₦airaland Forum

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday approved the immediate release of the sum of N21 billion as contained in the 2010 Appropriation Act for the purchase of two aircraft for the presidential fleet. The deal also involved the supply of three presidential jets for the Nigerian government.

It will be recalled that the two of the presidential jets, including the one in which President Goodluck Jonathan travelled in to Kampala for the 15th African Union (AU) summit last month, developed mechanical fault, delaying his return to the country for one day.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the Council meeting, Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, said the deal was the outcome of negotiation between Nigerian officials and two separate business concerns from France and the United States for the three aircraft.

Dassault Aviation of France is to supply two new Falcon 7x aircraft, while the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of USA is to supply the Gulfstream G550 for use by the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF). She said the purchase price of the two Falcon jets was put at $102 million while the single Gulfstream jet was to cost another $53 million, totaling $154 million for the three aircraft.
Akunyili pointed out that the committee set up for the negotiation of the acquisition of the aircraft was able to get a reduction of the sum of $2.9 million from the proposed price of the two Falcon jets and another reduction of $5.47 million from the offer price of the single Gulfstream jet.

The minister further explained that the first of the two Falcon jets would be delivered by the end of the fourth quarter of this year, while the second Falcon and the Gulfstream jets would be delivered by the end of the second quarter of next year.

“The sum of N21 billion has been provided in the 2010 Appropriation Act for the outright purchase of the two Falcon 7x aircraft and the one unit G550 to be delivered as agreed in the contract,” she disclosed.
According to Akunyili, the FEC, presided over by President Jonathan, after consideration, “approved the purchase of two Falcon 7x aircraft and one Gulfstream G550 aircraft in favour of Messrs Dassault Aviation and Messrs Gulfstream respectively at the cost of $154.529 million.”



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/aug/12/newsbreak-08-12-2010-001.htm

The nights of long knives and the series of nocturnal (and, sometimes, clandestine) meetings that have characterized the lot of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is expected to coalesce into a make-or-mar meeting today in Abuja, when the various contending forces come to a formal ‘confrontation’

It is the much talked about meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party. The governors who have not hidden their disapproval for some of the recent pronouncement of new Nnational Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, are expected to table their grudges and lay down fresh conditions for going along with what many of them have come to term as Nwodo’s one-man-show reform programme.

Although observers of the goings-on in the party insist that the series of meetings that hold Tuesday and Wednesday may have served to douse tension and calm frayed nerves ahead of today’s meeting, and that the meeting may in fact, be an anti-climax. Jonathan and his camp are expected to still break some sweat. It is expected that the governors, who are not comfortable that the control veins of the party are gradually slipping out of their grip, would want to extract a commitment from both the President and Nwodo as necessary condition for coming aboard the current reform agenda.

Of course, the PDP governors seem to have potent negotiating chip: They are withholding their support for the online registration regime as well as the dumping of the existing zoning arrangement which would effectively clear the coast for Jonathan to contest next year’s presidential election on the party’s platform.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today at Wadata Plaza, the party national secretariat in Abuja. Findings revealed that issues to be discussed at the meeting include, online registration of members, the faltering zoning arrangement and guidelines for party primaries.

The most contentious among the issues to be discussed is the zoning arrangement for party and elective offices. A meeting of the national caucus held on Monday night was polarized. The pro-zoning group insisted that there was no need to remove the clause from the party’s constitution, even as they submitted that President Goodluck Jonathan had every right to contest the 2011 presidential election, as his right is guaranteed in the Constitution.

Article 7.2[c] of the PDP constitution reads: “In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.” Another contentious issue to be addressed is the online registration for party members which has already commenced. On Tuesday, the National Working Committee (NWC) signed an agreement for the scheme with a consortium of banks and a consulting firm, Identification Solutions Limited.

But it was learnt that the PDP governors were not comfortable with the scheme and had vowed to kick against it at the NEC meeting today. “The governors are wary that the scheme, if implemented, would undermine their grip on the party,” Daily Sun source noted.

The source also disclosed that the national caucus had prevailed on the PDP National Chairman, Dr Okwesilizie Nwodo, to table the online registration before NEC, even as the NWC had already signed the master agreement for the scheme. An enlarged national caucus of the party was expected to meet last night to harmonise positions on zoning and online registration before the NEC meeting today.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/12/national-08-12-2010-001.htm

If everything goes according to plan, President Goodluck Jonathan should be declaring his intention to contest the 2011 presidential elections, soon. The waiting game appears to be heading for a denouement as his key henchmen are now shooting from the hips on the president's plan to seek a four-year mandate, in next year's presidential election.

One of the president's aides, who is the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abba Aji, was in the news last week, inaugurating zonal arms of a pro-Jonathan campaign group of which he is the chairman. Incidentally, the aide who is a government official is not bothered about any impropriety or duplicity in his role as a government employee and a campaign manager of the president.

He has happily told journalists that the president's directive to his aides to stop campaigning for him pending his conclusion of consultations with stakeholders on his presidential ambition, did not apply to him. The aide said the directive did not apply to him because he actually heads the president's campaign group. And, this is at a time that he is drawing salaries from the government as a Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters!

Another high profile government official, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, has confirmed conclusion of consultations by the president on his ambition. He has told Nigerians to expect a declaration of intention to enter the presidential race in 2011 from President Jonathan, very soon, as the President is now “set to declare his interest.” The minister, who spoke with newsmen in Warri, Delta State, went on to canvass the benefits of a Jonathan presidency and the need to dump zoning to pave way for a candidate from the South South, which has never “tasted” the presidency of the country.

It is okay for the president's aides to seek a place for him in next year's presidential race. The president, like every other Nigerian, has a right to contest the presidential election. The only fear that has been canvassed in many quarters is the danger of jettisoning the PDP zoning arrangement for Jonathan now, considering that without such a zoning arrangement, power may never peacefully come down south again, considering the fact that the population of the North has been accepted to be higher than that of Southern Nigeria.

Also, the Northerners might not be so “careless” to allow power come down South again, without a serious fight that could take any dimension. However, the focus today is not so much whether the president will be contesting next year or not. The more important question his campaigners should be asking, and trying to find answers to, is what a further four years of Jonathan's presidency will mean to Nigeria.

For ordinary Nigerians, beyond the muscle flexing over zoning, is the more important issue of the legacy to be left by the incumbent president, and whether Nigerians will want more of that legacy, or another person in the presidential saddle, come the general elections next year.
The president really needs to show that he is the person needed for the job at hand. For now, the difference between this regime and that of the late Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua, is not very clear.
Although there are seeming rays, and a few raindrops, of hope, in some sectors, like education, where Professor Rukayyat Ahmed Rufai, is trying to make a difference, it is “the showers that we need.”

For the president, and others intent on getting in the presidential saddle next year, Nigerians do not want a president just for the sake of “being like other nations”, just like Israelites clamoured for a king in Bible days.
We need a president who can make a difference. A person, who has a vision to move the nation forward, and to save the people from the butt of cruel jokes for being prominent on all indices of poor development including high maternal and child mortality rates, polio, poverty; out of school children, illiteracy, poor access to university education, poor quality roads; water and power supply, amongst many others.

Nigerians deserve a leader who has a vision for a brighter and more respectable future, and the willpower to attain it. For once, getting to the country's No I seat should not be to burnish egos, or to represent a particular part of the country. It should not be an opportunity to occupy the position as a representative of a section of the country, and to work for the betterment of that section, or to protect the interest of cronies and political appointees. The new president that we want must see the entire country as his constituency.

He must develop a morbid hatred of the sorry condition of most Nigerians. The bad state of Nigerians roads; poor health care facilities, unemployment and poor power supply should be a personal heartache to him.
He must have within his bowels, passion to make a difference, and the will to be “THE ONE', that Nigerians have been looking for. The challenge before all Nigerians in next year's polls is to seek out such a person and vote him into office.
For all the contestants angling to contest in next year's elections, it is not too late for introspection and realignment. Let them all realign their thinking with the greatest need of the moment.
History is beckoning on President Jonathan and all those who would challenge him in next year's polls to strive to be the answer to Nigerians' many questions.

Nigerians deserve a new day under the sun. The sad story the nation has been telling since independence calls for a visionary to take the country to a new level.
It is not enough to commit so much money to electioneering campaigns, what is more important is the benefit that will accrue to the nation from the aspirants' candidature.
President Goodluck has an opportunity in his laps to do the best he can for the country now, and to seek the people's mandate for another four-year term next year. He should seize that chance with both hands, and do his best to change the Nigerian story.

His challengers have an equal chance to get their act together and articulate a credible plan to win the hearts of Nigerians in the coming elections.
The battle for the presidency next year should not be based on zoning, incumbency, money politics and all those issues that have never helped the country. It should be based on hard facts on persons with the passion, the vision and the competence to take Nigeria to the Promised Land. That person might, per chance, be Jonathan. And, it might not. May God give Nigerians the grace and the common sense to put sentiments aside and seek out the man or woman who will re-write the story of this country, for good.

Mail box

The Falconets performed well because of their zeal and resolute commitment with a fine attitude to hard work, adequate preparation and development programmes. The Super Eagles have a lesson to learn from them to succeed at football competitions.
Comrade Femi Dada, Ibadan
08075504398

If truly the players are under 20, kudos. Otherwise, it's the same pattern of stellar performance at age grade football and fumbling at senior level.
Stanley, 08059466920
Let's give it to Super Falcons for making us proud. The world will know that something good will still come out of Nigeria. Bravo! Super falconets. All the players and technical crew should be promoted to Super Falcons for continuity for future competitions like Olympics and Senior Female World Cup. Scholarship award to the players by the Federal Government is welcome, if they can implement it.
We have heard many promises made by government but, at the end of the day, nothing will come out of it.
Gordon Chika Nnorom., Umukabia Okpuala
Abia State.

Who needs elections that will be rigged? Please tell government to keep our billions. All that is needed is to give the names of aspirants to GSM providers to put in their wayo lottery machines to give us wayo results.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/2010/aug/11/opinion-11-08-2010-001.htm

Her condition will elicit tears from even a man with a heart made of stone. She is one of a set of triplets, all girls, born at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan on May 29, 1999. For two and a half years, Prudent Unaidet lived an apparently healthy and normal life with her two sisters, Peace and Precious.

