SPORTS:
One official of the senior national team called on arrival from Peru
to say the following: ‘’Stephen Keshi and his coaches are not happy that
Keshi is not being given a free hand to do his work.
The problem may escalate and jeopardise our chances of qualifying for the World Cup and the Nations Cup.”
The official said that a top member of the federation had reduced the
list of players for three matches from 28 to 23 because Keshi did not
invite one particular player the NFF member recommended.
Nigeria will play Namibia in Calabar on Sunday, travel to Malawi for
2014 World Cup qualifiers and return to play Rwanda in a Nations Cup
second leg qualifier.
‘’For them to reduce the number of players for three matches from 28
to 23 doesn’t mean well for the team because it will limit their
options,” said the official, adding ‘’but the NFF board member told
Keshi he could invite as many players as he wanted so far he invites the
particular player in question.”
Another official confirmed this and said the NFF member had actually
been campaigning for two players(names withheld) but this time
particularised on one player insisting that he must be invited to the
national team.
He, however, said that Keshi has gone to increase the team to 27 players and may open up if his request was not granted.
Asked if the player in question was not good enough for Eagles the
official said that the player had been listed by Keshi as among the
players he would try out later and noted that ‘’Keshi has scheduled
different players for different matches and will from time to time
invite different players in the process of building a team.”
We called Keshi to confirm the alarm two non technical officials
raised he bluntly said that he would prefer to concentrate on the
Calabar assignment for now.
The officials said that NFF President Aminu Maigari and
Secretary-General Musa Amadu were not aware of this problem which from
the way the officials sounded was serious and really hurting Keshi and
his crew.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Police arrest 5 students with charms, alcohol
ABEOKUTA – Ogun, Ondo and Lagos states, yesterday, marked the
Children’s Day with funfare and policy statements from their governors.
In Abeokuta, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, arrested no fewer than five secondary schools students at M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, the venue of the Children’s Day Celebration, for being in possession of charms and intoxicated drinks.
The arrest came after Governor Ibikunle Amosun had warned students to shun any anti-social activities but to be upright in all their undertakings.
Amosun, while addressing the students, admonished them to begin the writing of their own history, so that their tomorrow could be asured.
He said: “As leaders of tomorrow, you must strive to be upright in all your undertakings. You should cultivate the virtues of discipline, decency, seriousness of purpose, focus, and respect for constituted authority and appreciation of dignity of labour.”
Also, Governor Olusegun Mimiko said one of the notable achievements of his government is the enthronement of peace and order in the state under which the children can be trained to actualise their potentials.
Speaking at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Akure, venue of the celebration, Gov. Mimiko said, “children of Ondo State are being exposed to a culture of peace, security, healthy, modern and clean environment as opposed to the ambience of insecurity, intolerance and violence of the era gone by.”
During the Children’s Day parade and rally at the Police College Parade Ground, GRA, Ikeja, the Lagos State Government announced the introduction of inclusive schools for the physically- challenged students in the state which is aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school-children and also giving them a sense of belonging.
Gov. Babatunde Fashola: “There are 31 of such inclusive schools carved out of existing schools in the state and children should be their brother’s keepers by helping the physically- challenged in their schools.”
Meantime, the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, has flagged off the registration of compulsory free nursery/universal basic education for the 2012/13 school year.
Pointing out that the exercise will help reduce the number of OOSC in the state, SUBEB Board Secretary, Mrs. Titi Oluseye, said plans had been concluded to introduce the free mid-day meals so as to keep registered children in schools.
In Abeokuta, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, arrested no fewer than five secondary schools students at M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, the venue of the Children’s Day Celebration, for being in possession of charms and intoxicated drinks.
The arrest came after Governor Ibikunle Amosun had warned students to shun any anti-social activities but to be upright in all their undertakings.
Amosun, while addressing the students, admonished them to begin the writing of their own history, so that their tomorrow could be asured.
He said: “As leaders of tomorrow, you must strive to be upright in all your undertakings. You should cultivate the virtues of discipline, decency, seriousness of purpose, focus, and respect for constituted authority and appreciation of dignity of labour.”
Also, Governor Olusegun Mimiko said one of the notable achievements of his government is the enthronement of peace and order in the state under which the children can be trained to actualise their potentials.
Speaking at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Akure, venue of the celebration, Gov. Mimiko said, “children of Ondo State are being exposed to a culture of peace, security, healthy, modern and clean environment as opposed to the ambience of insecurity, intolerance and violence of the era gone by.”
During the Children’s Day parade and rally at the Police College Parade Ground, GRA, Ikeja, the Lagos State Government announced the introduction of inclusive schools for the physically- challenged students in the state which is aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school-children and also giving them a sense of belonging.
Gov. Babatunde Fashola: “There are 31 of such inclusive schools carved out of existing schools in the state and children should be their brother’s keepers by helping the physically- challenged in their schools.”
Meantime, the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, has flagged off the registration of compulsory free nursery/universal basic education for the 2012/13 school year.
Pointing out that the exercise will help reduce the number of OOSC in the state, SUBEB Board Secretary, Mrs. Titi Oluseye, said plans had been concluded to introduce the free mid-day meals so as to keep registered children in schools.
Gunmen kill four at relaxation spot in Kano
KANO – Gunmen, weekend, killed four men who were playing cards at a
Gidan Hamisu Gurgu relaxation spot at Gaida quarters of Kano
municipality.
A resident who does not want his name in print told Vanguard that the gunmen arrived on a motorbike, took position and fired several shots in an overcrowded spot mainly patronized by pokers.
The eyewitness explained that the incident occurred around 6.00 p.m. barely an hour after the visiting vice president left the city that witnessed unprecedented security presence on the streets.
According to the eyewitness, “the gunmen, armed with assault riffles and were heard speaking fluent local dialect, threatened to wipe off all those consciously transgressing against God in the city.”
The ensuing pandemonium left three dead, while one other who was seriously injured and taken to the hospital died an hour later.
According to the eyewitness, “my neighbour, Abdullahi, was among the dead. Two others I cannot identify after the violent attack laid dead while a man who sustained life threatening injury was rushed to the hospital as many fled to safety.”
Poking (known in Hausa dialect as Karta) is a popular business among the predominantly Muslim population in Hausaland, but listed as a game of chance by Quran that enjoins Muslims to stay off it.
Vanguard recall that the bloody attack at a relaxation spot patronized by pokers brought to four the number of such violence since the ancient city of Kano came under attack January 20.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting, as the Kano Police Public Relations Officer, Tanimu Rilwan Dutse, confirmed the shooting incident, adding that the command has commenced investigations.
Dutse said: “We learnt that three people were shot dead by unknown gunmen Saturday evening at Filin Kashu relaxation spot at Gaida, and that one other person sustained injury.”
A resident who does not want his name in print told Vanguard that the gunmen arrived on a motorbike, took position and fired several shots in an overcrowded spot mainly patronized by pokers.
The eyewitness explained that the incident occurred around 6.00 p.m. barely an hour after the visiting vice president left the city that witnessed unprecedented security presence on the streets.
According to the eyewitness, “the gunmen, armed with assault riffles and were heard speaking fluent local dialect, threatened to wipe off all those consciously transgressing against God in the city.”
The ensuing pandemonium left three dead, while one other who was seriously injured and taken to the hospital died an hour later.
According to the eyewitness, “my neighbour, Abdullahi, was among the dead. Two others I cannot identify after the violent attack laid dead while a man who sustained life threatening injury was rushed to the hospital as many fled to safety.”
Poking (known in Hausa dialect as Karta) is a popular business among the predominantly Muslim population in Hausaland, but listed as a game of chance by Quran that enjoins Muslims to stay off it.
Vanguard recall that the bloody attack at a relaxation spot patronized by pokers brought to four the number of such violence since the ancient city of Kano came under attack January 20.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting, as the Kano Police Public Relations Officer, Tanimu Rilwan Dutse, confirmed the shooting incident, adding that the command has commenced investigations.
