₦airaland Forum

The Senate will resume today after two weeks of holiday, during which it lost two of its members, Senate spokesman, Ayogu Eze, said.

Mr. Eze said the senators were devastated by the deaths of their colleagues, which happened less than 72 hours after the Senate embarked on recess. He said that today’s session will be dedicated to their dead colleagues.

Tawar Umbi Wada and Kawu Peto Dukku, both senators from Gombe State, died in quick succession after brief illnesses. Sen. Tawar died on 1 April, 2010, while Sen. Dukku died 3 April, 2010.

Adjournment

After this valedictory plenary, the Senate will adjourn to Tuesday next week before proper legislative works starts.

Outstanding Probe Reports Beyond the recess tragedy, the Senate is expected to consider some of the outstanding probe reports in its records before it embarks on another vacation later in May.

These include the transport probe whose report indicted Tony Anenih - a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief - and Adeseye Ogunlewe, Obafemi Anibaba, and Cornelius Adebayo who also headed the transport ministry within the period which the Senate is investigating.

The committee was headed by Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP, Bayelsa State) and the report was submitted in October last year. It was first slated for discussion on 17 November last year, the same day the 2010 budget was to be presented jointly to the National Assembly by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Since then, it has been left pushed aside for other issues.

Other reports awaiting consideration include the Halliburton bribery scandal case, which the investigating committees abandoned because the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aaondoaka, did not give them enough information.

There are also scores of outstanding reports on some crucial bills such as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Evidence Act amendment bills.

However, Mr. Eze, the Senate spokesman, said there might not be enough time to consider all the cases, given that the Senate will embark on a longer vacation in May. The break signifies the end of the Senate’s third year and the beginning of its final year in office.

The Senate may also begin the “process of taking referendum on the constitution review from the Houses of Assembly, that is if the House of Representatives finish their part of the review,” Mr. Eze said.

‘No division in the Senate’

Ahead of the growing speculation that a group of senators are nurturing plans to impeach ailing President Yar’Adua, the spokesman declared that the Senate is still undivided on presidential matters. He said both the Senate and the National Assembly created the doctrine of necessity, which empowered the acting president to take on the full powers of the presidential office as one body.

“The Senate, under the mature leadership of the Senate President, David Mark, is solidly behind the acting president and the new political dispensation which the Senate spearheaded along with other stakeholders,” he said. “The doctrine of necessity is the brainchild of the Senate, (and) clearly and unambiguously led by the Senate leadership, which indeed came up with the ingenuous explanation of substituted transmission of notice of leave, anchored on the tenets of that doctrine.”

He asked Nigerians to ignore counter media reports. “In the Senate, we are focusing on refining the legal framework for enthroning a credible electoral process which Nigerians are yearning for at the moment,” he said.

“This is why we passed the amendment of the constitution and the electoral act with much dispatch, It is in the same spirit that the Senate and the House of Representatives not only speedily passed the 2010 appropriation law but went ahead to pass a harmonised version. The same reasons informed the accelerated screening of ministers by the Senate.”

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5554417-146/first_senate_session_mourns_loss_of.csp

Yesterday, several hundreds of young Nigerians, including musicians, professionals, and students, engaged in a peaceful rally in the shimmering sun for about three hours to the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa.

Amongst the many protesters, led by president of the Campaign for Democracy, Joe Okei-Odumakin, were popular singers like Banky W, Eldee, Sound Sultan, Roof Top MCs, actor Rita Dominic and comedian Ali Baba. The rally was organised by a group called Enoughisenough Coalition, who had organised a similar rally in Abuja on March 16. According to a statement, the group is a collection of smaller bodies “spread across the country that have worked with communities and in the grassroots for the past 10 years.”

The group’s demand include electoral reform, an end to corruption, an overhaul of the nation’s security structure and electricity, to which the group said “6, 000 megawatts will not solve the electricity problems of Nigeria but it’s a good start.”

The march

Some of the messages on the placards carried at the protest include “Jos on our minds,” “Light up Nigeria”, “Protect your vote,” “Jonathan We are Watching,”. There was loud music from a hired public address system, with the song, “She na like this we go dey dey?”, by Wande Cole, as one of the crowd’s favourites.

The match, which began at the Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Church Open Field, went through Obafemi Awolowo Road, and terminated at the gate of the Governor’s Office.

The Lagos heat did not deter the marchers, who turned to the many vendors selling fluids to quench their thirst. The crowd, which had most wearing white t-shirts with inscriptions, attracted many on-lookers, some of whom supported their cause.

“I was not informed of this particular rally but I like things like this,” said an onlooker, Tuoyo Tsekiju, a marketer. “Change will always come and I like the way the youth are going about seeking for change. The time has come for a change in Nigeria.”

“We are all clamouring for good governance and from the look of things these people are all youth. It shows that Nigerian youth are now ready to pick up the challenge of leadership,” an auditor, Idris Adelabu. “If I had known (of the rally) in time, I would have participated.”

Different capitals, same outcome

A considerable contingent of police officers was on hand to ease traffic issues and quail any potential disturbance. This is a reversal of what transpired a month ago when gun-carrying police officers barred a similar group of youth at the main gate of the National Assembly in Abuja and prevented them from seeing the leadership of the Assembly.

In yesterday’s case, while the police officers were helpful, again the protesters had to go away angry when all attempts to get the governor the executive arm of the Lagos State government to receive their letter of protest failed.

Sources said the governor was in the Acting President’s entourage to high-powered meetings in Washington DC, USA. However, the governor did not designate a representative - even though the protesters showed a letter received and signed by his Chief of Staff as proof of ample notice.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Yomi Ikuforiji, after making contact with the organisers, tried to come out to address the crowd, but by then they had lost their patience and the organisers declared the rally closed.

One of the organisers of the rally, Chude Jideonwo, cleared the air about the group’s objective.

“This organisation is not affiliated to any party or any person, (and) has no interest in endorsing any party or any person. We just want young people to go and exercise (their right to) vote. Just make sure that your votes are counted, the elections are free and fair; don’t leave polling booths until the process is ended and we protect our votes, with our lives if necessary,” he said.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5554258-147/story.csp

Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, might serve as the South-West campaign manager for the 2011 presidential bid of former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, NEXT investigations have revealed.

Mr. Babangida’s government annulled the 1993 presidential election won by Moshood Abiola, a development which landed the politician in detention and subsequently led to his death in controversial circumstances.

However, 17 years after the political crisis which followed the annulment, Mr. Babangida made his first public appearance in Abeokuta, hometown of the late Abiola, during Gbenga Daniel’s 54th birthday celebration. Mr. Babangida was the chairman of the occasion. The governor called on Nigerians to forgive Mr. Babangida over his role in the political crisis, which lasted for years, adding that this became necessary, “even if there was any error from him.”

Barely a few days after his Abeokuta appearance, Babangida told journalists in Benin City that he was going to contest the next presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

NEXT investigations in Ogun State revealed that Mr. Daniel’s romance with Mr. Babangida was in line with the governor’s bid to canvass for votes for the controversial former military ruler, with one of our sources saying an agreement had already been reached to offer the post of campaign manager to Mr. Daniel.

