Yar’adua’s nephew makes list

President Umaru Yar’adua’s nephew Alhaji Murtala Yar’adua ended up yesterday in the list of 25 ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan for screening and possible confirmation. Alhaji Murtala is the Tafidan Katsina and eldest son of the president’s late senior brother, Major General Shehu Yar’adua.

Daily Trust gathered that 7 of the ministers in the recently dissolved cabinet made it back while 18 others were either fresh faces in the cabinet or were former ministers in Yar’adua’s first cabinet, which was reconstituted in 2008.

Ministers in the recently dissolved cabinet who bounced back yesterday include former Minister of Mines and Steel Development Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke (Bayelsa), former Minister of State for Power Arc. Nuhu Somo Wya (Kaduna), former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Odein Ajumogobia (Rivers) and former Minister of State for Agriculture, Mrs. Fidelia Akubata Njeze (Enugu).

Also bouncing back were former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Adetokunbo Kayode (Ondo), former Minister of Youth Development Chief Akinlabi Olasunkanmi (Osun) and the former Minister of State for Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe (Delta).

Apart from Murtala Yar’adua, the new ministerial nominees include Mrs. Josephine Anenih [Anambra], wife of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Chief Tony Anenih, and former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku.

Others on the list are the Vice Chancellor of Kebbi State University, Prof. M. K. Abubakar; former Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspapers Mr. Ndanusa Alao (Kogi) and Senator Bala Mohammed Duguri (Bauchi).

Also on the list are Mrs. Josephine Tapgun (Plateau), wife of Third Republic governor and former federal minister Chief Fidelis Tapgun; former Bayelsa State Military Administrator, Navy Capt. N. S. Olubolade (Ondo), Chris Ogiewonyi (Edo), Managing Director of Goldman Sachs London Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga (Lagos), Mr. Nduese Essien (Akwa Ibom), Alhaji Umaru Aliyu (Taraba); Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed (Gombe), who is the Chief of Staff to Deputy house of Representatives Speaker Usman Bayero Nafada; Suleiman Bello, Chukwuemeka Nwogu (Abia), Bello Adoke (SAN) and Capt. Ernest Odebola. Also on the list is former Minister of National Planning Senator Mohammed Sanusi Daggash, who was removed by President Yar’adua in the first cabinet reshuffle in 2008.

It was learnt yesterday night that political consultations were still on as to the nominations of former House of Representatives Chief Whip Abubakar Bawa Bwari (Niger), former Minister of State for Agriculture Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri (Yobe) and Rep Terngu Tsegba (Benue) to join the ministerial list.

Senate has decided to postpone its recess by one week to screen and consider the ministerial nominees.

Briefing newsmen shortly after yesterday’s plenary session in anticipation of the ministerial list, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) said, “We are hoping of getting the list this week, hopefully tomorrow or the day after and then we will take it up next week.

“In anticipation of that and in fulfilment of our obligation and commitment to the people of Nigeria we cut our holiday short by one week, so instead of starting on the 26th our holiday will now start by on the 2nd of April, so we have sacrifice one week to wait for the list and make sure we screen them as soon as they come and make sure that the Acting President has the number ministers and the assistance that he needs to deliver on the work at hand.

“We are staying back specifically to finish the work of this Constitution and then finish the issue of ministerial nominee and we are expecting that will come shortly, tomorrow or after tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, state governors continued to troop into the State House yesterday as part of last minute bids to protect the names of their loyalists. About eight governors thronged to the State House in the early hours of yesterday and waited for Jonathan, who came to the office in the afternoon.

A source who confided in our correspondent said, “There presence here is not unconnected to the main issue in town, that is the matter of the new ministers whose names are being submitted to the Senate. Of course, no one takes anything for granted and for fear that anything may happen, the governors had to come and ensure the names they submitted are intact.”

According to the source, the acting leader may surprise many of the governors by dropping their choices for his preferred candidates.

The governors who were at the villa yesterday include Mohamed Namadi Sambo of Kaduna, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Theodore Orji of Abia, Peter Obi of Anambra, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi and Ikedi Ohakim of Imo. While the South East governors met Jonathan as a group, their colleagues from Bauchi, Katsina and Ogun met him separately.

Daily Trust also gathered yesterday from good authority in the presidency that former Speaker of the House of Representative Aminu Bello Masari, former Bauchi State Deputy Governor Mahmud Abdulmalik and Elder Godsday Orubebe have been nominated by Jonathan as zonal representatives of North-West, North-East and South-South respectively.

