₦airaland Forum

Seun:
I can't promote a thread to the home page if there's no link to a regular news source. :-(

This the link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5625-senator-joy-emordi-sacked-by-the-court-of-appeal.html

Sorry house the pic's is taking time to load, but i will load it as soon as i can. Yar'adua life in Saudi Arabia Central Mosque.

I am about to load the pic's and link.

News from BCC as it that Yar'adua was spotted at the Saudi Arabia central Mosque with other family members to give thanks to Allah.

Troops of the Special Task Force (STF) on the Jos Crisis, have averted renewed violence in Bukuru, Jos, Donald Oji, a brigadier general and the leader of the task force said in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, three persons, including the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B' Division, Bukuru, were injured, while four suspects were arrested during the aborted violence.

He stated that the incident, which started about 5.30pm, involved two persons who started fighting after a game of football, and later developed to a situation in which youth started blocking the major roads and attacking passers-by.

Guerrilla attacks

Residents of some of villages have also complained of guerrilla attacks on individuals in their villages, with some children missing and dead bodies being found in hidden places.

Confirming the development, the state commissioner of information, Gregory Yenlong, said, "In the last two weeks, not less than 20 people have been killed in selective killings."

The dead and missing were mostly street hawkers, commuter drivers, and those that work outdoors till , some residents confirmed.

According to Mr. Oji, "While we continue to perform our lawful duties, we also appeal to parents and elders to reciprocate our gesture of restraint by admonishing their youths in this dangerous path of perpetrating violence, which they have resorted to."

The task force said in the statement that it is exercising restraint not to bring the necessary force to bear on the undisciplined.

While urging the general public to go about their normal businesses without any fear, it assured that the STF was well-positioned to protect them. It added that the STF had also on Wednesday, assisted the Fan Community in Barkin Lad Council Area to recover their cows that were rustled in the early hours of that day. The STF said five cows were recovered, while efforts were still on to recover the remaining 25. It said troops responded to a distress call by community leaders and arrested two people in connection with the incident.

The statement also emphasised that the STF was on the alert to restore normalcy in Jos and its environs.

A spokesperson for the Hausa Community, Muhammad Sani Mudi, had told a foreign media organisation that, "We now live in fear, as a result of killings in the city, which makes it difficult for us to move about freely. We have lost 23 members to such secret killings in the past two weeks, while 58 others are still missing."

The police spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in an interview with NEXT earlier in the week, had said that 41 people would be charged for murder, while others arrested will face different charges based on what their interrogation reveals.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5546253-146/troops_avert_another_crisis_in_jos.csp

Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto state has said that one way to wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is for politicians irrespective of party affiliation to join forces under the platform of a so-called mega party.

Mr. Bafarawa said. last weekend in Kano, that there was the need for all the patriotic politicians to forget their personal interest and see to the realisation of this objective.

"We have to come together to form a formidable party to be able to wrestle power from the ruling party or else the people of Nigeria would continue to be subjected to undemocratic leadership the nation is presently witnessing in the hands of PDP," Mr. Bafarawa said.

Finding a solution

He buttressed his point by explaining the move that made himself, the former All Nigeria Peoples Party presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, and politicians from other sections of the country to come together.

He said what they were trying to achieve is to find a solution to the political dominance of the PDP, and they are determined to send the PDP to political dustbin in 2011.

He noted that Nigerians are tired of the ruling party because nothing good has been achieved under PDP. He stressed that Nigerians cannot continue to live like that, and urged Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands.

Rally round

Mr. Bafarawa, appealed to the electorate to rally around a people oriented party, to enable them benefit from democratic governance, he further called on them not to mortgage their conscience because of monetary inducement from politicians in the forthcoming elections.

"Another general election is fast approaching; this time around what matter most to us politicians from the opposition is unity to dislodge the PDP, the party that has brought untold hardship on Nigerians in the last 10 years," he said. "The electorate cannot afford to fail this time around, they have to cast their votes for a true party capable of providing answers to their yearnings and aspiration, enough of these politicians who are merchants."

Mr. Bafarawa, who was in Kano to commiserate with the victims of Kantin Kwari market fire incident, urged the affected traders to see the inferno as an act of Allah and pray that Allah will provide for them again.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5545292-147/mega_party_is_the_only_way.csp

The intense lobby by politicians, technocrats, and captains of industry to get on the expected new list of cabinet members has reached a fever level. Former President Obasanjo, believed to be Acting President Jonathan's political father has been recceiving a steady stream of visitors at the the Transcorp Hilton Abuja where he has set up a consultation room.

The unending stream of visitors, mostly lobbyists led him to complain to a close associate that he has had no time to rest in the last four days.
NBN sources revealed that some people spend close to six hours waiting to see Obasanjo to ask him to put in a word for them with Jonathan. Since the cabinet dissolution, intense lobby has been on for the 42 slots available. The lobby traffic has been between the Aso Villa and Obasanjo's suite at transcorp.
The new list remains a closely guarded secret, except for the names of some former Ministers who are certain to make the list. The names include Dora Akunyili, Orubebe, Demola Seriki, Kayode Adetokunbo among others.

Link:

http://www.newsbreaksnow.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168:obasanjo-qthey-will-not-let-me-restq&catid=37:politics

Hope he will be there with is Life Support  

The Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday separately approved N4, 608 trillion in federal spending for 2010. This is N1.5 trillion more than the 2009 budget, and N529 billion above the original amount sent for approval by President Umaru Yar'Adua a little more than four months ago.

The difference between this budget and the preceding year's is the largest in five years, and the Senate said money will be ploughed into extricating the nation's frail economy out of the recent global economic crisis, through "targeted interventions".