Embattled at home

This, it was learnt, was another political strategy of the embattled governor to remain politically relevant after leaving office next year, especially following his unresolved political battles with some leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at the state level. His opponents appeared to have had their hands strengthened by the emergence of Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, and are gradually taking over the party structure in the state.

Some of Mr. Daniel aides, who do not want their names in print, confided that there was nothing wrong for their boss to venture into the project, as much as he is convinced about the chances of Mr. Babangida at the polls.

“There is nothing wrong for Daniel to carry Babangida’s project as his own,” one of them said. “No politician wants to go into extinction. Who knows whether Babangida may consider him for a bigger job if things work out in his favour? My brother, we have to move forward. The issue of annulment and June 12 is a forgone issue.”

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5554190-147/daniel_to_serve_as_babangidas_south-west.csp

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday declared the former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori wanted.

The commission said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi that Mr. Ibori has been implicated in an on-going investigation into allegations of official corruption and money laundering.

“Following persistent public enquiries over the status of the case involving the former governor, we will like the public to know that James Ibori is wanted by the Commission for interrogation,” said Mr. Babafemi. “In this regard, letters of invitation have been sent to his known addresses in Lagos and Abuja while a court warrant has equally been obtained for his arrest.”

Mr Ibori has denied receiving any such letter from the anti-corruption agency. The former governor said in a statement signed by his media aide, Tony Eluemenor, that the claim that letters of invitation have been sent to his addresses in Lagos and Abuja “is a wicked lie as no such letter was ever received.” He said, “It is neither fair nor decent to criminalize our client on the pages of newspapers without any formal invitation to clear his name, which the courts have already done for him.” He went on to quote part of a petition sent to the Attorney General by Mr Ibori’s lawyer: “Take notice therefore that if there is any attempt to interfere with our client’s liberty merely because you control the coercive forces, we shall have no option but to have recourse to judicial redress before the courts which is the last hope for the defenceless man such as our client.”

New investigation

Newspaper reports show that Mr. Ibori had gone into hiding shortly after NEXT exclusively reported that a new round of investigations into his activities had been launched by the EFCC.

The latest petition against him was signed by 10 leading citizens of Delta State headed by a former minister of information, Edwin Clark. It included a demand that the former governor be probed over the alleged illegal disposal of 528 million shares of Delta State in Oceanic Bank.

The EFCC had responded by launching investigations into the allegations. A source at the commission said Mr. Ibori allegedly sold off the state’s assets to fund private investments while he was still in office.

“The search has to do with the ₦44 billion loan which he took from Intercontinental Bank. He used Delta State shares in Oceanic Bank as security for the loan. He later asked the bank to sell off the shares, over 500 million units, to repay the loan,” the source said.

Mr. Ibori’s alleged disappearance had since stalled EFCC’s investigations. Besides, Solomon Yorr, an EFCC officer in charge of Mr. Ibori’s investigation, was shot during an attack by gunmen at his residence in Keffi, Nassarawa State, last week.

Ibori’s defence

Mr Ibori, according to his media aide, asked his supporters not to panic because by yesterday, no letter inviting him for questioning from either the EFCC or any other security agency, has been received in any of his houses in Abuja or Lagos.

“EFCC knows this to be the truth that is why it did not mention the dates of those alleged invitations - because no such letters of invitation were ever sent to him,” Mr Eluemenor said.

“Ibori maintains that EFCC’s action is just political and not criminal, and it shows that the arm-twisting that defaced the final years of the last administration has been allowed back into Nigeria as the country enters an election year. Ibori’s lawyer made this clear in the petition to both the Attorney-General and the EFCC that this matter had been thoroughly investigated in the past and the case rested.”

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5554434-146/ibori_wanted____.csp

AMANPOUR:

Thank you very much, indeed, for joining us on this program.

JONATHAN:

Thank you for finding time to discuss with me.

AMANPOUR:

Can I ask you first what an extraordinary name. How did “Goodluck” come to be your name?

JONATHAN:

I don’t know. I have to ask my father.

AMANPOUR:

Have you had good luck? And do you think you’ll need more than good luck to face down the incredible array of challenges that’s on your plate?

JONATHAN:

Well, the issue of good luck, I don’t really believe that the good luck an issue. But at the present, I’ve been facing a lot of challenges. What some people will attribute to good luck could have been disastrous under some circumstances.

AMANPOUR:

Well, let me ask you this. You are now acting president, because the president, Mr. Yar’Adua, is unwell.

JONATHAN:

Yes.

AMANPOUR:

Have you seen him since he has come back from his medical absence in Saudi Arabia?

JONATHAN:

No, I have not seen him.

AMANPOUR:

Why not?

JONATHAN:

The thinking of the family is that they should isolate him from most of the key actors in government. I have not seen him. The Senate president has not seen him , and at every single government function, I have not seen him.

AMANPOUR:

Doesn’t that cause anxiety amongst the people?

JONATHAN:

Yes, it does. It does. Obviously, it does, but we cannot influence his family’s thinking.

AMANPOUR:

Would you prefer that the family allowed you to visit him?

JONATHAN:

Yes, of course. But I will not want to force.

AMANPOUR:

What is his actual state of health? This also is a mystery.

JONATHAN:

I can’t say exactly. Only the medical doctors can.

AMANPOUR:

Have they told you?

JONATHAN:

No, they haven’t.

AMANPOUR:

Have they made any public statements?

JONATHAN:

Not quite. Not now. At the beginning, yes, but (Someone’s name - unclear) left for Saudi Arabia, I think in the second week or so, within the first week, we are told that acute pericarditis. After that, no other statement has been issued.

AMANPOUR:

So if he can receive religious leaders, why can he not receive at least the acting president who’s acting in his name?

JONATHAN:

Well, religious leaders are there for (inaudible) blessings. Probably that is why they asked the religious leaders to go and pray for him. We are a very, very religious society.

AMANPOUR:

Do you believe that those around him are trying to undermine you or your new cabinet?

JONATHAN:

I wouldn’t say they are trying to undermine me, because the laws of the land are very clear. And, of course, that is why in the first place constitution is designed for two people to be in charge of government at every time, one superior and one inferior.

AMANPOUR:

Do you think he will ever come back to government?

JONATHAN:

I can’t say that. It’s difficult for any of us as mortals to say so.

AMANPOUR:

So you are now acting president, and you have essentially a year, because elections will be held this time 2011.

JONATHAN:

Yes.

AMANPOUR:

What is your most pressing issue?

JONATHAN:

The most pressing issue for Nigerian now, in terms of basic infrastructure, is power.

AMANPOUR:

You mean electricity?

JONATHAN:

Electricity. Outside that, what is central to the minds of Nigerians now is an election that their votes will count, free and fair elections because we’ve been accused of as a country that our elections somehow are questioned. And I promise Nigerians that they will surely get that and I’ve done some experiments.

