₦airaland Forum

May her soul rest in peace.I will like to recount my experience last December on a similar delta flight from Atlanta to Lagos.I am a medical practitioner and my specialty is Surgical Oncology.In this fateful flight, a 7080years old Nigerian woman flew unaccompanied by any of her relation.She was blind, had just recovered from a CVA (Stroke). One hr after tke off,she became dizzy and confused. I had to attend to her throughout the flight to Lagos. Who are we to blame? Airline or relations?

Delta Airlines on Monday said a female passenger was found dead on one of its flights from Atlanta, United States to Lagos.



Delta sources said the 57-year-old passenger was accompanied by her son when she died on Monday. The Associated Press quoted the American carrier’s Corporate Communications Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ms. Olivia Cullis, as saying that the passenger was found unresponsive early Monday aboard Delta Flight 53, about an hour out of Atlanta and about 11 hours from the time it took off.



Delta said it could not provide the passenger’s identity due to privacy restriction laws. Cullis added, “Approximately an hour from Atlanta, the crew of Flight 53 alerted flight operations that a passenger was unresponsive and had no vital signs. The flight landed normally and we are coordinating with medical authorities. Delta extends its sincere condolences to the passenger’s family.”



A statement by the Senior Manager, Media Relations, Delta, Susan Elliot, said the airline was working with medical authorities to determine the facts in the case.



AP quoted Atlanta’s police spokesman, Otis Redmond, as saying that foul play was not suspected. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner’s investigator was sent to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta, according to the report.



Atlanta police spokesman Otis Redmond told AP that foul play was not suspected in the woman’s death. Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said the woman’s body was taken to a crime laboratory for an autopsy.



Bankhead said the FBI was investigating the matter because the death occurred on an international flight.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100831251085

All the looters are coming back with more empty Ghana most go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A brother to former Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, Chidi, has announced his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat.



Declaring his interest in the palace of his father in Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government of Abia, Ogbulafor said that he had consulted widely and had the blessing of his elder brother.



Ogbulafor, a former transition committee chairman in Umuahia South, said that his ambition to contest for the state House of Assembly in Abia was truncated because of his uncle’s interest in the governorship race.



He said, “I am offering myself for the National Assembly position not for personal interest but for quality representation of the constituency and Abia.



“Let me assure all my people that I will not bring shame back to them,” Ogbulafor, who is the Zonal Coordinator of Friends for Democracy for President Goodluck Jonathan, said.



He also advised Governor Theodore Orji to revitalise Aba, the economic hub of the state and urged stakeholders to support the quest to move the state forward.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008312202018

SOMEBODY SHOULD DRUM IT INTO THEIR THICK SKOLL THAT THE OVERSEAS HOSPITAL WAS ACHIEVED BY PEOPLE WITH VISION AND PRUDENT MANAGEMENT OF RESOUCES. MOST EX GOVERNORS ARE TODAY RICHER THAN THEIR STATE. NIGERIA IS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE YOU STEAL MONEY AND MOCK THE PEOPLE WITH THEIR MONEY THAT YOU STOLE. THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN ASK QUESTIONS WILL TURN AROUND AND BEGIN TO WORSHIP THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK AWAY THEIR FUTURE.

Johnson A, Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos State: The money expended on medical treatment is alarmingly exorbitant and criminal. And it is unthinkable that the same government that is squandering the nation‘s resources unjustifiably on such a venture will have the moral authority to talk about fuel subsidy removal.



Before fuel subsidy removal, let us remove foreign medical treatment abroad. Fuel subsidy is not in the public interest, no doubt as it is an element of patronage. The nation will not be talking about subsidy if the petroleum sector is privatized. But the FG must show example by being prudent. If less than 10 per cent of the Nigerian population can spend N450bn on foreign medical treatment annually, the same government has lost the moral authority to be angry at fuel subsidy of N1.942tn in 4 years 6 months to over 140 million Nigerians.



Let the FG stop foreign trips, block all leakages and prevail on the National Assembly and the states to cut down on their flamboyant style. It is then that Nigerians will know that the Federal Government is serious about financial propriety.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008311524726

My sincere prayer is that God Almighty will not allow people like IBB to come and punish us 4 the 2nd time, i learnt that the money he stole is gradually going down and he wants to come 4 beef up, his good old days had been wasted and Nigerians dont need him. He should be ashamed of himself because he is not a democrat after he annulled the fairest election in nigeria. The blood of MKO, KUDIRAT, DELE GIWA, ALL D Army generals wasted by his BLOODY regime are all still crying 4 VENGEANCE. IDIOT

A non-governmental organisation, the Democratic Alliance for Good Governance, on Monday warned Nigerians not to trust a former military president, Gen Babangida (retd.)