As usual however, the financial plan earmarks N1.853 trillion for development (capital expenditure),

While the non-debt (recurrent) expenditure grabbed the larger share of N2.007 trillion, although both chambers claimed they had scaled down Mr. Yar'Adua's initial recurrent proposal, to save money for the capital budget.

Some of the rescued money will be directed to key areas like works and housing, power generation and transmission, and agriculture and water resources, which, according to the budget, get a major chunk of the funding. Each of the sectors, including transport and the Federal Capital Territory, will receive more than N100 billion for new projects if the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, signs the bill into law.

For the capital expenditure outlay, the plan approves the largest amount of N211.2 billion for the construction of roads and housing, through the Ministry of Works and Housing, although the amount is still some N10 billion less than what Mr. Yar'Adua had originally asked for.

The capital expenditure of the Niger-Delta ministry almost doubles fromN47 billion to N91 billion for this year. The huge increase reflects the financial assurances made as part of the post-amnesty program.

Education gets reprieve

Education got a boost after the allocation for capital expenditure jumped from N38 billion in 2009 to N97.2 million for this year. The total figure, including recurrent expenditure is N295.3 billion which is the highest amount ever allocated to the sector. The allocation however amounts to just about 6.4 percent of the overall budget - a distant mark from the United Nations recommended 26 per cent for developing nations. This is coming against the backdrop of the dismal performance in the recently released National Examination Council (NECO) result in which 98 per cent of the candidates failed.

Allocations to other key sectors like health and Science and technology, have all remained relatively low. Health receives an allocation of N180 billion which is less than 5 per cent of the total budget.

The lawmakers however reviewed upward, the allocations to the National Assembly, raising the capital expenditure from N9 billion to N16.19 billion, and the recurrent from N118.78 billion to N138 billion.

During the initial consideration of the budget last year, lawmakers questioned the president's economic plan, and the projections for the 2010 budget; the exchange rate, and crude oil benchmark and the gross domestic product rate.

Members of the House of Representatives argued that in using such benchmarks as $50 per barrel of crude oil and N150 to the dollar as exchange rate, the president's indicators were too "conservative" and not reflective of an economy hoping to become one of the world's largest by 2020.

The final approval for the budget, however, passed after both arms reviewed the benchmark oil price to $67 per barrel with a production average of 2.35 million barrels per day. The exchange rate remains targeted at N150 to the dollar.

Based on the indicators, the budget expects net revenue of N3.086 trillion for the year, leaving a deficit plan of N1.521 trillion.

Lawmakers pushed through the adoption of their Appropriation committees' recommendations yesterday without deleting or altering any of the figures, a week after the legislators announced that consideration for the budget will soon begin.

Iyiosola Omisore, who heads the Senate Appropriation committee, said the budget would have been passed earlier, save for the unending "series of correspondences" from the executive which kept calling for fresh adjustments.

"For instance, we received the last correspondence for the adjustment on 8th March, 2010," he told his colleagues. "We advise that the executive should complete their work on time and minimize further submission after presentation of the initial proposal," he said.

The first adjustment the National Assembly received was days after the initial submission on November 23, 2009 by the Special Adviser on National Assembly matters, Mohammed Abba-Aji.

Mr. Omisore said in the end, the executive requests for adjustment stood at N336 billion, raising the initial N4,079 trillion budget to N4,415 trillion and leading to a final approval for N4,608 trillion.

With the passage, Mr Jonathan will be expected to sign the financial bill into law, although the Assembly is yet to harmonise its decisions on whether or not to approve the request by the government to operate a Special Funds Account - the equivalent of the controversial excess crude account.

The Senate passed its version, authorizing the controversial account, while the Representatives deleted the provision that mandates the government to keep a separate account other than the constitution-backed Consolidated Revenue Account.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5546255-146/story.csp

Rising out of obscurity to stand in the limelight as an international rap juggernaut, Lil Wayne has come a long way from his humble but harsh Hollygrove beginnings. With the recent incarceration of the New Orleans, Louisiana native, we look at the life and times of the Young Money boss and Cash Money Millionaire.

1982: Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr is born September 27 to Jacida "Cita" Carter and Dwayne Michael Turner.

1990: Writes his first rap song

1993: Meets Bryan "Baby" Williams, rapper and owner of Cash Money Records and starts to record freestyles on Baby's answering machine.

1994: Plays the Tin Man in his middle school drama club's production of The Wiz

1995: Accidentally shoots himself with a .44 caliber gun in his chest while mimicking Taxi Driver's Travis Bickle in his bedroom mirror; the bullet misses his heart by two inches and he goes on life support for two weeks.

>> Signs with Cash Money Records and hooks up with another newcomer, Lil' Doogie "B.G", to form The B.G.'z. Later, they release their first and only album, True Story.

1996: Drops out of school

1997: Joins the Hot Boys alongside rappers Juvenile, B.G. and Turk as the youngest member to release their debut album Get it How You Live.

>> Officially adopts the name Lil Wayne, dropping the "" from his first name in order to separate himself from an absent father.

>> Step-father Reginald "Rabbit" Carter dies.

1998: Welcomes his first child, Reginae Carter with Antonia "Toya" Johnson, his high school sweetheart.

>> Distinguishes himself on the Hot Boys' multi-platinum selling Universal debut, Guerilla Warfare

1999: Releases debut solo album Tha Block is Hot and receives a Source Award nomination for "Best New Artist.

2000: Releases second album, Lights Out.

>> The Hot Boys receive a Source Award for "Group of the Year."