The next thing that Nigerians worry about is issues of corruption. You know we’ve been accused of as people who are in a privileged position in government amassing wealth at the expense of society. So they expect us to take these two issues seriously.

AMANPOUR:

So what can you do to take those issues seriously?

Obviously, the issue of good governance, of free elections, free of corruption is central, and you heard the United States has also said just now that you must remove the head of the election commission, Maurice Iwu. Will you do that?

JONATHAN:

You see, the issue of the - the electoral body - in fact, I even told the audience I addressed this morning, the issue is whether the present electoral body can conduct free and fair election or not. And I told them that, yes, they can, because I have done it with the same people.

On issue of the people at INEC, I told them that, look, between now and ending of June, most of the officials at the national level - they’re called commissioners - their tenure will end, and we’re going to review them on individual merit.

Within this period that I have been acting president, I have conducted three elections. They are conducted by INEC and it was free and fair. Only on Saturday, we conducted local council elections in the federal capital territory and all the information is that, apart from one or two that had some few discrepancies, they have been very peaceful, very credible, So that is the issue. So the issue is beyond one person.

AMANPOUR:

But let me just ask you,

JONATHAN:

I’m not defending the chairman.

AMANPOUR:

Do you think he will stay or will he be removed?

JONATHAN:

All of them we’ll review. And any one of them that we feel is not competent definitely,

AMANPOUR:

Do you feel that Mr. Iwu is competent?

JONATHAN:

(Laughs) No, no, no, no. I know that this question continues to come up.

What I’ve said is, the issue is beyond Mr. Iwu.

AMANPOUR:

I know. But I’m specifically talking about him, because it’s come up in your meetings with U.S. officials.

JONATHAN:

Yes, I agree that within the period that is (inaudible) there are quite a number of controversies. I agree. There are quite a number of concerns. There are quite a number of controversies. So I know what I’m telling you; that this very Iwu, I’m not trying to argue for him. The Iwu we are talking about has conducted free elections these past three elections that I’ve made reference to that are credible.

So the issue is beyond Iwu because we must set up an electoral system and our regulations and laws that will make sure that anybody who is appointed to that office should be able to conduct acceptable elections. And that is my focus.

AMANPOUR:

OK. Will you run in 2011? Will you present yourself as a presidential candidate?

JONATHAN:

For now, I don’t want to think about it, because the circumstances that - the circumstances of the day are quite worrisome.

I came in as the vice president to run with President Yar’Adua, of course, getting close to period of election, he took ill. And I have to take over under somewhat controversial circumstances. Only last week, I reconsidered the cabinet. So let us see how Nigeria will move forward first. I had a similar experience when I was governor of my state.

I said, nobody should ask me whether I will contest election or not. I must first of all see whether the state is moving. If the country is not moving, what what will I tell Nigerians I want to contest?

The full interview will air on ‘Amanpour’ at 2000 BST on Wednesday 14th April www.cnn.com/amanpour

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5554356-146/i_wont_force_myself_to_meet.csp

With the refreshing assurance from the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be re-organized with credible people to make for future free and fair election in Nigeria, the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress has insisted that only people with proven good character and principle should be appointed into the new INEC to make it credible and for it to reclaim the battered confidence of the Nigerian people. The party therefore urges the Acting President to ensure that the new INEC chairman and commissioners are people who can withstand the pressure to work for the party in power but work for the people of Nigeria to have credible leaders that can drive their growth.

In a release in Lagos, signed by the party’s Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, Lagos AC says that what is needed to reclaim the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral system is a team of patriotic and credible Nigerians who are equipped to withstand the undue pressure of desperate politicians to ensure that the people’s votes must count. It said that with such a system, politicians would be discouraged from seeking corrupt short cuts and getting such ratified by conscious less INEC officials as Nigeria’s stormy recent electoral history shows.

“While we do not agree with the Acting President’s insistence that the present INEC can organize credible elections, we feel happy that he did not latch on to such obvious deliberate misreading of what stands as perhaps one of the most corrupt electoral bodies in world history to renew the tenure of the present INEC head and his henchmen. We however believe that given a credible system, it is not for Jonathan to give a verdict on the capacity of the present discredited and charred INEC leadership as he remains one of the greatest beneficiaries of the many odious perfidies of the present INEC leadership.

“Given the present posture of Nigerians towards the electoral system, we believe that the Acting President understands that only a free and fair electoral process will satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians for credible leadership selection process. He also must understand the need to ensure that only people with proven character traits should man INEC now and these should be apolitical umpires who would be trusted to deliver a self-auditing system of leadership selection. We therefore demand that only people of credible social worth and character should be appointed either as INEC chairman or commissioners to oversee the conduct of the 2011 general election and future elections.

“Lagos AC therefore charges politicians to go to the grassroots and work for the people’s votes instead of hoping to get results written for them to access political offices. It advises those in positions of power, who have reneged on working for the interests of the people but were hoping to once again, take advantage of the rotten electoral system that has endured so far, to arrest their dreams because a credible electoral system will not allow such. It urges politicians who depend on electoral fraud to think twice as the envisaged electoral system, after Iwu’s departure will not permit such larceny.

“Lagos AC however, calls on Goodluck Jonathan to expedite action on ensuring that the reports of the Uwais Electoral Reform Panel are wholly adopted to assist a credible INEC leadership to deliver a very credible process in 2011. It insists that comprehensive electoral reforms should be carried out to ensure that the votes of the Nigerian people count in 2011. It insists that for such process to be effective, every stakeholder must be involved. It however sees the removal of Iwu as a right start towards ensuring a credible election holds in 2011. It says that such process could only be brought to fruition with the adoption of the Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform panel and the appointment of credible Nigerians to see to its implementation.”

Joe Igbokwe.
Publicity Secretary,
Lagos AC.
Link:
http://www.saharareporters.com/letters/press-releases/5797-lagos-ac-hails-jonathan-on-iwu-charges-on-2011-election.html

Hundreds of Nigerian youths rallied in the commercial capital Lagos on Tuesday demanding Acting President Goodluck Jonathan implement much needed electoral reforms to ensure credible national polls next year.





Political demonstrations have become more common in Africa's most populous country since the departure of ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua from the public eye five months ago.

Jonathan has taken over executive powers and has tried to quickly assert his authority in the absence of Yar'Adua, who remains too sick to govern.

But concerns linger of a possible power struggle between Jonathan and key Yar'Adua allies, especially if the president begins to recover from his heart ailment.

The political uncertainty in sub-Saharan Africa's second biggest economy has stalled key reforms, slowed state business, and threatened a popular amnesty programme that has brought relative peace to the oil-producing Niger Delta.

"We are saying enough is enough. Nigeria is not going forward," said Shade Ladipo, a 28-year-old event planner.

The protesters, some carrying placards saying "Jonathan We are Watching", and "We want to talk for ourselves", marched to the office of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, giving him a list of demands to forward to Jonathan and other political leaders.