The Coordinator of the group, Mr. Dare Johnson in an interview correspondent, faulted a documentary on the administration of the former military dictator.



According to him, the documentary, titled, ”The untold truth” showed that Babangida was not sincere.



He said that in the documentary aired by a television station last week, IBB absolved himself of blames of the annulment of June 12 presidential election and setting up of the Interim National Government.



Johson stated that the former military dictator had lost the opportunity to get the forgiveness of Nigerians, when he failed to appear before the Oputa panel set up by former president Olusegun Obasanjo‘s administration.



The coordinator added that Babangida would not make a good military president.



”During Obasanjo‘s administration, the country kept changing senate presidents. This was because of his military background,” he added.



According to him, ”Babangida is pretentious and should not be trusted.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100831227529

Babangida already knows he is a failure. The press should continue highlighting on Jonathan’s achievements and areas he needed to improve. We shall support Babangida’s son after Jonathan’s government. How about Mohammed Babangida in 2015?

The Presidency on Monday denied reports that President Goodluck Jonathan appealed to a former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, to withdraw from the 2011 presidential race.



Some national dailies ( not THE PUNCH) had in their reports on Monday that Jonathan made the appeal at a recent meeting with Babangida.



The reports also said the former miltary leader refused to accede to the President’s request.



But the Presidency, in a statement by the the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said the reports were “unfortunate and uncharitable.”



Although Niboro admitted that a meeting between Jonathan and Babangida took place, he explained that it (meeting) was one in a series of consultations the President has had and would continue to hold with Nigeria’s former leaders over the 2011 elections.



The statement reads, “Anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with the President knows he is not one who dissuades people from pursuing their personal ambitions.



“This is even more so when there is no purpose to be served by it, since the long suffering mass of the Nigerian people would decide who governs them in a free and fair election.



“Since June 12, 1993, Nigerians have in successive elections become wiser. The next presidential elections, no matter who the candidates are, would sound a resonant Never Again!



“Never again shall the will of the Nigerian people be quashed underfoot by the vaunting ambitions of a few. This is what the President has promised Nigerians, and he is fully committed to delivering on this pledge.



“It is, therefore, unfortunate that any self- respecting newspaper(s) should lend its pages to reporting a series of lies against the person and the institution of the presidency.



“These tales are unverified and sourced from openly interested parties. They are lies, pure and simple. The fact is that President Jonathan has been meeting different leaders on different occasions and platforms.



“Some have come to inform him of their intention to run for the presidency. Others he has met with as a matter of courtesy being a sitting President.



“He has met former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar; he has met Babangida; he has met Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and will meet him again soon.



“He has met with a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; another former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; a former Vice- President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and another former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.



“He will meet with even more leaders and political actors as the race to 2011 heats up. It is extremely uncharitable for anyone to spin these meetings in such negative lights, and attempt to force the President into retreat from these well- thought out engagements with political leaders of all hue and disposition in the interest of the country.



“We think it is time to put an end to this long line of false stories and verify what is served to the general public.”



Niboro also described as untrue, reports “to the effect that the President complained to some Northern groups that visited him that some South- South governors were out to sabotage him.”



“The newspaper that reported it refused to correct this false report even after it was firmly reminded that it failed to double check its information, and that the story is completely untrue,” he said.



Meanwhile, an alleged bid to endorse the candidacy of President for the 2010 presidential poll has split members of the House of Representatives.



Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja on Monday indicated that some groups in the House had made contacts in the past few days with a view to reconvening the House next week for Jonathan’s sake.



The lawmakers have been on their annual recess since July 29, but a National Assembly source told our correspondent that the majority of those backing Jonathan wanted the House to break the recess.



The largely Peoples Democratic Party pro-Jonathan backers, were reported to be planning to table a motion before the House seeking to endorse Jonathan.



“From what we gathered, they are targeting next week (to reconvene) to see the possibility of pushing the motion through”, the source claimed.