But as she advanced to age three, specifically on November 4, 2001, the little tot was struck by a strange illness which ultimately resulted in her admission at the Paediatric Neurology Unit of the hospital of her birth, UCH, on December 2 of the same year.

Between then and 2006, Prudent was in and out of the hospital, being treated by doctors, initially for meningitis and later viral encephalitis. During this period, the young patient suffered persistent convulsions and lapsed into coma.
Worse still, her head grew bigger than the normal size, which, medical experts explained was due to the occupation of mask on the brain. Also, the incessant spasms which accompanied her sickness was said to have led to the blockage of the tube that supplied fluid to the brain.

An x-ray of the brain was recommended, but a brain surgery which was to follow as a consequence was never to be till the patient, who was gradually dying after nearly four years of trauma, was allegedly discharged and refused further treatment by the UCH authorities in 2006. The hospital had more or less declared her case as hopeless, the doctors having changed their diagnosis from viral encephalitis to severe brain malformation.
By this time, the hapless parents, Kendrick and Nkechi Unaidet, who jointly run a hair dressing/barbing salon at Custom area, Agodi, Ibadan, had exhausted their meagre savings on the child’s treatment and the upkeep of her siblings.

Now, 11, Prudent has remained bedridden and unable to join her age mates in school as her health condition deteriorates.
However, there is a glimmer of hope in the horizon for the Unaidets. Daily Sun learnt that there is a chance that Prudent can regain her health, if she could make the journey to and afford the cost of surgery at the John-Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, in the United States.

The UCH doctors had actually referred the patient to the foreign hospital, reputed to be one of the best in the world, following pressures from the father.
Now, the undaunted dad wants the UCH to take back his ailing daughter into its care while he searches for funds to take care of her Medicare abroad
Sadly, however, he is not getting the co-operation of the authorities of the tertiary institution, who he accuses of mismanaging the health profile of Prudent in the first place.

To the aggrieved dad, the doctors merely used his daughter as a guinea pig of experimentation, while making him “waste” his life savings on carrying out series of scanning, tests, injections and drugs. He remarked that the doctors should not have held on to the child for so long when they knew they were incompetent to handle the case. He said at a time, it took the intervention of a top notch-doctor to stop the continued administration of some particular drugs and injections on the child by some of his naive and junior colleagues.
In a bid to get the best of services for his daughter, Mr. Unaidet says he protested the handling of the case via a letter to the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, in 2006.

According to him, a senior consultant in charge of the case was invited to Abuja over the matter, who, in defence, allegedly told ministry officials that the patient in question “had no brain to be treated”. Unaidet says he got no feedback from the ministry.
His effrontery, however, got him clashing with the doctors, who, he says became very hostile and began to treat him with disdain. He says he was forced to change his strategy and began begging colleagues and friends of the doctors to consider his plight, but was shocked at the brazen hostility and contempt they showed towards him.
“One of the doctors called me an old soldier on phone and said they would not touch the child again. The hospital’s PRO can testify to that”, Unaidet claims.

As it were, the Unaidet couple had to evacuate the child. “She is always alone in the house, when her sisters go to school and my wife and I go to the shop. She’s not dead, but is hardly conscious. The thing is, she is our child and we cannot throw her away. That’s why we want Nigerians to help us raise the money needed for her treatment”, pleaded the father.
Mr. Unaidet says the family has contacted John Hopkins University Hospital, adding that doctors there have shown interest in Prudent’s case. “They have asked us to send the result of a Cranial scan test (examination of the skull) which we understand will cost about N100, 000.00.


Link: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/citysun/2010/aug/11/citysun-11-08-2010-001.htm

Yes ooooo God pass the two of them.

The recently dissolved executive of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday embarked on a public protest over the harmonization order handed down by the National Headquarters of the party, alleging that former president, Olusegun Obasanjo and Jubril Martins-Kuye were the brains behind the party's "illegal" order.



The party had divided into two factions, with one loyal to the state governor, Gbenga Daniel, while the second is largely made up of the political opponents of the governor. But the new national leadership of the party, last week, ordered the two factions to merge, leading to the sack of the two executives.

The protesters, led by the sacked Secretary of the party, Pegba Otemolu, converged at the party secretariat in Abeokuta to lambast the former president, as well as the Minister of Commerce and Industry, as being responsible for their plight.

Ironically, while the protest was going on, the convoy of Mr Obasanjo, comprising three vehicles, moved from his hilltop home which is a stone throw from the party secretariat, to the Presidential Library, also opposite the party secretariat.

It was not certain whether Mr Obasanjo was inside the tainted jeep known to usually convey him, but the protesting party officials were visibly shocked, as they watched in amazement as the vehicles rolled by.

Some placards carried by the protesters had inscriptions such as ‘OBJ, JMK stop insulting our intelligence, you cannot destroy Ogun PDP' ‘All our exco remain intact, OBJ, JMK are jokers', ‘Joju Fadairo is our authentic chairman,' ‘Nwodo, Ogun PDP is unshaken.'

Mr Otemolu, who alleged that the national leadership of the party was acting a script, said they acted against the party constitution, which the state chapter would not agree with.

Divine protest

Kola Onadipe, another leader of the party, challenged Mr Obasanjo to explain his role in the "illegal" order of the party national headquarters, stressing that, his (Obasanjo) silence showed that he is part of the illegality.

"It is high time Obasanjo must talk. He cannot continue to keep quiet. He is our party BOT Chairman and from Ogun State, so he cannot afford to keep silent over all political issues on ground, which had brought no peace within the party,' said Mr Onadipe, who is also the state commissioner for water resources.

Emma Shoda, a retired colonel and leader of the party, said the protest is a divine agenda which must be won, pointing out that anywhere in the world, a divine agenda always succeeds.

"This one, we will succeed," he told the protesters. "You must not sleep. A child who does not want his mother to sleep will also be sleepless. Our protest is a divine agenda."

Titi Ajanaku, a governorship aspirant, told the party supporters that they should go back to their various wards, units and zones to continue their political work, expressing optimism that the national headquarters' order will not prosper.

She said the order was handed down by the national secretariat, and that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party, which is its highest ruling body, would overrule the secretariat in a meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Other party leaders who tongue-lashed the party headquarters at the rally include: Lekan Tejuoso, Lola Abiola Edewor, Niyi Osoba, Habeeb Ajayi, Tomi Soboyejo, Faidat Sarumi-Akintunde, Remi Odubote-Ogunkoya, Isikilu Makinde and Sikirulai Ogundele among others.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5604968-147/sacked_pdp_executive_protests_in_ogun.csp

Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has declared the unflinching support of his government to the realization of the presidential ambition of former military president , General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida(IBB). AKIN ALOFETEKUN, who was at the forum where the governor made the declaration reports

Governor Aliyu made the declaration during the community dialogue meeting otherwise called “Jama’a Forum”, held at the Palace of the Emir of Minna in Chanchaga Local Government Area. He maintained that it is highly important and necessary for the state to mobilize support for IBB in view of his origin and wealth of experience in the governance of the country.

He said that the state capital, Minna, is blessed in terms of human and material resources and that as home to two former heads of state, there is the need for the people of Minna and indeed, the entire Niger State to support IBB, so as to make history for the third time.

He stated that the essence of “Jama’a Forum” was to directly dialogue with the people on issues affecting their wellbeing, as well as to afford the government the opportunity to make amends on its policies and projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people. He stressed that the forum also provides the platform for government to be transparent and accountable in view of the principle of good governance of his administration.

At the forum, representatives of the 11 wards of Chanchaga Local Government area were individually called upon to speak on some of the problems of their wards. Accordingly, some of the issues raised include supply of water, road rehabilitation, provision of clinics, establishment of junior and senior secondary schools, youths unemployment, and addressing the imbalance in political appointments.

Governor Aliyu assured that his administration will resolve the problems and that with the little resources available to the government, efforts will be made to tackle each problem in accordance with the financial strength.
While commending the local government councils for their ability to provide the dividends of democracy, Aliyu pointed out the need to continue to adequately fund the councils to improve the living standard of the people at the grassroots, stressing that the local government is the most important tier of government in view of their closeness to the people.
Insinuations were rife that the governor, who is chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, was not supportive of the presidential aspiration of IBB, who happens to be his second cousin.
With that declaration, it has become clear that IBB may not be classified among the Biblical prophets who have no honour in their homes.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/politics/2010/aug/11/politics-11-08-2010-005.htm

Alhaji Danladi Anyo is a die-hard loyalist of former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. He speaks on the General’s chances in the 2011 presidential elections. He spoke to CHIMAOBI UCHENDU

Chairman of non-indigenes resident in Lagos and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Danladi Auyo, is confident that former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) will be sworn in as president in 2011.
In a chat with Daily Sun recently, Danladi said President Goodluck Jonathan will bite the dust during PDP’s primaries.
He said all the noise about incumbency will be silenced when all the sycophants deceiving him would desert him.
He said Nigerians will vote out PDP in the general elections if IBB fails to get the ticket, advising the party to be wise not to allow their ticket fall into wrong hands.

“I know how the primaries of PDP work and with the amendments which the National Assembly has put in place to avoid consensus candidates, I can bet you that President Jonathan will not win.
But in the event where the party decides otherwise, I can assure you that PDP will bite the dust during the elections.
I am equally surprised that the Group of 34 wise men, who midwifed PDP have not come out to defend the decision they took in the interest of the country.

They agreed in 1998 that the party would rotate the Presidency for stability, and if that decision is not tenable now, it would have been more honourable for them to speak up now.
These elders have exposed themselves to the larger society and they are making a mockery of an arrangement which is for the good of Nigeria. So, we are advising them to take a look at that Constitution once again, and return to the zoning arrangement.
Yes, without zoning, PDP will lose 2011 election. If you look at the people who are in PDP now, based on G34 and their followers they have interest based on that arrangement. That arrangement was why Buhari lost the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections.
I think it is better for PDP to decide what is the best solution. I watch with dismay the activities of some governors. They are all products of zoning in their different states, but they pretend as if it never existed.
The problem facing the party is not from the north as they want us to believe. Most Nigerians from all the geo-political zones are disenchanted and this might work against them.