In the case of Bauchi, it was gathered that Yuguda was not comfortable with Senator Bala Mohammed Duguri as a nominee from the state.

Duguri, an ANPP senator from Bauchi, was an ally of Yuguda until last year when they parted ways following Yuguda’s decamping to the PDP. Reports say Duguri is being paid with a ministerial appointment for his key role in the elevation of Jonathan to Acting President by the National Assembly.

However, Daily Trust learnt that Shema was also at the Villa to push for one out of the three nominees he submitted. Reports said Shema had nominated his close confidants, the Commissioner for Works Architect Musa Sada, Ali Hussaini Dutsinma, former Group Managing Director of the NNPC Abubakar Lawal Yar’adua and Kabir Saidu Daura. Daura is said to be a close ally of the National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau.

Briefing State House correspondents on behalf of the South East governors, Obi said they were in the Villa to register their concern over lack of Federal Government projects and the rising insecurity in the region.

“The reason why we are here is to discuss about some of the issues bothering the South-East region. You can see that they are peculiar to the South East. One of them is the issue of erosion. And as you know last year, the Federal Government declared the entire South East a disaster area and promised to intervene which actually formed a committee led by the acting president. That was one of the reasons why we are here. The other issue is that of the second Niger Bridge. The second Niger Bridge, as you know built several years ago is collapsing. The ministry of works, the Senate and House committees on works and the contractors handling the projects have said that the bridge is not safe and there is an urgent need to start the construction of the second Niger bridge. And again the issue of security. As you know most of the governors in the south east are spending fortunes to keep the police and other security agencies but we found out that the hoodlums’ firepower is more than that of the police.”

Buhari-Atiku alliance stalls

The political alliance of top opposition politicians made up of General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa and former Lagos State governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be heading for the rocks as a fresh dispute has emerged over the proposed new platform.

The alliance had proposed to adopt as its collective platform a modified Action Congress (AC) which was expected retain only its logo, the broom and lose other identities like the name, the headquarters building, the elected officials from the ward to the national levels and to have a new membership register.

However, a source said the last National Executive Committee meeting of the AC in Benin, Edo State, took an extreme position that will make it difficult for any member of the group, Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Bafarawa’s Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) to agree to the merger.

A source at the meeting said AC pointedly said it will not subject itself to the changes being proposed. The proposal to adopt a ‘modified AC’ was said to have been reached after the party argued that it has two governors, several members of the National Assembly as well as dozens of state legislators who would be subjected to litigation should they move to another party.

The idea of registering a new party was jettisoned because the alliance said it did not want to be rubbished by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It cited as example of the length of time and the rigours that Buhari’s allies took to get the CPC registered.

Only last week, General Muhammadu Buhari announced that he had formally joined the CPC and would accept to run for the presidency on its platform if the party gives him the chance. He also said on a BBC Hausa programme at the weekend that no politician who has a case to answer in court would be given the chance to contest in the party.

Further indications that the alliance is shaky came up yesterday when the trio of Buhari, Tinubu and Bafarawa were absent at a one day conference on Electoral Reform organised by the National Democratic Movement (NDM) in collaboration with the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) and other civil society organisations at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja.

Atiku Abubakar, who was expected to chair the event, arrived at the venue at 10 am prompt only to see that there were very few participants present and who did not include his co principals in the movement. He left shortly after he arrived at the venue.

However, the meeting was finally held with representatives of the leaders such as Alhaji Sule Yahaya Hamma, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora and Dr. Usman Bugaje in attendance. They respectively represented Buhari, Bafarawa, Tinubu and Atiku.

When contacted, a source in the alliance who preferred not to be named dismissed suggestions that the NDM alliance was collapsing. He said the new mega party will emerge at the end of this month after the next meeting of the group at the Sheraton Hotel on March 30.

When asked why the top leaders boycotted yesterday’s event, the source said General Buhari had sought special permission to be absent because he is billed to give out his niece’s hand in marriage at his home town of Daura in Katsina State this Saturday.

On Bafarawa’s absence, he said the former governor was in Kano on Sunday to commiserate with the victims of the fire that gutted the Kantin Kwari market. He said even though Bafarawa was billed to return to Abuja on Sunday in order to attend the NDM meeting on Monday morning, he was held up in Kano by his hosts and a Freedom Radio programme that he participated in.

"When he saw that it was late and considering the circumstances surrounding him, he decided to postpone the journey for reasons of his personal security," the soured said, adding however that the former governor had called to express his apology.

