Fresh hostilities appear to have resumed in the Niger Delta as the Federal Government takes decisive efforts to curb resurgence of violence by criminal elements in the area. Men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) have been placed on red alert over the threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to resume hostilities in the region.
According to Daily Sun investigations, security has been beefed up around major oil installations as well as the water ways where sea-pirates have rendered water transportation a nightmare for passengers. Security sources told Daily Sun that the JTF would move against pipeline vandalisation and combat the gangs who have been carrying out robberies along the waterways.
It was gathered last night that the JTF had commenced raids on at least two suspected criminal camps in the Niger Delta creeks.
Agency report quoted the JFT as saying that it was carrying out operations in Delta and Bayelsa, two of the main oil-producing states.
“At the moment we have ongoing operations in several locations simultaneously,” JTF spokesman Timothy Antigha said, but added he could not immediately give any further details. The military warned on Saturday it planned to carry out raids on suspected criminal camps in the Niger Delta and told civilians in the vicinity to leave.
It is the first major military offensive since an amnesty brokered by President Goodluck Jonathan began in August 2009. Recently four people were killed along four Rivers-Lagos Camp axis in Akassa, Brass Local Government Area. The incident prompted the maritime workers’ chairman, Mr. Kunegha Adam to express displeasure over the upsurge of incessant sea-pirates attacks on passengers by calling on security agencies to do something about securing the water ways.
Similarly, the Programe Officer of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Mr Morris Alagoa alerted security agencies of the attacks by sea-pirates along Igematoru, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Checks indicated that the threat to security in the region through the activities of sea-pirates, aggrieved ex-militants and newly recruited militants informed the directive by the Defence Headquarters that the military should clampdown on acts of terrorism and resurgence of militancy in the region.
Sources said the JTF recent statement on Wednesday that it would rid the region of criminals was a veiled signal to sponsors of the groups and that the military is battle ready to move against them. Lt. Col. Antigha had issued a statement advising communities harbouring some of the criminals to report to the JTF. According to him, criminal gangs masquerading as militants have been engaging in all manners of atrocities like kidnapping, sea- robbery and illegal boarding of oil production platforms.
He said law-abiding citizens of the region should go about their lawful business as the JTF is determined to sustain the peace in the region.
Sources said the JTF was confident the communities would turn in the criminals in their midst as the people were desirous of a lasting peace in the region.
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Wednesday
Kidnapped school kids: Ransom now N40m
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Outrage trailed the abduction of 15 pupils of Abayi International School in Aba, Abia State yesterday, but the kidnappers upped the ante by increasing the ransom demanded on the school children to N40 million from N20 million. Contrary to the speculation on Monday evening that the school kids were abandoned in a bush path near a village in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area few hours after their kidnap on the way to school on Monday, investigations showed that they were still held captive.
When Daily Sun visited the school at about 2.45 p.m yesterday, none of the principal officers was around. They were said to have gone out with some policemen in search of the pupils, aged between three and 10.
A staff member who preferred anonymity confided in Daily Sun that the kids had not been freed and that frantic efforts were being made towards their release.
Some parents of the kidnapped school children were seen trooping into the compound perhaps to discuss with the school officials on the way forward.
When contacted, the spokesman, Abia State Police, ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the command had been unable to establish contact with the school authorities. However, a senior police officer in Aba, on condition of anonymity, claimed they visited the school yesterday morning but could not get any concrete information.
According to him, “we went to the school this morning (Tuesday) to get information about the children from the authorities, but all they told us was that God was in control. Please, my brother, if you have information concerning the whereabouts of the children, give us so that we can work on it,” he said.
There were, however, moves yesterday indicating the children would be freed as the authorities of the school, with the parents, intensified moves towards this direction but how soon that could be remained unknown.
In a related development, the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, yesterday, reacted angrily to the kidnap of the 15 pupils by unknown gunmen in Osisioma near Aba in Abia State describing it as callous and unacceptable.
Nwodo, in a statement by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, described the action of the hijackers of the children, most of them in nursery and primary level, as wicked and challenged relevant security agencies to fish them out and save the children, their families and the nation the trauma.
The PDP national chairman said such wicked action by anybody at a time the nation was in the celebration mood and many foreign dignitaries already in the country for the nation’s golden jubilee was not only callous but distracting.
He said the issue of kidnapping in the South-east, especially Abia, had become a huge embarrassment to the nation and should be condemned by all reasonable persons.
The last high profile kidnap in the same area involved three Lagos-based journalists returning to Lagos after attending a conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
In addition, the UN Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has joined the array of those crying out against the kidnap of the 15 school children in Abia on Monday describing it as craven.
“Under no circumstances should children be the target of violence,’’ said the Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Dr. Suomi Sakai, in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
“Kidnapping children for financial gain is simply heinous,’’ the statement noted.
The children’s fund, which advocates everywhere for the inviolability of schools, hoped the law enforcement agencies would be able to find and bring the children to safety quickly.
“In all its work, UNICEF stresses the need for families, communities and civil society to work in partnership to protect the rights and well-being of children,” the statement added.
“Communities in which children are safe and well, are communities in which everyone is safe and well,” the statement added.
Outrage trailed the abduction of 15 pupils of Abayi International School in Aba, Abia State yesterday, but the kidnappers upped the ante by increasing the ransom demanded on the school children to N40 million from N20 million. Contrary to the speculation on Monday evening that the school kids were abandoned in a bush path near a village in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area few hours after their kidnap on the way to school on Monday, investigations showed that they were still held captive.
When Daily Sun visited the school at about 2.45 p.m yesterday, none of the principal officers was around. They were said to have gone out with some policemen in search of the pupils, aged between three and 10.
A staff member who preferred anonymity confided in Daily Sun that the kids had not been freed and that frantic efforts were being made towards their release.
Some parents of the kidnapped school children were seen trooping into the compound perhaps to discuss with the school officials on the way forward.
When contacted, the spokesman, Abia State Police, ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the command had been unable to establish contact with the school authorities. However, a senior police officer in Aba, on condition of anonymity, claimed they visited the school yesterday morning but could not get any concrete information.
According to him, “we went to the school this morning (Tuesday) to get information about the children from the authorities, but all they told us was that God was in control. Please, my brother, if you have information concerning the whereabouts of the children, give us so that we can work on it,” he said.
There were, however, moves yesterday indicating the children would be freed as the authorities of the school, with the parents, intensified moves towards this direction but how soon that could be remained unknown.
In a related development, the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, yesterday, reacted angrily to the kidnap of the 15 pupils by unknown gunmen in Osisioma near Aba in Abia State describing it as callous and unacceptable.
Nwodo, in a statement by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, described the action of the hijackers of the children, most of them in nursery and primary level, as wicked and challenged relevant security agencies to fish them out and save the children, their families and the nation the trauma.
The PDP national chairman said such wicked action by anybody at a time the nation was in the celebration mood and many foreign dignitaries already in the country for the nation’s golden jubilee was not only callous but distracting.
He said the issue of kidnapping in the South-east, especially Abia, had become a huge embarrassment to the nation and should be condemned by all reasonable persons.
The last high profile kidnap in the same area involved three Lagos-based journalists returning to Lagos after attending a conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
In addition, the UN Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has joined the array of those crying out against the kidnap of the 15 school children in Abia on Monday describing it as craven.
“Under no circumstances should children be the target of violence,’’ said the Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Dr. Suomi Sakai, in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
“Kidnapping children for financial gain is simply heinous,’’ the statement noted.
The children’s fund, which advocates everywhere for the inviolability of schools, hoped the law enforcement agencies would be able to find and bring the children to safety quickly.
“In all its work, UNICEF stresses the need for families, communities and civil society to work in partnership to protect the rights and well-being of children,” the statement added.