2001: Gets shot in the chest in Florida after "some groupies" fire two shots through his tour bus window.

2002: Releases third album 500 Degreez.

2003: Releases hit mixtape called Da Drought.

2004: Releases fourth album Tha Carter and two mixtapes, Da Drought 2 and The Prefix.

>> Marries Johnson.

>> Features on Destiny's Child's single "Soldier" which earns him prominent nominations like 2005 BET Award-Best Collaboration and 2006 Grammy Award-Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

2005: Releases fifth album Tha Carter II and two mixtapes, The Suffix and Dedication with DJ Drama.

>> Enrolls at the University of Houston, majoring in Political Science but later switches to Psychology.

2006: Releases collaboration album with mentor Baby: Like Father, Like Son and also a mixtape with DJ Drama called Dedication 2, which includes a track entitled "Georgia Bush" addressing the problems surrounding the government's response to Hurricane Katrina in his native New Orleans, Lousiana.

>> Divorces wife, Antonia "Toya" Carter.

2007: Releases mixtape, Da Drought 3 and features with several artists including DJ Khaled, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Enrique Iglesias

>> Selected in an MTV poll as "Hottest MC in the Game," in The New Yorker magazine as "Rapper of the Year", GQ magazine as "Workaholic of the Year" and the BET Hip-Hop Award for "MVP of the Year."

>> Arrested at a performance at the Beacon Theatre when the New York City Police Department discovers him smoking marijuana near a tour bus.

>> Arrested again following a performance at Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho, on felony fugitive charges after Georgia authorities accuse him of possessing a controlled substance.

2008: Releases sixth album Tha Carter III and wins Grammy for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for "A Milli", Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his appearance on T.I.'s single "Swagga Like Us" and Best Rap Song for "Lollipop".

>> Named "Best Rock Star Alive" by Blender magazine and "Best MC" by Rolling Stone.

>> Releases tenth mixtape, Dedication 3 with DJ Drama.

>> Has second child, Dwayne III.

>> Arrested in Yuma, Arizona when his tour bus is stopped by Border Patrol agents whose K-9 Unit recovers 105 grams (3.7 oz) of marijuana, almost 29 grams (1.0 oz) of cocaine, 41 grams (1.4 oz) of MDMA, and $22,000 (approx. N3.3 million) in cash.

2009: MTV lists him number two on their list of Hottest MCs in the Game.

>> Releases collaboration album with his Young Money artists

>> Has his third child, Lennox Samuel Ari, born to actress Lauren London and fourth child, Neal, with singer Nivea.

>> Detained at the Falfurrias, Texas border patrol checkpoint after an unknown amount of marijuana was found on two of his tour buses

2010: Releases seventh album Rebirth.

>> Re-signs with Cash Money Records and goes to jail to serve a one-year sentence for attempted criminal possession of a weapon

>> Gets bench warrant when he doesn't show for a final trial management conference. However, the rapper was already in prison, serving a year-long sentence in Rikers on weapons charges.

Additional info: WIKIPEDIA, CASHMONEY-RECORDS.COM, STARPULSE.COM

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/x2/Entertainment/5544875-146/story.csp

The senate has passed a buget of N4,608,616,278,213 of which N180,279,158,994 is for statutory transfer, while N497,071,797,452 is earmarked for debt service. N2,077,358,560,347 is for recurrent expenditure and N1,853,906,761,420 is for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure for the year ending 31 December 2010.

The budget is based on the projection of $67 per barrel benchmark oil price and crude oil production of 2.350 million barrels per day. The Joint Venture cash call projection is $7billion, GDP of 5.47%,inflation rate of 11.2% and the exchange rate of N150 to a US Dollar.

The budget had a total additions and adjustments by the executive in the sum of N336 billion, showing a rise of executive proposals of the budget from N4,079 trillion to N4,415 trillion.

The budget passed today has been harmonized with the House of Representatives. It will now be transmitted to the Acting President for signing into law.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5545244-146/senate_passes_budget_of_n4.6_trillion.csp

Shortly before midday yesterday, while the Senate was debating the draft amended constitution, Joy Emordi, who then still represented Anambra North in the Senate, received a call.

After the call, her mood changed and she stood up, left her seat and went to the Senate president's podium. Mrs. Emordi spent close to seven minutes discussing with David Mark, the Senate President. Her story held Mr. Mark's full attention while plenary was put on hold.

Thereafter, she picked up her hand bag from her seat and left the red chamber and went into the coffee room.

It turned out that this was her last appearance in the chambers as a senator representing Anambra North senatorial zone in the sixth session of the senate.

"The Joy of the Senate" as she was fondly called by Mr. Mark, was a hard-line senator.

She always took clear-cut stance on issues and was instrumental to the dumping of two of the six constitutional amendment bills that was sent to the senate by the president.

She had strongly argued that the bills were poorly crafted and that it was arrogating too much power to the president. She was also a strong advocate for gender equality in government activities.

She headed the senate committee on education, a committee she has chaired since 2005 when she came into the senate by a ruling of the court too.

In June 2008, her election into the current session of the senate was up held by the tribunal.

In her reaction to the recent judgement, Mrs Emordi said that she respects the judgement of the Court of Appeal and still believes in the judiciary.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5546236-146/joy_of_the_senate_loses_seat.csp

A unanimous ruling of the Court of Appeal has abruptly ended the tenure of Senator Joy Emordi at the Nigerian senate. In her place, the court declared the ANPP candidate, Uba Igbeke, (A shadowy character known as "Ubanese) as the rightful winner of the Anambra North Senatorial district elections on 2007. The judgement was delivered by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola while Justices Muhammad Ladan Tsamiya and Amiru Sanusi concurred.


