THE battle for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) presidential ticket assumed a dangerous dimension on Thursday over a statement credited to former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in which he alluded to violent take-over of government.
The statement by the former vice-president has generated hot reactions, further widening the gulf between the camps of President Goodluck Jonathan and Alhaji Abubakar.
However, in one of the reactions to Abubakar’s statement, some of his supporters from the North have declared that the office of the president of the country is North’s sole right and have threatened to unleash mayhem of unimaginable proportions on the country, if Abubakar does not get the presidential ticket of the PDP.
Friday, December 17, 2010
President: Atiku’s Statement Treasonable
President Goodluck Jonathan blew hot yesterday at two different fora, warning politicians against unguarded statements.
He said anyone making statements that threaten the sovereignty of the country would be deemed to be engaging in treasonable felony.
The president’s warning is a veiled response to a statement by former vice-president and consensus candidate of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who two days ago at a political forum quoted Frantz Fanon, saying "those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable".
IBB, Atiku Supporters sad as PDP NEC, govs, endorse Jonathan
IT was a tense atmosphere last night in Abuja as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Council (NEC) and governors met to take crucial decisions on its order of primaries and other burning issues.
At the end of the meeting, 20 governors endorsed and adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP’s candidate of the party for the presidential primary election slated for January 13 2011.
But the Atiku Campaign Organization dismissed the endorsement, saying that it was of no significance, provided it did not take away the rights of the PDP delegates.
And against the backdrop of a statement credited to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that if peaceful change was not allowed, it would make violent change inevitable, Jonathan said that his government would not hesitate to bring anybody who made treasonable comments before the law. President Goodluck Jonathan sounded a note of warning to those making inciting statements, challenging Nigeria’s sovereignty as a nation and warned that his government would no longer “take that kind of rubbish lightly.”
Thursday, December 16, 2010
President Jonathan said: Stolen DDC machines won’t affect credible elections
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday assured all Nigerians that the process that will lead to credible elections in 2011 has not been interrupted in any way despite the stealing of the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This reassurance came as the president called on all Nigerians to be vigilant and watchful so that those who threatened violence if they did not have their way in 2011 were put to shame.
Jonathan, in a comment on his Facebook page warned the citizens not to allow anyone to rob the nation of the unique opportunity to decide the direction the country will go in 2011.
He said there was need not to politicise any incident and inject suspicion into the polity.
The president stated that he was glad that the police had lived up to their responsibilities and had made arrests and recovery of the stolen DDC machines, insisting that the feat was laudable and should be supported by everyone.
This reassurance came as the president called on all Nigerians to be vigilant and watchful so that those who threatened violence if they did not have their way in 2011 were put to shame.
Jonathan, in a comment on his Facebook page warned the citizens not to allow anyone to rob the nation of the unique opportunity to decide the direction the country will go in 2011.
He said there was need not to politicise any incident and inject suspicion into the polity.
The president stated that he was glad that the police had lived up to their responsibilities and had made arrests and recovery of the stolen DDC machines, insisting that the feat was laudable and should be supported by everyone.
WikiLeaks Reveals Star Leadership Qualities Of Jonathan
A political commentator and public affairs analyst, Mr. Paul Obanua, said yesterday that contrary to the way the opposition wants the public to see it, the WikiLeaks report on President Goodluck Jonathan further revealed his star leadership qualities. In some reports in the national dailies recently, some opposition groups were quoted as saying that the WikiLeaks report succeeded in exposing the president's desperation for power and as somebody who should not be trusted with power.
But speaking with LEADERSHIP last night, Mr. Obanua said there was nothing in that report that portrays the president as such.
According to him, "I read the so-called WikiLeaks; there is nothing in that report, assuming the report on President Jonathan was correct that portrayed him as a desperate person. In fact the report further revealed the star leadership qualities of the president; it shows that he is not desperate for power."
Jonathan, IBB supporters clash at Igbo summit
Battle for the 2011 presidency shifted to Owerri, Imo state yesterday, as supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan and General Ibrahim Babangida engaged in an altercation.
The Igbo Political Forum, which is believed to be working for IBB had scheduled a stakeholder's conference at the Concorde Hotel, Owerri, but was denied access to the venue by the hotel management and security agencies.
Those locked out include former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former governors Jim Nwobodo, Achike Udenwa, Sam Egwu and Chris Ngige.
Others are Ambassador George Obiozor, former Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji; former Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu; Air commodore Luke Ochulor, Prince BB Apugo, Senator Ben Obi, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Chief Dubem Onyia, Chief Simon Okeke and Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu.
Irregular Account: Where are the Remaining Direct Data Capture Machines
WE have come a long way in all things, including the attempt to checkmate that big monster called corruption. The joke is told of how a machine that catches thieves was invented outside these coasts. That machine was dispatched to us to help catch those big thieves around.
But as soon as the machine landed in Nigeria, it was stolen! Does this sound any different from what is happening to the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines, which were imported into this country to facilitate the process of registering us to vote?
But as soon as the machine landed in Nigeria, it was stolen! Does this sound any different from what is happening to the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines, which were imported into this country to facilitate the process of registering us to vote?
A Law Maker in Nigeria Can Pay His Counterpart in USA -- Compare
A comparative analysis of Nigerian legislators‘ earnings and those of other countries reveals that the former can pay many of their counterparts in other countries and still remain very rich, NNAEMEKA MERIBE and GBENGA ADENIJI write.
An Indian lawmaker needs to work for at least 49 years to earn the annual salary of a Nigerian senator. A lawmaker in India earns $23,988 (N3.7m) per annum while a Nigerian senator earns $1.2m (N182m) per annum. A monthly breakdown shows that while an Indian lawmaker earns $1,999 (N305, 058) per month, a Nigerian senator earns $ 99,167(N15.18m) per month.
An Indian lawmaker needs to work for at least 49 years to earn the annual salary of a Nigerian senator. A lawmaker in India earns $23,988 (N3.7m) per annum while a Nigerian senator earns $1.2m (N182m) per annum. A monthly breakdown shows that while an Indian lawmaker earns $1,999 (N305, 058) per month, a Nigerian senator earns $ 99,167(N15.18m) per month.
Goodluck Presents N1.39trn deficit budget to the N'Assembly
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| President Jonathan |
The proposal has a built-in deficit of N1.390 trillion. The proposed spending for 2011 is based on a benchmark oil price of $65 per barrel, production of 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd) and an exchange rate of 150 naira to the dollar.
President Jonathan’s revenue forecast indicates that the Federal Government would earn N2.836 trillion while planning to spend N4.226 trillion leaving a deficit of N1.390 trillion, which represents 3.62 per cent of GDP
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
One dies, two injured in Lagos accident
A female student of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Ekere Itoro, was crushed on Tuesday, while two other people suffered injuries in a hit-and-run motor accident in Oshodi area of Lagos State.
In another incident, a policeman at Amukoko area of Lagos allegedly shot another man thus throwing the neighbourhood into confusion.
Eye witnesses in the Oshodi incident said the accident which occurred around 8am involved a mini tanker with registration number XT 343 EPE.
Elder statesman, Enahoro dies at 87: Gowon and other Nationalists react over His death
The rank of Nigeria’s founding fathers was further depleted this morning with the passing on of frontline nationalist and elder statesman, Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro.
Enahoro, 87, died in the early hours of today after a protracted illness.
He had been ill since late September when he fell into coma and had been a regular occupant of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, where he died.
The death of foremost journalist, anti-colonial and pro-democracy activist, threw the pro-democracy community into mourning Wednesday because of the octogenarian’s his evergreen usefulness, resourcefulness and relevance in nation-building.
Enahoro, 87, died in the early hours of today after a protracted illness.
He had been ill since late September when he fell into coma and had been a regular occupant of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, where he died.
The death of foremost journalist, anti-colonial and pro-democracy activist, threw the pro-democracy community into mourning Wednesday because of the octogenarian’s his evergreen usefulness, resourcefulness and relevance in nation-building.
Minister of Information and Communication Prof. Akunyili Resigns, and Joins APGA
SPECULATIONS were Wednesday laid to rest when President Goodluck Jonathan reluctantly accepted the resignation of the Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili.
Consequently, the President has approved the appointment of Minister of State in the Ministry, Mr Labaran Maku, as the substantive Minister. The new senior Minister is now to function without a Minister of State.
Akunyili, in an emotion-laden last briefing after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, disclosed that she was quitting both the government and the ruling People Democratic Party, PDP, in order to achieve her age-long ambition to become a senator.
Consequently, the President has approved the appointment of Minister of State in the Ministry, Mr Labaran Maku, as the substantive Minister. The new senior Minister is now to function without a Minister of State.
Akunyili, in an emotion-laden last briefing after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, disclosed that she was quitting both the government and the ruling People Democratic Party, PDP, in order to achieve her age-long ambition to become a senator.
The National Assembly Members retreat under Governors’ fire
ABUJA—THE Senate and House of Representatives, yesterday, beat a retreat in their confrontation with the nation’s 36 governors over amendment to the Electoral Act that would make the federal lawmakers members of their political parties’ National Executive Committees.
While the Senate passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill without the controversial proposal to make members of the National Assembly automatic members of the NECs of political parties, the House of Representatives on its part suspended passage of the bill containing the controversial clauses indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the stage for the battle between the governors and the lawmakers in the dominant Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was closed temporarily after the scheduled NEC meeting was deferred till tomorrow. Party chieftains resolved to shift the meeting to enable further consultations on the cantankerous issues.
While the Senate passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill without the controversial proposal to make members of the National Assembly automatic members of the NECs of political parties, the House of Representatives on its part suspended passage of the bill containing the controversial clauses indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the stage for the battle between the governors and the lawmakers in the dominant Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was closed temporarily after the scheduled NEC meeting was deferred till tomorrow. Party chieftains resolved to shift the meeting to enable further consultations on the cantankerous issues.
PDP Govs. Frown at Nwodo's Orders in NEC meeting
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| Okwesilieze Nwodo |
Trouble started when Nwodo ordered the Enugu State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Vita Abba, out of the NEC meeting. Nwodo was said to have pointed out that Abba was not the authentic chairman of the PDP in the state.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Former Delta State Governor Ibori to face Extradition to UK as Dubai Court Rules
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| Former Delta State Governor James Onanefe Ibori. |
HE sought to escape from justice. And for months, he thought he had found a safe haven from the wrath of the law in Dubai.
But yesterday marked the beginning of the end for former Delta State Governor James Onanefe Ibori. It is the end of his alleged attempt to flee from justice while it is the beginning of his accounting for his alleged misdeeds while he was the helmsman in Delta.
But yesterday marked the beginning of the end for former Delta State Governor James Onanefe Ibori. It is the end of his alleged attempt to flee from justice while it is the beginning of his accounting for his alleged misdeeds while he was the helmsman in Delta.
Kidnappers Frustrate Immunisation in Uyo, The Akwa-ibom State Capital
In Akwa Ibom State, particularly in Uyo metropolis, it was one huddle after another recently when health officials went on a house to house immunization campaign in the state. Reason: big shots weren’t taking chances, being afraid that kidnappers might as well put on immunization aprons to gain access into their homes for their evil mandate.
While Akwa Ibom is one of the states that have ensured the absence of wild polio virus, the officials are lamenting that the high rate of kidnapping in the state is threatening their efforts as people are now scared too open their doors to unknown persons.
Daily Sun was in Akwa Ibom to monitor the Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) last month. Although the level of non-compliance was said to have remained very low with high successes, officials felt that they could cover more grounds during the national campaign if they did not have to grapple with the problem of access to their targeted population following the high level of insecurity.
While Akwa Ibom is one of the states that have ensured the absence of wild polio virus, the officials are lamenting that the high rate of kidnapping in the state is threatening their efforts as people are now scared too open their doors to unknown persons.
Daily Sun was in Akwa Ibom to monitor the Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) last month. Although the level of non-compliance was said to have remained very low with high successes, officials felt that they could cover more grounds during the national campaign if they did not have to grapple with the problem of access to their targeted population following the high level of insecurity.
Ebsu Supplementary List and Admission Acceptance Form is out
Former Lagos Boss, Tinubu -- Action Congress of Nigeria will win Ogun, Oyo in 2011
Tinubu, who spoke to journalists at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, said the ACN was already strategising towards achieving the goal.
“We are cleaning up Ogun and Oyo in 2011. This is the time our party is strategising to enlarge its scope. Akala (Governor Adebayo Alao Akala) does not understand the politics of Oyo State,” he said.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Crime in Nigeria: The Erstwhile First Lady Turai Yar’adua, and Others were Alleged of Bribery
2011: Govs, PDP chieftains storm Abuja
LAGOS—GOVERNORS and chairmen of State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on the receiving end of the proposal to foist members of the National Assembly on the National Executive Committees, NECs, of political parties are gathering in Abuja today to battle the proposal.
Besides Governors, Speakers of State Houses of Assembly representing their members, chairmen, secretaries, youth and women leaders of state chapters of the PDP are also gathering in Abuja to protest the proposal which will deny them delegate status in the forthcoming national convention of the party.
Besides Governors, Speakers of State Houses of Assembly representing their members, chairmen, secretaries, youth and women leaders of state chapters of the PDP are also gathering in Abuja to protest the proposal which will deny them delegate status in the forthcoming national convention of the party.
Osisikankwu, kidnap kingpin killed by soldiers
UMUAHIA—The Joint Military Task Force operating in Abia State, yesterday, killed the notorious kidnap kingpin, Mr. Obioma Nwankwo, popularly known as Osisikankwu, who was declared wanted by the police for alleged kidnapping.
Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, who confirmed the killing, said the notorious criminal was killed at Ugwuati Evil Forest during a gun battle between the task force and the gang led by Osisikankwu.
Though information about the killing was sketchy at press time, Vanguard learnt that the soldiers displayed the body of the notorious kidnapper in an open van round Aba to the jubilation of Aba residents.