“Communities in which children are safe and well, are communities in which everyone is safe and well,” the statement added.
We’ll fight Mauritius to the end –Okoro
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Flying Eagles talisman, Stanley Okoro is urging his teammates to remain focused ahead of their second 2011 Africa Youth Championship qualifier. The Nigerian Under-20 side outclassed Mauritius 2–0 in Port Louis in their first leg, second round clash. Okoro led from the front as he scored a brilliant goal in the exciting contest.
But the Almeria Man is remaining supremely focused on the task at hand.
He said immediately after the game in the Mauritian Capital that they will be making a huge mistake if they approach the second in a relaxed manner as they were caused all manner of problems in the first leg. “We may have won two-nil, but it was a very difficult game,” he said.
“They Mauritians are technically very good. We only won because we have better individual players who have an almost telepathic understanding having been together for over two years.”
Bright Ejike, who plays for Sharks in the Nigeria Premier League scored Nigeria’s other goal and he was in complete agreement with Okoro on how the second leg should be prosecuted.
He said: “We prepared very well for the first leg. If we do the same for the second leg, then Nigeria will be among the eight sides at the AYC next year.”
This is the first time the Flying Eagles have won away from home in the ongoing African Youth qualifiers.
They had lost their previous game on the road, 1–0 in Conakry to Guinea and Coach of the young Nigerians, John Obuh highlighted the importance of a positive head start.
“Of course, the pressure has now been taken away but like I told you earlier, we will only celebrate after we finish off the business in the second leg,” he said.
The Flying Eagles welcome Mauritius to Abuja for the second leg on October 24 and are the overwhelming favourites to progress to the finals of the competition in Libya between March 18 and April 1.
Flying Eagles talisman, Stanley Okoro is urging his teammates to remain focused ahead of their second 2011 Africa Youth Championship qualifier. The Nigerian Under-20 side outclassed Mauritius 2–0 in Port Louis in their first leg, second round clash. Okoro led from the front as he scored a brilliant goal in the exciting contest.
But the Almeria Man is remaining supremely focused on the task at hand.
He said immediately after the game in the Mauritian Capital that they will be making a huge mistake if they approach the second in a relaxed manner as they were caused all manner of problems in the first leg. “We may have won two-nil, but it was a very difficult game,” he said.
“They Mauritians are technically very good. We only won because we have better individual players who have an almost telepathic understanding having been together for over two years.”
Bright Ejike, who plays for Sharks in the Nigeria Premier League scored Nigeria’s other goal and he was in complete agreement with Okoro on how the second leg should be prosecuted.
He said: “We prepared very well for the first leg. If we do the same for the second leg, then Nigeria will be among the eight sides at the AYC next year.”
This is the first time the Flying Eagles have won away from home in the ongoing African Youth qualifiers.
They had lost their previous game on the road, 1–0 in Conakry to Guinea and Coach of the young Nigerians, John Obuh highlighted the importance of a positive head start.
“Of course, the pressure has now been taken away but like I told you earlier, we will only celebrate after we finish off the business in the second leg,” he said.
The Flying Eagles welcome Mauritius to Abuja for the second leg on October 24 and are the overwhelming favourites to progress to the finals of the competition in Libya between March 18 and April 1.
2011: ANPP woos IBB, Buhari
Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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As the ding-dong among presidential hopefuls in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) moved further yesterday to open its door wider for the former military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) being speculated to be eyeing the party’s platform to realize his ambition, should he fail to get the PDP ticket.
The party is also exploring ways of opening discussions with its estranged former presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, now of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). It has also raised a contact team.
The party, which had penultimate Sunday, during its national convention amended its constitution to grant automatic waiver to former presidents and head of state just joining the party to fly its party’s flag in the 2011 elections.
Yesterday, a six-man team was raised by the party to move round the country to liaise with persons, groups and other interests, who might be interested in joining the party to come in.
Described as Contact Committee headed by the ANPP’s immediate past chairman of Board of Trustees, Alhaji Gambo Mogaji, new National Chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu, said the ANPP has become new and now in search of meaningful people to come on board to realize their ambitions to turn the nation around by jointly fighting the ruling party.
One of the members of the committee confided in Daily Sun that Generals Babangida and Buhari were some of the people being targeted in the renewed bid to restore the lost glory of the party and make it a potent force in the politics of Nigeria.
He explained that the new leadership was not averse to entry into the party, of anyone including former members, who have left or new ones.
When asked whether the development was in furtherance of the party’s constitution amendment, he was not forthcoming, but simply said the membership drive is one of the agenda of the new leadership.
In his first official function, Onu while inaugurating the committee, said the new ANPP was desirous of making new friends “so that together, we can build a new Nigeria. Our old friends will remain dear to our heart. But we need to compliment their friendship in such a way that together, both old and new, can march in greater strength and stronger unity in the pursuit of the good life for all Nigerians.
“Fellow party men and women, Nigeria needs the ANPP. Nigerians need the ANPP even more and we cannot afford to fail because if we do, Nigeria and Nigerians would be in trouble.”
Onu maintained that multi-party democracy was in danger and unless the opposition unites with the majority of Nigerians, “victory will be certain for those who do not and cannot win elections.”
While mandating the committee to comb the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond in its drive for members for the party, he disclosed that the committee had two months to work and submit its report to the party so that the leadership would know what action to be taken next.
Chairman of the committee, Mogaji, said the task was onerous, but that they would do their utmost best to achieve the purpose for which the committee was set up.
He explained that the committee would reach out to aggrieved members who had left the party and new ones and called for support of all for the members to succeed.
Other members of the committee include, Dr Yusuff Musa, Ibrahim Hassan, Admiral Amusu, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Chief Livinus Nwambe.
Photo: Sun News Publishing
• More Stories on This Section
As the ding-dong among presidential hopefuls in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) moved further yesterday to open its door wider for the former military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) being speculated to be eyeing the party’s platform to realize his ambition, should he fail to get the PDP ticket.
The party is also exploring ways of opening discussions with its estranged former presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, now of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). It has also raised a contact team.
The party, which had penultimate Sunday, during its national convention amended its constitution to grant automatic waiver to former presidents and head of state just joining the party to fly its party’s flag in the 2011 elections.
Yesterday, a six-man team was raised by the party to move round the country to liaise with persons, groups and other interests, who might be interested in joining the party to come in.
Described as Contact Committee headed by the ANPP’s immediate past chairman of Board of Trustees, Alhaji Gambo Mogaji, new National Chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu, said the ANPP has become new and now in search of meaningful people to come on board to realize their ambitions to turn the nation around by jointly fighting the ruling party.
One of the members of the committee confided in Daily Sun that Generals Babangida and Buhari were some of the people being targeted in the renewed bid to restore the lost glory of the party and make it a potent force in the politics of Nigeria.
He explained that the new leadership was not averse to entry into the party, of anyone including former members, who have left or new ones.
When asked whether the development was in furtherance of the party’s constitution amendment, he was not forthcoming, but simply said the membership drive is one of the agenda of the new leadership.
In his first official function, Onu while inaugurating the committee, said the new ANPP was desirous of making new friends “so that together, we can build a new Nigeria. Our old friends will remain dear to our heart. But we need to compliment their friendship in such a way that together, both old and new, can march in greater strength and stronger unity in the pursuit of the good life for all Nigerians.
“Fellow party men and women, Nigeria needs the ANPP. Nigerians need the ANPP even more and we cannot afford to fail because if we do, Nigeria and Nigerians would be in trouble.”
Onu maintained that multi-party democracy was in danger and unless the opposition unites with the majority of Nigerians, “victory will be certain for those who do not and cannot win elections.”