2011
Look, winning elections in Nigeria goes beyond winning a party ticket to contest. Remember that we have over five registered parties and any of them can win election if they present a credible candidate.
All I am saying is that no one can lay claim to the position of president until after the election and as I see it, it will be too close to call.
IBB will not withdraw from the PDP party primaries because clearly he has the spread that can give him victory. I am so sure. If you look at his capability even after 17 years since he left office he still commands the respect of the electorate.
When we talk of freedom, there is no freedom in politics, there is no freedom in politics. There is also no security in politics; These are attributes which have characterised the polity since the present democratic dispensation.

Security has been bad. The economy has not improved. While the poor are getting poorer, the politicians are swimming in wealth.
In all these, we have to blame former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his ambition to continue to hold on to power. I think that he is doing this because Nigerians refused him Third Term. If not why will he not come out and speak on the arrangement that brought him to power.
When the G34 invited him to rule the country after he came out of prison, he was told the arrangement on ground which he agreed to. But now, he is denying it. IBB respects him as his former boss, and an elder statesman. That was why he supported him in 1998/99.
He equally supported him during his second term bid but opposed him when he came up with the idea of Third Term. I think that was where he started having other ideas about IBB.

Now, tell me, if there was no arrangement about zoning, how come Obasanjo dropped his beloved son, Peter Odili for the late Yar’Adua when his Third Term ambition crashed. We should fear God Almighty in whatever thing we set out to do in this world, because we must answer questions after our death.
On the election proper, I have the belief that the newly installed members of INEC will conduct credible elections. The people in that commission are men and women of integrity which has been tested over the years.

Attahiru Jega proved himself a tool too hard to manipulate in his days in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
He also distinguished himself as a lecturer in Bayero University, Kano (BUK). So, I have no doubt in my mind that he will save us from tyrants who are bent on tarnishing the image of our country.
Shekarau is not well known in Nigeria. He is only known in Kano State. We need someone who is well accepted all over the country. In fact, we need someone who is mobile.
Obasanjo
I say this because that was the same scenario that happened when the late President Yar’Adua was thrown up by Obasanjo. He was not known by Nigerians. But the North had to accept him because of the tight corner they found themselves. The North will not allow this kind of thing again, and I can bet you that IBB will change all that.
Most of our politicians are not straightforward. They say something today and change their statements the next day. We must learn to emulate the ways of the founding fathers of our great nation like Aminu Kano, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and Obafemi Awolowo.
These men not only developed this nation, but they threw away ethnic and sectional sentiments for me and you to still say one Nigeria.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/politics/2010/aug/11/politics-11-08-2010-004.htm

Nigeria ’s High Commissioner to South Africa , Brigadier-General Buba Marwa says the ultimate decision on zoning of the Presidency lies with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but cautions that abrogation of anyone’s right to vie for the seat could be problematic.

Marwa spoke in an interview in Pretoria on Tuesday against the backdrop of the ongoing debate over zoning of the office by the PDP ahead of the 2011 elections.
“The decision ultimately rests with the PDP on the zoning issue but when one’s constitutional right to run for the office is abrogated, it is more problematic.

“It is therefore in the interest of peace and stability that even President Goodluck Jonathan’s right to contest is not abrogated.
“Let us test everybody’s popularity with the electorate,” Marwa said, noting that the electorate was the ultimate decider in who rules the country,” he noted.
He said Nigerians had in a survey shown that they were more concerned about a leader who could deliver than where he hailed from.

“I can show you a survey on a poll conducted where Nigerians were asked where they want their president to come from: whether North-west, North-east, North-central, South-west, South-east, South-south or anywhere.
“In the scientific poll, the majority voted for “anywhere” and the truth is that Nigerians really do not care which zone produces the president, but are more interested in the person,” he said.

Marwa explained that the survey also showed Nigerians were asked for the important criteria they would use in choosing their President and provided with five important criteria of fear of God, experience, generosity, honesty and past performance.
“They voted overwhelmingly for past performance which means track record and if you put all these together, it places the president in good stead before the electorate,” he said.

“The ultimate decision of whether to contest or not resides with the president and he can decide to do so himself and also when to announce it.
“For me, he clearly has the constitutional right and the required intellectual robustness and capacity to run for an office he already occupies.
“He is like a breath of fresh air and I have no doubt in my mind that if he runs, he will win,” he said.
Marwa cautioned politicians not to organize million man marches which are used to “encourage a reluctant person” for Jonathan but to organize rallies to showcase his credentials and what he can offer.

He said Jonathan, having served at both deputy and substantive levels at state and national levels, was well versed to handle the Presidency and win the 2011 election.
The High Commissioner promised to mobilize his political machinery, the Marwa Movement behind Jonathan if he declares interest to contest.
He said Jonathan had shown competence in handling local as well as international issues, noting that he brought back the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission to life after years of dormancy.
On the elections, Marwa said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had shown credibility since his appointment and was well placed to conduct credible polls.

He said the onus was however on security agencies and legal procedures to stop desperate election riggers who might not want to give in easily.
Marwa said Nigeria should join countries like Ghana and South Africa, which had organized commendable elections on the continent.
On the clamour for generational shift, Marwa said it was desirable to have youthful blood but the younger generation should take it as a challenge and contest to prove they deserved to rule.
He said that was especially as the constitution did not place a ceiling on the age of contesters but only gave a minimum age.
“Sure, we will like to see the youth take over but they should take it as a challenge rather than sit back and expect anyone will say he is too old to contest,” he said.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/11/national-11-08-2010-002.htm

Lets see what will happen next

After weeks of dilly-dallying, initially saying the debate on zoning was a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) affair, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday made a U-turn and unanimously agreed that the existing zoning arrangement between the North and the South must be respected.

This was part of the decisions reached after a stormy session of the group’s joint meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) members and those of the Board of Trustees, BoT, in Kaduna, which saw the BoT Chairman, Lt. General Jeremiah Useni (retd), almost walking out on the meeting, but was prevailed upon to remain and preside over the gathering till the end, which he did.

To this end, the ACF has equally called on all the parties in the country to ensure they present presidential candidates from the North for the 2011 Presidential election, just as it happened in 1999, where only Southerners contested the general election as presidential candidates. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae, were the two presidential candidates during the 1999 presidential polls.

According to insiders at the meeting, the decision to insist that all political parties must endeavour to choose a northern presidential candidate was reached to ensure that Nigerians are given the choice to choose from the array of presidential candidates of Northern extraction that would be presented to them, so as to allay the fears that the zoning principle would deny them the opportunity of having the best to lead the country from the zone.

Daily Sun further learnt that although the meeting, ought to have been jointly chaired by the ACF chairman, General IBM Haruna and Useni, only Useni presided, as Haruna was said to have been “unavoidably absent.”
Incidentally, both Haruna and Useni, as individuals, have always held the view that the issue of zoning was purely a party affair, and as such, ACF should stay away from the matter.

Sources revealed to Daily Sun that the above position was equally canvassed at yesterday’s meeting, with Useni supporting, but majority of those present at the meeting insisted that ACF must not only discuss the matter, but must come up with a definite position.
The majority’s position, Daily Sun further learnt was in tandem with the position of the group’s Political Committee, headed by Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Gusau, who incidentally made a presentation to the Joint Committee meeting of the ACF yesterday.

In his presentation, a copy of which was exclusively obtained by Daily Sun, Gusau threw some posers to the gathering, chief among which were: “as we are very much aware that there are presidential candidates from the North that are likely to emerge from other political parties, i.e, the CPC, the ANPP, e.t.c, the poser here is, should President Jonathan emerge victorious during the PDP primaries, what could be the reaction of the ACF under the circumstance? Presently, there appears to be clear divisions within the 19 states in the North, what could ACF do to bring unity and understanding in the North regardless of religious and tribal differences which will enhance our victory, should the North adopt the zoning formula?

“If we look at this issue from another perspective, are we saying that if the zoning formula is adopted, whoever emerges President of the country from the North, irrespective of his political affiliation, will he serve for only four years? On the other hand, if President Jonathan becomes the President by 2011, has he the right to re-contest after 2015? Some people are of the view that for this zoning arrangement to remain without any violation by the so-called gentleman agreement and the provision of 2009 PDP’s constitution, the North should call for a constitutional amendment to insert the zoning principle in the constitution, will this solve our problem?
“In view of the foregoing challenges, posers and observations, the Joint Committee of the ACF is hereby invited to brainstorm and critically examine all the issues raised above, with a view to coming up with a clear position that the North could stand on.”

In spite of the Gusau’s presentation, Daily Sun further learnt, those against discussion on zoning, almost had their way, before the Youth Leader of the Northern Union (NU), Mohammed Alhaji Abu, was said to referred the gathering to the provisions of the ACF constitution, which gave it the powers to discuss and take decision on contentious issues like the zoning matter.

He was said to have directed the gathering to section 4 (2) and (4) respectively, of the ACF constitution, which states that the Forum shall among other things “set up machinery for regular dialogue to ensure that issues likely to cause breach of the peace are settled amicably and promptly,” and “to establish linkages and contacts with political and community leaders in order to harmonize approaches towards finding solutions to peculiar problems facing the northern states and the country as a whole.”
That, Daily Sun further learnt, did the magic, as the gathering was moved into taking a definite stand on the matter. One thing that did not, however, feature in the communiqué, but which Daily Sun authoritatively learnt, was agreed upon was the fact that whoever emerged from the North as President in 2011, would not run again in 2015.

In the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, a copy of which was made available to Daily Sun, ACF resolved that “all political parties should endeavour to field northern candidates for the 2011 presidential elections.
“This is very important and necessary to ensure the principle of federal character, which has become part and parcel of our political culture.
“All political parties and public organizations should continue to uphold the practice of zoning in the interest of social justice, equity, fairness and stability of a united Nigeria.

“The meeting also commended the government for appointing credible persons, such as Professor Jega at the helm of affairs of INEC.
“These have gone in no small measure to rekindle the hope and confidence of Nigerians in INEC capacity to conduct free and fair election.
“The meeting urged government to provide INEC with all necessary support for the 2011 elections.”
Prominent among those who attended the meeting were former ACF Secretary, Colonel Hamid Ali (retd), reinstated Bauchi Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Gadi, Generals Magoro, Ali Akilu and Wushishi (retd), Alhaji Umar Abdul-Mutallab, former First Bank Plc Chairman, and Alhaji Saidu Bada among others.
Meanwhile, two youth groups from the North, Coalition of Northern Youth Organization and the Arewa Youth Development Foundation (AYDF), stormed the venue of the meeting to press home their support for the retention of zoning ahead of the 2011 presidential election.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/11/national-11-08-2010-001.htm

The Senate has approved a supplementary budget of N87.7 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Lawmakers said this will aid the commission in organising a credible election in 2011.