"We want electoral reforms. We want our votes to count," said Christopher Ehindero, a film maker in Lagos. "I'm 34 and I have never voted in my life."

Jonathan has made overhauling Nigeria's electoral system a top priority to avoid a repeat of the flawed 2007 polls, which brought Yar'Adua to power.

Reform legislation is currently before parliament. But time is quickly running out for changes to be implemented in time for next year's elections, which are due by April 2011.

The United States, by far Nigeria's biggest trading partner, said the West African country's election chief should be replaced if it wants to hold credible national polls.

The 2007 elections were so marred by ballot-stuffing and voter intimidation that local and international observers said they were not credible.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5554300-146/nigerians_demand_reforms_fair_elections_.csp

Prominent religious leaders are among the Nigerians who will today, under the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) march in Lagos to demand that President Umaru Yar’Adua yield power and allow his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, to assume constitutional succession to the presidency,

In an interview with NEXT on Tuesday ahead of the march, Abdurahman Ahmad, the Chief Missionary officer of the Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria said, “This is a matter that concerns everyone in the country and unless action is taken the consequences will not discriminate between who is a believer and who is a non-believer. It doesn’t matter who is a Muslim and who is not a Muslim; who is an activist and who is a passivist.”

Mr. Ahmad, who is also the head of the civil society group, Movement Against Corruption (MAC) in Nigeria, warned that “unless we join efforts to ensure that the wrongs are set right, then we are all going to be affected if anything goes wrong.”

Islam encourages constructive protest

He said Islam encourages constructive protest, because, “our religion is not against peaceful protest. In fact, Islam encourages that, rather than resort to violence or destruction” insisting that “you should make your opinion known in the best of manners. We believe that the best avenue available is to stage a peaceful protest, civilised, and get our views across to those who are in authority.”

Mr. Ahmad also spoke of his expectations from the planned protest, saying “Protests are designed to show discontent for what is happening and to put those who are concerned on notice and enable them to be able to make amends.

“We are in a situation in Nigeria today which if we learn from history; there have been situations like this in the past that has invited the military back to power. This is another opportunity for the military to seize power but they must be prevented at all cost.”

Framing the current national dilemma in the form of a poser, Mr. Ahmad who called on Nigerians to participate in the rally, asked: “which will Nigerians prefer, would Nigerians prefer a peaceful protest that will put pressure on our ‘elected representatives’ to act and save the ship of state from hitting a quick sand; or another military interregnum?”

‘We want to end power vacuum in Nigeria’

Yinka Odumakin, one of the organisers of the protest march also explained the rationale for the protest. “We want to end the power vacuum in Nigeria. We cannot continue this way to have a country without a head. Look at what’s happening in Jos, people are being killed everywhere; there is no Commander-in-Chief to take charge of the situation. We want to say that a cabal cannot continue to hold us to ransom and that there is a constitution in Nigeria, even as bad as it is, they must obey our own constitution.”

Mr, Odumakin who is of the Afenifere Renewal Group, condemned the actions of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party saying, “those who are not ready to even hand over to a member of their own party, how will they allow the opposition to take over if they win elections in the next election.” He explained that the SNG is convinced of the reason for the march.

“When we had the last one in Abuja, that was the time they had to get their president ‘to speak’ on BBC. If what we are doing does not matter they would not have done that. That the National Assembly had to table the issue for discussion that day is not by accident, so we have to keep on the pressure. And like a philosopher once said, if we fight we can win, if we don’t we have lost,” he stated.

The march will be the second time the SNG will be mobilising Nigerians for a protest in two weeks. The first one was held on Tuesday January 12 and over 2,000 Nigerians participated in it. Notable Nigerians such as Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, Femi Falana, the President of the West African Bar Association and Tunde Bakare, the Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly church, took part in the Abuja march.

Today’s march is scheduled to take off at the open field beside Archbishop Vining Memorial Anglican Church, Ikeja, Lagos and will terminate at the Lagos State governor’s office where the protesters will deliver a petition to Governor Babatunde Fashola for transmission to the Governors Forum.

The SNG is demanding that Mr. Yar’Adua abide by section 145 of the constitution by officially transferring power to his Mr. Jonathan; or that the National Assembly enable the vice president to function as the acting president.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5514827-146/story.csp

ojimbo IV:
@wales

this is really old stuff na.

just got to see the news now.

Obasanjo Blows Hot In London!
•Angered by question on graft

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday in London, flared up during an interview session with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The interview session on Hard-talk, saw Obasanjo losing his cool when he was asked questions on corruption under his administration as President.

Feeling embarrassed with questions about his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello's involvement in an alleged corrupt act, Obasanjo said he did not like the reference to his family, adding that the senator was old enough to speak for herself: "You have made serious allegations against me and my family, substantiate them," he said.

Part of the encounter is reproduced below:

BBC: One senior official inside your Federal Government has been convicted of corruption?

I don't agree with you, you don't have your facts. My government, three ministers were charged to court. In fact one died in the process. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), was charged and convicted, the President of the Senate in my own party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was charged to court; a Minister of Education charged to court, so what do you want.

BBC: Your own daughter…

What happened to my eldest daughter?

BBC: She is still being investigated by the anti-corruption watchdog.

So what?

Do you feel for her?

Why should I? She is old enough. She is a woman of 42 years. Will you accept responsibility for your son at the age of 21 for what ever reason? Now don't ask me that type of question. I find it very insulting with all due respect. Can you ask that type of question to an European leader? That is an allegation and anything can be alleged. You can be alleged to be a lair."

On President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's alleged comments that corruption was pervasive under the erstwhile administration, Obasanjo said he did his best to fight corruption during his time.

Assessing the performance of Yar'Adua so far, Obasanjo quipped: "I don't want to comment on him. It is too soon". He however stressed that Yar'Adua is a good man. "From what I know of him till now, he is a good person," pointing out however that "that does not make you a successful and good president. You need much more than that."

Reminded of ongoing trial of US oil firm, Halliburton for corrupt practices and bribery, Obasanjo asked his interviewer: "Did they say they bribed me?"

Informed that a Halliburton agent, Tesler, had named him among three Nigerian leaders whose palms where allegedly greased by the oil firm, Obasanjo said: "Tesler will never say that." He however said though he will not take responsibility for corrupt acts of those who worked with him, he was ready to answer to charges of corruption once the evidence was produced.

Speaking earlier on the international arrest warrant on the Sudanese leader, Omar al-Bashir, Obasanjo distanced himself from the International Criminal Court (ICC) saying he is not sure their action is not political.

He agreed to having signed the ICC protocol but clarified that he did so as Nigeria's President believing that the court would be fair and non-political; regretting however that "today, I m not sure how non-political the ICC is."

Link:

http://www.modernghana.com/movie/4324/3/obasanjo-blows-hot-in-london.html

The Abia State University, Uturu has said the school will no longer condone indecent dressings from the students. Mkpa A Mkpa, the Vice Chancellor of the institution said this at the 28th matriculation ceremony of the university. He said his management team would not condone indecent dressings from the students, and warned that those caught would be dealt with in line with the decision already taken by the school's senate.