While mandating the committee to comb the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond in its drive for members for the party, he disclosed that the committee had two months to work and submit its report to the party so that the leadership would know what action to be taken next.
Chairman of the committee, Mogaji, said the task was onerous, but that they would do their utmost best to achieve the purpose for which the committee was set up.
He explained that the committee would reach out to aggrieved members who had left the party and new ones and called for support of all for the members to succeed.
Other members of the committee include, Dr Yusuff Musa, Ibrahim Hassan, Admiral Amusu, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Chief Livinus Nwambe.
Thursday
Abia seeks confab to tackle insecurity in S-East
Umuahia—WORRIED by the high level of insecurity in the country, especially in Abia and other South East states where kidnapping and other violent crimes have assumed a frightening dimension, Abia State government has called for the convening of a national security summit to x-ray the insecurity problem and seek a lasting solution to it.
Meanwhile, to beef up the security in the state, the government has approved the procurement of two modern Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC, and an Armoured SUV Lexus Jeep, valued at N397 million.
According to the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Anthony Agbazuere, there is great need for the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, to convene the security summit to seek a lasting solution to the security problems in the country, particularly in the South East.
“There is a very serious need for a security summit. The new Inspector-General of Police should, as a matter of urgency, call a security summit to discuss the security situation in the country, especially the menace of kidnapping in the South East,” the commissioner said.
He disclosed that the executive council of the state had approved the purchase of the two APCs and an armoured Lexus Jeep to beef up security in the state, saying the government was ready to invest more money to ensure the security of the people.
“The state does not mind the cost implications of the various security measures it was evolving to ensure that the state remains safe.
“Even if we have a billion naira, we will sink it into security just to ensure that life and property were secure in the state,” Agbazuere said.
The government has also appealed to striking workers of Abia State University, Uturu, to return to work in the interest of the students and education in the
state.
It said that it had enlarged its negotiating team to include some members of the cabinet, members of the House of Assembly Committee on Education as well as the Governing Council of the university and expressed hopes that the problem would soon be resolved.
Meanwhile, to beef up the security in the state, the government has approved the procurement of two modern Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC, and an Armoured SUV Lexus Jeep, valued at N397 million.
According to the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Anthony Agbazuere, there is great need for the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, to convene the security summit to seek a lasting solution to the security problems in the country, particularly in the South East.
“There is a very serious need for a security summit. The new Inspector-General of Police should, as a matter of urgency, call a security summit to discuss the security situation in the country, especially the menace of kidnapping in the South East,” the commissioner said.
He disclosed that the executive council of the state had approved the purchase of the two APCs and an armoured Lexus Jeep to beef up security in the state, saying the government was ready to invest more money to ensure the security of the people.
“The state does not mind the cost implications of the various security measures it was evolving to ensure that the state remains safe.
“Even if we have a billion naira, we will sink it into security just to ensure that life and property were secure in the state,” Agbazuere said.
The government has also appealed to striking workers of Abia State University, Uturu, to return to work in the interest of the students and education in the
state.
It said that it had enlarged its negotiating team to include some members of the cabinet, members of the House of Assembly Committee on Education as well as the Governing Council of the university and expressed hopes that the problem would soon be resolved.
Why I couldn't fit into African football- Fashanu
Why I couldn't fit into African football- Fashanu
By Our reporter
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Former Wimbledon striker, John Fashanu, has sensationally revealed why he could not wear the green and white colours of Nigeria when he was called upon to play for the Green Eagles. Fashanu revealed this much to the UK FourFourTwo magazine in a recent interview. According to him, it was difficult for him to adapt to African football and that really affected his ambition greatly.
“It wasn't that it put me off, but the football was different. Wimbledon were blatantly playing kick and rush. All of a sudden, out in Africa, they were giving me the football at my feet. My game was all about aggression, the British Bulldog. When I got to Africa, all of a sudden people were doing skills I'd never even seen. I thought, why should I go to Nigeria and try to play in a way I've never played before?”
Were you a party to any madness in your time at Millwall (1984-86)?
I came down to Millwall with Lincoln City once and bashed the hell out of their defence, so after the match, I had to get a police escort to take me from the changing rooms to the coach. The Millwall fans were shouting, “Nigger, black bastard, we'll kill you”, and throwing cups of urine at me. I remember seeing the hate and the venom in their faces as we drove off. Then I signed for them shortly afterwards and the fans loved me. I think they respected me because I played football the way some of them lived their lives. It was the Millwall fans who christened me 'Fash The Bash'.
How did you feel when you fell off that wall during an interview on Grandstand?
Even now, I've got a chipped bone in my elbow. I used to think it was from elbowing people, but I realised I did it falling off that wall. On my left and right, I could see the wall, but what I didn't know was that five bricks were missing behind me, so when I stepped back, there was no wall to put my foot on so I got my leg trapped and over I went. It was a long way down, but I went into a roll so the only thing I really bruised was my ego. At the time it wasn't very funny, because I was shocked and embarrassed. There I was, Wimbledon hard man, on the floor. But in retrospect, it was very funny because it was spontaneous. It brought me down to earth. They've shown it a million times on TV, but I never got bored of seeing it.
Did you really kick the crap out of Lawrie Sanchez in a training ground incident?
I don't like Sanch and he doesn't like me. Hate is a strong word, but we tend to disagree. Anyway, Sanch and I had a disagreement in training. I told the boys, “I'm taking training this morning - everybody start jogging.” Sanch saw it in his wisdom not to comply and when I pointed my finger at him he went to slap me. Mistake, Sanch. So I said, “Listen, this has been going on too long. We're two men, let's sort it out; let's take a walk. Lads, you carry on jogging.” So we walked, and for Sanch, this was the walk of death because we were walking round the back of the bushes and I was gonna pummel him. I was thinking, what style should I use on him? Sanch was thinking, am I gonna get battered?
Or maybe he was thinking, I'm gonna batter Fash. It was like something out of a film: two people who don't like each other, and now they're going to fight. Anyway, Sanch gave me a shot and, give him credit, it wasn't a bad shot. But I thought, don't hit Sanch, don't mark his face, and my mind went back to when Muhammed Ali fought against the martial artist in New York, and the martial artist just kicked the back of his legs until it broke the tissues in his calves and he submitted. So I thought I'd teach Sanch a lesson and gave a sweep of the legs, but Sanch has calves like most people have thighs and he didn't move. So I gave him another couple, but Sanch came back at me. So I thought, I'm gonna take this guy out, and I hit him with one of the best shots I'd been training with - BAM! Take that, Sanch! - right in the solar plexus, a shot that would supposedly knock a horse down. And still he stood there. Then Terry Burton came over to break us up.
Why did things not work out for you at Aston Villa?
When I started playing football, I believed it would never end. And one day I woke up, I sat on the edge of my bed and I thought, I don't want to do this anymore, I've had enough. Two weeks later, we were playing Manchester United at Old Trafford. I remember it very clearly. It was a corner and Paul Ince was marking me. I thought, why the hell is Incey marking? What an insult. So I said to the big man, “Pallister, get yourself over here and mark me, son.” But Incey's still pushing me and this time he grabs my shirt and my chest, and for the first time it actually hurts, so I knock Incey's hand off and he knocks me back. As the ball comes across, Incey goes up and catches me with his elbow. And I think, Jesus, that hurt - I'm getting older, these boys are starting to hurt me.
Then I had a flashback to when I was playing for Millwall against Southampton at The Dell. I did the same thing to Joe Jordan that Incey did to me because I knew I would carve a reputation for myself. The ball came in and I went WALLOP! BOSH! I headed the ball and Joe ended up on the floor. That's how I got my reputation. After that, I only had to blow on a player and he'd be scared. This was the same situation in reverse and I'm thinking, I don't fancy this much. Anyway, just after that, the ball bounced away from a corner and Incey gave Dwight Yorke eight studs down his shin. So I went over to give Incey some to deal with him and he just pushed me away.