The budget approved for the commission is however N2 billion less than what it requested.

The leadership of the commission had asked for N89.59 billion for the conduct of the election which is five months away. However, following a meeting with the commission's team and the House of Representatives and Senate, the parties agreed to cut down the request.

Ayogu Eze, the Senate spokesman, said, "At the end of our meetings, we looked at the budget thoroughly and saw that there were areas in which we needed to give attention like transportation and logistics. We moved money around and put money in crucial areas and made a saving of N2 billion," he said.

Mr Jega had explained that among other things that were previously left out, the commission needed a van for each of the 120, 000 registration points across the nation.

In his submission to the National Assembly, President Goodluck Jonathan had noted that, "the additional funds is to cover the cost of procuring electronic equipment and other ancillary expenses related to , a fresh voter registration exercise as well as the procurement of additional ballot boxes." He added that, "we propose to fund this request by raising federal government bonds."

Reservations

The approval did not come without misgivings however as senators questioned the credibility of some allocations proposed in the budget. The budget has an allocation of N54.9 billion for ICT-voter registration system and solution, N4 billion for vehicles, and a separate N5.4 billion for the review of the voter register.

There is also an allocation of N10.8 billion for operations - personnel cost requirements and cost for registration of voters nationwide, and N222 million for hotel accommodation for political appointees which are believed to be the state INEC commissioners.

"We have expressed our reservations. In spite of the reservations, we don't want to give INEC or anybody an excuse for not conducting a credible election next year," the Senate President, David Mark said. "We have gone the extra mile to do this so that INEC can deliver credible election in 2011 that will meet international standards."

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in his remarks, advised that the commission apply the funds in a way that will benefit the Nigerian economy and generate employment, saying they should consider patronising indigenous companies for some of the material they might need for the elections.

The approved budget has been harmonised by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which is expected to reconvene today and pass the budget too. After both arms of the National Assembly have passed the budget, it will be handed over to the president to sign into law. The electoral commission, which has now become an independent institution, can then draw the funds directly from the federation account.

Mr Ekweremadu's appeal to the commission to patronize indigenous companies may not be feasible, as Mr Jega had, at a briefing with senior journalists, ruled out this option, saying based on the shortness of time between the registration of voters and the actual elections in January, the commission cannot afford any delay or disappointment. He said his predecessor, Maurice Iwu, was disappointed at the last minute by local contractors and that the commission had lost a lot of time and could not afford such now.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5605062-146/senate_approves_n88b_for_inec_.csp

A group, Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Movement, has given President Goodluck Jonathan a nine- week ultimatum to declare his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election.



The group gave the ultimatum in a communique issued at the meeting of its coordinating committees in Abuja on Monday.



In the communique read by its National Coordinator, Arede Edeinmene, the JSPM, also advised former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and ex-Vice-President, Abubakar Atiku to drop their presidential ambition.



The group said that Babangida and Abubakar had nothing new to offer the people. It threatened to mobilize the youths against the former president or vice- presidents.



It stated that Jonathan‘s timely disclosure of his presidential ambition would assist in assuring the President‘s supporters, especially youths and their organizations.



The group said that the public declaration by the President would bring the much needed national balance and give the pro-Jonathan groups a sense of direction.



While advising IBB and Atiku to drop their political ambitions, it stated that the JSPM reviewed recent political events and came to the conclusion that politicians would have to exercise caution in their utterances.



It said that it was supporting Jonathan because of the generational shift which he represented.



The JSPM said, ”On generational shift we stand. Jonathan and Sambo represent the new age movement. The old and retired war horses have no business again in



According to the group, Among presidential aspirants, only Jonathan that has the credibility.



It said, ”He has demonstrated a sense of nationalism in his choice of appointments. He has restored confidence in the electoral system with the choice of Prof. Attahiru Jega as the INEC Chairman. He has shown that he is a listening President who feels the pulse of the people. He is not vindictive and he has a strong spirit of tolerance.”


Link:A group, Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Movement, has given President Goodluck Jonathan a nine- week ultimatum to declare his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election.



The group gave the ultimatum in a communique issued at the meeting of its coordinating committees in Abuja on Monday.



In the communique read by its National Coordinator, Arede Edeinmene, the JSPM, also advised former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and ex-Vice-President, Abubakar Atiku to drop their presidential ambition.



The group said that Babangida and Abubakar had nothing new to offer the people. It threatened to mobilize the youths against the former president or vice- presidents.



It stated that Jonathan‘s timely disclosure of his presidential ambition would assist in assuring the President‘s supporters, especially youths and their organizations.



The group said that the public declaration by the President would bring the much needed national balance and give the pro-Jonathan groups a sense of direction.



While advising IBB and Atiku to drop their political ambitions, it stated that the JSPM reviewed recent political events and came to the conclusion that politicians would have to exercise caution in their utterances.



It said that it was supporting Jonathan because of the generational shift which he represented.



The JSPM said, ”On generational shift we stand. Jonathan and Sambo represent the new age movement. The old and retired war horses have no business again in



According to the group, Among presidential aspirants, only Jonathan that has the credibility.



It said, ”He has demonstrated a sense of nationalism in his choice of appointments. He has restored confidence in the electoral system with the choice of Prof. Attahiru Jega as the INEC Chairman. He has shown that he is a listening President who feels the pulse of the people. He is not vindictive and he has a strong spirit of tolerance.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008102322287

Sometimes there exists a fleeting and deliriously exciting event or moment in the life of every state when it teeters between what everyone suspects and dreads, and what almost everyone knows might happen but wish it never did. In that moment, months or even years before it exerts any practical pressure on the kindred spirit that suppose to hold the state together, the heat of the moment becomes a powerful, blinding force that negates all sense of reasoning. That's when things snap.

They open up in all directions like a hall of mirrors. Ogun state politics and politicians bear a striking resemblance to this surreal twist. Anyone who has closely been following the political events in this gateway state, one of the smallest states in Nigeria but blessed with many star dust will be indeed saddened by the regularity at which key political figures from the state rake up mud on each other.
Governor Gbenga Daniel knows he is up against great challenges.

And some of them are self-inflicted. Reflecting on the myriad of problems facing his administration during last week's opening of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in the state capital, Abeokuta, the governor, represented by the state commissioner for information, Mr. Sina Kawonise said ruefully: “In Ogun state, it has been “one day, one trouble”. He also made references to the investigation of some of its officials by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, as well as the alleged “killer squad” that the state government is accused of using to silence its opponents.

Indeed, Ogun politics has become sickening enough to induce vertigo even from the admirers of all the combatants. The truth remains that politics in that state and those who run its affairs have become a cruel thing to behold. Things have reached such a dizzying proportions that they are the equivalent of a broken family whose members seem hell-bent on destroying their “fathers' inheritance” rather than share it. That's why even simple things that should have been a rallying point for unity of purpose have become a battleground for muscle-flexing.

Every passing day, at least since two years now, the feud between the State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, and Dimeji Bankole, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is deepening. It must be said that conflicts are not unusual in a democracy or between two powerful political figures. Though not the ideal thing, such conflict can poison the very institution of democracy instead of strengthening it, if not handled with care. The rift between Gov. Daniel and Bankole is like the fight of two elephants; it's the grass that bears the brunt. The Ogun citizens are the worse for it.

From the time their paths crossed almost three years ago when Bankole, a youngish and brilliant lawmaker emerged as the Speaker of the House of Reps following the ouster of Hon. Patricia Etteh, it has been for both Gov. Daniel and Bankole, like the proverbial meeting of the trickster and the tricycle at an intersection. If one pushes the other down, the one down keeps coming back, trying the same trick, using the same strategy, again and again, drawing lines in the sand and waiting for his political foe to come across.

No one wants to give credit to the other for work done or facilitated.
Something about the behavour of Gov. Daniel, as the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun says, leaves people on both left and right of the state, feeling betrayed and disappointed. We will come back to Egbetokun's claims shortly. The noblest platform for shedding light on how Ogun politics is being run, not by virtue, but by vice, is the drama, the spectacle that unfolded during the recent commissioning of the Sango-Ota bridge in the state. It shows the extent to which the Ogun politics has been polarized.
Ordinarily, the occasion was supposed to bring joy. But it brought sorrow and widened the fault-lines that divide the two politicians and to a large extent, other forces fuelling the crisis from the sidelines.

The common thread that runs between Gov. Daniel and Speaker Bankole is all about who takes the credit for the completion of the bridge. Wittingly or unwittingly, Minister of Works, Sanusi Daggash allowed himself to be the blight and blakean 'rebel' in the feud. Anyway, lets sketch briefly the trajectory of this bridge. This much is not disputed by either party: that the Ota road and bridge project was started by the administration of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who hails from the state. However, the project was not completed before the Obasanjo presidency completed its tenure in May, 2007. Those familiar with the history of the project said, regrettably, there was no provision for the project in the subsequent Federal budget in 2008, and construction giant, Julius Berger (JB) is not known for giving a “free lunch.” The bridge was therefore abandoned.

There was no evidence that the Ogun State government did anything to mobilize Julius Berger back to site as his neighbouring state government of Lagos has often done, in similar circumstances. Bankole, according to the House of Reps, used his influence to cause the project to be included in the 2009 budget. Late President, Umaru Yar'Adua, it was also not in dispute, released N2.5bn to JB through the former Minister of Works and Housing, Dr. Hassan M. Lawal.

The current Minister of Works was no where near the corridor of power during this period. Bankole, according to evidence provided by the House, visited the progress of work as part of the oversight function of the House of Representatives. In sane climes, what's the 'big deal' giving Bankole credit for his role, no matter how marginal, in the completion of the bridge? But that is what pernicious politics can do. Instead, Gov. Daniel has been widely reported in the media as having referred to Bankole as a “curse, not a blessing”, to the state. Tongue in check, and refined language appear not to be none of the virtues of Gov.

