₦airaland Forum

President Goodluck Jonathan will contest in the 2011 presidential general election, Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao Akala, has declared.
While making the assertion yesterday in Ibadan during his monthly media chat with journalists, Akala declared that, “Don’t doubt me, I am sure Jonathan will contest, I am saying it on good authority, you can quote me anywhere, he will contest and I will do everything to ensure his electoral victory.”

He also spoke about the news of some of his aides who are already rooting for the former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, becoming the next president of the country, saying those people you call my aides are free to declare for anybody.”

Some aides of the governor had in some weeks ago held a rally at Total Garden area in Ibadan, where they publicly declared their support for the presidential ambition of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida.
At the rally were the former chairman, Akinyele Local Government, Chief Yemi Aderibigbe, wife of the late Ibadan politician, Alhaja Bose Adedibu, former chairman, Ibadan North East Local Government, Mr. Akeem Ige, the Chairman, State Trans City Transport Company (TCTC), Alhaji Sina Alabi, and the Vice Chairman, Muslim Welfare Board, Alhaji Abass Oloko, among others

But Governor Akala in his reaction yesterday said, “Those people you call my aides, I don’t even know them, where is their position in this government, they are not part of my think-tank, anybody is free to declare his/her loyalty for whoever he /she wishes, if these people you talked about are rooting for IBB, so be it, if I am to send anybody to such event where you said my aides declared for IBB, you should know those that I will send there, not those expired politicians.

For me, I am strongly in support of Jonathan contesting for 2011 general election.”
He noted that the declaration of IBB, to contest the presidential election and his adamant posture that he will run despite all odds is good for the party as it would give room for competition, adding: “Babangida is free to contest the 2011 presidential elections, remember the party will still go through primaries and at the end of the day, the party’s candidate will emerge.”

On the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state, Akala said: “Contrary to insinuation that the partywas against the return of some of the aggrieved members, I can tell you that there was nothing like that, the party is at all times ready to accommodate genuine and loyal members back into its mainstream in the spirit of the ongoing reconciliation but not people that will come and destroy all the structures we have built, they were in the party before until some of them went astray and they now want to comeback and claim their former position, it is wrong, it is even ungodly.

We know where they were during the last general elections in 2007, without them we won that elections, even the party had won all the re-run elections so far held in the state that is to show that PDP is very solid in Oyo State even without them.”

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/july/23/national-07-23-2010-016.htm

The journalist should go and ask other awardees if they deserve the award. Onovo is not the cause of crime in the country.The political class is resposible for the poverty and unemployment in the country and should be blamed for the recent rise in crimes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will require at least N55.1 billion to organise a “substantially more credible” voters register ahead of the 2011 general election.

The commission’s chairperson, Attahiru Jega, told a delegation of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who visited him in his office in Abuja yesterday that the money is required to purchase the requisite technology to produce a credible voters register. “We can use N55 billion as the cost of equipment alone if we buy directly from the manufacturers since it will cost 2,000 dollars per unit.”

He explained that the equipment “will be a laptop-based unit plus the accessories for finger printing and a high resolution camera that can capture the pictures and complete the entire exercise within a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes.” He noted that by going directly to the manufacturers, the commission will not only get better quality products but will thereby save about N16 billion or more from the procurement. He hoped the commission’s proposal to the government would be approved before August 11.

Whilst calling for a review of the procurement process, Mr Jega lamented that the current procurement process involves the use of vendors and it did not permit direct purchase from the manufacturers. He blamed the process for disrupting the 2006 voters register.

“As soon as the contract was signed with credible partners, (in 2006) they were abandoned and fake equipment was purchased, some with expired licences and that was what affected the voter registration exercise in 2006” he explained.

He also noted that though funds had been made available for the election, “there is a funding gap of close to N10 billion. Some important personnel costs were not captured in the funding,” he said.

Little time

On the newly amended constitution, Mr Jega said that the time requirement in the amended constitution has made the conduct of the election more constraining, and warned that “if time line is not extended and resources provided, there is no way anybody can conduct a credible voters registration exercise in the maximum of eight weeks.”

He said “Assuming we will start election on Jan. 8, then by August 11, INEC must announce a time table for the election. And if by law, all registration exercise was to be done 120 days to the date of election; it meant that registration should be concluded by September 9.” He called for the extension by two months, the time frame of concluding the voters registration exercise from September 9 to November 9 stating that “this is because we have to purchase equipment, deploy them, train people, arrange logistics and you have to do the registration before the election.” He said if the timeline was extended and resources provided as early as possible, “then by January, there will be a much more credible voters’ registration than what is on ground now’’. He recommended that the provision that supplementary voters’ registration must end 60 days before the election, should be reduced to 30 days.

The convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER), Ayo Opadokun agreed that INEC should be well funded, adding that his coalition strongly supports the proposals by Mr Jega if they will lead to the production of a diligent, accurate, clear and productive voters register. Also, the spokesperson for Action congress, Lai Muhammed said the government should provide the fund for INEC as “we all know the government can afford it.”


Link: http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5597615-146/inec_wants_55b_for_voters_register.csp

Former head of state and presidential aspirant of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari has warned Nigerians to beware of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party is worse than kidnappers.

Speaking with a group of select journalists in Kontagora, Niger State, the former leader wondered why Nigerians were just waking up to the issue of kidnapping in Nigeria when the four journalists were kidnapped.

“I thank God for the journalists, and commend the police for effecting their release. But the truth is even the PDP government in the country is worse than kidnappers, and unless Nigerians stand firm against the kidnapping of their votes, the party will continue to rig itself into office.

“You can only do this by policing your votes from the polling booth up to the venue where the results are finally announced”, Buhari said, urging his supporters to emulate the people of Bauchi, Kano and Lagos states in the defence their votes. “In these three states, the people remained resolute in the defence of their votes and that is why it was impossible for the PDP to rig in those three states,” he said.

Buhari said he was in Kontagora to open the office of his party in the town, “but see what it has turned into now, you can imagine when the INEC gives the go ahead and I come here for campaign,” Buhari said in apparent reference to the large crowd that graced the ceremony. The former military leader was also in Minna where he opened the state secretariat of his party before leaving for Abuja later in the day.

In another development, the former head of state, urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency effect the release of Major Hamza Al Mustapha, the Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha who has been in detention since 1998. Buhari in an interview with journalists in Kontagora said 12 years was too long a time to try an offender, pointing out that the long period had removed all elements of justice from the trial.

Similarly, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida had called on the Federal Government to show compassion and release Major Al Mustapha, “I am joining thousands of other Nigerians to plead that he be released. Though one has been working behind the scene to secure his release. I know the boy and I know his family. Quite a lot o people depend on him.

