₦airaland Forum

Abdulrahman Yobe, the outgoing National Youth Leader of the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP), has advised Nigerians not to elect any past leader as president of Nigeria in 2011. Mr Yobe, who spoke against the backdrop of declarations by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, to contest for 2011 presidency, said the duo had served their time.

“As Nigerians, they have the constitutional rights to contest but it is high time for Nigerians to stand on their feet to say enough is enough to all the past leaders,” he said. “There is no need of recycling leaders in this country. The duo were leaders at their own time. The youth leader said any person that ruled the country in the past, including Atiku and Babangida, should not be given a chance to rule again. “We have up coming people who are young, bright and well experienced to take the leadership of this country,” he said. “We need people with fresh ideas, not people that have ruled this country before and have nothing to show. Atiku leaving the Action Congress to go back to the PDP is the biggest disappointment that we have seen in this dispensation.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5609961-146/story.csp

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has given indication that he would contest his eligibility for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) waiver in court.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja while meeting with members of the Turaki Vanguard, Atiku insisted that he did not need to approach the Adamawa chapter of the party for waiver, a condition that the PDP National Working Committee had declared the former Action Congress (AC) presidential candidate must meet before he could be granted waiver. Atiku is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP for the 2011 election.

Article 10[b] iii of the party constitution makes provision for a new entrant to the party to seek for waiver through the state chapter of the party. Such waiver could only be granted by the PDP National Executive Committee, [NEC] on the recommendation of the party’s NWC and the zonal executive of the applicant,

However, speaking in Abuja the former vice president told the Turaki Vanguard, a support group campaigning for his election that he would go to court to ensure that neither he nor any other member of the PDP was denied the right to contest election on the ground of lack of waiver. “PDP says there is zoning in the constitution but Jonathan has the right under the constitution of Nigeria. It is correct. PDP says Atiku needs a waiver. PDP is wrong because I have a right under the constitution to contest. The same right Jonathan has.

“So, you see, I will like to go to court to contest that waiver so that nobody in the state will stop you from running, so that no governor or local government chairman will say oh, you need waiver at the local government level to become a councillor or you need waiver at the local government level to become member of the House of Assembly. No!.

“Any provisions in the constitution of the party that conflict with the provisions of the country’s constitution, those of you who are lawyers know that they are void. It is only if you allow them.”
“But if you challenge them, you will get your right. And the courts are just too happy to give you your fundamental human rights. The moment you go to them, they will be too happy to give them to you.
“We were born free, our constitution has guaranteed us all these freedoms and we should not allow anybody to take those freedoms from us no matter how powerful he is,” he said.

Atiku also carpeted the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who he said prevented people from expressing their minds and having lawful associations when he was in office. He said now that he (Obasanjo) had left office, people could once again express their minds and exercise their freedom of association.
“If you could recall, since this support group was established, have I ever spoken before you like this? Now, I am standing before you. Do you know why I am standing before you? Because together, we have made it possible, we have driven out the dictator; we have preserved the sanctity and credibility of our constitution, which allows for unfettered free and fair freedom of association.

“When he (Obasanjo) was in office, we couldn’t meet, we couldn’t discuss, we couldn’t interact because I was being hounded and you were being hounded. Now the man is gone, we are free to meet, we are free to interact, and you are free to ask any question whatsoever.” Atiku who claimed that he has been fighting in court for the right of people to move to the political party of their choice, said “I don’t mind going to court again” so that “those rights giving to us by the constitution must be given to us unfettered.”


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/abujareports/2010/aug/23/abujareports-23-08-2010-002.htm

Former Minister of Aviation, and member, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Board of Trustees, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, has warned that the South-South will not succumb to any intimidation and threats by some old politicians from the North. He alleged that Northern politicians have reportedly been threatening fire and brimstone if PDP fails to ensure that a northerner emerges as the party’s presidential candidate for 2011 general elections.

He told Daily Sun: “The recent utterances from some old politicians from the North are unbecoming of people of their status. They have not only been parochial and narrow-minded over the issue of zoning and 2011 presidential elections, they have also turned the whole thing into a do-or-die affair. These are eminent people who are supposed to be the rallying point for the country’s unity, but their recent utterances leave much to be desired.

“They have been making all sorts of threats by saying that it is either a northern candidate emerges as PDP presidential flag bearer or they will kill the party or cause problem for the country. I’m very disappointed with these elders. Their reckless statements are overheating the polity and they should be told in clear terms that the days of threat and gunboat diplomacy are over. Their threats will never work.”

While insisting that dialogue is the best option to resolve any political issue, Graham-Douglas said the people of the South-South will not fold their arms whenever the interests of the region is threatened: “South-South is the region that produced over 90 per cent of the resources which keep this country. We are ready to protect our resources. We can’t be intimidated.It is surprising that these old politicians could go this far. At their age ,they should be more concerned in promoting and preaching issues that will bind us together as a nation.”

While warning the old politicians against instigating any problem that could throw the nation into crisis, the former minister said all stakeholders in the nation’s polity should refrain from any act that may make the prediction by a team of experts from the United States some time ago that Nigeria might disintegrate in a few years time, to come to pass.
“I believe in the unity of this country. I believe we should all be our brother’s keeper. But no individual or group should think they have the right to lord it over others. Nigeria belongs to all of us.”

The former minister, who insisted that President Goodluck Jonathan has every right to contest 2011 election said steps being taken so far by the president has clearly shown that Nigerians are set to enjoy good governance.

“Since Jonathan assumed duties, if we want to be honest to ourselves, things have changed. Power supply has improved, calm has returned to the restive Niger-Delta region. Security has not only improved but the president has also shown that he was truly committed towards ensuring that we have credible elections next year through the support he has been given Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC. He deserve our support if he want to run.”




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/23/national-23-08-2010-001.htm

Highway robbers might as well go to court to get a pernament injunction against the Nigerian Police, restraining them from arresting them. (robbers)

The Economic and Financial Crimes has told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that it lacked the jurisdiction to restrain it from arresting the former Director- General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Prof Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke.



The anti-graft agency had also challenged the jurisdiction of the court, restraining it from arresting her.



The commission stated this in its preliminary objection, challenging the interim order of the court on the former NSE boss.



Justice Mojisola Obadina had on August 12 stopped the EFCC from harassing, embarrassing, intimidating or threatening to arrest and detain Okereke-Onyiuke.