The referee says “drop ball” and it's me and Incey. So we went in - BOOM! - and the ball ricochets up the pitch. As I'm running after it, I see little Giggsy coming. I think, okay, Giggsy, I'm gonna put you in row 15. You boys aren't scared anymore, huh? Let's see. But as I went running in to tackle, Giggsy put his foot up to protect himself and it hit my knee and snapped the ligaments. I remember Giggsy's face - he didn't look hurt, just shocked. He couldn't believe he was still alive! And I remember Incey coming over from about 50 yards away saying, “I'm gonna do ya, Fash” and then seeing my face. Then he said, “Fash is not playing,” because I never used to go down. “Go and see the physio.” And that was that.
Who was the sexiest Gladiator?
Lightning or Vogue. When I reminisce about old times, I think, how the bloody hell did I get that job for seven years? What a job! These were the most beautiful women, basically doing gymnastics - absolutely fantastic! They were so sexy and so nice, and Ulrika wasn't bad either.
Did you put in any 'special overtime' with Ulrika?
Ully's a great girl. I just wish she'd find Mr Right. She's looking for a nice, genuine man who can look after her. I'll put my hand up: I was the bastard who introduced her to Stan Collymore. I was going out of town, so I rang up Yorkie, Ugo and Bozzie and said, “Listen guys, there's a big Gladiators party and the girls want some good-looking guys to go down and have a good time.” Of course, they took big Stan along and the rest is history.
What was your relationship really like with your late brother, Justin?
I had a great relationship with my brother. It would be lovely if we could turn the clock back, but we can't, and what happened happened. If you believe there is a God, we should celebrate, because he's going to heaven before us and heaven is a better place, so I've no remorse. I'm sad, because he was my brother and I miss him, but I'm happy, because he's in heaven. The reasons were a bit obscure - the wrong reasons - but he's there before me and I hope he's saved me a place. In life, you don't choose your family and we were different. Justin had instant success. By the age of 17, he was the first black million-pound footballer. That's a lot of stress. I remember being in a penthouse in Norwich when all of these managers were calling, promising to make him a millionaire. I was the sucker taking all the calls, while he was hiding in the cupboard. The advantage I had was I watched and listened to everything that was going on; he didn't. Not that Justin was reckless - just very impulsive, very spontaneous, so our thinking was very different.
What affect did being implicated in a match-fixing scandal have on your life?
Every footballer has a period where they think they're untouchable. Your face becomes a passport and I think it was a lesson. It showed me how many people have been convicted of crimes they haven't committed. I understand that even more now, when I visit prisons up and down the country, doing talks. One minute you're walking down the street, the next you're in prison. It's the same with these matrimonial cases. You've been married to your wife for 10 years, you come home and find her in bed with another guy. You've lost it completely and picked up a mallet, gone to swing it, unfortunately hit the wife and, next thing you know, you're in prison. It's strengthened me a lot and made me appreciate life, but it damaged my bank balance - £1million in legal fees. But it wasn't about money, it was about being able to get on with your life, knowing you've been through the mill and come out clean.
Your view on Wimbledon's move to Milton Keynes?
If you cut me in the middle, you'll see Wimbledon FC tattooed there. Nobody wants to move. Why should Wimbledon be in Milton Keynes, for heaven's sake? At the same time, I don't want Wimbledon to die and they just can't sustain what they're doing at Selhurst Park on crowds of two or three thousand a week. Financially, it's a nightmare. Charles Koppel's not an enemy of Wimbledon, he's actually a very nice guy. His dream was to build a new stadium in Wimbledon, but they've tried and they can't do that, so he said, “Okay, I want to keep Wimbledon going.
I don't want to go into administration.” He knows it's going to be hard to regenerate a football club in a new area, he knows it's going to be unpopular, but the positives outweigh the negatives. Okay, he's going to lose 2,000 fans, but he'll gain 6,000 just from the surrounding area. It's nobody's fault that this has happened, but people are thinking with their hearts. Somebody needs to think with his head. But I applaud what AFC Wimbledon have done and I hope they can sustain the crowds they've started off with. Tell them I'll come down and have a game for them.
By Our reporter
* More Stories on This Section
Former Wimbledon striker, John Fashanu, has sensationally revealed why he could not wear the green and white colours of Nigeria when he was called upon to play for the Green Eagles. Fashanu revealed this much to the UK FourFourTwo magazine in a recent interview. According to him, it was difficult for him to adapt to African football and that really affected his ambition greatly.
“It wasn't that it put me off, but the football was different. Wimbledon were blatantly playing kick and rush. All of a sudden, out in Africa, they were giving me the football at my feet. My game was all about aggression, the British Bulldog. When I got to Africa, all of a sudden people were doing skills I'd never even seen. I thought, why should I go to Nigeria and try to play in a way I've never played before?”
Were you a party to any madness in your time at Millwall (1984-86)?
I came down to Millwall with Lincoln City once and bashed the hell out of their defence, so after the match, I had to get a police escort to take me from the changing rooms to the coach. The Millwall fans were shouting, “Nigger, black bastard, we'll kill you”, and throwing cups of urine at me. I remember seeing the hate and the venom in their faces as we drove off. Then I signed for them shortly afterwards and the fans loved me. I think they respected me because I played football the way some of them lived their lives. It was the Millwall fans who christened me 'Fash The Bash'.
How did you feel when you fell off that wall during an interview on Grandstand?
Even now, I've got a chipped bone in my elbow. I used to think it was from elbowing people, but I realised I did it falling off that wall. On my left and right, I could see the wall, but what I didn't know was that five bricks were missing behind me, so when I stepped back, there was no wall to put my foot on so I got my leg trapped and over I went. It was a long way down, but I went into a roll so the only thing I really bruised was my ego. At the time it wasn't very funny, because I was shocked and embarrassed. There I was, Wimbledon hard man, on the floor. But in retrospect, it was very funny because it was spontaneous. It brought me down to earth. They've shown it a million times on TV, but I never got bored of seeing it.
Did you really kick the crap out of Lawrie Sanchez in a training ground incident?
I don't like Sanch and he doesn't like me. Hate is a strong word, but we tend to disagree. Anyway, Sanch and I had a disagreement in training. I told the boys, “I'm taking training this morning - everybody start jogging.” Sanch saw it in his wisdom not to comply and when I pointed my finger at him he went to slap me. Mistake, Sanch. So I said, “Listen, this has been going on too long. We're two men, let's sort it out; let's take a walk. Lads, you carry on jogging.” So we walked, and for Sanch, this was the walk of death because we were walking round the back of the bushes and I was gonna pummel him. I was thinking, what style should I use on him? Sanch was thinking, am I gonna get battered?
Or maybe he was thinking, I'm gonna batter Fash. It was like something out of a film: two people who don't like each other, and now they're going to fight. Anyway, Sanch gave me a shot and, give him credit, it wasn't a bad shot. But I thought, don't hit Sanch, don't mark his face, and my mind went back to when Muhammed Ali fought against the martial artist in New York, and the martial artist just kicked the back of his legs until it broke the tissues in his calves and he submitted. So I thought I'd teach Sanch a lesson and gave a sweep of the legs, but Sanch has calves like most people have thighs and he didn't move. So I gave him another couple, but Sanch came back at me. So I thought, I'm gonna take this guy out, and I hit him with one of the best shots I'd been training with - BAM! Take that, Sanch! - right in the solar plexus, a shot that would supposedly knock a horse down. And still he stood there. Then Terry Burton came over to break us up.
Why did things not work out for you at Aston Villa?