Investigations, however, showed that the matter had split the House, as there were lawmakers who asked to be counted out of it.



When contacted, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Ita Enang, admitted that there had been series of meetings held by lawmakers with the aim of wooing support for Jonathan.



He, however, denied knowledge of the alleged plan of the House to reconvene and pass a motion in support of the President.



“I am not aware of any plan to reconvene and pass a motion to endorse the President,” Enang stated.



When pressed further, he described Jonathan as a President “who enjoys huge goodwill from the majority of members.”



He added, “I am a member of the Friends of Democracy for Jonathan, and I will surely vote in his support, if such a motion is moved.



“If such a motion is moved, you will see that the President is popular among our members.



“His support is not only among PDP members. He has support across other party lines here.”



But, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Mr. Bala Na’Allah, reacted that the House might be playing an “expensive joke” if indeed it was planning such a motion.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008313444679

I'm very sorry for you for people from your local area will not even vote for you at all

Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, has appealed to the Federal Government to re-visit the revenue allocation formula which according to him “currently favours the centre.”

Mr. Fashola made the appeal at the Annual Ramadan Lecture organised by the Arabic and Islamic Institute, `Markaz’, Agege, in Lagos on Sunday.

He said that necessary constitutional amendments should be made to correct what he described as the present straight jacketed lumping of all local governments in one category.

The governor justified his submission by explaining that the 774 local governments in the country had different priorities to address to make life meaningful to their people. ``While some local governments are endowed with mineral resources and deposits, some are riverine while those in the north are preoccupied with cattle rearing and milk production.

``It is ironic that each one gets the same allocation, irrespective of its different features,’’ he explained.

Also at the event, the governor said that the Lagos State Government was committed to equipping public schools with laboratories and Information Technology equipment to enable the schools compete favourably with products of private schools.

He explained that teachers in public schools would also enjoy continuous training to enable them to impact adequate knowledge on pupils and students. He implored Nigerians to participate actively in politics and to always collaborate with their elected leaders through proffering constructive suggestions and advice.

Also speaking, the Director of the institute, Habeebullah Al-Ilori, commended the Lagos Government for its achievements in the provision of infrastructure. ``An average resident of the state is happy to pay his or her taxes now, because he or she feels the impact of the government more than ever before,’’ he said.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5612809-147/fashola_urges_review_of_revenue_allocation.csp

The Publisher of the defunct Hotline Magazine and one of the numerous beneficiaries of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s benevolence, Alhaji Hassan Sani Kontagora, at the weekend publicly declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2011 presidential ambition.

Speaking in Kaduna as a guest speaker at a rally organized by Coalition of Youths from the North West geo-political zone in support of Jonathan/Sambo ticket, the publisher challenged those he referred to as ‘deadwood politicians’ in Abuja and former northern leaders like General Babangida who held sway in Nigeria in the past, to give account of what they had contributed to the development of the North, as a region.

“Where were those northern leaders like IBB who now want to come back again and deceive us, when our area remain undeveloped? Their cup is full; we are now wise enough to know what is good for the North.
“Nigeria’s constitution has given Jonathan every right to come out and contest, so nobody should create sentiments of religion, North or South to deceive Nigerians. We shall elect into power who we deemed fit to move this country forward and we will not turn our children into orphans and beggars.

“No governor can decide the faith of his people, the people will decide who they want to elect including the governor himself. “The people of Kaduna State have already conducted our election and we have declared our full support for Jonathan to contest for the office of the president in 2011, zoning or no zoning and we expect the governors to also seek for our support,” Kontagora, who is a native of Niger State, declared.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/30/national-30-08-2010-004.htm

After collecting this 5%, will this evil party have the moral standing to demand good performance from the political appointees? It's unfortunate that every Tom, Dick and Harry that is appointed by the govt of the Federal Republic of Nigeria pays dues to PDP, whether a member or not. That is why Nigeria under the grip of these evil men and women in PDP may not see the light of the day soonest. I pray God will awaken the consciousness in us to confront these evil people headlong. Until we match force with force, these people will continue to hold us to ransome.

Political appointees have been directed to pay five percent of their basic salaries to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) throughout their stay in office.

Just last week, defaulting appointees were reminded of their dues when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, sent a terse letter to all ministers demanding the payment of the dues.

