I had an issue with my wife and in my anger told her to move her things out of the room because i was upset with her. But to my greatest shock when i left home for an outing i came back to discover that she had practically moved all her stuffs out of our matrimonial home. I cant locate her anywhere and attempts to reach her on phone is being rebuffed. Please what do i do?
This is what anger has caused me. I need her back.
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
HE DUMPED ME TO ANOTHER WOMAN
Am in great bitterness as i write this.I can't imagine how on earth a man could be this heartless & wicked. we have plans of us getting married in dec. this year only for me to see his engagement pictures on FB.my people, please tell me, as one who believe in God, is there any thing too hard for our God? if at all he was told any-thing spiritual about me, is dumping me at this die minute the best option without prior notice. please advice and pray for me. All think i need now is prayers from everyone and the spirit of God to enable me carry on. its really not easy with me right now. Am in pain.
They’re after me, Aliyu cries out
By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, has alleged clandestine plans by people close to the Presidency to enroll him into an imaginary conspiracy.
Governor Aliyu made the disclosure, yesterday, a day after he was suddenly summoned to the presidential villa in Abuja, allegedly on issues bothering on his recent assertions.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Danladi Ndayebo, alleged that “hawks” in Abuja have concluded plans to print posters and portraits of him with the message 2015: Vote Babangida Aliyu for President with the import of arousing the anger of the party against him.
The portraits are to be followed with what he alleged as a media campaign directed at impugning his integrity and loyalty to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The allegations followed the standoff between Governor Aliyu and partisans of the president, which was upon the governor’s declaration that President Jonathan signed a one-term agreement with northern governors. That agreement had not been produced.
Governor Aliyu was also reported to have stoutly stood in defence of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, during the recent crisis that shadowed the aborted election of a new chairman of the governors’ body.
Governor Aliyu, however, pledged yesterday to be a law-abiding member of the party, saying that he was conscious of the party’s directive against the commencement of presidential election campaigns.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Aliyu has not declared for the presidency.
“If anything, he is at the moment focused on delivering on the mandate given to him by the people of Niger State and would not be distracted.”
Aliyu said God is the ultimate decider of who becomes what, just as he cautioned Nigerians to be wary of persons who may want to discredit others for selfish gains.
Aliyu said he remains committed to his present assignment and would not be distracted by any devious plot by mischief-makers.
He reiterated his commitment to the ongoing efforts at re-engineering the state to achieve its vision of becoming one of the top three most developed state economies by the year 2020.
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, has alleged clandestine plans by people close to the Presidency to enroll him into an imaginary conspiracy.
Governor Aliyu made the disclosure, yesterday, a day after he was suddenly summoned to the presidential villa in Abuja, allegedly on issues bothering on his recent assertions.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Danladi Ndayebo, alleged that “hawks” in Abuja have concluded plans to print posters and portraits of him with the message 2015: Vote Babangida Aliyu for President with the import of arousing the anger of the party against him.
The portraits are to be followed with what he alleged as a media campaign directed at impugning his integrity and loyalty to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
*Gov Aliyu Babangida of Niger State
Governor Aliyu was also reported to have stoutly stood in defence of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, during the recent crisis that shadowed the aborted election of a new chairman of the governors’ body.
Governor Aliyu, however, pledged yesterday to be a law-abiding member of the party, saying that he was conscious of the party’s directive against the commencement of presidential election campaigns.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Aliyu has not declared for the presidency.
“If anything, he is at the moment focused on delivering on the mandate given to him by the people of Niger State and would not be distracted.”
Aliyu said God is the ultimate decider of who becomes what, just as he cautioned Nigerians to be wary of persons who may want to discredit others for selfish gains.
Aliyu said he remains committed to his present assignment and would not be distracted by any devious plot by mischief-makers.
He reiterated his commitment to the ongoing efforts at re-engineering the state to achieve its vision of becoming one of the top three most developed state economies by the year 2020.
Make use of official communication channel, Defence hqtrs tells Boko Haram
BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI
Abuja— Following the conditions given by the Boko Haram sect through ‘YouTube’ for the release of kidnapped French citizens, the Defence Headquarters, yesterday advised the Boko Haram to make use of its official communication channels if it wanted to have any interaction with the apex security apparatus.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters said that over 1,200 officers and men of the Armed Forces have been deployed to the African-led International Support Mission to Mali, AFISMA.
“The last batch comprising of 162 troops will be airlifted to Mali today by the Nigerian Air Force while the Charlie aircraft provided by the British Government will equally airlift support equipment to the operation, side by side our own C-130.”
A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Col Mohammed Yerima, on the Boko Haram demand however, noted that it does not react to publications or demands through ‘YouTube’.
Yerima’s statement read: “The Defence headquarters wishes to make the following clarifications regarding the video clip on YouTube purportedly released by Boko Haram in which it listed conditions for the release of the French family it is holding hostage.
“The Defence headquarters do not make official response to video on the YouTube. If the Boko Haram group wishes to express concern about their members being held, they ought to have channelled their demands through the JTF telephone help lines which they are conversant with. The numbers are 08064174066, 08154429346 and 07064174066.”
Boko Haram claimed recently that the French nationals will be released only when their members, including women being held by the military authorities are released from detention.
Abuja— Following the conditions given by the Boko Haram sect through ‘YouTube’ for the release of kidnapped French citizens, the Defence Headquarters, yesterday advised the Boko Haram to make use of its official communication channels if it wanted to have any interaction with the apex security apparatus.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters said that over 1,200 officers and men of the Armed Forces have been deployed to the African-led International Support Mission to Mali, AFISMA.
“The last batch comprising of 162 troops will be airlifted to Mali today by the Nigerian Air Force while the Charlie aircraft provided by the British Government will equally airlift support equipment to the operation, side by side our own C-130.”
A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Col Mohammed Yerima, on the Boko Haram demand however, noted that it does not react to publications or demands through ‘YouTube’.
Yerima’s statement read: “The Defence headquarters wishes to make the following clarifications regarding the video clip on YouTube purportedly released by Boko Haram in which it listed conditions for the release of the French family it is holding hostage.
“The Defence headquarters do not make official response to video on the YouTube. If the Boko Haram group wishes to express concern about their members being held, they ought to have channelled their demands through the JTF telephone help lines which they are conversant with. The numbers are 08064174066, 08154429346 and 07064174066.”
Boko Haram claimed recently that the French nationals will be released only when their members, including women being held by the military authorities are released from detention.
Jonathan can contest in 2015 – Tukur
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—AHEAD of 2015 presidential election, National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, said there was nothing wrong if the party presents President Goodluck Jonathan for the election, just as he challenged other opposition political parties to forward theirs if they have.
He also said the party will soon commence the electronic registration of its members, which was jettisoned by the governors elected on the platform of the party during the tenure of Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, saying it would help PDP have a central database of all its members.
Tukur, who also denied reports that the presidency and the party were behind the problems of Chibuike Amaechi, said: “No, we are not behind it. They have an arrangement of two year tenure for their chairman. So, neither the party leadership nor Mr. President is against Amaechi or whoever they elect as their leader for NGF.”
Answering questions from journalists in Abuja yesterday, Tukur, who was however not specific on the date of commencement of the exercise, stressed that necessary machinery have been put in place for the e-registration exercise.
PDP Governors’ Forum
When asked if the PDP Governors’ Forum was not formed to weaken the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, as well as actualise President Jonathan’s second term ambition, the PDP National Chairman noted that the forum was not the platform for selecting candidates for elections.
He said: “Let me tell you, in politics there is a lot of misinformation and people tend to interpret issues from different view points.
“Jonathan is now the President and belongs to the PDP so what is wrong in the party presenting him? The other parties can equally present their candidates if they have any.
“The Governors’ Forum is not for selecting a candidate; we have got our own system in doing that. Candidates are not elected at Governors’ Forum.”
On e-registration, Tukur said: “It is currently in the works and we are going to commence it for sure. We are now in the age of technology whereby things are no longer done manually. So I can assure you that very soon we will commence the e-registration of our members to have a common membership database.”
Tukur, who noted that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum was playing an important role in the development of Nigeria, said: “I think the Nigerian Governors’ Forum is very healthy and I can tell you why.
“Look at Nigeria with different ethnic, religious coloration and economic balancing. We need this kind of situation whereby you tend to melt your people and put them together.
“Mind you, Nigeria is fast moving as a regional power and you cannot achieve that until you have a strong and stable government. Therefore, the NGF is very healthy because we all have to be collectively clear with ourselves; and if we understand our differences, then we can work together better.
On Aliyu’s comment
“We have people from the opposition with different opinions, but if they are working together in terms of agreeing on common good, to that effect I can tell you that the NGF is an important forum.”
On the declaration of Niger State governor and Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, Babangida Aliyu that President Jonathan was behind this with intention of supplanting the larger body, the NGF, Tukur said: “Well, it is an opinion. It doesn’t mean that all our governors agree with him.
“He can say so but I have explained to you as the chairman of this party that they are all my governors. We may not share the same position on the formation of PDP Governors Forum. But I have explained to you our intention, as a party. We want our governors to come together.”
When asked on views by some eminent Nigerians, who have dismissed the Governors’ Forum as a threat to democracy, Tukur said: “Well, if you say people are criticising them, it is politics. It is an opinion. People can criticise. That was why I took my time to explain to you the basis of our action.”
PDP NEC meeting,
Buhari’s allegation
On why there was no National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, he said: “We are going to have our caucus, and then we shall have our NEC meeting. It is part of the structures of our party and we follow due process in line with the structures in our party.
“That is the only way we can continue to keep in touch with our members, from the lowest level to the highest. We are going to do that.”
On General Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that PDP doesn’t need any merger, because it has already merged with Police, INEC, the judiciary and Pension Fund, he said: “I don’t think one need to react to this kind of statement.
“I think the best thing to do is to ask for evidence. If you cannot show evidence, there is no need to react. I can only react to things that are factual, not rumours, not antics.”
On Adamawa crisis, Tukur said: “There is crisis in Adamawa? What crisis? If there is crisis in Adamawa, please, tell me.”
ABUJA—AHEAD of 2015 presidential election, National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, said there was nothing wrong if the party presents President Goodluck Jonathan for the election, just as he challenged other opposition political parties to forward theirs if they have.
He also said the party will soon commence the electronic registration of its members, which was jettisoned by the governors elected on the platform of the party during the tenure of Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, saying it would help PDP have a central database of all its members.
Tukur, who also denied reports that the presidency and the party were behind the problems of Chibuike Amaechi, said: “No, we are not behind it. They have an arrangement of two year tenure for their chairman. So, neither the party leadership nor Mr. President is against Amaechi or whoever they elect as their leader for NGF.”
Answering questions from journalists in Abuja yesterday, Tukur, who was however not specific on the date of commencement of the exercise, stressed that necessary machinery have been put in place for the e-registration exercise.
Jonathan
When asked if the PDP Governors’ Forum was not formed to weaken the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, as well as actualise President Jonathan’s second term ambition, the PDP National Chairman noted that the forum was not the platform for selecting candidates for elections.
He said: “Let me tell you, in politics there is a lot of misinformation and people tend to interpret issues from different view points.
“Jonathan is now the President and belongs to the PDP so what is wrong in the party presenting him? The other parties can equally present their candidates if they have any.
“The Governors’ Forum is not for selecting a candidate; we have got our own system in doing that. Candidates are not elected at Governors’ Forum.”
On e-registration, Tukur said: “It is currently in the works and we are going to commence it for sure. We are now in the age of technology whereby things are no longer done manually. So I can assure you that very soon we will commence the e-registration of our members to have a common membership database.”
Tukur, who noted that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum was playing an important role in the development of Nigeria, said: “I think the Nigerian Governors’ Forum is very healthy and I can tell you why.
“Look at Nigeria with different ethnic, religious coloration and economic balancing. We need this kind of situation whereby you tend to melt your people and put them together.
“Mind you, Nigeria is fast moving as a regional power and you cannot achieve that until you have a strong and stable government. Therefore, the NGF is very healthy because we all have to be collectively clear with ourselves; and if we understand our differences, then we can work together better.
On Aliyu’s comment
“We have people from the opposition with different opinions, but if they are working together in terms of agreeing on common good, to that effect I can tell you that the NGF is an important forum.”
On the declaration of Niger State governor and Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, Babangida Aliyu that President Jonathan was behind this with intention of supplanting the larger body, the NGF, Tukur said: “Well, it is an opinion. It doesn’t mean that all our governors agree with him.
“He can say so but I have explained to you as the chairman of this party that they are all my governors. We may not share the same position on the formation of PDP Governors Forum. But I have explained to you our intention, as a party. We want our governors to come together.”
When asked on views by some eminent Nigerians, who have dismissed the Governors’ Forum as a threat to democracy, Tukur said: “Well, if you say people are criticising them, it is politics. It is an opinion. People can criticise. That was why I took my time to explain to you the basis of our action.”