“I am not saying this because I want his vote, but because it is not fair to deny a family their breadwinner. 12 years is a long time. He should be released,” IBB said.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/july/23/newsbreak-23-07-2010-001.htm

Serious indications emerged yesterday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is in a fix over the conduct of the next general elections, especially with the constitution amendment, which stipulates that the polls must hold within 150 days before May 29th.
Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Mohammed Jega revealed yesterday in Abuja that with the constitutional amendment, the commission is faced with the option of compiling a new voters’ register in less than eight weeks or embarking on the herculean task of “salvaging” the existing register in 16 weeks.

The INEC boss, at his maiden press conference since assuming office three weeks ago, pointedly said the commission would require between N55 and N72 billion to conduct the election, and particularly to compile a new voters’ registration between August and November.

Similarly, Jega expressed frustrations over some sections of the amended constitution, insisting they fell short of the credibility required to conduct a free and fair election. “Let me, therefore, start by addressing the implications of some of the constitutional amendments for INEC’s preparation for the impending general elections, particularly regarding the voters’ register, which I must confess falls far short of the level of credibility required for free and fair elections.

“Based on amendments to Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2) and 178(2) of the constitution, elections must take place between 150 and 120 days to the end of the tenure. Consequently, the forthcoming elections must hold between 30th December 2010 and 29th January 2011. If we take the midpoint between these two dates to give room for effective preparations and possible run-off elections, it means that the elections will take place between 8th and 15th of January 2011.

“Section 31(31) of the Electoral Act provides that notice of election must be issued 150 days prior to an election. That being the case, to hold the first election on the 8th of January 2011, we must issue the notice by 11th August 2010. “Section 10 (5) of the Election Act provides that registration of voters, updating and revision of the register of voters must end 120 days before an election. That means that registration of voters must end by 9th September, 2010, barely two months from now.

“However, Section 21 of the Electoral Act makes it possible for claims, objection, verification, correction and final certification of voters’ register to continue until 60 days to an election, that is 9th November 2010,” Jega explained.
While admitting that the options open to the commission are near impossible, the INEC Chairman said part of the conclusions drawn from its consultations included a proposal to the National Assembly to consider a bill for a new Electoral Act.

The Sections to be considered according to Jega are Sections 10 (5), 21,11(4) of the Electoral Act, but he added that every action the commission would take would be based on the laws of the land. But according to Jega, if the amendments sought were not achieved, the INEC would have no option than work within the law and attempt to salvage the existing register.

“Should such a lamentable circumstance arise, this Commission can only guarantee raising the credibility of that register perhaps by only about 10 per cent based on what we have seen of it. This again is based on the availability of at least 30 per cent direct capture machines,” Jega added. Even though he admitted the task of conducting the next election was near-impossible, Jega expressed optimism that the Commission was capable of conducting the elections and stressed that there was no going back.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/july/23/national-07-23-2010-001.htm

Former military president and presidential aspirant, Muhammed Buhari, of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), has expressed confidence about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) capacity to conduct free and fair elections in 2011.

Mr. Buhari stated this yesterday when he commissioned the new party secretariat in Jos-Makurdi road in the Bukan-Sidi area of Nasarawa State.

The general urged INEC to update the voter’s register in preparation for the forthcoming general election. He warned against disenfranchising the youth, saying that those who were 18 years and older should be allowed to take part in the forthcoming general election.

He asked Nigerians not to vote for corrupt leaders again because they are criminals, and urged the large crowd who came out to welcome him, to vote for people of high integrity. He noted that the money current leaders had realized in the past ten years, was enough to cover the cost of free education, health care and security.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5597778-147/buhari_urges_inec_to_conduct_free.csp

Ogbonaya Onovo, the Inspector General of Police, was among 186 Nigerians from different strata of the society who were honoured with the 2009 National Award by President Goodluck Jonathan.

But Mr. Onovo, who said he was quite happy at the honour done him, was not impressed with the question from NEXT about whether he thought it was justified for him to get such an award in the face of the rising crime and insecurity in the country.

The police boss, who refused to answer the query, said it was a stupid question meant to provoke him, rather than one “borne out of genuine journalistic curiosity.” He said members of the public should decide if he deserved the award or not.

“Answer it for yourself,” he said. “You are a member of the public. If I don’t deserve it, say so.”

When asked if considering the security concerns in the country, he thought he should be taking this award at this time, he retorted, “Answer it yourself. I can’t answer stupid questions, because insecurity is all over the world. There is no society where there is no crime. You can’t tell me of any society, if you know one, tell me. So, I think it is not a proper question and I will not answer it.

“You have come to provoke. You haven’t come to ask questions as journalists who want to know and who want to disseminate information,” adding, “Your question had spoilt my happy mood.”

However, the questions that so infuriated the usually amiable Mr. Onovo were the sort that reporters had asked all the other awardees.

The 186 recipients included Mike Akhigbe; Aloysius Katsina-Alu; and Joseph Wayas, who received the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger,(GCON).

Others were the chief of staff to the president, Mike Oghiadomhe; the head of service of the federation, Stephen Oronsaye; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Niki Tobi; the emir of Gwandu, Mohammadu Ilyasu Bashar; the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi; Ghali Umar Na’Abba; and Patricia Etteh, who all received the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.

Critical observations

Speaking at the four-hour ceremony, which was attended by families and well wishers of the awardees, Mr Jonathan said overcoming the challenges facing the country can only be achieved with the collective dedication and participation of all patriotic Nigerians.

“We must make honour-inspiring acts part of our national culture. The times call for men and women who are willing to live above primordial loyalties and commit their all to the general good,” he said.

“By reason of your decoration today, you have become national ambassadors of hope and agents of change. You have an abiding duty to this generation of Nigerians and our common posterity to always live up to the high standards to which you will be held,” he told the recipients.

Noting that the national honours are part of Nigeria’s national heritage which must be preserved, Mr. Jonathan promised that his administration will work to “raise the bar” so as to challenge Nigerians to strive harder for greater excellence in all fields of human endeavour.

The award had however come under criticisms, and a number of people have wondered if some recipients had not bought the awards, considering their antecedents.

Mr. Jonathan said at the occasion that the federal government noted the critical observations and will put such observations to good use in strengthening the prestige and integrity of the awards.

The Nigerian National Honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and friends of Nigeria every year. The awards were instituted by the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964, during the First Republic, to honour people who have rendered service to the benefit of the nation.

Predators of the press

Mr. Onovo had undoubtedly led in the search and release of the four journalists who were kidnapped in the south-eastern part of the country recently, and for which the police was widely commended but also vilified for allowing kidnapping to thrive in the country.

Indeed, Mr. Onovo, who received the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), was on May 2010, listed as one of the “40 predators of the press in the world” by the international rights group, Reporters without Borders, during its World Press Day celebration.

According to the group, the names on the list are “powerful, dangerous, violent, and above the law,” thus the nomenclature, “Predators of Press Freedom.”

The group had further blamed the Nigeria Police Force, led by Mr. Onovo, for making the country “one of the world’s most violent countries for journalists.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5597784-146/onovo_snaps_over_questions_about_his.csp

Osogbo, Nigeria (CNN) -- In a dark room, the High Priestess used her ceremonial knife to cut two teardrop scars beneath her baby grandson's eyes. As baby Enitan cried out, the marks ran red with blood.