Dutse said: “We learnt that three people were shot dead by unknown gunmen Saturday evening at Filin Kashu relaxation spot at Gaida, and that one other person sustained injury.”
2015: Jonathan divides North
By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru, Abdulsalam Muhammad & Luka BinNIyat
ABUJA—Prominent political stakeholders from the North were at the weekend divided in their response to the renewed bid by elder-statesman Chief Edwin Clark to position President Goodluck Jonathan for another term in office in 2015.
While nearly all of them including those who vehemently opposed the president in his 2011 bid showed outrage over the renewed campaign, they nevertheless disagreed among themselves on a common position with some vowing that they would meet the President on the field in 2015.
Some of the Northern leaders also revealed that a prominent Ijaw leader pledged on his knees before northern leaders prior to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential primaries of 2011 that Jonathan would only serve a single term if supported by the Northern leaders.
The Ijaw leader who supposedly made the plea could not be reached last night and was said to be with the President at a function when Vanguard sought his opinion.
The PDP which controls power at the federal level has itself dismissed the renewed clamour, describing it as a distraction for the party and the president.
Chief Clark had at a press conference on the eve of his 85th birthday last Thursday, given vent to a second term for President Jonathan, the first person from the South-South geopolitical zone to lead the country. He based his claim on the fact that all other leaders of the country were not constrained in the bid for a second term.
Northern political leaders with the connivance of some Southern politicians had vehemently opposed Jonathan’s bid in 2011 on the basis of what they claimed as an infringement of the PDP’s zoning configuration. Among the most prominent vocal groups was the Northern Leaders Political Forum, NPLF led by Mallam Adamu Ciroma, a former Minister of Finance.
Yesterday, Ciroma whose bid to stop Jonathan failed at the PDP primaries refused to offer a comment maintaining the silence he has kept since the NPLF lost its fight against Jonathan in the 2011 presidential primaries.
Other northerners were, however, nonplussed on the issue. Among those who spoke were Ambassador Yayaha Kwande, Tanko Yakassaqi, civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, National President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Organisation, SOKAPU which is the umbrella group of the non-Hausa population in Kaduna State and former vice chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Alhaji Nasiru Garba Dantiye.
Speaking on Clark’s bid to sustain the Jonathan presidency beyond 2015, Kwande said yesterday:
No agreement stopping Jonathan — Kwande
“Even when we had an agreement in which Jonathan himself signed, it wasn’t put to practice so how much more when there wasn’t an agreement. So, if Clark said Jonathan will contest, Jonathan is a citizen of this country, so why do you think it is something extraordinary? Is there any agreement stopping him?
“Even when an agreement stopped him, it did not materialise. Leave Clark to talk, we will talk too. Clark has right to talk. If he didn’t obey known agreements why should he obey no agreements? Why?”
Clark refused to be dragged into assertions that a prominent supporter of the president from the South-South promised that Jonathan would serve only one term in office.
“I don’t even know whether we have three years ahead of us and we are talking. Those who have been elected should go and work we will meet them on the field in 2015 if we are alive,” he said.
Leading Kano politician Yakassai on his part refused to see Clark’s comment as an issue saying that debate on the issue could be a distraction for the president.
Yakassai who served as National Assembly liaision officer for President Shehu Shagari in the second republic said that the debate “may hand him excuses and license not to perform”.
“It is rather too early to begin this kind of debate when the President has a subsisting mandate and backlog of campaign promises to be fulfilled within the next three years”.
Yakassai who was one of the most prominent northerners to back Jonathan’s bid for the presidency in 2011 said: “Let’s help Jonathan deliver, let’s help him succeed because I believe this kind of debate over the prospect of being fielded by his party in 2015 has the capability of distracting Mr. President.”
Mallam Sani, one of the leading civil rights activists from the zone speaking in the same wise called for caution. Reacting to Clark’s declaration, he said: “That was a very weighty statement. Because the North and Southeast are also thinking that it is their turn too. But, you see, I cannot say anything now, because I believe that Chief Clark is not the official spokesman of Mr. President. I will be seeing Mr. Reuben Abati (Media aide to President Goodluck) to find out the position of the president on that statement. It is after that meeting that I will be able to voice my opinion. My concern now is that the President has not said anything so far. And, you know, if something is said about you, and you did not refute it, it would look as if you have no problem with it. So by tomorrow (today) I should be able to tell you my stand on that.”
SOKAPU, which is the platform for the non-Hausa population in Kaduna State in its reaction to the controversy gave fillip to the Clark declaration saying that there was no constitutional encumbrance to the President seeking another term in office.
Speaking through its national secretary Marshall Adamu, the group said:
“There is nothing that stops President Jonathan from contesting the 2015 Presidential elections. As a Nigerian, who has met the criteria, nothing in the constitution says he cannot contest.
“Yes, we understand that the PDP has some zoning arrangements to give other zones some sense of belonging and equality. But the constitution of a party is inferior to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So we are not a union that would want to discourage anybody from pursuing his constitutional franchise. This is a simple matter that should not be stretched too far,” he told Vanguard in a telephone interview.
Dantiye, a stalwart of the opposition All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP on his part, however, saw the debate as a window for the opposition to throw out the PDP from office.
The former lawmaker who represented Garki /Babura federal constituency told Vanguard that “the dismal performance of the incumbent President has boxed him to a disadvantaged line and in effect boosted the campaign effort of the would be candidate of the opposition by 80 percent.
“As it stands today President Jonathan can not win a free and fair contest in Nigeria because he has proved his incompetence before us and his candidacy should elicit celebration among patriots.
“I for one I am beginning to see the prospect of demystifying the so called incumbency power for the first time in our national life and we only hope that we are ready to seize the opportunity” Dantiye stressed.
“We should not lose sleep over the plan by PDP or Aso Rock to field President Jonathan by 2015. What those of us in opposition should be doing for now is to harness our resources and make the final putsch by the next election and it is a sacrifice we must do for generations yet unborn”, Dantiye stressed.
It’s a distraction — PDP
Dismissing the debate as a distraction yesterday, the PDP said it would not waste its time on the issue.
Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the party was presently preoccupied with how to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Nigeria.
He said the debate was a scheme by the opposition to distract the President, adding, ‘’2015 is diversionary, we are not interested in 2015 now, we are more focused to ensure that we deliver on our promises to the electorate.
“Nigerians do not have to live from election to election and the issue of election at the moment is secondary to us, we are very busy with governance and how to improve on the present situation. The National Working Committee, NWC that is led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is supporting President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that dividends of democracy were provided for the people of Nigeria. ‘’The opposition parties want us to focus on election and who will win or not instead of democracy.”
ABUJA—Prominent political stakeholders from the North were at the weekend divided in their response to the renewed bid by elder-statesman Chief Edwin Clark to position President Goodluck Jonathan for another term in office in 2015.
While nearly all of them including those who vehemently opposed the president in his 2011 bid showed outrage over the renewed campaign, they nevertheless disagreed among themselves on a common position with some vowing that they would meet the President on the field in 2015.
Some of the Northern leaders also revealed that a prominent Ijaw leader pledged on his knees before northern leaders prior to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential primaries of 2011 that Jonathan would only serve a single term if supported by the Northern leaders.
The Ijaw leader who supposedly made the plea could not be reached last night and was said to be with the President at a function when Vanguard sought his opinion.
The PDP which controls power at the federal level has itself dismissed the renewed clamour, describing it as a distraction for the party and the president.
Chief Clark had at a press conference on the eve of his 85th birthday last Thursday, given vent to a second term for President Jonathan, the first person from the South-South geopolitical zone to lead the country. He based his claim on the fact that all other leaders of the country were not constrained in the bid for a second term.
Northern political leaders with the connivance of some Southern politicians had vehemently opposed Jonathan’s bid in 2011 on the basis of what they claimed as an infringement of the PDP’s zoning configuration. Among the most prominent vocal groups was the Northern Leaders Political Forum, NPLF led by Mallam Adamu Ciroma, a former Minister of Finance.
