N600m water plant collapses at test run

The overhead tank of a N539 million water treatment plant in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, collapsed yesterday during a test-run by the contractor. Water had been pumped into the tank for the first time when it keeled over and fell.

Ibrum Integrated Services Limited, which has N1.6 billion water project contracts in the state, was given six months from May, 2008 to complete the Lafia project with specifications to refurbish the old water works, provide two additional overhead tanks at the plants’ booster station along Shendam Road and NTA area, and to provide underground pipes through the metropolis to channel water to the various sections of Lafia.

But the project suffered serious hitches, with the completion period dragging on till yesterday, when the company’s engineers invited government officials to witness the test run at the booster station along Shendam Road.

The main tank, whose capacity was put at 3 million gallons, was filled to the brim in the test run, but its stands then began to wobble, made a screeching noise before pumping water to the various channels. Engineers and government supervisors who stood at the foot of the main tank had a premonition of impending disaster coming and they took to their heels, leaving behind some construction vehicles behind.

The stands then collapsed and the overhead tank came crashed down, ramming into construction equipment and sending water surging water into adjoining offices and all the way down the Shendam Road. Even though the booster station’s premises was hard hit, no one was hurt as the engineers and government officials had all scampered away. Nasarawa State Commissioner for Water Resources James Agule Kasse spoke to newsmen shortly after he led the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Timothy Anjide for an on-the-spot visit to the collapsed structure, thanking God that no lives were lost.

Kasse blamed “technical problems” for the tank’s collapse but told newsmen the management of the contractors was yet to report to Lafia to give reasons. He said, “The contractor is not around. We want to meet with the contractor first because the project is still under him, and is only being test run.”

The project was expected to be presented for commissioning soon.

EFCC advisory not for sinister motive - Waziri

EFCC boss Farida Waziri was recently is in the news over her organisation’s controversial advisory which lists out allegedly corrupt government officials. Weekly Trust spoke to her on that, as well as other issues. Excerpts:

Weekly Trust: What informed the release of the advisory even after it is obvious that the Supreme Court ruling in 2007 clearly said that the EFCC could not ban politicians from contesting election?


Farida Waziri: Let me make it crystal clear that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is not the Independent National Electoral Commission and its mandate does not extend to the issue of election. The so-called advisory is an interpretational fallacy by those who love to cry wolf where there is none. There is no list specially prepared by the EFCC to achieve any sinister motive. As a law enforcement agency, we keep records of all our prosecutions and convictions. This is obtainable on our website. The record has always been there. If a newspaper visits the website and publishes such a record for public consumption, both the newspaper and the EFCC have done nothing wrong. I really don’t understand why we are making an issue of a normal, routine issue like this.

The Supreme Court ruling has nothing to do with this issue because we have not made any statement of any kind to suggest a contravention or contempt of the highest court in the land. Even the Supreme Court has a record of its convictions in its registry. So, what are we talking about? There is hardly any agency or even private company today that does not keep a record of its activities on its website. So, why the hue and cry about EFCC maintaining a record of its activities on its website? Politicians and their agents know how to make a mountain out of a molehill because there is an agenda they want to pursue. The EFCC is not partisan and will never be. Our mandate is clear and we have no problem keeping to it.

WT: But the advisory is coming few weeks after EFCC said it will advise political parties on those to field for election…

Waziri: The two are not related, though the ambience may suggest so. The EFCC never set out to short-circuit the political process by hinting at any form of exclusion of politicians in the game they know too well. Democracy is about inclusion and a level-playing field for all. What we have is a record of investigation and prosecution activities and not any advisory list as you will want to tag it but it is beyond my control to determine what an organization or someone else does with information that is in the public domain.

It is not helpful to link two separate incidences all in a bid to draw some conclusions that may not follow from the premises. If the EFCC feels that political parties should take a decision on some accused persons standing trial in any court, the decision will not be made by us. Parties have their guidelines, internal modalities that can be employed to achieve any purpose they seek to achieve.

WT: There was also a reported secret meeting between the EFCC chairman and the PDP that also fueled the belief that the commission is acting the presidency script…

Waziri: There is no script anywhere. If there was a secret meeting, how come it was reported as you said? It was a normal interactive meeting, the kind of meeting you would expect between two institutions working together for the progress of the nation.

WT: Then on the visit of the EFCC to Rivers, Jigawa and Kwara states at the height of the zoning debate. Don’t you think that the people are justified to put one and two together to arrive at their conclusions having seen the EFCC act this way during the time of Nuhu Ribadu?

Waziri: The EFCC is always working. The timing of any of our visit to any state, institution or individual has nothing to do with the political mood of the nation. We are just doing our work.

WT: One of the controversial actions of Ribadu while in office has to do with his attempt in 2007 to stop politicians who had problems with former President Olusegun Obasanjo from contesting election. Why does the EFCC appear to be treading the same path?

Waziri: There is no controversy anywhere because the EFCC is not treading any mischievous path. Let me emphasize it here that the EFCC is not interested in the vocation of anyone having matters being looked into either at the investigative level or at prosecution level. We are not bothered whether a politician, banker, surveyor, journalist or hotelier has a matter we are working on. What we are interested in is the integrity of the work we are doing.

WT: What is your reaction to outbursts by politicians, some of who have tagged it ‘adversary list’ to poke fun at it and some even calling on you to resign…

Waziri: There is no trouble whatsoever with any politician because we are not on the same terrain. Well, you talked about outburst. Let it remain so. Should I resign just on the basis of an outburst? It is not the gesture you make to people that matters but the way it is interpreted. The EFCC’s gesture is clear: clean and honest people have no trouble with us.

WT: So you are saying the EFCC isn’t being used by the Presidency to hunt its enemies?

Waziri: And who are these enemies of the government? As much as I know, President Goodluck Jonathan is a President of every Nigerian.

WT: When you took over there were high expectation that you will chart a new course. Don’t you think that these political issues are unnecessarily making EFCC more controversial?

Waziri: Those who had high expectation that I would chart a new course have never been disappointed and they will never be. The truth is that there has been a paradigm shift in EFCC. The progress has been steady and consistent. A professional EFCC has emerged. A confident and globally-competitive law enforcement agency has been built.

WT: You once said that Nuhu Ribadu never gave a handover note to you except one sheet of paper. Now that he is back, has he come to do a proper handover?

Waziri: Thank God you know he is back. Why don’t you ask him if he has come to do that?

12-year-old kidnapped in Lagos, rescued in Sokoto

From all indications, kidnapping is becoming popular. Another thing is certain, that the traditional African style of life where people live as one family with their neighbors and in some cases, entrust the care of their children into their neighbors, may suffer. The case of 12-year-old Chizaram Christopher, a primary one pupil of Unity Primary School, Lagos, who was allegedly kidnapped in Lagos by a neighbor, Ndubuisi, who is now at large, taken to Onitsha in Anambra State and handed over to a stranger, Amidu Sula, who took the boy to Sokoto and detained him in a room, is enough testimony.

While Chizaram was detained in a house at Sokoto and fed with groundnuts, his captor Ndubuisi had gone back to Lagos from Onitsha where he met Chizaram’s aunty that the boy was staying with and decided to play the good neighbor type by helping aunty Dazie to negotiate on phone for the release of Chizaram.



The “good neighbor” Ndubuisi was able to agree with the “Kidnappers” of Chizaram on phone to accept N1.2 million from Aunty Dazie to release Chizaram. But Aunty Dazie who brought Chizaram from his parents in Imo state to stay with her before he was kidnapped, was only able to raise N1 million for the kidnappers . The kingpin of the kidnap gang, Ndubuisi - who had all through the act deceived Dazie as a good neighbor - insisted that the kidnappers were not ready to take anything less than N1.2 million. It was not however clear if Ndubusi had collected the available N1 million from Dazie in Lagos before the police in Sokoto burst the deal.

Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Abubakar Manko, who confirmed the report said Chizaram was locked up in a room. Chizaram managed to come out of the room but could not go out of the verandah because it was locked. CP Manko said when the boy’s cry was loud, some neighbors that could not help the situation reported to the police.