Citing a section of the PDP constitution as his backing, Mr Ahmed instructed federal ministers to act as collectors and to deposit the collected funds into the party's account at Unity Bank.

", all party men and women elected or appointed at the instance of the PDP, including ambassadors and board chairmen at the federal level, are required to contribute five percent of their basic allowances or remuneration to the party. The directive is effective from the day they are appointed," Mr Ahmed said in the memo, exclusively obtained by NEXT.

Download a copy of the letter here.

This letter has allegedly been endorsed by relevant ministers and passed on to all or most heads of parastatals.

Paying their dues

Sources who spoke to NEXT said all political appointees have to pay the levy, whether or not they belong to the PDP. Others conceded that they have been paying the dues and expressed no alarm at PDP's demand.

In some instances, the percentage is taken from the source and the appointee need not make a trip to the bank. It is not clear how many ministers and top-level government officials make these payments, but according to the SGF, the ministers must not only serve as collectors but as petty accountants. The ministers are to forward duplicate copies of all payments made to Mr Ahmed's office.

"Thereafter, you are required to forward a copy of payments made in this regard to my office for information," he instructed, adding that "all monthly contributions subsequently collected should also be treated in the same manner."

The PDP vs the people

Government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, condemned Mr Ahmed, accusing him of abusing his office to pursue his political affiliations.

"Should the structure and institutions of government be converted into a PDP funding institution?" one source asked.

"This means that only people who will dance to their tunes of 5 percent will be appointed into political office, whether or not they are qualified."

Kayode Ajulo, an Abuja-based attorney, believes that Mr Ahmed should be relieved of his duties for abuse of office. He said that for him to use the instrument of government to "fan the interest of a political party is absurd."

"The office of the SGF is totally different from the person of Yayale Ahmed. The office of the SGF has its own operating manual, and writing memos for political parties is not one of it," said Mr. Ajulo.

Mr. Ajulo said that the party should apologise to Nigerians and return the money they have collected to the coffers of the government. He also called for the resignation or the sack of the SGF within seven days.

"Any sensible and reasonable president would ensure that this is redressed," he said.

Another lawyer and human rights activist, Obo Effanga, believes it is a breach of public office for the SGF, who is a public servant, to use state apparatus to collect contributions and remit them to a private and non-state institution, such as a political party.

Mr. Effanga said the PDP was at liberty to decide how much it wants to levy its members who may be in government, but Mr Ahmed is working for the country, not the party.

"I don't care what responsibility his party gives him, as far as he is the SGF, his responsibility is based on the oath of office and oath of allegiance he took.

"The office he holds demands him to be neutral and do good to all Nigerians. Will the SGF be right to set up a scheme to ensure that staff under him pay and remit zakat and tithes to their respective religious bodies, in fulfilment of their religious obligations, which the constitution allows them? Certainly not, for those are private matters, not state matters. It would be surprising if the president was unaware of this," he said.

Drumming up funds

National publicity secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, said though paying the dues was not wrong, it should have been done by the party itself.

"It is a problem. I see the SGF just as a minister and will it be right for a minister to ask all his board members to contribute their dues? It should have been the party doing that, not the SGF."

While it is not certain that appointees who do not belong to the PDP are required to pay the levy, an official who claims he does not belong to any political party said he received the memo nonetheless.

The source accused the PDP of desperately trying to raise funds for the 2011 elections.

"Are they becoming this desperate or is the SGF's office now an extension of Wadata house?" he asked.

All of our efforts to contact Mr. Ahmed for his response to our findings were not successful, that is until just a few minutes before we went to press. We then asked him why he wrote and sent the Memo. He said he considers himself a politician and since the party constitution says members should pay 5%, he merely wrote to remind them of their obligation. "If the ANPP asked me to remind its appointees, I will do that for them," he said.

Mr Ahmed however said that all payments will be done through the party.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5611962-147/government_officials_pay_tithes_to_pdp.csp

The Director, Media and Communications of the IBB Presidential Campaign Organization, Prince Kassim Afegbua has said it is too early to predict what the outcome of the yet-to-be-held primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Afegbua made the assertion in a statement against the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by members of the South-west PDP. He stated emphatically that the purported endorsement “does not reflect the actual permutations on ground.”