Some of the modes of dressing that would attract the sanction of the school authorities include faded jeans trousers, which incidentally is the fad among youth, baggy trousers as well tight fitting trousers and blouses.

"Senate has also outlawed all tight-fitting dresses, especially those that reveal private parts of the body such as mini-gowns and skirts, trousers and blouses with unusual slits at very odd angles," Mr. Mkpa said.

"We prohibit male students swaggering in atrocious, faded, baggy jean trousers that hang precariously at the brink of the buttocks, suspended by hands in the pocket and revealing the inner- often not clean boxer pant- all reminiscent of famished condemned Iraqi prisoners of war awaiting possible execution."

He, however, said that befitting blazers, neckties for males and scarfs for women, all in University primary colours have been approved for the use of the students; adding that while the neckties were already in use, the other ones would be available soon.

Access to education

The Vice Chancellor said that as part of the privileged 5000 admitted from the 50,000 that sought for admission into the university, the new students should avoid things that will lead them to forfeiting their admission.

He also allayed the fears of parents and students that the school's Institute of Arts and Science (IAS) programme was inferior to the federally administered University Matriculation Examination (UME) programme.

He explained that the IAS programme was created "with clearance and permission from the federal government, which spelt out for us guidelines for its establishment." He said the motive was to expand access to tertiary education for the people of the state to enable more students secure university admission.

The university was established in 1981 under the name, Imo State University, Uturu-Okigwe.

However, following the creation of Abia State in 1991 from the old Imo State, the university was ceded to Abia State and is now known as Abia State University, Uturu.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5553650-147/abia_university_prescribes_dress_code_.csp

The December 26, 2009, attempt by Farouk AbdulMutallab to bomb an American airliner has shown that someone who can carry a bomb on a plane in one corner of the world can threaten people across continents and time zones, Secretary of the United States' Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, said yesterday in Abuja.

Ms. Napolitano, who spoke on Monday at the ongoing Regional Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation Security, said the incident should now be used to look critically at the International Civil Aviation Organisation's current global security standards and consider possible enhancements.

At the conference, which had over 30 African ministers of aviation in attendance, Ms. Napolitano said the incident has led to a review of access to aircraft, airports and the screening of passengers. She expressed her hope that after this conference, there will be more high level meetings in the near future to discuss how to improve on other security measures such as information collection and analysis.

According to her, to effectively maintain the initiative in fighting terrorism and crime, all the ministers must partner together to utilize the intellect of their scientific communities and pursue their common cause. She noted that AbdulMutallab's attempt illustrated ingenuity and planning which cannot be detected by old technology.

New measures

The Minister of Aviation, Fidelia Njeze, explained that because the air transportation system is very critical to the development of any economy, there is a need to establish and implement procedures and cooperative actions that can strengthen the capacities to assess and face threats to civil aviation.

The minister stated that in Nigeria's quest to fight terrorism, she has introduced some enhanced security measures at the nation's airports, particularly the four major international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

According to Mrs. Njeze, the security measures include: pat down searches of all aviation passengers - including crew members - secondary screening of all passengers at the boarding gate, use of Advanced Imaging Technology (body scanners), use of Explosives Detection Systems (EDS), and a dedicated check-in bay for all US-bound flights at the international airports in both Lagos and Abuja.

She also disclosed that the Nigerian government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American government on February 18, 2010, for the reciprocal deployment of Air Marshals on aircrafts going to and from the US. In addition, she said that Nigeria has been participating in international outreach programmes on aviation security with the American Transportation Security Administration (ATSA).

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5553864-146/minister_promises_better_airport_security_.csp

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Finance, Silva Charles Opuala, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) two weeks ago, turned himself in to operatives of the commission yesterday.

Mr. Opuala, alongside two other officials of the state, reported to the commission yesterday morning and were detained pending their arraignment in court.

The officials, who were accompanied to the commission's office by a team of lawyers led by the Special Adviser to the state governor on Legal Matters, Dennis Otiotio, arrived at the EFCC investigations department at about 9.50am.

Spokesman of the EFCC, Femi Babafemi, confirmed that the trio were in their custody.

Mr. Opuala was declared wanted for deliberately refusing to honour three invitations sent to him by the anti-graft agency to answer questions concerning the diversion of N2.4 billion, for which charges have also been filed against four other officials.

Minding government business

The EFCC had dispatched three letters to Mr. Opuala in March, but the commissioner chose not to honour the invitation letters and was reported to have gone into hiding.

The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Information, Nathan Egba, denies that Mr. Opuala had gone into hiding.

"We wish to state that he is not running away from the law. He stayed back in Bayelsa based on an agreement between the EFCC and the state government, in order that all government businesses would not ground to a halt," Mr Egba said.

He also added that Mr. Opuala needed to arrange for salaries of civil servants for the month of March and ‘also make necessary arrangements for the smooth flow of government business in his absence' before turning himself in to the EFCC.

The former finance commissioner and three other senior officials of the state are facing a six-count charge of money laundering before a High Court in Abuja.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5553814-147/bayelsa_finance_commissioner_turns_himself_in.csp

Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Supreme Court yesterday clashed, after the court barred NBA President, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Bello Adoke, from making speeches at the swearing-in of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

The drama this time

The incident started when the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Usman Alhaji Musale, told the gathering that only the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Aloysius Katsina-Alu, and the representative of the newly sworn-in SANs, could make speeches.

The NBA president protested immediately, saying that it was not part of the tradition and that the invitation he got showed that he and the minister were to speak at the event. Mr. Akeredolu said if there were any changes in the programme, the court ought to have notified him beforehand. However, Supreme Court Justice Dahiru Mustapha said anybody who was not comfortable with the arrangement should walk out.

The NBA president attempted to leave the venue, but was prevented from doing so by his colleagues. To register his protest, he refused to collect the CJN's speech.

After the swearing-in, Mr. Akeredolu led a delegation to the office of the CJN, whom NEXT learnt apologised to the president, saying that there was a mix-up at the event. Mr. Mustapha also apologised for his utterances.

However, Kayode Ajulo, lawyer and chairman of the Egalitarian Mission Africa, in a terse text message to NEXT, said "what happened today has never happened in the history of the legal profession in Nigeria. It will be unfortunate if speeches should be censored by the very institution that ought to spearhead expansion of the scope of freedom." He called the day, "a black Monday" for the legal profession,

But in a phone conversation with NEXT, Mr. Akeredolu said what happened was the result of an innocent mistake. "It has nothing to do with my own speech as the Attorney General and the body representing the body of the SAN were also denied from giving a speech," he said. "It is an innocent mistake that I hope will not be repeated next time."

He further added that the justices "did not robe to come to the court; they just wanted to roll the event into the new legal year."

Unconfirmed reports have it that Mr. Akeredolu was asked to delete some statements from his speech and the cancellation came when he declined.