Daniel on that occasion, as he was reportedly quoted to have said; “Let us give honour to whom honour is due”. He praised the efforts of two former Presidents - Obasanjo and Yar'Adua in the realization of the project. But he reserved his sound bite to Speaker Bankole; “What is the input of our younger brother who is parading himself as the owner of the project? Tell him to go and look for another project.” The Minister of Works was also quoted widely in the media to have “joined” the fray when he reportedly said;” People should not hail Bankole over the completion of the fly-over (for) the actual person who deserves to be praised is former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo”. Obasanjo, I am sure, knows this is crude politics. As one who tolerates drama well, the former President must have had a good laugh. He only tolerates Governor Daniel whom he sees as an ingrate who bite the finger that fed him.

Those privy to the role allegedly played by the Works minister, have decried his conduct. Two weeks before the official commissioning of the bridge, the minister reportedly met with Gov. Daniel, who allegedly told him (Daggash) that he (Daniel) would not be at the ceremony if Speaker Bankole showed up. Did Daggash monitor the travel of the speaker on phone and relaying same to Gov Daniel as alleged in some quarters? Was there any quid pro quo between the two men as alleged by some people?

Eye witness accounts on the two sides have defended both Gov. Daniel and speaker Bankole. Ogun State Commissioner for Information and strategy, Mr. Sina Kwaonise says the speaker courted trouble and got it. Hon Eseme Eyiboh, spokesman of the House of Representatives and Mr. Kayode Odunaro, senior media consultant to the speaker put the finger of blame on Gov. Daniel and works Minister, Daggash. If the allegations against the minister is proved, it makes sense that President Jonathan who appointed him, and the Senate, which approved his appointment, give him at least a reprimand to serve as deterrent against future conspirators. Ogun needs peace. Did Daggash scuttle that peace?

When I wrote in this column, April 27, 2010, on the ongoing plots against Bankole, one of the reactions received noted that the speaker should look beyond the “Progressive elements” in the House led by Hon. Dino Melaye and look in the direction of his home state. He said, “this much is plain truth, in Ogun State, Bankole has a united enemy in the former President and the Governor of the state. He claimed that though “others” who have ax to grind with the speaker have signed on in this plot. What their beef? The meteoric rise of Bankole and the possible role he may play in the Ogun politics next year. May be, it is time to stop him in his tracks. But the Ogun State speaker, Hon Egbetokun has other of accusations against his Governor.

He attributed the alleged assault on senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello at the marriage ceremony of Gov Alao Akala's daughter on Gov Daniel as well as the alleged beating of a former information commissioner in the state. Is the Governor guilty as charged? It's hard to say. What's happening in Ogun state politics is a rude reminder that our politicians are yet to imbibe the culture of tolerance. This much is clear: democracy finds its strength and blossoms in an atmosphere of give-and-take, not on winner - takes- all. Gov. Daniel should not leave a legacy that awakens sad memories that the young star talents from his state must be stopped in their tracks before they hit national limelight. For Bankole, he must watch his back, very carefully. The smoking guns are still coming.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/2010/aug/10/opinion-10-08-2010-001.htm

The leadership of the Action Congress (AC) yesterday at a national convention in Lagos gave reasons why it changed the party’s name to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Giving the reasons in his welcome address at the convention was the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande who explained that the step to change the party’s name was borne out of the resolve to prevent the nation from being drafted to a one-party state by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government.

Akande said it was in a view “to facilitate the working together of our members with the members of other political parties and groups in the collaborative efforts and to make it easier for all leaders of similar political views to fuse into one party before the 2011 elections.”

The Chairman, who was also the former governor of Osun State reflected on the influence of the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on the PDP and the utterances of the party’s leadership and came to the conclusion that “PDP as a party, has become a strong agent of a ‘One Party State’ for Nigeria.”

The AC boss therefore said, “we owe it a duty to the people of Nigeria, including the numerous credulous followers of the PDP, to warn and to demonstrate that a ‘One Party State’ is antithetic to democracy. It creates a fertile ground for breeding corruption among the leadership, encourages the propensities for human degradation and accelerates hoisting of abject poverty among the citizenry.”

Corroborating Akande’s submission, the National Convention’s Committee Chairman, Dr. Usman Bugaje said the change of name was aimed at “pooling resources together with some opposition political parties and groups for the purpose of creating a common political platform that can challenge the PDP in the 2011 elections”
Bugaje, who is also the National Secretary of the party had alledged, “the idea had become necessary given the efforts of the ruling party to stifle democracy and destroy its institutions and institute a ‘One Party System’ in this country.”
The Katsina State born politician added that “it is our responsibility as democrats, when faced with such challenges to come together and salvage democracy and rout the undemocratic forces in the polity.”

Bugaje thereafter told the delegates that “one of the major items on the agenda of this convention is modifying our name from the Action Congress (AC) to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),” adding “as we modify our name, we must also modify our ways and improve on our ways of doing politics.”
Interestingly, it was Bugaje who moved the first motion to amend Section 2.2 of the party to change the party’s name from AC to ACN at exactly 1.35pm and was properly seconded by Prince Sunday Fadewi while Chief Bisi Akande served as the Electoral Officer.
At the end the day, seven items in the party’s constitution were amended to effect changes in some other paraphernalia of the party such as the emblem, flag, logo, slogan and the number of state delegates to conventions.

The aspect that caused uproar was the amendment that said two delegates from every ward must include a woman. The motion was moved by Hon Abbai from Yobe State but was countered by Dr. Tunji Abayomi who preferred the amendment to read “two delegates that must include a youth.
The women’s protest necessitated another counter motion from the former Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige who raised the number of the delegates to three to include “a woman, a youth and one from the rest of us.”
Former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu seconded the motion and it became part of the amendment to the admiration of the female members of the party.
Akande described the scenario as the beauty of democracy being exhibited by the ACN saying party politics was for the people.
In his goodwill message, Tinubu, who described the occasion as historic charged the people to get ready to fight for power asserting that “power is not served alakat.”

Former National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbe expressed delight over the unique occasion warning that anybody who might want to aspire for office should not be given the chance.
He described those who dumped the AC to return to the PDP as dogs that returned to their vomit saying “they will suffer from political diabetes.”
Dr. Chris Ngige in his goodwill message said the event had shown what the ACN members wanted Nigeria to be citing examples of Lagos and Edo states as the most successful states in the country.

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole said the occasion “is a unique opportunity to change Nigeria from resources-sharing to wealth-creation nation,” asserting that “Nigeria need radical changes where democracy will return to the people.”
His Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), said “mark my word, Nigeria will not be the same again from today, August 9, 2010.”
However, disaster was averted by security personel when a surging crowd of party supporters caused a stampede that led to the collapse of the fence of the Blue Roof at the Lagos State Television premises, venue of the convention.
But the Master of Ceremony and former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Henry Dele Alake allayed the fear of the delegates that the report from the medical team had it that there was no casualty.

Supporters of aspirants to various offices defied the ‘no banner, no poster’ order to showcase their principals at the event.
Other dignitaries at the event were, Chief Segun Osoba, Alhaji Lam Adesina, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), Mr. Lola Ashiru, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, Lai Mohammed, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Cardin James Omolaja Odunmbaku, Chiefs Joe Igbokwe and Funsho Ologunde, Alahji Tajudeen Ola Bello, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Senator Ibikunle Amosu and Mr.Kehinde Bamigbetan among others.


Link: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/10/national-10-08-2010-003.htm

Student tuition fees are set to be ditched in favour of new charges based on a graduate‘s income, universities minister David Willetts said.



According to Daily Mail on Monday, in a surprisingly frank intervention, Willetts said ministers had a ‘preference‘ for funding universities through a ‘graduate contribution‘ in future rather than the current fees.



His comments appear to preempt an independent review of university funding by former BP boss Lord Browne, and suggest that Business Secretary Vince Cable has won the Cabinet row over plans for a graduate tax.



Though the coalition government had settled on a tax rather than tuition fees to pay for higher education Willetts, who enjoyed a free education at Oxford , said the exact design of the graduate ‘contribution‘ was still to be decided.



But he said it would be ‘progressive‘, adding, “As people earn more, they pay more back.” He said graduates typically earned £100,000 more over a lifetime than non-graduates and should contribute to the cost of their education, with the better-off paying most.



He added, ‘We‘re talking about a graduate contribution paid by people out of their earnings when they‘re in employment.‘



The idea of a graduate tax is anathema to many Tories, who see it as little more than an excuse for levying another tax on the middle classes. As a result, ministers have now started referring to it as a contribution.



Business Secretary, Vince Cable backed the graduate tax above tuition fees



It has also caused concern among universities, who fear that much of the cash will go to the Treasury rather than returned to higher education.



Backing for the proposal came as a new study warned a graduate tax could lead to millions of teachers, nurses and others on modest incomes facing tax bills of more than £36,000.



Research by the University and College Union found that many graduates would end up paying back ‘considerably more‘ than they do under the current scheme under which they are charged £3,290 a year in fees.



Mr. Willetts also admitted yesterday that students who get good A-level results could still miss out on a university place.



Demand has far outstripped the 10,000 extra places funded by the Government this year, thanks to the scarcity of jobs.



He said, “I realise this, it is going to be tough. There are young people who sadly are not going to get a place, including perhaps some young people who really have got good A-level grades.”



He told the BBC‘s Andrew Marr Programme that youngsters who miss out should try again next year and look for training or work experience in the meantime.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008100243462

What we need is community friendly police which could only be achieved if local, state and federal police are allowed to enforce the power vested in these 3 tiers of government. What we have now is army of occupation mounting roadblock to coercively disposses Nigerians of there possesion. The truth is only Abians can stop kidnapping in Abia. An indigene of a place would not so brazenly demand for bribe from his kinsman on the road. The locals would be more effective at monitoring strange faces.

The Federal Government on Monday warned the Nigeria Police Force against the arbitrary arrest and detention of Nigerians.



Vice-President Namadi Sambo gave the warning while inaugurating a retreat for the Police High Command and officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs in Abuja.



Sambo, who also disclosed that N70bn had been made available to the Ministry of Police Affairs to start the police reform process, said that arbitrary arrest and detentions must stop in order to promote democratic policing in the country.