While urging the teeming party members and would-be delegates to the 2010 presidential primaries of the PDP to ignore the report, the organization’s spokesman stated that that it was too early for anyone to declare the results of an election that has not been held, let alone determine who holds the ace. “Given the sophistication of the South-West, we are of the belief that the delegates would express their preference for IBB to any other aspirant bearing in mind that the issue of zoning is one principle that cannot be ignored,” Afegbua pointed out.

The statement read thus: “The reported endorsement of the undeclared intention of President Goodluck Jonathan by the South West PDP and non-PDP members does not reflect the actual permutations on ground. The South West is no doubt a politically sophisticated and enlightened zone comprising distinguished Nigerians who are well familiar and at home with the political dynamics of the country. It is therefore unlikely that such distinguished, enlightened, civilized and politically conscious people would reportedly concede to the endorsement of an aspirant that had neither declared nor made public his intentions. We suspect that someone is trying to be smart by half.

“Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great party has repeatedly said that he and other party chieftains would maintain their neutrality to all aspirants but would exercise their rights to vote at the primaries for any aspirant of their choice. The recent reported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan who has not declared his intention to run defeats the earlier neutrality position of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the choice of aspirants.

As one of the leaders of the party, a former President and elder statesman, we expect that his word should be his bond. We will not be drawn into any argument with those who easily suspect the political moves of former President Obasanjo, but we insist that a true leader should stand by his word.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/aug/30/newsbreak-30-08-2010-001.htm

Please and please do not associate His Excellency, Dr. Adams Oshiomole with IBB, Akhigbe, Dokpesi, etc. HE Dr. Adams Oshiomole is not in that group, no not all. He represents the new Nigeria at this hour of sincere, honest, and complete men of honour to show us the way. IBB & Co have failed and so should leave Dr. Oshiomole alone. They ended lives of MKO, Lai Balogun, Tunde Idiagbon, etc, and stopped Awo, & Zik from helping us from slavery but their spirits will chase them.

Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has expressed worry over what it described as the state‘s rising debt profile, which it put at over N50bn within the 20 months of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration.



The party said it feared that the government lacked proper means of re-paying the said loans and that the state’s huge debt profile would be a burden on future governments in the state.



The PDP alleged that Oshiomhole flouted due process in the award of contracts, a development the PDP said was contrary to statutory provisions.



Edo PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, said this on Saturday during a rally in Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, where some members of the Action Congress of Nigeria defected to the PDP.



But in a swift reaction, the state commissioner for Information and Orientation, Anselm Ojezua, said the state government was running the state through the “prudent management of resources and not borrowing.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008304251434

IBB is an element of societal decadence, he has within his capacity cause affliction to Nigerians. What he is still looking for, i don’t know. As for Atiku, let him give some Nigerians who are his close pal some of the money he has emblezzled from the public purse. Abi man no go chop.

The Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji, on Sunday said that former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubabar, would lose the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party.



Abba-Aji, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, said that the endorsement of Jonathan by the South-West PDP on Saturday had further strengthened Jonathan’s chances of winning the primaries.



He said, “It (South-West PDP‘s declaration) is heart-warming. It is expected, judging by the fact that South-West is a very enlightened section, if not the most enlightened, of the country.



“I am happy that the South-West has come behind the President. I was expecting it judging by the utterances of its leaders.”



The presidential aide restated that Jonathan‘s camp was not disturbed by Babangida’s decision to declare his presidential ambition on September 14 or 15.



He said, ”We are not disturbed. IBB is a former President. Let him come and test his popularity. Abubakar is a former vice-president; let him also come and test his popularity . If they lose, they and their supporters will come behind Jonathan.



”The Board of Trustees , the National Working Committee, and National Executive Committee of the PDP have said that the President can run. In effect, the President is the official candidate of the party. Others could contest because of the internal democracy in the party. Let them contest, they will lose.”



Abba-Aji spoke as indications emerged in Abuja that the Babangida camp had panicked over the South-West PDP‘s endorsement of Jonathan.



A source close to the ex-military ruler said that members of his inner caucus were taken by surprise by the way all the five governors of the party in the zone endorsed Jonathan.



He said that Babangida was surprised that the governors — Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Mr. Segun Oni (Ekiti) and Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) — agreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to support Jonathan.



The source, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity, said the former military dictator had thought that at least two of the governors would break rank with the rest and support his aspiration.



He said, “Following the decision of the people of the South-West to back Jonathan, there is a serious problem in the camp of Babangida at the moment.