When the case came up on Thursday before a vacation judge, Justice W.A.E. Ayo, lawyer to the EFCC, Mr. Godwin Obla, told the court that his client had filed a notice of preliminary objection against the order of the court.



According to him, the preliminary objection was brought pursuant to Order V111 Rule 1,2,4 and 5 of the Fundamental Human Rights Procedure Rules, 2009 .



He added that the court lacked the jurisdiction to make orders restraining the EFCC from performing its statutory duty of investigation, arrest and prosecution.



The EFCC also claimed that Nigeria courts lacked the competence and jurisdiction to base decisions on speculative, hypothetical or moot issues, saying that the materials provided by Okereke-Onyiuke did not disclose a cause of action against the commission.



It described the suit as speculative, vexatious and an abuse of the process of court.



Lawyer to Okereke-Onyiuke, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), had earlier informed the court that all the respondents were served with court processes except the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, who refused to accept them.



Clarke added that all efforts made by him, including writing a personal letter to the CP, proved abortive.



At this juncture, Justice Ayo directed that all the processes should be taken to the Legal Department of the Lagos State Police Command.



The court also consolidated the substantial application and the Notice of Preliminary Objection and adjourned the case till September 7.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008203485140

Na God will punish all of them and darkness will be on their family. those that put 9ja in darkess since how many years? abah. he never do us!!!!

Electricity supply in Nigeria can be likened to the proverbial abiku child that makes the medicine man look inept and powerless. The body that is responsible for providing electricity in Nigeria, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, formerly called National Electric Power Authority, was better known as Never Expect Power Always because of its poor performance. When NEPA was changed to PHCN, Nigerians still found humour in the new label and changed its name to Please Hold Candle at Night!



For years, successive governments have promised to solve the power problem, but it has remained just that – promises. The administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, according to the power probe that was carried out shortly after he left office, was said to have spent up to $16bn to fix the power problem, but to no avail. For more than three decades, out of the five of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation, irregular power supply has been the norm and Nigerians have designed various means of survival.



From the use of kerosene lanterns, Nigerians have graduated to the use of rechargeable lamps – made in Asia products that use fluorescent bulbs to illuminate the environment. Asian manufacturers, seeing its popularity, evolved the product for multiple uses and today, some of the rechargeable lamps which are imported into Nigeria are fitted with radio, cassette player and even fan.



The popularity of the rechargeable lamp has largely waned. In most Nigerian cities today, the generator is a basic prop that is visible in residential homes, offices and even public gathering. Most Nigerians know better than to embark on any programme without this invaluable device.



However, a lower class level of Nigerians who can neither afford a generator nor maintain one regularly might have found solace in a contraption called Oju ti NEPA (shame on NEPA). The device, is made from a blank compact disc attached to a wooden contraption into which tiny holes have been driven and a metal thread run through. The metal thread has a ring of tiny, low intensity light-emitting bulbs arranged along the edge of the CD. The wired bulbs are connected to two D batteries which are kept in a small wooden rectangular box that supports the entire contraption. The device is operated by a simple on or off switch. When switched on, it give off a measure of illumination in a dark room; indeed it puts PHCN (or NEPA)‘s monopoly to shame.



The device costs between N50 and N100 while two sets of batteries, worth N50 each is needed to power the device. Oju ti NEPA can run for as long as the battery works. This simple device, according to the vendors (mainly traders from Northern Nigeria), is fairly popular and when it is lit at night, it not only illuminates their wares, it also attract customers. Some of those who buy the wares are also petty traders who cannot afford to buy generators to illuminate their goods at night.



A trader in Agege, Iya Basira, said she is very happy with the device as, to an extent, it is cheaper than rechargeable lamp, safer and cheaper than lanterns, more desirable and more comfortable than other locally made lamps.



The device is exciting in some aspects. It shows some ingenuity on the part of Nigerians, and the willingness to overcome a prolonged and seemingly intractable problem with basic inventions. It is sold at night markets where two or three of the device are turned on to illuminate the rest of the wares. When prodded,the vendors refused to disclose their source of supply. Oju ti NEPA is not the first Nigerian invention made to beat PHCN‘s inefficiency. Another Nigerian, Mohammed Bah Abbah, invented a refrigerating device that doesn‘t make use of electricity by using a simple law of physics: Heat of Evaporation.



Abbah, 37, who hails from a family of pot makers in the northern part of Nigeria, is a local teacher. His invention is simple: a small earthenware pot is placed inside a large one. The space between the two pots is then filled with moist sand. Food items such as fruits, vegetables, soft drinks, etc to be preserved are then placed in the inner smaller pot and a wet cloth is used to cover everything. As the water in the moist sand evaporates through the larger pot, it carries heat away from the inner core of the whole contraption.



Tomatoes, pepper and similar perishable food items stored in this device last for up to three weeks while egg plants that normally doesn‘t keep for more than three days can last for 27 days.



The scientific explanation for the success of the mechanism is that every liquid requires some energy to evaporate. This energy, in form of heat, is taken from the surface on which the liquid is in contact. The more rapid the rate of evaporation, the faster the rate at which heat is extracted or drawn from the surface. In the northern part of Nigeria where it is hotter, the rate of evaporation is even more rapid.



This is the principle applied in modern electricity-powered fridges with the compressor pump circulating a volatile liquid through the pipes run round the refrigerator.



Abbah‘s invention is a clever application of this principle, and for it, he was a recipient of the Rolex Award for Enterprise. He got $75,000 cash award which he was supposed to use to make the invention available throughout Nigeria. He was listed by TIMES Magazine as one of the inventors of 2001.



But if Abbah got an international award for his efforts, the inventor of Oju ti NEPA might not be so well appreciated. An Introductory Technology teacher in a private school in Abuja, Mr. Oladipupo Ademola, scoffs at the idea that it marks the beginning of technological invention in Nigeria. The technology, he says, is a simple and most basic one, similar to what is used to make torchlight and is taught to their pupils as early as JSS1 and practical work conducted by JSS3. The idea is not even as advanced as the one used to make rechargeable lamp.



”There is no big deal about it. In fact, the ones our students make are not even as crude as the one called Oju ti NEPA. Anyone can do it. Batteries have chemicals within and the two charged ends – positive and negative – are known as cathode and anode. The transfer of ions from one end to another is electrical in nature. The wire connection only puts the bulb in the path of transfer of ions which then lights up. It can connect as many bulbs as possible, based on the strength of the battery. I have seen the Oju ti NEPA thing and I think that my pupils can do the same. It is no big deal. It is basic,” he said.