Link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5625-senator-joy-emordi-sacked-by-the-court-of-appeal.html

In a dramatic move, the Senate yesterday voted to delete an aspect of the Constitution which prohibits people indicted for various offences from contesting elections.

Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president and the leader of the constitution review committee which made the recommendation argued that if left in the constitution, it can be used by government officials to witch-hunt political opponents.

Mr. Ekweremadu, a lawyer, also argued that other provisions in section 137 of the constitution can adequately cover the intentions of the deleted section. The section, 137 (1), prohibits people who have been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by state or federal panels of enquiry or tribunals from running for presidential office.

During the voting, 90 senators supported that it be deleted while only five senators voted for the retention of the section.

However, typographical errors and omissions prevented the Senate from formally passing the draft after the final reading on Wednesday.

Government of thieves

Various reactions across the country have trailed the vote for the removal of this section.

"This confirms what we have always been saying, that this is a government of thieves and therefore the anti-corruption campaign is dead," lamented Balarabe Musa, the chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties. Mr. Musa, in a phone interview from Kaduna added that, "we are now in trouble in Nigeria because we are apparently now being ruled by thieves in Nigeria." He likened the ‘Senate's abysmal act' to the failure of the National Assembly in passing the forfeiture bill sent to them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to confiscate properties of treasury looters.

This sentiment was echoed by Rotimi Akeredolu, the Nigerian Bar Association president who described the Senators' action in a terse text message, as a "futile exercise" adding that, "the Senate cannot on its own alone repeal any provision of Constitution."

A timely amendment

However, Sam Amadi, a lawyer, and director, Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development said the repeal of the act was not an anomaly. Mr Amadi said that in line with other constitutions across the world, the Electoral Act and not the Constitution should specify the eligibility of candidates to contest for election. "I think the clause should be removed completely from the constitution," Mr. Amadi said. "Our Constitution is not working because we have so many unnecessary things in it. Given our country where corrupt persons aspire to the highest offices in the land, the Electoral Act should be what is to be amended and the eligibility clause should be streamlined into criminal conviction and not just indictments." He also warned about what he called, "retaliatory indictments," saying, "we've seen in the past where governors set up panels and enquiries to get back at foes thereby discrediting the person(s) candidature for elections through such indictments and thereby creating confusion and legal challenges for the electoral process."

Another legal practitioner who welcomed the Senate's action is Chris Uche, who said, "the amendment of Section 137 (1)of the Constitution is timely and welcome to remove disqualification to contest election based on indictment by panel of inquiry given the abuse of that clause by governments."

According to Mr Uche, "the need has arisen because of the abuse of this provision by the federal and state governments to block political opponents from contesting elections."

Mr Uche based his argument on what happened to former Vice-President Abubakar Atiku and the former administration in Abia State which also issued a white paper indicting several politicians. "Happily, the Supreme court had in the Atiku case (AC vs INEC) in 2007, neutralised that provision which has now been repealed by defining indictment to mean trial by a court of law. Therefore, what the Senate has done is a legislative endorsement of a judicial reformation of the law by a proactive Supreme court."

Yinka Odumakin, the spokesperson of the Save Nigeria Group who recalled a statement credited to a Senator, Nuhu Aliyu, that the "National Assembly is full of criminals," warned that politicians should not think of using this avenue to pave the way for their return in the forthcoming elections.

He however recalled that the supreme court already ruled that an indictment by an admnistrative panel is not a judicial conviction. "We saw the way this section was abused under Olusegun Obasanjo. Even Orji Kalu set up a panel to do a counter-indictment of Mr. Obasanjo and Iyabo."

The cross carpeting law

Senate also deleted the section prohibiting lawmakers from cross carpeting. Section 68 (g) prohibits federal legislators from dumping the political party on whose platform they were elected unless there is a division in that party. It was deleted by a lean margin of 75 votes, two votes above the required minimum of 73.

Insertions were also made in the constitution, including two clauses in section 228 of the 1999 constitution, to enable the National Assembly make laws that will regulate internal democracies in political parties.

The new section, which got at least 89 votes on Wednesday now reads:

"The National assembly may by law provide for guidelines and rules to ensure internal democracy within political parties, including making laws for the conduct of party primaries, party primaries and party conventions."

Another insertion, to account for every day a governor or president whose election was annulled but wins the re-run election spent before the re-run election was also very popular with the senators. It was passed with 88 votes.

"In the calculation of the four year term, where a re-election has taken place and the person earlier sworn in wins, the time spent in the office before the date the election was annulled, shall be taken into account," the section reads.

The other recommendations which passed include clauses which make the Independent National Electoral Commission and its chairman above the authority of the president or any other body, and the recommendations to make the commission, the National Assembly and the Judiciary financially independent of the executive.

The independent candidacy clause and the recommendation to conduct election not earlier than 150 days before swearing in and not later than 90 days, were also passed overwhelmingly.

The draft amended constitution also recommended a fixed time for hearing and ruling on election petitions by both election petition tribunals and courts of appeal.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5545140-146/criminals_can_contest_says_senate_.csp

The difference is claer

More

Your eyes will surely pain you

Nominated for ministerial appointment:

FIDELIA NJEZE (ENUGU) - Born 8 Jun 1964, Fidelia Njeze was appointed as Ministry of Defence (State) in 2007 and later redeployed as the Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources. She holds a B.Sc (Pharmacy) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She was a Member of Enugu State Health Services Management Board. When appointed in 2007, she was believed to have received extra support and push from Governor Sullivan Chime, over Dan Shere, and Festus Uzor, both of whom were seen as loyalists to the immediate past governor of the state, Chimaroke Nnamani.