How Jonathan’s new cabinet will deepen PDP split

The list of ministers who will launch the Goodluck Jonathan’s phase of this government is being prepared amidst lobbying, realignments and jostling by several interest groups. Already, the political terrain is abuzz with names of ministers that will likely return to the new cabinet. Those suggested include former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Madueke, former Minister of Information Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Justice Adetokunbo Kayode and former Minister of State for Petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia, among others.

Apart from those being touted as likely returnees to the cabinet, the Acting President is reported to have asked some state governors to submit nominations for consideration, in line with the usual practice since the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

But the nomination exercise said to have roused sleeping dogs within the PDP. Some state governors are already said to be angry over the dissolution, something many of them believe was at the prompting of intense pressure that was brought to bear on Jonathan by the new set of people around him. Majority of the ministers were nominees of the state governors. Though some governors were said to have been told to submit nominations, a source close to the presidency told our correspondent that not all the nominations from the state governors will sail through to the new cabinet.

In states like Katsina, Bauchi, Zamafara, Imo and even the Acting President’s state of Bayelsa, the PDP has been a battlefield for powerful factions of the party who are working to outdo one another in 2011. At the heat of the power play at the presidency, some of the factions were known to have aligned with either the ‘pro Jonathan’ or the ‘pro Yar’adua group, which is why observers believe that the same game will certainly reflect in the decision concerning whose nominee makes it to the new FEC.

The dissolution of the cabinet has been widely interpreted as a signpost of Jonathan’s desire to consolidate his hold on power. Though Chairman of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had publicly asked Jonathan to forget the presidency in 2011, many analysts have expressed doubt that the Acting President will let go the contest for PDP’s ticket in view of the advantages bestowed on him by the party’s constitution to have his way.

In the time of former President Olusegiun Obasanjo, Jonathn’s benefactor in the present arrangement, no National Working Committee of the PDP had completed its term. And by the time he completed his two terms of eight years, he had worked with four national chairmen – Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Chief Audu Ogbe and Ahmadu Ali.

Political pundits have also suggested that the Acting President may soon descend on the party’s leadership, which is believed to have been on the side of Yar’adua, or better put, had won cold shoulders towards Jonathan’s assumption of power. But the question is whether the atmosphere and the time which Jonathan has to do all these before elections are right and will produce the result intended by his counsellors.

In the following states, among others, nominations for the new cabinet will almost certainly deepen the cracks within the PDP:

Zamfara

Here, the nomination process for a new minister will certainly deepen existing cracks among two or three factions. Presently, the state governor Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi and the National Security Adviser General Aliyu Gusau are rightly positioned to exercise a balance of terror in PDP’s political space in the state. PDP faithful loyal to the two men have been in contention over the leadership of the party in the state.

Governor Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi had only defected to the PDP a year ago but has succeeded in throwing out the executive committee of the PDP he met on ground and who that lured him into the party. The former executive led by Alhaji Namadi Ango was believed to have been installed by General Gusau before Governor Mamuda’s entry into the PDP. Some supporters of the former executive have since gone to court to challenge what they call ‘illegal dissolution’ of the state exco, which they claimed had been elected to serve a constitutional term of four years.

Now, many observers believe that the ministerial nomination will set the two camps on a bitter path. The two men will certainly compete in the game to field the next minister. Apart from being the NSA, Gusau is said to enjoy tremendous respect of the Acting President and those who form the kitchen cabinet of Jonathan. It is therefore doubtful if the NSA will take lightly the opportunity to produce a minister from his camp to balance the political influence at home.

But nothing will hurt the governor more than a failure to have an upper hand in nominating the next minister from Zamfara State. When he was in the ANPP, he lost to his predecessor and estranged mentor, Ahmed Sani Yarima, the prerogative of deciding who represents the state in President Yar’adua’s Government of National Unity (GNU), and that partly kick-started the crisis that made him to quit the party.

Bauchi

The political space in Bauchi State is not too different from the one in Zamfara where two contending forces that will move to exert their influence in selecting the next minister exist. On one side is Governor Isa Yuguda, son-in-law to President Umaru Yar’adua, who is believed to have been one of those who fought covertly or overtly, or both, to keep Yar’adua’s presidency alive. On the other side is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed, who was lately seen to have identified with the so called ‘pro Jonathan’ group in the fight for the control of the presidency.