When I started playing football, I believed it would never end. And one day I woke up, I sat on the edge of my bed and I thought, I don't want to do this anymore, I've had enough. Two weeks later, we were playing Manchester United at Old Trafford. I remember it very clearly. It was a corner and Paul Ince was marking me. I thought, why the hell is Incey marking? What an insult. So I said to the big man, “Pallister, get yourself over here and mark me, son.” But Incey's still pushing me and this time he grabs my shirt and my chest, and for the first time it actually hurts, so I knock Incey's hand off and he knocks me back. As the ball comes across, Incey goes up and catches me with his elbow. And I think, Jesus, that hurt - I'm getting older, these boys are starting to hurt me.
Then I had a flashback to when I was playing for Millwall against Southampton at The Dell. I did the same thing to Joe Jordan that Incey did to me because I knew I would carve a reputation for myself. The ball came in and I went WALLOP! BOSH! I headed the ball and Joe ended up on the floor. That's how I got my reputation. After that, I only had to blow on a player and he'd be scared. This was the same situation in reverse and I'm thinking, I don't fancy this much. Anyway, just after that, the ball bounced away from a corner and Incey gave Dwight Yorke eight studs down his shin. So I went over to give Incey some to deal with him and he just pushed me away.
The referee says “drop ball” and it's me and Incey. So we went in - BOOM! - and the ball ricochets up the pitch. As I'm running after it, I see little Giggsy coming. I think, okay, Giggsy, I'm gonna put you in row 15. You boys aren't scared anymore, huh? Let's see. But as I went running in to tackle, Giggsy put his foot up to protect himself and it hit my knee and snapped the ligaments. I remember Giggsy's face - he didn't look hurt, just shocked. He couldn't believe he was still alive! And I remember Incey coming over from about 50 yards away saying, “I'm gonna do ya, Fash” and then seeing my face. Then he said, “Fash is not playing,” because I never used to go down. “Go and see the physio.” And that was that.
Who was the sexiest Gladiator?
Lightning or Vogue. When I reminisce about old times, I think, how the bloody hell did I get that job for seven years? What a job! These were the most beautiful women, basically doing gymnastics - absolutely fantastic! They were so sexy and so nice, and Ulrika wasn't bad either.
Did you put in any 'special overtime' with Ulrika?
Ully's a great girl. I just wish she'd find Mr Right. She's looking for a nice, genuine man who can look after her. I'll put my hand up: I was the bastard who introduced her to Stan Collymore. I was going out of town, so I rang up Yorkie, Ugo and Bozzie and said, “Listen guys, there's a big Gladiators party and the girls want some good-looking guys to go down and have a good time.” Of course, they took big Stan along and the rest is history.
What was your relationship really like with your late brother, Justin?
I had a great relationship with my brother. It would be lovely if we could turn the clock back, but we can't, and what happened happened. If you believe there is a God, we should celebrate, because he's going to heaven before us and heaven is a better place, so I've no remorse. I'm sad, because he was my brother and I miss him, but I'm happy, because he's in heaven. The reasons were a bit obscure - the wrong reasons - but he's there before me and I hope he's saved me a place. In life, you don't choose your family and we were different. Justin had instant success. By the age of 17, he was the first black million-pound footballer. That's a lot of stress. I remember being in a penthouse in Norwich when all of these managers were calling, promising to make him a millionaire. I was the sucker taking all the calls, while he was hiding in the cupboard. The advantage I had was I watched and listened to everything that was going on; he didn't. Not that Justin was reckless - just very impulsive, very spontaneous, so our thinking was very different.
What affect did being implicated in a match-fixing scandal have on your life?
Every footballer has a period where they think they're untouchable. Your face becomes a passport and I think it was a lesson. It showed me how many people have been convicted of crimes they haven't committed. I understand that even more now, when I visit prisons up and down the country, doing talks. One minute you're walking down the street, the next you're in prison. It's the same with these matrimonial cases. You've been married to your wife for 10 years, you come home and find her in bed with another guy. You've lost it completely and picked up a mallet, gone to swing it, unfortunately hit the wife and, next thing you know, you're in prison. It's strengthened me a lot and made me appreciate life, but it damaged my bank balance - £1million in legal fees. But it wasn't about money, it was about being able to get on with your life, knowing you've been through the mill and come out clean.
Your view on Wimbledon's move to Milton Keynes?
If you cut me in the middle, you'll see Wimbledon FC tattooed there. Nobody wants to move. Why should Wimbledon be in Milton Keynes, for heaven's sake? At the same time, I don't want Wimbledon to die and they just can't sustain what they're doing at Selhurst Park on crowds of two or three thousand a week. Financially, it's a nightmare. Charles Koppel's not an enemy of Wimbledon, he's actually a very nice guy. His dream was to build a new stadium in Wimbledon, but they've tried and they can't do that, so he said, “Okay, I want to keep Wimbledon going.
I don't want to go into administration.” He knows it's going to be hard to regenerate a football club in a new area, he knows it's going to be unpopular, but the positives outweigh the negatives. Okay, he's going to lose 2,000 fans, but he'll gain 6,000 just from the surrounding area. It's nobody's fault that this has happened, but people are thinking with their hearts. Somebody needs to think with his head. But I applaud what AFC Wimbledon have done and I hope they can sustain the crowds they've started off with. Tell them I'll come down and have a game for them.
Don’t be deceived by Jonathan’s rented crowd - Saraki
The Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Campaign Organisation has said the purported rented crowd that graced the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan last Saturday should not be interpreted to mean popularity.
This was even as the organisation said the deft move to implicate political opponents, particularly Governor Bukola Saraki, through sponsored and concocted allegations, reminded of the old dark days of high handedness and impunity by government.
Director-General of the ABS, Dr. Udenta Udenta, who stated this at a Press conference in Abuja, said the forthcoming elections would define the shape of Nigeria like never before.
According to Dr. Udenta; “I pray that we will not go back to the dark days of high handedness and high wired politics of impunity. This is really high political season and a lot of misinformation is being dished out to the public.”
He described the on-going discussion on the need for a consensus candidate from the North to contest the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as robust and an exchange of transformation that was acceptable to Dr. Bukola Saraki. Dr. Udenta further said the thinking and objective of the discussion on the consensus candidate was not only aimed at ensuring that power remained in the North but about the stability and unity of the country.
He assured that Governor Saraki would accept the decision that would be reached by the wise men set up to adopt a consensus candidate from the North, adding that the former banker-turned politician stood a better chance to be nominated since he is the only aspirant that is difficult to describe as stereotype. Also speaking, Deputy Director- General of the ABS, Alhaji Ibrahim Lame, said Dr. Saraki would restructure the Nigeria Police Service with a view to grant independence to State commands as well as establish local police that would effectively tackle criminal cases within their localities.
The organisation said its movement was a social democratic project to empower women and youths and free the masses from underdevelopment, adding that its think thank consists of some of the best brains in Nigeria, who had already developed a concrete policy paradigm and package to transform Nigeria. “We condemn elite manipulation of ethnicity, religion and region in order to divide and oppress the people. Saraki is from the centre of Nigeria so he represents all Nigerians, irrespective of their socio-cultural background,” Dr. Udenta said
This was even as the organisation said the deft move to implicate political opponents, particularly Governor Bukola Saraki, through sponsored and concocted allegations, reminded of the old dark days of high handedness and impunity by government.
Director-General of the ABS, Dr. Udenta Udenta, who stated this at a Press conference in Abuja, said the forthcoming elections would define the shape of Nigeria like never before.
According to Dr. Udenta; “I pray that we will not go back to the dark days of high handedness and high wired politics of impunity. This is really high political season and a lot of misinformation is being dished out to the public.”