He said detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the command were detailed to keep vigil on the house and monitor the movements and activities of the alleged kidnappers while Chizaram was fed through the fence. When the three alleged kidnappers holding Chizaram hostage in Sokoto finally returned to the house around 10pm in the night, they were nabbed by the waiting cops.

The Taraba-born Amidu Sula who allegedly brought Chizaram from Onitsha to Sokoto said he is a licensed driver looking for work. He said his friend Ndubuisi who resides in Sokoto phoned him that he will get a job for him in Sokoto. “When we met in Onitsha, I saw him with this boy, Chizaram. Ndubuisi introduced Chizaram to me as his cousin and said he is going to live with him in Sokoto. He requested me to pay his transport fare to Sokoto but I told him I do not have money for that. Ndubuisi then told me to proceed with Chizaram to Sokoto while he will return back to Lagos and source for money. I complained to him that I have never been to Sokoto so I may not know my way. He phoned Onyebuchi Ochoba to go to the motor part in Sokoto and receive us on arrival. We met Onyebuchi waiting for us at the Sokoto motor park. He took us to Ebeneza Nkenwa’s place where we all lived before we were arrested. Yes, I used to go to Ndubusi’s place in Lagos where I saw Chizaram in their neighborhood but I was not a party to his kidnap.”

Speaking to Weekly Trust, Chizaram said he was returning from school when Ndubuisi met him on the way and told him to follow him to an undisclosed place, adding, “But Ndubuisi told me that he told my aunty that I will follow him to the place and she asked him to go and pick me from the school. When he said he has told my aunty that he is going with me, I agreed to follow him. I use to help Aunty Dozie sell things in the shop. “My parents live in the village. Aunty Dozie brought me from the village to live with her in Lagos. I do not know the name of the village. I do not also know the name of my state. Yes, I know Ndubuisi in Lagos. He lived in a house near my aunty’s house.”

CP Manko said detectives are on the trail of Ndubuisi while efforts are being made to link up with Dozie in Lagos and Chizaram’s parents in Imo with the hope of linking them back with the boy. He said the trio of Amidu, Onyebuchi and Ebeneze will be charged to court as soon as investigation into the matter is concluded while the hunt for Ndubuisi will continue.

Super-polygamist reveals: ‘Why I married 30 women’

Chief Ogbole Iseku is an octogenarian and a super-polygamist living at Sabon Gari in Doma town in Nasarawa State. In a chat with Weekly Trust, he explained the reasons behind his marriage to 30 women. Excerpts:

Weekly Trust: Can you give a brief insight into your life?


Chief Ogbole Iseku: My name is Ogbole Iseku. I was born and brought up in Doma town about 89 years ago and I am the traditional title holder of Ogbulaya, which is one of the most highly esteemed titles in Doma.

I am married to 30 women and God Almighty has blessed us with numerous children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

WT: Is that why you were crowned as the ‘king of women’?

Ogbole: That is not the reason. You know, I hail from the royal family and I am entitled to inherit the throne of Andoma na Doma (Emir of Doma). Despite not being the Emir now, I am not barred from holding other traditional titles. My first title is Ose-Gayinya, meaning ‘king of women.’ This is because in the olden days, any girl who was due to be married within Doma would be brought to me, for me to bless her. This is the origin of my traditional title of Sarkin Mata (king of women). And from there my status was upgraded to my present title as the third in command in Doma Kingdom.

WT: What are the reasons behind your marriage to 30 women?

Ogbole: First, I am married to numerous women because of the frequent death of my children. Second, to get helping hands on my farmland. Right from the beginning, I have been a farmer and businessman.

WT: Where do you settle with your wives?

Ogbole: As I am talking to you now, I live with my nine wives in this house, the remaining reside at Unguwar Gasa and Unguwar Masallaci and Unguwar Mahauta; all these are residential areas in Doma town.

To be candid, I do not know the number of my children, because some of my wives still give birth. Even the one I am holding in my hand is my child. But if you can be patient enough, I can call my wives one by one, so that each can tell you the number of her children.

WT: Have you ever regretted marrying them?

Ogbole: To be sincere, I did once, but I have never contemplated divorcing any of them. What made me regret marrying them once was the day I came back from the farm and found them fighting each other. As I made effort to settle the dispute they all turned against me, every one of them thinking that I would be on the other side.

I therefore left my house for my grains shop at Doma market, until the situation was calm before I returned home.

WT: Would you want your children to become polygamists like you?

Ogbole: I don’t want any of my children or our teeming youth to imitate my marriage lifestyle, even though we are living peacefully. My reason is that among my children there are both Muslims and non-Muslims. But as for me, I am a traditionalist. By and large, as I told you earlier, I am a royalist. And God has blessed me with some worldly riches. So, if care is not taken, as soon as I am dead, my children would be disunited in an attempt to outdo one another to get hold of my traditional title or the distribution of my estates among themselves. I hope this will not happen.

Abuja bomb blast victims: ‘We’ve been abandoned’ - My sight is almost gone – Victim

Almost a month after the Independence Day bombings, activities have picked up at the site of the blasts while the victims pick up the pieces of their lives. Weekly Trust revisits the Ground Zero of sorts.



Life is returning to the site of the October 1st bomb blast. If you are a first-time visitor to Abuja you may not know that anything happened, unless you are told. But most workers around the area still suffer from memories of the blast. They find it difficult to talk to people they don’t know. They suspect strangers to be covert security agents. When Weekly Trust approached a roadside phone operator who identified himself as Joe, he said business is gradually returning to normal. “We thank God that we are alive but business has not picked up like before. The thing is that I don’t answer strangers now, due to the trauma I’m suffering.”


An agent of the State Security Service (SSS) said they are still monitoring activities there. “We don’t allow cars to be parked around the area for more than an hour. If a car is parked more than an hour, we will tow it away after a thorough search.”A civil servant who agreed to speak with Weekly Trust on condition of anonymity said after the initial apprehension, they have put the incident behind them. “Our offices are here, so we don’t have a choice. We know the place is now safe, but once in a while we do have the fear that something might happen again. But as Muslims our life is in the hands of Allah.”

Haruna Hassan, a mobile police officer, who was a victim of the bombings, told Weekly Trust he has lost his sight.

“I was discharged from the hospital on the 12th of October, and even then some of us without undergoing the various operations we were meant to undergo. I was referred to the National Eye Centre in Kaduna and from there they referred me back to St. Mary’s in Gwagwalada and I have been the one footing all the bills for the trips and treatment. The only assistance that was given to us was from the First Lady when she paid a visit and gave us each the sum of N100,000. The doctors at Gwagwalada say my eyes have been damaged to an extent and they put me on some drugs and gave me an appointment the 1st of November, when the fate of my sight will be decided,” Hassan said, unable to control himself and breaking down tears. “We have been abandoned,” he sobbed.

On why he was discharged when he was yet to receive full treatment, Hassan said: “We were all told to leave on the 12th and that if we stay further than that, then we are going to pay our bills by ourselves. Most of us do not have any money and the money the First Lady gave us has been used up feeding. While we were on admission, we were not being fed despite the fact that we were said to be VIP patients. The only people I can really thank and show appreciation to are my colleagues in the office as they put together the sum of N30,000 for me. But for how long will they keep contributing for me? They too have their issues to deal with. I was only serving my country when this unfortunate incident occurred and this is all I get for serving my country.”

Abubakar Agie, an Assistant Vehicle Inspection Officer, had a similar tale to tell as he said he was also told that admission has expired and they were discharged on the 12th of October. “The only assistance was the money the First Lady gave each of us along with the provisions, flasks and a wrapper. Besides that, we got nothing else from the government. I still have hearing difficulties and there is always a whirring, echoing sound in my head that deprives me of sleep. When I was discharged, drugs were prescribed for me but where is the money to buy them? They are very expensive and the money we had has been used up in feeding. In my case, we were two who used my money as John Joshua was not on admission when the First Lady gave the cash donation, so I had no option than to share mine with him.”

“A lot was budgeted for and lots of people made promises for our treatment but till today we know little or nothing as we have been left to our fate,” lamented Abubakar Agie.