PDP NEC meeting,
Buhari’s allegation
On why there was no National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, he said: “We are going to have our caucus, and then we shall have our NEC meeting. It is part of the structures of our party and we follow due process in line with the structures in our party.
“That is the only way we can continue to keep in touch with our members, from the lowest level to the highest. We are going to do that.”
On General Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that PDP doesn’t need any merger, because it has already merged with Police, INEC, the judiciary and Pension Fund, he said: “I don’t think one need to react to this kind of statement.
“I think the best thing to do is to ask for evidence. If you cannot show evidence, there is no need to react. I can only react to things that are factual, not rumours, not antics.”
On Adamawa crisis, Tukur said: “There is crisis in Adamawa? What crisis? If there is crisis in Adamawa, please, tell me.”
We didn’t kill any student of Nasarawa varsity – Army
BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG
ABUJA — The Nigerian Army has denied reports that its troops killed four students of the Nasarawa State University who were protesting poor state of infrastructure in the institution, adding that its soldiers did not shoot any of the students during the protest.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Attahiru made this known after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, received the Indian Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Krishna Singh, in his office.
His words: “On February 25, 2013, students of Nasarawa State University came out en mass and barricaded the Keffi-Akwanga expressway, which is part of the 177 Guards Battalion patrol routes. This road was blocked with logs of wood and burning tyres which hampered vehicular movement, leaving travellers stranded for hours and numerous vehicles damaged by the violent crowd.
“It was also reported that the irate crowd were looting travellers’ belongings and throwing stones, bottles and metal objects at the security operatives. However, it is believed that the protest was hijacked by some hoodlums and cult members who are students of the university.
“As a result, the violent crowd burnt down two vehicles at the Police station located across the campus and seized a tanker loaded with fuel with the intention of burning down the Police station.
“It is important to note that the combined efforts of the troops in conjunction with other security agencies assisted in dispersing the crowd and removing the blockades from the road to ease movement of vehicles. Presently, law and order have been restored in the area and troops are closely monitoring the situation.”
Asked why soldiers were called in to quell a students’ riot, Attahiru said: “You are aware of the problem of communal clashes in Nasarawa State. Troops are on patrol to checkmate the killings and violence, so the Vice Chancellor did not need to invite soldiers on patrol who ran into the blockade on a major highway and were engaging in violence.
“In any case, let me repeat, our troops did not shoot any student during the protest. We are very well trained professionals. Since we did not use live ammunitions, I do not know how we would have shot anybody. Our troops were not in any way involved in the shooting.”
Killing unacceptable, reprehensive—NLC
NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, said the murder of four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi by soldiers drafted to the school to quell protest by students over non-availability of water was shocking, unacceptable and reprehensible.
NLC in a statement by its President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said these avoidable killings of young and defenseless people left a sour taste in the mouth, arguing that this brutal tactics by soldiers was a throw-back to the past the nation would be better off without.
Comrade Omar said: “The right to dissent or protest is a constitutional right and not a privilege to be given by any god-head. What the students were doing therefore was in the exercise of that right from which not only them would benefit.
“If however, it was the considered opinion of the law enforcement agents that the students had crossed the red line in the exercise of that right, the professional and proper thing was to have been guided by the rules of engagement and not to have engaged in a senseless slaughter.
“It is bad enough that our utilities on which huge sums of money are spent do not work. To kill those who insist that they work, which in our view, is ensuring accountability, is double jeopardy.
“We want to be emphatic. No amount of cruelty or mindless violence visited on the weak and the defenseless will stop protests in our land. Our students were part of the struggle that restored democracy in our land, and should not be treated as irritants who do not know the difference between right and wrong”.
“Those who invited the soldiers, those who carried out these killings and those under whose watch the killings were carried out should be held accountable. The government should fish them out immediately and prosecute them in line with the laws of the land.
“Except this is done, government would have succeeded in sending out one clear message, that when it comes to terror there is no difference between the state and terrorists. This crude impunity and descent into the abyss, we must warn, should be arrested for the sake of all of us.”
“It is trite knowledge that violence breeds violence, particularly in societies where the state no longer has monopoly of weapons of destruction. We should move from this quick-fix strategy to something much more durable and reasonable. We should re-discover our values and inspire our younger generation instead of this orgy of violence that will ultimately consume us.
School authorities should exercise utmost restraint in dealing with student protests, for they lose control as soon as they externalize them. Quite often, nipping in the bud such protests is a safer option as we know that students when taken into confidence could be reasonable. In the event of an inevitable situation necessitating externalization, only law enforcement agents with the needed temperament, education and training relevant to students’ psychology should be deployed to campuses. Above all this, they should be thoroughly versed in the art of internal security maintenance and rules of engagement. This, in our view, makes necessary here and now the retraining of our security forces to deal with students and other civil protests.”
ABUJA — The Nigerian Army has denied reports that its troops killed four students of the Nasarawa State University who were protesting poor state of infrastructure in the institution, adding that its soldiers did not shoot any of the students during the protest.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Attahiru made this known after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, received the Indian Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Krishna Singh, in his office.
His words: “On February 25, 2013, students of Nasarawa State University came out en mass and barricaded the Keffi-Akwanga expressway, which is part of the 177 Guards Battalion patrol routes. This road was blocked with logs of wood and burning tyres which hampered vehicular movement, leaving travellers stranded for hours and numerous vehicles damaged by the violent crowd.
“It was also reported that the irate crowd were looting travellers’ belongings and throwing stones, bottles and metal objects at the security operatives. However, it is believed that the protest was hijacked by some hoodlums and cult members who are students of the university.
“As a result, the violent crowd burnt down two vehicles at the Police station located across the campus and seized a tanker loaded with fuel with the intention of burning down the Police station.
Attempt to burn police stattion
“The combined efforts of 177 Guards Battalion with others security operatives prevented the hoodlums from this act. The violent action of the crowd led to three soldiers of 177 Guards Battalion sustaining various degrees of injuries from the stones, bottles and metals thrown at them.“It is important to note that the combined efforts of the troops in conjunction with other security agencies assisted in dispersing the crowd and removing the blockades from the road to ease movement of vehicles. Presently, law and order have been restored in the area and troops are closely monitoring the situation.”
Asked why soldiers were called in to quell a students’ riot, Attahiru said: “You are aware of the problem of communal clashes in Nasarawa State. Troops are on patrol to checkmate the killings and violence, so the Vice Chancellor did not need to invite soldiers on patrol who ran into the blockade on a major highway and were engaging in violence.
“In any case, let me repeat, our troops did not shoot any student during the protest. We are very well trained professionals. Since we did not use live ammunitions, I do not know how we would have shot anybody. Our troops were not in any way involved in the shooting.”
Killing unacceptable, reprehensive—NLC
NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, said the murder of four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi by soldiers drafted to the school to quell protest by students over non-availability of water was shocking, unacceptable and reprehensible.
NLC in a statement by its President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said these avoidable killings of young and defenseless people left a sour taste in the mouth, arguing that this brutal tactics by soldiers was a throw-back to the past the nation would be better off without.
Comrade Omar said: “The right to dissent or protest is a constitutional right and not a privilege to be given by any god-head. What the students were doing therefore was in the exercise of that right from which not only them would benefit.
“If however, it was the considered opinion of the law enforcement agents that the students had crossed the red line in the exercise of that right, the professional and proper thing was to have been guided by the rules of engagement and not to have engaged in a senseless slaughter.
“It is bad enough that our utilities on which huge sums of money are spent do not work. To kill those who insist that they work, which in our view, is ensuring accountability, is double jeopardy.
“We want to be emphatic. No amount of cruelty or mindless violence visited on the weak and the defenseless will stop protests in our land. Our students were part of the struggle that restored democracy in our land, and should not be treated as irritants who do not know the difference between right and wrong”.
“Those who invited the soldiers, those who carried out these killings and those under whose watch the killings were carried out should be held accountable. The government should fish them out immediately and prosecute them in line with the laws of the land.
“Except this is done, government would have succeeded in sending out one clear message, that when it comes to terror there is no difference between the state and terrorists. This crude impunity and descent into the abyss, we must warn, should be arrested for the sake of all of us.”
“It is trite knowledge that violence breeds violence, particularly in societies where the state no longer has monopoly of weapons of destruction. We should move from this quick-fix strategy to something much more durable and reasonable. We should re-discover our values and inspire our younger generation instead of this orgy of violence that will ultimately consume us.
School authorities should exercise utmost restraint in dealing with student protests, for they lose control as soon as they externalize them. Quite often, nipping in the bud such protests is a safer option as we know that students when taken into confidence could be reasonable. In the event of an inevitable situation necessitating externalization, only law enforcement agents with the needed temperament, education and training relevant to students’ psychology should be deployed to campuses. Above all this, they should be thoroughly versed in the art of internal security maintenance and rules of engagement. This, in our view, makes necessary here and now the retraining of our security forces to deal with students and other civil protests.”
Ado Bayero, 2 sons return
By AbdulSalam Muhammad
KANO — Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, returned home from London, yesterday evening, aboard a presidential jet which touched down at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport at about 6.50pm.
Those who were at the airport to welcome him include government functionaries, traditional title holders, businessmen and artisans.
Ado Bayero, looking healthy, stayed briefly at the presidential wing of the airport where he received a retinue of his subjects.
Amid tight security, the 19th Fulani emir and his two sons were later conveyed to his palace as the crowd chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Great).
The emir was flown abroad on January 21 this year for medical treatment with his two sons, Sanusi Ado Bayero and Aminu Ado Bayero following an attack on his convoy where he lost his driver and three royal guards.
Action Congress of Nigeria chieftain, Alhaji Bashir Gentile, told Vanguard: “Kano is happy for his return and we shall remain committed in our prayers for Allah’s mercy.
“As you can see, the emir is hale and hearty and we remain grateful to Allah.”
KANO — Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, returned home from London, yesterday evening, aboard a presidential jet which touched down at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport at about 6.50pm.
Those who were at the airport to welcome him include government functionaries, traditional title holders, businessmen and artisans.
Ado Bayero, looking healthy, stayed briefly at the presidential wing of the airport where he received a retinue of his subjects.
Amid tight security, the 19th Fulani emir and his two sons were later conveyed to his palace as the crowd chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Great).
The emir was flown abroad on January 21 this year for medical treatment with his two sons, Sanusi Ado Bayero and Aminu Ado Bayero following an attack on his convoy where he lost his driver and three royal guards.
Action Congress of Nigeria chieftain, Alhaji Bashir Gentile, told Vanguard: “Kano is happy for his return and we shall remain committed in our prayers for Allah’s mercy.
“As you can see, the emir is hale and hearty and we remain grateful to Allah.”
Police nab 3 for allegedly stealing 10 day old baby
By TONY EDIKE
ENUGU — The police in Enugu have arrested three persons, including a lady for allegedly stealing a 10-day old baby.
The suspects were arrested by the anti-kidnap unit of the state police command following the alarm raised by the mother of the child, identified as Chinenye Egwu from Oduma in Aninri local Government Area of the state.
Vanguard gathered that the plan to steal the baby boy was hatched by the suspects and others now at large after the woman put to bed and it was discovered that she had a male child and none of her relations was present.
She was said to have registered with the private hospital where she attended ante-natal before delivering her baby on February 10.
“The woman told the police that after delivering the baby she was in a very good condition and her baby was also healthy.
But suddenly one of the nurses gave her an injection and she went into a deep sleep. When she woke up the baby had disappeared. Upon inquiry from the nurses about the child’s hereabouts she was told that the baby had some problems and was taken away.
“Their explanation was not clear to her as she demanded to see the baby but when they failed to produce him that day she became suspicious that the hospital staff might be up to something funny.
She insisted that the baby must be produced but along the line, one of the suspects approached her and made an offer of N46,000 for the woman to forget about the baby.
“When she refused the offer, she was threatened by one of them, a development that forced her to raise an alarm and subsequently contacted the police.
She identified one of the suspects, who was picked up by the police while two other members of the gang were later apprehended,” the source narrated.
However, the child was recovered in the course of the investigation by the detectives but the suspects whom the police identified as Nwandi Chinenye (female), Friday Ude and Sylvester Ozollo, are currently being interrogated.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, advised members of the public to beware of the type of hospitals they send pregnant women for delivery to prevent such occurrence in future.
In another development, the police said a suspect who gave his name as Kenneth Ugwu had been apprehended for allegedly trading on fake currency.
He was reportedly arrested by the Nsukka Police Division on February 20 after a report that he was seen at Eha Alumona with 28 pieces of fake N1,000 note.
The PPRO said the fake currency was recovered from the suspect’s house when it was searched during investigations.
ENUGU — The police in Enugu have arrested three persons, including a lady for allegedly stealing a 10-day old baby.
The suspects were arrested by the anti-kidnap unit of the state police command following the alarm raised by the mother of the child, identified as Chinenye Egwu from Oduma in Aninri local Government Area of the state.