The necessity of having some brightness has driven Nigerians to be creative but the creativity has not gone far enough to actively generate electricity or provide viable alternative to state-owned PHCN.



Neither Oju ti NEPA nor Abbah‘s invention has wider functions than finding a way round a major problem. It, for instance, cannot be used in manufacturing and unpractical to think it can be adopted as a solution to the protracted power crisis.



”It is just Nigerians trying to alleviate a particularly bad situation for themselves,” said Adeniyi Ojo, a Lagos based engineer. ”There is no genius about it and the crudeness of it ensures that it appeals to largely the lower class people. For me, this kind of ‘invention‘ is not a shame to NEPA or PHCN only, it is a shame to us as a nation. Is this the best our country can produce after 50 years of Independence? When other countries are already inventing machines that goes into the moon? And we want to spend so many billions on an anniversary? We should be ashamed of ourselves, honestly. At this stage, we don‘t need invention that lights up a few metres around us. We need what will light up the whole nation. It should not be called Oju ti NEPA but Oju ti Nigeria.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008203175378

Is EFCC not littered with policemen? I often wonder why they prefer to try their cases on the pages of newspapers? All your publicity and sensationalism does not buy us, the right thinking Nigerians. The Publicity man there Femi Babafemi is a junk journalist and is exhibiting it so well: a skunk journalist. This is a bunch of dishonest and bribe taking investigators that use their office to (without thorough) investigation to usurp performing government officials. GJ should revisit with a stick.

The Federal Government has warned that it will not tolerate unnecessary exuberance and brazen use of force by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.



Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, handed down the warning to the graduates of the commission’s Cadet Course 5 and Intermediate Course 2 at their passing out ceremony, in Abuja, on Thursday.



The ceremony took place at the EFCC Training and Research Institute, Karu, where 114 senior and 85 intermediate graduating cadets were formally discharged from the college.



Adoke reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for the commission, which, he said, was in furtherance of President Goodluck Jonathan’s resolve to keep the fight against corruption and economic crimes on track.



The AGF reminded the graduates that their calling as law enforcement officers required them to maintain utmost decorum in the discharge of their duties.



He said that the government was committed to strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for the right of citizens and foreigners alike.



Adoke said, “The career path you have chosen for yourselves requires impeccable integrity, courage and the highest sense of patriotism.



“You must be prepared to suffer inconveniences and discomfort in the discharge of your duties. At all times, you will be under the searchlight of the public and anyone found wanting will be held personally liable.”



The director of the training school, Dr. David Tukura, said that the freshers had swelled the rank of EFCC operatives trained by the institute to 540.



With the anticipated addition of 200 students undergoing the Executive Conversion Course, he expressed optimism that the commission would not require more than two more courses to attain full autonomy in operational matters.



For those that entered the college with accounting skills, he said they had undergone training in forensic accounting and auditing to detect fraud, while he said lawyers among them were imbued with prosecutorial skills.



Buoyed by its standard facilities, he appealed to the FG to upgrade the institute to become the first law enforcement university in West Africa.



The Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, said that the event marked a steady progression towards the eventual autonomy of the commission, when policemen would be phased out of its operations.



She noted that the commission’s dependence on security personnel seconded from other agencies had posed a serious challenge to the anti-graft agency.



The EFCC boss disclosed that they would undergo another 12 months mentoring training at the commission’s operational offices.



At the end of the training, she said only those that passed a qualifying competence and integrity test would be formally commissioned as officers of the EFCC.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008203501146

please, comrade governor, i personally beg you, to help clean the menance and poor condition of the state first before u go higher position. there is no doubt the entire people of nigeria need u to help deliver the dividends of democracy, any one that comes to Edo state will surely salute your effort and courage.may u live long and reap the fruilt of ur efforts.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday said that he had not decided on whether or not he would run on the same presidential ticket with the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.



There have speculations that Oshiomhole will be the running mate of Ribadu who has been tipped as the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria.



But fielding questions from journalists in Benin, Oshiomhole said, “It is good that you are being fair about the matter when you said it was a rumour. When I make up my mind to go for an office, I will make it public.



“When I decide such a thing I will make it known. Afterall, there was a time they said I wanted to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is despite the fact that I was once a president. I was President of the NLC.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100820324259

Nigerians have been told to hold President Goodluck Jonathan responsible if the 2011 general elections failed to meet the expectations in terms of credibility and transparency.

Chairman of Committee on Information and National Orientation in the House of Representatives, Mr Aliyu Wadada said yesterday in a statement that the National Assembly had concluded its part to ensure that the conduct of the 2011 elections meets international standard.

He urged the people not to blame the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if the conduct of the 2011 general elections was short of the standards prescribed by the international community.

Wadada accused the Executive of deliberate foot-dragging in assenting to the relevant bills saying that the House and the Senate had discharged their constitutional responsibility by passing the 2010 Electoral Bill and INEC supplementary budget. “Contrary to the impression given by INEC on the passage of the electoral law and the supplementary bill for it to undertake voters’ registration, the House of Representatives and indeed, the two chambers of the National Assembly have fully discharged their constitutional responsibility.

“If there is anything holding back the bills from becoming laws, it is the assent of Mr. President,” Wadada said.
He added that as a result of its commitment to ensuring that all democratic process were adhered to in the conduct of the 2011 elections, the House may reconvene to override the President on the bills, once the stipulated time expired.

INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega had raised doubts on the conduct of the 2011 general elections, saying that its plans to deliver credible elections were being frustrated by the Presidency and the National Assembly.
While the National Assembly passed both the Electoral bill and the INEC supplementary bill some weeks back, the Presidency claimed that it only received clean copy of the bill last Monday.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/20/national-08-20-2010-015.htm

Alhaji Mohammed Nma Kolo is a loyalist of General Ibrahim Babangida. As chairman of Peoples Democtratic Party (PDP), he once registered the former military president into the party with the number 007 in the Sabongari ward of Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State.
He is the National Co-ordinator of the Nationalists Movement, a pro-Babangida group with offices across the country. In this interview, Kolo spoke on issues of national interest, especially as they affect his mentor. Excerpts.

IBB and 2011:
He has said he will spend only one term to complete the two terms for the North. What that goes to say is that he is a fair-minded person and just.
Not only that, he has expressed the desire to hand over to somebody from the South-East, which in his wisdom is to fully integrate the Igbo into the mainstream of the Nigerian politics.