Mayowa Adeniran, an undergraduate, said his case is hopeless. “I was struggling to make ends meet before this predicament. Now I can say I have to go begging. My health is still a problem as I have no money. The money the First Lady gave me was exhausted on feeding and other things. They call the place of the blast Ground Zero, but if you ask me I am the real Ground Zero because I have nowhere to run or turn to for help. I’m devastated,” he said.

Corporal John Joshua says he was not fortunate to get any cash donation because after he was given first aid, the price of admission and treatment scared him away and he had no choice but to return home. Joshua said: “It was while at home, in pain, that the news of the federal government covering the admission and treatment of victims of the blast came and I went back to the hospital and I was admitted. But unfortunately I was not lucky as the First Lady had already come and gone. All hope was not lost though as I had a Good Samaritan amongst us that shared his donation with me. As for my health, I still have waist pains as you know the force of the blast took me up and brought me down violently. But as I said -- and will keep saying -- I take solace that I was able to save the life of innocent kids and the trauma their families will have been in today. That I was able to avert that consoles me. My reward is somewhere coming to me, if not from the government, then by the Almighty.”

Lots of promises were made after the blasts to the victims, only turning out to be empty promises. “The question on the lips of many is when will government live up to expectations of citizens? The least they can do is give something qualitative to these heroes, at least for risking their lives and saving innocent lives,” lamented a tearful Mrs. Amaka Ike.

How Okah directed blasts, by SA police

The detained 'leader' of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta [MEND] Mr. Henry Okah instructed his accomplices to purchase in Lagos the two vehicles that were subsequently used for the detonation of two vehicle-improvised explosive devices in Abuja on October 1, a South African court was told yesterday.
The Republic of South Africa had reopened its case against Okah early yesterday following a ruling by the Presiding Magistrate in the case, Hein Louw, who said he needed “something substantial” before he could come to a decision concerning Mr. Okah’s bail application.

Consequently, prosecution lawyer Shaun Abrahams read a supplementary affidavit signed by the Police Services Officer in charge of the investigation, Lt Col Noel Graeme Zeeman.

In the affidavit, Zeeman said Okah had been in contact with the people who had detonated the twin car bombs in Nigeria.

“Prior to the detonation of the two improvised explosive devices on 1 October in Abuja, two vehicles, namely a Honda and a Mazda 626, were purchased in Lagos on the instruction of the accused, by persons complicit in the crime,” Abrahams said.

The cars were loaded with dynamite and parked on a road near a prominent hotel in Abuja, where Independence Day celebrations were taking place. Twelve people were killed and 36 others injured in the explosions.

According to the affidavit, the explosions took place under the supervision of Chima Orlu, who is said to have acted on the instructions of Okah. Orlu’s telephone records show that he had been in contact with Okah on numerous occasions leading up to October 1. Okah is said to have sent text messages to Orlu on 30 September 2010 at 12h 38:11pm, and on October 1 at 6h 02:39am, 7h 40: 20am, 7h 41:22am and at 7h 41:35 am.

Policeman Zeeman’s statement also said, “Of greater significance is that Mr. Orlu sent an SMS to Mr. Okah at precisely 10h 58:59 am on 1 October, 13h 13:01am and 13h 29:59pm on the same day.” Orlu allegedly sent an SMS reading: “Done, tell them to leave”, which was said to have been forwarded to Okah on the day of the October 1 attacks.

Okah and his lawyer Rudi Krause appeared shocked when State prosecutor Shaun Abrahams produced an affidavit alleging that Okah had instructed his alleged co-conspirators to buy the two cars used in the bombings. Krause asked the State to supply him with copies of cell phone records used as evidence to link the 45-year-old father of four to the Independence Day car bombs.

“The defence wants access to the cell phone records and text messages,” Krause submitted to magistrate Hein Louw. He applied to the court to allow him to get copies of the records that the prosecution provided as evidence that Okah was the “mastermind” of the October 1 attacks.

This follows Wednesday’s submissions by Krause, challenging the State to produce a “shred of evidence” linking the former marine engineer to the blast. Okah maintained that he was innocent and denied having had contact with Orlu.

“The evidence presented by the State is vague and lacks particularity,” Okah declared in a responding affidavit submitted to the court. He alleged that the evidence might have been fabricated by either the Nigerian government or their South African counterparts.

Abrahams opposed this application, saying it would be allowing Okah’s lawyers to “peek over the investigation”. The State also alleged that Okah’s brother, arrested in Abuja on Saturday, was also involved in the blast.

It also alleged that Okah, under the alias Jomo Gbomo, was the sender of an email warning about the attacks. The State said it had found notes in his diary on high calibre weapons, which matched those listed in quotation confiscated from his home in Mondeor, south of Johannesburg on October 2.

A letter in which Okah’s wife, Azuka Okah, refers to him as the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta was also circumstantial evidence that he was still an active commander of the militia group. However the defence denied that Azuka Okah was the author of the letter and that she had downloaded it on the internet.

A self-confessed war expert, Okah was being investigated for money laundering and weapons proliferation by South African police. Okah was also being investigated by the Home Affairs Department for fraud relating to his application for South African citizenship. Abrahams said that in his application for residency in the country, Okah had given the department fraudulent documents.

The bail hearing was then adjourned until today. The VOA correspondent in Johannesburg said, “This bail hearing, which is now…a week long, is basically because Mr. Okah has some very good lawyers, who are questioning the prosecution on everything.  The prosecution wants to deny bail, saying that he could run away, leave the country and also could intimidate possible witnesses.”

“Henry Okah is a successful businessman.  He owns a security company in Johannesburg.  (He) came here, appealed for asylum, was granted asylum on the basis of his ties to the Niger Delta and did eventually obtain citizenship.” However, “The (South African) Department of Home Affairs says it’s investigating this, saying he possibly used fraudulent documents to obtain this citizenship.”

Meanwhile, in Abuja, Henry Okah’s brother Charles Okah and four other suspects were charged to court yesterday, although newsmen and even their defence lawyer were shut out of the court for security reasons.

Among the suspects in court was Charles Okah’s son Boloebi. Men of the State Security Service threw a security cordon around the court at Wuse Zone 6 and did not allow anyone to get near the suspects.

Charles Okah’s lawyer Ogheneovo Otemu told the BBC that “The accused persons were arraigned before the court and they were not allowed to be represented by counsels of their choice, which is a very serious constitutional breach.” He said the charge sheet showed they are being accused of engaging in criminal conspiracy to commit a felony and a crime bordering on murder - punishable by life imprisonment.

After a 15-minute hearing, the suspects emerged from the courtroom, closely guarded by security agents, he says,

They were not allowed to speak to anyone and they were hurriedly bundled back into the vehicles and driven away. The men are due back in court on 24 November.

Jonathan replies Ciroma over zoning

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization yesterday replied the former Finance Minister and leader of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, Malam Adamu Ciroma, over his latest remarks on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning arrangement.
Ciroma had on Wedneday while speaking during an interview with the Hausa service of Voice of America (VOA) said that the North would use every legal and democratic means to scuttle the unjust ambition of the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan to put aside the zoning formula at the expense of the North.

Jonathan, who reacted in a statement through the Director, Media and Publicity for the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization, Sully Abu, advised Mallam Ciroma not to tread the path that could create division And promote disunity among Nigerians as an elder statesman, a party grandee and a man to whom the country has given a lot.

The statement signed by Abu said Ciroma’s ‘insistence flies in the face of overwhelming evidence of the yearning of all Nigerians’ who have seen ‘change in the way the country is governed especially in their material condition’.

“No one should delude himself that he is speaking for the North or any other part of the country for that matter unless they are willing to go along with the people’s yearning for change, fundamental change,” it added.

The statement titled ‘Why Mallam Adamu Ciroma should not play God’ further read, “With regards to the PDP’s zoning formular;  the party, noting the circumstances of President Jonathan’s ascension to the Presidency and his legitimate ambition, has decided that he is entitled to contest just as other aspirants. Any loyal party man should have the discipline to abide by the decision of the party.