Yesterday, Ciroma whose bid to stop Jonathan failed at the PDP primaries refused to offer a comment maintaining the silence he has kept since the NPLF lost its fight against Jonathan in the 2011 presidential primaries.
Other northerners were, however, nonplussed on the issue. Among those who spoke were Ambassador Yayaha Kwande, Tanko Yakassaqi, civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, National President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Organisation, SOKAPU which is the umbrella group of the non-Hausa population in Kaduna State and former vice chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Alhaji Nasiru Garba Dantiye.
Speaking on Clark’s bid to sustain the Jonathan presidency beyond 2015, Kwande said yesterday:
No agreement stopping Jonathan — Kwande
“Even when we had an agreement in which Jonathan himself signed, it wasn’t put to practice so how much more when there wasn’t an agreement. So, if Clark said Jonathan will contest, Jonathan is a citizen of this country, so why do you think it is something extraordinary? Is there any agreement stopping him?
“Even when an agreement stopped him, it did not materialise. Leave Clark to talk, we will talk too. Clark has right to talk. If he didn’t obey known agreements why should he obey no agreements? Why?”
Clark refused to be dragged into assertions that a prominent supporter of the president from the South-South promised that Jonathan would serve only one term in office.
“I don’t even know whether we have three years ahead of us and we are talking. Those who have been elected should go and work we will meet them on the field in 2015 if we are alive,” he said.
Leading Kano politician Yakassai on his part refused to see Clark’s comment as an issue saying that debate on the issue could be a distraction for the president.
Yakassai who served as National Assembly liaision officer for President Shehu Shagari in the second republic said that the debate “may hand him excuses and license not to perform”.
“It is rather too early to begin this kind of debate when the President has a subsisting mandate and backlog of campaign promises to be fulfilled within the next three years”.
Yakassai who was one of the most prominent northerners to back Jonathan’s bid for the presidency in 2011 said: “Let’s help Jonathan deliver, let’s help him succeed because I believe this kind of debate over the prospect of being fielded by his party in 2015 has the capability of distracting Mr. President.”
Mallam Sani, one of the leading civil rights activists from the zone speaking in the same wise called for caution. Reacting to Clark’s declaration, he said: “That was a very weighty statement. Because the North and Southeast are also thinking that it is their turn too. But, you see, I cannot say anything now, because I believe that Chief Clark is not the official spokesman of Mr. President. I will be seeing Mr. Reuben Abati (Media aide to President Goodluck) to find out the position of the president on that statement. It is after that meeting that I will be able to voice my opinion. My concern now is that the President has not said anything so far. And, you know, if something is said about you, and you did not refute it, it would look as if you have no problem with it. So by tomorrow (today) I should be able to tell you my stand on that.”
SOKAPU, which is the platform for the non-Hausa population in Kaduna State in its reaction to the controversy gave fillip to the Clark declaration saying that there was no constitutional encumbrance to the President seeking another term in office.
Speaking through its national secretary Marshall Adamu, the group said:
“There is nothing that stops President Jonathan from contesting the 2015 Presidential elections. As a Nigerian, who has met the criteria, nothing in the constitution says he cannot contest.
“Yes, we understand that the PDP has some zoning arrangements to give other zones some sense of belonging and equality. But the constitution of a party is inferior to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So we are not a union that would want to discourage anybody from pursuing his constitutional franchise. This is a simple matter that should not be stretched too far,” he told Vanguard in a telephone interview.
Dantiye, a stalwart of the opposition All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP on his part, however, saw the debate as a window for the opposition to throw out the PDP from office.
The former lawmaker who represented Garki /Babura federal constituency told Vanguard that “the dismal performance of the incumbent President has boxed him to a disadvantaged line and in effect boosted the campaign effort of the would be candidate of the opposition by 80 percent.
“As it stands today President Jonathan can not win a free and fair contest in Nigeria because he has proved his incompetence before us and his candidacy should elicit celebration among patriots.
“I for one I am beginning to see the prospect of demystifying the so called incumbency power for the first time in our national life and we only hope that we are ready to seize the opportunity” Dantiye stressed.
“We should not lose sleep over the plan by PDP or Aso Rock to field President Jonathan by 2015. What those of us in opposition should be doing for now is to harness our resources and make the final putsch by the next election and it is a sacrifice we must do for generations yet unborn”, Dantiye stressed.
It’s a distraction — PDP
Dismissing the debate as a distraction yesterday, the PDP said it would not waste its time on the issue.
Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the party was presently preoccupied with how to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Nigeria.
He said the debate was a scheme by the opposition to distract the President, adding, ‘’2015 is diversionary, we are not interested in 2015 now, we are more focused to ensure that we deliver on our promises to the electorate.
“Nigerians do not have to live from election to election and the issue of election at the moment is secondary to us, we are very busy with governance and how to improve on the present situation. The National Working Committee, NWC that is led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is supporting President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that dividends of democracy were provided for the people of Nigeria. ‘’The opposition parties want us to focus on election and who will win or not instead of democracy.”
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
How Nigeria can work, by Gowon, Obasanjo
Eminent Nigerians, including former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former President Olusegun Obansanjo and former Head of Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan, yesterday said the country can only develop when its systems and institutions are strengthened.
They said the judiciary must be ripped of corruption; the rule of law must be respected; and due regard must be accorded democratic institutions.
They also said the country must ensure that “rogues and armed robbers” do not assume public offices.
Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mohammed Uwais, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and legal scholar Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) said a strong legal system free of corruption is crucial in making Nigeria work.
They spoke at the Fourth Annual Conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies Nigeria (AES) in Lagos. It had the theme: Strong systems: Necessity for Building a Virile Nation.
Gowon said for a system to work, it must be visionary and evolutionary.
He said: “It must recognise and be tolerant of opposing views. A leadership cannot make progress if it only relies on the echoes of its own voice.”
Obasanjo wondered how the country’s value system worsened years after independence. He recalled that when he bought his first car as an army Lieutenant, a panel was set up to probe how he raised money to buy a brand new Ford Tanus.
“That was after independence. How did we lose that?” Obasanjo asked. He said it was because things were taken for granted.
The former President said after he left the army, he once overheard a colonel asking a major to give him keys to his (the major’s) London apartment to stay.
In the past, such a thing would not be allowed in the army without questions being asked.
Obasanjo said: “There was no sanction. We took it for granted. Now, it is difficult to change things. These things happened in our korokoro eyes ( presence).”
On the judiciary, Obasanjo said corruption still remains among judicial officers. “We removed some corrupt judges, but not all of them.”
According to him, corruption persists in institutions such as the judiciary, police and National Assembly because “rogues and armed robbers” are allowed into public offices.
He said: “The diligence undertaken before a judge is appointed is no longer undertaken. The same applies to other institutions. What we have are more rogues and armed robbers in the state Houses of Assemblies and National Assemblies. What sort of law will they make?”
The former president said if the weight of evidence dismissed by a Nigerian judge was used to secure a conviction for corruption in the British judiciary, it means that “the judiciary is now riddled with corruption.”
According to him, amidst the corrupt system, there are still those who are different.
He said: “Let’s understand and even sing-song the good ones. When we find things that are good, let us applaud them.”
To Shoenakan, there is no reason why Nigeria should not be a leader on the continent, being the most populous black African country endowed with abundant resources.
He said the resources have not been properly harnessed for the benefit of all; rather there has been over-reliance on oil.
“We must diversify the economy away from oil and gas,” he said, adding that several solid minerals have been left untapped:
Shonekan said: “We need to have more of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLGN) in this country.
“Let us also embrace space technology to improve our telecommunication system and forecasting.”
Shonekan said much cannot be achieved if the government does not create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive; if infrastructure remains at its present decadent state, and if the level of security remains low.
Justice Uwais said Nigeria needs “a strong judiciary” to work. The judiciary, he recalled, started on a strong footing following colonialism and independence, but is now bedeviled by corruption.
He urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to do more in tackling judicial graft.
He said: “The problem of corruption has also spread to the judiciary. There is need to do something about it.