He also urged the police to change their operational strategy to reflect modern trends.



The Vice-President said that the Police must embrace modern scientific policing to complement their community policing initiative.



Sambo pointed out that many years of under- funding of the Police had “left the country with a Force that could not perform its constitutional role effectively.



“The nation has been bedevilled by problems of insecurity and violent crimes, such as kidnapping, armed robbery and pipeline vandalism.



“In an attempt to reverse this trend and give Nigerians a sense of security, the present administration initiated the Police Reform Programme, the biggest security reform project in the history of Nigeria.



“This is because the Federal Government attaches great importance to the security of lives and property. We are, therefore, committed towards fulfilling our obligations with regards to this project,” he said.



The vice-president said the Federal Government had accepted the cost implications of the reform programme, which would last a total of six years at the cost of ‘‘about N1.5tn.‘‘



He maintained that a dynamic funding option had been adopted, in view of the fact that the amount was above the capacity of the Federal Government.



He added, “This option calls for a multi-tier funding arrangement in which the federal and state governments, including the organised private sector, will contribute.”



He further asked the police to prioritise the implementation of community policing.



Sambo said, “I am very happy to note that the intelligence component of community policing has taken the initiative of creating divisional intelligence capability in pilot police stations.



“The police will have to take on a host of extra responsibilities and invest in extensive new partnerships as well as redefine its priorities and approaches in fighting crime.”



According to him, the underlying objective of the government was to build a safer and more secure environment for future generations.



Meanwhile, Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Rev. Dr. Mathew Kukah on Monday said that Nigeria was being run like a criminal enterprise and government was operated as a distributive agency.



Kukah, who spoke at a retreat for senior police officers in Abuja on Monday, stated that social institutions could not perform because the Nigerian environment was dysfunctional, adding that the present form of government did not qualify to be called a democracy.



He said that Nigerians did not expect their leaders to have integrity as they knew that they (leaders) were not driven by higher spiritual values but by crass materialism and a desperate quest for material acquisition.



He said that the Nigeria Police Force like other Nigerian institutions could be expected to perform because the necessary requirements for such were lacking.















Kukah explained that the problem of the force was related to the ills plaguing the nation, adding that Nigerians needed to moderate their expectations of the police, as they could not be isolated from their environment.



The cleric pointed out that public perception of the police force was related to what was left of it after military rule in Nigeria, observing that the police were not playing a secondary role as a peace-keeping agency “because soldiers are still patroling our streets.”



He said, “Everybody keeps talking about poor police salary, lack of accommodation and so on, but we are just confusing the symptoms with the disease. The issue is that the failure of the police is related to the state of the nation. The police are the most unappreciated segment of our society.



“I am glad that Vice- President Mohammed Sambo acknowledged the problems of the police and pledged to re-kit and upgrade the Force. He has made a pledge that he must be held to; the society must hold him up to his words and promises because it is the interest of politicians not to do what they promised to do.”



A former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, blamed corruption in the polity for the poor image and performance of the police, adding that Nigerian policemen were known to win awards on international assignments.



“The public perception of the police is that they are doing a good thing in a bad way; they should therefore behave in a way they want to be seen, building the spiritual, intellectual and material aspect into the Force,” he said in a paper delivered at the event.











The vice-president expressed the hope that the participants of the retreat would come out with “a frank and common position that will help, not only to restore the image of the Force but also to reposition it.”



On the police reform programme, he said that a look at the 2010 reform implementation plan showed the expenditures in infrastructures and logistical upgrades.



He stated that aircraft, vehicles, communication gadgets, weapons as well as investigation and forensic equipment would be purchased for the police to enable them work effectively.



The vice-president added that new police stations, barracks, colleges and hospitals would built for the NPF.



Sambo stated that it was in realisation of the challenges before the NPF that the present administration embarked on an overhaul of the Force with the setting up of the M.D. Yususf-led Police Reform Committee to study and identify the problems of the police.



He pointed out that since criminal syndicates were now transnational, a different partnership approach to addressing the security challenges posed by them was required.



He called for an ethical and value-based orientation of police personnel and a fundamental structural change to the decision-making process of the NPF to make it accountable to the government on how it spends resources allocated to it.



Sambo said, “The importance of human rights cannot be over-emphasised. Civil society groups especially Amnesty International has been critical of the NPF as a non-respecter of human rights. To address this, the NPF must priotize the implementation of community policing.”



In his remark, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Waziri, noted that the current administration had demonstrated a remarkable effort to reform the police.



He said this was manifested in the salary increase of a police constable by the government by 300 per cent and the acceptance and subsequent commencement of implementation of the reform committee’s report.



“This administration accepted the M. D. Yusuf report and started the implementation by making its contribution of N79.02 billion in 2010 budget,‘‘ the minister said.



The one-day retreat titled “Towards an enduring democratic policing in Nigeria,” was attended by the Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, and other top police officers, including serving and retired Deputy and Assistant Inspectors- General of Police.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100810564371

President Goodluck Jonathan was the first to register as he symbolically flagged off the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) online registration exercise which took place in his official residence. The exercise was witnessed by the Senate President, Senator David Mark, PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Prince Uche Secondus and presidential aides.

Jonathan, commending the exercise, described it as a good innovation that would produce an authentic membership database for the party upon completion.

The online registration exercise was part of the ongoing PDP membership enrolment scheme.
The president pointed out the significance of the PDP online membership scheme in harmonizing the membership database of the party at all levels, adding that it would also eliminate controversies that could sometimes trail membership status within the party.

He commended the PDP leadership for the initiative which he described as “the best thing to have happened to party membership registration in Nigeria in the 21st Century,” while emphasizing its accessibility and relevance to existing and prospective party members even in the diaspora.

He, however, called on party officials and banks that would facilitate the registration exercise to ensure that they penetrate the rural areas where he said the PDP had most of its membership, so that all party members in all nooks and crannies of the country would be duly registered.
He also urged party members at all levels to take advantage of the online registration to properly document their membership of the party.
Earlier, Nwodo said the PDP online membership registration drive would give the party an electronic database of its members which could be accessed on the party’s website. He said the exercise would also generate funds to run affairs of the party.


Link: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/10/national-10-08-2010-006.htm

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday dispelled wild rumours that he was assassinated over the weekend.
The former president last Saturday gave out one of her daughters, Bunmi Obasanjo, in marriage during an epoch-making ceremony which held at his Hill Top Presidential home.

But since Sunday, rumours had been rife in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital about the safety of the Ebora Owu, with many saying that he was murdered shortly after the wedding of his daughter.
While the confusion raged and the rumour spread within and outside the state, the former president spoke with journalists at about 3 p.m, yesterday saying he was hale and hearty, stressing I dey kampe.

His words: “I have also heard that I am dead, but there is nothing wrong with me. I am hale and hearty. I dey kampe.
Continuing, Obasanjo, who spoke on telephone added: “I think you can recognize my voice. I am in my office in Agbeloba, Abeokuta. I thank you for taking the trouble to find out, thank you very much. There is nothing wrong with me, I can assure of that.

While the rumour lasted, residents of the state capital were apprehensive with some praying that no untold thing happened to the former president. An aide to the chairman of the Board of Trustee of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who spoke on condition of anonymity told Daily Sun yesterday that the rumour was the handiwork of the Baba’s detractors.

‘’Don’t mind them, there is nothing wrong with Baba. Those who want him dead shall die before him. I can assure you that the former president is very much alive. Nothing untold happened as being speculated.”
A reliable source also hinted Daily Sun about the itinerary of the former president saying that earlier in the day, Obasanjo was at the Papalanto in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

He added: “Later he was at his Presidential Library situated in the state capital before he went to the corporate headquarters of the Obasanjo Holdings at Agbeloba from where he spoke to journalists.
“Don’t mind them, those who are wishing Baba evil shall be visited with evil. Those wishing him death shall die before him. He is as strong as ever, there is nothing wrong with him,” he further assured.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/aug/10/newsbreak-10-08-2010-001.htm

The 2011 presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan has torn two influential friends in former President Olusegun Obasanjo‘s administration apart.



The two men— Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Nasiru El-Rufai— were thought to be solidly behind President Jonathan‘s ambition.



Ribadu, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and El-Rufai, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, recently returned from self-imposed exile in the United States.



One of our correspondents learnt on Monday that while Ribadu might have agreed to be the consensus candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, El-Rufai had thrown his weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan.



A source close to the former minister disclosed this to our correspondent on Monday in Abuja. Also, a stalwart of the ACN confirmed that Ribadu was favourably disposed to running as the party‘s presidential candidate.



The ACN stalwart, who asked not be named, added that the former EFCC chairman might join the party before the end of this month.



It was learnt that Ribadu might pick Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to be his running mate.



But Oshiomhole, whose tenure in office runs till 2014, has not succumbed to pressure from the ACN leaders who believe that a Ribadu–Oshiomhole ticket would be formidable.



The governor’s choice as running mate, it was gathered, followed the alleged refusal of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to accept the same offer.



el-Rufai was said to have also argued that younger generation of Northern politicians, strategising to seize power from the older generation in the region, could experience a serious setback arising from Ribadu‘s likely misadventure.



El-Rufai , according to our source, said that young politicians from the North were in need of a phase of political transition during which ”necessary political structures would be put on the ground to make a well- coordinated attempt on the presidency.”



El-Rufai was quoted as having said that while he was not opposed to the ambition of Ribadu to rule the country, it was his conviction that he (Ribadu) needed more political experience before becoming ripe for the exalted number one office in the land.



Although the former EFCC chairman has not made any public declaration of his intention to run for the Presidency, there are, however, strong indications that he has been approached by some Northern politicians.



Ribadu returned to Nigeria and began consultations for his presidential bid shortly after charges against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau were dropped, apparently at the prompting of the Presidency.



But a source close to El-Rufai, who denied knowledge of any rift between the two however, noted that there were “discussions on ongoing issues.”



He said, “I am not aware of that. My knowledge of them is that of two brothers who have supported and stood by each other in the attempt to reform Nigeria.



”It will be a surprise, because they are rated among the best public servants to have come out of Nigeria.



”There are discussions on ongoing issues; nobody should be allowed to magnify them. Ribadu was in court recently to solidarise with El-Rufai when he appeared in court recently.”