It took only a few moments, but scarred him for life.

In her small mud-brick home in southwest Nigeria, priestess Ifaponle Ogunjinmi performed the Yoruba tradition of giving tribal marks to the youngest member of her family.

"The tribal mark is to identify the family," Ifaponle said. "Everyone in the family must have it."

Ifaponle rubbed the secretion of a snail on Enitan's cheeks and then pressed dark charcoal dust into the open wounds to stop the bleeding. To finish the ceremony, a chicken was brushed across Enitan's head.

"The snail is for cooling the wounds, like water on fire," Ifaponle said. "And the chicken is to clear the body of all illness. It will be sacrificed in two days."

Yoruba tribal scars have a variety of patterns and meanings.

Most obviously, they appear as a series of cuts and lines across the face to identify a person's family and regional heritage. Others, appearing as lizards or scorpions anywhere below the face, are a form of body art.

But they all have spiritual significance.

Meta Ogunjimni, the child's father, led us into another dark, musty room at the back of his home. Sunlight from a small window cast an eerie light on a dark-red costume in the corner of the room, a shrine to the local goddess of Ifa, surrounded by a variety of bottles and blood-stained ornaments.

The costume consists of a large ornamental mask used in local religious ceremonies. It is decorated with three small wooden faces, each adorned with scars across their cheeks.

"I have inherited these facial marks from my grandfather," said Meta, pointing at the scarred wooden faces on the masquerade, "they help protect me."

Though facial scars can be found across Africa, they are becoming increasingly restricted to people in the rural regions.

The Nigerian government has moved to outlaw the practice, but many states have yet to approve the law. Many human rights organizations argue that the scarring of children is abuse and have often associated the practice with female genital mutilation.

However, regardless of their efforts, facial scars are becoming harder to find for a different reason -- displacement of old ways by Western influence.

"Our grandfathers, who made tribal marks compulsory for everyone have died," Ifaponle said. "In the modern world, many fathers don't allow any marks on their children."

In her arms, Enitan suckled on a bottle of warm milk. He will carry his Yoruba traditions with him for life, but he may well be one of the last.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/07/20/nigeria.scarring.ceremony/index.html?npt=NP1#fbid=Ec5f-Aoke65

Careful what you blow into,

O tan de moda en el mundial de sudafrica, deberianos saber su origen antes de soplarlas.

Five civil society groups have presented the report of the investigations by the House of Representatives on the power sector to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC), and to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asking them to “urgently take action on the reports.”

Also presented to the anti-graft agencies was the report on the non-remittance of received public revenue into the federation account by ministries, departments, and agencies between 2003 and 2008.

The reports were also submitted to the director of operations of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Salawu Bello, who represented the agency’s chairperson.

The groups, which made the presentation in a meeting with the chairman of ICPC, Olayinka Ayoola, demanded that the people indicted in the power probe report must be prosecuted forthwith.

The groups quoted the recommendation made by the report that both the ICPC and EFCC prosecute former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; the former minister of power and steel, Liyel Imoke; former minister of state for energy, Abdulhamid Ahmed; and former minister of power and steel, Olusegun Agagu.

Other former government officials the report mentioned for prosecution included the former managing director of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Joseph Makoju; the chief executive officer of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), C. E. Ifesie, and his assistant general manager, G.O.P. Osakue.

The NIPP’s project manager, Mike Ezeudenna; the chairperson, technical committee of NIPP, C. N. O. Nwachukwu; and the managing director of NIPP, J. A. Olotu, and others were all asked to face the law for the mismanagement of funds.

The House of Representatives in 2008 mandated its committee on power and steel to conduct a comprehensive investigation into how huge sums of money was expended on power generation, transmission, and distribution between June 1999 and May 2007, without any commensurate result as the nation’s power generation fell to a meagre 2,500MW.

The last administration claimed to have expended $16 billion on overhauling the nation’s power sector via the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

The groups added that the committee submitted its report at the end of the investigation, in which it revealed that “the sum of $13.28 billion was expended on the power sector during the period, with further unfunded commitment of over $12 billion” and nothing has been done on the report till date.

“Specifically, the report concluded that looting of the national treasury through the National Power Project (NPP) and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) greatly diminished national capacity to provide electric power, ” the groups noted.

Crimes against humanity

They also quoted the report as saying “what senior officials and politicians did is an economic crime against humanity, which has caused Nigerians not only financial loss, but also inestimable mental and physical suffering.”

Some companies on the indicted list are Rockson Engineering/ Rockson International; Pivot Engineering; Marubeni West Africa and Marubeni International; Lahmeyer International; and ABB Powerlines.

The second report submitted by the groups, alleged that “between 2003 and 2008, about N4 trillion, collected by various ministries, departments and agencies in the area of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Withholding Tax (WHT), Value Added Tax (VAT), and Operating Surpluses, were not remitted into the Federation Account” as dictated by the constitution.

Reaction to groups’ demand

ICPC chairperson promised to “urgently work on the reports”, while the EFCC director noted that he was not sure whether the reports were already submitted to the agency. He promised to make enquiries and get back to the group.

The civil groups championing this call includes the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR); Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch; Center for the Rule of Law (CENTROLAW); and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADL).

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5597262-147/activists_want_obasanjo_prosecuted_over_power.csp

The issue of zoning has continued to generate fireworks with the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum (NPLF), Northern Governors’ Forum, Lawal Kaita, Musa Rimi, the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Joju Fadairo and others joining the fray.
Speaking in Jos, leader of the NPLF, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande said they were prepared to dump PDP if the party decided to jettison zoning arrangement midstream.

Ambassador Kwande who addressed journalists on behalf of other prominent Nigerians in the forum including Ibrahim Babangida, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Aliu Gusau and the chairman of the organization, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma and coordinating officer, Dalhatu Yusuf from Kano, said while the organization was neither against President Goodluck Jonathan as a person nor the section of Nigeria where he comes from, it would categorically resist any person or group of persons that would want to bring in sentiments of religion, ethnicity or sectionalism into the issue.

“All we are saying is that it is only morally right to respect an agreement whether written or unwritten, formal or informal especially when such an agreement is meant for the good of all,” he stated.
Kwande alleged that it was the same people calling for the jettisoning of zoning arrangement who worked for the “who the cap fit project during the late General Sani Abacha regime, tenure elongation popularly called third term during Obasanjo’s civilian regime and now the ‘zoning must be dropped project under the guise of credibility’ Here we ask them who is a credible person? Is it any person with power in his hand or what?”

Alhaji Yahaya Kwande recalled that the idea of zoning started the south that feared that the north was dominating the political scene. He said it was only fair not to shift the goal post in the middle of the game just because some people feel doing that would serve their personal interest and not the interest of peace, fairness and justice to all.
He said while the group was not concerned about who becomes Nigeria’s president in 2011, it cared about safe-guarding the system of equity and fairness, which would give all Nigerians, especially minority who, given the current situation of political development of our country would not be able to access and occupy certain political offices in the land.