The cancelled speech

In the aborted speech made available to NEXT, Mr. Akeredolu said the award of the privileges to wear silk entails a strict adherence to merit in everything. He said that the criteria must be such that practitioners can safely assert that certain applicants merit the award. A situation where it seems that only juniors in the chambers of certain influential people are successful once they apply, calls for serious review, he said.

"It is worth reiterating the fact that any measure put in place to select from among the best, those who come forward for recognition must be transparent," the NBA president's speech read.

In the speech, Mr. Akeredolu mentioned recent calls to scrap the SAN title by parties who are genuinely aggrieved by the current state of things. The NBA president also suggested to the CJN the need for the convocation of a meeting of all stake holders with a view to resolving the issues.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-Alu however said the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) should be retained in spite of criticisms trailing the selection process.

"While it may be true that some of the criticisms of the process of conferment have been sired by the sour grapes, we must admit that the process of the exercise of any power cannot be immune to error." Mr Katsina-Alu said that to improve this, a committee had been set up to review and improve the selection process, adding that there had been two reviews in the last five years.

New SANs

Mr. Musale, the Supreme Court's chief registrar, said the Privileges Committee, the body charged with the responsibility of appointing Senior Advocates of Nigeria and led by Justice Katsina-Alu, met in Abuja about two months ago to consider the applications for 2009.

According to him, a total of 126 people applied for the rank. Of these, 19 were academics while 107 were legal practitioners. The committee accepted 19 applications - in accordance with the guidelines for the conferment of the rank. The accepted applicants were sworn in yesterday.

They include Mike Ozekhome, Nella Andem-Ewa, Joseph A. Nwobika, Offiong Effiong Bassey, Sylvia Shinaba, Dorothy Udeme Ufot, Francis Dike, Chukwuma Uchenna Ekomaru, Arthur Obi Okafor, Etigwa Owa, Jadegoke Adebanjo Badejo, Abiodun Ishola Layonu, Adekunle Babatunde Ogunba, George Oguntade, C. O. Toyin Pinheiro, Olusina R. Sofola, Samuel Mosugu, Andrew I. Chukwuemerie and Fabian Ikenna Ajogwu.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5553870-146/lawyers_clash_with_justices_at_induction.csp

[quote author=Gold-mind link=topic=429653.msg5883090#msg5883090 date=1271161250]Pls is that how the Governor looks, or is that the picture of a blind mad man?[/quote]Yes oooo, he is cool, with money to play around with

sley4life:
Has kanu turned an actor?

After football what next? Actor or Singer

kayality:
@poster, please what do we learn from this now

Information, that the court case is still going on.

There are indications that the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting will not hold tomorrow in the absence of the acting president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. Jonathan's well received visit to the United States for a meeting with US president, Barack Obama and the country's other senior business and political leaders means that there is in principle no one in charge of governance in Nigeria.

The acting president was reported to have briefed the Senate president, David Mark; the National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-Alu about the trip. But the unsettled political leadership situation means there is really no one for him to hand over power to when he travels, as he is still technically also the vice president to a president who has not been seen in close to six months.

Vacuum alert

Incidentally, the two chambers of the National Assembly are also on recess.

Kola Ologbondiyan, special adviser to the Senate President, David Mark, however said he was not aware if his boss was briefed or if he is in charge.

"Let me find out and get back to you," he said.

Later, he responded: "I have not seen him (Mr Mark) because I just came back from a trip. He (Mr. Mark) travelled home and has since returned to Abuja on Saturday. So, he has been in Abuja since Saturday. He is not around now. When he comes, I will ask him."

An aide to Yayale Ahmed, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, also said "I am not aware and I have not been informed that he (Yayale) is in charge. I am a civil servant and so I am not supposed to speak to you on a matter like this. The much I know is what has been reported that the Acting President briefed the Senate President, the Speaker and the National Security Adviser (NSA)." Kayode Odunaro, Special Adviser to the Speaker, Dimeji Bankol,e on Communications, also said, "I only read the report that the Acting President briefed the Senate President, maybe as chairman of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria. None of the report mentioned the Speaker."

But Lagos lawyer Jii Ogunye said the situation shows the deficiencies of the present arrangement.

"What we have on our hands is not an ideal situation yet," he said. "We have an acting president, we don't have a vice president and we don't have a substantive president. So, the presidency right now is manned by one person. Part of the business of government is maintaining cordial relationship with foreign countries, the external affairs of a country. So within that function you can't say that the acting president should not travel for the period of his acting presidency. That he has to be rooted to Aso Rock."

Not an ideal situation

Mr Ogunye said things are likely to continue this way as the gridlock in the presidency is yet to be comprehensively resolved.

"The federal executive council is not certain when they will pass a resolution on the health of the president, it appears everybody is just taking it slow, well that is a Nigerian thing," he said.

Mr. Ogunye said after the vice president, the next in line of command is the Senate President and, legally speaking, the Senate does not have to be in session for the Senate President to act, as far as the order of succession is concerned.

"But it is only when the executive arm of government is thoroughly decimated by incapacity or by war situation or by a disaster like what we had in Poland, for instance, that you can really be talking of the senate president presiding over the affairs of state ," he said.

"That is why we always insist that you don't sidestep a constitution. When a president is ill and incapable, the way to resolve the matter is to declare him unfit to govern so that the country can move on. This is not an ideal situation as I said, but I think this is a situation those in power in Nigeria are ready to move by."

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5553881-146/whos_in_charge_now__.csp

The All Nigeria People Party (ANPP)'s 2007 presidential flag bearer, Muhammadu Buhari, destroyed the party and then dumped it for a new group, Ibrahim Shekarau, the Kano State governor, alleged yesterday in Kano.

Mr. Shekarau, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on media, Sule Yau Sule, accused Mr. Buhari of destroying the party before leaving for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

"With all due respect, Buhari has added value to the cause of ANPP; but it cost us more than what he brought in," Mr. Shekarau said. "ANPP started in 1998. Buhari was not there, so how can he be the backbone of the party as (claimed).

"By 1999, nine Governors were sworn in from ANPP, Buhari was not a member of our party by then. But by 2003, we lost two states while Buhari was in the party. By 2007, we came down to three and a half and Buhari was still in the party. Not even a single councillor from Daura nor Katsina, where Buhari hails from, won election under ANPP."

Mr. Shekarau said he doesn't intend to tarnish the image of Mr. Buhari, but said more prominent politicians would soon come out to narrate what Buhari has done to ANPP.

"More eminent persons are coming forward to give a truer account of General Buhari's sojourn in ANPP," he said.

‘Juicy fabrication'

The state governor, who was reacting to a story "why Shekarau is against Buhari" attributed to the CPC spokesperson, Dennis Aghanya, said he has nothing against Mr. Buhari and wishes him well with his future political endeavours.

"Shekarau has nothing personal or political against Buhari and the general had never personally claimed that Shekarau was against him," he said. "Like the party itself, Shekarau has accepted Buhari's exit from ANPP in good faith and has wished the general luck in his future political outings."