Babangida is already looking beyond the 2011 elections. He is in fact, charting the roadmap to take Nigeria out of the wood. Our optimism is anchored on the belief that free and fair primaries of the PDP will be conducted because everybody in the party knows the import and consequences of conducting kangaroo primaries.
Any attempt to sacrifice free and fair primaries on the altar of some selfish or primordial interests will spell doom for our party and that is a wind that will blow no one any good. What I am saying in essence is that no step must be taken to shut out Babangida in this election, because anybody who does that will be inviting electoral misfortunes for PDP at the general elections next year.

We are happy about the arrangement of conducting the presidential primaries in the states at the same time, that is when the boys will be separated from men. We are confident that IBB will win in no fewer than 32 of the 36 states and Abuja and this is no exaggeration. All we are expecting is a level playing field where the wishes of the ordinary party member must count.

Sanctioning governors supporting zoning:
That will be the end of PDP. I am sure anybody toying with the idea wants to set the party on the path of self-destruct. We in the PDP, especially the anti-zoning elements in the party should know that PDP is not the only party in the country. As long as we have that at the back of our mind, we should be mindful of what we do because as far as I know the party was founded on the principles of fairness and justice.

One of the tenets of democracy is to avail everybody the freedom of choice. Like I said earlier, no obstacle should be put in the way of any member over the position he takes. Even if your candidate picks the flag of the party, such candidate will still need the support of everybody. PDP should not create avenue for mass defection.
I want to appeal to the leadership of the party to allow for divergent views and opinions which is the beauty of democracy. Doing otherwise will make PDP a laughing stock in the comity of civilized nations.

Babangida’s chances:
I have said earlier that Babangida is already thinking beyond the election. What that means is that he is not losing sleep on the 2011 election. He is even thinking of which part of the country his successor will come from. Anybody who is still thinking of whether he would win the election or not will not be talking of spending only one term or thinking of who succeeds him.

In any free and fair election, everybody knows that Babangida is the man to beat. Why we are happy is that the pronouncements of both the President and the INEC chairman Prof Jega have continued to give us hope. Don’t forget that Babangida’s network of contacts are there to speak for him.
But if for reasons of selfish interests we fail to get it right again in 2011 then Nigeria will easily be counted as a failed state. I am sure nobody is praying for that. We are resting our hope on the conduct of a free and fair election which will produce credible leaders at all the tiers of government.

Even out of power, IBB remains a household name in Nigeria, far more popular and highly referred, 17 good years after leaving office, All we are waiting for is for INEC to blow the whistle signifying the beginning of the game, then you see what I am talking about.

Yes, back home, Niger Governor Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu has made it clear that IBB remains the candidate of the state. He is holding on tenaciously to the tenets that charity begins at home. He has not only declared his support for zoning, he has spoken in unmistakable terms that the government and people of Niger State will leave no stone unturned in their support for the presidential aspiration of the former president.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/20/national-08-20-2010-018.htm

The Goodluck Support Group (GSG), yesterday declared that it has urgent and verifiable reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan must be pressurized by Nigerians to present himself for the 2011 presidential election.

The declaration came as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed said the time had come for Northern political leaders to be told in clear terms that other Nigerians have stakes in the enterprise called Nigeria.

Senator Mohammed who was addressing delegates at the opening of one-day National Summit organized by the Goodluck Support Group at the Abuja International Centre also said based on the present understanding of the zoning policy adopted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Jonathan is now a Northerner.

This was even as he called on other presidential aspirants in the country to drop their ambitions for President Jonathan who he noted represents a new Nigerria of the peoples dream. Jonathan, the group said garnered and has also garnered more experience than any of those parading themselves as presidential aspirants.
According to Senator Mohammed; “The election of Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 Elections will ensure continuity, stability, growth and economic development of the entire country. It is equally on record that President Jonathan had a wonderful relationship with the late President Yar’Adua and has shown utmost commitment to continue the good works started by them.”

The FCT Minister further said the uncommon commitment so far exhibited as well as the love and respect shown by Jonathan to all sections of the country has qualified him for the Yar’Adua/Goodluck continuity joint ticket in 2011. He also said the ascension of Dr. Jonathan to power was divine thus should be respected by all God-fearing people. He added that the Goodluck 2011 is a Nigeria Project that epitomises national development which should be supported by all Nigerians.

Senator Mohammed therefore described the Goodluck Support Group Summit as a manifestation of genuine support of the ordinary Nigerians to call on President Jonathan to contest the 2011 general elections.
Mohammed accordingly, called on all the movements in support of President Jonathan’s presidency in 2011 to bury their differences and come under one umbrella in order to form a formidable front to woo President Jonathan to declare his intention to run.

The FCT Minister further said it was a new era and a new dawn for the people of Nigeria adding while the Goodluck Support Group would not be antagonistic in its approach and mode of operation, it would not however shy away from drumming the fact there is presently no other more qualified candidate than President Jonathan.
In his own speech at the event, National Chairman of the GSG Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak said that while zoning is good for political stability, it should be understood that the interpretation presently is such that when a President comes from the South, the Vice President would emerged from the South.

Alhaji Gulak further said that there are 1,027 Support Groups across the nation calling on President Jonathan to contest the 2011 Elections saying that most of the groups are now coming under one umbrella for a more focused and united front.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/20/national-08-20-2010-002.htm

The United States of America says it will not support plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to push back the presidential elections from January.

The State Department has, therefore, asked INEC and the relevant government agencies to “work hard and overcome any difficulties that could delay the poll.” Officials said the credibility of the commission and the government would be in doubt if current push to get INEC boss, Attahiru Jega to postpone the election becomes a reality.

“President Goodluck Jonathan assured the international community that elections will hold based on the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. “We expect him to keep to his words,” administration officials warned. The U.S. and the European Union are providing several assistance programmes to assist INEC conduct the polls and such grants could be affected if the elections are postponed.

The body language of Prof. Jega seemed so have hinted that the presidential poll scheduled for January could be pushed back because of delays in enacting new electoral law. Jega also said confusion about the laws are making it hard for his staff to prepare timetables for voter registration and other processes.
Last month, the Nigerian National Assembly changed the constitution to hold elections in January instead of April. But the Electoral Act of 2010 has now been challenged in court. If the Act is overturned in court, Jega said the electoral commission would return to holding elections in April.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/aug/20/newsbreak-20-08-2010-001.htm

Political leaders from both the South-south and South-east yesterday resolved to work together to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan picks the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) ticket and wins the 2011 presidential election.