Niger State Governor Accuses National Assembly of Killing Democracy in Nigeria
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| Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu |
Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has criticised the National Assembly of allegedly smuggling “questionable clauses” into the amended Electoral Act, saying the lawmakers’ action was capable of killing democracy in the country.
Aliyu accused the lawmakers of selfishness in introducing clauses aimed at making themselves members of the National Executive Committee of their political parties and automatic delegates to the parties’ conventions.Saturday, December 11, 2010
Experts Explain - How legislators’ 25% allocation would have improved Nigeria
Imagine the difference the 25% allocation to Federal legislators over the years would have made to the lives of Nigerians. The nation’s budgets in the last 10 years stand at about N22.5 trillion and based on the revelation from the CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi that 25% of recurrent budget is spent by the National Assembly, as much as N5.62 trillion has accrued to the NASS in the last ten years.
Saturday Vanguard sounded out experts in the various sectors on the difference this amount would have made in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Saturday Vanguard sounded out experts in the various sectors on the difference this amount would have made in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Voter Registration: Court Determines INEC’s Fate Monday
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed next Monday for hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed by Bedding Holdings Limited stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from continuing with voter registration exercise, pending the outcome of the substantive suit.
The company had earlier dragged INEC, its chairman, the Attorney-General of the federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, and three
The company had earlier dragged INEC, its chairman, the Attorney-General of the federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, and three
The Reasons Behind PDP's Proposal For Automatic Ticket To The Lawmakers
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have started feeling the pressure of plans to dislodge it from power in 2011 and has settled down for fire brigade approaches meant to enhance its chances in the 2011 general elections.
The Board of Trustees of PDP, during its last meeting in Abuja, had set out plans for the party to infuse a winning spirit in the party ahead of the 2011 general elections and that was after reviewing the party’s dwindling electoral fortunes across the federation, the opposition parties having preyed on some of the states it hitherto had in its firm grip.
The Board of Trustees of PDP, during its last meeting in Abuja, had set out plans for the party to infuse a winning spirit in the party ahead of the 2011 general elections and that was after reviewing the party’s dwindling electoral fortunes across the federation, the opposition parties having preyed on some of the states it hitherto had in its firm grip.
Police Arrest Four in Connection with the Stolen DDC Machines
Four persons, suspected to have stolen Direct Data Capture Machines (DDCM) from the cargo terminal at Lagos Airport, were on Friday paraded by the police at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA). Briefing newsmen, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Airport Command, Mosses Onireti, said the four suspects were arrested on Friday.
He gave the names of the suspects as Suleiman Isa, who was arrested at Shasha and Mrs Sunmonu Modupe, arrested at 17, Samuel Street, Akowonjo. Sunmonu was a cleaner at the airport three years ago, under the employ of Emapo Cleaning Services.
He gave the names of the suspects as Suleiman Isa, who was arrested at Shasha and Mrs Sunmonu Modupe, arrested at 17, Samuel Street, Akowonjo. Sunmonu was a cleaner at the airport three years ago, under the employ of Emapo Cleaning Services.
Friday, December 10, 2010
2011:Why we can’t back the North, by Ozobu, ex-Ohanaeze President
Ndigbo have not benefited anything from the North
You see, our brothers in Abuja, called me. I will not give their names. They said that they have signed an agreement with the northerners. On the phone, I asked them if the northerners came to them requesting for help to present a candidate for the office of the president?
You see, our brothers in Abuja, called me. I will not give their names. They said that they have signed an agreement with the northerners. On the phone, I asked them if the northerners came to them requesting for help to present a candidate for the office of the president?
Some of the DDC Machines Stolen from INEC were Recovered
The Direct Data Capturing computers belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stolen at the cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Tuesday night have been recovered by security operatives at the Shasha area of Lagos yesterday morning.
Governor Amaechi – N’Assembly is taking Nigerians for granted
RIVERS State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has accused members of the National Assembly of taking Nigerians for granted by passing into law the bill that will automatically make them members of the National Executive Committee of their political parties.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
FG, Senate succumb as Sanusi wins spending debate
ABUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, hit back at national backlash over alleged huge salaries and allowances being earned by members of the National Assembly saying that it was ready to have a salary cut if other arms of government would also subject themselves to similar cuts.
The Presidency on its part said the Federal Government’s plans to cut down on its recurrent expenditure were not borne out of any panicky measure but to sustain economic policy of government and agenda growth.
The Presidency on its part said the Federal Government’s plans to cut down on its recurrent expenditure were not borne out of any panicky measure but to sustain economic policy of government and agenda growth.
PDP NWC meets over IBB’s threat
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday in Abuja held a crucial meeting in response to the threat by a former presidential aspirant, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), to leave the party.
Babangida had on Tuesday threatened to quit the fold if the party did not rescind its decision to allow President Goodluck Jonathan contest the 2011 presidential election. THE PUNCH learnt that the party’s National Working Committee was still meeting as at 6.30pm.
Babangida had on Tuesday threatened to quit the fold if the party did not rescind its decision to allow President Goodluck Jonathan contest the 2011 presidential election. THE PUNCH learnt that the party’s National Working Committee was still meeting as at 6.30pm.
Some DDC Machines Stolen on arrival at the Lagos Int'l Airport
The porous nature of the nation’s airports has again been laid bare as some of the Direct Data Capture machines for the registration of voters for the 2011 elections were allegedly stolen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Sources at the airport, who made this known to our correspondent on Wednesday, did not give the number of units that was stolen. But they said the incident took place on Monday night at the Cargo Terminal of MMIA.
They also claimed that the machines were awaiting clearance by Independent National Electoral Commission agent when the theft took place.
Sources at the airport, who made this known to our correspondent on Wednesday, did not give the number of units that was stolen. But they said the incident took place on Monday night at the Cargo Terminal of MMIA.
They also claimed that the machines were awaiting clearance by Independent National Electoral Commission agent when the theft took place.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Senator Dalhatu Tafida - 2011 is pay back time for Niger Delta
NIGERIA'S High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Director-General of Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation, Senator Dalhatu Tafida yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State, urged Nigerians to see the 2011 presidential bid of Goodluck Jonathan as "pay back time for the people of the Niger Delta" just as he said that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot afford to lose Oyo state to the opposition in the forthcoming elections.
While urging Governor Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala to step up dialogue with aggrieved PDP leaders in the state to ensure the party's victory at the 2011 general elections, Senator Tafida maintained that "when you talk of the South West and you don't bring in Oyo state, the equation is not complete."
I didn’t insult Fayose – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday denied exchanging hot words with a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, at the thanksgiving reception organised by the sacked former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in his Okuku hometown, Oyo State, because he (Obasanjo) could not condenscend to the level of the former Ekiti governor.
Fayose, impeached as governor in 2006 in controversial circumstances during the second term tenure of the Obasanjo’s eight-year regime, was reported to have launched a verbal attack on Obasanjo at the Okuku event but the former president told our correspondent on Monday that he did not respond to Fayose’s diatribe.
Fayose, impeached as governor in 2006 in controversial circumstances during the second term tenure of the Obasanjo’s eight-year regime, was reported to have launched a verbal attack on Obasanjo at the Okuku event but the former president told our correspondent on Monday that he did not respond to Fayose’s diatribe.
DDCmachines arrive from China, Dubai
All seems set for the commencement of the registration of voters as the Direct Data Capture machines ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission have started arriving the country.
Sources close to the transaction told THE PUNCH on Monday that one of the suppliers, Zinox Technologies Limited, had so far brought in 14,000 units of the electronic equipment.
The machines, according to him, came in aboard three Boeing 747 aircraft. One of the aircraft flew into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos exactly one week ago, while the others arrived from China and Dubai on Sunday.
Zinox is one of the three companies that got Request for Quotations from INEC to supply 132,000 units of the DDC machines.
Sources close to the transaction told THE PUNCH on Monday that one of the suppliers, Zinox Technologies Limited, had so far brought in 14,000 units of the electronic equipment.
The machines, according to him, came in aboard three Boeing 747 aircraft. One of the aircraft flew into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos exactly one week ago, while the others arrived from China and Dubai on Sunday.
Zinox is one of the three companies that got Request for Quotations from INEC to supply 132,000 units of the DDC machines.
The Almighty UNIBEN, Igbinedion medical schools lose accreditation
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has withdrawn the accreditation of the medical and dental schools in the University of Benin and Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.
This was announced by the Chairman of MDCN, Dr. Roger Makanjuola, at the inauguration of the council’s new secretariat building in Abuja on Monday. Makanjuola said the accreditation was withdrawn because both universities had inadequate medical facilities and had more students than they could properly train.
This was announced by the Chairman of MDCN, Dr. Roger Makanjuola, at the inauguration of the council’s new secretariat building in Abuja on Monday. Makanjuola said the accreditation was withdrawn because both universities had inadequate medical facilities and had more students than they could properly train.
Monday, December 6, 2010
West Africa takes lead in fighting 419 scams
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Arch. Namadi Sambo, GCON, at the jus concluded first West Africa Cybercrime summit held in Nigeria last week addressed how the public and private sector must work together to eliminate cybercrime and foster legitimate economic opportunity for West Africans.
Hosted in a region with some of the highest number of cybercrime incidents in the world, the summit is focused on the theme, “The Fight against Cybercrime: Towards Innovative and Sustainable Economic Development,” by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Microsoft.
Hosted in a region with some of the highest number of cybercrime incidents in the world, the summit is focused on the theme, “The Fight against Cybercrime: Towards Innovative and Sustainable Economic Development,” by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Microsoft.
I’m not planning to abandon Atiku – IBB
ABUJA—Former military Head of State and the losing contender to the candidate of the Northern elders forum in the consensus arrangement, General Ibrahim Babangida, has expressed disaffection over claims making the rounds that he had jettisoned the option to run the 2011 elections. Babangida’s reaction came even as he reiterated that “his call for respect of the provisions of the PDP constitution as regards zoning still stands and must be respected by all members who subscribe to the party.”
Media reports had insinuated that General Babangida was making a U-turn because the consensus option had collapsed and that in deference to his supporters, he was bowing to pressures from his associates, friends, political allies and followers to take a shot at the presidential election.
However, the former military president in a statement by his spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, said: “To state the obvious, General IBB is not contemplating jettisoning the consensus option b
Media reports had insinuated that General Babangida was making a U-turn because the consensus option had collapsed and that in deference to his supporters, he was bowing to pressures from his associates, friends, political allies and followers to take a shot at the presidential election.
However, the former military president in a statement by his spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, said: “To state the obvious, General IBB is not contemplating jettisoning the consensus option b
I ‘ll endear PDP to Nigerians – Nwodo
ABUJA — The National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, has said he would take steps to endear the party to Nigerians.
Chief Nwodo, who admitted during a chat in Abuja that PDP has not been loved by Nigerians as much as it had won elections, pledged that he was prepared to change the public perception of the party.
He spoke against the background of recent losses suffered by the PDP which has lost four governorship seats to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Labour Party in Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, and penultimate week, Osun State in recent times. The party also lost Anambra to APGA.
His words: “We were winning elections but not winning the hearts of the people. We were winning elections but if you go down there, I don’t think the people like us as much as we were winning because we were not delivering to them the dividends of democracy.”
Nwodo, who has launched a concerted image laundering campaign for the party, said it was established on very sound principles of social justice in an egalitarian society where all Nigerians can realise their full potentials.
Chief Nwodo, who admitted during a chat in Abuja that PDP has not been loved by Nigerians as much as it had won elections, pledged that he was prepared to change the public perception of the party.
He spoke against the background of recent losses suffered by the PDP which has lost four governorship seats to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Labour Party in Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, and penultimate week, Osun State in recent times. The party also lost Anambra to APGA.
His words: “We were winning elections but not winning the hearts of the people. We were winning elections but if you go down there, I don’t think the people like us as much as we were winning because we were not delivering to them the dividends of democracy.”
Nwodo, who has launched a concerted image laundering campaign for the party, said it was established on very sound principles of social justice in an egalitarian society where all Nigerians can realise their full potentials.
Fashola under pressure to declare for guber race
LAGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola is under pressure from close associates to dump his gentle approach to politics and fight for his political survival.
The pressure on the governor, weekend, came against the background of emerging intentions by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and some other senior party officials to contest the gubernatorial ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the dominant party in Lagos State.
Vanguard gathered that the continued silence of the Governor over his second term aspiration was not going down well with elements in his kitchen cabinet who were now putting pressure on him to declare his intention.
The unease among the governor’s associates followed weekend’s reported declaration for the office of Governor by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji.
The Speaker and some other chieftains who are reportedly eyeing the Governor’s office are known associates of the erstwhile Governor of the State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Governor Fashola is equally a protegee of the former governor and leader of the party.
The pressure on the governor, weekend, came against the background of emerging intentions by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and some other senior party officials to contest the gubernatorial ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the dominant party in Lagos State.
Vanguard gathered that the continued silence of the Governor over his second term aspiration was not going down well with elements in his kitchen cabinet who were now putting pressure on him to declare his intention.
The unease among the governor’s associates followed weekend’s reported declaration for the office of Governor by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji.
The Speaker and some other chieftains who are reportedly eyeing the Governor’s office are known associates of the erstwhile Governor of the State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Governor Fashola is equally a protegee of the former governor and leader of the party.
EBSU 2010/2011 Supplementary Admission List is out
Ebonyi State University has finally released their 2010/2011 supplementary Admission List. You can check your admission status by logging on to www.ebsu-edu.net, then click on prospective student, and also on the check admission status link type your JAMB Reg. No. on the new window that will appear and click submit or click on this link http://portal.ebsu-edu.net/site/prospective_student.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1#
What Nigerians say on Legislators’ jumbo pay: Sanusi versus National Assembly
Last Wednesday, the Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, appeared before the Senate to defend his submission that 25 per cent of the overhead in the nation‘s annual budget is spent on the National Assembly. The comments left by readers to PUNCH’s coverage of the controversy show that Sanusi has the support of Nigerians, who agree that the NASS has become a financial burden on the nation’s resources.