However, the much expected position of the Northern Governors Forum on the issue may no longer be made known today as earlier promised. According to Daily Sun investigation, this is because the governors have decided to put off the meeting earlier scheduled for today for another date. It was learnt that the meeting may now hold next weekend. Although details of why the meeting was hurriedly put off on Tuesday was sketchy as at press time, sources disclosed that the decision to shelve the meeting might not be unconnected with series of pressures mounted on the governors on the contentious issue of zoning.

Like the contagious Third Term agenda, Daily Sun learnt that governors, especially those interested in second term, appearred cautious in taking a stand, so as not to incur the wrath of their people back home. Besides, it was further learnt that most of the governors were yet to call for a stakeholders meeting in their respective states, as agreed at their last meeting, to discuss the matter.

As at the last count, only four governors have made their positions public, with the Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, insisting that the zoning agreement must be respected. But Benue, Plateau and Adamawa, for now have declared for President Goodluck Jonathan. The governors had during their last meeting on July 1, received in audience two groups from the North, one for zoning and the other against. And after their presentation, the governors promised to go back and hold their own meetings in their respective states before declaring their stand.

“Now that the meeting has been extended by more than a week, it is expected that most of the governors would make their positions known before the next meeting, scheduled for next weekend, “the source added.
Howver, Sokoto Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari has advised against allowing the issue to divide the ruling party and the nation as a whole. Shagari who gave the advice in Sokoto while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth and Social Development who paid him a courtesy call explained that PDP zoning system should not be given prominence as to lead to squabble among stakeholders in the party.
The former minister stressed the need for the formation of a common focus that would provide purposeful leadership for the nation.

Meanwhile, the Katsina Stakeholders Forum (KSF) convened by three former governors, Lawal Kaita and Abba Musa Rimi of defunct Kaduna State and Saidu Barda of Katsina State and former agriculture minister, Sani Zango Daura, rose from a meeting on Tuesday with a strong support for zoning. The summit attended by hundreds of stakeholders from the 34 local government areas of Katsina State said the North would not be stampeded out of the zoning formula.

Prominent among the delegates were Senator Abba Ali, erstwhile chairman of Action Congress (AC) in Katsina; Dr. Junaidu Mamuda, former governorship candidate of ANPP; Northern activist, Barrister Aminu Maigari; Alhaji Lawal Idi Bagiwa, Sarkin Fulani Katsina and Usman Dalhatu, secretary of the summit. The meeting, in its communiqué, said “the South as a beneficiary of (zoning) arrangement is morally bound to support the completion of the eight-year northern presidency notwithstanding the death of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.”
It also declared that “the South was rewarded with the presidency in 1999 on a platter of gold as no northern candidate emerged as presidential candidate of the two major political parties, PDP and APP, after reaching a consensus with their southern politicians to give them a chance.”

The forum emphasized that the people of Katsina State remained solidly behind zoning of public offices in 2011 to enable north complete its term. The delegates posited that zoning as enshrined in the PDP’s constitution was introduced in 1999 to stabilize the country after the unfortunate annulment of June 12th election of 1993.
The delegates dismissed the argument that zoning was an interim argument and should therefore be discarded as being canvassed by some sections of Nigeria.

Similarly, former Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Labour Party (LP) senatorial aspirant for Ekiti North Senatorial District, Tale Oguntoyinbo has observed that zoning method was good for the nation’s democracy, because “it created greater sense of belonging among the various ethnic groups in the country.”
He said zoning had reduced rancour among politicians, arguing that it was the reason everyone was curious about how the issue would be resolved. Oguntoyinbo alleged that the fraudulent attitude of the leadership of PDP led to the mass cross-carpeting by many foundation members of the party.

He described PDP as a party devoid of internal democracy, saying “although it is good to look for credible candidates, but is the PDP saying we cannot get a competent candidate from the North West who could be the next president? “The death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua does not mean that anybody cannot come from that area. Although, I want to be less concerned about PDP, but I want to assure you that the zoning crisis will continue to rock PDP and it will eventually mark the end of dominance of the party at the national.”

While throwing his weight behind the issue, Fadairo described zoning describing as ideal for the nation in its quest for political stability. According to him, “zoning is a convenient arrangement within the party (PDP) and the constitution of our party allows it. It has been established.” According to him, though the Nigerian constitution supercedes that of the PDP, zoning remains constitutional unless it bars aspirants from other zones from contesting.
Fadairo stressed that the arrangement will ensure peace within the party as it will bring about minimal struggle for offices.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/july/22/national-07-22-2010-002.htm

The Senate, yesterday, approved the N4.43 trillion amended budget for the 2010 fiscal year, as proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The approved budget is based on the second amendment request, which was submitted to the National Assembly by the president a fortnight ago. The budget includes a revision in the budget of some ministries, departments, and agencies of government such as the state house, Nigerian Army, intelligence agencies, Air Force, and the Federal Capital Territory. The budget allocates the sum of N542 billion for debt service. N2.137 trillion is for recurrent expenditure - non debt - and the balance of N1.563 trillion is for contribution to the Development Fund for capital expenditure of the government of the federation for the year ending 31 December 2010.

Under the capital expenditure, N300 billion is earmarked for the ministry of works, housing and urban development; N146 billion is for ministry of power; N83.2 billion is for Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs; N112.45 billion is for ministry of water resources; N96.29 billion is for Federal Capital Territory Administration while 76.2 billion is for Ministry of Transport. The sum of N74.9 billion was allocated to the Education ministry; N73.779 billion for Police Affairs; N53 billion for Science and Technology; N47. 384 billion for Defence and the military; N38.861 billion for Aviation; N37.063 billion is for National Security Adviser, and N21.424 billion for the environment ministry while N21.169 billion was set aside for Foreign and Intergovernmental Affairs.

The National Assembly had, on 7 July, received a letter from Mr Jonathan asking for a revision of the revenue framework and a subsequent “slight amendment to the 2010 amendment budget proposal.” The revised revenue framework is based on assumption of oil production of 2.2 million barrels per day as opposed to the 2.350 million barrels per day which was the approved assumption in the 2010 budget, and 2.250 million barrels per day contained in the first amendment request. The amended budget is also on an assumption of $60 per barrel.

Senate error

The senate committee admitted to have committed a mathematical error of N285 billion in the initial 2010 budget analysis. “Further careful analysis of the aggregate figures in the bill (it was) indicated that the 2010 Appropriation act is put at N4.608 trillion while the authentic figure in the detail is computed at N4.893 trillion,” Iyiola Omisore, chairman senate committee on appropriation said. “After necessary allowances have been made for calculation and sundry errors, the budgeted figure was reduced from N4.893 trillion to N4.427 trillion. In effect, we are able to achieve about N466.6 billion reductions in the overall aggregate figures of the 2010 budget.”