He described the on-going discussion on the need for a consensus candidate from the North to contest the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as robust and an exchange of transformation that was acceptable to Dr. Bukola Saraki. Dr. Udenta further said the thinking and objective of the discussion on the consensus candidate was not only aimed at ensuring that power remained in the North but about the stability and unity of the country.
He assured that Governor Saraki would accept the decision that would be reached by the wise men set up to adopt a consensus candidate from the North, adding that the former banker-turned politician stood a better chance to be nominated since he is the only aspirant that is difficult to describe as stereotype. Also speaking, Deputy Director- General of the ABS, Alhaji Ibrahim Lame, said Dr. Saraki would restructure the Nigeria Police Service with a view to grant independence to State commands as well as establish local police that would effectively tackle criminal cases within their localities.
The organisation said its movement was a social democratic project to empower women and youths and free the masses from underdevelopment, adding that its think thank consists of some of the best brains in Nigeria, who had already developed a concrete policy paradigm and package to transform Nigeria. “We condemn elite manipulation of ethnicity, religion and region in order to divide and oppress the people. Saraki is from the centre of Nigeria so he represents all Nigerians, irrespective of their socio-cultural background,” Dr. Udenta said
onathan’s ambition ’ll polarise the nation, says Atiku • No, it ‘ll not—Yuguda, Bauchi Governor
Former Vice President and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has carpeted President Goodluck Jonathan over the latter’s presidential ambition.
In his view, President Jonathan’s insistence on running in 2011 negated the principle of zoning provided for in the PDP Constitution and the pact of the founding fathers of the PDP. He said it was capable of polarising the nation.
According to a statement issued by the Atiku Campaign Organisation (ACO), the PDP presidential aspirant, who spoke in Sokoto in continuation of his nationwide tour, said the country, which was already divided along regional, ethnic and religious lines, should be spared further divisions as represented by President Jonathan’s bid to appropriate a mandate meant for the North.
The Northern Political Leaders Forum, (NPLF), to which Alhaji Atiku belongs, had, last Friday, given the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) two weeks to restrain President Goodluck Jonathan from partaking in the party presidential primary, as it ran contrary to the party constitution.
Addressing thousands of party supporters and delegates from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Atiku said “this nation has survived thus far because our founding fathers have maintained a delicate balance between the regions; between the two great religions and among our various ethnic groups.”
He said those who want to subvert the unique arrangement of rotation of power between the North and South do not wish the nation well.
“I’m convinced that those who want power rotation jettisoned do not have the best interest of the country at heart. The anti-zoning elements want to plunge this country into a needless crisis,” Atiku said.
He said Nigerians should not personalise policies or jettison agreements freely entered into because of an individual’s ambition.
Atiku warned that Jonathan’s candidacy would eventually lead to the realisation of the illegal Third Term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which he and other patriots fought against and defeated in 2006.
He asked his supporters to ensure that a northern candidate emerged the winner of the forthcoming PDP primaries to defeat what he called, “this latest attempt to smuggle Third Term into our polity.” But the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, who is the North-East Zonal Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan, however, disagreed with the former vice president as he told journalists at the PDP national secretariat that the masses of the country would decide President Jonathan’s fate.
He spoke with newsmen after submitting his expression of Interest and nomination forms
“Well, I think it is very simple. The election of the president is not an issue that has to do with the party, it has to do with the masses of the country. We are talking about the masses in our zone, and Insha Allah, they are very positive about the capacity of Goodluck Jonathan to govern Nigeria, to take Nigeria to the promised land, to bring all the goodies, to bring in peace and stability, create jobs for our youths, bring in investments, also harness the natural resources that God has given Nigeria for the interest of our people and the development of our great nation. He cautioned Nigerians not to see the race for the presidency within the prism of North/ South divide.
“I am a Nigerian, I don’t think along regional or sentimental lines. Everybody has his own capacity.”
In his view, President Jonathan’s insistence on running in 2011 negated the principle of zoning provided for in the PDP Constitution and the pact of the founding fathers of the PDP. He said it was capable of polarising the nation.
According to a statement issued by the Atiku Campaign Organisation (ACO), the PDP presidential aspirant, who spoke in Sokoto in continuation of his nationwide tour, said the country, which was already divided along regional, ethnic and religious lines, should be spared further divisions as represented by President Jonathan’s bid to appropriate a mandate meant for the North.
The Northern Political Leaders Forum, (NPLF), to which Alhaji Atiku belongs, had, last Friday, given the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) two weeks to restrain President Goodluck Jonathan from partaking in the party presidential primary, as it ran contrary to the party constitution.
Addressing thousands of party supporters and delegates from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Atiku said “this nation has survived thus far because our founding fathers have maintained a delicate balance between the regions; between the two great religions and among our various ethnic groups.”
He said those who want to subvert the unique arrangement of rotation of power between the North and South do not wish the nation well.
“I’m convinced that those who want power rotation jettisoned do not have the best interest of the country at heart. The anti-zoning elements want to plunge this country into a needless crisis,” Atiku said.
He said Nigerians should not personalise policies or jettison agreements freely entered into because of an individual’s ambition.
Atiku warned that Jonathan’s candidacy would eventually lead to the realisation of the illegal Third Term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which he and other patriots fought against and defeated in 2006.
He asked his supporters to ensure that a northern candidate emerged the winner of the forthcoming PDP primaries to defeat what he called, “this latest attempt to smuggle Third Term into our polity.” But the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, who is the North-East Zonal Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan, however, disagreed with the former vice president as he told journalists at the PDP national secretariat that the masses of the country would decide President Jonathan’s fate.
He spoke with newsmen after submitting his expression of Interest and nomination forms
“Well, I think it is very simple. The election of the president is not an issue that has to do with the party, it has to do with the masses of the country. We are talking about the masses in our zone, and Insha Allah, they are very positive about the capacity of Goodluck Jonathan to govern Nigeria, to take Nigeria to the promised land, to bring all the goodies, to bring in peace and stability, create jobs for our youths, bring in investments, also harness the natural resources that God has given Nigeria for the interest of our people and the development of our great nation. He cautioned Nigerians not to see the race for the presidency within the prism of North/ South divide.
“I am a Nigerian, I don’t think along regional or sentimental lines. Everybody has his own capacity.”
Monday
South-East’s gullies of death
With desertification continuing to claim more habitable land in the northern parts of the country, and the ocean moving further inland in the coastal areas, the south-eastern states of the federation are confronted with the devastating effects of erosion and other environmental problems.
APART from kidnapping and armed robbery, which had in recent times portrayed the South-East geopolitical zone in a bad light, one other nagging issue confronting the Igbo enclave is environmental degradation, especially with regard to erosion.
It is no longer news that the people of the five states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo have tales of woes on environmental degradation in the zone.
And, to the dismay of many, some residents in the region are not helping matters as they block drainages whenever rain is falling.
In Enugu State, the poor sanitation situation which has left the streets of Enugu defaced with mounting heaps of refuse, is a serious concern to the state Government.
In response to this ugly development, the government has taken new measures to address the problems of the State Waste Management Authority, ESWAMA, with a view to ensuring effective waste disposal in Enugu and Nsukka urban.
It will be recalled that Governor Sullivan Chime, while addressing Enugu State indigenes, resident in Abuja at a town hall meeting, disclosed that all efforts made by his government to ensure a clean environment came to naught as there were people out there sabotaging his government’s efforts.
Governor Chime, however, disclosed that his government has been able to identify the source of the sabotage and would soon do something to ensure that the sanitation situation in the cities of Enugu and Nsukka improved.
To ensure a lasting solution to the sanitation problem and check the drift into sanitation quagmire, the state government has, as part of its new measures to strengthen ESWAMA, invited a team of mechanical engineers from the company that supplied the state with 15 waste disposal trucks as well as over a thousand dumpsters, to come and effect repairs on the dilapidated trucks and provide spare parts for regular maintenance of the vehicles.