Back in Bauchi State, the PDP has been divided along some lines, pitching Governor Yuguda and the SFG in opposing camps. When Yuguda started his move to return to the PDP, not many politicians he left in the PDP in the run up to the 2007 elections were agitated by the fear of losing some relevance in the scheme of things. Under Yar’adua’s presidency, Yuguda moved with a combined advantage of state power and matrimonial affiliation that put no question mark to his upper hand in political decisions concerning the state. But with the roles played by the two men concerning Jonathan’s presidency, many are eager to see who will get the upper hand in deciding the nomination from the state.

Another politician factored into the Bauchi political equation is the former Deputy Governor in the regime of Ahmed Mua’azu, Alhaji Abdulaziz Mahmood. He is known to be opposed to Governor Yuguda and has a close relationship with the Acting President, which was said to have developed when the duo were deputy governors.

Katsina

The home state of President Umaru Yar’adua, Katsina, has been a battleground for some PDP big shots that appear to be positioning themselves for 2011. At one end is the governor and his allies while on the other are top members of the dissolved cabinet such as former Agric Minister Abbah Ruma and former Economic Adviser to the president, Tanimu Yakubu. Those at the political front in Katsina call them ‘Abuja politicians’, but in wider circles, the men were known as members of Yar’adu’s inner cabinet, or what Professor Dora Akunyili, former Information Minister, would prefer to refer to as ‘the cabal’ around Yar’adua when the going got tough in search for a Jonathan’s presidency.

Ruma has been dropped and it is not likely that he makes it to the new cabinet, in which case a new minister will have to be appointed from Katsina. If that becomes the case then a new vista of politicking concerning his replacement will definitely open between the state governor and the elements who claim to be close to President Yar’adua. Already, some elements of the PDP in Katsina such as former Speaker of the House of Representatives Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari who are known to be at daggers-drawn with President Yar’adua are being courted by the new administration.

Bayelsa

The division that characterises the PDP in many states is also rooted in Bayelsa, the home state of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. The PDP followership is divided into loyalists of the Acting President and those of the governor, Timipre Silva. But the case of Governor Silva can as well be considered as closed since the man to hire the ministers is his political foe, the Acting President himself. Knowing his problem with the Acting President that is certain to take a toll on him in the primaries of the PDP, Silva is said to have expressed a soft spot for ailing President Yar’adua.

Many other states like Imo and Kaduna will not be left behind in the raging political storm stirred by the decision of the Acting President to appoint a new cabinet even as it is becoming more uncertain who will weather the tempest.

Why bombs returned to Niger Delta

For most obsevers of the Niger-Delta crisis, Monday’s bomb blast by Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) was no surprise. When they blew up a Trans Ramos facility belonging to Shell in February, they promised that other attacks will follow. The amnesty committee listened to and abandoned a potent statement made by Joshua McIver , an ex-MEND leader from Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State during the arms surrender last year, that “if our demands are not handled with all seriousness, this entire situation will give birth to a different baby in the Niger Delta.” This is the first time MEND is attacking a government house in such a daring manner.

Though the Delta State government launched a manhunt for MEND leader Henry Okah yesterday, they are not likely to recover from the shock of the attack soon. At exactly 9am on Monday, journalists in the Niger-Delta got emails from MEND that they were going g to attack the post-amnesty parley jointly organized by the Vanguard newspaper and Delta State. At exactly that time the twin blasts set off, killing three people. Firstly, MEND was irked that Delta State governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan had referred to their group as paper tigers. Their second reason was that the oil-rich region was being short-changed in order to favour Northern elites. “The lands of the people of the Niger Delta were stolen by the oil companies and Northern Nigeria with a stroke of the pen,” Jomo Gbomo, MEND spokesperson wrote.

MEND has since indicatedthat a third bomb that was not detonated Monday is being preserved for use in a different attack, at an unstated time and place. The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) told Weekly Trust that despite the fact that it was not privy to the post-amnesty meeting which was disrupted by dual bomb blasts, it aided the evacuation of governors and guests who were near the scene. JTF spokesperson, Timothy Antigha, told our correspondent on phone that the task force also assisted in the clearing of the wreckage of the blast. Mr. Paul Odili, Communications Manager to Governor Uduaghan told Weekly Trust that the action of MEND was uncalled for, saying it did not portray members of the group as rational beings with foresight. “Agreed, there is a little delay to place food on their tables, as promised by government, but unfolding events at Aso Villa for quite some time, may have caused the delay, declared Odili who cautioned MEND to tread the line of dialogue, at all times, to fast-track the development of the region.