In the same vein, the senate also passed the N644 billion Supplementary Appropriation Act for various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) for the 2010 fiscal year, including provisions for expenses for the Nigeria at 50 anniversary. From the sum, N505 billion is for additional recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, while N139 billion is for contribution to the development fund for additional capital expenditure for the year ending on the 31 December 2010.

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The last batch of the Independent Electoral Commissioners were yesterday sworn in by President Goodluck Jonathan, who charged them to work with their colleagues to ensure a free and fair election.

The new commissioners include Abdulkadir Oniyangi and Amina Zakari.

Mr Jonathan had initially dropped two commissioners from the first list on grounds of past records.

The swearing in ceremony was held at 10am, just before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in the chambers of the presidential villa.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mr Jonathan reminded the officials that they now had the responsibility to reform the electoral system.

“Oniyangi and Mrs. Zakari, it is a very unique ceremony because incidentally both of them are from the medical profession, one a pharmacist and the other a doctor. You have been treating Nigerians for this period after leaving the university. Now, we are giving you a responsibility to treat Nigerians again, but this time it is not to treat pathogens. Mrs Zakari will no longer prescribe drugs or manufacture drugs to fight germs; but there are social ills and how to deal with issues that led to failed elections and Oniyangi’s scalp and scissors will not be used to cut human tissues again, but those social tissues that prevented us from conducting elections free and fair,” Mr Jonathan said.

He added since both commissioners will be working with a political scientist as chairman of INEC, “we believe that you will take Nigeria to where Nigeria want. That is, you should conduct elections that should be seen by both Nigerians and the international communities as free and fair.

“We have given you the free will to do that and we don’t want Nigerians to hear that some will say his legs and hands are tied. Nobody has tied anybody’s legs.”

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As part of the country’s 50th independence anniversary celebration, the federal government will today confer national honours award on 186 Nigerians in Abuja for the year 2009.

The award, which is usually given to outstanding Nigerians for their contributions to national development, would take place at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Thirteen of the awardees will bag the CFR honours, while 27 will get the CON award; 43 will be awarded the OFR honours, while 46 will be awarded OON. Some 22 will receive the MFR honours, while 25 will bag the MON award. The other seven awardees will be conferred with the Federal Republic Medal.

The former Chief of General Staff, Mike Akhigbe will, together with the Chief Justice of the Federation, Aloysius Katsina-Alu, as well as second republic senate president, Joseph Wayas, receive the GCON award. The past speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, will receive the CFR, alongside a predecessor, Ghali Umar Na’Abba; Chief of Staff to the president, Mike Oghiadhome; and former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Also on the list approved by President Goodluck Jonathan are the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Farida Waziri; chairman of African Petroleum Plc, Femi Otedola; a former petroleum minister, Tam David-West, who had declined the award of CON, among others.

A statement by the national honours award committee in Abuja said there is no recipient for the nation’s highest honours of GCFR, as this was reserved for serving heads of state, while three people will get the GCON award.

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Only 29 of the 66 sections were passed by the required two-third majority of the states

The new constitution stipulates; section 135(2) that “in the event of re-run election, the time spent in the office before the date the election was annulled, shall be taken into account” for the president. This same rule also applies to all other political offices.

Section 145“Whenever the president is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he shall transmit a written declaration to the president of the senate and speaker of the House of Representatives to that effect, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, the vice president shall perform the functions of the president as Acting president.”

Section 137 which disqualifies of people indicted by administrative panels from running for political office was removed successfully.

Section 233 empowers the Supreme Court to hear Governor and Deputy Governors’ election appeal cases while the court of original jurisdiction for such cases is the Appeal Court. The High Court is to hear election cases of senate and House of Reps.

OLD STATUS132. (2)An election to the said office shall be held on a date not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.

145.Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.

137. (1)A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if:

(i)he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of Inquiry Law or any other law by the Federal or State Government which indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government, respectively; or

(j) He has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

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A whiff of confusion yesterday heralded the announcement of the take off of the amended constitution as the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, who initially said the section which grants financial independence to state houses of assemblies got the required assent, was forced to back-pedal, few minutes into the news conference. Mr Ekweremadu said he had cross-checked the facts and discovered that the section could not pass through because only 22 houses supported it, instead of the required 26. According to him, Katsina State, initially believed to have voted in favour of the clause, had presented two conflicting versions and its vote was therefore invalidated.

Section 121 of the Constitution which deals with financial independence for state houses of assemblies did not receive the support of the state governors who, as reported exclusively by NEXT on Sunday on July 11, pressured their legislators to vote against it because it would weaken the hold of the executive on the lawmakers.

The new laws

Under the new Constitution, elections are to be held in January next year, which is a slight departure from the past when elections held in April and inaugurations occur on May 29.

The document which is referred to as the first amendment of the 1999 Constitution, and had costs the country some N5 billion, stipulates that elections should hold on a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 120 days before the expiration of the term of political office holders.

Mr. Ekweremadu, who chaired the senate committee on the amendment of the constitution said, the senate is aware of the little time left before the elections and will assist INEC to achieve a crises-free election.

He said the senate is preparing to pass a new electoral act that will extend the deadline for voters’ registration and submission of candidates’ name to INEC to two months before the actual elections.

All states, except Bauchi, voted in favour of the new electioneering time frame. The state had preferred the old time frame which stipulated that elections shall not take place earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.

Bauchi State voted ‘yes’ on only five of the 66 sections where amendments to the constitution were proposed by the national assembly. However, more than half of the amendments sought by the federal legislators were turned down by their state counterparts. Only 29 of the 66 sections were passed by the required two-third majority of the states.

Other sections of the constitution that were amended in the constitution include sections that grant the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) financial autonomy and section 135(2) which says that, “in the event of re-run election, the time spent in the office before the date the election was annulled, shall be taken into account” for the president. This same rule also applies to all other political offices.

Only last week, a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State ruled that the tenure of Segun Oni, the Ekiti State governor, ends in 2011, temporarily putting paid to the controversy over whether a fresh four year tenure should start from when he won the April 2009 re-run elections in the state.

Section 145, which deals with the transfer of power between the president and vice president, was also amended. It now reads: “Whenever the president is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he shall transmit a written declaration to the president of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives to that effect, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, the vice president shall perform the functions of the president as Acting president.” The constitution also provided that in the event that the president was unable to transmit a letter over his absence, in 21 days, the vice president will act in his stead. The rule is also applicable to state governors who failed to hand over properly.

This has hopefully saved the nation a repeat of what happened in November last year when the late President Umaru Yar’Adua left the country without transmitting power to the vice president.

The amendments also give the national assembly the power to make laws to ensure that political parties observe the practice of internal democracy in section 228.

A significant departure from the past constitution is Section 233 which now empowers the Supreme Court to hear the governor and deputy governors’ election appeal cases while the court of original jurisdiction for such cases remains the Appeal Court. The High Court is empowered to hear election cases over elections into the Senate and House of Representatives. Under the old order, governorship election cases end at the Appeal Court level.

Rejected sections

The Independent candidacy clause which was the core of electoral reforms promoted by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was dropped by the states.