Why are we embarrassing our country with this display of illiteracy and raw brutality by those who are supposed to be honourable? Why is the NASS trying to crucify an honest servant of the nation for saying the obvious? Who is in this country that does not know that our NASS is a drain pipe on our national budget? I want to advise Nigerians to utilise this election season and get rid of these touts and liberate this country from their shackles.
Why are we embarrassing our country with this display of illiteracy and raw brutality by those who are supposed to be honourable? Why is the NASS trying to crucify an honest servant of the nation for saying the obvious? Who is in this country that does not know that our NASS is a drain pipe on our national budget? I want to advise Nigerians to utilise this election season and get rid of these touts and liberate this country from their shackles.
Exorbitant Monthly pay: Senators earn N15.18m each, Reps N10.59m – Investigation
EACH senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria earns N15.18m in salaries and allowances monthly, just as each member of the House of Representatives takes home N10.59m a month, investigation has revealed.
For the Senate, each senator (excluding the Senate President and his deputy) takes home about N198.54m annually (N16.64m per month). This translates into a total of N21.243bn.
The amount includes each senator‘s N45m quarterly allowance, which amount to N180m annually for the four quarters of the year, and the official N18.54m that goes into their individual accounts annually as salaries and other emoluments.
According to our correspondents‘ findings, every member of the House of Representatives takes home about N127.18m annually (or N10.59m per month).
The amount includes N28m quarterly allowance for each member, which translates into N112m annually for the four quarters of the year. It also includes the official N15.18m annual salary and other emoluments of each member, contained in a document obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
For the Senate, each senator (excluding the Senate President and his deputy) takes home about N198.54m annually (N16.64m per month). This translates into a total of N21.243bn.
The amount includes each senator‘s N45m quarterly allowance, which amount to N180m annually for the four quarters of the year, and the official N18.54m that goes into their individual accounts annually as salaries and other emoluments.
According to our correspondents‘ findings, every member of the House of Representatives takes home about N127.18m annually (or N10.59m per month).
The amount includes N28m quarterly allowance for each member, which translates into N112m annually for the four quarters of the year. It also includes the official N15.18m annual salary and other emoluments of each member, contained in a document obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
INEC to display voter register on Internet
The Independent National Electoral Commission will display the register of voters on the Internet for validation and verification.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who made this known on Friday, added that the Direct Data Capturing machines needed for the exercise would arrive in the country before the end of this month.
He reaffirmed at the second annual Achebe Colloquium at the Brown University, in Providence, United States, that ad-hoc staff comprising mainly National Youth Service Corps members and university students would conduct the voter registration.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who made this known on Friday, added that the Direct Data Capturing machines needed for the exercise would arrive in the country before the end of this month.
He reaffirmed at the second annual Achebe Colloquium at the Brown University, in Providence, United States, that ad-hoc staff comprising mainly National Youth Service Corps members and university students would conduct the voter registration.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Senator Jubril Aminu calls for more seriousness on the Goodluck Campaign organisation
Senator Jubril Aminu on Friday said it would be dangerous to overrate or underrate the importance of former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the consensus aspirant of the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum.
The senator spoke during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja.
The NPLF, led by Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, recently picked Abubakar as the consensus aspirant of the North after conducting a ballot for four Northern PDP presidential aspirants.
The politicians Abubakar floored to emerge as the consensus aspirant are former military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; another retired General, Aliyu Gusau and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Reacting to the development, Aminu, who, like Abubakar, is from Adamawa State, said it would be wrong to handle Abubakar with kid gloves.
He noted that the fact that the three other aspirants had honoured their commitment to pull out of the presidential race and support Abubakar meant that the consensus idea should be taken seriously.
The senator said, “There is danger in over-blowing the importance of the exercise and there is also danger in underrating it.
The senator spoke during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja.
The NPLF, led by Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, recently picked Abubakar as the consensus aspirant of the North after conducting a ballot for four Northern PDP presidential aspirants.
The politicians Abubakar floored to emerge as the consensus aspirant are former military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; another retired General, Aliyu Gusau and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Reacting to the development, Aminu, who, like Abubakar, is from Adamawa State, said it would be wrong to handle Abubakar with kid gloves.
He noted that the fact that the three other aspirants had honoured their commitment to pull out of the presidential race and support Abubakar meant that the consensus idea should be taken seriously.
The senator said, “There is danger in over-blowing the importance of the exercise and there is also danger in underrating it.
About Eight killed, four injured in fresh Jos attack By Jude Owuamanam, Jos
were killed in Rikwe Chongu village in Bass Local Government Area of Plateau State in another pre-dawn attack allegedly perpetrated by herdsmen.
Our correspondent gathered that the herdsmen invaded the village at about 2.30 am on Friday morning, shooting sporadically in the air.
The village is about 30km west of Jos, the state capital.
The villagers, who recognised the style of previous attacks, refused to come out of their houses.
However, in another attempt to lure the villagers out of their homes, the herdsmen set their houses ablaze and positioned themselves at the entrances so that anybody that came out was either gunned down or killed with a cutlass.
The Commander of the Special Task Force on Jos crises, Brig.-Gen. Hassan Umoru, who confirmed the fresh attack to our correspondent, said, “The attack was carried out at about 02: 23 Hours of Friday, December 3, 2010. Seven people were killed and four others sustained injuries.”
The spokesman for the STF, Lt. Jerry Ayim-Odu, said, “The four people injured are currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, while the corpses of the dead were deposited in the same hospital.
Our correspondent gathered that the herdsmen invaded the village at about 2.30 am on Friday morning, shooting sporadically in the air.
The village is about 30km west of Jos, the state capital.
The villagers, who recognised the style of previous attacks, refused to come out of their houses.
However, in another attempt to lure the villagers out of their homes, the herdsmen set their houses ablaze and positioned themselves at the entrances so that anybody that came out was either gunned down or killed with a cutlass.
The Commander of the Special Task Force on Jos crises, Brig.-Gen. Hassan Umoru, who confirmed the fresh attack to our correspondent, said, “The attack was carried out at about 02: 23 Hours of Friday, December 3, 2010. Seven people were killed and four others sustained injuries.”
The spokesman for the STF, Lt. Jerry Ayim-Odu, said, “The four people injured are currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, while the corpses of the dead were deposited in the same hospital.
DELSU Admission List is out
Delta State University's Admission Exercise for 2010/2011 Academic Session First Batch Admission List (UTME) is out. To check your admission status you can log on to
http://www.delsung.net click 2010-2011 Final 2nd Batch UTME List (pdf)
http://www.delsung.net click 2010-2011 Final 2nd Batch UTME List (pdf)
Another Tragedy occured at the Lagos - Ibadan express way
TRAGEDY struck in Lagos on Wednesday as 15 passengers were burnt beyond recognition in an accident involving an 18-seater passenger bus on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway opposite the MKO Abiola Gardens, Alausa.
The driver of the vehicle with registration number LAGOS XW812APP and three other passengers were however lucky to escape, though with varying degrees of burns and were said to have been taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) by the men of the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).
Two passengers in the vehicle also tried to escape through the door but they were not so lucky as the fire had completely engulfed their bodies and they died on the spot while the other passengers inside the vehicles were almost burnt to ashes.
An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that the accident occurred around 5.00 p.m. as a result of a burst tyre which forced the driver of the vehicle to apply the brakes causing the vehicle to somersault several times before it caught fire.
The driver of the vehicle with registration number LAGOS XW812APP and three other passengers were however lucky to escape, though with varying degrees of burns and were said to have been taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) by the men of the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).
Two passengers in the vehicle also tried to escape through the door but they were not so lucky as the fire had completely engulfed their bodies and they died on the spot while the other passengers inside the vehicles were almost burnt to ashes.
An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that the accident occurred around 5.00 p.m. as a result of a burst tyre which forced the driver of the vehicle to apply the brakes causing the vehicle to somersault several times before it caught fire.
Police arrest man for stealing Bible,Area Boys kill Minna patent medicine dealer
The police in Gwada town of Niger State have arrested one Christian James for allegedly stealing three Bibles and other Christian materials.
The value of the Bibles according to the Nigerian Tribune findings, was put at N3,400.
Other religious items allegedly stolen from the Christ the King Catholic Bookshop on Dandaodu road near Gwada were five pictures valued at N1,500; 60 prayer rosaries that had a market value of N4,800; one St Michael statute costing N250 and a Sunday Missal valued at N1,500.
It was said that the suspect broke into the shop while the manager, one Andrew Joseph, was out and made away with the items.
The items were later recovered in the suspect’s residence by the police, the Nigerian Tribune further learnt.
The police in the area confirmed the story, saying James had been arraigned before a senior magistrate court.
In another develop-ment, the police in Minna, the Niger State capital, have begun a manhunt for one Hudu Abdulkareem and two others who allegedly stabbed to death a patent medicine dealer, Baba Out.
According to the Nigerian Tribune’s investigation, the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 8.40a.m at the Makera area of the state capital.
The value of the Bibles according to the Nigerian Tribune findings, was put at N3,400.
Other religious items allegedly stolen from the Christ the King Catholic Bookshop on Dandaodu road near Gwada were five pictures valued at N1,500; 60 prayer rosaries that had a market value of N4,800; one St Michael statute costing N250 and a Sunday Missal valued at N1,500.
It was said that the suspect broke into the shop while the manager, one Andrew Joseph, was out and made away with the items.
The items were later recovered in the suspect’s residence by the police, the Nigerian Tribune further learnt.
The police in the area confirmed the story, saying James had been arraigned before a senior magistrate court.
In another develop-ment, the police in Minna, the Niger State capital, have begun a manhunt for one Hudu Abdulkareem and two others who allegedly stabbed to death a patent medicine dealer, Baba Out.
According to the Nigerian Tribune’s investigation, the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 8.40a.m at the Makera area of the state capital.
ATM fraud - Bank customers, officials assess MasterCard’s valve
Although many banks have replaced their former ATM card with Master Card, which has more security features, some people are still not impressed about the device, NIKE POPOOLA and STANLEY OPARA report.
The unpleasant experience Mr. Wale Atolagbe had last year when he tried to withdraw money from his bank account using the Automated Teller Machine card is not something he will forget in a hurry.
He had tried the card on three ATMs at different locations at Lekki in Lagos, but none of them dispensed money. He was angry but there was nothing he could do.
The next day, he had to go to his bank for clarification, only to be told that he had withdrawn N60,000 with his ATM card, a day earlier. His countenance instantly changed and he demanded an immediate explanation.
Atolagbe was asked to lodge a formal complaint at the bank, which he did.
Although the bank later resolved the matter and refunded his money, this was several weeks after the incident. He had had to look for money elsewhere to meet his urgent needs.
After this experience, he stopped using the ATM card. He also decided not to use the new MasterCard when his bank introduced it with enhanced security features to check fraud.
The unpleasant experience Mr. Wale Atolagbe had last year when he tried to withdraw money from his bank account using the Automated Teller Machine card is not something he will forget in a hurry.
He had tried the card on three ATMs at different locations at Lekki in Lagos, but none of them dispensed money. He was angry but there was nothing he could do.
The next day, he had to go to his bank for clarification, only to be told that he had withdrawn N60,000 with his ATM card, a day earlier. His countenance instantly changed and he demanded an immediate explanation.
Atolagbe was asked to lodge a formal complaint at the bank, which he did.
Although the bank later resolved the matter and refunded his money, this was several weeks after the incident. He had had to look for money elsewhere to meet his urgent needs.
After this experience, he stopped using the ATM card. He also decided not to use the new MasterCard when his bank introduced it with enhanced security features to check fraud.
PDP Reps explain backing for Jonathan - why must we look up to Jonathan
ABUJA – HOUSE of Representatives spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh, yesterday, explained why the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus of the House has agreed to support President Jonathan Goodluck for the ticket of the party during its forth coming primaries.
Eyiboh, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said that after a meeting between the President and the caucus, Wednesday night, at the residence of the Speaker, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the caucus was “very impressed with his commitment towards building a new Nigeria.”
He added that of all the aspirants, they found him to have the “strongest potential for wining the ticket,” because he had “a strong selling point.”
This came just as a Federal High Court in Abuja reinstated the six sacked lawmakers and
Eyiboh, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said that after a meeting between the President and the caucus, Wednesday night, at the residence of the Speaker, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the caucus was “very impressed with his commitment towards building a new Nigeria.”
He added that of all the aspirants, they found him to have the “strongest potential for wining the ticket,” because he had “a strong selling point.”
This came just as a Federal High Court in Abuja reinstated the six sacked lawmakers and
EFCC to Charge Ex-US Vice President to Court for Bribery
Abuja—Indications emerged yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is planing to drag former Vice President of the the Unites States , Dick Cheney, to court over the roles he allegedly played in the $180 million Halliburton bribery scandal.
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, confirmed yesterday that
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, confirmed yesterday that
Labour Party chieftain calls for Reduction in the Salaries of the National Assembly Members
AKURE—AGAINST the backdrop of criticism over the remunerations of members of the National Assembly, a Chieftain of the Labour Party, LP, in Ondo State, Chief Olufemi Adekanmbi yesterday called for a drastic reduction in their remunerations in the interest of the nation’s economy.
Adekanmbi suggested that the monthly salaries of Senators and members of the House of Representatives should be trimmed down to N100, 000 and N75, 000 respectively.
Speaking while officially declaring his intention to represent the people of Owo/Ose Federal constituency at the National Assembly in Owo, Adekanmbi said if the claims made by Central Bank Governor
Adekanmbi suggested that the monthly salaries of Senators and members of the House of Representatives should be trimmed down to N100, 000 and N75, 000 respectively.
Speaking while officially declaring his intention to represent the people of Owo/Ose Federal constituency at the National Assembly in Owo, Adekanmbi said if the claims made by Central Bank Governor
Friday, December 3, 2010
PDP Flag Bearer to be unveiled on Saturday Jan. 11 2011
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has proposed January 11-13 to pick its presidential candidate.