“When I was CJN, quite a number of judges were removed from office because they were found wanting. Now, the impression is created that judges who are corrupt are allowed to go scot-free.
“We need a strong judiciary to guarantee to guarantee a strong democracy and economic and socio-political development. Therefore, all must be done to bring the judiciary back to its days of glory.”
Fashola said citizens must continually question themselves as to their roles in subverting the institutions.
He said: “The institutions have operated sub-optimally. It is not all men and women who can build institutions. Such a person must have character, compassion and selflessness.”
The governor said it must be realised that “the judiciary does not belong to the government; it is part of the government.”
According to him, the judiciary will not perform efficiently until there is federalism in the administration of justice.
“The question of a state police is not about if, it is about when,” Fashola said, adding: “Institutions will endure only if we re-access our own values.”
Prof Sagay said a strong legal system is the answer to Nigeria’s problems. However, there is nothing wrong with the laws, he said.
According to him, the problem is with the political class who, he said, have “neutralised and rendered prostrate our laws.”
He recalled the subsidy scam, and alleged looting of the pension fund, saying: “People steal pension funds while ageing pensioners die on queues.”
He added: “The quality of the political class has fallen. Nigeria has become a value-deficient society. Our history of rigging has no precedent anywhere in the world. Strong laws have nothing to do with it.”
Friday, May 18, 2012
I Am Ready To Lead More Protests – Oshiomhole
Political tension heightens in Edo State as Governor Adams Oshiomhole, last Monday led thousands of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) supporters to protest alleged plot to use INEC to manipulate the scheduled voter’s registration in favour of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) . In this interview with selected journalists, the governor insists that anything short of credible election will be resisted by the Edo People. PATRICK OCHOGA was there for LEADERSHIP.
Sir, you led a protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) office in Benin, what really happened that Monday?
We can’t say he is a fake INEC official. It is just that he is an INEC man. There is no dispute about the fact that he is an INEC man. He was seen carrying the DDC machine marked for Igueben. Our people saw him coming in the morning before 8am to drop the machine. He was apprehended. When asked what is the machine for, he said they used it for training at Igueben but he was asked to take it to Uromi and that they started doing registration since yesterday.
We can’t say he is a fake INEC official. It is just that he is an INEC man. There is no dispute about the fact that he is an INEC man. He was seen carrying the DDC machine marked for Igueben. Our people saw him coming in the morning before 8am to drop the machine. He was apprehended. When asked what is the machine for, he said they used it for training at Igueben but he was asked to take it to Uromi and that they started doing registration since yesterday.
Having done the registration in Uromi, he is now bringing the machine back to Benin. The voter registration supposed to start on Tuesday but it began in Uromi on Sunday. This confirms the information we have that they have prepared to take machines to secret locations.
Whereas in other states, they did registration at local government level, in Edo they were going to do it at every ward as if it is a general registration exercise and of course in addition they have 472 machines whereas they need only 192 if they were to do it at every ward. If it were to be done at the local government, they need only 18. Clearly they have over 200 machines they were going to use secretly to register people from neighbouring states including some thugs.
Do you think the leadership of INEC, Prof. Jega is aware of this development?
No he is not. Jega is not aware of some of these things. This is purely an arrangement between Mrs. Umeh of INEC in Edo and their boss in Abuja. Between the two, they had a deal with the PDP to use the voters’ registration exercise to doctor the exercise.
Do you think the leadership of INEC, Prof. Jega is aware of this development?
No he is not. Jega is not aware of some of these things. This is purely an arrangement between Mrs. Umeh of INEC in Edo and their boss in Abuja. Between the two, they had a deal with the PDP to use the voters’ registration exercise to doctor the exercise.
They were going to mix up the names in various polling units. They would take a name in polling unit A to polling unit B. On that day, you go there you will not find your name. There are a couple of things they plan that is based on the voter’s register but as luck will have it we got one of the boys and he has confessed.
Can we know more about the meeting you said was held at Chief Anenih’s place?
They met three days ago in Abuja basically to say that they must rig the election. They plan to use the military, the voter registration exercise and recruit ex-militants. They also said they have a deal to settle a lot of people in INEC, particularly those in ICT unit. What they have done shows they have a deal with ICT. It is all how to rig the election.
The PDP said you were not supposed to lead the protest because you are a sitting governor and a candidate.
Who are they to decide my role? That it is coming from them is not an issue. If it were members of the public, I might pulse for a minute. Airhiavbere cannot walk the streets of Benin where he claims to have come from. Dan Orbih cannot walk the streets of Benin; Chief Anenih cannot walk the street of Benin and even in Uromi outside the bullet proof vehicle.
Can we know more about the meeting you said was held at Chief Anenih’s place?
They met three days ago in Abuja basically to say that they must rig the election. They plan to use the military, the voter registration exercise and recruit ex-militants. They also said they have a deal to settle a lot of people in INEC, particularly those in ICT unit. What they have done shows they have a deal with ICT. It is all how to rig the election.
The PDP said you were not supposed to lead the protest because you are a sitting governor and a candidate.
Who are they to decide my role? That it is coming from them is not an issue. If it were members of the public, I might pulse for a minute. Airhiavbere cannot walk the streets of Benin where he claims to have come from. Dan Orbih cannot walk the streets of Benin; Chief Anenih cannot walk the street of Benin and even in Uromi outside the bullet proof vehicle.
I will not conduct my office according to their dictates. I will conduct my office according to my own style. I have a mass background; these are the qualities that brought me to this office including mass protest. If as a governor, I feel that an institution of state is being mismanaged, I have the right to say no. If it is something I can seat in my office and clean-off, I will do it.
But INEC is not under my control. I am the candidate whose election is being manipulated and I am not one of those leaders who ask people to go and die while they remain in the comfort of their office. I want to lead by example. If I ask my people to go and protest I will lead the protest and share the burden of protesting under the sun.
We went out last time and it started raining. People said I should get into my car. For a minute I almost got in and I said no why should I be inside my car when these people who are following me are in the rain? I am the candidate. I came out and we walk.
The rain became heavy. If PDP said what I did is right, I knew it is wrong. If they said what I did is wrong, I knew it is right. I am ready to lead more protest. Any attempt to rig this election will be resisted. I am not going to hide. I am not like Chief Anenih who will plan at night. I work in the day time.
This country is ours. We cannot allow a man in his nineties to mess up our future for those who still have more years to do. There is no hiding place for them. If we are going to fight you, we give them ultimatum. We don’t do like cowards who go in the dark to go and kill or use tipper drivers to go and kill their enemy.
In view of what has happened today, what is your message to the people of the state?
They should remain vigilante. We want to have free and fair election but we must be vigilante. They must have the courage to come out and deal with those agents of darkness. They will not be able to change the rules of the game in Edo. What they did not do in Cross River, they cannot do it in Edo.
In view of what has happened today, what is your message to the people of the state?
They should remain vigilante. We want to have free and fair election but we must be vigilante. They must have the courage to come out and deal with those agents of darkness. They will not be able to change the rules of the game in Edo. What they did not do in Cross River, they cannot do it in Edo.
Someone phoned from Abuja to inquire if half a million people actually occupy INEC, I said yes I authorized it. If half a million people occupy INEC over false manipulation of voter registration exercise, it is just to imagine how many people would pull out if they attempt to rig the election.
There is no hiding place for all of them. What caused trouble in the Arab world was one truck pusher who was being harassed by a policeman. The man said with all my hardship you are still coming to harass me. He said if the policeman did not kill him, he would set fire on himself.
That fire he set on himself is what is burning Arab nations today. Abuja must understand why they can’t allow an old man in his nineties to create trouble. President Goodluck Jonathan has enough headache managing security in many parts of the country. If he allowed an old man who has no part in the future to create crisis in Edo, it is his luck.
But we must fight them. I am putting everything into it. They are holding nocturnal meetings on how to rig election. What we have show today is that we have enough men and women that if the system fails, there is no hiding place for them. We have the capacity and we will deploy the capacity. I have the will to deploy the capacity and I will be there. If I ask people to go and die, I am not going to be at the back.