Mr. Abere Funbo Brideba, General Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Asaba branch told Weekly Trust that the bomb blast would have been averted if notable militants were invited to participate in the dialogue. “They should have involved the militants because the core essence of dialogue should be that the militants are being properly involved”. Although the legal practitioner described the explosion as unfortunate, he said leaders from the region are to be blamed for our woes. Reacting to the Governor’s statement that MEND only exists on newspaper pages, Barrister Brideba had this to say: “The governor is trying to deceive us and give a wrong picture of what is happening in Niger Delta”. According to the legal practitioner, militancy can be stopped in the region if corruption is fought to a standstill. “Once that is done, every other thing will flow quietly and successfully”. Popular opinion in the Niger Delta reflects the mindset of MEND although those expressing them may not share the modus operandi of the movement. King Joshua Iyekorogha Igbagara of Sagbama who is also the chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Chiefs said from Kolokuma to Yenagoa, there is no superior healthcare system of any kind. “Pregnant women have to travel for six to seven hours to getproper medical attention”, he emphasized. He also complained that the sanitation condition in the rural areas ofthe state is very poor. “We go to toilet in the river at the same time that others are fetching water for drinking and cooking,” he explained.

The tendency for community leadership now is drifting from gerontocracy to ‘militantocracy’, he told our correspondent, indicating that jostling for CDC positions are a do-or-die affair as those aspiring for those offices want to get their own share of the‘community cake’ at all cost.

Hon. Otobo Noah Opusiri a lawmaker in Bayelsa state pointed out thatdespite the injustices done to the region people here need properenlightenment so that they can understand issues properly. “When a place is driven and steered by sentiments and petty biases there is a problem”.

Spokesperson of the Amnesty Programme, Dr. Karipomo Agary told Weekly Trust that contrary to the insinuation that President’s health problem caused the delay in implementing the programme, it has always been on course. “It is not correct to say that because Mr. President is sick that is why there is a delay in the implementation of the amnesty. The amnesty programme is a huge success because up till now there are still militants surrendering their arms.”

On the claim that those who bombed Warri were dissatisfied with the amnesty, Agary said in every group there will always be people who are dissatisfied over an issue.

Vicious circle

There is a fundamental lacuna in the way the Nigerian state has been handling the issue of development in the Niger Delta. Two years after oil was discovered in Oloibiri in Bayelsa State, it was recommended that the area needed special developmental attention. In 1960 the pioneer effort to improve the lives of the people in the area was made with the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB).

NDDB managed the affairs of the region focusing on Yenagoa province, Degema province, the Ogoni Division of Port Harcourt and the WesternIjaw Division of Delta Province. All these are in the oil crucible ofthe present day Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

Seven years after the military coup of 1966 and the civil war halted the negligible milestone of the board. Some pundits believe the funds available then for the board to succeed was diverted to arresting the fratricidal conflict that threatened the unity of the country.

In 1980, about two decades later, the Shagari administrationinaugurated a presidential task force, known as the 1.5 percentcommittee, the percentile being a reference to the initial allocation accruable to the region from the federation account. The figure stoodat that uptil when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida took over. Babangida’sinertia in addressing the problem of the region rested the committee,which like the NDDB was a cash cow of some sort for some faceless bureaucrats.

Barely a year before he left office, Babangida created the Oil and Minerals Producing Areas Commission (OMPADEC). He did this in reaction to the agitations from groups in the area and the bellicosedispositions of the youths there. For instance, in the late 1980s Ijaw youths mounted a vigorous media campaign and ceaseless protests. All these culminated in the birth of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) in1994 and the simultaneous birth of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) out of the Kaiama Declaration of 1998. Then the creation of the NDDC heralded the idea of having a master plan for the region. Currently, we are in the first phase of its execution, yet over N1.7 trillion, being backlog of funds that were supposed tobe paid to the commission are still hanging. It seems the idea of turning over the fortunes of the region in 15 years is still inthe cooler. In Nembe area of Bayelsa state for instance, the Otuegila-Nembe road has been on the drawing board now for more than 15 years.

Probably, this is due to the lack of political goodwill on the executors of the master plan or oil conglomerates exploring oil in the region. However, another significant factor that stalled many genuine efforts was the creation of MEND in January 2006, the same year that the implementation of the master plan was to commence. Since then, criminality has risen to terrifying proportions and economic activities have nosedived while the mono-economic structure of Nigeria has hung precariously in the balance as a huge chunk of revenue accruing to it from the sale of crude oil has been evaporating.