The leaders, at a meeting held at the Asokoro, Abuja residence of prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark also reviewed the political developments in the country. They vowed to work together to seek the support and endorsement of the entire South-east zone for the actualisation of Jonathan’s ambition in the election.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, which lasted several hours, said the meeting observed the standing relationship between the people of the two zones right from pre-independent days.

The communiqué reads: “That the high level deprivation and poverty prevalent in the country particularly in the rural areas of the South-south geo-political zone where oil and gas resources are explored and exploited to produce the wealth of the country is a product of deliberate policy of subverting the principle of federalism which was practised at the birth of the Nigerian federation.

“That as creatures of God, all men are created equal and therefore no one is and should be regarded inferior to the other. “That it is only unity of purpose and common understanding that would guarantee freedom and equal opportunities for all oppressed people of this country.

“That the consultations and permutations for the emerging political dispensation in 2011 may not have sufficiently recognised the contributions of the South-East during the constitutional crises that followed the indisposition of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua in November, 2009. “That the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a divine call to serve” adding that since he emerged, “there has been substantial improvement in electricity power supply and stability in the supply of petroleum products.”

The leaders of the two zones added that the meeting agreed to give attention to the issues that unite their people rather than issues that divide them “because there is no ocean without debris.” The leaders also resolved that the two zones would still meet and hold a wider meeting of leaders from the zones in the South-east where issues such as marginalisation, loss of job, creation of states and 2015 presidency would be discussed.

The communiqué was signed by former Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji, Prof. I.C. Madubuike, Mr. Francis Orji, Dr. Osita Ngwu and Senator Chris Ukpai on behalf of the South-East while Air Cdre Idongesit Nkanga (retd), Prof. B.I.C Ijomah, Brig.Gen. S.E Oviawe (retd), Chief Ayakeme Whisky and Chief Richard Lamai signed on behalf of the South-South.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/20/national-08-20-2010-001.htm

Osama10:
Is this news?

So what is news my man, i don't think you understand what news is all about do try to understand what something is be4 you reply

Aides to the speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, will today appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) over their involvement in the 5.2 billion naira rural electrification scandal.

The aides include the senior special assistant on communications to the speaker, Kayode Odunaro.

A source within the commission informed NEXT that the aides are expected to testify on their roles in the nominations of companies that executed the rural electrification project across the country.

Ndidi Elumelu, the former chairman of the House of Representatives committee on power, and Nicholas Ugbane, the chairman of the Senate committee on power, are among those already facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the matter.

The EFCC had concluded its investigations, which exonerated the speaker and charged Mr. Elumelu, Mr. Ugbane, and others for their involvement in the scandal.

As earlier reported by NEXT however, ongoing investigations by the ICPC indicate that Mr. Bankole may be involved in the scandal.

When contacted, Folu Olamiti, the media consultant to the ICPC, confirmed the expected appearance of the aides.

“Yes, some of the speaker’s aides will appear before us tomorrow (today),” Mr. Olamiti stated, while refusing to comment further on the issue.

Mr. Odunaro told NEXT he was ready to appear before the commission, although he had “not received any (invitation) letter from the ICPC.” He explained that he had earlier written a petition to the commission through the speaker’s chief security officer.

“There was a time I wrote a petition to the ICPC on a plot to rope in the speaker. There was a serious plot to nail the speaker, which involved some cheques of UBA,” Mr. Odunaro said.

The UBA cheques

Though Mr. Odunaro did not elaborate on the UBA cheques, findings by NEXT show that these were the cheques issued by Mr. Elumelu to companies who had completed their own part of the electrification project.

“The cheques were meant for the companies. But there was a woman who was a go between, between the speaker and Elumelu. Elumelu told us that the speaker recommended the woman as a middle-man so as to limit his involvement. The woman was supposed to collect the cheques from Elumelu, take them to UBA, and transfer the agreed sum to the companies,” a source in the ICPC told NEXT.

The source, who declined to mention the name of the woman, stated that “the woman is now on the run; we understand she escaped out of the country. We are searching for her and once we get her, the whole truth about the speaker’s involvement in the scandal will be clear. Elumelu also told us that it was Bankole that gave him the names of the companies that got the contract, though Bankole denied that.”

Mr. Elumelu and some other members of his committee; Mr.Ugbane; the permanent secretary in the ministry of power, Abdulahi Aliyu; and the managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Samuel Ibi Gekpe; are all facing trial by the EFCC for their involvement in the scandal.

The legislators are alleged to have influenced the officials of the Rural Electrification Agency to smuggle contracts that were not approved by the presidency into their operations.

In all, 21 companies believed to be associated with members of the House of Representatives, got the controversial contracts.

NEXT learnt that the money, which was meant to be paid to the companies that successfully completed their own electrification projects, is still with the UBA, even though the companies have completed the projects.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5608517-147/icpc_summons_bankoles_aides_over_n5.8.csp

Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, yesterday oversaw the swearing-in of Acho Nwakanma as his deputy governor, saying the action marked the completion of the liberation of Abia State from the shackles of undemocratic governance and the entrenchment of true democracy.

Speaking at the swearing-in of Mr. Nwakanma in Umuahia on Wednesday at the Government House, he said that unlike his predecessor, the new deputy governor was nominated by himself and has been approved by the state legislature.

Mr. Orji explained that the need for a new deputy governor arose from the impeachment of Chris Akomas, adding that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, his impeachment was not instigated by the executive.

“We have liberated Abia from the shackles of undemocratic government. I stand to be held accountable for the actions of Mr. Nwakanma because I nominated him personally and the house endorsed him,” he declared.

The governor said that normalcy has returned to the state, as those who were at war with him have reconciled with him and are now working with his administration.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Nwakanma pledged his total loyalty to the governor and Abia State, adding that since he survived a more difficult administration he would have no problem with the present one, which he said was more democratic.

The new deputy governor, who had earlier served as the deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly and later the deputy governor during the last lap of Orji Uzor Kalu, said he was familiar with the office of a second-in-command and would give his total support to the governor.