“The Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization recognizes the last ditch ambition of some aspirants for whom 2011 represents a last chance to fulfill their dream. But that desperation should not be equated with the interest of our people.

“It is Almighty God speaking through the people who will determine the future of Nigeria and President Jonathan and not the arrogant few who seek to play God.”

... Appoints Sultan, Oritsejafor permanent heads of Muslim, Christian pilgrims

Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar

Henceforth, the spiritual head of Muslims in the country and  the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor will be permanent heads of Nigerian pilgrims to Hajj in Saudi Arabia and Israel. However, in the event the Sultan or the CAN President is unable to lead the Federal Government’s delegation on the pilgrimages, the Sultan or Oritsajefor would have the right to nominate whoever they  wish to lead the pilgrims, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.

Jonathan , who stated this yesterday while commissioning the newly acquired head office of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) in Abuja, said the  decision to make the appointments permanent was to institutionalise the headship of FG’s delegation to the holy lands and give room for proper record keeping.

This, according to him, is a clear departure from the practise in the past when the President at will could appoint anybody to be the Amirul Hajj or head of Christian delegation.

“We have resolved that head of Federal Government delegation to Israel and Rome will henceforth be the President of CAN. Now, we want to make it permanent and we are doing the same thing for hajj. The spiritual head of the Muslim who is the Sultan of Sokoto will continue to be the Amirul Hajj. Any year he is not able to go, he will recommend the head. We want to institutionalise it so that we can have proper record,” Jonathan said.

The government also  yesterday announced the  appointment of Oritsejafor as the head of the Federal Government’s delegation to Israel and Rome for 2010 pilgrimage.

Jonathan called on the leadership of NCPC to depend less on government to sponsor pilgrims to Israel, saying that they should device means of generating funds to sponsor the less privileged to the holy lands.

President Jonathan who was presented with an award for his support by the chairman of the NCPC, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh lauded six state governors who also received awards for their support.

The governors who received awards were Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, Danjuma Goje of Gombe State, Sulivan Chime of Enugu State, Rotimi Amaehi of Rivers State, Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Mr John Kennedy Opara expressed appreciation to PresidentJonathan who as NCPC supervising boss when he was vice president, stood by the commission when it took off as it did not inherit neither structure nor vehicles from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking on behalf of the award recipients, Governor Danjuma lauded the Christian community for always recognising his efforts at ensuring peaceful co-existence among Christians and Muslims in his state.

He assured the NCPC that he would continue to sponsor Christians from his state on Holy pilgrimage to Israel.

Present at the occasion were the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alloysius Katsina-Alu, CAN President, Oritsejafor and ministers.

Senate c’ttee extends polls to April

David Mark, Senate President

The Senate Constitution Review Committee (SCRC) yesterday recommended to the full Senate a time extension for the conduct of the 2011 general elections up to the end of April.
Report of the panel laid on the Senate table by Deputy Senate Majority Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) provides that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) now has up to April 30, 2011 to conduct the elections.

The report has altered the provisions of Sections 76, 116, 132 and 178 to provide for INEC to conduct elections for various elective offices “Not be earlier than one hundred and fifty days and not later than thirty days” before the expiration of the current term in office.

The SCRC said it provided for a period of 120 days (four months) within which elections can be conducted “To enable INEC conduct election earlier in the future.”

The new provision now allows INEC to conduct general elections within the beginning of January and the end of April and to maintain the May 29 handover date.

SCRC has also recommended the alteration of Section 233 (2) of the Constitution “To provide for appeals to the Supreme Court from the Court of Appeal in gubernatorial election petitions and related matters.”

A new clause added to the Section provides that the “Supreme Court shall have the jurisdiction, to the exclusion of any other court of law in Nigeria to hear and determine appeals from the Court of Appeal;

“(iv) whether any person has been validly elected to the office of Governor or deputy Governor under this Constitution.”

The Supreme Court is to deliver judgment of governorship appeals within 60 days. The report provides that “An appeal from a decision of an election tribunal or Court of Appeal in an election matter shall be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of the delivery of judgment of the tribunal or court.”

This is “to enable the Supreme Court deliver judgment on Governorship election petition appeal within 60 days.”

Disputes from Governorship elections are to originate from Governorship Election Tribunal “Which shall, to the exclusion of any court or tribunal, have the original jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions as to whether any person has been validly elected to the office of Governor or deputy Governor of a state.”

The report also recommended that the “Quorum of an election tribunal established under this section shall be the chairman and one other member.”

Senate however failed to vote on the alterations to the Constitution as earlier announced by the Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North).

When asked why the voting was not taken yesterday, a Senator told Daily Trust that the voting was rescheduled for Tuesday to enable senators study the report in order to take informed stands on the recommendations

Meanwhile, the Constitution amendment bill scaled second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday.

Speaking after taking second reading of the bill, Deputy Speaker Usman Bayero Nafada disclosed that the House Committee on Review of the Constitution will Monday hold public hearings to gather inputs from stakeholders.

According to him, “The report of the committee will be laid on Tuesday. Members should please come to the chamber on Wednesday to enable us have the 2/3 majority needed to effect the alteration because we have to get 240 members in attendance.”

The House also said it will not continue with consideration of the Electoral Act 2010 amendment bill that was thrown out in the Senate as it would amount to time wastage.

House Minority Leader Rep Mohammed Ali Ndume (ANPP, Borno) told Daily Trust that even though there is a clause in the Electoral Act which stipulates the time for election into elective offices, provisions of the constitution will naturally override the Act when amended.

Senate President says:No shift from May 29

Senate President David Mark

No amendment will be made to the 1999 Constitution or to the Electoral Act that will change the May 29, 2011 handover date for all elective office holders, Senate President David Mark said in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking at a one day public hearing on the amendment to the 1999 Constitution and the 1999 Constitution (First alteration) bill, Mark said May 29 must remain sacrosanct and cannot be changed.

He said, “I believe that on May 29 we stand. It is not a day that we are going to change. We are all working towards making sure that whatever can be done should be done within that time limit. That in my candid opinion is the timeline that is sacrosanct, we cannot get out of it, we must make sure that we conduct an election before that time.”

Mark however expressed worry with the proposed amendment which reduces the timeline for conduct of elections before tenure expiration, saying “When in the former amendment we gave not earlier than 150 and not later than 120 days, it was based on the Uwais report. We are suggesting, based on the recommendation in this new one, I think 90 days and 30 days. The danger at that let me say it, we must not miss the 30 days because if we do and there is a re-run, these are all the issues that you are going to discuss. We would not allow anything that would extend May 29.

“So that is where I have my own personal worries, as a person, as a participant, as a Nigerian and as a politician. But I am sure within this timeline now that we have given, because this suggestion is out of serious discussion with INEC and we should be able to conduct free, fair and credible elections within that time limit.”

Mark denied any move by the National Assembly to use the amendment process to bargain for political advantage, saying “We have no ulterior motive whatsoever, because there is general public perception and insinuation that the National Assembly members have ulterior motives in the constitutional amendment. We don’t have.”

In his presentation, National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu suggested that rather than alter the section of the Constitution that deals with the timeline, a transitional clause should be introduced to delay its implementation.

He said, “The proposal to substitute the words ‘One hundred and fifty days and not later than one hundred and twenty days before’ in Section 5, paragraph b, 10, paragraph b, 11 and 17 and paragraph b with the words ‘ninety days and not later than thirty days before’ should be made transitional to be effective only for the 2011 general elections.

“Nigerians desire that all elections should be conducted within a period and enough time given for all election petitions to be heard and disposed of before inauguration. It is important that we respect the wishes of our people.”

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said the committee is also at an advanced stage of considering the Electoral Act Amendment bill “to bring it in line with the proposed amendments to the Constitution.”

The National Assembly is expected to conclude amendments to enabling laws to allow INEC begin proper preparation to conduct general elections by April 2011.

Yobe begins airlift of hajj pilgrims

Hajj Pilgrims

The first batch of pilgrims for the 2010 Muslim pilgrimage from Yobe State have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia, the Maiduguri Zonal Coordinator of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), comprising Borno and Yobe States, Umar Mohammed Kalgo has said.