In addition, the government has also completed arrangements for the visiting engineers to train ESWAMA staff on how to repair and service the trucks for better operations and service delivery.
It is not an overstatement to say that the sanitation situation in Enugu metropolis is about causing an epidemic, as refuse now jostles for space on the roads with motorists.
Some residents of the metropolis use the drainage as a dumping ground for waste products as they dump refuse in there each time rains, consequently blocking the drainage where run water is expected to flow .
However, the Nigerian Tribune observed that erosion is more pronounced in rural areas than urban cerntres, apparently because government’s attention is focused more on the metropolis.
In Abia State, Governor Theodore Orji’s administration needs about N350 billion to contain and rehabilitate 2,050 erosion ravaged areas that are scattered all over the 17 local government areas of the state.
Speaking in Umuahia recently, a former Commissioner for Environment in the state, Engineer Charles Ojukwu, said the present government in the state has spent about N1.2 billion to contain only three erosion sites in the communities around the state university, ABSU, and two other sites.
The commissioner, who said the state would soon be forced to relocate some affected communities to other areas of the state, while inhabitants of such areas would be turned to environmental refugees, added that erosion had already washed away houses and farmlands, polluted sources of drinking water and cut off roads in affected areas of the state.
He said parts of the envisaged problems of the planned relocation measure would include hardships to many families, food insecurity, lack of land for cultivation of crops and possible outbreak of communal war, “because the host communities may not accept the refugees.”
Ojukwu, who said the erosion problem in the state was being worsened by the selective way the ecological funds were accessed by states of the federation, added that Abia State had not been able to access the ecological fund to tackle erosion problem because the state had not been a PDP-controlled state until recently.
He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state with the needed funds now that the state is being controlled by a PDP government , saying the state government does not have the financial wherewithal to salvage the situation.
The former commissioner, who said that human actions contribute immensely to erosion menace, said illegal sand excavation and mining are major contributory factors, aside building of houses and dumping of refuse in drainages.
He said government had been carrying on programmes to sensitise the people on the need to protect their environment by planting trees and ensuring a hygienic environment.
The former commissioner, who also called for an amendment of the Abia State environmental law of 2004 establishing the state environmental protection agency ASEPA, added that the law was made in a hurry and gave too much independence to the agency, thereby making it impossible to be supervised by the ministry.
He said certain measures have been put in place to ensure an amendment of the law in the state House of Assembly, adding that the constraint had been that amendment of any law takes a long process and time to accomplish.
Meanwhile, Governor Orji has created a new ministry of Urban Renewal to tackle the persistent environmental problems facing the commercial city of Aba.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of new commissioners in Umuahia last week, the governor said he was determined to give a facelift to the city in an attempt to restore its lost glory.
He also charged the residents to be more responsible on environmental matters, adding that they should stop building on waterways to forestall erosion and flooding, and discourage dumping of refuse in gutters and drainages to avoid pollution, erosion and health problems.
Also in Ebonyi State, erosion is a major problem as it had led to floods destroying towns and villages.
The communities affected by these natural calamities include Ezza, Afikpo South, Ozizza, Ibii, Ohaozara, Izzi and Ishieke, all cutting across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The floods destroy houses, schools, religious institutions, and cause deep gullies, in addition to causing major damage on roads.
A recent study on the impact of ecological disaster and how to control it showed that several millions of naira is needed to prevent the reoccurrence of erosion in most parts of the state
Also, a stakeholder in sanitation matters in Ebonyi State , who is also the president of Neighbourhood Environment Watch – an environmental and transparency Non Governmental Organisation, Hon. Kelechi Okezie, told the Nigerian Tribune that municipal waste is a critical factor in environmental protection.
It is worthy of note that erosion is capital intensive and needs special attention not only on the part of government, but also Non-Governmental agencies like the British Department for International Development, USAID, UNDP among others.
Many environmentalists have expressed worry at the level of ecological disaster in the region, particularly in the state.
In December 2006, the Nigerian government signed a N3.3 billion contract for 16 projects in 13 states affected by ecological disasters, which the Federal Government described as worrisome.
The Ebonyi State government, under the leadership of Governor Martin Elechi, desirous of tackling the menace of erosion, and ensuring that drainages in the state capital are not blocked, set up the Abakaliki Capital City Development Authority .
Consequently, the state House of Assembly has passed the bill establishing the development authority into law, as a way of giving it the necessary legal backing to enable it to operate and plan the city in accordance with the terms of reference, which include identifying spots or areas of erosion and environmental degradation that tend to destroy human habitation.
The development authority is equally mandated to provide drainage facilities, gutters and landscaping that will turn the state capital around.
Secondly, the state government has equally set up a state Environmental Protection Agency (ESEPA) and has been waging relentless battle for healthy environment, handling of waste and environmental management.
Thirdly, the state government through the Ministry of Lands, Urban Planning and Environment, has identified erosion sites and has embarked on measures to curtail the devastating effects of this ugly trend.
The effects of erosion are enormous and all hands must be on deck to address the menace.
In the first place, many roads in the state have been destroyed by erosion, and this poses a serious threat to the movement of goods and agricultural produce from one community to another.
Moreover, landslide, gully erosion and floods have resulted in the loss of lives and property in affected communities.
Also, uncontrollable floods have submerged villagers affected by erosion, subsequently leading to declaration of such areas as disaster zones.
Furthermore, the devastating effects of erosion have created refugee problems in affected areas, as many villagers have been forced to flee from their communities to seek refuge elsewhere because their abode had been wiped out.
Based on the aforementioned effects and hazards of erosion and other environmental problems, the following measures have been proffered as solutions, and places where some of them have been adopted by the state government need greater commitment.
Firstly, due to the growing population of the state, 100 tonnes of waste is generated daily; there is, therefore, the need for the government to improve on the funding of the state environmental protection agency to enhance its proficiency.
Secondly, collaboration with international organisations for effective protection of the global environment is equally a necessity. Such collaborative efforts have resulted in positive contributions to the development of appropriate policies, legislations and action plans.
In addition, addressing the menace of erosion, entails halting the excavation of sand as this will help reduce the impact of erosion whenever it occurs.
Reacting to the efforts of the state government to curtail the menace of erosion, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health & Environment, said the government was partnering with the ecological fund office, Abuja, to enhance the combat of the menace, urging the Federal Government to speed up intervention for the state.
According to him, new dependable sources of funding for flood, erosion and other ecological disaster control should be sought.
He opined that drainage improvement will go a long way in tackling the menace of erosion. Man made ditches and storm sewers, according to him, help drain areas where the surface drainage system is inadequate, maintaining that drainage and storm sewer improvement are designed to carry the run off from smaller, more frequent storms which convey water to other locations.
Be that as it may, most of the environmental analysts interviewed were optimistic that flood and erosion control measures, if adopted and implemented, would stem the menace of erosion and other environmental problems in the zone.
APART from kidnapping and armed robbery, which had in recent times portrayed the South-East geopolitical zone in a bad light, one other nagging issue confronting the Igbo enclave is environmental degradation, especially with regard to erosion.
It is no longer news that the people of the five states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo have tales of woes on environmental degradation in the zone.
And, to the dismay of many, some residents in the region are not helping matters as they block drainages whenever rain is falling.
In Enugu State, the poor sanitation situation which has left the streets of Enugu defaced with mounting heaps of refuse, is a serious concern to the state Government.
In response to this ugly development, the government has taken new measures to address the problems of the State Waste Management Authority, ESWAMA, with a view to ensuring effective waste disposal in Enugu and Nsukka urban.