What will be your area of focus in your second term if re-elected?
We still have a lot of the infrastructural deficit. In Benin City, we have done many roads but the roads yet to be done are more.
We still have a lot of the infrastructural deficit. In Benin City, we have done many roads but the roads yet to be done are more.
We still need massive investment in rural and urban infrastructure. We need to deploy water and electricity to rural communities.
We need to open up more rural roads, health centres and equip them. We are not done yet with infrastructure. Of course, infrastructure is a means to an end. It attracts investors. In the second phase, we believe that a number of persons who want to locate companies in Edo will have the required environment for them to do so. We have to continue what we have started.
The flooding problem has not been resolved. We are dealing with it. We have solved a lot of it. We have addressed that of the five junctions. There are other drainage works we need to work on. We are working on power supply.
Edo will be the hub of power supply to other states if the federal government deregulates their monopoly on the power sector. A number of IPP are interested in coming. A number of farmers are coming and all of that will lead to job creation.
There is this talk that you are not doing much in industries?
Which government is setting up industries across the country? There is none. What government can do is to create the environment for private people to create businesses. Government cannot run businesses. We are doing something to revive the existing ones. They are working at Okpella Cement now after I threatened them with revocation. It was privatised by PDP.
There is this talk that you are not doing much in industries?
Which government is setting up industries across the country? There is none. What government can do is to create the environment for private people to create businesses. Government cannot run businesses. We are doing something to revive the existing ones. They are working at Okpella Cement now after I threatened them with revocation. It was privatised by PDP.
Bendel Brewery was run down by the PDP. They have a huge debt profile of over N1.8bn guaranteed by the state. We worked out a deal and we have started paying. With that debt, you can’t get investors and there are challenges with the Churchgate Limited. Until we resolve all of those issues, there is not much we can do.
The same thing happened at Juice factory at Ehor, Fertilizer factory at Auchi and the Cassavita. All those were failed project. We want to privatize them. The only asset there is the land. All the equipment there are second hand. They have never worked. We are bringing a lot of businesses to the state
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
LG boss broker peace between feuding communities
AGENEBODE – The Chairman Etsako East Local Government Transition
Committee, Engr. Peter Ojor Anyia, yesterday brokered peace between
Imiegba and Okpekpe communities.
The two neighbouring communities who were engaged in a clash over a disputed piece of land at Odokiode farm settlement were summoned by the Council boss.
Engr. Anyia stated that both communities should make personal sacrifice as a way of bringing speedy development to the area, noting that this is the option acceptable to government.
While advising the people not to take laws into their hands, he warned that nobody should lay claim to the disputed land until appropriate government agencies demarcate the boundaries between the two communities.
The Council Chairman said that the Local Government will pay royalties to the two communities to enable the construction firm, Setraco Nig. Plc to continue work on Okpekpe Road, adding that those who lost their property or injured in the communal clash will receive government attention.
He called on the Royal fathers and the youth leaders of the communities to ensure lasting peace and unity in the area.
The Onmueweko of Okpekpe clan, HRH P.A. Osigbemhe and the Ogiagah of Three Ibie, HRH J.B. Momoh, expressed satisfaction with the peace settlement and promised to ensure that their communities will not go on any aggression from now.
They however, called for continued police patrol along the area for sometime.
The youth leader of Okpekpe community, Mr. Cistus and his Imiegba counterpart, Mr. Attahiru Omokhabi who embraced each other in the spirit of brotherhood promised to control the youth and pass government decision to them.
The Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), Mrs. Benedicta Attoh said that the Governor asked the people to seek peace immediately.
While thanking the Etsako East Local Government Chairman for the peace deal, she expressed satisfaction with the settlement, noting that she will take the message back to the Comrade Governor.
According to her, “I am happy because we have demonstrated that we have the capacity to resolve our difference”.
Present at the meeting was the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Joseph Okpoloa, representative of the Commandant of the 195 Battalion, Captain Onyeasor, men of the State Security Service and traditional rulers.
The two neighbouring communities who were engaged in a clash over a disputed piece of land at Odokiode farm settlement were summoned by the Council boss.
Engr. Anyia stated that both communities should make personal sacrifice as a way of bringing speedy development to the area, noting that this is the option acceptable to government.
While advising the people not to take laws into their hands, he warned that nobody should lay claim to the disputed land until appropriate government agencies demarcate the boundaries between the two communities.
The Council Chairman said that the Local Government will pay royalties to the two communities to enable the construction firm, Setraco Nig. Plc to continue work on Okpekpe Road, adding that those who lost their property or injured in the communal clash will receive government attention.
He called on the Royal fathers and the youth leaders of the communities to ensure lasting peace and unity in the area.
The Onmueweko of Okpekpe clan, HRH P.A. Osigbemhe and the Ogiagah of Three Ibie, HRH J.B. Momoh, expressed satisfaction with the peace settlement and promised to ensure that their communities will not go on any aggression from now.
They however, called for continued police patrol along the area for sometime.
The youth leader of Okpekpe community, Mr. Cistus and his Imiegba counterpart, Mr. Attahiru Omokhabi who embraced each other in the spirit of brotherhood promised to control the youth and pass government decision to them.
The Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), Mrs. Benedicta Attoh said that the Governor asked the people to seek peace immediately.
While thanking the Etsako East Local Government Chairman for the peace deal, she expressed satisfaction with the settlement, noting that she will take the message back to the Comrade Governor.
According to her, “I am happy because we have demonstrated that we have the capacity to resolve our difference”.
Present at the meeting was the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Joseph Okpoloa, representative of the Commandant of the 195 Battalion, Captain Onyeasor, men of the State Security Service and traditional rulers.
Revoke sale of Agbede/Warrake farms, EDHA urges govt
BENIN CITY – Edo State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution
urging the state government to immediately revoke the instrument of
sale, Certificate of Occupancy and Deed of Assignment connected with the
sale of Agbede/Warrake Farms to Delt-R (Nig.) Limited.
The adoption of the resolution was sequel to the consideration of the report of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on a Petition titled: “alleged sale of Agbede farms” signed by one Sylvanus Oninkena Esq for S.Y. Ono and Co, on behalf of Agbede Community.
According to the 12-point findings of the report, the Agbede/Warrake farm before its disposal to Delt-R Nigeria Limited was an Agro-based farm covering 7,656.15 hectares and sold by the defunct Bendel State Military Administration headed by Colonel John Innienger to Delt-R (Nig) Limited for N3m with a Certificate of Occupancies No. BDSR 6909 dated June 23rd 1995 and BDSR 877 dated July 22nd, 1981 of the defunct Bendel State.
A Deed of Assignment dated June 28, 1995 and registered as No. 11 in volume 868 of the land Registry Benin City was also issued to Delt-R (Nig) Limited while an expected yearly land rent payment of N67,034 and other revised rent as contained in the terms of agreement during the disposal of the farms were not fulfilled.
The consideration of the findings and recommendations of the report of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture on the petition at the Committee of Whole yesterday allowed for the holistic adoption of the two-point recommendations of the report.
Parliament following the consideration of the recommendations, resolved that the state government should immediately revoke the instrument of sale, Certificate of Occupancy and Deed of Assignment for failure to comply with terms of agreement as well as upon the revocation of the farm, the state government should take possession of the farms and all serviceable machinery and facilities that have been in the state of neglect for over two decades owing to the period of inactivity at the farms.
The Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe however directed that clean copies of the resolution be forwarded to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Lands and Survey and the state Governor for immediate action.
The adoption of the resolution was sequel to the consideration of the report of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on a Petition titled: “alleged sale of Agbede farms” signed by one Sylvanus Oninkena Esq for S.Y. Ono and Co, on behalf of Agbede Community.