Vanguard gathered that the plan to steal the baby boy was hatched by the suspects and others now at large after the woman put to bed and it was discovered that she had a male child and none of her relations was present.
She was said to have registered with the private hospital where she attended ante-natal before delivering her baby on February 10.
“The woman told the police that after delivering the baby she was in a very good condition and her baby was also healthy.
But suddenly one of the nurses gave her an injection and she went into a deep sleep. When she woke up the baby had disappeared. Upon inquiry from the nurses about the child’s hereabouts she was told that the baby had some problems and was taken away.
“Their explanation was not clear to her as she demanded to see the baby but when they failed to produce him that day she became suspicious that the hospital staff might be up to something funny.
She insisted that the baby must be produced but along the line, one of the suspects approached her and made an offer of N46,000 for the woman to forget about the baby.
“When she refused the offer, she was threatened by one of them, a development that forced her to raise an alarm and subsequently contacted the police.
She identified one of the suspects, who was picked up by the police while two other members of the gang were later apprehended,” the source narrated.
However, the child was recovered in the course of the investigation by the detectives but the suspects whom the police identified as Nwandi Chinenye (female), Friday Ude and Sylvester Ozollo, are currently being interrogated.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, advised members of the public to beware of the type of hospitals they send pregnant women for delivery to prevent such occurrence in future.
In another development, the police said a suspect who gave his name as Kenneth Ugwu had been apprehended for allegedly trading on fake currency.
He was reportedly arrested by the Nsukka Police Division on February 20 after a report that he was seen at Eha Alumona with 28 pieces of fake N1,000 note.
The PPRO said the fake currency was recovered from the suspect’s house when it was searched during investigations.
32 countries to storm Warri for Athletics championships
Over 421 athletes from 32 countries have so far confirmed their participation at the maiden African Athletics Youth Championships billed for March 27-31 in Warri, Delta State.
The Championships are open to athletes who are under-17 as at this year. Confederation of Africa Athletics CAA confirmed Nigeria as the hosts last year, at its congress in Porto Novo, Benin Republic. Some of the countries that have registered include traditional athletics nations like South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia and Algeria. Hosts, Nigeria have the highest number of entry with 80 athletes. Ethiopia have the second largest delegation with 42 athletes, South Africa is coming with 30 athletes, while Cape Verde, Guinea, Zimbabwe and Comoros Islands have only two athletes representing them.
Athletics Federation of Nigeria secretary-general Maria Wophil said that more countries are still been expected to register for the Championships.
“Our estimate is that about 500 athletes will be in Warri. This is huge. We are still expecting more entries as the deadline closes on March 4,” she said.
Delta State Sports Commission Chairman and head of the Local Organising Committee, Mr. Pinnick Amaju said that Delta was working hard to ensure a successful hosting of the championships. He added that it will be one of best organised athletics events the continent has ever witnessed. The CAA, during an inspection visit in Warri had urged Delta to set a standard in the hosting of the maiden AYC.
While inaugurating the LOC Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan urged the committee to make a good show of hosting the championships. He stated that during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2009, Warri was denied the opportunity of being one of the host cities because of “perceived security fears”. “ We want to use the AYC to show the world that Warri is a perfectly safe city to visit,”
The Championships are open to athletes who are under-17 as at this year. Confederation of Africa Athletics CAA confirmed Nigeria as the hosts last year, at its congress in Porto Novo, Benin Republic. Some of the countries that have registered include traditional athletics nations like South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia and Algeria. Hosts, Nigeria have the highest number of entry with 80 athletes. Ethiopia have the second largest delegation with 42 athletes, South Africa is coming with 30 athletes, while Cape Verde, Guinea, Zimbabwe and Comoros Islands have only two athletes representing them.
Athletics Federation of Nigeria secretary-general Maria Wophil said that more countries are still been expected to register for the Championships.
“Our estimate is that about 500 athletes will be in Warri. This is huge. We are still expecting more entries as the deadline closes on March 4,” she said.
Delta State Sports Commission Chairman and head of the Local Organising Committee, Mr. Pinnick Amaju said that Delta was working hard to ensure a successful hosting of the championships. He added that it will be one of best organised athletics events the continent has ever witnessed. The CAA, during an inspection visit in Warri had urged Delta to set a standard in the hosting of the maiden AYC.
While inaugurating the LOC Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan urged the committee to make a good show of hosting the championships. He stated that during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2009, Warri was denied the opportunity of being one of the host cities because of “perceived security fears”. “ We want to use the AYC to show the world that Warri is a perfectly safe city to visit,”
Jonathan to NASS: You’re laying landmines for me
By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North
ABUJA — SIXTY-NINE days after the National Assembly passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill, President Goodluck Jonathan reluctantly signed it into law fearing that it was replete with landmines, it was gathered.
Jonathan’s major grouse with the budget, which he refused to sign since it was transmitted to him on January 14, 2013, is that the lawmakers may use the landmines as weapon to assault him and his administration if he fails to implement the budget to the letter.
Vanguard gathered from competent sources that of particular worry to Jonathan is a clause in the budget, which states: “That the National Assembly is authorised by law to monitor and ensure that the Executive implements the budget to the letter as passed by legislature.”
One of the sources pointed out that although the clause is not a new one in the budget document, the Presidency was wary of the National Assembly members, particularly those from the House of Representatives, whose leadership, it believes, has been infiltrated by members of the opposition, who could exploit any loophole to impeach the President.
Jonathan, it was learnt, had confronted the leadership of the National Assembly and asked them to choose between outright return of the controversial fiscal bill to them or reaching a compromise on a supplementary budget.
State House correspondents, who had gathered in the conference room of the President’s office, were asked to leave and await a statement on the signing of the budget following a last minute brief meeting between members of the Economic Team on one hand and the leadership of the National Assembly on the other, with Jonathan in another room.
The brief parley, it was gathered, was to enable the two parties to make concessions on contentious areas of the budget, which did not, however, yield any significant shift of hardened positions by both parties.
It is the rollover of the projects that caused serious distortion to the budget, forcing the President to withhold his assent to it for more than two months.
Jonathan is said to have argued that doing so would stall the implementation of the budget and cause more hardship in the land. He was also said to have argued that it would pave the way for Nigerians to blame him for non-performance, thereby affecting the image of his administration, as the 2015 election draws closer.
Instead of taking the unfinished projects into the 2013 budget in addition to the new ones suggested by the lawmakers, the President suggested that the National Assembly members should forward the list of such projects to the Ministry of Special Duties for implementation, a demand the lawmakers resentfully acquiesced.
It was understood that what the President did to the budget on Tuesday night in the name of signing the 2013 budget into law, was more of a ceremonial function to nip in the bud the threat by the more radical House of Representatives to veto him and cause more friction between them and the Presidency while “an acceptable budget” would soon be sent to the National Assembly by way of a supplementary budget by the President.
In the same spirit, the lawmakers are to accord the supplementary budget an accelerated passage for the President to sign once it is transmitted to him, unlike the painful delay which attended the current fiscal bill.
The President had distanced himself from the 2013 budget when the National Assembly added N63 billion to the figure presented to them and months of several meetings on the matter did not produce any result even with the passage of the 30-day deadline set by the law.
But on Tuesday, the House of Representatives, which is regarded as the hotbed of opposition by the government, threatened to begin the process of overriding the President on the budget, only for Jonathan to announce that he had signed the fiscal bill into law with a proviso that it would be sent back to the National Assembly “for further legislative work.”
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, described the claim by the ACN as lacking in substance and running contrary to the verdicts of reputable international rating agencies.
According to the Presidency spokesman, “contrary to the claim of the ACN that the cost of producing a barrel of oil had ‘skyrocketed’ to $35 in 2012 from $4 in 2002, the actual cost of production stands at approximately $17 per barrel.
“The cost of oil production per barrel had never risen as high as the opposition claims. Even at the height of restiveness in the Niger Delta area and its consequent effect on the upstream oil sector, the per barrel cost of oil production in Nigeria never rose above $18. When compared with $50 and $70 per barrel spent on production of shale oil by the United States of America, the cost of producing oil in Nigeria which is $17 per barrel as well as a prevailing sale price of over $100 per barrel does not support the alarming claim of the opposition.
“Similarly, the Jonathan administration has provided more and better surveillance boats for the Nigerian Navy to enhance patrol of our coastal waters. This has resulted in arrest of several vessels engaged in oil theft and these were well reported in the Nigerian print and electronic media.”
The Presidency drew the attention of the opposition to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, currently before the National Assembly which it says was conceived by President Jonathan to provide for best practice processes for acreage availability, bidding and awards and, therefore, address the problems of dwindling oil and gas exploratory opportunities, and corruption among other problems in the sector.
It added that the need to diversify the Nigerian economy and reduce dependence on oil had also been the driving force of the Federal Government’s massive investment in agriculture in a manner unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria.
He said: “In the year 2012 alone, the agricultural sector accounted for over 75 per cent of all non-oil export; the highest output in 25 years.”
While agreeing that there is indeed a need to reduce the cost of governance at all tiers of government in Nigeria, the statement explained that President Jonathan had shown practical commitment through a reduction in recurrent expenditure from 74 per cent in 2011 to 71 per cent in 2012 and 68 per cent in the 2013 budget ,adding that the medium term target is to reach 60 per cent recurrent expenditure.
The statement said it was of concern that a political party, individual or any organisation worth its salt would chose to ignore the positive rating of the Nigerian economy by reputable international rating agencies in the last one and a half years of the Jonathan administration but rather conjure imaginary figures to make wild claims.
Negative verdict on economy
“One wonders if the ACN would have ignored the ratings by Fitch, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Jp Morgan if those bodies had turned in a negative verdict on the Nigerian economy. The only conclusion one can draw from this is that the opposition has once again chosen the myopic and jaundiced path of public policy analysis rather than base its assessment on verifiable, objective indices. Unfortunately, a matter as sensitive as a nation’s economy ought not to be subjected to this fashion of blind politicking.”
While assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government remains committed to implementing sound economic policies and development of the nation’s infrastructure, the Presidency urged politicians to exhibit statesmanship in addressing issues of critical nature rather than seeking to score cheap points in desperate manner.
ABUJA — SIXTY-NINE days after the National Assembly passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill, President Goodluck Jonathan reluctantly signed it into law fearing that it was replete with landmines, it was gathered.
Jonathan’s major grouse with the budget, which he refused to sign since it was transmitted to him on January 14, 2013, is that the lawmakers may use the landmines as weapon to assault him and his administration if he fails to implement the budget to the letter.
Vanguard gathered from competent sources that of particular worry to Jonathan is a clause in the budget, which states: “That the National Assembly is authorised by law to monitor and ensure that the Executive implements the budget to the letter as passed by legislature.”
President Goodluck Jonathan (l) addressing newsmen shortly on arrival at the Yamoussoukro International Airport, Cote D’ivoire for the 42nd Ordinary Summit Of Heads Of State and Government of ECOWAS on Wednesday (27/2/12).with him is President Alassane Ouattara of Cote D’ivoire.
Jonathan, it was learnt, had confronted the leadership of the National Assembly and asked them to choose between outright return of the controversial fiscal bill to them or reaching a compromise on a supplementary budget.
President’s reservations
The President’s reservations about the document and the need to sort out irreconcilable differences with the lawmakers accounted for the secret signing of the budget by Jonathan as opposed to the open tradition of doing so.State House correspondents, who had gathered in the conference room of the President’s office, were asked to leave and await a statement on the signing of the budget following a last minute brief meeting between members of the Economic Team on one hand and the leadership of the National Assembly on the other, with Jonathan in another room.
The brief parley, it was gathered, was to enable the two parties to make concessions on contentious areas of the budget, which did not, however, yield any significant shift of hardened positions by both parties.
Jonathan rejects rollover of 2012 constituency projects
It was learnt that while the President reluctantly accepted the $79 per barrel oil benchmark and the zero allocation budget to the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, on the understanding that the commission could still generate and fund its operations from the stock market, he rebuffed the lawmakers’ condition that their 2012 constituency projects be rolled over into the current budget.It is the rollover of the projects that caused serious distortion to the budget, forcing the President to withhold his assent to it for more than two months.
Jonathan is said to have argued that doing so would stall the implementation of the budget and cause more hardship in the land. He was also said to have argued that it would pave the way for Nigerians to blame him for non-performance, thereby affecting the image of his administration, as the 2015 election draws closer.
Instead of taking the unfinished projects into the 2013 budget in addition to the new ones suggested by the lawmakers, the President suggested that the National Assembly members should forward the list of such projects to the Ministry of Special Duties for implementation, a demand the lawmakers resentfully acquiesced.
It was understood that what the President did to the budget on Tuesday night in the name of signing the 2013 budget into law, was more of a ceremonial function to nip in the bud the threat by the more radical House of Representatives to veto him and cause more friction between them and the Presidency while “an acceptable budget” would soon be sent to the National Assembly by way of a supplementary budget by the President.