GODSDAY ORUBEBE (DELTA) - Appointed Minister for Special Duties in 2007 and later Minister of State, Niger Delta. He was however not sworn-in with his colleagues on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 due to what media report said was influenced by James Ibori's grievances that Mr. Orubebe had instituted a court action against the state government and erstwhile governor over allegations that he funded Yar'Adua's presidential campaign with state taxpayers' money. He was asked to withdraw the suit filed before his final confirmation.

ADETOKUNBO KAYODE (ONDO) - He was the Coordinator of the Yar'Adua/Goodluck Campaign Organisation in Ondo State. He was appointed as a minister of Labour and Productivity in 2007, while later redeployed in place of Micheal Aondoakaa as the former Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

HENRY ODEIN AJUMOGOBIA (SAN) (RIVERS) - Became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2003 and also the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Rivers State, and was appointed Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum in July 2007.

AKINLABI OLASUNKANMI (OSUN) - Born March 1956, a former senator representing Osun West senatorial district between 2003-2007. Was appointed the Minister for Youth in 2007 as a tip after the leadership of the party asked him to give way to the former governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, in the Senate so that there could be peace in the state.

DEZEANI ALLISON MADUKWE (BAYLESA) - Born on the 6th of December 1960 in Port Harcourt. Appointed the Minister of Transport in July 2007 before been redeployed as the Minister of Mines and Steel Development in December 2008. Mrs. Allison-Madueke has been investigated and indicted by the Senate for fraud. In October 2009, the Senate recommended her for prosecution for allegedly transferring N1.2 billion of a toll company into her private account without due process and in breach of concession agreement.

NUHU SOHO WYA (KOGI) - He is the former Minister of State for Power.

SHAMSUDEEN USMAN (KANO) - Shamsudeen Usman, who was appointed the finance minister in 2007, was also in December 2008 redeployed as deputy chairman of the Federal Executive Council as well as National Planning Minister.

DORA AKUNYILI (ANAMBRA) - Born on July 14, 1954, the former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC). Replaced John Odey as the Minister for Information and Communication in cabinet reshuffle on December 17 2008. She was a senior lecturer and consultant Pharmacologist in the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, between 1996 to 2000. She was the zonal secretary of the Petroleum Special Trust Fund (PTF) South Eastern zone.

Newly appointed

CHUKWUEMEKA NGOZI WOGU (ABIA) - she is a former Commissioner of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). Mr. Wogu is also a trained lawyer.

JOSEPHINE ANENIH (ANAMBRA) - Mrs. Anenih, a lawyer, was a chairwoman of the Federation of Women Lawyers from 1994-2001 and the first National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999-2005. An Igbo daughter from Anambra State but married to Tony Anenih of Edo State, also a former Minister of Works and Housing.

LABARAN MAKU (NASSARAWA) - He was the state commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, and later the deputy governor of Nasarawa State in 2003 as the running mate to Abdullahi Adamu. He was a senior editorial staff of Champion newspapers.

CHRIS OGWIEWENYI (EDO) - He is an engineer and has served as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Company.

SULEIMAN BELLO (ZAMFARA) - He was the Executive Vice Chairman of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and a former delegate at the National Political Reform Conference in 2005.

MURTALA YAR'ÁDUA (KATSINA) - Murtala Yar'Adua is the oldest son of the late Shehu Yar'Adua, President Umar's big brother. He is a director in several companies in addition to running his own private oil company. Eight years ago, he was conferred with the traditional title of Tafidan Katsina in his home state.

SANUSI DAGGASH ( BORNO) - Born on December 22 1960, he was elected into the House of Representatives National Assembly of Nigeria in 1999 and represents a Federal Constituency in Borno State, Nigeria. A PDP National Establishment Committee member in 1997, he serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and is a member of several other Committees. In 1987-1991, he served the Nation as a member of Nigeria Football Association (NFA). He is an Architect with M.Sc in Development Economics in 1986.

BALA MOHAMMED ( SOKOTO) - He holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1981) and Masters in Business Administration (1992). Mr Mohammed is a Sokoto State senator in the National Assembly. The 52 year-old was one of the most prominent figures in ensuring the ascent of Jonathan to the acting presidency. He has quickly established himself as part of Jonathan's inner circle after vocally expressing the need to impeach President Yar'Adua.

NDUESE ESSIEN (A/IBOM) - Nduese Essien is a close aide of Jonathan's and is a former leader of the South-South caucus in the House of Representatives, where he served from 1999 to 2003.

JOSEPHINE TAPGUN ( PLATEAU) - Wife of former governor of Pleateau State (Fidelis Tapgun)

ERNEST OLUBOLADE (EKITI) -The former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State.

OLUSEGUN OLUTOYIN AGANGA (LAGOS) - He is the Managing Director, Goldman Sachs.

ADAMU WAZIRI (YOBE) - Adamu Waziri is a two time gubernatorial candidate in Yobe State. He has however, lost a considerable grip in recent times as the state leader of the PDP. He is the former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources from Yobe State.

CAPT. EMMANUEL IHENEACHO (IMO) - A maritime and oil business man, the retired naval officer missed the cut when President Yar'Adua nominated him in the last major cabinet reshuffle. He was rejected as a ministerial nominee after a meeting by the Ohanaeze Youths leaders in Imo State stating that his nomination is against the political zoning formula of the state.