According to the 12-point findings of the report, the Agbede/Warrake farm before its disposal to Delt-R Nigeria Limited was an Agro-based farm covering 7,656.15 hectares and sold by the defunct Bendel State Military Administration headed by Colonel John Innienger to Delt-R (Nig) Limited for N3m with a Certificate of Occupancies No. BDSR 6909 dated June 23rd 1995 and BDSR 877 dated July 22nd, 1981 of the defunct Bendel State.
A Deed of Assignment dated June 28, 1995 and registered as No. 11 in volume 868 of the land Registry Benin City was also issued to Delt-R (Nig) Limited while an expected yearly land rent payment of N67,034 and other revised rent as contained in the terms of agreement during the disposal of the farms were not fulfilled.
The consideration of the findings and recommendations of the report of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture on the petition at the Committee of Whole yesterday allowed for the holistic adoption of the two-point recommendations of the report.
Parliament following the consideration of the recommendations, resolved that the state government should immediately revoke the instrument of sale, Certificate of Occupancy and Deed of Assignment for failure to comply with terms of agreement as well as upon the revocation of the farm, the state government should take possession of the farms and all serviceable machinery and facilities that have been in the state of neglect for over two decades owing to the period of inactivity at the farms.
The Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe however directed that clean copies of the resolution be forwarded to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Lands and Survey and the state Governor for immediate action.
Mission To Install PDP In Edo: Omo Osula blasts Babatope
BENIN CITY – A political analyst, Chief Omo Lawal Osula has
condemned the recent pronouncement by a PDP chieftain, Chief Ebenezer
Babatope that he was sent by the national secretariat of the PDP to
install the party in Edo State and ensure victory for the party.
Chief Osula who stated this in an interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Benin City yesterday, said that Babatope cannot claim to be a credible politician with sincerity of purpose when it is on record that he was one of those political loyalists of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the days of the Action Group of Nigeria and the Unity Party of Nigeria who betrayed the eminent politician.
Chief Osula said that Chief Awolowo’s vision for Nigeria was frustrated by Chief Ebenezer Babatope and the late Chief Bola Ige who was being groomed to take over from Chief Awolowo.
“He should have a lesson from Asiwaju’s enviable experience of non-interference in the political affairs of other states through political violence,” Chief Arala said.
He advised Chief Babatope to concentrate on his state and constituency and deliver it for his party rather than engage in making unnecessary political statements.
Chief Osula who stated this in an interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Benin City yesterday, said that Babatope cannot claim to be a credible politician with sincerity of purpose when it is on record that he was one of those political loyalists of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the days of the Action Group of Nigeria and the Unity Party of Nigeria who betrayed the eminent politician.
Chief Osula said that Chief Awolowo’s vision for Nigeria was frustrated by Chief Ebenezer Babatope and the late Chief Bola Ige who was being groomed to take over from Chief Awolowo.
“He should have a lesson from Asiwaju’s enviable experience of non-interference in the political affairs of other states through political violence,” Chief Arala said.
He advised Chief Babatope to concentrate on his state and constituency and deliver it for his party rather than engage in making unnecessary political statements.
Jega Invites Political Stakeholders In Edo To A Meeting On Friday
Prof Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of INEC, has invited the chairmen and secretaries, as well as the candidates of all the parties contesting the governorship election in Edo to a meeting in Abuja on Friday.
A statement signed by him on Tuesday in Abuja named the invited parties as Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and Labour Party (LP).
Others are the National Conscience Party (NCP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP).
Jega said that the meeting had become necessary because since the commission announced the date of the election, political parties had expressed concerns about INEC's preparedness for the election.
He said that the unfolding political events in Edo portend danger for the governorship election holding on July 14, adding that the happenings in the state had over heated the polity.
The chairman reassured the political parties, candidates and indeed all Nigerians of its commitment to free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo.
He said that in as much as such concerns and anxiety were expected in the build-up to an election, it was important that conduct of the polls was not unduly threatened by actions and utterances of all stakeholders.
Jega added that in the past few weeks, the commission had received petitions from the various political parties in the state.
He said some of the accusations were directed at political parties and candidates, while others were directed at the INEC’s preparedness for the election.
``The principles that have guided the work of this Commission are transparency, honesty and creation of a level playing field for all political parties and their candidates.
``The commission remains committed to these principles,'' Jega said. (NAN)
A statement signed by him on Tuesday in Abuja named the invited parties as Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and Labour Party (LP).
Others are the National Conscience Party (NCP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP).
Jega said that the meeting had become necessary because since the commission announced the date of the election, political parties had expressed concerns about INEC's preparedness for the election.
He said that the unfolding political events in Edo portend danger for the governorship election holding on July 14, adding that the happenings in the state had over heated the polity.
The chairman reassured the political parties, candidates and indeed all Nigerians of its commitment to free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo.
He said that in as much as such concerns and anxiety were expected in the build-up to an election, it was important that conduct of the polls was not unduly threatened by actions and utterances of all stakeholders.
Jega added that in the past few weeks, the commission had received petitions from the various political parties in the state.
He said some of the accusations were directed at political parties and candidates, while others were directed at the INEC’s preparedness for the election.
``The principles that have guided the work of this Commission are transparency, honesty and creation of a level playing field for all political parties and their candidates.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Thousands witness Kano’s first mass wedding
By AbdulSalam Muhammad, Kano
KANO-Commercial activities came to a standstill at the ancient city of Kano Tuesday morning as hundreds of thousands witnessed the first mass wedding in the state.
The mass wedlock conducted by the Chief Imam of Kano central Mosque, Professor Sani Zaharadeen was supervised by the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero.
About 100 widows and divorcees were joined in line with Islamic injunction during a ceremony that attracted notable clerics in the city
Edo Guber: The bloody side
The Edo State gubernatorial campaign has lately been punctuated by
the death of those associated with the incumbent governor. Any
coincidence or is blood now a factor in the campaign?
Is the quest by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State to oust Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State a matter of life and death? No, claims the PDP. But the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN which is the ruling party in the state disagrees as it alleges the complicity of the opposition PDP in the recent spate of death to have befallen associates of Governor Oshiomhole or those travelling with him.
The latest casualty and perhaps the most striking hit on the side of the Comrade Governor was Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde who until life was snuffed out of him in the early hours of May, –, 2012 in his residence in the upscale GRA area of Benin was the governor’s principal private secretary.
Oyerinde 44, was a carry over from Oshiomhole’s activist days as a labour leader and was on leave from the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.
One of the brightest stars of the Nigerian labour movement, he was a senior operative of the NLC who Oshiomhole brought into government in Edo State to coordinate his inner engine room in the Edo Government House.
Oyerinde, was not the only casualty to have fallen on the side of the ACN since the campaign for the July 14, gubernatorial election kicked off.
His death came barely one two weeks after three journalists lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident involving the convoy of the governor. The accident which caused the death of the three journalists was upon the reported collision of a tipper with the governor’s convoy along Warrake-Auchi Road after a rally in Afuze, Owan East Local Government Council of Edo State.
The Governor had been scheduled to kick off his governorship campaign in Edo South senatorial district of the state on Saturday, April 28,2012 at the Museum ground in Benin City, when thousands of ACN supporters gathered for the occasion learnt that the governor had narrowly escaped an accident.
The news of the accident forced the campaign director of the
Oshiomhole Campaign Organization, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to postpone
the rally. The rally was rescheduled for Saturday, May 5, 2012. But to
the disbelief of many in the state, a day before the event Oyerinde was
murdered in cold blood on Friday 4 May, 2012.
Before Oyerinde’s killing, the governor perhaps on the basis of the suspicious tipper collision with his convoy a week or so before, had accused the PDP in the state of a hand in the accident. He petitioned the state Commissioner of Police over the accident and called for serious probe. However, the police was still busy with that when Oyerinde was killed.
The war of words between the Governor and the PDP in the state became intense, particularly after the Governor disclosed that he received a security report where the PDP leaders held a meeting and concluded that it would be difficult for them to win the election and that the only way to make head way would be to destabilize the state through kidnapping of people close to the governor and assassinating people around the governor.