...to forward supplementary budget immediately
Based on the understanding reached by both parties, the Presidency is expected to use the opportunity of the supplementary budget to expunge items inserted by the National Assembly, which the Executive believes it cannot implement rather than openly accuse the lawmakers of padding the fiscal document.In the same spirit, the lawmakers are to accord the supplementary budget an accelerated passage for the President to sign once it is transmitted to him, unlike the painful delay which attended the current fiscal bill.
The President had distanced himself from the 2013 budget when the National Assembly added N63 billion to the figure presented to them and months of several meetings on the matter did not produce any result even with the passage of the 30-day deadline set by the law.
But on Tuesday, the House of Representatives, which is regarded as the hotbed of opposition by the government, threatened to begin the process of overriding the President on the budget, only for Jonathan to announce that he had signed the fiscal bill into law with a proviso that it would be sent back to the National Assembly “for further legislative work.”
Nigerian economy not in danger — Presidency
Meanwhile, the Presidency has declared that contrary to the claims of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the nation’s economy was not in danger as all globally recognized indices indicate that the Nigerian economy was stable and on an upward beat.A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, described the claim by the ACN as lacking in substance and running contrary to the verdicts of reputable international rating agencies.
According to the Presidency spokesman, “contrary to the claim of the ACN that the cost of producing a barrel of oil had ‘skyrocketed’ to $35 in 2012 from $4 in 2002, the actual cost of production stands at approximately $17 per barrel.
“The cost of oil production per barrel had never risen as high as the opposition claims. Even at the height of restiveness in the Niger Delta area and its consequent effect on the upstream oil sector, the per barrel cost of oil production in Nigeria never rose above $18. When compared with $50 and $70 per barrel spent on production of shale oil by the United States of America, the cost of producing oil in Nigeria which is $17 per barrel as well as a prevailing sale price of over $100 per barrel does not support the alarming claim of the opposition.
FG tackling crude oil theft
“The second leg upon which the ACN based its wrong assertions is similarly laden with deceptive undertones. For a fact, there are incidents of crude oil theft which had existed for several decades before this administration came on board. However, the truth is that this is currently being tackled through pro active steps by the government. The opposition is most probably aware of the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan recently secured the co-operation of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and French President on measures to prevent refineries in Europe from buying crude oil stolen from Nigeria.“Similarly, the Jonathan administration has provided more and better surveillance boats for the Nigerian Navy to enhance patrol of our coastal waters. This has resulted in arrest of several vessels engaged in oil theft and these were well reported in the Nigerian print and electronic media.”
The Presidency drew the attention of the opposition to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, currently before the National Assembly which it says was conceived by President Jonathan to provide for best practice processes for acreage availability, bidding and awards and, therefore, address the problems of dwindling oil and gas exploratory opportunities, and corruption among other problems in the sector.
It added that the need to diversify the Nigerian economy and reduce dependence on oil had also been the driving force of the Federal Government’s massive investment in agriculture in a manner unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria.
He said: “In the year 2012 alone, the agricultural sector accounted for over 75 per cent of all non-oil export; the highest output in 25 years.”
Need to reduce cost of governance
While agreeing that there is indeed a need to reduce the cost of governance at all tiers of government in Nigeria, the statement explained that President Jonathan had shown practical commitment through a reduction in recurrent expenditure from 74 per cent in 2011 to 71 per cent in 2012 and 68 per cent in the 2013 budget ,adding that the medium term target is to reach 60 per cent recurrent expenditure.
The statement said it was of concern that a political party, individual or any organisation worth its salt would chose to ignore the positive rating of the Nigerian economy by reputable international rating agencies in the last one and a half years of the Jonathan administration but rather conjure imaginary figures to make wild claims.
Negative verdict on economy
“One wonders if the ACN would have ignored the ratings by Fitch, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Jp Morgan if those bodies had turned in a negative verdict on the Nigerian economy. The only conclusion one can draw from this is that the opposition has once again chosen the myopic and jaundiced path of public policy analysis rather than base its assessment on verifiable, objective indices. Unfortunately, a matter as sensitive as a nation’s economy ought not to be subjected to this fashion of blind politicking.”
While assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government remains committed to implementing sound economic policies and development of the nation’s infrastructure, the Presidency urged politicians to exhibit statesmanship in addressing issues of critical nature rather than seeking to score cheap points in desperate manner.
Photo of the day
Wizkid Releases Azonto Video on Star Music
News release...
Superstar Wizkid has announced the release of the video for his viral single Azonto on Nigeria’s pioneer mobile music platform, Star Music.
The video for the song was shot in London by Mr Moe Musa and is inspired by the famous Ghanaian dance, Azonto.
Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries, noted that artistes like Wizkid are the future of Nigerian music and Star Music is proud to be associated with the internationally celebrated artiste. “The energy and vibrancy that Wizkid’s music exudes is not restricted to his music alone; it’s synonymous with Nigerian music and young Nigerians in general. So you can understand why we are really happy to be the first platform to share this wonderful video to the world.”
The MOBO-winning star who’s building a remarkable career, selling out concerts, winning awards here and abroad and building tremendous influence on social media says he’s ‘very ‘happy, proud, excited, name it. These are some of the many ways companies like Star can support Nigerian artistes, by giving our fans avenues to move closer to us. Star Music is a fantastic platform, you won’t believe how cool it is!’
Star Music is available on several mobile operating systems, including Android, Java, Blackberry, iphone, ipad and Google Play; as well as on a dedicated mobisite.
Star Music can be downloaded free from the following stores.
Man kills mum, dismembers and scatters her body parts in garbage bags across town
A schizophrenic South Bronx man confessed Tuesday to dismembering his mom and scattering her body parts in garbage bags across the South Bronx, police sources said.
Deranged suspect Bashid McLean, 23 (pictured right), implicated himself in the gruesome death after investigators recovered a saw inside the apartment where he lived with victim Tanya Byrd (pictured right) and his 7-year-old brother, Nasyr.
Cops also found a shopping cart used to lug 52-year-old Byrd’s severed body parts from their home to four locations within walking distance of the murder scene, police sources said.
Byrd was terrified by McLean, who was on probation after coming at two cops with a knife in 2010, and suspected that he was battering little Nasyr. The younger brother has Down syndrome, according to one neighbor.
"I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Bashid killed her,” said a 43-year-old woman who lives in the building on Westchester Ave. in Melrose. “She was afraid of that boy. . .He was a hellion.”
When bruises began appearing on the special-needs child, Byrd suspected her older son, the neighbor said.
“Bashid had a problem controlling his rage,” said the neighbor. “He had creepy eyes. Didn’t like to look you in the eye — but when he did, they went right through you.”
Although McLean called police to report his mom was missing, he quickly emerged as a suspect in the gruesome killing, police sources said. Cops were questioning him at the 40th Precinct stationhouse late Tuesday.
McLean’s sister, Porsche Lovett, who visited him at the stationhouse, said he showed no remorse. “He looked me in the eyes and told me he did nothing wrong when he killed her,” she said. “I don’t know who he is.'Byrd’s body parts were stuffed in garbage bags and scattered throughout her neighborhood, with a dog walker spying her right leg protruding from a pile of garbage around 5 a.m., police said.
Three heavy-duty plastic garbage bags stuffed with body parts were found nearby.
The victim’s head, hands, torso, legs and shoulder were pulled from the trash bags, the sources said.www.http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2013/02/man-kills-mum-dismembers-and-scatters.html#more
The brutal killing left McLean’s family members reeling — despite Bashid’s history of aggression and mental health problems.
“He did destructive things,” said his father, James McLean. “He set fires; nobody could control him. ”
The dead woman’s sister said Bashid nursed a grudge against Byrd over his placement in foster care while his mom battled a drug problem. They reunited when he turned 18.
“I want people to know my sister was a good mother,” said Cassandra McLean. “She always took care of him.”
Celebrities model Yomi Casual's 2013 design collection
Pope bids farewell to huge crowds
Pope Benedict XVI admits 'stormy waters' during his pontificate as he holds his last audience in St Peter's Square before tens of thousands of pilgrims on the eve of his historic resignation.
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday admitted "stormy waters" during his pontificate as he held his last audience in St Peter's Square before tens of thousands of pilgrims on the eve of his historic resignation.
Benedict toured the Vatican plaza in his famous "popemobile", stopping to kiss children and waving to the crowd of more than 100,000 gathered under a bright, cloudless sky.
Some in the throng held up huge banners with messages such as "Benedict, we'll miss you!" and "The pope is the heart of this city!" or waved the Vatican's yellow and white flag at the pontiff's last public event.
The pope drew an analogy between his reign and a miracle recounted in the Bible when Jesus Christ calmed the waters as he was sailing with his disciples including St Peter -- a fisherman by trade who is believed by Christians to be the first pope.
"The Lord gave us days of sun and of light breeze, days in which the fishing was good. There were also moments when there were stormy waters and headwinds," the pope said.
"But I always knew that God was in that boat and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, is not ours, but is his and he will not let it sink," the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics told the cheering crowd.
Benedict also said his decision to resign -- which makes him the first pope to do so since the Middle Ages -- had not been an easy one but had been taken for the good of the Church.
"I took this step in full awareness of its gravity and novelty but with profound serenity of spirit," he said, adding: "I will continue to accompany the Church with prayer and reflection."
Pilgrims flocked to bid a final farewell to the frail 85-year-old, who earlier this month abruptly cut short his pontificate, an eight-year reign dogged by scandal and Vatican infighting, by declaring he was too weak to keep up with the modern world.
"I have come in gratitude for everything he has done these past eight years," said Father Giulio, a 67-year-old priest from the Abruzzo region.
"Resigning is a powerful message for every Christian. He resigned without bitterness but instead in sweetness and serenity," he said.
The Vicar General of Rome, cardinal Agostino Vallini, said residents of the Italian capital were turning out in great numbers because they felt a special bond with the ageing pope.
"It is something our heart and our faith demands," Vallini told Vatican Radio ahead of the event.
"Rome likes the pope a lot and feels a special affection for him so it could not miss his last public act," he said.
Benedict's resignation is a break with Catholic tradition that has worried conservatives but kindled the hopes of Catholics around the world who want a successor who will breathe new life into the Church.
Rome has been gripped by speculation over what prompted Benedict to resign and who the leading candidates might be to replace him, as cardinals from around the world fly in ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope.
Rumours and counter-rumours in the Italian media suggest cut-throat behind-the-scenes lobbying, prompting the Vatican to condemn what it has called "unacceptable pressure" to influence the papal election.
Campaign groups have also lobbied the Vatican to exclude two cardinals accused of covering up child sex abuse from the upcoming election conclave.
The Vatican has said Benedict will receive the title of "Roman pontiff emeritus" and can still be addressed as "Your Holiness" and wear the white papal cassock after he officially steps down at 1900 GMT on Thursday.
Just before that time, the Vatican said Benedict will be whisked off by helicopter to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome where he will begin a life out of the public eye.
Benedict will wave from the residence's balcony one last time before retreating to a private chapel and, as he has said, a life "hidden from the world".
Starting next week, cardinals from around the world will begin a series of meetings to decide what the priorities for the Catholic Church should be, set a start date for the conclave and consider possible candidates for pope.
The conclave -- a centuries-old tradition with an elaborate ritual -- is supposed to be held within 15 to 20 days of the death of the pope, but Benedict has given special dispensation for the cardinals to bring that date forward as no mourning period is needed.
A total of 115 "cardinal electors" are scheduled to take part after one voter said he was too sick and another, British cardinal Keith O'Brien, said he would not be taking part after allegations emerged that he made unwanted advances towards priests in the 1980s.
www.http://african.howzit.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=253783653
Benedict toured the Vatican plaza in his famous "popemobile", stopping to kiss children and waving to the crowd of more than 100,000 gathered under a bright, cloudless sky.
Some in the throng held up huge banners with messages such as "Benedict, we'll miss you!" and "The pope is the heart of this city!" or waved the Vatican's yellow and white flag at the pontiff's last public event.
The pope drew an analogy between his reign and a miracle recounted in the Bible when Jesus Christ calmed the waters as he was sailing with his disciples including St Peter -- a fisherman by trade who is believed by Christians to be the first pope.
"The Lord gave us days of sun and of light breeze, days in which the fishing was good. There were also moments when there were stormy waters and headwinds," the pope said.
"But I always knew that God was in that boat and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, is not ours, but is his and he will not let it sink," the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics told the cheering crowd.
Benedict also said his decision to resign -- which makes him the first pope to do so since the Middle Ages -- had not been an easy one but had been taken for the good of the Church.
"I took this step in full awareness of its gravity and novelty but with profound serenity of spirit," he said, adding: "I will continue to accompany the Church with prayer and reflection."
Pilgrims flocked to bid a final farewell to the frail 85-year-old, who earlier this month abruptly cut short his pontificate, an eight-year reign dogged by scandal and Vatican infighting, by declaring he was too weak to keep up with the modern world.