Kalgo who confirmed the commencement of airlift to our correspondent yesterday, said 288 pilgrims took off early yesterday from the Maiduguri International Airport.

He said the second flight, which was expected to take off today around 7am would convey additional 300 pilgrims from Yobe, leaving be-hind 1,709 pilgrims out of the total of 2,297 pilgrims from Yobe who would be undertaking this year’s pilgrimage who are expected to be airlifted in 10 batches.

Officials of Medview Airlines, this year’s carrier for Yobe, said they were not expecting any hitches as an additional airplane was on ground for the airlift.

Daily Trust learnt that airlift of pilgrims from Borno is scheduled to commence on October 26, 2010 by Max Airline.

‘9 oil wells’ award to Bayelsa illegal

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan acted illegally by granting a special concession to his native Bayelsa State to earn more from 13 percent derivation enjoyed by mineral producing states, sources in the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) told Daily Trust yesterday.

“What the President did was wrong and unconstitutional because before any concession can be granted, you need to amend the On-shore/Off-shore Dichotomy Abrogation Act 2004 and it is only the National Assembly that can do that,” a source in RMAFC told Daily Trust.

“By implication, the concession gives Bayelsa 6 percent and this will deprive some non-oil producing states of revenue,” another source said.

On August 31, a Presidential concession on derivation was granted to Bayelsa to earn more oil revenue following a petition to the President by the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva on February 16, alleging denial of revenue to his state.

Analysts said such move was a breach of the derivation principle by President Goodluck which will make Bayelsa the richest oil state in the country.

The concession allows Bayelsa to receive extra derivation revenue for offshore on the nine oil wells located beyond the 200-metre isobaths on grounds of ecological damage to the state from the operation of those oil wells.

The concession was granted because of “the environmental impact of the activities of oil exploitation as well as the security implications borne by the operations of the exploration companies (operating the nine oil wells) deal devastating effect on Bayelsa State.”

Based on the concession and the revised 13 per cent derivation indices for July, Bayelsa State is ahead of others with 15,995,773 bbls. It is followed by Rivers State (13,317,840 bbls), Akwa Ibom State (12,796,954 bbls) and Delta (11,163,493 bbls).

Akwa Ibom had the highest before the concession and subsequent revision of the volume of oil production to each state. This was followed by Rivers State, 12,636,795 bbls; Delta State, 11,163,493 and Bayelsa State, 10,313,368 bbls.

An oil industry source told Daily Trust that such concession could trigger a spate of court actions and constitutional crisis. He said the exclusive concession to Bayelsa State to enable it to earn more derivation revenue is in breach of the Act of the National Assembly that abrogated the offshore-onshore dichotomy in the application of the 13 per cent derivation principle.

He said this could lead to agitation and court action by other states such as Lagos which also have oil wells located beyond the 200-metre isobaths in waters within their boundaries.

If the concession is implemented, net revenue that would be available to the Federation Account for distribution to the three tiers of governments would be reduced.

Revenues from oil wells outside the statutorily allowed 200-metre isobaths did not form part of derivation calculation in the law that ended the onshore-offshore dichotomy. Such revenues were pooled and shared to all the federating units based on the prescribed revenue formula.

Okah talks of fight in diary, court told

A diary entry by suspected Nigerian bombing conspirator Henry Okah, made about two weeks before deadly blasts in the capital Abuja, talked about staging “a fight to the finish”, a Johannesburg court heard yesterday.

Okah, residing in South Africa and charged with conspiracy and terrorism over twin car bombings in Nigeria that killed at least 10, denied any links to the October 1 blasts. He took the stand at a bail hearing that entered its third day.

“We will fight to the finish,” he wrote in his diary on September 19. Okah acknowledged the diaries were his and he made the entry but said it had nothing to do with his involvement in the armed conflict in the Niger Delta.

South African prosecutors and police said Okah was the mastermind behind the bombings in Nigeria, which occurred during celebrations of 50 years of independence. South African authorities seized the diaries and invoices for the purchases of large amounts of arms when they raided Okah’s home in Johannesburg at around the time of the blasts.

“Your purpose in writing this down is to give guidance and assistance to the militants,” prosecutor Shaun Abrahams said.

Okah, suspected leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), was arrested at his home in South Africa shortly after the blasts.

“I am not a fighter,” he told the court.

He described himself as a nothing more than a well-connected and interested observer who was expressing his shared concern for the people of the Delta when he made the diary entries.

“I hear of them (military attacks) after the fact. When something in the Niger Delta happens, I get calls.”

The attacks were claimed by MEND. Security experts believe Okah -- who accepted a government amnesty last year after gun-running and treason charges against him were dropped -- was at one time the brains behind MEND. Okah said he had become a target of the Nigerian government because of his connections and they are trying to deflect blame on to him for the deaths.

Okah’s lawyer Rudi Krause told Reuters that state prosecutors had yet to produce evidence linking Okah to the bombings.

Meanwhile, Okah’s brother, Charles, was arrested in connection to the Friday threats by MEND of an attack in Abuja.

Charles was arrested along with four others – Okah’s son, Boloebi, 23, his son’s friend, Sola Ladoja, a house aide and a friend – his wife, Angela Uchechi Okah, said.

Jonathan:Don’t abuse clause on impeachment

The impeachment clause in the Constitution of the country was not inserted there with the intention that it be abused, President Goodluck Jonathan said in Abuja yesterday. He spoke at the State House when 27 state Houses of Assembly speakers paid him a visit to condole with him on the October 1 bomb blasts.

Only last week, the Northern Political Leaders Forum [NPLF] led by former Finance Minister Malam Adamu Ciroma called for Jonathan’s impeachment if he did not resign immediately. NPLF made the call following a claim by MEND leader Henry Okah that a presidential aide phoned him and asked that the Niger Delta militant group retract its owning up for the Abuja bomb blast so that Northerners opposed to the president’s 2011 ambition could be blamed instead.

Addressing the speakers yesterday, Jonathan said the frequent impeachment of speakers across the country shows that the country is not politically stable. He said until the impeachment mindset is reduced, the country might not be stable.

He said not too long ago, it was almost a weekly affair to hear that a speaker had been impeached, adding that the fact that impeachment clause is in the constitution does not mean it should be toyed with.

He said, “There was a time that it was almost like an epidemic. Every day, every week and every month you heard one or the other speaker being impeached.” He said until this story of impeachment is drastically reduced to the barest minimum, the nation would never stabilize politically.

He also said “the provision in the constitution that yes, he the president, the vice president, governor, deputy, the speaker and the deputy speaker could be impeached, is not to be abused.

“The idea of every day a speaker is being impeached shows that we are not stable politically. A nation that is stable politically need not carry out impeachment every day.”

He said it is only when there is stability in the polity that the country will realise its economic potentials and called on the lawmakers to support the Federal Government in that direction.

Earlier, leader of the group and the Chairman of Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly Istefanus Haruna Gbana said the group was at the Villa to condole with the President on the loss of lives in the Abuja explosion and to congratulate him on the successful golden jubilee anniversary.

Okah: FG yet to give evidence to S/Africa – Falana

The Federal Government has yet to supply any evidence in the ongoing trial of former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, in connection with the October 1 Independence Anniversary celebration bomb blasts in Abuja.

Okah’s counsel, Femi Falana, said this yesterday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting with the leadership of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He said he had accordingly advised Okah to face his trial in South Africa and not to engage in further argumentation with those who are looking for excuses to justify their incompetence.
Linking no response from Nigerian government to the requests by South Africa to the unorganized nature of Nigerian security network, Falana said it was unthinkable that Nigeria’s security operatives got wind of the impending blasts through intelligence reports from Britain and America and yet could not do anything to prevent it. He said: “The South African government is asking Nigeria to bring evidence, you asked us to search the man’s house, we searched his house two days before the incident happened; you asked us to charge him, we have charged him, bring the evidence. You don’t condemn people on the pages of newspapers and you guys (journalists) can also help them.