The frontrunners are President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) decided the dates at its meeting yesterday in Abuja, a member of the body told our reporter last night.
But the decision
The frontrunners are President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) decided the dates at its meeting yesterday in Abuja, a member of the body told our reporter last night.
But the decision
Methodist Bishop, Rt. Rev. Sunday Onuoha may unseat Uche Chukwumerije as he joins politics
The Bishop of Evangelism and Discipleship, Methodist Church, Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Sunday Onuoha, has declared his intention to contest for a senatorial seat in Abia State.
Onuoha, who will be contesting for the Abia North Senatorial seat under the People’s Democratic Party, seeks to unseat Senator Uche Chukwumerije.
The clergy, who is also chairman, Vision Africa Radio (FM 101), Umuahia, announced his plan late on Wednesday at a fund-raising dinner organised by his friends in Lagos.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria that he was bringing integrity, uprightness, exemplary living and experience to politics.
NAN reports that Onuoha served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Adviser on Privatisation.
According to Onuoha, God has ordained him to proclaim freedom to Nigerians, hence his decision to go into politics which many perceive as dirty.
“If politics is dirty, it has to be washed. I know that there are clean people who entered into politics and came out clean, and I hope to follow their footsteps,” he said.
Onuoha, who will be contesting for the Abia North Senatorial seat under the People’s Democratic Party, seeks to unseat Senator Uche Chukwumerije.
The clergy, who is also chairman, Vision Africa Radio (FM 101), Umuahia, announced his plan late on Wednesday at a fund-raising dinner organised by his friends in Lagos.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria that he was bringing integrity, uprightness, exemplary living and experience to politics.
NAN reports that Onuoha served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Adviser on Privatisation.
According to Onuoha, God has ordained him to proclaim freedom to Nigerians, hence his decision to go into politics which many perceive as dirty.
“If politics is dirty, it has to be washed. I know that there are clean people who entered into politics and came out clean, and I hope to follow their footsteps,” he said.
A FEDERAL UNIVERSITY TO BE SITED IN EBONYI STATE
The Federal Government of Nigeria's proposal to site more six universities one for each of the six geopolitical zones in the country has been welcomed by the well meaning Nigerians. Both Government and the people of the South East Nigeria have lauded Mr. President's initiave and commitment towards the development of the human resources of this nation as they argued that the establishment of more universities will not only give room for the citizens to acquire university education but also
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Consensus not enough to beat Jonathan -IBB, others
Former military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, former National Security Adviser (NSA), Aliyu Gusau and Kwara State governor, Bukola Saraki yesterday pointed at ways the north can clinch the 2011 presidential primaries of the party.
In a joint statement by their campaign organisations yesterday, the trio which former vice president, Atiku Abubakar defeated to clinch the north�s consensus ticket in in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said defeating President Goodluck Jonathan in the primaries goes beyond the selection of a consensus candidate, but requires hard work and togetherness to achieve the purpose.
In a joint statement made available to Daily Champion, they thanked Mallam Adamu Ciroma�s panel "for the able, mature and statesmanly way it handled the process that led to the selection of Atiku," saying, "this sentiment reinforces the individual statements already issued by the aspirants themselves in this regard.
Part of the statement read: "We also wish to congratulate Atiku on his selection as the consensus candidate from among the four aspirants.
"No doubt, the completion of this phase of the selection process, signals the beginning of real hard work to unite our nation, and reconcile the differences that separate our people. It is our hope and expectation that this healing process will lead to the renewal of hope across the land and the commencement of the journey of national rebirth and collective self-discovery.
"Together we pledge to work tirelessly for the emergence of Atiku as not only the winner of the PDP presidential primaries, but most importantly his election as the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the 2011 Presidential election.
"We are amply reassured that Atiku Abubakar has the requisite democratic credentials and strategic capacity of turning around our national fortune for the better and will provide the kind of visionary and reform-minded leadership that will impact positively on all national sectors including but not limited to security of life and property, stable power supply, food sufficiency and agricultural transformation, the Niger-Delta peace process, job creation, educational and health sector reforms and the revamping of our public infrastructure.
Meanwhile, national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo has said if Atiku gets the nod of delegates, everybody, including Jonathan will support and campaign for him.
Nwodo however called on Nigerians to vote without regard to where any of the candidates come from adding that the era of politics of affinity was over.
He said: "We are tired of politics of affinity. We want those who want to lead us to tell what they plan to do. I want Nigerians to vote for those people who can change our lives no matter where they come from," he said.
Speaking at an interaction with media executives in Abuja yesterday, Nwodo said the PDP is just one, strong and united family that will stand firmly behind any of the aspirants that picks the party�s ticket at the upcoming primaries.
Though he said the date for the presidential primaries of the party is yet to be fixed as the general elections timetable has just been published by the Independent National electoral commission (INEC), Nwodo added that if however President Jonathan becomes the flag-bearer, Atiku will also support and campaign for him.
"If Atiku wins, Jonathan will campaign for him. Whoever wins will be a consensus candidate of the party. He will be a consensus leader, a unifying leader," he said.
"I don�t want Nigerians to see our leaders from the angle of where they come from or from the point of view of their religion. Each one of them is eminently qualified to lead the country and we are trusting that our delegates will do justice when they vote," he stressed.
Nwodo, who re-emphasized his new gospel of reforms and internal democracy in the party, also said the times are long past when those seeking elective office would depend on the incumbent president or national executives for victory.
He said no one, not even the president, will guarantee the election of any office seeker as such power lies with the people.
Stating that the party will remain supreme, Nwodo said the PDP is lucky to have had Presidents who believe in reform and supremacy of the party and are ready to play along as loyal party members.
"We are reforming. We are also lucky that the late Umaru Yar�Adua and President Jonathan all believed in reforms and supremacy of the party. They believed that the party should be supreme. They will tell you that they are leaders of a PDP-led government and not PDP leaders. It is the chairman and his executive who are PDP leaders.
"Internal democracy must come back. If we do that, we will produce our first eleven to challenge others in the election. That is the legacy we want to leave. We want to grow a new crop of leaders that care. Therefore, for people to elect you, they must trust you, they must believe in you. So, forget the tradition of coming to the national secretariat. Go to the people. Talk to them. If they vote for you, we will be proud to present you as our candidate," he stated.
Stressing the need for reforms in the party, Nwodo who assured that the national secretariat of the party will be of no help to any aspirant seeking imposition, noted that though the reforms may take time to be achieve, the end will still be in the interest of Nigeria.
"Our reforms will take some time. We must be realistic about it. We met an executive where one person wrote the list and he held the structure. We met the structure in its second year and it is difficult to change it. Even when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said we should repeat congresses in some states, we still met resistance.
"It is holders of the structure who determine who gets in and who does not get in and that accounts for reasons we are having defections because those who the holders of the structure have told they will not return will move to other parties where they believe they will contest and win. So, until we are able to have congresses where all stakeholders in a ward, for instance, depending on the number of votes they bring, become ward executives, you will still find the kind of thing we are fighting," he stated.
On the decision of aspirants from the north to settle for a consensus candidate, Nwodo said the party has nothing against the decision adding however, that it is part of political strategies employed by players on the field to better their chances.
"Every candidate employs strategies they think will help them win. We wish them luck. But mind you, it is a game of wits. It is a game of strategy. It is a game of appealing to the people,� he said.
On proposed changes to the constitution which will make chairmen of standing committees of the National assembly automatic members of the national executive committee of their respective political parties, Nwodo, who expressed fears over such transforming into a dictatorship of the national assembly, noted however that it was a welcome development so far it is properly balanced.
He said: "I believe that if the National Assembly checks the excesses of the governors and make them the excesses of the national assembly then we are not safe.
"If it is balanced, then we are okay. What we want is a balanced National Electoral Commission (NEC) of the different political parties. I will go to the National Assembly with the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP to plead that the law we want is a law that will bring about a more robust NEC for the political parties," he said.
Nwodo said the quest for reforms in the party is aimed at returning power to the people in the vision of founders of the party adding that despite controlling power for 12 years now, the level of disapproval of the party had soared because the elected representatives of the people refused to deliver democracy dividends to them.
"If you are happy with where we are coming from, I am not. We formed the PDP on core values and promised ourselves that we will manage our resources well for the people. After 12 years, what is the result? We were winning elections massively but the people did not like us even when we win because we were not delivering democracy dividends to them," he said.
In a joint statement by their campaign organisations yesterday, the trio which former vice president, Atiku Abubakar defeated to clinch the north�s consensus ticket in in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said defeating President Goodluck Jonathan in the primaries goes beyond the selection of a consensus candidate, but requires hard work and togetherness to achieve the purpose.
In a joint statement made available to Daily Champion, they thanked Mallam Adamu Ciroma�s panel "for the able, mature and statesmanly way it handled the process that led to the selection of Atiku," saying, "this sentiment reinforces the individual statements already issued by the aspirants themselves in this regard.
Part of the statement read: "We also wish to congratulate Atiku on his selection as the consensus candidate from among the four aspirants.
"No doubt, the completion of this phase of the selection process, signals the beginning of real hard work to unite our nation, and reconcile the differences that separate our people. It is our hope and expectation that this healing process will lead to the renewal of hope across the land and the commencement of the journey of national rebirth and collective self-discovery.
"Together we pledge to work tirelessly for the emergence of Atiku as not only the winner of the PDP presidential primaries, but most importantly his election as the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the 2011 Presidential election.
"We are amply reassured that Atiku Abubakar has the requisite democratic credentials and strategic capacity of turning around our national fortune for the better and will provide the kind of visionary and reform-minded leadership that will impact positively on all national sectors including but not limited to security of life and property, stable power supply, food sufficiency and agricultural transformation, the Niger-Delta peace process, job creation, educational and health sector reforms and the revamping of our public infrastructure.
Meanwhile, national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo has said if Atiku gets the nod of delegates, everybody, including Jonathan will support and campaign for him.
Nwodo however called on Nigerians to vote without regard to where any of the candidates come from adding that the era of politics of affinity was over.
He said: "We are tired of politics of affinity. We want those who want to lead us to tell what they plan to do. I want Nigerians to vote for those people who can change our lives no matter where they come from," he said.
Speaking at an interaction with media executives in Abuja yesterday, Nwodo said the PDP is just one, strong and united family that will stand firmly behind any of the aspirants that picks the party�s ticket at the upcoming primaries.
Though he said the date for the presidential primaries of the party is yet to be fixed as the general elections timetable has just been published by the Independent National electoral commission (INEC), Nwodo added that if however President Jonathan becomes the flag-bearer, Atiku will also support and campaign for him.
"If Atiku wins, Jonathan will campaign for him. Whoever wins will be a consensus candidate of the party. He will be a consensus leader, a unifying leader," he said.
"I don�t want Nigerians to see our leaders from the angle of where they come from or from the point of view of their religion. Each one of them is eminently qualified to lead the country and we are trusting that our delegates will do justice when they vote," he stressed.
Nwodo, who re-emphasized his new gospel of reforms and internal democracy in the party, also said the times are long past when those seeking elective office would depend on the incumbent president or national executives for victory.
He said no one, not even the president, will guarantee the election of any office seeker as such power lies with the people.
Stating that the party will remain supreme, Nwodo said the PDP is lucky to have had Presidents who believe in reform and supremacy of the party and are ready to play along as loyal party members.
"We are reforming. We are also lucky that the late Umaru Yar�Adua and President Jonathan all believed in reforms and supremacy of the party. They believed that the party should be supreme. They will tell you that they are leaders of a PDP-led government and not PDP leaders. It is the chairman and his executive who are PDP leaders.
"Internal democracy must come back. If we do that, we will produce our first eleven to challenge others in the election. That is the legacy we want to leave. We want to grow a new crop of leaders that care. Therefore, for people to elect you, they must trust you, they must believe in you. So, forget the tradition of coming to the national secretariat. Go to the people. Talk to them. If they vote for you, we will be proud to present you as our candidate," he stated.
Stressing the need for reforms in the party, Nwodo who assured that the national secretariat of the party will be of no help to any aspirant seeking imposition, noted that though the reforms may take time to be achieve, the end will still be in the interest of Nigeria.
"Our reforms will take some time. We must be realistic about it. We met an executive where one person wrote the list and he held the structure. We met the structure in its second year and it is difficult to change it. Even when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said we should repeat congresses in some states, we still met resistance.
"It is holders of the structure who determine who gets in and who does not get in and that accounts for reasons we are having defections because those who the holders of the structure have told they will not return will move to other parties where they believe they will contest and win. So, until we are able to have congresses where all stakeholders in a ward, for instance, depending on the number of votes they bring, become ward executives, you will still find the kind of thing we are fighting," he stated.
On the decision of aspirants from the north to settle for a consensus candidate, Nwodo said the party has nothing against the decision adding however, that it is part of political strategies employed by players on the field to better their chances.
"Every candidate employs strategies they think will help them win. We wish them luck. But mind you, it is a game of wits. It is a game of strategy. It is a game of appealing to the people,� he said.
On proposed changes to the constitution which will make chairmen of standing committees of the National assembly automatic members of the national executive committee of their respective political parties, Nwodo, who expressed fears over such transforming into a dictatorship of the national assembly, noted however that it was a welcome development so far it is properly balanced.
He said: "I believe that if the National Assembly checks the excesses of the governors and make them the excesses of the national assembly then we are not safe.
"If it is balanced, then we are okay. What we want is a balanced National Electoral Commission (NEC) of the different political parties. I will go to the National Assembly with the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP to plead that the law we want is a law that will bring about a more robust NEC for the political parties," he said.
Nwodo said the quest for reforms in the party is aimed at returning power to the people in the vision of founders of the party adding that despite controlling power for 12 years now, the level of disapproval of the party had soared because the elected representatives of the people refused to deliver democracy dividends to them.