"I have come in gratitude for everything he has done these past eight years," said Father Giulio, a 67-year-old priest from the Abruzzo region.
"Resigning is a powerful message for every Christian. He resigned without bitterness but instead in sweetness and serenity," he said.
The Vicar General of Rome, cardinal Agostino Vallini, said residents of the Italian capital were turning out in great numbers because they felt a special bond with the ageing pope.
"It is something our heart and our faith demands," Vallini told Vatican Radio ahead of the event.
"Rome likes the pope a lot and feels a special affection for him so it could not miss his last public act," he said.
Benedict's resignation is a break with Catholic tradition that has worried conservatives but kindled the hopes of Catholics around the world who want a successor who will breathe new life into the Church.
Rome has been gripped by speculation over what prompted Benedict to resign and who the leading candidates might be to replace him, as cardinals from around the world fly in ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope.
Rumours and counter-rumours in the Italian media suggest cut-throat behind-the-scenes lobbying, prompting the Vatican to condemn what it has called "unacceptable pressure" to influence the papal election.
Campaign groups have also lobbied the Vatican to exclude two cardinals accused of covering up child sex abuse from the upcoming election conclave.
The Vatican has said Benedict will receive the title of "Roman pontiff emeritus" and can still be addressed as "Your Holiness" and wear the white papal cassock after he officially steps down at 1900 GMT on Thursday.
Just before that time, the Vatican said Benedict will be whisked off by helicopter to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome where he will begin a life out of the public eye.
Benedict will wave from the residence's balcony one last time before retreating to a private chapel and, as he has said, a life "hidden from the world".
Starting next week, cardinals from around the world will begin a series of meetings to decide what the priorities for the Catholic Church should be, set a start date for the conclave and consider possible candidates for pope.
The conclave -- a centuries-old tradition with an elaborate ritual -- is supposed to be held within 15 to 20 days of the death of the pope, but Benedict has given special dispensation for the cardinals to bring that date forward as no mourning period is needed.
A total of 115 "cardinal electors" are scheduled to take part after one voter said he was too sick and another, British cardinal Keith O'Brien, said he would not be taking part after allegations emerged that he made unwanted advances towards priests in the 1980s.
www.http://african.howzit.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=253783653
Election of new Pope: Canon laws, God’s will ‘ll guide us – Cardinal Onaiyekan
BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI
As Pope Benedict XVI finally bows out, in the next few hours, one of the cardinals that would elect the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Head of the Abuja Ecclesiastical Province of the Church, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has declared that the election of a new Pope would be strictly based on the canon laws and the will of God and devoid of any other consideration.
Cardinal Onaiyekan stated this in a sermon at a Thanksgiving Mass and Reception organised for him by his alma mater and Old Boys of Mount St. Michael’s Secondary School, Aliade in Benue State.
Taking his reading from the book of Matthew 16:13-19 he said “We (Cardinals) will follow laid down canon laws when we go to the conclave to elect a new Pope for the church”.
“Cardinals will be directed by the will of God in the election process so that at the end of the day, whoever emerges will be God’s chosen”.
The cleric regretted that so many persons were reading meanings into why the Catholic pontiff resigned warning that the matter shouldn’t be over flogged “because nobody persuaded the Pope to resign and nobody would have forced him to stay”.
He noted that despite the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict Benedict XV1, “the Church is standing firm and matching on”.
Earlier in a courtesy call on Governor Gabriel Suswam, Cardinal Onaiyekan
had lauded the state government for ensuring a cordial relationship with the church.
In his response, Governor Gabriel Suswam urged parents to bring up their children in the fear of God so that Nigeria could produce more Cardinals in the near future.
As Pope Benedict XVI finally bows out, in the next few hours, one of the cardinals that would elect the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Head of the Abuja Ecclesiastical Province of the Church, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has declared that the election of a new Pope would be strictly based on the canon laws and the will of God and devoid of any other consideration.
Cardinal Onaiyekan stated this in a sermon at a Thanksgiving Mass and Reception organised for him by his alma mater and Old Boys of Mount St. Michael’s Secondary School, Aliade in Benue State.
Taking his reading from the book of Matthew 16:13-19 he said “We (Cardinals) will follow laid down canon laws when we go to the conclave to elect a new Pope for the church”.
“Cardinals will be directed by the will of God in the election process so that at the end of the day, whoever emerges will be God’s chosen”.
The cleric regretted that so many persons were reading meanings into why the Catholic pontiff resigned warning that the matter shouldn’t be over flogged “because nobody persuaded the Pope to resign and nobody would have forced him to stay”.
He noted that despite the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict Benedict XV1, “the Church is standing firm and matching on”.
Earlier in a courtesy call on Governor Gabriel Suswam, Cardinal Onaiyekan
had lauded the state government for ensuring a cordial relationship with the church.
In his response, Governor Gabriel Suswam urged parents to bring up their children in the fear of God so that Nigeria could produce more Cardinals in the near future.
Power supply: FG installs three power sub-stations in Lagos
BY MICHAEL EBOH
The Federal Government, Wednesday, gave a boost to power supply in the country with the acquisition and installation of three units of 15 MVA (Megavolt Ampere) injection sub-stations in Lagos.
Speaking during the commissioning of the three new 15 MVA sub-stations and switchgears panel in Yaba, Orile-Coker and Kirikiri sub-stations in Lagos, Mr. James Olotu, Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, NDPHC, promoters of the National Independent Power projects, NIPP, said the project is part of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, which places emphasis on improved power generation and supply among others.
Olotu said there are currently about 491 power projects across the country, while about 40 of the projects have been completed.
He however added that all the others yet to be completed have reached advanced stages of completion and would be completed before the end of the year.
He disclosed that the Federal Government set a target of June this year for the completion of all distribution projects, while all transmission projects and about 99 per cent of all generation projects are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He said the federal government is set to begin an inspection of all the projects site across the country by March this year and warned that it might sanction contractors found to be delaying in the delivery of their project.
He said, “In March this year, the Vice President has announced he is sending out a crack team of project monitoring group to visit all the projects sites, so that actions can be taken on the spot if we find that the contractors are not meeting up with target given to them.
“While doing this, we are aware that it is also important that the delivery should be known to be actually effective and qualitative, not delivery that is fast and then as we move back and go away after commissioning, they say something has broken down. That is fraud. We want the contractors to deliver quality work.
“But the time for delay is over. No more delay again on this project. Every contractor has no excuse on why they should not deliver on their project.”
On the issue of supply of gas to the power stations, Olotu said all stakeholders in the power sector are working together to ensure that the challenges facing steady power supply, especially availability of gas, is dealt with.
Also speaking, Mr. Oladele Amoda, Chief Operating Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company said with the addition of the new 15 MVA 33KVA/11 KVA sub-stations each at New Yaba, Orile-Coker and Kirkiri sub-stations, the total capacity at Yaba has improved to 45 MVA, Orile-Coker has improved to 30 MVA 11 KVA while Kirikiri has risen to 30 MVA 33KVA.
He said the installation of the sub-stations and switchgears will help minimize load shedding and tackle the issue of epileptic power supply.
He said the new equipments are strategic, especially as they cater for the need of strategic areas of the state, areas.
He disclosed that the benefiting communities have started feeling the impact of the projects in terms of improved power supply.
The Federal Government, Wednesday, gave a boost to power supply in the country with the acquisition and installation of three units of 15 MVA (Megavolt Ampere) injection sub-stations in Lagos.
Speaking during the commissioning of the three new 15 MVA sub-stations and switchgears panel in Yaba, Orile-Coker and Kirikiri sub-stations in Lagos, Mr. James Olotu, Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, NDPHC, promoters of the National Independent Power projects, NIPP, said the project is part of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, which places emphasis on improved power generation and supply among others.
Olotu said there are currently about 491 power projects across the country, while about 40 of the projects have been completed.
He however added that all the others yet to be completed have reached advanced stages of completion and would be completed before the end of the year.
He disclosed that the Federal Government set a target of June this year for the completion of all distribution projects, while all transmission projects and about 99 per cent of all generation projects are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He said the federal government is set to begin an inspection of all the projects site across the country by March this year and warned that it might sanction contractors found to be delaying in the delivery of their project.
He said, “In March this year, the Vice President has announced he is sending out a crack team of project monitoring group to visit all the projects sites, so that actions can be taken on the spot if we find that the contractors are not meeting up with target given to them.
“While doing this, we are aware that it is also important that the delivery should be known to be actually effective and qualitative, not delivery that is fast and then as we move back and go away after commissioning, they say something has broken down. That is fraud. We want the contractors to deliver quality work.
“But the time for delay is over. No more delay again on this project. Every contractor has no excuse on why they should not deliver on their project.”
On the issue of supply of gas to the power stations, Olotu said all stakeholders in the power sector are working together to ensure that the challenges facing steady power supply, especially availability of gas, is dealt with.
Also speaking, Mr. Oladele Amoda, Chief Operating Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company said with the addition of the new 15 MVA 33KVA/11 KVA sub-stations each at New Yaba, Orile-Coker and Kirkiri sub-stations, the total capacity at Yaba has improved to 45 MVA, Orile-Coker has improved to 30 MVA 11 KVA while Kirikiri has risen to 30 MVA 33KVA.
He said the installation of the sub-stations and switchgears will help minimize load shedding and tackle the issue of epileptic power supply.
He said the new equipments are strategic, especially as they cater for the need of strategic areas of the state, areas.
He disclosed that the benefiting communities have started feeling the impact of the projects in terms of improved power supply.
Video: Kim Kadashian talks about self, Nigeria, late Goldie
By Charles Mgbolu
More than a week after the much talked about Love like a movie concert rocked Lagos on February 18, a video of the reality star speaking with television presenter Eku Edewor has popped up on video sharing site Youtube.
Kim in the six minutes video spoke on love, the show, Tyler Perry‘s upcoming movie “Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor” which she stars in, her advice to young Nigerians and Nigerian cuisine then she gave a short heartfelt message about Goldie’s death.
Watch video here
Kim faced a backlash from both local and international commentators for her fleeting visit to Nigeria after being reportedly paid $500,000. She never responded to any of the stinging remarks.
More than a week after the much talked about Love like a movie concert rocked Lagos on February 18, a video of the reality star speaking with television presenter Eku Edewor has popped up on video sharing site Youtube.
*Kim
Watch video here
Kim faced a backlash from both local and international commentators for her fleeting visit to Nigeria after being reportedly paid $500,000. She never responded to any of the stinging remarks.
10 Facts About Boko Haram
This terrorist group jumped to the forefront of the battle against Islamist terrorists in North Africa, when it kidnapped a French family from Cameroon. But who is this group? How did it start? And what role did Nigeria’s faction fighting have in its emergence? Here are 10 facts about Boko Haram...
www.http://african.howzit.msn.com/10-facts-about-boko-haram#image=1
www.http://african.howzit.msn.com/10-facts-about-boko-haram#image=1
Ngozi Nwosu off to the UK for treatment
 Ngozi at the airport tonight with her publicist Seun Oloketuyi |
The ailing actress left tonight via British Airways to the UK for a life saving medical treatment. She will undergo kidney and heart transplant in a UK hospital. God be with her!
www.http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Clinton lists Nigeria’s challenges
By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA—Former President of United States of America, Bill Clinton, said yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, that the inability to manage the nation’s natural resources well was one of the three major challenges Nigeria was facing as a nation.
The former US president, who was speaking at the 18th Annual Awards of Thisday newspaper, organised to celebrate Nigeria’s best teachers, further tasked Nigerian leaders to tackle unemployment, brain-drain and to maximise the potential of the citizens.
The 42nd American President, who spoke in the presence of former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, his counterpart in Delta, Emmanuel Uduaghan and other notable Nigerians, said Nigerian leaders mismanaged the proceeds from oil, under-utilised technology and failed to retain its best brains.
Clinton said: “When I became President, my Secretary of Commerce did a lot of work in Africa before he was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1995.
“I said he should make a list of 10 most important countries in the world for the 21st century. Nigeria was in the list.
“Imagine the future of the entire continent if Nigeria fails or South Africa fails. So, you are a country of potential. I will say you have about three big challenges.
Oil money, economic distribution, brain-drain
“First of all, like 90 percent of the countries, which have one big resource, you haven’t done well with your oil money. You should have reinvested it in different ways. Now you are at least not wasting the natural gas. You are developing it in pipelines but you don’t do a better job of managing natural resources.
“Secondly, you have to somehow bring economic opportunity to the people who don’t have. This is not a problem specific to Nigeria. Almost in every place in the world, prosperity is heavily concentrated in and around urban areas.
“So you have all these political problems: violence, religious differences, and all the rhetoric of Boko Haram.
“But the truth is the poverty rate in the north is three times greater than what it is in the Lagos area. To deal with that, you have to have both powerful stake in the local governments and a national policy that work together.