“The camp had thought that at least two governors from the zone will support him.



“I think he knows that the people of the region are still not happy with the way he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election which eventually led to the demise of its winner, Chief M.K.O Abiola. But he never thought that those who are close to him among the governors would not back him.”



The other South-West PDP leaders that attended the meeting that endorsed Jonathan’s bid were the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole; the National Vice- Chairman (South-West), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo;and a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.



Others were the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; Bankole’s predecessor, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh; speakers of all the state houses of assembly in the zone; and other lawmakers from the zone in the National Assembly.



Others at the meeting held at the State Parliament Building also, were a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu; the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; Bankole’s predecessor, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh; speakers of all the state houses of assembly in the zone; and other lawmakers from the zone.



Reading an eight-point communiqué to journalists at the end of the meeting, Oladipo said the decision to back Jonathan for the 2011 poll had been taken after a critical assessment of all the presidential aspirants of the party.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100830461764

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Concerned Members’ Forum, Katsina State, Alhaji Aliyu Sani, has urged restraint and full compliance with the provisions of zoning in the constitution of the party. The founding member of the PDP argued that President Goodluck Jonathan ceases to be part of the mandate given to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua by 2011.
He spoke on this and other topical issues to Daily Sun in Katsina, Katsina State. Excerpts:

Reaction on PDP’s decision that says zoning stays but Jonathan can contest
PDP is our party and it is a great because we have great people among us. We have people who can decide, we have people who can deceive and people who can come up with things like the doctrine of necessity. We have a lot of clever people in PDP.

An average Nigerian knows that these people who claim that Jonathan can contest are deceiving him. Jonathan himself knows that the people are deceiving him because he is a respected gentleman who is worth his salt. I don’t believe Jonathan will allow himself to be deceived by those surrogates.
All the political manouvres going on in the Wadata Plaza in Abuja and other places including up North is nothing, but the desperation of people trying to make money or something out of nothing. But the real fact is that the North is one solid entity that cannot in anyway and will never relinquish power to any part of the country as far as 2011 is concerned. We are one and solid entity.

Even those who call themselves the foot soldiers of Jonathan, going about campaigning for him, telling people lies are not serious because it is their own trade. They are used to that, they are always ready to be hired and people have already known them.
There is nobody among them that can call 10 to 29 northerners and tell them what to do, you can see the roll call. Some lost relevance long ago, some lost relevance during the Third Term agenda of Obasanjo which failed woefully. Some of them are not taken seriously even in their wards.

It is funny when some people continue to say Jonathan should contest and are sponsoring youth groups and some greedy elders claiming it is unfair to deny Jonathan the right to contest while others say those opposed to Jonathan are interfering with God’s decision. Which God? The only God we know which creates everything and everyone is the one that has given power to the North. He is the one that took it away at the time He wanted by taking Umaru. May his soul rest in peace. That God is still very much alive and He is the God we worship. We know He is with us, we tell Him everyday that this power which belongs to us must remain in the North until 2015.

That Yar’Adua/Jonathan ticket subsists till 2015
That is bull shit. In which part of the North is Jonathan from? Was he born in Zungeru or Sokoto? What ticket are you talking about? It was Umaru that picked Jonathan as running mate and the ticket terminates with Umaru.
If Umaru who was given the mandate to contest for four years by the North had been alive and found not to be suitable, the North would have changed him and Jonathan would not be there.

Whoever the North decides to field would have another running mate. May be, from the South-East or South-South, but this time around, it could be Peter Odili or another person. The ticket is with the President not the Vice President.
The counter argument of some clever people who want to sap Nigeria or the economy or use Jonathan to make some money out of the nation’s coffers or just trying to bulldoze their way back to reckoning by telling lot of lies is false. The ticket is not for Jonathan, it is for Yar’Adua and it terminates in 2011.

Generational shift
You cannot divorce maturity from leadership. The generational shift they are canvassing is good but how many of us are ready for that? How many among the youth have proved their worth or have even the guts to come now and say they want to contest?

You see, wisdom is a gift from Almighty God. The country as it is now, needs a lot of guidance. A young man cannot guide the nation. There are a lot of implications in leadership. You cannot know until you are able to be part and parcel of leadership. If you don’t know the intricacies of leadership, you cannot lead.
Leadership is not just about occupying an office. You are going to lead a complex society like Nigeria with over 250 different tribes with different cultures and different religions. So, we need someone who actually understands Nigeria. The knowledge of most youth of today is limited to their offices and areas of specialization.