Mr. Nwakanma is the sixth deputy governor the state since the creation of the state.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5608556-146/governor_orji_gets_new_deputy_governor.csp

President Goodluck Jonath has wished Ibrahim Babangida good health and long life as the former military celebrated his 69th birthday on Tuesday.

In a letter dated August 17th, a copy of which was made available to State House Correspondents yesterday, Mr. Jonathan said: “As you celebrate this day with family, friends and numerous well wishers, it is my prayer that Almighty God continues to guide, guard and bless you with robust health and His abiding provision in many years ahead.”

The president remarked that Mr. Babangida had done so much to uplift this country and therefore deserves to be celebrated.

“I wish you a very happy sixty-nine birthday anniversary. Congratulations your Excellency and please accept the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem,” he wrote.

The President’s congratulatory message came on the heels of the presidential contest, for which Mr. Babangida has already declared his interest and which Mr. Jonathan is still to make a public declaration.

Only last week, Mr. Babangida responded to a comment by Mr. Jonathan saying that for claiming that he was serving out the joint ticket he had with late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the president was being intellectually dishonest.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5608560-146/jonathan_commends_babangida___.csp

Out of the 62 political parties,more than half of them are just investing ahead,the ruling party is their benefactors,they are PARTIES DECEIVE PEOPLE in disguise,why did the national assembly kick against two party system,they know by merit and credibility,they do not deserve to speak for us and they believe it is under compulsion they return by 2011,why not 362 political parties,giant of Africa’ corruption,shameless criminals and public fighters, shiiio!!!!!!!!!

Sixty-two registered political parties will contest the 2011 general elections, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.



INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, at a meeting with chairmen and secretaries of political parties in Abuja, also said no new political party would be registered before the elections.



He defended the action of the commission, which he said, was in accordance with the 2010 Electoral Bill.



The bill was passed last week by the National Assembly and sent to President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday for assent.



Jega said, “The registration of new political parties ceases six months before an election. This means that as at now, no new political parties can be registered ahead of the next elections, which are slated to commence on January 8, 2011.



“I should also note that under the Section 78 of the bill, INEC may also cancel a party’s certificate of registration where there is false or misleading information leading to its registration.”



He also told the party chairmen and secretaries that the bill empowered the commission to deregister any political party that failed to win any seat in either the national or state assemblies.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008193331325

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the granting of Nigerian citizenship to 82 foreigners.



The approval followed a memo from the Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho.



Out of the 82, 38 were granted citizenship by naturalisation while the remaining 44 received citizenship by registration.



Fifty-four other foreigners, who also sought to become Nigerian citizens, were however not successful as their applications were stepped down due to what FEC described as “inappropriate clearance reports.”



The Minister of State for Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who made this known after FEC’s meeting in Abuja, also disclosed that the council also approved the provision of project management services for Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project (lots 1 and 3) in the sum of N1.2bn.



The project, which has a 48-month completion period, is to be handled by Transurb Technirail Consult Limited.



Maku explained that the council made the approval after considering a memo by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Senator Bala Mohammed.



According to the minister, the FCTA is embarking on a progressive development of a rapid-based commuter system in line with the Abuja Master Plan.



He said that the rail project had been divided into six lots in order to facilitate its phased development.



Maku further explained that based on the earlier conceptual design and study done by Messrs CPCS Transcom of Canada, Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Nigeria) Limited had earlier been awarded the contract to design and construct Lots 1 and 3 at the cost of N841.6m.



The council planned that the rail project would minimise the difficulties currently experienced by commuters in the FCT.



Another contract approved by the council was the direct procurement of 63 Peugeot Expert Teepee G9 ambulances and accessories for use in rural areas in 20 states and the FCT.



The states are Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross-Rivers, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.



The contract, which has a delivery period of four weeks, was awarded in favour of Messrs Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited at N458.4m. The unit cost is N7.23m.



Maku explained that the contract was approved following a memo from the Minister of Women Affairs, Chief Josephine Anenih. The minister had sought the procurement of the ambulances in order to convey pregnant women to health care centres in the rural areas.



The ambulances are expected to accelerate the country’s efforts at meeting the Millennium Development Goals target of reducing maternal and child mortality by 2015.



The first phase of the scheme, which covered 16 states of the federation, was launched by the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, in Abuja on July 9, 2010.



Maku said, “Maternal mortality in Nigeria is extremely high when compared to other countries, and is one of the country’s most significant development challenges.”



FEC also approved the ratification of optional protocols to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict; and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.



The two optional protocols were adopted by the UN General Assembly in May 2000 to strengthen the protection of children from armed conflict as well as the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.



Nigeria signed the protocols on September 8, 2000 but is yet to ratify them.



Before the meeting began, Jonathan swore in his new Chief Economic Adviser, Prof. Mrs. Precious Garba, and advised her to blend her academic and theoretical knowledge with the practical realities on the ground.



Until her appointment, Garba, a Professor of Economics, was the Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.



Garba replaces Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, who served as Chief Economic Adviser to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.



Yakubu quit the job on his own volition after Yar’Adua’s death. Jonathan told Garba that the job of the economic adviser to the President was a “ “challenging and strategic one.”



He, therefore, mandated her to bring her knowledge to bear on the economy, in order to help Nigeria get out of the woods.



Jonathan said, “Now you have been called to come and serve the government and we believe that you will bring your knowledge to help in strengthening the economic team.”



“The office Chief Economic Adviser to the President is a very strategic one, because you will work hand in glove with the minister of finance and you will be involved in a number of policies and programmes of government that have to do with her economic development and growth as a nation.



“That is quite a challenging job and we believe that you are very competent to handle these various responsibilities. You should know that your responsibilities are quite strategic and useful.



“So we believe that you will bring your knowledge and wisdom to bear and serve your nation, not Mr. President, to make sure that we get out of the woods and our economy turns.



“You know we have a dream, a vision and an aspiration that by the year 2020 Nigeria should play big amongst the committee of nations and you have been brought in to play a role in that part.



“You will blend the academic and theoretical knowledge with the practical realities on ground and I believe you will succeed.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100819382432

Comrade Uba Sani, a former senior special assistant on public affairs to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he was aspring to be senator so as to contribute his own quota to the socio-economic development of the country. He is aspiring to represent Kaduna Central Senatorial District, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He spoke to some journalists shortly after visiting the state’s party secreteriat to make his intention known. Exerpts:

What motivated you to aspire for this position?
Two things motivated me. As one of the people in the country who fought for the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria, our belief at that time was that our people would live better lives and that things would get better. Unfortunately, 11 years after the return of democratic rule, the situation has not changed. The level of poverty in the country has worsened and the same goes for the level of unemployment.