"If you are happy with where we are coming from, I am not. We formed the PDP on core values and promised ourselves that we will manage our resources well for the people. After 12 years, what is the result? We were winning elections massively but the people did not like us even when we win because we were not delivering democracy dividends to them," he said.
Ahead of PDP primaries: Pro-Jonathan group kicks against zoning
Jonathan’s ambition to contest in the 2011 Presidential election, the Door-to-Door Project, on Friday challenged other contenders in the forthcoming poll to come up with better ideas on how to move Nigeria forward and stop hiding beneath the controversy arising from the Peoples Democratic Party zoning formula.
In an interview with SATURDAY PUNCH in Lagos, the group’s coordinator, Mr. Anthony Prest, said those insisting on the zoning formula as the criterion for electing a PDP presidential candidate for the April 9, 2011 election, should be concerned with how to leave a legacy of unity and development for future generations of Nigerians, instead of wasting time and resources on divisive regional politics.
He said, “Rather than conspire against President Jonathan, those who do not approve of his ambition should come up with new ideas that can convince us to vote for them. They should concentrate on how to make Nigeria more united and not dividing the country.”
Prest said that many of those advocating zoning in the PDP were silent when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election, believed to be the freest and fairest election conducted in the history of Nigeria, because it served their selfish interests.
In an interview with SATURDAY PUNCH in Lagos, the group’s coordinator, Mr. Anthony Prest, said those insisting on the zoning formula as the criterion for electing a PDP presidential candidate for the April 9, 2011 election, should be concerned with how to leave a legacy of unity and development for future generations of Nigerians, instead of wasting time and resources on divisive regional politics.
He said, “Rather than conspire against President Jonathan, those who do not approve of his ambition should come up with new ideas that can convince us to vote for them. They should concentrate on how to make Nigeria more united and not dividing the country.”
Prest said that many of those advocating zoning in the PDP were silent when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election, believed to be the freest and fairest election conducted in the history of Nigeria, because it served their selfish interests.
Nigerians react to Appeal Court judgement declaring Aregbesola winner
Osogbo, Osun State capital was thrown into a frenzy yesterday following the declaration of Engr. Rauf Aregbesola of the Action Congress of Nigeria as the duly elected governor of Osun State by the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan.
It would be recalled that the protracted legal battle between the ACN and PDP over the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in Osun State started immediately the ACN candidate, Aregbesola was denied his victory before it was laid to rest with the pronouncement of the appellate court in election matters yesterday.
Also PDP members were seen discussing the disaster for the party as they lamented that their hopes for the 2011 elections has been dashed.
Consequently, ACN supporters were seen on the streets jubilating. They noted that the PDP in the state is dead completely as they used their brooms to sweep the major streets in the state capital as a symbol of sweeping Oyinlola and PDP away from the state.
The ACN supporters including stalwarts of the party, stoutly demanded for the immediate probe of Oyinlola’s government as they described the government as an unfriendly and illegal government imposed on the people of the state.
However, heavy presence of armed policemen all over the state was recorded in order to avert political clashes among the out-gone political party and the incoming Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The jubilant people of Osun State also expressed joy as ACN supporters were seen jubilating with their various coloured brooms, the symbol of their party at different locations.
The ACN supporters, including school children, came out in their thousands to express their feeling over the outcome of the judgment which they described as heaven- sent which will turn the political scene of the state to the peak of its glory.
In his reaction, the former State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said that the “decision has come to us as a rude shock and we see it as a further test for this democracy. We note that the judgement went as predicted by the ACN which had in the last couple of days inundated the media with what was going to be”.
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as a law abiding citizen and a stakeholder in the Nigerian Project, wishes the ACN and the judiciary the best of luck.
In the last seven and a half years, the administration of Prince Oyinlola did its best to lift Osun State from the morass of despondency he met it to a level which today is the envy of all.
Prince Oyinlola gives God the glory for all he achieved in office as governor while thanking members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their steadfastness and belief in what he stood for while in the saddle of governance of Osun State.
He equally expresses his appreciation to traditional rulers, workers, market men and women, other Nigerians home and abroad, his legal team, the media and all well-wishers who rallied round him and his administration.
The future of Osun State is in the hands of God and He in His own way will continue to guide and guard our collective and individual destinies.
That decision has come to us as a rude shock and we see it as a further test for this democracy. We note that the judgement went as predicted by the ACN which had in the last couple of days inundated the media with what was going to be.”
•••and in Ibadan too
Ademola Babalola, Ibadan
AMID wide celebration, jubilant crowd of the supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Osun and Oyo States yesterday trooped to the streets of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, singing and dancing, following the Appelate Court’s declaration of Engr Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of the April 14, 2007 Governorship election in the State of the Living Spring.
With songs like “winner o o o, winner, winner o o o winner, Aregbeseola u don win o, winner, patapata u go win forever, winner”, the jubilant crowd of hundreds of ACN supporters and some residents of Ibadan and environs took to the streets yesterday expressing their happiness over the pronouncement of the Appeal Court that Aregbeseola and not Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, actually won the disputed 2007 poll.
Apparently overwhelmed by the sweet victory of their candidate, some of the ACN faithful were seen rolling on the ground while thanking God for making the victory possible after about four years of struggle to reclaim the mandate of the people alleged to have been stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party.
The jubilant crowd comprising market women, students, party men and women, defied the huge presence of security personnel and burst into the streets singing “ ose ose o , ose o , ose baba”.
Some major markets in Ibadan metropolis also burst into jubilation as the news of the victory spread to the town , sparking off excitement in different parts of the city .
The Oyo State Police Command lived up to its billings as it drafted about 100 policemen led by the Area Commander , Iyaganku Police Division , Mrs. Abiodun Ige to the Iyaganku Appeal Court premises to keep the peace, just as all the roads leading to the venue were closed to motorists .
The policemen who had gathered in the courts premises were seen frisking politicians, journalists and other people before they were allowed entry into the court room.
Many vehicles were barred from gaining entry into the court’s premises while policemen assisted by the men of the State Security Services (SSS) cordoned off the area to ward off any untoward insurgence of violence.
While the almost five hour judgment lasted, people of opposing political camps conducted themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner as there was no case of violence in and around the court.
Loyalists of the ousted Governor Oyinlola of the PDP who came to witness the judgment in government cars and hired commercial buses in hundreds quickly disappeared into the thin air immediately the five –man justices led by Justice Clara Binta -Ogunbiyi, gave their unanimous declaration of Aregbesola as the validly elected governor of Osun state .
Present on the side of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola -PDP group are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Niyi Owolade, the PDP Director of Publicity , Mr. Adeolu Adeyemo , and the Osun state PDP Deputy Chairman, Mr. Ojo Williams amongst others.
Gbonigi, others reactBabatope Okeowo, Akure
Several reactions yesterday trailed the declaration of Mr Rauf Aregbesola as the governor of Osun State by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan , Oyo State capital.
In his reaction, a retired Bishop of Anglican Communion of Akure Diocese, Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, said just as it happened in Ekiti, Ondo and Edo states, God, the creator of the whole world has again proved that he is a God of justice.
His words, “God has many attributes; He is a God of justice. He has shown one of his attributes just as He did in Ondo, Ekiti and Edo State where he proved to Nigerians that justice can only be delayed.
“The election of 2007 was fraught with lots of manipulations and the judges through their judgments have allowed the truth to over come falsehood”.
While reacting to the judgment, the leader of the Pan Yoruba socio cultural group, “Afenifere”, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, said the judgment was a clear indication that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.
According to him, the judgment given by the judges showed that the Action Congress candidate was able to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt with avalanche of evidence he presented before the judges.
His words “I want to congratulate Engineer Rauf Aregbesola on his victory, which shows that justice will always triumph if followed to a logical conclusion”.
In his reaction, a human rights activist and Ondo State ACN Chieftain, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, described the judgment of the court of Appeal as another victory for democracy.
Oshiomhole congratulates Aregbesola
Cajetan Mmuta, Benin
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday congratulated the new Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Rauf Aregbosola, on his victory at the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole described Aregbosola’s victory as another testament that the judiciary was the last hope of the defenseless and the oppressed.
“I heartily rejoice with my brother, my friend and my comrade, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola on his sweet victory at the Appeal Court more than three years after he was robbed of the mandate freely given to him by the good people of Osun State on April 14, 2007.”
According to the governor “His victory is even sweeter considering that just a few weeks ago, another Appeal Court had sacked the illegal government in Ekiti State and declared our Comrade, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the authentic Governor of that State.
He said “The latest verdict of the Appeal Court is another testament that the Judiciary is the last hope of the defenceless and the oppressed.
“However, while we continue to rely on the Judiciary to salvage the country from oppressors and election riggers, those who presided over the polls which have been faulted by the judiciary should not remain as electoral officers at INEC and should, as a matter of fact, be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other would-be poll manipulators.
It would be recalled that the protracted legal battle between the ACN and PDP over the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in Osun State started immediately the ACN candidate, Aregbesola was denied his victory before it was laid to rest with the pronouncement of the appellate court in election matters yesterday.
Also PDP members were seen discussing the disaster for the party as they lamented that their hopes for the 2011 elections has been dashed.
Consequently, ACN supporters were seen on the streets jubilating. They noted that the PDP in the state is dead completely as they used their brooms to sweep the major streets in the state capital as a symbol of sweeping Oyinlola and PDP away from the state.
The ACN supporters including stalwarts of the party, stoutly demanded for the immediate probe of Oyinlola’s government as they described the government as an unfriendly and illegal government imposed on the people of the state.
However, heavy presence of armed policemen all over the state was recorded in order to avert political clashes among the out-gone political party and the incoming Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The jubilant people of Osun State also expressed joy as ACN supporters were seen jubilating with their various coloured brooms, the symbol of their party at different locations.
The ACN supporters, including school children, came out in their thousands to express their feeling over the outcome of the judgment which they described as heaven- sent which will turn the political scene of the state to the peak of its glory.
In his reaction, the former State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said that the “decision has come to us as a rude shock and we see it as a further test for this democracy. We note that the judgement went as predicted by the ACN which had in the last couple of days inundated the media with what was going to be”.
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as a law abiding citizen and a stakeholder in the Nigerian Project, wishes the ACN and the judiciary the best of luck.
In the last seven and a half years, the administration of Prince Oyinlola did its best to lift Osun State from the morass of despondency he met it to a level which today is the envy of all.
Prince Oyinlola gives God the glory for all he achieved in office as governor while thanking members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their steadfastness and belief in what he stood for while in the saddle of governance of Osun State.
He equally expresses his appreciation to traditional rulers, workers, market men and women, other Nigerians home and abroad, his legal team, the media and all well-wishers who rallied round him and his administration.
The future of Osun State is in the hands of God and He in His own way will continue to guide and guard our collective and individual destinies.
That decision has come to us as a rude shock and we see it as a further test for this democracy. We note that the judgement went as predicted by the ACN which had in the last couple of days inundated the media with what was going to be.”
•••and in Ibadan too
Ademola Babalola, Ibadan
AMID wide celebration, jubilant crowd of the supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Osun and Oyo States yesterday trooped to the streets of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, singing and dancing, following the Appelate Court’s declaration of Engr Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of the April 14, 2007 Governorship election in the State of the Living Spring.
With songs like “winner o o o, winner, winner o o o winner, Aregbeseola u don win o, winner, patapata u go win forever, winner”, the jubilant crowd of hundreds of ACN supporters and some residents of Ibadan and environs took to the streets yesterday expressing their happiness over the pronouncement of the Appeal Court that Aregbeseola and not Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, actually won the disputed 2007 poll.
Apparently overwhelmed by the sweet victory of their candidate, some of the ACN faithful were seen rolling on the ground while thanking God for making the victory possible after about four years of struggle to reclaim the mandate of the people alleged to have been stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party.
The jubilant crowd comprising market women, students, party men and women, defied the huge presence of security personnel and burst into the streets singing “ ose ose o , ose o , ose baba”.
Some major markets in Ibadan metropolis also burst into jubilation as the news of the victory spread to the town , sparking off excitement in different parts of the city .
The Oyo State Police Command lived up to its billings as it drafted about 100 policemen led by the Area Commander , Iyaganku Police Division , Mrs. Abiodun Ige to the Iyaganku Appeal Court premises to keep the peace, just as all the roads leading to the venue were closed to motorists .
The policemen who had gathered in the courts premises were seen frisking politicians, journalists and other people before they were allowed entry into the court room.
Many vehicles were barred from gaining entry into the court’s premises while policemen assisted by the men of the State Security Services (SSS) cordoned off the area to ward off any untoward insurgence of violence.
While the almost five hour judgment lasted, people of opposing political camps conducted themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner as there was no case of violence in and around the court.
Loyalists of the ousted Governor Oyinlola of the PDP who came to witness the judgment in government cars and hired commercial buses in hundreds quickly disappeared into the thin air immediately the five –man justices led by Justice Clara Binta -Ogunbiyi, gave their unanimous declaration of Aregbesola as the validly elected governor of Osun state .
Present on the side of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola -PDP group are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Niyi Owolade, the PDP Director of Publicity , Mr. Adeolu Adeyemo , and the Osun state PDP Deputy Chairman, Mr. Ojo Williams amongst others.
Gbonigi, others reactBabatope Okeowo, Akure
Several reactions yesterday trailed the declaration of Mr Rauf Aregbesola as the governor of Osun State by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan , Oyo State capital.
In his reaction, a retired Bishop of Anglican Communion of Akure Diocese, Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, said just as it happened in Ekiti, Ondo and Edo states, God, the creator of the whole world has again proved that he is a God of justice.
His words, “God has many attributes; He is a God of justice. He has shown one of his attributes just as He did in Ondo, Ekiti and Edo State where he proved to Nigerians that justice can only be delayed.
“The election of 2007 was fraught with lots of manipulations and the judges through their judgments have allowed the truth to over come falsehood”.
While reacting to the judgment, the leader of the Pan Yoruba socio cultural group, “Afenifere”, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, said the judgment was a clear indication that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.