“The president says he knows the people, ask him to name them; he says it was not done by MEND, ask the president who did it?”

Falana added: “From what the president disclosed two days ago, in recent times, we have these bomb incidents in Bayelsa, in Rivers, Edo, Delta and he said publicly that no investigation was carried out.

Meanwhile, Falana has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and unravel the alleged involvement of past president in the illegal withdrawal of the sum of N1.5 trillion from the coffers of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Falana’s position was sequel to the allegation raised by the management of NNPC at a public hearing organized by the Senate recently.

He also raised alarm over Federal Government’s arbitrary withdrawal of money from Excess Crude Account which he claimed has depleted to $30 billion from the over $45 billion left after the exit of the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Adamawa, Cross River govs join suits against INEC

Governors of Adamawa and Cross-River states yesterday joined three others to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct governorship elections in their states before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Governors Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Liyel Imoke of Cross River joined their counterparts – Ibrahim Idris of Kogi, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, and Timiprieye Sylva of Bayelsa – who are already challenging the tenure dispute before the court in a suit seeking to stop the electoral body from conducting governorship election in their state in 2011.

Justice Adamu Bello, while consolidating the suits filed by all the governors who had their elections nullified and re-elected at one time or another, said the matter will be given accelerated hearing.

Justice Bello further gave parties in the suit 14 days within which to file and exchange briefs of argument and adjourned till November 3, 2010 for adoption of briefs of argument by parties involved in the matter.

The governors are asking the court to stop the Peoples Democratic Party PDP from conducting any primaries for the governorship elections in their states.

Governor Idris, in an originating summons, submitted that since he was elected to the office of Governor of Kogi State in a fresh election conducted by INEC and took Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on 5th April, 2008, there would be no room for election until 2012. He cited the provision of Section 180 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for four-year tenure of office for a governor from the day he took the Oath of office and Oath of Allegiance.

Idris wants the court to declare that his tenure would run until April 5, 2012 and that INEC was incompetent to abridge his four year tenure by conducting any election into the office while his tenure subsists.

Mutallab ‘not radicalized at UK University’

Umar Faruk Mutallab, accused of trying to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner was not radicalised during his days as a student in Britain, a report on Friday said, challenging suggestions he was recruited on campus.

Earlier in September, Nigeria and Saudi-based cleric, Dr. Ahmed Gumi who has counseled Mutallab against radical Islam told Weekly Trust that he tried to dissuade him from going to Yemen, the country where Mutallab is believed to have come in contact with al Qaeda, the masterminds of the botched Christmas Day bombing attempt when he migrated there to acquire religious knowledge.

Gumi said: “It was just unfortunate that the chap got misguided by extremist groups.”

The attack on Christmas Day 2009 stirred fears that a new generation of UK militants had emerged through private networks and campus debating societies rather than high-profile mosques.

The study by a panel established by University College London (UCL) found that conditions at the university were not to blame for the radicalisation of former student Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, charged with trying to down a flight from Amsterdam as it approached Detroit.

Rshad al-Alimi, Yemen’s Deputy Prime Minister for Defence and Security, said on January 7 Abdulmutallab had been recruited by al Qaeda in Britain, where he studied from 2005-08 at UCL and became president of the student Islamic Society.

And media reports suggested British security services had known three years earlier that he had been “reaching out” to extremists and had passed a file to their U.S. counterparts on Abdulmutallab’s activities while he was a student at UCL.

However the review by the panel, made of figures from outside UCL whom the university described as independent, said:

“In the light of the investigations it has carried out, the panel concludes that there is no evidence to suggest either that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalised while a student at UCL or that conditions at UCL during that time or subsequently are conducive to the radicalisation of students.”

EFCC seals ex-Gov Fayose’s house in Ekiti

EFCC BOSS

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday sealed off the country home of former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, in Afao Ekiti in furtherance of efforts to ensure full compliance with a subsisting court order on the interim forfeiture of his assets earlier obtained by the anti-graft agency.

The commission had last Wednesday September 29, 2010 sealed off two mansions belonging to the embattled former governor in choice areas of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.  Daily Trust learnt that a team of EFCC operatives sealed off Fayose’s mansion located at Olorunfemi Esan Street, Afao Ekiti at about 2.20 pm yesterday.

Okah: Jonathan wants to blame North

Henry Okah

A major twist was added yesterday to the complicated story of last Friday’s Abuja bomb blasts when the exiled leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) Mr. Henry Okah told Al Jazeera Television that aides of President Goodluck Jonathan asked him to get MEND to retract its claim of responsibility for the bombings.

 Okah, who has been charged to court in South Africa for alleged complicity in the blasts, said the Federal Government wanted MEND to retract its claim so it could blame the incident on presidential aspirants from Northern Nigeria who are opposed to Jonathan’s desire for election in 2011.

President Jonathan’s spokesman Ima Niboro responded to Okah’s allegation yesterday, describing it as “an outright lie.” Niboro also challenged Okah to name the presidential aide that spoke to him.

Speaking exclusively to Aljazeera from his prison cell, Okah said, “On Saturday morning, just a day after the attack, a very close associate of President Jonathan called me and explained to me that there had been a bombing in Nigeria and that President Jonathan wanted me to reach out to the group, MEND, and get them to retract the earlier statement they had issued claiming the attacks.

“They wanted to blame the attacks on Northerners who are trying to fight against him [Jonathan] to come back as president and if this was done, I was not going to have any problems with the South African government. I declined to do this and few hours later I was arrested. It was based on their belief that I was going to do that President Jonathan issued a statement claiming that MEND didn’t carry out the attack because they were expecting a kind of retraction from the group.”

Okah said the president’s men don’t want it to seem as if Jonathan does not have the support of his people and that the attack is going to be a huge setback to his presidential ambition. “For

months now they have been lying to everybody that everybody is so pleased with Jonathan, that he is going to bring peace to the region, which is entirely false. This attack now was actually going to be a great smear on his aspiration. They just needed the group to retract that statement which was why I was contacted. But I declined to make any such move.”

He said, “You don’t just give people an amnesty and ask them to forget about the reason why they are fighting. Every one of us is fighting for something and if what we are fighting for is not addressed, it ushers problem in the area. You understand. It is not about Jonathan being president or about an amnesty being given. I mean, why will you steal my land and you give me an amnesty and then you expect me not to continue fighting you? Why would that happen?”

Okah said “With Yar’adua it was much better. He had a good understanding of the problem. And regardless of the fact that he was from the North, he was making good attempt at addressing these problems. But with Jonathan it is entirely a different story. He doesn’t know what the problems are and is also being teleguided by other people, you know, who are giving him very bad advice.”

Asked what he thought will happen to him now that he is being arraigned, Okah said, “I don’t care, I really couldn’t care. But one thing I tell you for sure, is just like I was able to talk to you, it only shows that South Africa is not like Nigeria. In Nigeria I was held for one year and four months in solitary confinement. I didn’t kill anybody, I had no books, no newspapers, no TV, no radio, not even electrified. But the fact that I can speak to you on phone, even though I am being detained, shows that I am in an entirely a different country from Nigeria. And I am arrested here at the instance of Nigeria, which threatened the South African government with diplomatic action if they didn’t arrest me. That is the only reason why I am in detention. All those people I learnt have been arrested in Nigeria I have no contact with any of them, I don’t even know them. They are just trying to do this thing to point the finger at other political opponents in order to scuttle their attempts at being president.”

For his part, Niboro’s statement said,  “Mr. Henry Okah who has been openly charged for masterminding the terror attacks against his home country has been quoted by Al Jazeera Network as claiming that an aide of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan called to ask him to blame the October 1, 2010, bombings on Northern politicians.

This of course is an outright lie, and we challenge Okah to name the President’s aide that spoke to him on the subject. There is an ongoing investigation on Okah’s alleged involvement in the bombings in Nigeria. In South Africa, he has already been charged to court. He should face the charges, and stop making frivolous claims.

There is no question that Okah is a drowning man determined to pull others down with him, and there is hardly any purpose to be served by joining issues with an accused mass murderer. Okah is a man who has been known to say one thing and do another, and we are not at all surprised by his diversionary rhetoric.”