The problem is that the people who are currently there do not give the people adequate representation. I believe that for us to correct the trend, people should come up and accept the challenge. That is one of the reasons I decided to contest the election. The second reason is that in the last one year, the people around me have put pressures on me to contest. I thought it was high time for me to accept the challenge. I am convinced that they believe I can bring about the change that they desire.

Opposition from Musa Bello, Mairago and others.
I do not think they are as formidable as you think. Perhaps you are thinking of the last dispensation. But we are talking about what is happening today in Kaduna State and particularly Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone. I do not think that any of those people you are talking about is popular at the moment. They have lost touch with the party at the ward, zonal and state levels.

I say this because I am the only aspirant vying for this position that has gone round all the wards in the zone. The people do not even know these persons you are talking about. Yes, some of them contested election in the past but political party structure is not something that is static. Most of the people holding positions in the party today including the state chairman of the party were not there in the past. You cannot sit in your house and expect people to vote for you.

My experience was quite shocking because from the local government to the ward level, PDP members are not happy because of what is happening. They feel that they have been abandoned. Moreover, I do not even think those people you mentioned are still in the race. I would be shocked if they are still in the race because none of them has visited any ward to canvass for votes. They are not on the ground.

Do you think that you can dislodge the incumbent?
Dislodging the incumbent is not the issue. We are talking about the primaries coming up very soon. I did not consider whether there is an incumbent or not before I joined the race. At the end of the day, the PDP will decide through their votes. In any case, from what the state chairman of the PDP said, the party will not support any candidate that is not acceptable to the people, from the ward level to the local government level. We are not just talking about winning the primaries but it is also about winning the general elections.

I also believe in what President Goodluck Jonathan said that votes will count this time around. I also have so much confidence in the INEC Chairman who is one of the most credible Nigerians I have ever come across. I have no doubts in my mind that he is capable of conducting free and fair elections in Nigeria. That is why we are insisting that the PDP should only allow people who are popular to run for elective offices to represent the party.

Assessing senators representing Kaduna State
I may not necessarily assessing them collectively but I can assess them individually. I have more interest in who represents us in Kaduna Central Senatorial District. Whatever I tell you may not also be my personal assessment but I would rather rely on the assessment of the people. I have been to every ward in my zone and there is no local government in the state that has less than 10 wards. That means I visited over 70 wards. There is no executive member of the PDP in my zone that I have not seen one-on-one. That gave me the opportunity to listen to them and know what their complaints.

I tell you, in most of the places I have visited, they have not seen the incumbent since after he was elected. You cannot solve the problems of the people if they do not have access to you. That is my assessment. I saw a lot of challenges in some of the local governments especially in Birnin Gwari.

When I went there, I was expecting to meet a few people, perhaps not more than 150 but I was shocked. The youths alone who were outside the hall were more than 500 and more than half of them are unemployed. It is really dangerous and it has to be checked. They told me that no other person could have come and left peacefully, including the senator and members of the House of Representatives from the area. The youths are violent because they do not have anything doing, they are frustrated. We have a lot of problems in the state and they have to be solved.

Call for a shift of 2011 polls
Shifting the elections will not solve any problem. Jega said he can do it. What is needed is for everybody to support him and resolve the internal crises within the political parties. No matter what Jega does and no matter how committed he is in conducting free and fair elections in the country, if there is no justice and internal democracy within the political parties, we will not have free and fair elections.

That is why I said that this time around, the PDP cannot just sit down and give anybody a ticket to contest elections or submit anybody’s name who did not canvass for votes. If we do not change that, INEC cannot conduct free and fair elections because those you will see as candidates will turn out not be those elected by the people.

Legislators’ jumbo pay
I have seen the salary of members of the National Assembly. Somebody posted the document to me and I was shocked. If you go to other countries, it is not like that. With the level of poverty we face in this country today, you do not have to allocate such huge amount of money to anybody, not even to a member of the National Assembly.

If I get there certainly I will be one of the people who will canvass that such salary should be stopped. When you are there you should be able to work for the interest of the people. I do not see how the people from your constituency will have problems of unemployment, poverty, disease and you go to the National Assembly and collect such huge salary. It is unfortunate. I am going there to better the lots of Nigerians and to contribute my own best to growth of Nigeria, socially, economically and other wise.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/19/national-08-19-2010-004.htm

A dismissed Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Benard Alifi has been sentenced to death by hanging by a High Court sitting in Abakaliki for murder and other criminal count charge levelled against him.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Obande Ogbuinya of court five said the prosecution, having proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, he pronounced the accused guilty of the murder of one Chinwendu Micha.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. I. P. Chima, had called for five witnesses, three of whom were eyewitnesses and two police officers who were alleged to be on patrol with the accused ASP the day the boy was shot.
Other witness presented by the prosecuting counsel was Mr. Bernard Mbam whom the deceased, an undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, allegedly visited on the night he was murdered.

Daily Sun gathered that Alifi had been standing trial for the murder charge since 2004 when he was accused of unprovoked murder of the deceased, Chinwendu Micha, a 23-year-old, who was until his death, second year student in the university. The deceased was killed by the police ASP, when he visited his friend, Mr. Bernard Mbam who was a councillorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2004 local government elections in the state.

It was also gathered that on the day of the local government election in 2004, the deceased and his friend Bernard were at the polling booth located opposite the bushy area of Odunukwe Street, Coca Cola depot, along Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway, when suddenly a team of police officers, led by Alifi came and shot Micha.
The defence counsel, C. O. Z. Obiekwe, put a spirited fight to defend his client and absolve him of the murder of Micha whom he had told the court was murdered by a bullet from another police officer whose identity he did not disclose.

According to the submission of the defence counsel, since there were many policemen on patrol that day, it could be possible that the deceased could have been killed by any police officer and not Alifi, the accused.
Under cross examination, the accused police ASP admitted that he had killed both innocent and suspected criminals in the cause of his duty when he was operating as one of the policemen attached to the government house.

Daily Sun also gathered that Alifi, who was attached to Ebonyi State Government House, had on that day of the local government election allegedly taken permission from the ADC to the former governor on the ground that he had information that there were groups of criminals coming to disrupt the election. However, the ADC to the former governor had earlier, through a written statement, denied any such statement and allegation that he permitted the accused to go on patrol on the day the deceased was murdered.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/aug/19/newsbreak-08-19-2010-001.htm

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, yesterday reviewed the situation on ground as regards the preparation for the 2011 election, saying that the path to the much-touted credible election is filled with landmines.