JUBRIL MARTINS KUYE ( OGUN) - The former Minister of State for Finance, Jubril Martins-Kuye, is a self-styled godfather of Ogun politics, who is leading a faction of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that is believed to be anti-Gbenga Daniel front. He was sacked as minister by Olusegun Obasanjo for allegedly not yielding to the former presidents' will of office.

Others are UMAR ALIYU (TARABA); AWODELE NAJIM ADEWOLE ALAO (OGUN); ABUBAKAR SADIQ MOHAMMED (GOMBE); YUSUF SULEIMAN (SOKOTO) RUBIA RUFAI( JIGAWA); MUSA SAD'AA ( KATSINA ); PROF. F ABDULAH (NIGER); M.K ABUBAKAR (KEBBI); MOHAMMED BELLO ADOKE (KOGI).



Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5545138-146/a_whos_who_of_the_ministerial.csp

Despite its nomination of new ministers today, the government of Goodluck Jonathan faces a serious danger from the Chief Justice of the Federation, Aloysius Katsina-Alu. Since coming to office by way of resolutions of the National Assembly declaring him *Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan has not succeeded in meeting with the CJN, who has consistently cited a busy schedule as his excuse. Saharareporters has learnt that Katsina-Alu’s refusal to cooperate with Jonathan is due to his closeness to Umaru Yar’Adua, whom he helped install in office through the Supreme Court in its controversial elections petition judgment.

In a series of reports detailing the shady deals involving Katsina-Alu and former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondokaa, Saharareporters revealed how Yar’Adua successfully bribed Nigeria’s Supreme Court to award the favorable ruling that enabled his government to remain in power despite clear evidence that it didn’t win the April 2007 presidential poll.

The CJN who came to power in unusual circumstances as Yar’Adua was not around to swear him into office due to illness, has reportedly joined hands with remnants of the cabal loyal to Yar’Adua to undo the resolutions of the National Assembly that put Jonathan in power.

Saharareporters sources indicated that Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai, who had requested 10 ministerial positions and insisted that she be allowed to choose the most lucrative ministries, has turned to Katsina–Alu in the last 48 hours to begin preparation, on behalf of Yar’Adua, to declare Jonathan’s government illegal. Those plans, we are told, have reached an advanced stage.

Even though Jonathan apparently has put up a bold face, he is deeply worried about the plot of the CJN to contradict the declaration of the national assembly and his subsequent official actions. The threat posed by Aondoakaa and Katsina–Alu, who are both cousins from Benue State, may have influence Jonathan’s selection of Mohammed Bello Adokie into his cabinet.

Bello Adokie is known to be a close ally of Katsina–Alu. Adokie was instrumental to collecting the bribes used in installing the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as governor even though he did not stand in the 2007 gubernatorial elections. The deal running into several billions of naira enabled the Supreme Court to declare Amaechi governor in a bizarre legal decision that is regarded as the first of its kind by the Court.

Jonathan’s team is somewhat hopeful that Adokie would help break the ranks of Katsina-Alu and Aondoakaa and help frustrate them from carrying out a coup that could send his somewhat shaky government packing prematurely.

The plans, which have been brewing in the last week has led to unusual speculations in some media houses, especially The Nation, Daily Trust and now Compass that Yar’Adua has “recuperated” fully and would be “resuming” work soon.

Saharareporters sources confirmed that Yar’Adua is still unable to speak or walk, but that his spiritualists have assured the family that he will be fully fit in three weeks time. It is unclear if his speech and physical therapists recently flown in from the US and Saudi Arabia have given similar assurances, but a medical source knowledgeable about his condition insists that Yar’Adua would not be able to resume office next week as is being peddled by some newspapers in a syndicated propaganda paid for by members of his cabal.

However, our sources revealed that in the event of the judiciary successfully scuttling Jonathan’s status as **Acting President, Yar’Adua’s wife has already arranged a cameo appearance by the ailing leader and a pre-recorded broadcast that would be used to inform Nigerians that he has “fully recovered” and taken office.

According to the plan, the cabal will then begin a pre-programmed propaganda that Yar’Adua is still recuperating, but since the courts would have dissolved the cabinet put in place by Jonathan, Yar’Adua would then recall members of his old cabinet which would continue business as usual.

Our source also said that the military wing of the cabal remains active, and that the sudden resurgence of rumors that the service chiefs would be replaced by Jonathan could give them a chance to strike soon.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Yar’Adua has constituted her own cabinet on the side in preparation for the court action and subsequent declaration of an end to Jonathan’s presidency. The list, which contains names of five new ministers, currently retains most of the old ministers including Michael Aondoakaa, who would return to his own haunts and habits as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the post from which Jonathan removed him in his first day on the job.

Link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5622-chief-justice-katsinaalu-aondokaa-plan-jonathans-exit.html

The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday vowed to battle former coach, Shuaibu Amodu, in court rather than call for an amicable settlement.

The coach, who was seconded to home-based Eagles, took the federation to court to demand for his wage and allowances. But the NFF has ruled out the possibility of an out-of-court settlement with Amodu over the case that is now before Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), for alleged breach of contract.

Speaking on the issue, the special adviser to NFF president, Tunde Aderibigbe, revealed in an interview with brilafm.net that officials of The Glasshouse are ready to meet Amodu in court if he fails to follow official directives.

“If he has expressed his willingness to go to court, I don’t think we can stop him. There is nothing we can do about it.

“For now, what he told us was that he was going for leave, after which he will resume at his new posting. He has been our employee and he’s our employee until his contract expires. If he decides not to return, no problem. We shall tackle it head on,” he declared.