The Kano State governor said that, as far as he is concerned, there is no enmity between himself and Mr. Buhari, adding that any claims to the contrary are just a figment of the imaginations of persons he described as political jobbers.

"The enmity tale is a juicy fabrication of the Buhari organisation (TBO) jobbers angling for political relevance," he said. "Our candid advice to Buhari is to embrace democratic traditions, respect party decisions, think and act less like a Brigade Commander. Politics is a game of collective bargaining where political actors must be ready to subsume their egoistical itches under superior national or party interest."

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5553847-147/buhari_destroyed_anpp_says_shekarau_.csp

The attempted Christmas-day, Detroit-bound plane bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is scheduled to make another appearance in a US courtroom today.



Abdulmutallab, who was arrested after some explosives planted in his under pants failed to detonate aboard a Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, had earlier pleaded not guilty in January to a six count charge of terrorism related offenses.

The 290 people on board narrowly escaped death when a passenger restrained Abdulmutallab from detonating the bomb before he was escorted off the plane by security agencies after a safe landing in Detroit.

Abdulmutallab faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5554169-146/abdulmutallab_returns_to_court.csp

Odunnu:
Whr do u get these your pix frm?so vry funny.I like d 3some most.hahahaha

Just try to look around for fun. will like to go for the SHOWING HER MELONS

More

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You're Doing It Wrong

Tattooboy:
She is my course mate in school and as well my girlfriend. She claims to be a virgin which i assume she is but now she wanna get disflowered by no other than ME. Am scared i dont wanna get a 20 year old lady disflowered. But i dont wanna lose her cause she is my intimate friend. Any advice?

My guy if you are scared i can help you out

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared to the international community that Nigeria would make the necessary changes at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the country's 2011 general elections.

Speaking as a guest at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington DC, which was moderated by Howard Jeter, former United States ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan made it clear that his interest is to conduct a credible election that will satisfy Nigerians and the international community, to a large extent, come 2011.

"Before 2011, there will be a number of changes in INEC. A number of people talk about the chairman, (but) his tenure is going to expire by 13th of June," Mr. Jonathan said. "Basically, I am a bit lucky now because most of the commissioners at the national level have completed their tenure, or will complete their tenure in a couple of months. So we are going to review them individually and the ones we feel that are not good enough to be reappointed, we will not reappoint them.

"We will inject fresh blood and we will make sure that we bring people on board (who), if you mention their names, people in the civil society will be happy that they will conduct free and fair elections."

Poor perception

The acting president lamented that, due to people's perception of INEC, it would be difficult for the present leadership of the electoral body to conduct elections that will generally be acceptable by both Nigerians and the international community.

"People have the perception that the body cannot do what is right, and even when they do what is right, people find it very difficult to believe and that is the story of the Nigerian electoral body, the INEC, because the feeling is that INEC cannot conduct credible elections in Nigeria," he said.

Mr. Jonathan also said that if Nigeria is to continue to play her leadership role in the African continent, "we must be prepared to live above board."

He noted that, with the present electoral laws, the country could conduct a generally acceptable election, but stressed that the perception of compromise has caused doubts about the credibility of election results.

Other issues

During the interactive session, the acting president called on the United States government and other developed countries to assist the African continent in controlling the proliferation of small and light weapons flowing into the continent, regretting that "it looks like Africa is a dumping ground for small and light weapons by the international community."

Reacting to the question on public security and safety in Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan said the government is doing everything possible to adequately equip the police for effective crime control. He however lamented that, at the moment, the police is ill equipped to tackle the huge challenges of crime in the country.

He told the audience that the federal government is working on a joint funding agreement with the three tiers of government and the private sector to provide the needed funds for the police.

While also reassuring the international community of Nigeria's determination to sustain the war on corruption, Mr. Jonathan disclosed that the government has engaged all stakeholders in the post-amnesty programme to ensure that the plan is sustained.

He also reassured the international community of Nigeria's efforts in tackling the problem of power, hinting that Nigeria is exploring alternative sources of power to meet the growing needs of the over 140 million Nigerians. He reiterated that the government will have clear-cut goals and timelines for implementation, saying "you will appreciate when we are moving forward, and if we are not moving forward, you will know.

"We will have definite road maps in the power sector. We want to change the focus, and that is why we are yet to have a minister of power and once we set the stakes, we will bring a minister on board," he said.

Consolidating democracy

On his foreign policy thrust, Mr. Jonathan pledged to consolidate on Nigeria's leadership role in both the sub-regional and at the continental level, especially in its campaign for a sustainable democratic culture, noting that no individuals or groups should constitute themselves into a terrorist organisation to destabilise global peace.

In an earlier speech, he said he was confronted "with the greatest test of my political career. While we continue to pray for the recovery of our president, Umaru Yar'Adua, it is my responsibility to work with Nigerians to improve the pace of development and to do so facing the right direction.

"In this responsibility of consolidating and deepening our democracy, we are committed to ensuring that the remaining period of the administration is not a transitional period, but one which, we hope, would one day be viewed as a watershed; a transformational time in our young democracy."

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5553829-146/i_mean_business_jonathan_assures_the.csp

Opposition parties in Cross River State have threatened to shun the state’s August 28 local government elections, if the state electoral body is not reconstituted to include members of all the parties contesting.

The parties, under the umbrella of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), alleged that the state electoral body, recently constituted by the state governor, Liyel Imoke, was out to do the bidding of the PDP-controlled government as its membership is dominated by stalwarts of the party.

Leaders of the opposition told participants at a meeting convened in Calabar by the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), that Mr. Imoke must dissolve the electoral body to enjoy their support. They particularly called for the sack of the commission’s chairman, Patrick Otu. The opposition were represented by Theophilus Onyuku of Labour Party (LP); Martins Bisong (ANPP); Sunday Michael (CNC); Cletus Ogbang (AC); James Ebri (ARP), and others.

The fear of the opposition is predicated on the 2003 and 2007 council polls, during which the PDP was declared winner of all the 18 chairmanship positions and all councillorship seats.

The opposition claimed that elections won by their members were nullified by the electoral commission and later ‘given’ to PDP, “after so-called by-elections were conducted in those areas. Whereas the opposition’s election victories were all nullified, all the areas won by the PDP were upheld by the CROSIEC,” the CNPP officials said. “We have no confidence in this CROSIEC that is headed by the same man that conducted a flawed election in 2007.”

Mr. Onyuku, who based his argument on integrity and credibility, said: “even Barrack Obama (Untied States President), Peter Obi (Anambra), and Adam Oshiomhole (Edo), who recorded landslide victory against ruling parties, cannot win any local government elections in Cross River State that is conducted by CROSIEC, under the chairmanship of Otu.

“It was surprising that the Cross River State government is apparently saying that, out of a population of about three million people in the state, no other person has the capability to be appointed as CROSIEC chairman.”

The opposition parties said the electoral commission that will conduct the planned council polls should be headed by either a retired Appeal or High Court judge, with a “god-fearing” cleric as member.