The INEC boss, who regretted that his commission is yet to get the N87.7 billion supplementary appropriation after approval by the National Assembly, said unfortunately, as a result of the controversies surrounding the Electoral Act and the amended Constitution, the provisions of which are to be relied on for the conduct of the elections, INEC is not sure of where it stands for now.

Indeed, the INEC chairman said the commission, which already is pressed for time, has missed by two weeks, the timelines set for some of its deliverables for the conduct of the elections.

Vowing that though the determination of his commission to deliver free and fair elections is irreversible, the INEC boss, therefore, cried out for help from stakeholders for collaboration to ensure the nation gets it right this time around. Jega, who was addressing leaders of the 62 registered political parties at a consultative meeting in Abuja under the auspices of International Republican Institute (IRI), lamented that the commission is facing some constraints, which it never envisaged.

The constraints, he noted, arose from the non-release of the N87.7 billion supplementary appropriation for the voters’ registration, the delay in the take-off of the 2010 Amended Constitution and 2010 Electoral Act, both are being bogged down by the controversies over presidential assent. Jega said that INEC planned its activities on the understanding that the amendments would have been consummated and finalized.

Said he; “based on the inadequacies of the existing voters’ register; we said our preference would be to produce a fresh voters’ register if we had the funds and time, otherwise, we would embark on cleaning up of the existing register. Since then, we thought that we got the time through the amendments to the Electoral Act. We also thought that we had the funds following consideration of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill for INEC sent to the National Assembly by Mr. President.

Again, unfortunately, we are not sure where we stand at the moment.
“Instead, there have been controversies over whether or not the President has to assent to the Constitution amendment…to the best of my knowledge, the President is yet to assent the new Electoral Act, all have constrainted our preparations for both the voters’ registration and the elections,” he lamented.

Nevertheless, Jega said the commission would work hard to make up for the time loss, because “we consider as irreducible mission of our commission to conduct free and fair elections based on a dependable and permanent voters’ register as provided by law by providing Nigerians strong leadership built on openness, fairness, and unimpeachable integrity.

Jega charged the party leaders not to see the electoral exercise as the exclusive preserve of the commission, but a joint project by all stakeholders, saying INEC is in the process of producing comprehensive guidelines to guide voters’ registration, urging the parties to educate their supporters and mobilize them for the exercise.
He promised all the parties a level playing field, assuring that all electoral structures and processes will be designed such that it would not confer undue advantage over others.

Highlighting the constraints imposed by the yet to be operational legal framework, Prof Jega said, “except we know what the Constitutional provision on the time to hold elections before the end of tenure is, we are constrained to issue a notice for the elections, which must be done 90 days to the elections (Section 30 of the Electoral Act 2010).

We are equally constrained to determine the date political parties must submit their list of candidates to the commission, which must be done 60 days prior to the elections (Section 31 of the “new” Electoral Act), and so on and so forth. Still, I can assure you that we are ready and as soon as these are clarified and concluded, we would release a time-table of events.

Should the ‘new’ Electoral Act be approved for the election, the INEC chairman educated the party men on areas that would likely affect their preparation and noted the following:

Submission of list of candidates
(a) Section 31 of the Electoral Act requires the parties to submit their lists of candidates 60 days before elections. INEC is required within seven days thereafter, to publish the list of candidates in the constituency where the election is to hold. (b) Nominations submitted by the parties are public documents and any citizen is entitled under section 31 (4) to request from INEC copies of the nomination filed and INEC is obliged to make this available within 14 days.

Substitution of candidates
(a) In Section 33, no political party shall be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted pursuant to Section 32 of the Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate. (b) This eliminates the old practice of substitution of candidates arbitrarily or on the nebulous ground of “cogent and verifiable reasons, ”

Withdrawal of candidates
a) This is allowed 45 days before an election only. See section 35. Thereafter, a candidate’s name will remain on the ballot.
Registration of new political parties
a) The registration of new political parties ceases six months before an election. This means that as at now, no new political parties can be registered ahead of the next elections, if they are to take place by 8th January 2011 (Section 78).

b) I should also note that under the section, INEC may also cancel a party’s certificate of registration where there is false or misleading information leading to its registration.
c) Section 78 (7) empowers INEC to de-register a political party that fails to win any National or State Assembly seat in an election.

Mergers of political parties
a) Political parties are required under section 84 (2) to give INEC 90 days notice of an intention to merge before a general election
Party conventions/congresses/conference for Nomination of candidates
a) The Electoral Act 2010 provides in section 85, that political parties give INEC 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under the bill.
b) This means that parties need to be informed well ahead of the 90 days date for the submission of their list of candidates, of this legal requirement, to ensure that they prepare adequately to fulfill the provisions contained in the new section 87 of the Electoral Act specifying the process of political party primaries.

c) Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010, outlines the process that all political parties must fulfill to conduct legitimate and credible primaries, to enable them file candidates for the elections. Failure to comply with section 87 may disqualify candidates filed by political parties for the elections.
d) Section 86 of the Act gives INEC powers to monitor the parties and ensure that they comply with the law.
Meanwhile, Jega tabulated thus the timetable set by INEC on assumption that the Amended Constitution and the Electoral Act would have been in place by now but which has been affected by two weeks:

Deliverables
Timelines
(i) Identification of equipment suppliers, Early August 2010
(ii) Award of contract, Early August 2010
(iii) Delivery of 15,000 units of equipment for training Early September 2010
(iv) Delivery of balance of equipment for registration exercise, Mid-October 2010
(v) Training Early to Mid September 2010

(vi) Completion of deployment of equipment to polling units, Mid-October 2010
(vii) Registration exercise, Late Oct.– Early Nov. 2010
(viii) Printing of voters’ register for display, Early November 2010
(ix) Display of Voters’ Register,
Mid-November 2010
(x) Verification, correction and certification, Mid Nov. – Early Dec. 2010.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/19/national-08-19-2010-001.htm

luvbooks:
As distasteful as the topic sounds, it's actually quite true. Girls from broken homes look for love everywhere but within. Same with guys from broken homes as well . . . they are just walking time bombs

Yes it's true and also ladies that have lost one of there parents or both