According to him, the judgment given by the judges showed that the Action Congress candidate was able to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt with avalanche of evidence he presented before the judges.
His words “I want to congratulate Engineer Rauf Aregbesola on his victory, which shows that justice will always triumph if followed to a logical conclusion”.
In his reaction, a human rights activist and Ondo State ACN Chieftain, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, described the judgment of the court of Appeal as another victory for democracy.
Oshiomhole congratulates Aregbesola
Cajetan Mmuta, Benin
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday congratulated the new Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Rauf Aregbosola, on his victory at the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole described Aregbosola’s victory as another testament that the judiciary was the last hope of the defenseless and the oppressed.
“I heartily rejoice with my brother, my friend and my comrade, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola on his sweet victory at the Appeal Court more than three years after he was robbed of the mandate freely given to him by the good people of Osun State on April 14, 2007.”
According to the governor “His victory is even sweeter considering that just a few weeks ago, another Appeal Court had sacked the illegal government in Ekiti State and declared our Comrade, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the authentic Governor of that State.
He said “The latest verdict of the Appeal Court is another testament that the Judiciary is the last hope of the defenceless and the oppressed.
“However, while we continue to rely on the Judiciary to salvage the country from oppressors and election riggers, those who presided over the polls which have been faulted by the judiciary should not remain as electoral officers at INEC and should, as a matter of fact, be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other would-be poll manipulators.
Ebonyi State conducts a bye-election today
Today the 27th day of November 2010, a bye-election will be conducted in the Ishielu North Federal Constituency to select the person who is to replace the former representative of the constituency in the State House of Assembly. The former house member, Hon. Obinna Nwachukwu Vacated his office when he contested for the chairmanship position in his local government area. Hon. Obinna Nwachukwu currently the Ishielu Local Government Area Chairman is an indigene of Nkalaha/Obegu Area. The state government through the independent national electoral commission has assured her readiness to conduct a free and fair election which will epitomise what the 2011 gerneral election will look like. The parties contesting the bye-election include; the leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the front line opposition party All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and All progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), all presented their candidates as Mrs. Obi, Mr. Jude Ogbunkwu and Christian Omeri respectively. The election is scheduled by 8.00 am today.
Friday, November 26, 2010
A Federal University to be sited in Otuoke, Bayelsa State
The Bayelsa State government has willingly allowed the donation 200 hectare of land at Otuoke, President Goodluck Jonathan’s country home, for the commencement of the new federal university to be sited in the state, Timipre Sylva, the state governor has said.
The site allocation was unveiled on Wednesday, when the minister of state for education, Kenneth Gbagi, paid a visit to the governor in Yenagoa, requesting for allocation of space for the university, which is one of the six which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.
Mr. Sylva also promised to relocate every structure around the site at Otuoke to pave way for the immediate take-off of the university. The governor expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for siting one of the six new federal universities in Bayelsa, describing it as a quick response to the educational needs of the people.
The minister had earlier told the governor that the new federal university, which was allocated to Bayelsa State, would be located at Otuoke, in Ogbia local government area of the state.
With a little more than 20,000 people, Otuoke and Oloibiri, the communities where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria, belong to Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.
The site allocation was unveiled on Wednesday, when the minister of state for education, Kenneth Gbagi, paid a visit to the governor in Yenagoa, requesting for allocation of space for the university, which is one of the six which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.
Mr. Sylva also promised to relocate every structure around the site at Otuoke to pave way for the immediate take-off of the university. The governor expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for siting one of the six new federal universities in Bayelsa, describing it as a quick response to the educational needs of the people.
The minister had earlier told the governor that the new federal university, which was allocated to Bayelsa State, would be located at Otuoke, in Ogbia local government area of the state.
With a little more than 20,000 people, Otuoke and Oloibiri, the communities where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria, belong to Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.
KIDNAPPERS FROM HELL MAIMED MR. DIM AFTER A RANSOM OF N12, 000,000.00 WAS PAID TO THEM
What a callous attitude of the men of the underworld? It was a sad end for a young businessman recently. Maxwell Obiajulu Dim was allegedly murdered by a gang of kidnappers who still went ahead and obtained a ransom of N12m from his family. But the suspected sinners would not go unpunished. The police in Asaba, Delta State capital said they have arrested two suspects in connection with the sad incident.
Daily Sun learnt that on October 6, a gang of fully armed kidnappers operating in a white bus stormed the Obi Link Petrol Station located along Asaba-Onitsha
Expressway. There, they shot the 41-year-old businessman on his left leg and forced him into their bus after which they drove off.
They allegedly fired shots into the air as they left the scene with their captive. They later went to a bush in Achalla Ibusa where they called the victim’s wife, telling her to bring N70m for them if she wanted her husband released. After much negotiation, they settled for N12m.
At about 8.00pm on October 7, the wife went and dropped the money with a promise from the kidnappers that they were going to release her husband. But having collected the money, the kidnappers switched off their phones and stopped further communications with the businessman’s family. Now frustrated, Dim’s family then reported the matter at the B Division of the Nigeria police in Asaba.
Weeks later, Dim’s family members discovered the decomposed corpse of the businessman in the bush.
The younger brother of the deceased, Mr. Emmanuel Ifenachi Dim told our reporter that all members of the family are still grieving over the incident. He affirmed that the kidnappers initially requested for N70m, which was later pruned to N12m. He regretted that his brother was still murdered even after the kidnappers had collected the ransom.
“After my brother’s wife dropped the N12m at Achalla Ibusa, Delta State around 8.00pm, we had thought that they would release him. We never knew they would kill him,” he said. He asserted that his late brother was with the kidnappers for14 days and was bleeding seriously from the injury he sustained from the gunshots.
According to him, the kidnappers did not take Dim to any hospital for treatment, noting that they just kept him inside the bush.
“He died after serious bleeding,” he said. “Even though we gave them N12m, the kidnappers switched off their phones for almost three weeks. We didn’t hear anything from them and we started searching for my late brother. We later reported to the Police at “B” Division Police Station in Asaba,” he said. He added that it was after the police arrested two of the suspected kidnappers that Dim’s relations were told where the corpse of the businessman was dumped.
“We later found the decomposed corpse of my brother at the same spot where we dropped the money at Achalla Ibusa in Delta State,” he said. He said the corpse was later taken to the General Hospital in Asaba.
Late Dim Maxwell hailed from Osumenyi Dimala Amuhe Village in Nnewi South Local Government area of Anambra State.
Speaking on the incident, Assistant Commissioner of Police at the State CID, Asaba, Mr. Galadanchi Dasuki told Daily Sun that it was quite unfortunate that the family of the deceased didn’t report the case to the police at the appropriate time. Dasuki explained that the police initially arrested a staff of a mobile telecommunications company in Asaba before they succeeded in apprehending the two suspected kidnappers.
“The suspects were arrested through the link we got in the Nokia phone that they used. After we arrested the two suspected kidnappers, we released the staff of the communications company when the investigation was concluded,” he explained.
The police officer said it was the two suspects that now took the police to the bush where the already decomposing corpse of the late Dim Maxwell was found on October 21. He further explained that the two suspects would soon be charged for kidnapping and murder.
Emmanuel Dim said members of the family believe that the police would do their best to ensure that justice is done. “We want them to ensure justice in the brutal murder of our bread winner,” he stated. The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali said the command had a breakthrough with the successful arrest of the two suspected kidnappers. He said the case has been transferred to the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad, Abuja for further investigation.
Alkali stated that the suspects would eventually return to Delta State to face murder charges, adding, “the doctor’s autopsy report confirmed that the cause of death was excessive bleeding as a result of the gunshot on the left leg of Dim Maxwell.” When Daily Sun visited Achalla Ibusa, a member of the community, Mr. Emuka Oboda expressed surprise that such an incident happened in the community. He asserted that nobody would have thought that the kidnappers were inside the bush not to talk of keeping somebody there for 14 days.
“We were shocked when the police, with the assistance of the kidnappers, came to the bush here and fished out a dead body which was already decomposing,” he said. One of the suspects said his Nokia 1600 handset was used in the negotiation of the ransom.
How they killed Dim
By Sir ISRAEL EMESIOFOR
The ugly spectre of kidnapping in the country recently claimed the life of Bro. Obiajulu Maxwell Dim, Chairman/C.E.0 Obi-Links Group Ltd, Onitsha, Anambra State on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 when he was shot and kidnapped at his Obi-Links Petroleum Station, Asaba, Delta State. The heartless kidnappers dumped his body in a bush near Asaba, after collecting N12million ransom from the wife.
The wicked have done their worst. They have killed the flesh of Obiajulu Dim, unable to touch his amiable soul. Such a gentleman. You really had to strain your ears to hear him talk. Why anyone would choose to take the life of a harmless man is beyond common sense. Obi-Links boss’ died in the hands of kidnappers, ups the ante in the alarming rate of wastage of human resources in the country.
As I cry for Obiajulu, an irreplaceable loss in my mind, I strongly condemn the culture of kidnapping, thuggery and political violence in Nigeria. It is the product of desperation and an unconscionable resort to get rich quick.
This predilection of youngmen to take to kidnapping as a profession, is a sad commentary on the state of Nigeria’s democracy. It underscores the immaturity and the base instints that propel our political class which style of wealth flaunting and resort to jungle justice to resolve political differences has affected our youths negatively.
Obi, lives on
The man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of tyranny – those mortal words by Prof. Wole Soyinka, defined the philosophy behind that classic prison note and detention. The Man Died.
And so it was with Obiajulu Maxwell Dim, (Obi – Links to most people, and Obi to his close associates and admirers). Though Obi was cowardly killed, he lives on in our hearts and will continue to live in the hearts of generations to come, simply because of his effort at empowering the youths. He would continue to live even long after those who killed him have been totaling forgetten.
Why was Obi brutally cut down in the prime of life? He was a devout Christian, a man of peace that eschewed any form of violence. He wanted breakthrough in life, yes. But he went about it lawfully and in the fear of God. He started grabbing the attention of business associates and his community, through sincerity, simple and honest philanthropy.
In business, he went on to explore new areas in iron and steel trade, where he brought to bear his God-given talent and innovative skill in marketing. That made his colleagues edgier still. But his reformation is today, the best thing do have happened to the Onitsha Bridge Head iron rod market. Though the wicked succeeded in sniffing life out of him, they definitely cannot kill the good works he stood for.
Like the previous unsolved murders, the kidnappers (killers) of Obiajulu were caught. I appreciate the efforts of family members and others who contributed to their arrest, especially the policemen who worked frantically to unravel the persons behind these dastardly acts.
I equally charge the police to finish the good work they started by bringing the arrested perpetrators to book. It is when they are brought to book that similar incidents can be minimized. This will go a long way in ensuring the security of Nigerians. We will continue to remind the police until justice is done.
Since the news of Dim’s tragic death spread and reverberated like wild fire throughout the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, a lot has been said about the incident and other tragedies as they affect Osumenyi in recent time.
The tragic events that befall Osumenyi Community in Nnewi South L.G.A., Anambra State since September 3, 2009 have made mourners of all of us its citizens. For sometime, the picture of those incidents would be with us.
We should not forget so early the community’s great loss in the gruesome murder of Sir John Okonkwo, Chief Luke Akunedoziobi and the recent killing of Obiajulu Dim. We must also not forget the death of Chief Meshack Umeike (Gwanwannegieziokwu), one of our best and hands who was laid to rest on Friday, 5th November, 2010.
While we deeply commiserate with the affected families, it is high time we as a town grappled with certain truths and realities of our time and go back to basics as one united and indivisible Osumenyi town.
The widow Christiana and mother Esther are hardly consoled. Their mood had been as foul as it steadily nosedived each time grief stricken sympathizers come calling. And it is understandable for a family so close to the bread winner that had been so cruelly plucked away.
Lazarus Dim is the deceased’s father and a businessman. “My son was a man of one side. He didn’t have two sides. What he said here or how he behaves here was how he was everywhere. He stood for the truth at all times. And he often didn’t bother if he made enemies. I never deluded myself to think he didn’t make any enemies because the world is a very dangerous place where people are very jealous of your character or achievements”.
Oh, see how they wasted my brother, said Chukwuemeka Williams Dim, his younger brother. “To use the word good to describe my beloved brother, is an understatement. He never used fist, but words that were stronger than his fist to make you realize your mistake or his stand on any particular issue. All of us were expected to be the best of what we wanted to be.
He was always there for us. There was this example he use to give to us at home, that if anything got missing in the house while he was growing up, our parents never called him because they knew him and his character. The message was that we should be known and trusted for saying the truth no matter the circumstances. “All of us, the siblings imbibed that character to a certain extent. You are expected to do what you had proposed to do at a particular time, and must do it the way you so pledged. We leave the away he died to god to judge.”
Birth and early life
Born in 1970 to the family of Chief Lazarus Okeke Dim and Lolo Esther Ogochukwu Dim (nee Mmadubuobi) in Umu, Dimala of Amihie village, Osumenyi, Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State.
After his early education, he joined his father’s business and later established his own with the support of his father in 1989. With luck on his side and the blessing of God, his business was in not quite a distant time blossomed to converging sister companies with concerns in Civil and Structural Engineering, Merchandizing, Transportation, Petroleum marketing and Real Estate.
With staff strength of over 300 Nigerians, Bro. Obiagulu Maxwell Dim, was saddled with the following companies as Chairman/CEO:
•Diamond Steel Company Limited
•Obi-Links Petroleum Resources Limited, and
•Maxwell Properties Limited
Brother Obiajulu Dim was a strong member of the Evangelical Fellowship of the Anglican Communion (EFAC). A loving husband, caring father and a loyal servant of God. His remains will be interred at the Osumenyi family compound today’s November 26.
Fare thee well Obi. The cowardly hands of kidnappers would never extinguish the candles you lighted in different ways in your life and career. Your sun would always outshine the darkness of the wicked.
