola Ige, Wole Soyinka’s alleged long lost brother. Wole, remember at the National Stadium, you promised to RELEASE the names, and sources of those that killed your brother, or we are witnessing a replica of Apostles Peter promises to Jesus Christ before he went to the gallows.

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, on Thursday, asked Nigerians to await the results of the 2011 poll before condemning the Federal Government‘s approach to making the exercise hitch-free.



Soyinka gave the advice in an interview with journalists after delivering a lecture on ‘Culture and Politics’ at the opening of the first international conference on culture organised by the Ondo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism.



He said that since Jonathan had assured that he would make the poll free and fair, Nigerians should watch and see how he would achieve that.



The playwright said, “He (Jonathan) seems determined that the elections will be free and fair. The decorations are marvelous but we are waiting to see the results.”



Soyinka also urged the press to stop portraying the internal policy of a single political party as the political policy of the country.



The Laureate was apparently referring to the Peoples Democratic Party zoning policy which had generated heated debates in the country.



Soyinka said, “The press should stop making the internal policy of a political party to be the policy of the nation.



“There is this habit in the media which tries to turn the internal practices of a particular party to mean the constitutional rights of the nation. That is wrong.”



He had while delivering the lecture said that a better way to promote and nurture democracy in Nigeria was for the people to respect and uphold their culture.



The author, who paid glowing tributes to the late former Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, and a celebrated Yoruba literature icon, the late Daniel Fagunwa, noted with concern that lack of respect for traditional values was affecting democracy in Nigeria.



He lamented a situation where people, rather than question the sources of the “sudden wealth” of certain individuals in the society, ended up celebrating and electing them into positions of authority.



Soyinka also said the use of thugs to disrupt elections, kidnappings and all forms of social vices were threats to the nation’s democracy.



“After about three decades of military rule in the country, the civilian administrations in the last 11 years were yet to restore civility to our system,” he said.



He added that despite the rich culture of the various Nigerian tribes which frowned on celebrating mediocrity, the architects of Nigerians’ woes were currently being celebrated.



Soyinka, who did not mention names of such individuals, however, stated that majority of them who should be in jail were now major players in the nation’s political sphere.



He lamented the death of Ige and the celebration of one of the alleged suspects in his death, whom he said was currently being supported by some people to become the next governor of his state.



Soyinka said, “I advised the late Ige to accept the appointment as the Power and Steel minister because I knew he had the solution to the energy crisis in the country then.



“The hawks in the system threw in the spanner and he was taken to the Justice ministry where he was humiliated out of the system through a brutal death carried out in his bedroom.”



The Nobel laureate, who said he was putting finishing touches to the translation of the work of the late Fagunwa, “Irinkerindo ninu Igbo Olodumare”, into English, said the diabolical characters in the work were manifesting in the nation’s political system.



The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, urged Nigeria to defend their votes during next year’s elections.



Dignitaries at the occasion include Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; Chief Olu Falae, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Dr. Olu Agunloye, and Prof. Tunde Babawale.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009036514867

My Heart (Olubukola) I will always love u.

Men the guy is good