Amodu’s demands

Amodu is demanding a compensation of 300 million naira (about $2 million) from the NFF, after he was side-stepped for the World Cup.

According to media reports, Amodu is asking for 135 million naira for the remaining part of his contract, which is to end in July.

He is also asking for another 165 million naira as bonus for qualifying Nigeria to the 2010 World Cup.

The coach also qualified the Super Eagles to the 2002 World Cup but was eventually axed, after a squabble with the country’s top officials allowing Adeboye Onigbinde to lead Nigeria to the World Cup.

Amodu was redeployed to the country’s B team, made up of players from the domestic league after he led the Eagles to third place at the Nations Cup in Angola in February.


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/Football/5544767-146/football_federation_set_to_battle_amodu.csp

A 27-year old Nigerian, Okenfe Lebarty, has joined the race for a seat in the New York State Assembly election, which is scheduled for September.

According to the North American correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Lebarty hails from Edo State and is a political science graduate of the City University of New York.

Mr. Lebarty, who was a Regional Field Organiser and Queen’s County Volunteer Coordinator for ‘Obama for America’ during the U.S. presidential election in 2008, is vying for a seat in Assembly District 31 in New York State on the platform of Democratic Party.

“At present, there is no African in the New York State Assembly and I’m very optimistic to break the jinx,” he said.


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5544406-146/nigerian_in_race_for_new_york.csp

The Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Monday led some members of the State Executive Council to undergo free HIV/AIDS screening carried out in the governor's office in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

However some commissioners and special advisers tactically declined to undergo the test when Mr. Fashola declared that the exercise was optional.

It was gathered that some aides jokingly refused the screening and stayed behind and made fun of their colleagues who offered to take the risk and opt for the test after the governor had entered the makeshift tent on the governor's office.

Though the aides neither refused nor show sign of compliance before living the EXCO Chamber, some commissioners and special advisers refused to enter the screening tent when it was their turn, thus teasing those who underwent the exercise.

Speaking after he went through the exercise, Mr. Fashola said Lagos indigenes and residents should undergo the HIV/AIDS screening provided free in all government hospitals across the state.

He said that knowing one's status at the ongoing free tests in public hospitals would help to improve the health and general medical life of citizens.


Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5544724-146/fashola_commissioners_undergo_hivaids_test_.csp

On Monday, March 22nd, 2010, a group of protesters under the aegis of MakeYourVotesCount.org besieged the Abuja headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They called for the removal of INEC Chairman, Mr. Maurice Iwu, as the first step in the implementation of the Justice Uwais Report on Electoral Reforms. As soon as the group arrived the premises of INEC, security operatives stationed at the Commission accosted them asking them to vacate immediately. However, the group, led by the Coordinator, MakeYourVotesCount.org, Mr. Chido Onumah, declined, insisting on the constitutional rights of citizens to hold peaceful protest in public places. After a series of verbal exchanges, and with the arrival of pressmen, the security operatives gave up on their demands.

According to Mr. Onumah, the peaceful protest is just the beginning of a daily two-hour protest for the removal of the INEC Chairman. “The protest will continue until Mr. Iwu is removed”, he said.

Link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/news/5607-iwu-must-go-protesters-besiege-inec-headquarters.html

omotundemi:
am 29, am i qualify to apply

Yes, you are very much, can we get to meet

afribeauty:
u didnt tell us your age or the age u wanted, your email . if i am interested and i didnt know your age or the age u want ,i could be older than u. loltell us your age pls

My age is 33 which i am looking for someone younger than i am.

Speculation reached fever pitch yesterday, after one of the front runners to replace Maurice Iwu, the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, apparently dropped out of contention.

Ishola Williams, a retired major general and president of Transparency International Nigeria, yesterday down-played widespread reports linking him with the job.

Mr. Williams, on an online forum, Our Country Nigeria, said that he did not wish to be considered until certain conditions were in place that would allow the job to be done properly.

However, a presidency source with working knowledge of the names being considered said that Attahiru Jega, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, and former Academic Staff Union of Universities leader, might get the job. Other names being considered include Mr. Williams and another retired general and former military governor of Oyo State, Oladayo Popoola.

“Jega is the leading candidate, on the ground that he brings instant credibility to the process,” the source said. “He was also on the Uwais panel, so he can implement what his committee recommended.” The source, however, added that the Transparency International connection places Williams in good stead, as “it guarantees the participation of watchdog groups that lend credibility to the process, but insiders consider him a bit “unreasonable” and possibly “a loose cannon.”

Dora Akunyili, the former information and communications minister, whose name has become a staple of discussion as being in the running for the job, is seen to be promoting her own candidacy, which may work against her in getting the job. “She doesn’t have many influential friends on the inside,” the source said.

NEXT also gathered that the region of origin may play no role in the selection of the person that will lead INEC to conduct the next general elections, as electoral reform is seen as a key fulcrum of the acting president, Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

“Count me out”

“Please count me out,” Mr. Williams said. “I can only take such a job if certain conditions are met and Nigerians and political parties are ready for attitudinal change.” He further tried to separate the all-encompassing responsibilities of the national electoral commission, saying that state electoral bodies have a role to play.

“It is not the business of INEC to conduct state government and legislature elections, but the state electoral bodies,” he said.

He further criticised the unwieldy nature of the electoral commission in its current form, saying that it is unrealistic to expect it to function in a cohesive manner.

“If we want true federalism, our electoral and security systems must reflect this,” he said.

“We do not need the huge bureaucracy that the electoral reforms committee has proposed. Let one of the members of the reforms committee implement the recommendations.”