But the ACN source said, ”The former EFCC boss is consulting with people of integrity in the country. He will make his stand known before the end of the month.”



Also, there were strong indications at the ACN convention on Monday that leaders of the party had been holding talks with Ribadu with a view to presenting him as its presidential candidate.



Though Ribadu was not at the convention of the Action Congress where the party‘s name was changed to ACN, our correspondents gathered that he would register as a member of the party on August 15.



Another credible source within the party, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said that Ribadu was in Lagos at the weekend for the wedding of one of the children of the Oba of Lagos, Babatunde Akiolu.



He said, ”Yes, it is true that Ribadu was in Lagos at the weekend and we still discussed this issue. It is no longer a secret that he will join the race. That is not in doubt at all. He will register as a member of the ACN in Adamawa State once registration begins; the party made wide consultations before settling for him.



”Everything is set for him to emerge as the presidential candidate of the party; and he has not said that he is not interested in the presidential race.



“We are getting positive signals from him. Initially, we were considering the 3G group, which includes people like El-Rufai, Aminu Masari, and a few others, but we eventually settled for Ribadu.



“Moreso, key members of the party, many of whom have a civil society background prefer him. The party comprises people who kept a link with Ribadu while he was on exile – people who have always been advocates of good governance and transparency.”



However, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, could not be reached for comments as his mobile phone was switched off.



The ACN Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, had, in his address at the party’s convention on Monday, said, “Our party has set up a high- level committee to go round the country and consult widely to ensure that we field the best of our people, our youths, for key posts in next year’s elections.



“We shall not limit this search to politicians or members of our party alone because the problems of our country are of such a magnitude that cannot be left to politicians alone.”



An online publication, Saharareporters, had reported on Monday that the former EFCC boss had been holding meetings and consultations with politicians in different parts of the country as part of the plans for his presidential ambition.



It stated that Ribadu had met with different groups in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Port Harcourt, adding that he had received ”great encouragement to run.”



The publication also reported that Ribadu‘s consultations with groups within Nigeria had now reached a critical point.



”He is likely to declare his presidential bid within the next two or three weeks,” Saharareporters quoted an unnamed source as saying.



It added that Ribadu had already set up two presidential campaign offices in Lagos and Abuja and recruited some energetic and skilled staff to run the offices.



According to the publication, Ribadu’s campaign staff include his former Chief of Staff at the EFCC, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, and Mr. Chido Onumah, who once headed Fix Nigeria, a civil society organ of the EFCC.



Also named as the other campaign staff were Ms. Najatu Mohammed, a female political activist, and Mr. Ike Okonta, an author and columnist.



Ribadu had recently made strong political speeches in Kaduna, Kano and Lagos and enjoined youths to wrest power from the old guards.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008105424415

President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to a statement credited to the Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC), in a nationaldaily (not Daily Sun), alleging that he is under pressure to rig the 2011 elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He described it false and illogical.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, the allegations that Jonathan is “under pressure to give assurance to those canvassing for zoning that he must rig the elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party so as to protect the interest of the clique and ensure that (General Muhammadu) Buhari does not win the presidential vote,” is an attempt to pre-judge the outcome of the meeting.

According to him, “ this claim is false outrightly and even illogical. It is an attempt to pre-judge the forthcoming elections before the fact and we would have ignored it but for the high premium the President places on conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2011.We want to make it abundantly clear that the President is under no pressure whatsoever over the 2011 elections. He has made it clear that there will be credible elections next year, and so far has taken decisive steps to actualise this vision.

“The President has appointed a leadership for the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), which has been hailed locally and internationally. He has given unequivocal support to the agency in its search for the most viable strategy to achieve excellent delivery of the next elections, and has told INEC leadership publicly that no one has ‘tied their hands’, and therefore ‘there is no excuse for failure’.

“We find it strange for anyone to be talking about rigging at this time of our political evolution, for, those days are gone, they are dead and buried! The President urges all Nigerians to join hands with INEC to ensure that in the next elections, our votes count. Nigerians must speak with one voice and defend their votes. It is a new day. Let us forge ahead with new hope, a new vision and a new way of doing things!”


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/aug/10/national-10-08-2010-001.htm

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday denied rumours of his death. Earlier in the day, news filtered in that Mr. Obasanjo was killed by an assassin's bullet shortly after one of his children got wedded last Saturday.

"I understand you are from NEXT, I think you can recognise my voice. I am in my office, which is known as Agbeloba in Abeokuta," Mr. Obasanjo said on phone yesterday afternoon.

"I thank you for taking the trouble to find out. There is nothing wrong with me, I thank you very much, and must tell you that I am hale and hearty, once again thank you so much for finding out. I am alive and doing well."

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5604858-146/story.csp

Bala! Bala!! Bala!!! you hipocrate. Iam very sure if you dont meet them on the streets you’ll be cornering them at thier campuses or elsewhere. Our laders tend to look for cheap publiciy instead of facing the problems squarely. In the whole world. which city has ever been free of prostitutes? Even in S/Arabia where Sharia is most practised they still do it by the corners. Use you interlect to create policies that will bing jobs and not harassing the poor girls and those patronising them.

It is a double edged sword for the PDP. If they insist on Zoning, they risk the angst of the Niger Delta in sending a signal that one of their own is not fit to be president. If they ditch the zoning arangement, the North is angered and minority tribes may never again run for presidential position. The solution may be found in conducting a free and fair primaries open to all. That is throw the bones out there for all the dogs to fight for it but ensure one man one vote in a level playing ground.

This week will be a week of decisions for the Peoples Democratic Party as three of its organs are to meet on crucial issues affecting the party and the nation.



The issues to be decided are zoning, constitution amendment and the release of the guidelines for the PDP members interested in elective offices in 2011.



The three organs are the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Committee and the National Caucus.



The BoT, which is chaired by a former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, will kick-start the activities with its meeting slated for Abuja on Tuesday.



The board is empowered by the PDP to “harmonise, co-ordinate, review and advise on policies, programmes and activities of the party at the national level.”



Our correspondent learnt that it was because of this constitutional provision that members of the board would take a look at the zoning clause in the party and give its advice accordingly.



Feelers from the PDP secretariat in Abuja indicate that the contentious Article 7.2(c) in the party’s constitution might be amended.



The section reads, “In pursuit of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.”



A source close to the party’s top hierarchy, who asked not to be named, said that the BoT members were also likely to agree to an amendment of the party’s constitution to bring it in line with the new Electoral Act, which bars automatic delegates to party’s convention.



The new Act makes it mandatory for aides of the President and governors that are interested in voting at the party’s conventions to first go for election in their various wards.



It was, however, not clear if the BoT would also deliberate on the proposed guidelines for the party’s nomination of candidates for various offices for the 2011 general elections.



However, it was also learnt that the decision to give the BoT the opportunity to peruse the guidelines would be taken by the members of the party’s National Working Committee.



The party’s National Caucus will then meet on Wednesday. Thereafter, an elaborate debate would be entertained on the issues discussed by the BoT.



Those, who are members of the caucus, are the national chairman of the party, President and his deputy, three ministers who are to be nominated by the President. One of the ministers must be the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.



Also listed as members of the caucus in the party’s constitution, are the Senate President and his deputy; the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Senate; the Chief Whip and Deputy Whip; the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy; the Chief Whip and his deputy.



The chairman and secretary of the BoT, deputy national chairman, national secretary, legal adviser, treasurer, women leader and youth leader of the party as well as the national security adviser are also members of the caucus.



It is expected that the decisions reached at this meeting might influence the National Executive Committee of the party at its meeting on Thursday.



“You can see that this is going to be week of decisions for us. In fact, it is a loaded week. But I can tell you that whatever we decide this week will go a long way to make or mar the party,” our source said.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008093544551

Thank God. David is now born again politically. But you still need to apologise to the poor for your unguided utrances while serving as a the minister of communication that telephone was not for the poor without which, when you reach the peak of you political career, you will still come down to dine with the poor which you have despised. Remember the scripture those who lend money to the poor did it for God

The Senate President, Senator David Mark, has said the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late businessman, Chief M.K.O Abiola stifles people’s dream.



Mark, in a forward to a yet-to-be-publicly presented book written by Mr. Segun Adeniyi titled “Politricks”, however refused to apportion blames to anyone over the annulment.



Adeniyi was a former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to late President Umaru Yar’Adua.



Mark wrote, “The annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election had stifled a people’s dream. It would be wrong, however, to review it from the moral stand point of what the principal actors’ roles comprise with the aim of tagging them heroes or villains.



“To do so would be rather simplistic and could in a sense be subversion of the true intent of a historical treatise which should proceed without a hint of presuppositions. Sometimes, history is best approached through its less-travelled route.”



Mark added that the conclusions drawn in the book would certainly generate views, saying such was the beauty of democracy, which he said was built on freedom to disagree.



The Senate President said, “That is an ethos the legislature epitomizes. And that is the value of all Nigerians should strive to imbibe, because democracy thrives better when the public space can accommodate different shades of opinion.”



He, however, said with the recent happenings in the country and the way the National Assembly handled the power succession when Yar’Adua was ill had shown that democracy had taken root in the country.



Mark said, “Anyone who doubts this only needs to review the landmarks of the last eleven years. They would find an increasing maturity in our approach to the resolution of otherwise fractious political challenges.



“We have not only transited from military to civil rule, but have managed two civil transitions. President Olusegun Obasanjo successfully handed over the rein of leadership to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100809125921

Obama declared his aspiration two full years before the election with that historic speech at the Democrat’s convention.Few months to go before the elections and these fools and psychophants want me to take GOODLUCK serious when he can’t even declare his intention

The waiting game on whether President Goodluck Jonathan will vie for the presidenty in 2011 may soon end as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, has declared that he (Jonathan) is set to declare his interest soon.



Orubebe, in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Warri, Delta State, said that Jonathan had concluded “consultations on the matter” and would soon intimate Nigerians with his intention to seek their mandate.



Orubebe, therefore, urged the other five geo-political zones in the country to give the South-South the opportunity to present Jonathan as its consensus candidate for the presidential poll.



He said, “It is not an issue of people putting pressure on Mr. President. He has no alternative, he has no option. He is going to run and that is why we are appealing to all Nigerians to give the South-South the needed support for the new Nigeria we are going to build.