The introduction of this clause followed the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee led by Mohammad Uwais. The clause stipulates that aspirants for political offices - including offices of the governor and president - need not be members of any political party.

Although the provision enjoyed great support from the federal lawmakers, the state assemblies rejected it. They also rejected the attempt to delete section 68 (g) which prohibits carpet- crossing for legislators from the constitution.

Mr. Ekweremadu, however, said the national assembly will reintroduce the rejected sections in the next constitution amendment process, ”, hoping that state assemblies will be disposed to pass them then.” He added that the next constitution review will focus on state creation, fiscal federation, state police and devolution of powers.

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Unleash the dragon now!!!!!

Mallam Nuhu has clearly demonstrated to the honest citizens of Nigeria that the hope for a greater Nigeria is in their hands; our hands. Now, all "HONEST" hands must be on deck. Nigeria must be salvaged. The fulfillment of Mallam Nuhu's presidential ambition will mark a significant milestone in the history of Nigeria. Now is the time for action. Let us support Nuhu.

Seeing my role models, Soyinka, Ribadu and Fashola together at the formal announcement of the formation of DFPF, I am relieved that at last we have a genuine platform to reclaim our bastardized democracy. I implore ordinary Nigerians to join this movement that can ultimately lead us to the promised land. Let us collectively say no to corruption, marginalization, electoral malpractices, kidnapping, epileptic power supply, poor health care delivery system, bad roads, sordid state of the educational system, god fatherism, corrupt judiciary etc, Let the mobilization begin. We have to vote our conscience this time around and not sell it for half a bag of rice. Let the political education and reorientation commence under this platform. Kudos to Kongi for your dedication and constancy to purpose. To Ribadu for your steadfastness and to Fashola for your accomplishments.

Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, Wahab Oba, said his new project is to rehabilitate his abductors if the federal government gives him backing and support.

He spoke on his ordeal in the hands of his kidnappers. Excerpts:

Kidnappers' grouse

At a time we were discussing with these boys, they told us what led them into the crime was a result of neglect by the government. They alleged further that politicians used them to get to offices to loot the treasury, only to later abandon them.

Hence, they resorted to using their own brain to make money through kidnapping. It was at this stage that the thought of rehabilitating them came to me. I even promised to swear for them to know how genuine my proposal was.

Rehabilitation for kidnappers

Even their leader said if he has a means of livelihood, of getting N15, 000 as salary every month, he would drop the guns. They said amnesty promised them by government is not forthcoming, when he said this, it was then I started thinking how do I get to these boys if we are eventually released?

I want to use my influence as Chairman of NUJ to get in touch with their state governor, which I am already doing. I also desire to connect the president to give them amnesty, to reach understanding. It may not be announced. To let them come and not arrest them or prosecute them, to give them that freedom to come out and surrender their guns. When they do that, I will now rehabilitate them. I will now re-orientate them.

I will now repackage them. When we do that, they would have means of livelihood. Then we can now use them as agent to change others who are still in the bush, to have a better life. That is the target. That also depends on if they call me. I gave them my own phone number, but they didn't give me their own numbers. So, if they call me and trust me, because they didn't trust anybody, then we will now see how to do that.

Kidnappers have informants

Another worry about the operations of the kidnappers is that they operate effective networking with their informants. Investigations while with them revealed that their informants are mostly females who gave them adequate information about police operations.

The truth is that, consistently, they have people who informed them on the operations of the police and people outside. How the police were moving, how police are strategizing. Somebody kept informing them and that voice is a woman's voice. So, they have informant. Even apart from that, they have informants in the community.

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The federal government will introduce a fresh approach to tackle corruption which remains a source of insecurity to the nation, Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, said yesterday in Ilishan Ijebu, Ogun State.

Mr. Ribadu, who was attending his first public appearance after returning from an 18-month exile last Thursday, made this call during the 8th Convocation Ceremony of Babcock University in Ogun state where he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

“There is merit in the argument that new times call for new strategies and that a sustainable anti-corruption programme in Nigeria must wear a new look,” he said. “In the reality of our nation today, an anti-corruption programme must get an elevation to be located at the very core of national security imperative.”

Mr. Ribadu said all the resources deployed at building a virile nation will come to nought if “we do not put all our development efforts in the context of a new economic management model that correctly annotates corruption as most crippling factor in our development effort.”

Recounting his experience during the 18 months he was in exile, Mr. Ribadu said it provided him an opportunity to reflect on what he had done in the five year he was a member of the country’s economic management team.

“Such modest anti-corruption efforts as we saw in the very recent past produced result, created fundamental change and offer hope of national restoration,” he said.

Mr. Ribadu also said despite the “pains and discomfort” which his exile engendered, he draws solace in the fact that his four years of anti-corruption campaign has been validated. “If we had the opportunity to do it again today, it might be worth repeating,” he said.

Educational values

Mr. Ribadu also highlighted the core values of the university, which is to build people for leadership, transform lives and impact society for positive change.

According to him, these core values are imperative and “we must continue to seek to transform our country towards a just, fair, equitable, peaceful and truly free society.”

He also advocated that the country must move from the present practice where more than N1.1 trillion was spent on education in the last five years, with little result, to the practice where education is brought to the “doorsteps of citizens” just like India and china have done. As a gesture of honour, Mr. Ribadu was also called upon to conduct the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Pastor Laz Otti Memorial Virtual Library at the institution.

The former anti-corruption czar expressed his gratitude to the school management for deeming him fit of such honour.

“You can truly understand how humbled and appreciative my family and I are by the kind invitation to join the ranks of the honoured,” he said.

Mr. Ribadu was on May 25, restored as a retired Assistant Inspector General (AIG) by the Police Service Commission after he was stripped of his promotion from an Assistant Commissioner of Police to AIG and subsequently sacked from the Nigerian Police Force for alleged indiscipline, insubordination and absence from duty in December 2008.

He later went into exile after several attempts on his live. He has been a visiting fellow at the Center for Global Development, Washington DC

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A nascent group, the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum (Adamawa State chapter) has told the proponents of the zero zoning principle of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that zoning or no zoning, the North will still win any election in Nigeria. Rising from a meeting in Yola, on Monday, the leaders, drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state, in a communiqué urged restraint on the contentious issue.

Describing zoning as “long resolved, leading to the emergence of Olusegun Obasanjo and late President Musa Yar’Adua in 199, and 2007 respectively,” it warned of the consequence of an avoidable crisis which the issue may likely precipitate.
It said “the people of the North never demanded for zoning of any political office in Nigeria.

However, they acceded to the demands of their compatriots in the South, who see zoning as the only mechanism for ensuring equal and easy access to power by every Nigerian regardless of geographical locations.
“If anybody now believes that the principle of zoning is no longer required for equal or easy access to power, or no longer relevant to the political stability of Nigeria, let them come out clearly and say so, not to resort to puerile legal and constitutional arguments.”