Although over 40 ex-commanders of MEND have embraced the federal government amnesty and in reality, turned in a behemoth cache of weapons, cataclysmic events involving the vandalization of oil installations and the recent bomb scare gives credence to the ominous existence of the organisation. It may seem that authorities are complacent in checking the proliferation of arms in the region. During the window period of the amnesty, former governors of Bayelsa and Delta States, DSP Alamieyeseigha and James Ibori cautioned that more arms could still be out there.

10 Places NOT to Use Your Debit Card

Debit cards have different protections and uses. Sometimes they're not the best choice.

Sometimes reaching for your wallet is like a multiple choice test: How do you really want to pay?
While credit cards and debit cards may look almost identical, not all plastic is the same.

"It's important that consumers understand the difference between a debit card and a credit card," says John Breyault, director of the Fraud Center for the National Consumers League, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group. "There's a difference in how the transactions are processed and the protections offered to consumers when they use them."

While debit cards and credit cards each have advantages, each is also better suited to certain situations. And since a debit card is a direct line to your bank account, there are places where it can be wise to avoid handing it over -- if for no other reason than complete peace of mind.

Here are 10 places and situations where it can pay to leave that debit card in your wallet:
1. Online
"You don't use a debit card online," says Susan Tiffany, director of consumer periodicals for the Credit Union National Association. Since the debit card links directly to a checking account, "you have potential vulnerability there," she says.
Her reasoning: If you have problems with a purchase or the card number gets hijacked, a debit card is "vulnerable because it happens to be linked to an account," says Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center. She also includes phone orders in this category.
The Federal Reserve's Regulation E (commonly dubbed Reg E), covers debit card transfers. It sets a consumer's liability for fraudulent purchases at $50, provided they notify the bank within two days of discovering that their card or card number has been stolen.
Most banks have additional voluntary policies that set their own customers' liability with debit cards at $0, says Nessa Feddis, vice president and senior counsel for the American Bankers Association.
But the protections don't relieve consumers of hassle: The prospect of trying to get money put back into their bank account, and the problems that a lower-than-expected balance can cause in terms of fees and refused checks or payments, make some online shoppers reach first for credit cards.

2. Big-Ticket Items

With a big ticket item, a credit card is safer, says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. A credit card offers dispute rights if something goes wrong with the merchandise or the purchase, she says.
"With a debit card, you have fewer protections," she says.
In addition, some cards will also offer extended warrantees. And in some situations, such as buying electronics or renting a car, some credit cards also offer additional property insurance to cover the item.
Two caveats, says Wu. Don't carry a balance. Otherwise, you also risk paying some high-ticket interest. And "avoid store cards with deferred interest," Wu advises.
3. Deposit Required
When Peter Garuccio recently rented some home improvement equipment at a big-box store, it required a sizable deposit. "This is where you want to use a credit card instead of a debit," says Garuccio, spokesman for the national trade group American Bankers Association.
That way, the store has its security deposit, and you still have access to all of the money in your bank account. With any luck, you'll never actually have to part with a dollar.
4. Restaurants
"To me, it's dangerous," says Gary Foreman, editor of the frugality minded Web site The Dollar Stretcher. "You have so many people around."
Foreman bases his conclusions on what he hears from readers. "Anecdotally, the cases that I'm hearing of credit or debit information being stolen, as often as not, it's in a restaurant," he says.
The danger: Restaurants are one of the few places where you have to let cards leave your sight when you use them. But others think that avoiding such situations is not workable.
The "conventional advice of 'don't let the card out of your sight' -- that's just not practical," says Tiffany.
The other problem with using a debit card at restaurants: Some establishments will approve the card for more than your purchase amount because, presumably, you intend to leave a tip. So the amount of money frozen for the transaction could be quite a bit more than the amount of your tab. And it could be a few days before you get the cash back in your account.