We thank our Lord Jesus Christ for your life and service in Him and humanity. We are confident that you are in His bosom.
Sir, Israel the Akajiugo Osumenyi, is boss/mentor to the late Bro. Dim
Daily Sun learnt that on October 6, a gang of fully armed kidnappers operating in a white bus stormed the Obi Link Petrol Station located along Asaba-Onitsha
Expressway. There, they shot the 41-year-old businessman on his left leg and forced him into their bus after which they drove off.
They allegedly fired shots into the air as they left the scene with their captive. They later went to a bush in Achalla Ibusa where they called the victim’s wife, telling her to bring N70m for them if she wanted her husband released. After much negotiation, they settled for N12m.
At about 8.00pm on October 7, the wife went and dropped the money with a promise from the kidnappers that they were going to release her husband. But having collected the money, the kidnappers switched off their phones and stopped further communications with the businessman’s family. Now frustrated, Dim’s family then reported the matter at the B Division of the Nigeria police in Asaba.
Weeks later, Dim’s family members discovered the decomposed corpse of the businessman in the bush.
The younger brother of the deceased, Mr. Emmanuel Ifenachi Dim told our reporter that all members of the family are still grieving over the incident. He affirmed that the kidnappers initially requested for N70m, which was later pruned to N12m. He regretted that his brother was still murdered even after the kidnappers had collected the ransom.
“After my brother’s wife dropped the N12m at Achalla Ibusa, Delta State around 8.00pm, we had thought that they would release him. We never knew they would kill him,” he said. He asserted that his late brother was with the kidnappers for14 days and was bleeding seriously from the injury he sustained from the gunshots.
According to him, the kidnappers did not take Dim to any hospital for treatment, noting that they just kept him inside the bush.
“He died after serious bleeding,” he said. “Even though we gave them N12m, the kidnappers switched off their phones for almost three weeks. We didn’t hear anything from them and we started searching for my late brother. We later reported to the Police at “B” Division Police Station in Asaba,” he said. He added that it was after the police arrested two of the suspected kidnappers that Dim’s relations were told where the corpse of the businessman was dumped.
“We later found the decomposed corpse of my brother at the same spot where we dropped the money at Achalla Ibusa in Delta State,” he said. He said the corpse was later taken to the General Hospital in Asaba.
Late Dim Maxwell hailed from Osumenyi Dimala Amuhe Village in Nnewi South Local Government area of Anambra State.
Speaking on the incident, Assistant Commissioner of Police at the State CID, Asaba, Mr. Galadanchi Dasuki told Daily Sun that it was quite unfortunate that the family of the deceased didn’t report the case to the police at the appropriate time. Dasuki explained that the police initially arrested a staff of a mobile telecommunications company in Asaba before they succeeded in apprehending the two suspected kidnappers.
“The suspects were arrested through the link we got in the Nokia phone that they used. After we arrested the two suspected kidnappers, we released the staff of the communications company when the investigation was concluded,” he explained.
The police officer said it was the two suspects that now took the police to the bush where the already decomposing corpse of the late Dim Maxwell was found on October 21. He further explained that the two suspects would soon be charged for kidnapping and murder.
Emmanuel Dim said members of the family believe that the police would do their best to ensure that justice is done. “We want them to ensure justice in the brutal murder of our bread winner,” he stated. The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali said the command had a breakthrough with the successful arrest of the two suspected kidnappers. He said the case has been transferred to the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad, Abuja for further investigation.
Alkali stated that the suspects would eventually return to Delta State to face murder charges, adding, “the doctor’s autopsy report confirmed that the cause of death was excessive bleeding as a result of the gunshot on the left leg of Dim Maxwell.” When Daily Sun visited Achalla Ibusa, a member of the community, Mr. Emuka Oboda expressed surprise that such an incident happened in the community. He asserted that nobody would have thought that the kidnappers were inside the bush not to talk of keeping somebody there for 14 days.
“We were shocked when the police, with the assistance of the kidnappers, came to the bush here and fished out a dead body which was already decomposing,” he said. One of the suspects said his Nokia 1600 handset was used in the negotiation of the ransom.
How they killed Dim
By Sir ISRAEL EMESIOFOR
The ugly spectre of kidnapping in the country recently claimed the life of Bro. Obiajulu Maxwell Dim, Chairman/C.E.0 Obi-Links Group Ltd, Onitsha, Anambra State on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 when he was shot and kidnapped at his Obi-Links Petroleum Station, Asaba, Delta State. The heartless kidnappers dumped his body in a bush near Asaba, after collecting N12million ransom from the wife.
The wicked have done their worst. They have killed the flesh of Obiajulu Dim, unable to touch his amiable soul. Such a gentleman. You really had to strain your ears to hear him talk. Why anyone would choose to take the life of a harmless man is beyond common sense. Obi-Links boss’ died in the hands of kidnappers, ups the ante in the alarming rate of wastage of human resources in the country.
As I cry for Obiajulu, an irreplaceable loss in my mind, I strongly condemn the culture of kidnapping, thuggery and political violence in Nigeria. It is the product of desperation and an unconscionable resort to get rich quick.
This predilection of youngmen to take to kidnapping as a profession, is a sad commentary on the state of Nigeria’s democracy. It underscores the immaturity and the base instints that propel our political class which style of wealth flaunting and resort to jungle justice to resolve political differences has affected our youths negatively.
Obi, lives on
The man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of tyranny – those mortal words by Prof. Wole Soyinka, defined the philosophy behind that classic prison note and detention. The Man Died.
And so it was with Obiajulu Maxwell Dim, (Obi – Links to most people, and Obi to his close associates and admirers). Though Obi was cowardly killed, he lives on in our hearts and will continue to live in the hearts of generations to come, simply because of his effort at empowering the youths. He would continue to live even long after those who killed him have been totaling forgetten.
Why was Obi brutally cut down in the prime of life? He was a devout Christian, a man of peace that eschewed any form of violence. He wanted breakthrough in life, yes. But he went about it lawfully and in the fear of God. He started grabbing the attention of business associates and his community, through sincerity, simple and honest philanthropy.
In business, he went on to explore new areas in iron and steel trade, where he brought to bear his God-given talent and innovative skill in marketing. That made his colleagues edgier still. But his reformation is today, the best thing do have happened to the Onitsha Bridge Head iron rod market. Though the wicked succeeded in sniffing life out of him, they definitely cannot kill the good works he stood for.
Like the previous unsolved murders, the kidnappers (killers) of Obiajulu were caught. I appreciate the efforts of family members and others who contributed to their arrest, especially the policemen who worked frantically to unravel the persons behind these dastardly acts.
I equally charge the police to finish the good work they started by bringing the arrested perpetrators to book. It is when they are brought to book that similar incidents can be minimized. This will go a long way in ensuring the security of Nigerians. We will continue to remind the police until justice is done.
Since the news of Dim’s tragic death spread and reverberated like wild fire throughout the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, a lot has been said about the incident and other tragedies as they affect Osumenyi in recent time.
The tragic events that befall Osumenyi Community in Nnewi South L.G.A., Anambra State since September 3, 2009 have made mourners of all of us its citizens. For sometime, the picture of those incidents would be with us.
We should not forget so early the community’s great loss in the gruesome murder of Sir John Okonkwo, Chief Luke Akunedoziobi and the recent killing of Obiajulu Dim. We must also not forget the death of Chief Meshack Umeike (Gwanwannegieziokwu), one of our best and hands who was laid to rest on Friday, 5th November, 2010.
While we deeply commiserate with the affected families, it is high time we as a town grappled with certain truths and realities of our time and go back to basics as one united and indivisible Osumenyi town.
The widow Christiana and mother Esther are hardly consoled. Their mood had been as foul as it steadily nosedived each time grief stricken sympathizers come calling. And it is understandable for a family so close to the bread winner that had been so cruelly plucked away.
Lazarus Dim is the deceased’s father and a businessman. “My son was a man of one side. He didn’t have two sides. What he said here or how he behaves here was how he was everywhere. He stood for the truth at all times. And he often didn’t bother if he made enemies. I never deluded myself to think he didn’t make any enemies because the world is a very dangerous place where people are very jealous of your character or achievements”.
Oh, see how they wasted my brother, said Chukwuemeka Williams Dim, his younger brother. “To use the word good to describe my beloved brother, is an understatement. He never used fist, but words that were stronger than his fist to make you realize your mistake or his stand on any particular issue. All of us were expected to be the best of what we wanted to be.
He was always there for us. There was this example he use to give to us at home, that if anything got missing in the house while he was growing up, our parents never called him because they knew him and his character. The message was that we should be known and trusted for saying the truth no matter the circumstances. “All of us, the siblings imbibed that character to a certain extent. You are expected to do what you had proposed to do at a particular time, and must do it the way you so pledged. We leave the away he died to god to judge.”
Birth and early life
Born in 1970 to the family of Chief Lazarus Okeke Dim and Lolo Esther Ogochukwu Dim (nee Mmadubuobi) in Umu, Dimala of Amihie village, Osumenyi, Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State.
After his early education, he joined his father’s business and later established his own with the support of his father in 1989. With luck on his side and the blessing of God, his business was in not quite a distant time blossomed to converging sister companies with concerns in Civil and Structural Engineering, Merchandizing, Transportation, Petroleum marketing and Real Estate.
With staff strength of over 300 Nigerians, Bro. Obiagulu Maxwell Dim, was saddled with the following companies as Chairman/CEO:
•Diamond Steel Company Limited
•Obi-Links Petroleum Resources Limited, and
•Maxwell Properties Limited
Brother Obiajulu Dim was a strong member of the Evangelical Fellowship of the Anglican Communion (EFAC). A loving husband, caring father and a loyal servant of God. His remains will be interred at the Osumenyi family compound today’s November 26.
Fare thee well Obi. The cowardly hands of kidnappers would never extinguish the candles you lighted in different ways in your life and career. Your sun would always outshine the darkness of the wicked.
We thank our Lord Jesus Christ for your life and service in Him and humanity. We are confident that you are in His bosom.
Sir, Israel the Akajiugo Osumenyi, is boss/mentor to the late Bro. Dim
The National Council of State succumbs to the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage
The National Council of State on Thursday endorsed the implementation of the N18,000 national minimum wage.
The NCS consequently asked President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately send a bill to the National Assembly to give a legal backing to the new wage.
The council, which is the highest advisory body in the country, took the decision at a meeting in Abuja chaired by Jonathan.
Former Nigerian leaders at the meeting were Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and Chief Ernest Shonekan.
State governors, who are also members of the council, were in attendance at the meeting, which lasted about five hours.
The endorsement of the minimum wage was not without reservations as some governors raised concerns over their ability to pay.
As a result, the council suggested a “deregulated minimum wage” system that would allow the states pay different wages to their workers.
The NCS, however, noted that relevant sections of the constitution had to be amended to give a legal teeth to a deregulated minimum wage system in the country, in line with the principle of federalism.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje, said the council approved the payment of the new wage in the interest of Nigerian workers and the economy.
He added that the NCS was optimistic that the development would end the differences between the government and the organised labour over the issue.
Goje said, “Council deliberated extensively on the issue of the national minimum wage for Nigerian workers and resolved to advise Mr. President to send a bill to the National Assembly requesting it to enact a law on the N18,000 as a minimum wage for workers.
“This is the position of the council and it is done in the interest of the Nigerian workers and in the interest of the economy, so that, at least, our workers will live a very decent life.
“On the issue of legislation that put the minimum wage issue under the exclusive legislative list, the fact is that the resources available to the states in the country are different. While some are rich, others are very poor.
“Secondly, we are operating a federal system; states should be given the leverage to pay their workers in line with the peculiar situation.
“Others can decide to pay N40,000 per month; others can decide to negotiate downward according to their resources
“But that can only be done if the constitution is amended; for now, the minimum wage is binding on all governments and corporate bodies.
“I believe the problem between the government and the labour will be resolved finally. This is the position of the council.”
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who also spoke with journalsists, admitted that there were concerns over the ability of states to pay the new wage.
“There were concerns, very fair concerns, from all the states about its widespread application of the minimum wage and within the context of the federation,” Fashola said.
However, the governor said that the concerns “are considerations the National Assembly (should) take care of when it discusses the Executive bill on the matter.”
His Akwa-Ibom State counterpart, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said that the council noted that a deregulated minimum wage would be the best approach to ending controversies on minimum wage.
He said, “Council noted the submissions from various states on their ability or otherwise to meet the newly approved minimum wage.
“Council advised that the best approach for any deregulated minimum wage would be to tinker with the present constitutional provision and of course, if the National Assembly wants to effect any amendments, then the states in future could negotiate what their minimum wages will be so that it will reflect the true position of the federation.
“ But in the mean time, what could be applied will be what has been advised, which is N18,000, unless otherwise advised by the National Assembly.”
Reacting, the Nigerian Labour Congress, applauded the NCS action, saying it is up to the National Assembly to ensure that the bill on the minimum wage is passed quickly once it is sent to it by Jonathan.
The Secretary General of the Congress, Mr. John Odah, told one of our correspondents on the telephone that the implementation of the new wage must not fail to commence on December 31.
Odah said, ”We are very excited with the news and commend President Jonathan and all those involved in taking this landmark decision. This decision is obviously a recognition by our leaders of the deplorable purchasing power of Nigerian workers.
“We now expect the National Assembly whose leadership is part of the NCS to expedite action on the passage of the bill so that the new national minimum wage Act becomes operative in December.”
Similarly, the President-General, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Peter Esele, who commended the NCS, said the organised labour received the news with ‘cautious optimism.’
But he assured that there might be no more strikes by the workers because of the new wage.
Esele said, ”It is a welcome development and a joy to Nigerian workers. It also shows that the council listens. We can now guarantee that there will be no further industrial actions because of the new minimum wage provided the Federal Government acts on what we agreed on which is N18,000.
“‘The new wage must become operational by December or the workers will have to ask for arrears.”
Organised Labour had on November 8, commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage.