Oshiomhole was particularly bitter because according to him, “ less than 48 hours after I submitted this petition that the PDP god father and his cohorts are planning to cause mayhem in the state, planning fake accidents, kidnapping and killing of those close to me, they went and killed my son, Oyerinde”.
But the PDP in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mathew Urhoghide, denied the involvement of the PDP in the accident that led to the death of the three journalists, and queried the state of the governor who drove him self on that trip. The party alleged that speeding may have caused the accident. They went on to accuse the governor of raising false alarm with a view to cover the alleged N10billion mansion allegation leveled against him by the party.
And on the killing of Oyerinde, the PDP urged the governor to look inwards as they claimed to have no reason to kill Olaitan whom they described as a very brilliant young man.
Sensing that the PDP may capitalize on the tragedy that hit the governor and the ACN in the state, the leadership of the ACN in the state decided to proceed with the governorship campaign on Saturday 5th of May, 2012, about 24 hours after Oyerinde was killed.
That day, there was a heavy down pour that commenced at about 8:30am, but thousands of ACN members and admirers of Oshiomhole defied the rain and waited patiently to listen to Oshiomhole who showed the grief that had befallen him.
Okada riders, market women and youths were observed carrying a mock coffin of the PDP and with their placards reading “Oshiomhole we are with you always”, “PDP has murdered sleep”, “Police must find the killers of our Comrade or we will find them” and several others.
While apparently managing to suppress his grief, Oshiomhole was able to tell the crowd on his suspicions on the death of Oyerinde and the three journalists. “Just yesterday, they killed my son in cold blood right in his bedroom.”
With apparent reference to the rain that was still drizzling at the time of the rally, he said: “When they have spoilt the atmosphere even God in heaven was angry and decided to bring water to wash away the evil that these guys have committed so that we men of God may have a clean rally. We respect elders only that we disagree with any policy that says the god father first. And that was why we even started the tarring of roads from the village of the god father.”
“They decided to kill Olaitan, they planned to kill me in an accident. They wasted three young men in an accident. Their crime was that they are covering an election like this. And who was defending them. Suddenly the police became the police prosecutor. They said I was drunk. I have told them that he who kills in the 80s will have death awaiting him. That is why we choose not to cry but I won’t cry.
In our second term, (in memory of the dead journalists) those dead journalists we will build an edifice with their names in gold in Benin City and we will put the heading that they died so that the god father will not prevail. Forever and ever it will be there for historians. Today the god father is dead and finished. He is on political oxygen, he can remain in that oxygen and because we serve Jesus Christ he cannot wake up”.
Tension further heightened in the state after Oshiomhole’s gave the police 14 days to find Oyerinde killers or the people of the state “will find them”. Following his threat, PDP leaders disappeared from the town, fearing that they may be attacked by ACN youths. Oshiomhole who wept profusely when the ACN governors paid him a condolence visit, reiterated his ultimatum to the police and vowed that Oyerinde’s killers must never go unpunished.
Oshiomhole took his campaign to Esan last Tuesday and outlined his developmental projects in the area and assured the people that as Adolor of Esan land, “I will ensure that more projects are executed in Esanland”. While he tried to combine his grief with politics, his opponents in the PDP, Airhiavbere and that of the ANPP, Solomon Edebiri, have been mobilizing for votes also across the state.
Oshiomhle, last wednesday, to the shock of many and the admiration of many others, at the service of songs of the late Oyerinde at Government House Benin City, announced that the Delta Crescent, where Chief Tony Anenih’s mansion was situated be renamed after the late Olaitan Oyerinde.
The political tension is heightening every day in Edo and there is no doubt that within the next one or two weeks, the police is expected to come up with a lead as regards the killers of Oyerinde. Oshiomhole has appealed to youths of the ACN to be calm while the police is given the opportunity to investigate the matter.
Is the quest by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State to oust Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State a matter of life and death? No, claims the PDP. But the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN which is the ruling party in the state disagrees as it alleges the complicity of the opposition PDP in the recent spate of death to have befallen associates of Governor Oshiomhole or those travelling with him.
The latest casualty and perhaps the most striking hit on the side of the Comrade Governor was Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde who until life was snuffed out of him in the early hours of May, –, 2012 in his residence in the upscale GRA area of Benin was the governor’s principal private secretary.
Oyerinde 44, was a carry over from Oshiomhole’s activist days as a labour leader and was on leave from the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.
One of the brightest stars of the Nigerian labour movement, he was a senior operative of the NLC who Oshiomhole brought into government in Edo State to coordinate his inner engine room in the Edo Government House.
Oyerinde, was not the only casualty to have fallen on the side of the ACN since the campaign for the July 14, gubernatorial election kicked off.
His death came barely one two weeks after three journalists lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident involving the convoy of the governor. The accident which caused the death of the three journalists was upon the reported collision of a tipper with the governor’s convoy along Warrake-Auchi Road after a rally in Afuze, Owan East Local Government Council of Edo State.
The Governor had been scheduled to kick off his governorship campaign in Edo South senatorial district of the state on Saturday, April 28,2012 at the Museum ground in Benin City, when thousands of ACN supporters gathered for the occasion learnt that the governor had narrowly escaped an accident.
Before Oyerinde’s killing, the governor perhaps on the basis of the suspicious tipper collision with his convoy a week or so before, had accused the PDP in the state of a hand in the accident. He petitioned the state Commissioner of Police over the accident and called for serious probe. However, the police was still busy with that when Oyerinde was killed.
The war of words between the Governor and the PDP in the state became intense, particularly after the Governor disclosed that he received a security report where the PDP leaders held a meeting and concluded that it would be difficult for them to win the election and that the only way to make head way would be to destabilize the state through kidnapping of people close to the governor and assassinating people around the governor.
Oshiomhole was particularly bitter because according to him, “ less than 48 hours after I submitted this petition that the PDP god father and his cohorts are planning to cause mayhem in the state, planning fake accidents, kidnapping and killing of those close to me, they went and killed my son, Oyerinde”.
But the PDP in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mathew Urhoghide, denied the involvement of the PDP in the accident that led to the death of the three journalists, and queried the state of the governor who drove him self on that trip. The party alleged that speeding may have caused the accident. They went on to accuse the governor of raising false alarm with a view to cover the alleged N10billion mansion allegation leveled against him by the party.
And on the killing of Oyerinde, the PDP urged the governor to look inwards as they claimed to have no reason to kill Olaitan whom they described as a very brilliant young man.
Sensing that the PDP may capitalize on the tragedy that hit the governor and the ACN in the state, the leadership of the ACN in the state decided to proceed with the governorship campaign on Saturday 5th of May, 2012, about 24 hours after Oyerinde was killed.
That day, there was a heavy down pour that commenced at about 8:30am, but thousands of ACN members and admirers of Oshiomhole defied the rain and waited patiently to listen to Oshiomhole who showed the grief that had befallen him.
Okada riders, market women and youths were observed carrying a mock coffin of the PDP and with their placards reading “Oshiomhole we are with you always”, “PDP has murdered sleep”, “Police must find the killers of our Comrade or we will find them” and several others.
While apparently managing to suppress his grief, Oshiomhole was able to tell the crowd on his suspicions on the death of Oyerinde and the three journalists. “Just yesterday, they killed my son in cold blood right in his bedroom.”
With apparent reference to the rain that was still drizzling at the time of the rally, he said: “When they have spoilt the atmosphere even God in heaven was angry and decided to bring water to wash away the evil that these guys have committed so that we men of God may have a clean rally. We respect elders only that we disagree with any policy that says the god father first. And that was why we even started the tarring of roads from the village of the god father.”
“They decided to kill Olaitan, they planned to kill me in an accident. They wasted three young men in an accident. Their crime was that they are covering an election like this. And who was defending them. Suddenly the police became the police prosecutor. They said I was drunk. I have told them that he who kills in the 80s will have death awaiting him. That is why we choose not to cry but I won’t cry.