“He (Jonathan) is going to run, I am telling you. And very soon, he will formally inform Nigerians that he is seeking election to the office of the President in the 2011 elections. He has concluded his consultations with Nigerians and he will come out very soon to seek the support of all Nigerians.”



Orubebe said the controverisal zoning arrangement by the Peoples Democratic Party would only be meaningful if Jonathan was allowed by the party to fly the banner of the South-South in 2011.



He said that those who agreed on zoning also envisaged the disadvantaged position of the oil-rich belt.



The minister argued that zoning should not be employed by the PDP to scheme out qualified Nigerian like Jonathan from the presidential race.



Orubebe added, “I believe that gradually Nigerians would come out of all these controversies (zoning). I also know that a time will come when people will be talking about the content and programme of people, instead of the issue of zoning.



“Even if we are talking about zoning, it was meant to address imbalances, to provide an opportunity for people who, in the thinking of the leaders of the party then, may not have the opportunity to have a taste of it (presidency).



“I think they also had the South-South in mind when they talked about zoning and now that providence has made it possible for a South-South person to be there, we are reasonably appealing to Nigerians to support President Jonathan in 2011. You cannot have a better zoning (arrangement) than a president now coming from the South-South and we are appealing to everybody to support him.”



The minister also identified Jonathan’s attributes which according to him placed him in better stead to lead the country in 2011.



He said, “Mr. President is a child of circumstance. He is a gift to this country. He is man who thinks, on daily basis, about the masses. He is a man who believes that the resources we have in this country are enough to take Nigeria to the height that we expect. He is a man who believes that no matter where you come from, we are all equal stakeholders in this country.



“I believe that the people of the South-South should appeal to the rest of the country to have an understanding with them to support Jonathan for 2011.



“For some of us, Jonathan has no option; it is an opportunity provided by God. He has to work, to let Nigerians know that the people of South-South also have the capacity and the will to govern this country.



“The South-South, over the years, has never “tasted” the presidency before now and I think that it is good enough for the rest of the country to support the South-South. It is an appeal. We are imploring all of them to show understanding, particularly when we have a man who has the capacity to govern; a man who would not sectionalise rulership in this country, and a man who would take the entire country as his constituency.”



He also disagreed with those who have accused the president supporter of using coersion to campaign for him.



“What is wrong in people supporting and asking him to run? It is normal all over the world. So it has nothing to do with military regime. People have found him worthy, credible and that is why you see this clamour all over and everywhere,” the minister said.



On the fear in some quarters that Jonathan might influence the Independent National Electoral Commission to guarantee his success in the election, Orubebe said, “The reform agenda has nothing to do with whether or not the man who is reforming it is participating because all over the worlds Presidents have been in power and they contested elections and we have seen the results here and there.



“The determination of Mr. President is to see that there are credible elections and that is why he appointed a team of electoral officers that have been adjudged as one of the best committees that have been put in place by him.”



Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abba Aji, has denied reports that he was stopped from promoting Jonathan’s candidature for 2011 elections.



Jonathan had recently asked his aides to stop campaigning for him pending the conclusion of his consultations with stakeholders on the issue.



Aji, who on Thursday inaugurated the zonal arms of a pro-Jonathan group of which he is chairman, told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Sunday, that Jonathan’s order did not stop him from going ahead with the inauguration.



He said, “I am not aware that he stopped his aides from campaigning. What I am aware of is that he did not want the continuation of the debate on zoning. This is because the issue of zoning is heating up the system and I think we have already exhausted the debate on the issue of zoning.



“I agree with him, because as a president who has goodwill across the country, it is appropriate that he should discourage the constant debate on zoning. He wants to be a president of the whole country not a section or region of the country.”



He argued that the caution by the president did not affect him since, according to him, he heads the President’s campaign group.



“My understanding of what the President said had been well captured by what the media largely reported. It has to do with the issue of zoning,” the presidential aide said.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008093532123

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is no doubt a controversial figure. But I think he was bang on the nail when he recently spoke on the unacceptably jumbo remunerations of members of the National Assembly. He simply added his weight to the voice of many powerless Nigerians who had previously written or spoken in vain about the unjust and obscenely bloated salaries and emoluments which our lawmakers have been ‘legislating‘ for themselves since 1999.



Speaking at a retreat, the civil war hero had rightly called on the nation to ”look closely at the legislature so that they can be more open and transparent in the way they do their work. Nobody knows in details how much it costs us to maintain a senator. I believe it is more than N250 million (per annum). Compare what it cost in 1999 and 2000, it cost about $1.7 million compared to a quarter of a million in America, Now let us talk truly and seriously to ourselves; we can‘t continue to have a National Assembly that is consuming a disproportional part of our resources and then expect that we would be able to make progress. They pass budget that can‘t be implemented because it has to be beefed up to satisfy their (legislators‘) whims and caprices. Even what the ministries did not ask for, they add (in the budget).”



I have not read anything about the official response of the legislature to Obasanjo‘s statement. And I think it is not good for the National Assembly to continue to keep quiet and not have an official stand on the raging issue of legislators‘ unsustainably high remunerations. Some legislators that have reacted to Obasanjo‘s speech have spoken with anger. The messenger has been mercilessly vilified, leaving the message unaddressed. I saw Senator Roland Owie‘s response. It was a direct and virulent attack on the former leader. The ex-Senate Chief Whip said, ”How can the pot call the kettle black? He was the creator of corruption. Obasanjo introduced Ghana-Must-Go in 1999 into the National Assembly when he was calling senators into the villa to appeal to us to vote Enwerem instead of Okadigbo. It was the beginning of Ghana-Must-Go.”



Though acerbic, the response of the minority members of the House of Representatives also failed to address the issue of prohibitive cost of running the National Assembly which Obasanjo tried to bring afresh to public domain. Addressing the press on the issue the leader of the caucus, Mr. Alli Ndume of ANPP, said, ”Obasanjo is our father and grandfather in corruption. I cannot sit here and tell you that we are not corrupt, But was it not Obasanjo that bribed every member of the House in 2006 with N50 million to support his failed third term agenda? I want the Press to go and find out what was the asset and bank account of Obasanjo in 1999. Then go and check his bank account now and his assets, then you will understand what I am saying. Obasanjo should have said that all politicians are corrupt.”



These allegations of graft against Obasanjo are quite weighty. But I am sure the ageing statesman is very capable of defending himself. What I must note here is that the altercation between Obasanjo and the legislators has again brought to the fore the issue of worsening venality and its consequences in the nation‘s development. The legislators have not denied the allegation that the Assembly is stinking. What they seem to be saying is that all arms of government are wallowing in the cesspool of official graft and that nobody should single out the lawmakers for blame. Though there are specific issues in the allegations and counter allegations that should attract the attention of anti-graft agencies, the acceptance by all parties to the argument that the monster of corruption is ravaging the system reminds us of the urgent need of a freedom of information law.



We know that cleaner societies that have progressed with good governance have done so by promoting an open society through a FOI legislation which enables the public to peruse government files. Why has it been impossible, for 11 years, to have this important piece of legislation? Has its passage been deliberately frustrated so that access to the till by looters will remain wide and unrestrained?



The attack on Obasanjo should not be allowed to bury or obfuscate the important issue of legislators‘ unjust compensation. The response to Obasanjo‘s statement has been understandably acerbic because truth is bitter. Remember that he is not the only prominent Nigerian to have condemned the jumbo pay of law makers in recent times. At a recent book launch, eminent lawyer and elder statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, reportedly dismissed the legislature as ”House of thieves” and then called for a bloody revolution to sanitise the system. He said his first hand knowledge of the rot in the legislature came from his privileged position as a member of GJ‘s Presidential Advisory Council.



Prof. Itse Sagay even went further at a recent public event to compare our legislators‘ pay with that of their colleagues in richer nations and concluded just like Obasanjo that our lawmakers‘ pay was unacceptably high. In that well-researched paper, Sagay had stunned his listeners when he alleged that the Senate President ”earns N250 million quarterly or N83 million per month whilst his deputy earns N50 million monthly and that while N1.024bn was allocated as quarterly allowance to the 10 principal officers in the upper house collectively referred to as Senate Leadership, each of the other principal officers earns N78m every three months or N26m per month.



In other words, Sagay continued, ”Nigerian lawmakers in Abuja are the highest paid in the world. In 2009, a Senator earned N240m in salaries and allowances, whilst his House of Representatives counterpart earned N203m. A Senator earned $1.7m and a member of the House of Rep. $1.45m per annum.” He then compared Nigerian Senator‘s pay with that of his counterparts in America and Britain who earned $174,000 and $64,000 respectively during the same period.



While Obasanjo talked about the issue of constituency projects, Sagay spoke more forcefully about the issue of constituency allowance. In the past few months I have read the opinions of many prominent Nigerians expressed in interviews and public lectures. I have read the views of Prof. Anya O. Anya, Chief Philip Asiodu, Chief Tom Ikimi and many others. They all tally, more or less, with what Obasanjo said about the rot in the National Assembly. The consensus is that something must be done urgently about the legislators‘ bloated pay.



The National Assembly can no longer afford to keep quiet on the matter. The attacks on Obasanjo have so far failed to douse public interest on the issue. There should be an official statement on the controversial constituency allowances and what they are used for. Individual legislators should come out openly to tell the public what they know about the jumbo allowances and to clear their names. It is interesting that Obasanjo‘s allegation has now moved the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to begin a probe on the alleged misuse of constituency projects funds and the alleged collection of huge sums of money illegally as constituency allowances. Nigerians are looking forward to the outcome of the probe. The simplest definition of corruption is the abuse of public office for private gains.







Still on $5bn question for Oniwon



It is gratifying that the issue of accountability in the management of the nation‘s oil and gas resources raised in this column last Monday has already attracted the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. According to reports, the Halliburton scandal is now been revisited by the Ministry of Justice and five former officials involved in the case may soon be prosecuted. What remains disturbing is the silence of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, on the issue of $5bn LNG remittances to the NNPC, which the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, said had not been properly accounted for. The various oil and gas committees of the National Assembly must not leave the matter hanging. Nigerians want to know why the huge sum of money has not been paid into the Federation Account as alleged by Bankole.


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