 Listen to the interview below:

Northern leaders to Jonathan:Resign or be impeached

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan should immediately resign from office because he has proved that he is incapable of leading the nation justly and fairly, the Northern Political Leaders Forum declared in Abuja yesterday.

If the president fails to quit by the end of this week, the National Assembly should immediately take steps to impeach and remove him from the office, the Forum also said. It was reacting to claims earlier yesterday by exiled MEND leader Henry Okah, who said a Jonathan aide had asked him to retract the groups’ claim of responsibility for last Friday’s Abuja bomb blasts so it could be blamed on Northern politicians.
The spokesman for Jonathan’s campaign organisation Sully Abu responded last night, saying, “Malam Adamu Ciroma is one of our most distinguished statesmen and a role model to the youth of this country whom we all look up to, and anything that detracts from that role is not welcome and should be discouraged.”
Northern Political Leaders’ Forum [NPLF] leader Mallam Adamu Ciroma, who signed the statement said, “We as citizens of this country have totally lost confidence in his leadership and hereby call on him to immediately resign.” He said since Jonathan was desperate enough to want to hang mass murder around the necks of unnamed Northerners, “We state, without any equivocation that, as Northerners and as citizens of this country, we no longer feel safe and secure under his leadership.”
Condemning the bomb attacks that occurred in Abuja during the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, the Forum said it was regrettable that the attacks took place while the Heads of State and Government of several African and other countries were seated in Eagle Square, “while the attention of the whole world was upon us.”
The statement further said, “It is regrettable that these bombs were allowed to go off given that the nation’s security organizations had admitted that they were forewarned by foreign intelligence organizations and by the bombers themselves. It is also unfortunate that the bombings followed recent changes in the leadership of the nation’s first line of defence - the armed forces, the police force and State Security Service.”
“We in the Northern Political Leaders Forum condemn in the strongest possible terms this callous and barbaric act of cruelty and cowardice, perpetrated by a group of people steeped in the culture of terrorism and unbridled violence. We condemn all those who give them shelter or comfort under any guise and call on all law-abiding and peace loving Nigerians to raise their collective voice against this violent group, its method and motive. We call on the Federal Government and the nation’s law enforcement agencies to pursue these common criminals masquerading as militants with all the resources at their disposal and bring each and every one of them to justice for the crime of murder and for taking arms against the State.”
The Forum said it was a rude shock to the nation when President Goodluck Jonathan declared, only hours after the Abuja bombs that killed and maimed innocent civilians, “that MEND, the criminal group that took responsibility for the bombings, was not to blame,” saying: “Not only that, the President was also quoted as saying that he knew who the bombers were and that they were terrorists, not MEND, a distinction which reveals where the President’s sympathies lie.”
“In a curious reversal of roles, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces who swore to an oath to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and to protect the lives and property of its citizens has found himself, instead, going the extra mile to absolve from culpability the terrorist group that claimed responsibility for the attacks. Even more disturbing was the declaration by the President, only hours into the bombing investigations, that he knew who the attackers were.”
Ciroma also said, “We would like to state, for the umpteenth time, that President Goodluck Jonathan’s desperation to be President again in 2011 can only take Nigeria back to the dark days of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Third Term with all its attendant instability and the wasting of innocent civilians’ lives. Now that the President has proven that he is incapable of leading the nation justly and fairly and that he is desperate enough to want to hang mass murder around the neck of unnamed Northerners to achieve his second term, we as citizens of this country have totally lost confidence in his leadership and hereby call on him to immediately resign.”

INEC wants April election date

From left: Speaker, House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole, General Secretary, National Union of Textiles Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN),Alhaji Issa Aremu and INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, at the 22nd Annual National Education Conference of National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria in Kaduna yesterday.

The 2011 general elections will hold within three weeks in April, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed in a new time table to be presented to the National Assembly. A senior official of INEC told Daily Trust yesterday that the new timeline for the 2011 electoral process as requested by the National Assembly is ready and will be forwarded today for consideration.

The official said after due consideration of the process, “INEC has come up with a timetable as requested by the National Assembly indicating all datelines of activities to be carried out. As the chairman has always said, the commission is proposing to conduct elections by April and it could span three weeks of the month.”

On the issue of staggered elections as proposed in the earlier timetable which has been rejected by leaders of majority of the political parties, the official said INEC has no power to change the provision.

Reacting to the matter, Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) said the National Assembly is ready to consider all proposals sent by INEC or political parties on the elections.

He said, “If INEC sends a proposal containing the issue of staggered elections, we will consider it, and if political parties feel strongly about it let them send representation to the National Assembly for consideration.”

Explaining the next line of action of the commission, the official said the National Assembly requested for comprehensive details for extension of the election timelines and INEC has prepared the new dateline of activities to be carried out between now and April 2011.

According to him, “The National Assembly has asked INEC to present details of the new timetable that will extend elections up to April 2010 and INEC is ready to send it to them as requested. INEC has no choice in this matter than to go by the request of the National Assembly.”

To facilitate INEC’s request to shift the elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has sent a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010.

In a letter to the Senate, President Jonathan said INEC has alerted him on the need for time extension as it faces difficulties to conduct credible elections in January due to shortage of time. He said, “The request is predicated on the inability of INEC to implement its detailed action plan with regards to planning, procurement and deployment for registration of voters and elections, within the timelines in the context of the Electoral Act.”

Jonathan expressed support for INEC’s request saying, “I hereby propose the amendment of the relevant laws, through the inclusion of transitional provisions which will enable INEC conduct general elections between now and the end of April 2011.”

The National Assembly has promised to hurriedly consider INEC’s request for extension of time by completing necessary legislations and amendment to enabling laws to ensure free, fair and credible elections by 2011.

IBB, Atiku to Nigerians: Let your votes count

FORMER Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, have enjoined Nigerians to work towards ensuring that their votes count during the forthcoming general elections so as to allow for the emergence of a credible leader for the country in 2011.
The former leaders who are aspiring to lead the country on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke in Abuja yesterday at the public presentation of a book: “The Nigerian Hundred” organized by Daily Independent Newspaper as part of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Babangida, who chaired the occasion, said for credible leaders to emerge in the 2011 elections, the Nigerian electorate must be provided with the opportunity to make informed choices, stressing that it is only by so doing that they would elect leaders who are their true representatives.

He observed that in spite of the pluralist status of Nigeria, those who should know the import of zoning and power sharing were misrepresenting the issue.

He emphasised the crucial role of the media in democratic societies noting, however, that the Nigerian media appear to be getting more involved in politics than the politician themselves. “The news media must move away from this by ensuring that it sticks to the ethics of the profession without fear or favour”, Babangida said.

On his part, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the greatest challenge of Nigeria is that of leadership occasioned by what he described as the crisis of unfulfilled aspirations.

Rescue kidnapped children, Jonathan orders police

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the acting Inspector-General of Police Hafiz A. Ringim and heads of other security agencies in the country to take all necessary steps to rescue the children abducted in Abia State on Monday and return them safely to their parents.

The order came a day after the kidnapping of 15 nursery and primary pupils near Aba, Abia State. The kidnapers are said to be demanding a N20 million ransom.

The President urged the parents and relatives of the children to remain calm and assured them that the Federal Government would do everything possible to apprehend the kidnappers and bring these incidents to an end as soon as possible.

The kidnappers had hijacked a school bus in Abia state and kidnapped 15 youngsters, police said.

The incident occurred early on Monday while the nursery and primary students were being driven to the Abayi International School in Aba, Abia state police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna told Reuters.

“The 15 students were being conveyed to school by the driver and the teacher that normally accompanies them when they were abducted,” Ogbonna said.

“The kidnappers are demanding a ransom from the proprietress of the school. This is the first time schoolchildren have been kidnapped in Abia State. It is quite unfortunate.”

Meanwhile, acting Inspector-General Ringim said yesterday that competent police officers have been deployed to Abia State to rescue the school children.

He told newsmen in Abuja that the police would ensure that the case received urgent attention.