By the time the nation is put in the right perspective, on the right footing, where probably you get a credible leader that can do away with a lot of things like corruption and other societal ills and restore peace, then the new generation can assume leadership because the setting would be right for them. But for now, there are lots of problems.
This is why, in as much as I believe in generational shift, I also want the youth and people of my own category to be part of the government and learn governance. They should learn the intricacies of leadership and understand Nigeria as it is with all its complexities. Then we can aspire to be president when the setting is right. But for now, we need a mature person.

Consensus candidate from the North
Actually, you see, each and every member of the PDP can aspire to become the President, provided he satisfies all the criteria. But what is most important is how credible are you. I am sure if level-playing ground is provided and a free and fair primary is conducted, whoever loses will certainly support the winner. I assure you when a credible candidate emerges, it will be a balance fight between PDP and whoever emerges in the other parties.

Jonathan and 2011
My advice to Jonathan is to come out in clear terms. If he is trying to use people to know the psychology of Nigerians, I think he is trying to add salt to injury. As a leader, one has to be straightforward. He has the right to contest constitutionally.

He was part of the zoning arrangement as such I advise him to step down in 2011. He should not in any way allow himself to be deceived. He should make it categorically clear to Nigerians that he is not contesting. If he does that, he becomes a hero and all Nigerians not only northerners will root for him come 2015. For now, I advise him not to ridicule himself because he will be disgraced.

Babangida, Atiku and Gusau
Yes. I think the most suitable among the trio under PDP is the one we are waiting for and that is General Aliyu Gusau. He is a man of principle and he is a very strong candidate. He is forthright and he will never disappoint. Gusau is the only person that can deliver, others have been tested and we have seen their performances. I am not saying they are not capable, but Gusau will perform because he has a better understanding of Nigerians and Nigeria.
Societal ills like corruption, robbery and kidnapping will be drastically reduced if Gusau is given the mandate next year. He is the man we are waiting for. If he declares his ambition, I am sure the whole country will root for him. As far as we are concerned, he is the best candidate of the PDP.

The new Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is gaining popularity rapidly in Katsina State among others. Do you think Governor Ibrahim Shema will retain his seat next year?
This is funny. When you said CPC could take over the governance of Katsina State, I laughed. First of all, you look at the credentials of the governor. You look at the projects and programmes this gentleman has executed in three years. By all standards, we know, you have been in Katsina so you know what the governor has executed in three years surpassed what Yar’Adua did in eight years. This is a common knowledge and we proclaim it everywhere. If you are honest to yourself, you will admit it.

People who have left PDP for other parties are entitled to their rights. Every Nigeria has the right to join any party of his or her choice. Katsina State indigenes are aware of what the governor has done for them. The governor has being trying to ensure the people of Katsina get the best. For this reason, there is no party, no party I repeat, can upstage PDP in Katsina in the coming gubernatorial election, no matter who is fielded. I assure you of this.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/30/national-30-08-2010-001.htm

Na God go help them ooooooooooooooo

May be !

P - Power

H - Holding

C - Company

N - Nigeria

Just come back home and work for your fathers land. All is well !

Fashola All The Way

Corrupt politicians who plan to run for offices in the coming elections will be stopped by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the anti-graft agency said in Abuja yesterday.

Farida Waziri, the chairman of the commission, stated this while receiving board members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) at the EFCC headquarters. She said that the anti-graft agency will prevent corrupt politicians from contesting any public office in 2011. According to her, the anti-graft agency would collaborate with the police, the State Security Service, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the CCB to jointly produce a security report on every candidate that shows interests in the elections. “Based on their security reports, they will be stopped at the right time,” she said. “There is no way that we will allow the political parties to field corrupt people. Legally, we are empowered to look into some of these issues.”

Mrs Waziri also said that the EFCC will use ongoing investigations to prevent indicted officials from running for office. “How do we allow these people to come back and say that they are going to lead us? The world will laugh at us,” she said. “We see that some of them are already printing posters and I will see how they are going to work that out. We are not going to allow that. We want to ensure that only the proper persons will represent us.”