Jibrin Ibrahim, who has also been linked to the INEC job, yesterday dismissed the reports as speculation. The director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, who was also a member of the Uwais panel, added that people were just trying to join the dots.

“The first I heard of the reports was on an Internet website,” he said in a telephone interview. “I made some enquiries immediately after but it is unlikely that the news came from the presidency,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

Constitutional review

The power to appoint an INEC chairman is itself a major sticking point in the ongoing constitution review. Last week, the Senate rejected the recommendation that the National Judicial Council should have the powers to select a new INEC chairman.

The Senate Committee on Constitution Review, on Thursday last week, presented an updated constitution to the Senate, rejecting the appointment of an INEC chairman by the NJC.

The Senate report indicated, however, that INEC’s chairman and members of the board of the commission “shall not be members of any political party.”

The Senate resumes today with the third reading of the constitutional review.

Link:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5544561-146/williams_says_no_to_iwus_job.csp

its very unfortunate that ppl are still puting the blame on ibb(aka the most honest and respected person ever in the history of nigerian rulers),its tym for d ppl to to knw that only court has d right to declare some one as guilty neither individual or group of ppl, several tym court has declared ibb not guilty on any of d such cases but ppl are still talking about it but any way long live ibb my almighty protect u and ur family ameen,

Dele Giwa was a founder and editor of Newswatch magazine. Twenty-three years ago today, on October 19 1986, he was killed by a letter bomb sent by agents of the former dictator, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

On October 17 1986, Mr. Giwa, who was Nigeria’s most feared editor, had been summoned by two notorious officials of the Babangida regime: Halilu Akilu, former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), and Lt.-Col. jibola Kunle Togun, former Deputy Director, State Security Service (SSS).


Ayodele Dele-Giwa, his last daughter never knew her dad
Forty-eight hours later, he was killed via a bomb with a parcel bearing the coat of arms of the Nigerian state. He recognized it so well, and just before the bomb went off as he opened it, had exclaimed, “this must be from the President,” referring to Babangida.

Babangida ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, when popular protests forced him to leave office unceremoniously as he engaged in one of the most grievous acts of political infamy in annulling the nation's freest and fairest election in history.

Throughout his tenure, Babangida jailed or repressed his political opponents, real or imagined, or sponsored assassinations against them. Also in 1986, one of Babangida's closest childhood friends, General Mamman Vatsa, who was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was accused of involvement in a coup plan. Despite a clear lack of evidence, Babangida ensure he was summarily tried and quickly executed.


Babangida stole billions of dollars in Nigerian state resources and mismanaged the rest. His children and cronies became rich overnight. But most importantly, Babangida, who is so insecure he lives in a fortress, is yet to answer to his crimes against humanity and the Nigerian people, including the killing of Dele Giwa.
To show his disdain for the dead journalist and the constitution, Babangida refused to testify before the hapless National Human Rights Panel, also known as the Oputa Panel, about Dele Giwa’s murder.



himself because all he achieved was nothing and his existence in retirement is mere Vanity and emptiness. One day, I B B will die like all the people he killed and the epithet on his grave stone will read, "here was the man who killed and wrecked havoc on his Nation". Goodbye to bad rubiish!

Just as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State on Wednesday fixed December 5 for the court ordered re-run election for the Senate seat previously occupied by Iyiola Omisore of the PDP, a new controversy has surfaced over the authenticity and veracity of Omisore’s degree.

A medical source familiar with Umaru Yar’adua’s dire health condition has told Saharareporters that the syndicated media reports claiming that Yar’adua would resume work next week “is a complete hoax.” The reports, which were carried by Daily Trust and The Nation newspapers, painted a generous portrait of Yar’adua’s supposed recuperation and his alleged plans to return to work next week. The Daily Trust report made ridiculous claims that Yar’adua had regained strength and was walking around in the gardens surrounding the presidential villa.

“It’s bunkum,” said our source.

Other politically connected sources in Abuja told Saharareporters that Yar’adua’s condition was so bad that even members of the kitchen cabinet, including Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, have given up hopes of his return. Mr. Tanimu Kurfi, who served as Yar’adua’s chief economic advisor, spent last weekend in Kaduna. An associate who spoke to him described his mood as “downcast,” adding that Kurfi had come to terms with the fact “that his days of influence as a member of Yar’adua’s inner circle are over.”

Yar’adua’s mother and other relatives have called on his wife, Turai, to let him return to Katsina to recuperate as much as it is possible. A source close to Yar’adua’s relatives told Saharareporters that Umaru Yar’adua’s mother was furious that Turai has resisted all entreaties “to let Yar’adua make a dignified exit from power.”

A highly placed security source told Saharareporters that the latest hoax about Yar’adua’s return was part of a scheme by Turai and other die-hard loyalists of Yar’adua to force more concessions from acting President Goodluck Jonathan as he reconstitutes the federal cabinet. Mr. Jonathan dissolved the cabinet last week and is in the process of lining up a new cabinet.

“Turai and her group want to have a larger say about who gets appointed into the cabinet,” said a source. “They want to ensure that, whatever happens, their interests remain protected, if not paramount,” the source added.

As Saharareporters earlier reported, Jonathan had offered Mrs. Yar’adua the opportunity to nominate candidates for five ministerial slots as well as a special assistant position. Unsatisfied, the greedy “First Lady” has reportedly demanded that she receive 10 ministerial positions. In addition, she is also insisting that she and her group be allowed to choose who occupies some of the juiciest ministerial positions. She has also insisted that former Minister of Information, Dora Akunyili, should not be on the list of new ministers.

Link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5603-yaraduas-resumption-of-work-a-hoax.html