In our second term, (in memory of the dead journalists) those dead journalists we will build an edifice with their names in gold in Benin City and we will put the heading that they died so that the god father will not prevail. Forever and ever it will be there for historians. Today the god father is dead and finished. He is on political oxygen, he can remain in that oxygen and because we serve Jesus Christ he cannot wake up”.
Tension further heightened in the state after Oshiomhole’s gave the police 14 days to find Oyerinde killers or the people of the state “will find them”. Following his threat, PDP leaders disappeared from the town, fearing that they may be attacked by ACN youths. Oshiomhole who wept profusely when the ACN governors paid him a condolence visit, reiterated his ultimatum to the police and vowed that Oyerinde’s killers must never go unpunished.
Oshiomhole took his campaign to Esan last Tuesday and outlined his developmental projects in the area and assured the people that as Adolor of Esan land, “I will ensure that more projects are executed in Esanland”. While he tried to combine his grief with politics, his opponents in the PDP, Airhiavbere and that of the ANPP, Solomon Edebiri, have been mobilizing for votes also across the state.
Oshiomhle, last wednesday, to the shock of many and the admiration of many others, at the service of songs of the late Oyerinde at Government House Benin City, announced that the Delta Crescent, where Chief Tony Anenih’s mansion was situated be renamed after the late Olaitan Oyerinde.
The political tension is heightening every day in Edo and there is no doubt that within the next one or two weeks, the police is expected to come up with a lead as regards the killers of Oyerinde. Oshiomhole has appealed to youths of the ACN to be calm while the police is given the opportunity to investigate the matter.
Ploy To Falsify Voters’ Registers: Oshiomhole raises alarm
BENIN CITY - Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday raised the alarm over an attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party to connive with the Independent National Electoral Commission to falsify the voters’ register in the state.
The governor who addressed over 5,000 protesters at the INEC office in Benin City advised President Goodluck Jonathan to stop the move and not allow himself to be used to create a potentially volatile situation.
“This morning we have started the business of ensuring that never again will Chief Tony Anenih continue to perpetrate election fraud in Edo. We want the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the Director of the State Security Service, all forces of Development and those who believe in Democracy to be put on notice of the plans of the PDP in the state” he noted.
According to him, President Jonathan benefited from the votes of Edo State, therefore he should not allow things to fall apart, because people like Chief Anenih do not have the interest of the country at heart.
“We in Edo State cannot run away from our land, but we have the responsibility to stop them.
The PDP candidate, Charles Airhievbere should be ready for one man, one vote. He must understand that votes and not bullets determine the winner in a democracy,” he added.
The governor disclosed, “I have written a letter to Prof. Jega who I believe is a gentleman and determined to conduct a fair and free election to inform and remind him that some INEC staff are working with Anenih to ensure that Jega does not conduct a free and fair election.
“I wrote to Prof. Jega that PDP wants to doctor the voters register by taking the names of voters away from the register and putting them somewhere else so that when they go to vote, their names will not be found in the register and this will cause confusion,” the governor noted.
Comrade Oshiomhole alleged that the ICT department of INEC in Benin City conspired with the ICT department in Abuja to falsify the voters register during the updating of the register to accommodate people who are 18 years old.
“Why will INEC deploy 472 Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines to the state when they will not need more than 18 registration points at the local government headquarters.
They want to aid and abet the PDP by changing Local governments to wards which is a departure to what obtains in the past. We do not believe they need to do it in the 192 wards , then why do they need 472 DDC machines,” he noted.
The Governor said that even if INEC were to do voters’ registration update in the 192 wards in the state, it won’t need more than 192 DDC machines instead of the 472 DDC machines it is deploying in the state.
The governor said, they plan to take the remaining 280 DDC machines to their godfathers at Uromi and other secret places where they intend to carry out illegal registration of voters, adding that, “we will not go to court, we will fight them eyeball to eyeball.”
While commending the vigilance of the youths who caught a man with a DDC machine, Comrade Oshiomhole said the suspect has confessed that he was directed by the PDP to take the machine to a secret location and that they are already doing registration of voters in Uromi.
Gunmen sack police station, steal arms, attack banks
*We repelled them – Police
By Albert Akpor and Simon Ebegbulem, Benin City
For some residents, Edo State, at the weekend, became a theatre of war. Some gunmen struck at a police station. There were conflicting accounts on the gunmen’s encounter with the police. While one account had it that the policemen, unable to withstand the gunmen’s firepower, took to their heels, the police said they repelled the attack.
The gunmen were said to have entered the armoury, took arms and attacked two generation banks. However, the robbery bid was reportedly foiled by members of a vigilance group who mobilised to stop the gunmen.
Scene of terror was Igarra in Akoko EdoLocal Government Area of Edo State. The incident happened on Friday night.
An account claimed the policemen at the station fled on sighting the gunmen numbering over ten with AK 47 rifles and dynamites, making it possible for the gunmen to gain entry into their armory and allegedly went away with three guns.
The gunmen,after attacking the police station, according to the account, stormed the two generation banks but met resistance from members of the vigilance group and youths in the area who mobilized to stop them from robbing the banks.
One of the gunmen was said to have sustained gun shot wounds from the securitymen attached to the bank.
Two members ofthe vigilance group, identified as Kehinde Julius and Eshovo Ukonga,also reportedly sustained gunshot wounds during the battle with the gunmen.
An eye witness narrated: “The gunmen came, threw dynamites at the police station and took guns from the armoury. Some of themproceeded to the banks while others stood along the road and wereshooting sporadically, but they could not gain access into the bankand one of them was shot.
“The otherssnatched a jeep with which they escaped and later dropped off thedriver along the way. But the one with gunshot wounds and another member of the gang escaped into the cave in the Igarra hills. Their blood stains were used to trail them into the cave and, in the process, they shot two of our boys (vigilance group). But they are still believed to be hiding in the cave while others have escaped”.
Another account said the armed gang, on arriving the area, divided themselves into two groups. While one group allegedly invaded the police station, the other went to one of the banks frantically trying to gain access into the banking hall. But a combined team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from Ibilo and Auchi rose to the challenge and engaged the gunmen in a shoot out. While the fierce exchange of fire was on, the gunmen were said to have been forced to abandon their plan to rob the banks and took to their heels.
Police sources said the operation may not be unconnected with the movement of huge sums of money from Benin and Auchi branch of one of the banks into the Igarra branch on Friday evening, adding that some staff of the bank must have knowledge of the robbery.
Edo State police commissioner, Olayinka Balogun, confirmed the gunmen attack but said the attackers did not gain entry into the armoury. “Yes they invaded the police station but they met resistance. Their plan was to attack the two banks located opposite each other, but they were also resisted there.
“We recovered three AK 47 rifles, a locally made explosive and two vehicles; aToyota Sienna and Camry. We suspect that two of them are hiding inthe cave. We saw their blood stained clothes, we are sure they arestill hiding in the cave. We are firing teargas into the cave tosmoke them out”, he said.
`It was a siege’
Also giving his own account of the incident, the transitionchairman of Akoko Edo LGA, Anslem Agbabi, described the gunmen’soperation as a siege on Igara.
“I called the Area Command and all of us were making efforts tostop them. I was the one that told the police to go and make a roadblock so that they will not escape because our vigilance group was at alert”, he told Sunday Vanguard, last night. The council boss went on: “When they arrived at the police station, they openedfire unexpectedly.
But the policemen at the bank opened fire on the robbers. There was serious exchange of fire at this point. One of the robbers fell down. They now ran to Ajegunle junction but, by that time, I had informed the DPO at Ibillo to mobilize his people. So when they got there, they opened fire and there was an exchange offire again because the police had blocked the road already . “Asthey were chasing them, the robbers stopped and transferred their menfrom their Toyota Camry to the jeep which they snatched.
As they were doing that, they discovered that another one died in the jeep. They passed through Lampese to Kogi. The other ones that could not enterthe vehicle ran into the cave. Igarra youths entered the bush this(yesterday) morning and saw their blood. Either two or three of the robbers should be in the cave now. We are still searching for them.The police tried in this operation even though they earlier attacked their station”.
Monday, May 14, 2012
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