“As you keep trying to divide the power, you have to figure out a way to have a strategy that will help in sharing prosperity.
“The third thing is there has to be a way to take the staggering intellectual and organisational ability that Nigerians exhibit in every country in the world in which they are immigrant and bring it to bear here, so that the country as a whole can rise.
“One of the people on my trip with me today, who unfortunately could not come up here because he had to go and visit his family, is a young Nigerian-American named Nnamdi. He is an all pro-quarter back footballer for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“He’s a wonderful man; he does great work in America for poor kids in Arkansas City and he became a friend of mine.
“Both his parents have PhDs. His sister has a PhD. He often says ‘I’m the failure in my family and I only have a university degree and I play football.’
“My point is: there are Nigerians who are like this all over the world. What you have to figure out is how to keep those people in Nigeria and how to ensure their success encourages others in the country.
Solutions
“So, I think solving the economic divide that is in your country will help the political divide; making better use of your resources.
“Nigeria is trying to set up an investment fund where the Federal Government will set it up and the governors are being consulted so that they can concentrate the capital. That is the problem in India.
“They have unbelievable entrepreneurs but they are not very good at collecting capital and investing it in infrastructure so that they can unite the poor part of the country with the rich part. That’s what you have to do. And then, you have to empower people with education so they can succeed at home as well as around the world.”
Speaking on the essence of education, Clinton said: “I have to explain that education is more important in dealing with the challenges facing Nigeria. On the continent and the entire world, we are living a revolutionary time, full of positive and negative forces.
“The information technology is good for people who can take advantage of it. I see this all over the world. Cell phones give farmers the access to information about crop prices and fish prices in Africa and Asia.
“It increases their income by reducing their ignorance. It is empowerment. People are using cell phones to have banking services for the first time.
“I see it even in the United States where people who thought they have no money to help others donate a billion dollars to Haiti during the earthquake because ordinary citizens use their cell phones to make transfer to an account and they had a billion dollars.
Education, globalisation
“It is an age where if we are sufficiently educated we can be empowered but with enormous challenges. First of all, with all of these new opportunities which technology had given us, we have not yet succeeded in automatically reducing poverty and inequality of opportunity in accessing education and health care.
“It is a global phenomenon. If we really want to take advantage of education, empowerment and information technology, we have to tackle this problem. The second problem we have in the world is instability as we all know.
“We have to stop this problem. One major problem of unemployment is this instability all over the world. We have not yet solved the problem of how to embrace our potential and common humanity.
“And until we do this, the globalisation of the economy, the globalisation of the society for information technology will continue to face serious trouble. We have to deal with how to maximise the capacity of all the people through education.
“We have to find a way through education, through the information technology revolution to change the way we produce and consume energy and to change the way we use local resources in a way that sustains them.
“We have to know how to do this and do it right. And in every case, education will play a major role whether in developed or developing countries. We need intelligent people to take a new way to challenge themselves.
“There is a lot of work to be done but we cannot ever neglect the role of education. So I want to end my remarks by saying two things. Every year at the opening of the United Nations, I sponsor a meeting where we invite the global leaders to come.
“We actually ask people to make a commitment to do something and we are all making progress.”
Obaigbena speaks
Speaking earlier, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena explained that the choice of Abeokuta as the venue for the 18th edition of the award was made by Clinton due to the presence of Presidential Library.
According to him, Delta, Port Harcourt and Abeokuta were the options presented to Clinton as the venue before Abeokuta was chosen by the ex-American President.
He eulogised eminent media personalities present, including former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, among others.
Obaighena disclosed that 15 best teachers were selected by a panel headed by Vice President World Bank (Africa) and former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, from 700 nominees.
Awardees
Those who bagged the Builder of Modern Nigeria awards were Oba Otudeko; professor of musicology, Laz Ekwueme; deposed Sultan, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki; Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, and Chief Rasak Okoya.
The 15 best teachers, who received N2 million each, were Mrs Victoria Jolayemi, Mrs Dorothy Ugwu and Mrs Christie Ade-Ajayi, for primary school category.
For secondary category, Rev. Father Angus Frazer, Chief D.B.E. Ossai, Mrs Yakubu Dimka, Chief Reuben Majekodunmi, Chief Dotun Oyewole, Mrs. John O. B. Adeaga, Mr. Bawa Mohammed Faskari and Hadiza Thani Muhammed were honoured as best teachers.
In the universities category, Prof. Iya Abubakar, Prof. Frank Ugiomoh, Prof. Michael Obadan and Prof. Eunice Nkiruka Uzodike, were given award.
ABEOKUTA—Former President of United States of America, Bill Clinton, said yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, that the inability to manage the nation’s natural resources well was one of the three major challenges Nigeria was facing as a nation.
The former US president, who was speaking at the 18th Annual Awards of Thisday newspaper, organised to celebrate Nigeria’s best teachers, further tasked Nigerian leaders to tackle unemployment, brain-drain and to maximise the potential of the citizens.
The 42nd American President, who spoke in the presence of former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, his counterpart in Delta, Emmanuel Uduaghan and other notable Nigerians, said Nigerian leaders mismanaged the proceeds from oil, under-utilised technology and failed to retain its best brains.
Clinton said: “When I became President, my Secretary of Commerce did a lot of work in Africa before he was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1995.
“I said he should make a list of 10 most important countries in the world for the 21st century. Nigeria was in the list.
“Imagine the future of the entire continent if Nigeria fails or South Africa fails. So, you are a country of potential. I will say you have about three big challenges.
L-R: Teacher Emeritus and nonagenarian, Pa Dotun Oyewole; former
President of the United States, Mr Bill Clinton; and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; during the 18th Annual ThisDay Awards to celebrate Nigeria’s Best Teachers, at the newly redesigned June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta
President of the United States, Mr Bill Clinton; and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; during the 18th Annual ThisDay Awards to celebrate Nigeria’s Best Teachers, at the newly redesigned June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta
“First of all, like 90 percent of the countries, which have one big resource, you haven’t done well with your oil money. You should have reinvested it in different ways. Now you are at least not wasting the natural gas. You are developing it in pipelines but you don’t do a better job of managing natural resources.
“Secondly, you have to somehow bring economic opportunity to the people who don’t have. This is not a problem specific to Nigeria. Almost in every place in the world, prosperity is heavily concentrated in and around urban areas.
“So you have all these political problems: violence, religious differences, and all the rhetoric of Boko Haram.
“But the truth is the poverty rate in the north is three times greater than what it is in the Lagos area. To deal with that, you have to have both powerful stake in the local governments and a national policy that work together.
“As you keep trying to divide the power, you have to figure out a way to have a strategy that will help in sharing prosperity.
“The third thing is there has to be a way to take the staggering intellectual and organisational ability that Nigerians exhibit in every country in the world in which they are immigrant and bring it to bear here, so that the country as a whole can rise.
“One of the people on my trip with me today, who unfortunately could not come up here because he had to go and visit his family, is a young Nigerian-American named Nnamdi. He is an all pro-quarter back footballer for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“He’s a wonderful man; he does great work in America for poor kids in Arkansas City and he became a friend of mine.
“Both his parents have PhDs. His sister has a PhD. He often says ‘I’m the failure in my family and I only have a university degree and I play football.’
“My point is: there are Nigerians who are like this all over the world. What you have to figure out is how to keep those people in Nigeria and how to ensure their success encourages others in the country.
Solutions
“So, I think solving the economic divide that is in your country will help the political divide; making better use of your resources.
“Nigeria is trying to set up an investment fund where the Federal Government will set it up and the governors are being consulted so that they can concentrate the capital. That is the problem in India.
“They have unbelievable entrepreneurs but they are not very good at collecting capital and investing it in infrastructure so that they can unite the poor part of the country with the rich part. That’s what you have to do. And then, you have to empower people with education so they can succeed at home as well as around the world.”
Speaking on the essence of education, Clinton said: “I have to explain that education is more important in dealing with the challenges facing Nigeria. On the continent and the entire world, we are living a revolutionary time, full of positive and negative forces.
“The information technology is good for people who can take advantage of it. I see this all over the world. Cell phones give farmers the access to information about crop prices and fish prices in Africa and Asia.
“It increases their income by reducing their ignorance. It is empowerment. People are using cell phones to have banking services for the first time.
“I see it even in the United States where people who thought they have no money to help others donate a billion dollars to Haiti during the earthquake because ordinary citizens use their cell phones to make transfer to an account and they had a billion dollars.
Education, globalisation
“It is an age where if we are sufficiently educated we can be empowered but with enormous challenges. First of all, with all of these new opportunities which technology had given us, we have not yet succeeded in automatically reducing poverty and inequality of opportunity in accessing education and health care.
“It is a global phenomenon. If we really want to take advantage of education, empowerment and information technology, we have to tackle this problem. The second problem we have in the world is instability as we all know.
“We have to stop this problem. One major problem of unemployment is this instability all over the world. We have not yet solved the problem of how to embrace our potential and common humanity.
“And until we do this, the globalisation of the economy, the globalisation of the society for information technology will continue to face serious trouble. We have to deal with how to maximise the capacity of all the people through education.
“We have to find a way through education, through the information technology revolution to change the way we produce and consume energy and to change the way we use local resources in a way that sustains them.
“We have to know how to do this and do it right. And in every case, education will play a major role whether in developed or developing countries. We need intelligent people to take a new way to challenge themselves.
“There is a lot of work to be done but we cannot ever neglect the role of education. So I want to end my remarks by saying two things. Every year at the opening of the United Nations, I sponsor a meeting where we invite the global leaders to come.
“We actually ask people to make a commitment to do something and we are all making progress.”
Obaigbena speaks
Speaking earlier, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena explained that the choice of Abeokuta as the venue for the 18th edition of the award was made by Clinton due to the presence of Presidential Library.
According to him, Delta, Port Harcourt and Abeokuta were the options presented to Clinton as the venue before Abeokuta was chosen by the ex-American President.
He eulogised eminent media personalities present, including former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, among others.
Obaighena disclosed that 15 best teachers were selected by a panel headed by Vice President World Bank (Africa) and former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, from 700 nominees.
Awardees
Those who bagged the Builder of Modern Nigeria awards were Oba Otudeko; professor of musicology, Laz Ekwueme; deposed Sultan, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki; Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, and Chief Rasak Okoya.
The 15 best teachers, who received N2 million each, were Mrs Victoria Jolayemi, Mrs Dorothy Ugwu and Mrs Christie Ade-Ajayi, for primary school category.
For secondary category, Rev. Father Angus Frazer, Chief D.B.E. Ossai, Mrs Yakubu Dimka, Chief Reuben Majekodunmi, Chief Dotun Oyewole, Mrs. John O. B. Adeaga, Mr. Bawa Mohammed Faskari and Hadiza Thani Muhammed were honoured as best teachers.
In the universities category, Prof. Iya Abubakar, Prof. Frank Ugiomoh, Prof. Michael Obadan and Prof. Eunice Nkiruka Uzodike, were given award.
Fayemi’s N5m donation tears church apart
By Gbenga Ariyibi
Ado-Ekiti—THE N5million donated to the Millennium Anglican Church, Odo Owa Ekiti by Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is allegedly tearing the church apart.
It would be recalled that Fayemi donated N5 million to the church during the burial of its late primate, Most Rev. Abiodun Adetiloye on January 19, 2013.
Shortly after the donation, the leaders and clergy of the church were said to have met where the issue of the donation was discussed.
Members were said to have resolved on how to utilize the money among others.
It was gathered that they agreed that among others, it would be used to renovate the church, buy a bus for evangelism while N1million would be put into a special account.
However, the Bishop of Ekiti West Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Oludare Oke, was said to have told the members including the vicar, Reverend Mike Ogunniyi, that the N5 million was deposited in a fixed Account because it was an endowment fund and not a gift to the Church alone.
For allegedly failing to heed the advice of the Bishop, the Bishop was said to have ordered the demotion of the vicar from Archdeacon to Canon for alleged insubordination.
Dissatisfied with the demotion, members in Odo Owa Ekiti were said to have last Sunday sealed off the Church auditorium donated to the town by the late Archbishop Adetiloye and prevented leaders of the church and members from gaining access to worship.
The closure of the church was said to have created tension in the community, prompting the town’s traditional ruler to intervene to forestall breakdown of law and order.
A concerned member told Vanguard that “The Archdeacon having got the support of the Church members bought a new bus at the cost of N3 million, while a sum of N1 million was used to renovate the Church. The remaining N1 million was kept in the Church’s Account. The Bishop was not happy with the action of the Archdeacon and this led to his demotion to the rank of a Canon.”
But a statement by a member of the Church Council, Mr George Ogunjeta, yesterday the church denied any crisis, saying “the cash donation has not created any crisis in the Church.”
Ado-Ekiti—THE N5million donated to the Millennium Anglican Church, Odo Owa Ekiti by Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is allegedly tearing the church apart.