It further called on politicians and other stakeholders to respect political agreements and allow the principle of zoning to run its full course, warning that the preference for zoning by the North should not be misconstrued as weakness.
“North have all it takes to win free and fair elections without special arrangements,” the group boasted.
Further rationalizing its preference for zoning, the group said it was based on principle and not targeted at the speculated aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

It said zoning will serve the best interest of the nation, regretting that there would have been no need for special political arrangement to concede power to the South in 1999, if Nigerians were ready to accept a president from anywhere. It highlighted the plight of minority ethnic groups in the country, saying they were best protected by zoning.

It also sued for tolerance among the contending groups for power in Adamawa State, urging them to imbibe the virtues of equity, fairness and justice.
“Politicians come and go, but the nation and its people will remain, engaged in creating an enabling environment for mutual peaceful co-existence, through a variety of political engineering mechanism to ensure that the nation remains politically stable, economically viable and socially virile,” it concluded.
The communiqué was signed by Prof. Musa Yakubu, Mr. Yakubu Tsala and Prof. Maxwell Gidado.


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The relationship between former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and Dr. Godwin Daboh became messier on Tuesday with the former calling the latter a beggar and a mole in the pro- President Goodluck Jonathan campaign group . But in a swift reaction, Daboh who is the national president of Benue State Elders Forum and national coordinator of Concerned PDP Elders for Jonathan /Sambo 2011, denied begging money from Babangida whom he described as a good friend.

General Babangida who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential aspirant was responding to claims by Daboh that the president tried to set him up. Speaking with Daily Sun through his media strategist, Prince Kazeem Afegbua, Babangida said Daboh was not telling the whole truth as he (Daboh), actually came to beg money from him for his medical treatment and to develop his plot of land in Abuja.

“We are making a reaction to Godwin Daboh’s story in the Tuesday edition of your newspaper. The allegation by Daboh that he was being set up is very unfair on the person of General Ibrahim Babangida. What transpired is different from the way Daboh reported it. The truth of the matter is that I met Daboh in Attahiru Bafarawa’s house yesterday (Monday), laughing and chatting with former president Babangida in the presence of former governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure. I was shocked initially when I saw him because I couldn’t understand this kind of romance, giving the fact that Daboh has been on the pages of newspapers condemning Babangida’s presidential ambition .

“So, I told Daboh that I was shocked to see him here, but for Gen. IBB who has told me not to join issues with him, I would have taken him to the cleaners before now. He said no, that IBB is his best friend and he cannot fight him.
“I was the person who invited journalists to come and meet Daboh, eating and dining with IBB, the man he is fighting on the pages of newspapers. He came in company with Kure who he has literally worked with as his Personal Assistant (PA).

“He came to beg for money that he has been in and out of the hospital and that he has 77 hectares of land in Abuja, which he wants to develop but doesn’t have money to process the building plan at the Abuja Geographical System (AGIS). He also came to brief IBB about his role in the pro- Jonathan campaign group including the activities of the group. So you can agree with me that he is a mole in the pro- Jonathan’s campaign group.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Daboh who debunked the allegations told Daily Sun he never went to beg Babangida for money since he did not even know he was going to meet him in the first place.

His words, “I did not go to beg IBB for money. I did not even know that I was going to meet with him, I was only tricked. It was a set up. The issue of my land was deliberately brought in by IBB. He asked if I had developed the land, that was how the land issue came in. I did not ask Babangida to give me money to develop it.
“Babangida asked me what has happened to my land in Abuja and I told him I have 77 hectares of land and then Kure said I should cut some and give him. I said no. Kure knew about the land because I took him there. There was no question of medical expenses. What I said to Kure was that IBB has been so nice to me; he gives me money to go for overseas medical treatment.

“There was no question about medical treatment because I did not know I was going to meet IBB in the first place.
“Kure has never employed me as his PA. I have never been an employee of Niger State Government. Kure is my friend and he once awarded me a contract when he was governor of Niger State and I respect him a lot.”

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/july/21/national-21-07-2010-003.htm

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday announced the formation of a new political party, called the Democratic Front for Peoples Federation (DFPF).

Kongi, as he is fondly called, seized the opportunity of an annual lecture held in his honour by the National Association of Seadogs to make the announcement. "This party is especially for those Nigerians who do not have a place to lay their heads," he said, adding that the party is the "masses' party."

Mr. Soyinka, who disclosed, to the chagrin of the attendees at the lecture, that he has not collected any amount as pension since he left Obafemi Awolowo University, said the party will be a platform for agitating for the needs of the masses. "Sign up and see what you can make of this party," he said, while announcing that the party will hold its first convention on September 25.

Some of the attendees wondered why the announcement was coming relatively late, but remained optimistic that the new party can still emerge a strong factor in Nigeria's politics. "I had expected this long time ago," said Benjamin Olaiya, one of the attendees, "I don't know why our national heroes do not wake up early to the demands of politics. It was the same with Gani [Fawehinmi]. However, let us hope the party can emerge strongly within the few times remaining till election."

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Nuhu Ribadu, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday accused Nigerian leaders of intellectual laziness.

Speaking at the 13th annual Wole Soyinka lecture commemorating the Nobel Laureate's 76th birthday, Mr Ribadu said, "I have always believed that to have an economy that depends solely on oil and gas is a sign of lack of economic imagination and ambition. It is a sign of mental laziness."

However, when asked if he will contest for political office next year, Mr. Ribadu, who was recently touted as the presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) retorted, "To that I say amen. But my expectation in 2011 really is free and fair election." He refused to entertain further questions along this line.

NEXT had on July 9 exclusively reported that Mr. Ribadu has been tipped to be AC's presidential flag bearer in 2011. There are now indications that four other political parties have asked Mr. Ribadu to be their presidential candidate.

According to an AC stalwart, "fruitful discussions are already at an advanced stage with Mr. Ribadu and he is only waiting for the right time especially because he will need the northern consensus."

Nigeria's problem

In his lecture titled "Nigeria at 50: the crisis of nationhood", the former anti-graft czar used the example of Tanzania and Somalia, to disparage suggestions that religion and ethnicity are the bane of Nigeria's progress. "Tanzania in terms of its ethnic diversity has about 175 ethnic groups and its religious pluralism is a good balance between Christians and Muslims. Not to idealize the country, and in spite of the usual strains and pains of nation building, is it not surprising to us that it remains the most stable and peaceful land in that region?" he asked.

"Think, on the other hand, of Somalia, with its homogeneity in ethnic and religious experience, one people, one religion, one language. What has become of it? Somalia is today the poster child of the very example of a veritable failed and rogue state." Quoting Christopher Kolade, former Nigerian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr Ribadu said "I have read in the papers that the country might be celebrating its 50 years of independence this year and that we might be spending N10 billion on that. For those of us that are more than 50 years, if we think about what we had in place 50years ago, then we shall be celebrating 50 years of decline."

Youth power is the agenda

Mr. Ribadu who appealed to the country's large youth population to drive national development, said public officials illegally transferred about $10 billion from the country to different foreign bank accounts around the world in 2005.