The children were kidnapped by unknown gunmen when the bus conveying them to school was attacked. The families of the children were later contacted by their captors and asked to pay N20 million ransom.

Ringim said, ``We have received the report that the children were kidnapped when the bus conveying them to school was attacked. We have already deployed some police officers and men to Abate police have also deployed the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to the state for quick intervention.

“There is no role anybody can play to turn the situation over within one, two or three days.

“We are doing the best we can, going by the training and leadership capability of our men, to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

“We have capable and competent men to do the job. In the shortest possible time, the situation will be turned around.’’

Nig@50 awards: Jonathan excludes Murtala, Buhari, IBB, Abacha

Former heads of state Muhammadu Buhari, Ibahim Babangida and Sani Abacha have been excluded from the special Golden Jubilee independence anniversary awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians by President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan also excluded the late Head of State Murtala Ramat Muhammad in the independence anniversary awards on Nigerians and friends of the country.

A statement yesterday by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, said the 50 personalities would be honoured for their contributions to the development of the country.

Those to be awarded are: Herbert Macaulay (Lagos), Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe (Anambra), Alhaji Ahmadu Bello (Sokoto), Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Ogun) , Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Bauchi), Chief Samuel Akintola (Oyo), Mallam Aminu Kano and Chief Anthony Enahoro (Edo).

Ernest Okoli (Bayelsa), Jaja Wachukwu (Abia), Dennis Osadebay (Delta), Maj-Gen J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi (Abia) Generals Yakubu Gowon (Plateau),Olusegun Obasanjo (Ogun) Abdulsalami Abubakar (Niger) and Prof. Kenneth Dike (Anambra).

Profs. Jacob Ade Ajayi (Ekiti), Ishaya Audu (Kaduna), Iya Abubakar (Adamawa), Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Anambra), Alhaji Shehu Shagari (Sokoto), Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule (Kano), Joseph Tarka (Benue), Shettima Ali Monguno (Borno) and Cardinal Francis Arinze (Anambra), Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq 111, Sultan of Sokoto (Sokoto) and Oba Adesoji Aderemi (Osun).

Also, Profs Wole Soyinka (Ogun), Chinua Achebe (Anambra), Alhaji Abubakar Imam (Kaduna), Alhaji Babatunde Jose (Lagos), Justices Adetokunbo Ademola (Ogun), Egbert Udo Udoma (Akwa-Ibom) Prof. Teslim Elias (Lagos), Chief Rotimi Alade Williams (Lagos), Justice Mamman Nasir (Kastina), Alhaji Alhassan Dantata (Kano), Alhaji Aliko Dangote (Kano), Chief Mike Adenuga (Ogun), Richard Ihetu aka Dick Tiger (Abia), Kanu Nwankwo (Abia) and Chioma Ajunwa (Imo).

Daniel Igali (Bayelsa), Michael Akinwunmi (Ogun), Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (Ogun), Mrs Margaret Ekpo (Cross River), Hajia Gambo Sawaba (Kaduna), Hajiya Ladi Kwali (Abuja), Princess Alexandra (Britain) and Lillian Joel Williams (Britain).

IBB, Atiku, Others Woo Govs, Emirs -

’17 wise men’ keep their activities secret : Jonathan, Ban Ki-Moon discuss 2011 polls:

The four presidential aspirants in the 2011 elections from the North, under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have begun intensive outreach to governors, traditional rulers, political leaders and delegates to the party’s congress in order to brighten their chances of clinching the region’s consensus.
The aspirants include former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau and Governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki.
A 17-man panel, among them top northern leaders like Malam Adamu Ciroma, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr Iorychia Ayu, Jigawa State Governor, Malam Sule Lamido and 13 others are expected to meet this week to deliberate on who among these aspirants should go into the PDP primary elections to struggle for the presidential ticket against President Goodluck Jonathan.
Attempts by Sunday Trust to obtain information on the criteria the wise men would use to choose the region’s consensus candidate hit a brick wall. Members of the committee contacted by our reporter claimed that they had been gagged and would not reveal their scheme.
Sunday Trust learnt that the presidential aspirants have doubled their efforts to convince governors, traditional rulers, political leaders and delegates to the PDP congress, following indications that the National Assembly may, this week, give its nod to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s request for an amendment to the new Electoral Act to give the election umpire more time to prepare for the 2011 general elections.Cont’d from page 1
Speaking to Sunday Trust at the weekend, Senator Ben Obi, the Director-General of General Gusau’s campaign organisation said though the former NSA joined the race quite late, his team is doubling its efforts to win the support of political leaders in order to achieve his ambition.
Senator Obi said, “We are having series of meetings with key political figures across the country, and we will be meeting the women leaders of various organizations, zones and states, and those of them who could be delegates, we are going to have meetings and discussions with them. We are going to be all busy in the days and weeks ahead. We’ll meet governors, traditional rulers and all others.”
When asked how far the consensus committee had gone with its assignment, Senator Obi, who is representing General Gusau on the committeem said: “We are on. There is an expanded team that is also working on this issue. I am sure that at the end of the day they would do justice to it. What is important is to know that all the candidates have agreed they would support whosoever is chosen by the ‘wise men.’ Then, we just have to wait for them to come up with the decision. I do know that it is not an easy task. Everybody is wondering: ‘when are they going to release the outcome of their meetings?”
In the same vein, the spokesman of Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s campaign organization, Malam Garba Shehu told Sunday Trust that the team was “running like J-5” in order to sell their programmes to prominent Nigerians and garner enough to support to compete in the primaries.
Shehu said, “We can’t relax. We have to travel to all over the country to garner support. We’ll be talking to governors, delegates and political leaders to seek their support; we’ll reach out to all the delegates to the convention, and we hope that in the next days we will cover, at least, two-third of the country. Next week (this week), we’ll unfold our media campaign, and you will find our billboards, posters everywhere.”
He said that the period Atiku was kept in suspense over PDP’s waiver slowed down the campaign train of the former Vice President, but with indications that there may be an amendment to the Electoral Act to enable more time for the 2011 elections, the organization would mobilize its forces to garner more support.
On the part of Kwara State Governor, Dr Saraki, Sunday Trust learnt that apart from making contacts with his colleagues for support, his father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, has been moving from one traditional ruler to another in the North, soliciting support for the presidential of his son. Sunday Trust gathered further that, at the weekend, Governor Saraki paid a ‘private’ visit to his Jigawa State counterpart, Malam Sule Lamido, who is one of the ’17 wise men.’ The theme of their discussion was kept secret, but the presidential aspirant went to Kano to confer with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, before leaving the region.
However, the Director of Media and Publicity of the governor’s campaign organization, Malam Garba Deen Muhammad, told Sunday Trust last night that Dr Saraki, “with his antecedents is competent to compete with any candidate at the federal level,” therefore, his campaign, which will kick-off in earnest this week will be issue-based. Garba Deen said, “We have confidence in the 17 wise men. We believe they have the ability to come up with a credible and competent presidential candidate. As we wait for their decision, our campaign will be issue-driven, devoid of mudslinging. We cannot waste our time and energy on dirty tricks.”
On his part, General Ibrahim Babangida’s campaign organization, Sunday Trust learnt, has intensified its “contact with political leaders in all parts of the country,” according to a source, in order to win more support that could raise his profile.
Meanwhile, a coalition of youth groups under the auspices of Arewa Citizens Action for Change (ACAC) has charged the ‘17 wise men,’ the Northern Elders Assembly, to come up with a consensus presidential candidate who has no record of ‘political deception.’
Addressing a press conference at the weekend in Abuja, the National Vice President of Northern Youth Leaders Forum, Nelson Archer, said the elders should not pick an aspirant that is lacking political credibility or one whose popularity is only felt in the North.
“We want a candidate with decent track records, who has no case of fraud, corrupt-enrichment, and the type EFCC will screen out. We will not endorse a candidate who has a record of political deception or one that has irreconcilable difference with any of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. He must, above all, be capable and highly experienced in terms of governance at a higher level (local and international). He must be one never to compromise national interest for regional interest.”