It would be recalled that Fayemi donated N5 million to the church during the burial of its late primate, Most Rev. Abiodun Adetiloye on January 19, 2013.
Shortly after the donation, the leaders and clergy of the church were said to have met where the issue of the donation was discussed.
Members were said to have resolved on how to utilize the money among others.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State
However, the Bishop of Ekiti West Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Oludare Oke, was said to have told the members including the vicar, Reverend Mike Ogunniyi, that the N5 million was deposited in a fixed Account because it was an endowment fund and not a gift to the Church alone.
For allegedly failing to heed the advice of the Bishop, the Bishop was said to have ordered the demotion of the vicar from Archdeacon to Canon for alleged insubordination.
Dissatisfied with the demotion, members in Odo Owa Ekiti were said to have last Sunday sealed off the Church auditorium donated to the town by the late Archbishop Adetiloye and prevented leaders of the church and members from gaining access to worship.
The closure of the church was said to have created tension in the community, prompting the town’s traditional ruler to intervene to forestall breakdown of law and order.
A concerned member told Vanguard that “The Archdeacon having got the support of the Church members bought a new bus at the cost of N3 million, while a sum of N1 million was used to renovate the Church. The remaining N1 million was kept in the Church’s Account. The Bishop was not happy with the action of the Archdeacon and this led to his demotion to the rank of a Canon.”
But a statement by a member of the Church Council, Mr George Ogunjeta, yesterday the church denied any crisis, saying “the cash donation has not created any crisis in the Church.”
One killed, scores injured as area boys clash in Lagos
BY EVELYN USMAN
LAGOS — One person was, yesterday, killed and several others injured in a clash between some miscreants in Coker area of Orile Iganmu, Lagos.
The fight which started on Sunday was reportedly caused by supremacy battle between rival groups.
Dangerous weapons were reportedly used during the free-for-all which brought commercial activities in the area to an abrupt halt, as traders hurriedly locked up for the day.
Motorists plying the route reportedly had their windscreen smashed by the warring miscreants said to have also used the opportunity to rob commuters and other passers-by.
A member of one of the factions,allegedly stabbed in different parts of the body, bled profusely and died on the spot.
Policemen from Orile Division were said arrived the scene and made some arrests.
Contacted, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said that five persons had been arrested in connection with the clash.
“At about 9:45pm, some group of thugs engaged in a supremacy battle in Coker area of Orile. Policemen rushed to the scene and on arrival, it was observed that the streets were littered with pebbles and some vehicles vandalized.
On sighting the police, the hoodlums took to their heels,while the corpse of a man of about 27years, suspected to have participated in the mayhem was seen lying in a pool of his blood with severe cuts on him.
“Five male suspects were arrested while some cutlasses and a locally made shot gun were recovered. The injured victims were later referred to the hospital and the corpse deposited at Yaba GeneralHospital mortuary for autopsy”, she said, adding however , that normalcy had returned to the area.
LAGOS — One person was, yesterday, killed and several others injured in a clash between some miscreants in Coker area of Orile Iganmu, Lagos.
The fight which started on Sunday was reportedly caused by supremacy battle between rival groups.
Dangerous weapons were reportedly used during the free-for-all which brought commercial activities in the area to an abrupt halt, as traders hurriedly locked up for the day.
Motorists plying the route reportedly had their windscreen smashed by the warring miscreants said to have also used the opportunity to rob commuters and other passers-by.
A member of one of the factions,allegedly stabbed in different parts of the body, bled profusely and died on the spot.
Policemen from Orile Division were said arrived the scene and made some arrests.
Contacted, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said that five persons had been arrested in connection with the clash.
“At about 9:45pm, some group of thugs engaged in a supremacy battle in Coker area of Orile. Policemen rushed to the scene and on arrival, it was observed that the streets were littered with pebbles and some vehicles vandalized.
On sighting the police, the hoodlums took to their heels,while the corpse of a man of about 27years, suspected to have participated in the mayhem was seen lying in a pool of his blood with severe cuts on him.
“Five male suspects were arrested while some cutlasses and a locally made shot gun were recovered. The injured victims were later referred to the hospital and the corpse deposited at Yaba GeneralHospital mortuary for autopsy”, she said, adding however , that normalcy had returned to the area.
BoT: How Anenih bounced back
By Henry Umoru
…Obasanjo absent at meeting
ABUJA— SIX years after he was removed as Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih on Monday bounced back to the position through a consensus.
Vanguard gathered that members of the BoT were not prepared for the election because the meeting was held primarily to receive and deliberate on the Professor Jerry Gana’s report to structure the membership of the board.
It will be recalled that on June 27, 2007, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo emerged the new Chairman of BoT where he took over from the then Chairman,
Chief Tony Anenih.
Chief Obasanjo was, however, absent at Monday’s meeting where Anenih whom he took over from then, was brought back to take over from him as his successor.
Vanguard also gathered yesterday that immediately after the discussions of the report, some members called for a date to be fixed for the election of a new Chairman, but this was rejected by majority of members who insisted that the election must be held immediately.
Those who were against the election being held argued that this was not the time for the party to go into an election to elect a Chairman for BoT because if an election was conducted, it would polarise the PDP. They also contended that members agreed that since BoT was simply advisory and not Executive, there was no need to go into such stress and rigour.
Having agreed to hold the election same day, Vanguard gathered that governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State was immediately nominated to be the returning officer.
It was at this point that the aspirants went out after leaders of the party had spoken with them of the need to be guided by the precedent set in March 24 National Convention where all the aspirants stepped down for Bamanga Tukur. All the aspirants for the position of BoT chairman then came in and announced that they were stepping down.
The aspirants before Anenih’s emergence were former Vice President Alex Ekwueme; former National Chairman, Dr. Amadu Ali; former Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Shaiubu Oyedokun; Chief Don Etiebet; former Senate President Ken Nnamani; and Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, among others.
After they all stepped down, the returning officer, Governor Ibrahim Shema then announced Chief Tony Anenih as the consensus candidate which was greeted with applause by members.
‘’We all agreed that there should be a consensus candidate and there should be no need for election to avoid overheating the polity and at the end of the day, all the aspirants stepped down and Chief Tony Anenih emerged and everyone was happy including the President. The whole process was smooth and very lively.” the source said.
…Obasanjo absent at meeting
ABUJA— SIX years after he was removed as Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih on Monday bounced back to the position through a consensus.
Vanguard gathered that members of the BoT were not prepared for the election because the meeting was held primarily to receive and deliberate on the Professor Jerry Gana’s report to structure the membership of the board.
It will be recalled that on June 27, 2007, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo emerged the new Chairman of BoT where he took over from the then Chairman,
Chief Tony Anenih.
Chief Obasanjo was, however, absent at Monday’s meeting where Anenih whom he took over from then, was brought back to take over from him as his successor.Vanguard also gathered yesterday that immediately after the discussions of the report, some members called for a date to be fixed for the election of a new Chairman, but this was rejected by majority of members who insisted that the election must be held immediately.
Those who were against the election being held argued that this was not the time for the party to go into an election to elect a Chairman for BoT because if an election was conducted, it would polarise the PDP. They also contended that members agreed that since BoT was simply advisory and not Executive, there was no need to go into such stress and rigour.
Having agreed to hold the election same day, Vanguard gathered that governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State was immediately nominated to be the returning officer.
It was at this point that the aspirants went out after leaders of the party had spoken with them of the need to be guided by the precedent set in March 24 National Convention where all the aspirants stepped down for Bamanga Tukur. All the aspirants for the position of BoT chairman then came in and announced that they were stepping down.
The aspirants before Anenih’s emergence were former Vice President Alex Ekwueme; former National Chairman, Dr. Amadu Ali; former Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Shaiubu Oyedokun; Chief Don Etiebet; former Senate President Ken Nnamani; and Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, among others.
After they all stepped down, the returning officer, Governor Ibrahim Shema then announced Chief Tony Anenih as the consensus candidate which was greeted with applause by members.
‘’We all agreed that there should be a consensus candidate and there should be no need for election to avoid overheating the polity and at the end of the day, all the aspirants stepped down and Chief Tony Anenih emerged and everyone was happy including the President. The whole process was smooth and very lively.” the source said.
EFCC re-arraigns Akingbola
By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Onozure Dania
LAGOS — FORMER Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Plc, now Access Bank, Dr Erastus Akingbola, was yesterday re-arraigned before an Ikeja High court over alleged theft of N47.1bn belonging to the bank.
The re-arraignment was as a result of the elevation of the former trial judge, Habeeb Abiru, to the Court of Appeal before the conclusion of Akingbola’s case.
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had already concluded its argument, while the defence had also opened its defence before the sudden halt of the case before former justice Abiru.
The former bank MD is standing trial alongside the former General Manager of Tropic Security Limited, Mr. Bayo Dada, before their case file was transferred to a new judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.
When the matter came up yesterday, the duo pleaded not guilty to the 22 count charge read to them, while the trial judge aligned with the argument that they should continue with their bail earlier granted them by Justice Abiru.
The judge also adjourned the matter till July 10 for commence of the fresh trial.
However, at the middle of the proceedings, the defence lawyers accused the EFCC of trial by ambush, while they also condemned the arrest of the defendants, especially when their old bail granted them by another court had not been withdrawn.
LAGOS — FORMER Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Plc, now Access Bank, Dr Erastus Akingbola, was yesterday re-arraigned before an Ikeja High court over alleged theft of N47.1bn belonging to the bank.
The re-arraignment was as a result of the elevation of the former trial judge, Habeeb Abiru, to the Court of Appeal before the conclusion of Akingbola’s case.
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had already concluded its argument, while the defence had also opened its defence before the sudden halt of the case before former justice Abiru.
The former bank MD is standing trial alongside the former General Manager of Tropic Security Limited, Mr. Bayo Dada, before their case file was transferred to a new judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.
When the matter came up yesterday, the duo pleaded not guilty to the 22 count charge read to them, while the trial judge aligned with the argument that they should continue with their bail earlier granted them by Justice Abiru.
The judge also adjourned the matter till July 10 for commence of the fresh trial.
However, at the middle of the proceedings, the defence lawyers accused the EFCC of trial by ambush, while they also condemned the arrest of the defendants, especially when their old bail granted them by another court had not been withdrawn.
Jonathan comes of age
By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
Once derided for his hesitancy in using the instrument of state to protect his political interests, President Goodluck Jonathan may now have bared his fangs as he moves to consolidate his hold on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the polity. His challengers are scampering for shelter.
Few of the men gathered in the presidential villa that evening had seen President Goodluck Jonathan as feisty and determined as he was last Sunday. A man that had been taken by some as a weakling was before the 18 or so governors gathered in the room showing a strong hand that many had not envisaged.
By one account, the president was alleged to have sworn that he would never be humiliated out of office by the Nigerian Governors Forum and its chairman, Rotimi Amaechi.
Before now, close associates of the president like his now controversial Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, had played the game of hitting Amaechi. But Orubebe’s efforts had not made any success as he was easily dismissed on account of the failed repair of the East West road, which crisscrosses the Niger Delta.
But last Sunday with few party chieftains like the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur at hand, President Jonathan moved to divide the ranks of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF a body that had turned into a major opposition body to not just his government, but also his seeming quest for a second term.
The president, himself a former governor, was not oblivious of the power and influence of the governors. About 23 months ago at the final rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential campaign at the Eagles Square in Abuja, Jonathan had described the governors as the Field Marshals of the party, upon whom victory or otherwise in a presidential contest rest upon.
Perhaps in recognition of the powers of the governors, President Jonathan had conceded to them in nearly all political engagements. He stopped the e-registration of party members because of the governors, closed his eyes when Okwesileze Nwodo who he brought in as national chairman was eased out, turned the other way when several senators who pushed for his enthronement as Acting President were refused re-election tickets by the governors, and also, allowed the governors to produce all but one member of the 12-member National Working Committee, NWC of the party. The president’s only proxy in the NWC is the now embattled national chairman, Tukur, who the governors led by Amaechi were as at last Sunday craving to push out.
As such, President Jonathan had every reason to express concern as the clouds began to gather around his political future. The governors were his major nemesis. Remarkably, many of the governors were also forming linkages with another powerful one-time benefactor of the president now turned into an enemy: Olusegun Obasanjo.
Before the 2011 primaries and in the heat of the crisis that trailed the Umaru Yar‘adua presidency, nearly all the governors at that time had been united in opposing Jonathan’s emergence as acting president. But faced with the ‘Hand of God,’ the governors accepted the inevitable. Remarkably, the champions against his emergence at that time are today practically licking dust.
James Ibori, a former governor of Delta State is in jail abroad, Timipire Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State is out of power and fighting prosecution by anti-graft agencies, and Bukola Saraki, a former chairman of the influential NGF, is under the shadows of anti-graft agencies for alleged offences committed while in office. It is the kind of stealthy use of power that few have given Dr. Jonathan credence.
Last Sunday, the president literarily forced those among the governors and others outside to take notice that he would not just use his powers stealthily, but also overtly when and where the need arises.