"Within two to three days after the federal government shared allocation, there is always an outflow of money from the country. But in 2006 when we started working with foreign law enforcement agencies and foreign bank accounts were no more safe, about $15 billion came into Nigeria. That was the money that fuelled the banking and the stock market" he said.

"We did it then, even though they were not happy about our service to the country. We need to do it again for national development." He argued that any argument that Nigeria lacks credible human resource is not rational considering the fact that the country has produced the likes of Mr Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and a host of others, and appealed to the victims of his anti-corruption campaign to turn around and join in the quest to rebuild the country.

He declared, "There is nothing personal. We are all citizens of Nigeria. We can make mistakes due to the fault of the system. But the good thing is that we can also make amends of what we have done wrong. Let us come together and fix our country including those who made mistakes." He disparaged money politics and enjoined Nigerians to shun it because "the work to remake Nigerian federalism and its democracy for the benefit of the majority of our people is not in air-conditioned offices, not in the long stretched limousines, the private jets, or the pent houses on foreign beaches that house the property acquired with resources appropriated by a few of us from our common wealth."

He said that, "It is the boundless energy of our people and the indomitable spirit of our youth. Let us say it bold and clear here today that young Nigerians must take the responsibility and accountability for leadership of this great nation from now on."

The lecture was witnessed by Babatunde Fashola, the Lagos State governor, Segun Olusola, former ambassador, and Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State gubernatorial candidate for the AC, among others.

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Fresh facts have emerged as to the reason the North, especially the establishment, appears afraid of President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency, come 2011 Daily Sun learnt that apart from the fears that former President Olusegun Obasanjo may be returning to power through the “back door,” with a Jonathan’s presidency, the President, if allowed to run in 2011, may as well present himself for election again in 2015.

Asked how that was possible, one of the sources, revealed that “the man (Jonathan) knows what he is doing, once he gets the mandate in 2011, his men would begin the legal fireworks, by exploiting our Constitution to show to Nigerians that he (Jonathan) was never elected in 2007, neither was he elected in 2010, he merely completed someone’s tenure.

“And the section of the constitution that would have debarred him from contesting is very clear; it says ‘you cannot contest again if you have been elected twice, previously.’ It did not say if you have been sworn in twice. So invariably, the President will be presenting himself for an election for the first time in 2011. This is our fear.”

Reminded that a President from the North could as well do the same, especially considering the fact that such a person was never part of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s presidency like Jonathan, the source claimed, those of them in the North are honourable, and as such, would not attempt that.
The source, who is working for one of the presidential hopefuls from the North, said: “You see, those of us supporting you people in the Press refer to as ‘tired legs,’ know what we are doing. We are presenting tired legs to ensure that they will not be in a position to truncate the gentleman’s agreement of leaving the stage by 2015 for the South.

“What we had wanted to do with Jonathan was to enter into an agreement with him, to allow the North have its turn in 2011, so that we can in turn support him in 2015. But he appears to be listening to those, who profit from crises.”
Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the foot soldiers, working behind the scenes in the North for Jonathan’s 2011 ambition, may have secured the support of 13 out of the 19 Northern governors.

One of the governors from the North-East is the arrowhead of the governors opposed to Jonathan’s 2011 ambition.
The governors had at their last meeting in Kaduna, urged its members to go back to their states, to deliberate further on the issue of zoning, and report on the outcome at its next meeting scheduled for tomorrow where the governors are expected to take a common position on zoning, and make same known.
But so far, since after the last meeting, held on July 1, 2010, only Benue State has made its position known. The state is for Jonathan. The decision was reached after a stakeholders’ meeting, convened by Governor Gabriel Suswam, in accordance with the decision reached by the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), at its last meeting.

Although, a few other states have carried out similar exercise, they are yet to make their decisions known.
However, a Presidency source confirmed to Daily Sun that so far, 13 governors are for Jonathan, even as he confirmed the opposition put up by the governor from the North-East axis of the region.
But when Daily Sun contacted the aide of one of the governors, the presidency source claimed, was on its side, the aide who pleaded not to be named said “well, I do not know about what you are talking about. My boss’ position on this matter is very clear. Whatever the party decides is what he will abide by. He is a party man, and will be ready to abide by party’s position.
“What he is averse to is this street talk about zoning by persons who are not even members of the PDP. The decision cannot be taken by these people, but by the party. These are all I can tell you.”

Meanwhile, the president of the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, alleged that having lost out of the zoning formula, northern politicians were collaborating with some of their southern counterparts to heat up the polity.
According to him, the power shift that was conceived in 1998, which saw Obasanjo emerging as President in 1999, was not done out of sheer patriotism, but to champion the socio-economic and political expediencies of those who muted the idea.
He noted that the youths remained unruffled as far as the zoning politics is concerned, adding that “it is a colossal national waste and elitist venture that its authors have been forced to play down. Having failed to convince Nigerians on the merit of zoning, new tactics have been adopted by the proponents of zoning, using the so- called dialogue by eminent Nigerians and statesmen.

“The defeated forces of zoning in Northern Nigeria have now adopted a strategy of dividing and confusing Nigerians through a consultative and seminal work on the merits of zoning with the over-all aim of heating up the polity.
“Like Peter and Paul, elite of the Southern Nigeria are also busy mobilizing against the retention of the defeated zoning concept in their own wisdom, this is the best strategy to consolidate their economic interest, walking on progressive path, but we know their support of doing away with zoning is conditional.
“By our analyses, what compounds the whole polity is the uncertainty of those aspiring to lead our great country. They are exploring options on whether to run on sentiments be it regional, ethnic, religious, party, hinge on elitists manipulations, while others want the basis of competency and outreach, others want to combine both walking in the middle of evil and holiness.

“Nigerian voters should do away with any aspirant whose candidacy is elite-centred and surrounded by elite who have been at the vanguard of Nigeria’s failure of development and retrogressive.
“They should know that the Presidency is no longer for sale or an exclusive belonging or inheritance of the same elite. It is for all Nigerians, irrespective of our differences of our circumstances. What matters is the intelligence and industrious one can offer the nation for common good which has been blocked for mediocrity and soothsayers cum praise singers.

“Nigerians should not heed any call for debating zoning or rotation, majority of Nigerians have spoken through public opinion against zoning and needed no repetition of a debate that had been defeated by a superior argument with empirical evidences.
“All we want from both the federal and state governments is to deliver, our people in deliberate abject poverty should be rescued, our industries should be robust and resuscitated, the health sector should be made to life saving centers and not mortuary centers, our schools should be made to be viable and farmers be empowered with farming mechanism and many more not the lies dominating our media space by policy statements. Action is what we want no more talk shows and tea drinking festivals.

“Nigerians should be critical in deciphering various positions, of being against zoning, Nigerians view of doing away with zoning or rotation is purely national interest and far different from those supporting candidacy of aspiring leaders i.e. if you are against zoning and the most competent candidate to your assessment is from your region/party etc, go ahead and vote him or her.”

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/july/21/national-21-07-2010-001.htm