5. You're a New Customer
Online or in the real world, if you're a first-time customer in a store, skip the debit card the first couple of times you buy, says Breyault.
That way, you get a feel for how the business is run, how you're treated and the quality of the merchandise before you hand over a card that links to your checking account.
6. Buy Now, Take Delivery Later
Buying now but taking delivery days or weeks from now? A credit card offers dispute rights that a debit card typically does not.
"It may be an outfit you're familiar with and trust, but something might go wrong," says Breyault, "and you need protection."
But be aware that some cards will limit the protection to a specific time period, says Feddis. So settle any problems as soon as possible.
7. Recurring Payments
We've all heard the urban legend about the gym that won't stop billing an ex-member's credit card. Now imagine the charges aren't going onto your card, but instead coming right out of your bank account.
Another reason not to use the debit card for recurring charges: your own memory and math skills. Forget to deduct that automatic bill payment from your checkbook one month, and you could either face fees or embarrassment (depending on whether you've opted to allow overdrafting or not). So if you don't keep a cash buffer in your account, "to protect yourself from over-limit fees, you may want to think about using a credit card" for recurring payments, says Breyault.
8. Future Travel
Book your travel with a check card, and "they debit it immediately," says Foley. So if you're buying travel that you won't use for six months or making a reservation for a few weeks from now, you'll be out the money immediately.
Another factor that bothers Foley: Hotels aren't immune to hackers and data breaches, and several name-brand establishments have suffered the problem recently. Do you want your debit card information "to sit in a system for four months, waiting for you to arrive?" she asks. "I would not."
9. Gas Stations and Hotels
This one depends on the individual business. Some gas stations and hotels will place holds to cover customers who may leave without settling the entire bill. That means that even though you only bought $10 in gas, you could have a temporary bank hold for $50 to $100, says Tiffany.

Ditto hotels, where there are sometimes holds or deposits in the hundreds to make sure you don't run up a long distance bill, empty the mini bar or trash the room. The practice is almost unnoticeable if you're using credit, but can be problematic if you're using a debit card and have just enough in the account to cover what you need.
At hotels, ask about deposits and holds before you present your card, says Feddis. At the pump, select the pin-number option, she says, which should debit only the amount you've actually spent.
10. Checkouts or ATMs That Look 'Off'
Criminals are getting better with skimmers and planting them in places you'd never suspect -- like ATM machines on bank property, says Foley.
So take a good look at the machine or card reader the next time you use an ATM or self-check lane, she advises. Does the machine fit together well or does something look off, different or like it doesn't quite belong? Says Foley, "Make sure it doesn't look like it's been tampered with."

20 ex-ministers to bounce back

Twenty members of the dissolved Federal Executive Council (FEC) have been renominated by the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan and their names have already been sent to the State Security Service (SSS) for screening, Daily Trust learnt in Abuja yesterday. The sources said the presidency awaits nominations from state governors to fill in the remaining ministerial slots. The governors have been asked to turn in three names for the Acting President to choose from.

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ost of the renominated former ministers belong to the “pro-Jonathan” camp, while those excluded from it belong to the “pro-Yar’adua” group of former ministers. Among those our sources said “are not on the list” sent for security screening include former FCT Minister Mohamed Adamu Aliero, former Agriculture Minister Abba Sayyadi Ruma, former Works Minister Dr. Mohamed Hassan Lawal, former Minister of State for Communications Ikira Aliyu Bilbis, former Minister of Niger Delta Chief Ufot Ekaette and former Minister of State for Education, Aishatu Jibril Dukku. All these men were known Yar’adua loyalists, while Mrs, Dukku was very close to Hajia Turai Yar’adua.

Among the big names said to have been nominated as new ministers include former Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Bello Masari from Katsina State and Adamu Maina Waziri from Yobe State. However, Daily Trust learnt in Katsina that Governor Ibrahim Shema has nominated his close confidants, the Commissioner for Works Architect Musa Sada, Ali Hussaini Dutsinma, former Group Managing Director of the NNPC Abubakar Lawal Yar’adua and Kabir Saidu Daura. Daura is said to be a close ally of the National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau.

In Bauchi State, Governor Isa Yuguda is said to be playing his cards close to his chest, but our reporter learnt that Senator Bala Mohammed Duguri is being considered because he was a front liner in the elevation of Jonathan to Acting President. Former Police Affairs Minister Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, who was nominated to Yar’adua’s cabinet by the Northern Union, is said to be still in contention, even though Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mahmud Yayale Ahmed is also believed to nominate others.

In Plateau State, Daily Trust learnt that Governor Jonah Jang may have nominated Bulus Kewa, his long time associate. Kewa hails from Mangu Local Government, home of former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bagudu Hirse. Also being touted is Barrister Danjuma Maina from the Mwghavul tribe where Hirse comes from, even though Jang is preparing to appoint Maina as Director General of his 2011 re-election campaign.

From Adamawa State, although former Minister of State for Health Aliyu Idi Hong is said to be on the list already sent to the SSS, other nominees such as Abdulrahman Adamu, Ambassador Hassan Tukur as well as Umaru Aliyu Sarkin Yamma are said to be in contention. Aliyu is a close associate of Governor Murtala Nyako.

From Yobe State, Daily Trust learnt that former Army Chief General Alwali Kazir, believed to be backed by Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, and former Minister of State for Agriculture Adamu Maina Waziri is on the list of nominees. Waziri is a member of the Ken Nnamani-led Good Governance Group (G3) that has fronted for the transfer of power from Yar’adua to Jonathan.