President’s determination
The president’s determination to weaken the opposition it was learnt, was essentially focused on two of his main opponents: the NGF and the Obasanjo tendency in the party. While Obasanjo had found it not a too difficult task forging an alliance with some northern governors, doing the same with southern governors had proved Herculean. It was especially difficult with Amaechi, the embattled chairman of the NGF. Obasanjo’s problem with Amaechi had to do with the latter’s bluntness in his relationships.
Amaechi it is alleged has a predilection for blunt speaking irrespective of whose ox is gored. It is a character trait that some of his associates allege may have led him to his problems with the president.
The Rivers State governor it is equally claimed, has consistently rebuffed peace gestures from Obasanjo finding it difficult to forget the hostility of the former president which culminated in him, Amaechi, fleeing the country in the twilight of the Obasanjo era. So where the two principal opponents of the incumbent president could have joined hands to fight a common ‘enemy’, the ill-feelings of the past created a divide that allowed the president to move in to decisively crush the opposition.
The presidency had started by disrobing Obasanjo of his political architecture in the Southwest two weeks ago with the dismissal of Obasanjo’s men in the NWC and in the Southwest executive of the party.
Bode Mustapha, who is generally known as Obasanjo’s Man Friday was sacked by the PDP leadership as national auditor using as excuse, the court judgment which annulled the 2011 Oshogbo zonal congress where the Southwest delegates to the national convention were chosen.
But the Obasanjo camp was quick to respond that the party’s action was selective as it alleged that applying the court judgment would have meant that all those elected at the national convention including Tukur should have stepped out of office as they were elected by illegal delegates.
Following the action on Obasanjo, the presidency launched a frontal war against the NGF. Presidency officials at the highest levels were alleged to have routinely called up governors all through last weekend on the need to remove Amaechi from office.
In some cases, audiovisual recordings of Amaechi were played to some governors who were told that Amaechi was determined to remove the president and that they must divorce themselves from the alleged plot by opposing Amaechi’s return as chairman of the NGF. Apparently determined to call the president’s bluff, the Amaechi supporters in the NGF pushed for a quick election to reaffirm their clout in the polity.
It was an invitation that the presidency took up and the election fixed for last Monday. Its first move was to break the ranks of the NGF by the creation of a new group, the PDP Governors Forum at last Sunday’s meeting with the party’s governors. Remarkably, Tukur announced Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State as the chairman of the new forum even without a say by the governors. Akpabio is generally regarded as one of the strongest loyalists of the president among the governors.
Newly created forum
Other loyalists include Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Theodore Orji of Abia, Gabriel Suswam of Benue, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi.
The next day which was scheduled for the NGF election, Akpabio made the first move on behalf of Jonathan when he invited members of his newly created forum for a meeting prior to the NGF election at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
At that meeting it was alleged that Governor Shema, another Jonathan loyalist was adopted as the PDP Governors’ Forum choice as the next chairman of the NGF. From the Akwa Ibom governor’s lodge, the PDP governors proceeded to the Rivers State Governor’s lodge for the election which was to involve the nation’s 36 governors.
As the meeting commenced, Governor Babangida Aliyu, who was absent at the two meetings at the villa on Sunday and Monday afternoon hosted by Akpabio, questioned the rationale for the creation of the PDP-GF in the continued presence of the NGF. He was immediately challenged by Akpabio leading to a shouting match among the duo that almost broke up the meeting as many of the governors immediately started packing their things to abandon the meeting.
But once reason prevailed on the combative duo, the meeting returned to order. Remarkably, the persuasion and pressures from the presidency had whittled support from Amaechi, but not sufficient to enthrone Shema. So not surprisingly the governors resolved to postpone the evil day till May.
Derobing Obasanjo: The presidency was still unfinished that Monday. Later that night, the unfinished agenda of derobing Obasanjo was completed at a scheduled meeting of the BOT where a report on restructuring the membership of the advisory body was presented to the president at the villa.
Following Obasanjo’s resignation as chairman of the BOT last year, the contest for the chairmanship of the body had turned to a proxy war between him and Jonathan. Obasanjo it is alleged, was strongly opposed to the emergence of Jonathan’s favourite, Tony Anenih as his replacement. A former chairman of the BOT, Anenih was displaced from the position in 2007 by Obasanjo and since then both men had played cat and mouse in the politics of the PDP.
Not surprisingly in the dying days of the Yar‘Adua presidency, while Obasanjo strongly supported Jonathan’s emergence as acting president, Anenih reportedly was in cahoots with the governors in opposing Jonathan. But Anenih, however, to the discomfort of Obasanjo subsequently moved in to take command of the Amen Corner of the Jonathan camp.
Potential rivals
The opportunity to derobe Obasanjo came in the early hours of yesterday after the report articulated by a former secretary of the BOT, Prof. Jerry Gana on restructuring membership of the BOT was submitted.
The report it was learnt, recommended the excision of members of the BOT who had in the past shifted loyalties to other parties. It is a recommendation that further strengthens the hands of the president on the party as it removes some of his potential rivals such as Atiku Abubakar, Ghali Na‘Abba from membership of the body.
Following the submission of the report, one of the members present, perhaps in a choreographed submission said that the vacancy in the chairmanship should be filled and Anenih was nominated and unanimously adopted. Fixing Jonathan’s future was back fully on course.
Once derided for his hesitancy in using the instrument of state to protect his political interests, President Goodluck Jonathan may now have bared his fangs as he moves to consolidate his hold on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the polity. His challengers are scampering for shelter.
Few of the men gathered in the presidential villa that evening had seen President Goodluck Jonathan as feisty and determined as he was last Sunday. A man that had been taken by some as a weakling was before the 18 or so governors gathered in the room showing a strong hand that many had not envisaged.
By one account, the president was alleged to have sworn that he would never be humiliated out of office by the Nigerian Governors Forum and its chairman, Rotimi Amaechi.
Before now, close associates of the president like his now controversial Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, had played the game of hitting Amaechi. But Orubebe’s efforts had not made any success as he was easily dismissed on account of the failed repair of the East West road, which crisscrosses the Niger Delta.
But last Sunday with few party chieftains like the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur at hand, President Jonathan moved to divide the ranks of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF a body that had turned into a major opposition body to not just his government, but also his seeming quest for a second term.
The president, himself a former governor, was not oblivious of the power and influence of the governors. About 23 months ago at the final rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential campaign at the Eagles Square in Abuja, Jonathan had described the governors as the Field Marshals of the party, upon whom victory or otherwise in a presidential contest rest upon.
Perhaps in recognition of the powers of the governors, President Jonathan had conceded to them in nearly all political engagements. He stopped the e-registration of party members because of the governors, closed his eyes when Okwesileze Nwodo who he brought in as national chairman was eased out, turned the other way when several senators who pushed for his enthronement as Acting President were refused re-election tickets by the governors, and also, allowed the governors to produce all but one member of the 12-member National Working Committee, NWC of the party. The president’s only proxy in the NWC is the now embattled national chairman, Tukur, who the governors led by Amaechi were as at last Sunday craving to push out.
As such, President Jonathan had every reason to express concern as the clouds began to gather around his political future. The governors were his major nemesis. Remarkably, many of the governors were also forming linkages with another powerful one-time benefactor of the president now turned into an enemy: Olusegun Obasanjo.
Before the 2011 primaries and in the heat of the crisis that trailed the Umaru Yar‘adua presidency, nearly all the governors at that time had been united in opposing Jonathan’s emergence as acting president. But faced with the ‘Hand of God,’ the governors accepted the inevitable. Remarkably, the champions against his emergence at that time are today practically licking dust.
James Ibori, a former governor of Delta State is in jail abroad, Timipire Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State is out of power and fighting prosecution by anti-graft agencies, and Bukola Saraki, a former chairman of the influential NGF, is under the shadows of anti-graft agencies for alleged offences committed while in office. It is the kind of stealthy use of power that few have given Dr. Jonathan credence.
Last Sunday, the president literarily forced those among the governors and others outside to take notice that he would not just use his powers stealthily, but also overtly when and where the need arises.
President’s determination
The president’s determination to weaken the opposition it was learnt, was essentially focused on two of his main opponents: the NGF and the Obasanjo tendency in the party. While Obasanjo had found it not a too difficult task forging an alliance with some northern governors, doing the same with southern governors had proved Herculean. It was especially difficult with Amaechi, the embattled chairman of the NGF. Obasanjo’s problem with Amaechi had to do with the latter’s bluntness in his relationships.
Amaechi it is alleged has a predilection for blunt speaking irrespective of whose ox is gored. It is a character trait that some of his associates allege may have led him to his problems with the president.
The Rivers State governor it is equally claimed, has consistently rebuffed peace gestures from Obasanjo finding it difficult to forget the hostility of the former president which culminated in him, Amaechi, fleeing the country in the twilight of the Obasanjo era. So where the two principal opponents of the incumbent president could have joined hands to fight a common ‘enemy’, the ill-feelings of the past created a divide that allowed the president to move in to decisively crush the opposition.
The presidency had started by disrobing Obasanjo of his political architecture in the Southwest two weeks ago with the dismissal of Obasanjo’s men in the NWC and in the Southwest executive of the party.
Bode Mustapha, who is generally known as Obasanjo’s Man Friday was sacked by the PDP leadership as national auditor using as excuse, the court judgment which annulled the 2011 Oshogbo zonal congress where the Southwest delegates to the national convention were chosen.
But the Obasanjo camp was quick to respond that the party’s action was selective as it alleged that applying the court judgment would have meant that all those elected at the national convention including Tukur should have stepped out of office as they were elected by illegal delegates.
Following the action on Obasanjo, the presidency launched a frontal war against the NGF. Presidency officials at the highest levels were alleged to have routinely called up governors all through last weekend on the need to remove Amaechi from office.
In some cases, audiovisual recordings of Amaechi were played to some governors who were told that Amaechi was determined to remove the president and that they must divorce themselves from the alleged plot by opposing Amaechi’s return as chairman of the NGF. Apparently determined to call the president’s bluff, the Amaechi supporters in the NGF pushed for a quick election to reaffirm their clout in the polity.
President Jonathan
Newly created forum
Other loyalists include Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Theodore Orji of Abia, Gabriel Suswam of Benue, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi.
The next day which was scheduled for the NGF election, Akpabio made the first move on behalf of Jonathan when he invited members of his newly created forum for a meeting prior to the NGF election at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
At that meeting it was alleged that Governor Shema, another Jonathan loyalist was adopted as the PDP Governors’ Forum choice as the next chairman of the NGF. From the Akwa Ibom governor’s lodge, the PDP governors proceeded to the Rivers State Governor’s lodge for the election which was to involve the nation’s 36 governors.
As the meeting commenced, Governor Babangida Aliyu, who was absent at the two meetings at the villa on Sunday and Monday afternoon hosted by Akpabio, questioned the rationale for the creation of the PDP-GF in the continued presence of the NGF. He was immediately challenged by Akpabio leading to a shouting match among the duo that almost broke up the meeting as many of the governors immediately started packing their things to abandon the meeting.
But once reason prevailed on the combative duo, the meeting returned to order. Remarkably, the persuasion and pressures from the presidency had whittled support from Amaechi, but not sufficient to enthrone Shema. So not surprisingly the governors resolved to postpone the evil day till May.
Derobing Obasanjo: The presidency was still unfinished that Monday. Later that night, the unfinished agenda of derobing Obasanjo was completed at a scheduled meeting of the BOT where a report on restructuring the membership of the advisory body was presented to the president at the villa.
Following Obasanjo’s resignation as chairman of the BOT last year, the contest for the chairmanship of the body had turned to a proxy war between him and Jonathan. Obasanjo it is alleged, was strongly opposed to the emergence of Jonathan’s favourite, Tony Anenih as his replacement. A former chairman of the BOT, Anenih was displaced from the position in 2007 by Obasanjo and since then both men had played cat and mouse in the politics of the PDP.
Not surprisingly in the dying days of the Yar‘Adua presidency, while Obasanjo strongly supported Jonathan’s emergence as acting president, Anenih reportedly was in cahoots with the governors in opposing Jonathan. But Anenih, however, to the discomfort of Obasanjo subsequently moved in to take command of the Amen Corner of the Jonathan camp.
Potential rivals
The opportunity to derobe Obasanjo came in the early hours of yesterday after the report articulated by a former secretary of the BOT, Prof. Jerry Gana on restructuring membership of the BOT was submitted.
The report it was learnt, recommended the excision of members of the BOT who had in the past shifted loyalties to other parties. It is a recommendation that further strengthens the hands of the president on the party as it removes some of his potential rivals such as Atiku Abubakar, Ghali Na‘Abba from membership of the body.
Following the submission of the report, one of the members present, perhaps in a choreographed submission said that the vacancy in the chairmanship should be filled and Anenih was nominated and unanimously adopted. Fixing Jonathan’s future was back fully on course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)