Past offenders to be tried

The Chairman of the board of the CCB, Sam Saba, said that former ministers who failed to properly declare their assets will be facing a tribunal soon. “Some past ministers did not declare their assets,” he said. “Their names have been compiled and we’ve sent the names to the Federal Ministry of Justice because we have to get their approval before inviting them to face the tribunal.” Mrs Waziri also noted that some corrupt persons, who have intentions to loot public funds, deliberately declare more assets than they have, and urged the CCB to properly investigate all declared assets. “Some with intentions to steal put fake items in the forms,” she said. “Some claim that they have houses in the US, UK.”

Responding, Mr Saba said that his team had settled down to work adding that the CCB has already noted that most public officials, especially the legislators, keep foreign accounts which they have not declared to the bureau.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5611715-147/efcc_to_bar_corrupt_politicians_from.csp

Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, has warned against the fear of political domination by any of the major ethnic group, as the battle for which zone should produce the presidency in 2011 heats up, saying the political class should put Nigeria first at all times.

Mr Sylva, in his goodwill message at the 71st birthday lecture of Jubril Aminu, organised by the Adamawa State chapter of the University of Maiduguri Alumni, called on the north to be guided by the relationship between it and the south-south in its approach to the presidential candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the south-south people had, over the years, developed a strong political partnership with the north because the zone had always put the country first without resorting to “regional or sectional cleavages.”

“Those who are here know what I am talking about,” he said.

He warned of a repeat of the events in the nation’s political development where the fear of domination of one ethnic group heated up the polity immediately after independence, creating what he called “fierce resistance” by ethnic minorities.

The Bayelsa State governor described Mr Aminu as a detribalised Nigerian.

The event, chaired by former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also had former vice president, Atiku Abubukar, in attendance.

Mr Babangida called on the political class to emulate the sensible aspect of politics, which he said himself and Mr Abubakar have significantly demonstrated.

“Politics is not a war, but rather something that we build for the sake of the country. We shall continue to be friends for the sake of our people and the development of our nation,” he said.

He also described Mr Aminu as a rare human being, adding that he appreciates his relationship with him.

Mr Abubakar said there was much to be done to correct the mistakes of the past and said no sacrifice will be too big for himself and Mr Babangida to make for the betterment of the citizenry.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5611677-146/timipre_sylva_woos_the_north_for.csp

This nigerian fraudstar commited somany crimes in the u.s and run back to nija to enjoy the money and felt he is going to nija as a safe place. well am sorry the f b i is everywere so u must go back to u.s to face the music. first of all ur dont have justice in nija and good health jail so it is better in the u.s good food and good health ok.

An American who has naturalised in Nigeria, Mr. James Tillery, on Thursday challenged the legality of his aborted extradition by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations from Nigeria.



He told the Federal High Court, Lagos that the process was flawed, as the FBI did not follow due process, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.



According to Tillery’s lawyer, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), said the US Government did not show respect for Nigeria’s law in the planned extradition.



The naturalised Nigerian was arrested on August 13 at his office in Victoria Island, Lagos and is being detained by the police at Alagbon Close, Ikoyi.



The attempt to extradite Tillery to the US was aborted by Immigration officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.



He was alleged to have committed sundry offences in the US between 2003 and 2005.



Oyetibo said, “The arrest of Tillery by the Nigeria Police on the authority of a US District Court and handing him over to the FBI is preposterous.



“The officials did not show respect for the laws of Nigeria … Nigeria is not a lawless nation. Due process should be followed in the process of extraditing him.”



He urged the court to protect the rights of the applicant and order his release with immediate effect from “illegal detention.”



Oyetibo said the detention was an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and an infringement of Tillery’s rights.



According to him, the extradition violated Sections 5 & 6 of the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation.



There was no written request addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation by any Consular officer,” he added.



Counsel to the police, Mrs. Susan Ezema, said the applicant was arrested because of the treaty between the US and Nigeria.



She said the applicant was arrested as an American and that Interpol was empowered to hand over a country’s citizen to the requesting country.



Justice Mohammed Idris ordered that Tillery should be given medical attention by his personal physician.



He adjourned the case till August 31 for judgment on the substantive application.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008275242996

I thought there is a Berth Nnaji’s name associated with power reforms. Who is Nnaji? Power is so important to toll with, please appoint those who buy into your vision and not betrayal of trust.