The nominees from Kano State, according to Daily Trust’s findings include Ibrahim Yakubu Waziri, Magaji Mu’azu and El-Nafaty, while those that make the list from neighbouring Jigawa State are Ambassador to Turkey Abdulhamid Ahmed Malam Madori, former governor Ali Sa’ad Birnin Kudu, who is an Obasanjo man, and Hassan Alhaji Haruna, a former minister.

In Borno State, some of the names being peddled are Ambassador Saidu Pindar, Senator Abbah Aji, Nicolas Mshelia, former Minister of National Planning Sanusi Daggash and Waziri Bulama.

The list from Kaduna State is said to include Dr. Dogara Mato, who is said to be from the camp of the former governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. The one time chairman of Lere Local Government is said to be nominated to demonstrate that the reconciliation between Governor Namadi Sambo and his predecessor Makarfi is real.

In Zamfara State, Kabiru Marafa, political godson of the NSA General Aliyu Gusau has made the list. Marafa recently retired from Governor Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi’s cabinet when he was moved from the Ministry of Education to another ministry.

For Taraba State, Daily Trust learnt that Alhassan Zaku, former Minister in the dissolved cabinet may be returned. However, there are strong indications that Jonah Katabs, member of Governor Suntai’s kitchen cabinet, may have been nominated.

Indications in Lagos were that former Minister of State for Agriculture Ademola Seriki may be re-appointed. Also, the High Commissioner to Ghana and former PDP gubernatorial candidate Musiliu Obanikoro may be considered.

In Oyo state, Remi Babalola, the former minister of state for Finance may be returned. From Ondo state, it is almost certain that the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General Mr Adetokunbo Kayode will stage a comeback. He was very close to the Acting President and his role in the confirmation saga was quite noticeable.

Meanwhile, there were indications emerged last night that the planned choice of Ogun State Commissioner for Water Resources Mr. Kola Onadipe for a ministerial position met with strong resistance.

The protest from Yewa division adduced injustice and lack of fairness to the division if the nomination sails through.

Yar’adua returns to work next week - Associates

The on-going scramble for positions in a soon to be reconstituted Federal cabinet could shortly hit a brick wall because President Umaru Yar’adua intends to resume duties in his office next week, a top source close to the ailing president told Daily Trust yesterday. However, another family source separately told Daily Trust that Yar’adua will be fit to resume work by the end of next month.

A
ccording to the top sources, Yar’adua intends to make a national radio and television broadcast to signal his resumption of work as early as Monday or Wednesday next week. They said Yar’adua may not write a letter to the National Assembly intimating it of his return because he did not transmit a letter before he proceeded on medical vacation, even though his spokesman later said Yar’adua recognised Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the Acting President.

Both sources said Yar’adua has made much progress physically since his return to the country late last month, and that his remaining medical problem now is speech-related. The sources said the ailing president now walks around the house and also around the garden, where there are many birds and animals.

They said Yar’adua brought a speech therapist with him from the Saudi Arabian hospital and the doctor has been working since then to improve his speech. Both sources said he has made progress in his speech. One of the sources told Daily Trust that Yar’adua’s return to the country last month was “premature,” and that he was brought back before he finished his therapy “for political reasons.”

In the last two weeks, Daily Trust learnt that Yar’adua received several visiting family members, close friends, some political associates, some state governors and also some personal staff, even though he has not yet met with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, however visited the residence and they met with Hajia Turai Yar’adua.

The sources said Yar’adua’s seclusion since his return to the country was ordered by the Saudi doctors because he suffered a severe infection while at the Saudi hospital when he received some visitors. The people who have been able to meet with him after his return, the sources said, were made to go through some disinfecting chambers before they were ushered into his presence. Those procedures have ended now, the sources said.

According to our sources, Yar’adua is not happy with the Acting President for sacking his aides, instituting a probe of his regime’s contract awards and dissolving his council of ministers. It is therefore likely that his resumption of work would severely upstage the on-going selection of new ministers by the Acting President.

Yar’adua first left the country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia on November 21, last year and returned to the country after 93 days. While he was away, the National Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution in early February to recognise the Vice President as Acting President, despite Yar’adua’s failure to transmit a letter of medical vacation in line with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

Since Yar’adua’s return to the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has continued to run the country and has carried out many far-reaching political measures, including dissolving the Federal cabinet last Wednesday.