They also suggested that they should have at least three representations in the electoral commission, while the ruling PDP should not have more than three members, including the secretary of the CROSIEC.

PDP is ready for polls

Mr. Bisong said information gathered revealed that while campaigns have not even commenced, “PDP has already sent names of its candidates to the CROSIEC to be declared as winners in each of the council wards, and 18 Local Government chairmanship positions in the state.”

His position was supported by Mr. Ogbang of the AC, who said the opposition has concluded plans to take the matter to court, while considering the option of boycotting the elections, if their fears were not addressed by the state government.

“We have the option of boycotting the elections, though we know that as usual, CROSIEC will still allocate some votes to all the opposition parties, just to create impression that there is no strong opposition in the state that can wrest power from PDP,” he said.

He also said there was a need for the National Assembly to expedite action on the review of electoral laws, to stop state governors from conducting council elections.

The state Chairman of PDP, Ekpo Okon, however, said he was convinced that CROSIEC, under the chairmanship of Mr. Otu, “will conduct free and fair elections. Let us meet on the field and stop calling members of CROSIEC names. PDP wants political parties that will be able to challenge us in the field and not in a roundtable discussion,” he said.

Mr. Otu however, assured the politicians of his neutrality. He called on leaders of political parties in the state to stop what he called ‘mutual suspicion,’ assuring that “the 2010 Local Government Council elections in the state will be free and fair.”

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5553214-147/opposition_threatens_boycott_of_council_polls.csp

Nigeria’s leadership is the deadweight slowing down the pace of development in the country said Raymond Dokpesi, the chairman of Daar Communication Plc at a breakfast meeting organised by the School of Media and Communication, Pan-African University.

He said Nigerians, being naturally passionate about their ambitions have all it takes to be the best in any endeavour, “only if we get rid of these deadwoods in the leadership [position].”

Mr. Dokpesi who spoke on “the pains and gains of establishing a world class media enterprise,” recounted the ordeals he had to contend with in the hands of Nigerian leadership before his African Independent television could attain its current status.

Broadcast commission is ruining private media

Mr. Dokpesi said the policies of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission is not only weird when compared to global best practices but are designed to “kill private media houses before they even start.” For example, the license fee in 1994 was N750,000 but it is now in excess of N100m.

“In the US, two or three networks can collaborate to share a license but not in Nigeria,” he said.

He passionately condemned the means of funding private and government-owned media houses, describing it as a death sentence for private media houses.

As he explained, private media houses are funded through advert subscriptions while public media houses are funded through government’s subventions.

In essence, public media houses should air no advert since they are funded with taxpayers’ money.

“But in Nigeria, NTA receives between fifteen to twenty billion naira annually from the government and still collect adverts,” he said.

Here lies the death sentence: advert rates on public media houses are at rock bottom low forcing their private counterparts to adopt economically nonviable advert rates and “if you try to increase your rate, NBC will say ‘no, you can’t go beyond this price’.

So after a media house has paid the huge license fee and bought equipment, it can only run for about three years before it stars having financial problems,” he said.

Annual return to the NBC is another death blow in the form of policy.

“They said Section 14 [of the NBC act] empowers the commission to collect 2.5 percent of revenue of media houses annually, a levy that no public media house is forced to remit,” he said.

A bereft regulator

Mr. Dokpesi described Nigerian broadcast technology as half a century behind current technologies, even though the country started broadcasting well ahead of many other African countries.

“These people spend their estacodes in hotels when they travel abroad instead of exposing themselves to technological developments in the industry,” he said while narrating how the NBC “arrogantly” turned down his proposal for a pilot digital transmission. They asked if he really thought Nigerians are as freaky about technology as he was.

“Ben Bruce, while at NTA spent more than N60 billion buying analog transmitters - new equipment but obsolete technology. And today, those equipment are useless,” he said.

Support the media houses

Mr. Dokpesi pleaded with Nigerians to support ambitious and credible media houses so they do not die. “What we need is accurate and timely information about ourselves and the opportunities around us. But most Nigerians know next to nothing about their country not to talk of other African countries,” he said.

He also has kind words for Nigerian journalists, describing them as having made tremendous sacrifice towards Nigeria’s development. And there is good news for AIT’s officials as the chairman promised to pay all salary arrears; however, that promise is tied to the payment of AIT’s services, rendered to the federal government during the 2009 U20 World Cup event.

“The money I could have used for salaries had to be drafted to provide an international broadcast control centre for the event because NTA, even after getting N8.6 billion from the government, will not provide it,” he said.

Because of the quality of the broadcast for the event, the event’s Vice Chairman has been appointed as a permanent member of FIFA and AIT will be supporting the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa with some of its equipment.

“Though Nigeria keeps getting the glory, AIT doesn’t and N8.6 billion went down the drain.”

“Ladies and gentlemen,” concluded Mr. Dokpesi who said he will never contest an election in Nigeria, though he will forever be interested in Nigerian politics, “it has been pains all along. I pray that soon the gains will start coming in.”

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5553170-147/get_rid_of_political_deadwoods_dokpesi.csp

Former governor of Ekiti State and governorship candidate of the Labour Party Ayodele Fayose, at the weekend, said the Labour Party would stand firm against any attempt by any party to impose unpopular candidates on the people of the state during the 2011 General elections.

Mr. Fayose, who has had a running battle with the incumbent governor, Segun Oni, said the Labour Party is ready to take over the state through votes from the masses.

“I want to warn against rigging and violence in the next general elections holding in 2011, God will expose any party that is trying to cause trouble during the election,” he said. “I urge you all supporters of Labour Party not to engage in violence or thuggery in order not to bring the party to disgrace. I will not resort to violence despite provocations from some quarters.

“Despite the burning of my water tanker and part of my office, my supporters and I remain untroubled because they are aware that their political enemies want to provoke them into violence in order to bring the party to disrepute.”

Mr. Fayose, who visited the tomb of the late founder of the Christ Apostolic Church, Joseph Ayo Babalola, to pray for success in the 2011 election, said the people of Ekiti are ready for a change.

Law against posters

The former governor, who was well received by supporters of the party, trekked to the church, where he called for prayer for the success of his ambition.

Mr. Fayose, who conducted the prayer session, ensured that all the people who accompanied him to the church, including party members, participated actively in the session.

“There is nothing prayer cannot do, I am very sure that with prayer, LP will take over Ekiti State,” he said.

The former governor’s campaign has pitched him against the PDP controlled state government, mostly over what the government said was the indiscriminate pasting of Labour Party posters.

Some of the party’s supporters were recently arrested for pasting Mr. Fayose’s posters around Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti, a decision which the candidate said was carried out by government to destabilise and witch-hunt him.

Mr. Oni however denied the allegation levelled against by Mr. Fayose.

“There is a law against indiscriminate pasting of posters on public property and anybody caught would be prosecuted for violating the law,” Mr. Oni said.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5553307-147/ex-governor_warns_against_election_rigging_in.csp