The strike was, however, suspended the following day following Jonathan’s intervention and promise to send a bill to the National Assembly to give it a legal backing.
The implementation of the new wage, a product of a tripartite Minimum Wage Committee set up by government in 2009, was expected to have started months back.
Meanwhile, investigations by THE PUNCH have revealed that some states — Rivers, Ekiti and Kano— are willing to pay their workers the new wage.
The Senior Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations to the Kano State Governor, Mallam Sule Sule, said that the state government appreciated the contributions of its workers to the development of the state.
But the Ekiti State government said that it would not retrench any of its workers or take a loan to pay the wage.
“No worker will be sacked because of this and no loan will be taken. We will look inward and pay to make our people happy. We have approved new salary for doctors, so, there will not be problem paying the new minimum wage,” the Governor‘s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Mojeed Jamiu, said.
In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said, ”We will pay whatever the Federal Government approves for our suffering workers. We have no intention to sack any worker.”
The NCS consequently asked President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately send a bill to the National Assembly to give a legal backing to the new wage.
The council, which is the highest advisory body in the country, took the decision at a meeting in Abuja chaired by Jonathan.
Former Nigerian leaders at the meeting were Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and Chief Ernest Shonekan.
State governors, who are also members of the council, were in attendance at the meeting, which lasted about five hours.
The endorsement of the minimum wage was not without reservations as some governors raised concerns over their ability to pay.
As a result, the council suggested a “deregulated minimum wage” system that would allow the states pay different wages to their workers.
The NCS, however, noted that relevant sections of the constitution had to be amended to give a legal teeth to a deregulated minimum wage system in the country, in line with the principle of federalism.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje, said the council approved the payment of the new wage in the interest of Nigerian workers and the economy.
He added that the NCS was optimistic that the development would end the differences between the government and the organised labour over the issue.
Goje said, “Council deliberated extensively on the issue of the national minimum wage for Nigerian workers and resolved to advise Mr. President to send a bill to the National Assembly requesting it to enact a law on the N18,000 as a minimum wage for workers.
“This is the position of the council and it is done in the interest of the Nigerian workers and in the interest of the economy, so that, at least, our workers will live a very decent life.
“On the issue of legislation that put the minimum wage issue under the exclusive legislative list, the fact is that the resources available to the states in the country are different. While some are rich, others are very poor.
“Secondly, we are operating a federal system; states should be given the leverage to pay their workers in line with the peculiar situation.
“Others can decide to pay N40,000 per month; others can decide to negotiate downward according to their resources
“But that can only be done if the constitution is amended; for now, the minimum wage is binding on all governments and corporate bodies.
“I believe the problem between the government and the labour will be resolved finally. This is the position of the council.”
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who also spoke with journalsists, admitted that there were concerns over the ability of states to pay the new wage.
“There were concerns, very fair concerns, from all the states about its widespread application of the minimum wage and within the context of the federation,” Fashola said.
However, the governor said that the concerns “are considerations the National Assembly (should) take care of when it discusses the Executive bill on the matter.”
His Akwa-Ibom State counterpart, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said that the council noted that a deregulated minimum wage would be the best approach to ending controversies on minimum wage.
He said, “Council noted the submissions from various states on their ability or otherwise to meet the newly approved minimum wage.
“Council advised that the best approach for any deregulated minimum wage would be to tinker with the present constitutional provision and of course, if the National Assembly wants to effect any amendments, then the states in future could negotiate what their minimum wages will be so that it will reflect the true position of the federation.
“ But in the mean time, what could be applied will be what has been advised, which is N18,000, unless otherwise advised by the National Assembly.”
Reacting, the Nigerian Labour Congress, applauded the NCS action, saying it is up to the National Assembly to ensure that the bill on the minimum wage is passed quickly once it is sent to it by Jonathan.
The Secretary General of the Congress, Mr. John Odah, told one of our correspondents on the telephone that the implementation of the new wage must not fail to commence on December 31.
Odah said, ”We are very excited with the news and commend President Jonathan and all those involved in taking this landmark decision. This decision is obviously a recognition by our leaders of the deplorable purchasing power of Nigerian workers.
“We now expect the National Assembly whose leadership is part of the NCS to expedite action on the passage of the bill so that the new national minimum wage Act becomes operative in December.”
Similarly, the President-General, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Peter Esele, who commended the NCS, said the organised labour received the news with ‘cautious optimism.’
But he assured that there might be no more strikes by the workers because of the new wage.
Esele said, ”It is a welcome development and a joy to Nigerian workers. It also shows that the council listens. We can now guarantee that there will be no further industrial actions because of the new minimum wage provided the Federal Government acts on what we agreed on which is N18,000.
“‘The new wage must become operational by December or the workers will have to ask for arrears.”
Organised Labour had on November 8, commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage.
The strike was, however, suspended the following day following Jonathan’s intervention and promise to send a bill to the National Assembly to give it a legal backing.
The implementation of the new wage, a product of a tripartite Minimum Wage Committee set up by government in 2009, was expected to have started months back.
Meanwhile, investigations by THE PUNCH have revealed that some states — Rivers, Ekiti and Kano— are willing to pay their workers the new wage.
The Senior Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations to the Kano State Governor, Mallam Sule Sule, said that the state government appreciated the contributions of its workers to the development of the state.
But the Ekiti State government said that it would not retrench any of its workers or take a loan to pay the wage.
“No worker will be sacked because of this and no loan will be taken. We will look inward and pay to make our people happy. We have approved new salary for doctors, so, there will not be problem paying the new minimum wage,” the Governor‘s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Mojeed Jamiu, said.
In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said, ”We will pay whatever the Federal Government approves for our suffering workers. We have no intention to sack any worker.”
Obasanjo laughs at Atiku’s emergence as consensus aspirant for the NPLF.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday laughed at the declaration of his erstwhile deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the consensus aspirant of the North Political Leaders Forum for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primaries.
Obasanjo’s disagreements with Abubakar led to the latter’s defection from the PDP to the Action Congress (now Action Congress of Nigeria). Abubakar later contested the 2007 presidential election on the AC’s platform but returned to the PDP a few months ago.
When journalists accosted him after a meeting of the National Council of State at the State House, Abuja and asked for comments on the NPLF’s decision, the former president initially refused to speak.
After some prodding, Obasanjo laughed, and said in Pidgin, “I dey laugh o!” He proceeded to laugh comically, to the surprise of the assembled journalists, who waited for more comments on the development.
But Obasanjo did not offer further comments on Abubakar’s suitability for the 2011 presidential election.
Journalists thereafter asked Obasanjo how he had been faring outside the State House, where he held sway for eight years as the country’s president.
He said, “God has always given me happiness; my prayer is that you will always have happiness in life, may God give you all happiness in life.” The journalists responded to the unexpected prayer with a loud “Amen!”
Also speaking, Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, said the North would decide whom to support in the presidential election. Shema, who spoke after the National Council of State meeting, also reacted to Abubakar’s emergence as the NPLF’s consensus aspirant.
A brief exchange between the governor and journalists went as follows:
What is your view on Atiku?
He is a presidential aspirant.
But he is standing in for the North.
You have to ask the North.
But you are a key member of the North.
Yes, I am but you have to ask the North because I am not the only person in the North.
What is your personal view (on the development).
My view - the North will talk.
Also on Thursday, a former head of state, Maj.-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.), said the call for the zoning of the office of president to the North was a ‘PDP affair.’
Buhari, who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, told newsmen after the council’s meeting that it had nothing to do with his party. Answering journalists’ questions, Buhari said all Nigerians were free to run for any office in the country.
Asked if the CPC would adopt zoning in choosing its presidential candidate, Buhari said, “Zoning is a purely PDP affair, but the CPC’s constituency is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Anybody, anywhere, can contest for any office he thinks he can achieve.”
Buhari also called on Nigerians to support the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in his efforts to conduct free and fair elections in 2011.
When contacted, Abubakar’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the former vice-president’s campaign group did not see Obasanjo’s action as a sign of rejection or mockery.
He said, “If Obasanjo laughed, that means he is happy with Atiku’s emergence. Laughter is a sign of happiness.”
To me the laughter is a mockery one, Because if it was a sign of happiness, he would have expressed it to the full and on the same note declared his support for him. What about other Northern Governors that have refused to speak? I think from the erstwhile President's gesture, one can rightly say that he is not in suport of Atiku's candidacy.
Obasanjo’s disagreements with Abubakar led to the latter’s defection from the PDP to the Action Congress (now Action Congress of Nigeria). Abubakar later contested the 2007 presidential election on the AC’s platform but returned to the PDP a few months ago.
When journalists accosted him after a meeting of the National Council of State at the State House, Abuja and asked for comments on the NPLF’s decision, the former president initially refused to speak.
After some prodding, Obasanjo laughed, and said in Pidgin, “I dey laugh o!” He proceeded to laugh comically, to the surprise of the assembled journalists, who waited for more comments on the development.
But Obasanjo did not offer further comments on Abubakar’s suitability for the 2011 presidential election.
Journalists thereafter asked Obasanjo how he had been faring outside the State House, where he held sway for eight years as the country’s president.
He said, “God has always given me happiness; my prayer is that you will always have happiness in life, may God give you all happiness in life.” The journalists responded to the unexpected prayer with a loud “Amen!”
Also speaking, Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, said the North would decide whom to support in the presidential election. Shema, who spoke after the National Council of State meeting, also reacted to Abubakar’s emergence as the NPLF’s consensus aspirant.
A brief exchange between the governor and journalists went as follows:
What is your view on Atiku?
He is a presidential aspirant.
But he is standing in for the North.
You have to ask the North.
But you are a key member of the North.
Yes, I am but you have to ask the North because I am not the only person in the North.
What is your personal view (on the development).
My view - the North will talk.
Also on Thursday, a former head of state, Maj.-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.), said the call for the zoning of the office of president to the North was a ‘PDP affair.’
Buhari, who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, told newsmen after the council’s meeting that it had nothing to do with his party. Answering journalists’ questions, Buhari said all Nigerians were free to run for any office in the country.
Asked if the CPC would adopt zoning in choosing its presidential candidate, Buhari said, “Zoning is a purely PDP affair, but the CPC’s constituency is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Anybody, anywhere, can contest for any office he thinks he can achieve.”
Buhari also called on Nigerians to support the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in his efforts to conduct free and fair elections in 2011.
When contacted, Abubakar’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the former vice-president’s campaign group did not see Obasanjo’s action as a sign of rejection or mockery.
He said, “If Obasanjo laughed, that means he is happy with Atiku’s emergence. Laughter is a sign of happiness.”
To me the laughter is a mockery one, Because if it was a sign of happiness, he would have expressed it to the full and on the same note declared his support for him. What about other Northern Governors that have refused to speak? I think from the erstwhile President's gesture, one can rightly say that he is not in suport of Atiku's candidacy.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
It is indeed provocative that the FGN cannot approve and implement the N18,000 minimum wage for the Nigerian workers. No wonder The Nigeria Labour Congress has described the delay in implementing the N18,000 national minimum wage by the federal and state governments as been provocative.
Addressing journalists at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the President of NLC, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, said that the delay had left the congress with no choice but to demand for salary arrears by the end of this month.
Omar said, “The continued delay in implementing this new wage over a year after the agreement was reached is to say the least, provocative.
“If after the warning strike and the proposed National Council of State meeting, the implementation of the new minimum wage is delayed beyond this month, then labour will have no option but to demand for payment of salary arrears.”
The NCS was expected to meet on Thursday (today) on the minimum wage.
The organised labour had, on November 8, commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the non-implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage but suspended it a day after President Goodluck Jonathan intervened.
Jonathan had lamented that some forces were determined to sabotage the implementation of the new minimum wage. He promised that all stakeholders would approve its implementation.
Omar stated, ”The successful warning strike was avoidable but we had to embark on it because it was clear that there were forces in the country out to sabotage the process.
“The NLC therefore calls on the Council of States to do that which is in the best interest of the country and its people by supporting the N18, 000 national minimum wage agreement,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NLC has said that any attempt by any of the state governors to retrench as a result of the new wage will been seen as blackmail.
The NLC General Secretary, Mr. John Odah, in a text message to one our correspondents, said, “This will be an unacceptable blackmail. We insist that if the state governments manage their resources prudently, they will be able to pay the new minimum wage without having to retrench. The Nigerian ruling establishment needs to realise that for workers to be able to buy what is produced, their take home pay needs to be enhanced. With minimum wage currently at N4,500, this will continue to be a mirage.”
Addressing journalists at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the President of NLC, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, said that the delay had left the congress with no choice but to demand for salary arrears by the end of this month.
Omar said, “The continued delay in implementing this new wage over a year after the agreement was reached is to say the least, provocative.
“If after the warning strike and the proposed National Council of State meeting, the implementation of the new minimum wage is delayed beyond this month, then labour will have no option but to demand for payment of salary arrears.”
The NCS was expected to meet on Thursday (today) on the minimum wage.
The organised labour had, on November 8, commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the non-implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage but suspended it a day after President Goodluck Jonathan intervened.
Jonathan had lamented that some forces were determined to sabotage the implementation of the new minimum wage. He promised that all stakeholders would approve its implementation.
Omar stated, ”The successful warning strike was avoidable but we had to embark on it because it was clear that there were forces in the country out to sabotage the process.
“The NLC therefore calls on the Council of States to do that which is in the best interest of the country and its people by supporting the N18, 000 national minimum wage agreement,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NLC has said that any attempt by any of the state governors to retrench as a result of the new wage will been seen as blackmail.
The NLC General Secretary, Mr. John Odah, in a text message to one our correspondents, said, “This will be an unacceptable blackmail. We insist that if the state governments manage their resources prudently, they will be able to pay the new minimum wage without having to retrench. The Nigerian ruling establishment needs to realise that for workers to be able to buy what is produced, their take home pay needs to be enhanced. With minimum wage currently at N4,500, this will continue to be a mirage.”
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