It will be recalled that Governor Sullivan Chime, while addressing Enugu State indigenes, resident in Abuja at a town hall meeting, disclosed that all efforts made by his government to ensure a clean environment came to naught as there were people out there sabotaging his government’s efforts.
Governor Chime, however, disclosed that his government has been able to identify the source of the sabotage and would soon do something to ensure that the sanitation situation in the cities of Enugu and Nsukka improved.
To ensure a lasting solution to the sanitation problem and check the drift into sanitation quagmire, the state government has, as part of its new measures to strengthen ESWAMA, invited a team of mechanical engineers from the company that supplied the state with 15 waste disposal trucks as well as over a thousand dumpsters, to come and effect repairs on the dilapidated trucks and provide spare parts for regular maintenance of the vehicles.
In addition, the government has also completed arrangements for the visiting engineers to train ESWAMA staff on how to repair and service the trucks for better operations and service delivery.
It is not an overstatement to say that the sanitation situation in Enugu metropolis is about causing an epidemic, as refuse now jostles for space on the roads with motorists.
Some residents of the metropolis use the drainage as a dumping ground for waste products as they dump refuse in there each time rains, consequently blocking the drainage where run water is expected to flow .
However, the Nigerian Tribune observed that erosion is more pronounced in rural areas than urban cerntres, apparently because government’s attention is focused more on the metropolis.
In Abia State, Governor Theodore Orji’s administration needs about N350 billion to contain and rehabilitate 2,050 erosion ravaged areas that are scattered all over the 17 local government areas of the state.
Speaking in Umuahia recently, a former Commissioner for Environment in the state, Engineer Charles Ojukwu, said the present government in the state has spent about N1.2 billion to contain only three erosion sites in the communities around the state university, ABSU, and two other sites.
The commissioner, who said the state would soon be forced to relocate some affected communities to other areas of the state, while inhabitants of such areas would be turned to environmental refugees, added that erosion had already washed away houses and farmlands, polluted sources of drinking water and cut off roads in affected areas of the state.
He said parts of the envisaged problems of the planned relocation measure would include hardships to many families, food insecurity, lack of land for cultivation of crops and possible outbreak of communal war, “because the host communities may not accept the refugees.”
Ojukwu, who said the erosion problem in the state was being worsened by the selective way the ecological funds were accessed by states of the federation, added that Abia State had not been able to access the ecological fund to tackle erosion problem because the state had not been a PDP-controlled state until recently.
He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state with the needed funds now that the state is being controlled by a PDP government , saying the state government does not have the financial wherewithal to salvage the situation.
The former commissioner, who said that human actions contribute immensely to erosion menace, said illegal sand excavation and mining are major contributory factors, aside building of houses and dumping of refuse in drainages.
He said government had been carrying on programmes to sensitise the people on the need to protect their environment by planting trees and ensuring a hygienic environment.
The former commissioner, who also called for an amendment of the Abia State environmental law of 2004 establishing the state environmental protection agency ASEPA, added that the law was made in a hurry and gave too much independence to the agency, thereby making it impossible to be supervised by the ministry.
He said certain measures have been put in place to ensure an amendment of the law in the state House of Assembly, adding that the constraint had been that amendment of any law takes a long process and time to accomplish.
Meanwhile, Governor Orji has created a new ministry of Urban Renewal to tackle the persistent environmental problems facing the commercial city of Aba.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of new commissioners in Umuahia last week, the governor said he was determined to give a facelift to the city in an attempt to restore its lost glory.
He also charged the residents to be more responsible on environmental matters, adding that they should stop building on waterways to forestall erosion and flooding, and discourage dumping of refuse in gutters and drainages to avoid pollution, erosion and health problems.
Also in Ebonyi State, erosion is a major problem as it had led to floods destroying towns and villages.
The communities affected by these natural calamities include Ezza, Afikpo South, Ozizza, Ibii, Ohaozara, Izzi and Ishieke, all cutting across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The floods destroy houses, schools, religious institutions, and cause deep gullies, in addition to causing major damage on roads.
A recent study on the impact of ecological disaster and how to control it showed that several millions of naira is needed to prevent the reoccurrence of erosion in most parts of the state
Also, a stakeholder in sanitation matters in Ebonyi State , who is also the president of Neighbourhood Environment Watch – an environmental and transparency Non Governmental Organisation, Hon. Kelechi Okezie, told the Nigerian Tribune that municipal waste is a critical factor in environmental protection.
It is worthy of note that erosion is capital intensive and needs special attention not only on the part of government, but also Non-Governmental agencies like the British Department for International Development, USAID, UNDP among others.
Many environmentalists have expressed worry at the level of ecological disaster in the region, particularly in the state.
In December 2006, the Nigerian government signed a N3.3 billion contract for 16 projects in 13 states affected by ecological disasters, which the Federal Government described as worrisome.
The Ebonyi State government, under the leadership of Governor Martin Elechi, desirous of tackling the menace of erosion, and ensuring that drainages in the state capital are not blocked, set up the Abakaliki Capital City Development Authority .
Consequently, the state House of Assembly has passed the bill establishing the development authority into law, as a way of giving it the necessary legal backing to enable it to operate and plan the city in accordance with the terms of reference, which include identifying spots or areas of erosion and environmental degradation that tend to destroy human habitation.
The development authority is equally mandated to provide drainage facilities, gutters and landscaping that will turn the state capital around.
Secondly, the state government has equally set up a state Environmental Protection Agency (ESEPA) and has been waging relentless battle for healthy environment, handling of waste and environmental management.
Thirdly, the state government through the Ministry of Lands, Urban Planning and Environment, has identified erosion sites and has embarked on measures to curtail the devastating effects of this ugly trend.
The effects of erosion are enormous and all hands must be on deck to address the menace.
In the first place, many roads in the state have been destroyed by erosion, and this poses a serious threat to the movement of goods and agricultural produce from one community to another.
Moreover, landslide, gully erosion and floods have resulted in the loss of lives and property in affected communities.
Also, uncontrollable floods have submerged villagers affected by erosion, subsequently leading to declaration of such areas as disaster zones.
Furthermore, the devastating effects of erosion have created refugee problems in affected areas, as many villagers have been forced to flee from their communities to seek refuge elsewhere because their abode had been wiped out.
Based on the aforementioned effects and hazards of erosion and other environmental problems, the following measures have been proffered as solutions, and places where some of them have been adopted by the state government need greater commitment.
Firstly, due to the growing population of the state, 100 tonnes of waste is generated daily; there is, therefore, the need for the government to improve on the funding of the state environmental protection agency to enhance its proficiency.
Secondly, collaboration with international organisations for effective protection of the global environment is equally a necessity. Such collaborative efforts have resulted in positive contributions to the development of appropriate policies, legislations and action plans.
In addition, addressing the menace of erosion, entails halting the excavation of sand as this will help reduce the impact of erosion whenever it occurs.
Reacting to the efforts of the state government to curtail the menace of erosion, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health & Environment, said the government was partnering with the ecological fund office, Abuja, to enhance the combat of the menace, urging the Federal Government to speed up intervention for the state.
According to him, new dependable sources of funding for flood, erosion and other ecological disaster control should be sought.
He opined that drainage improvement will go a long way in tackling the menace of erosion. Man made ditches and storm sewers, according to him, help drain areas where the surface drainage system is inadequate, maintaining that drainage and storm sewer improvement are designed to carry the run off from smaller, more frequent storms which convey water to other locations.
Be that as it may, most of the environmental analysts interviewed were optimistic that flood and erosion control measures, if adopted and implemented, would stem the menace of erosion and other environmental problems in the zone.
Jonathan, IBB take campaign abroad •Supporters woo Igbos in US
Jonathan, IBB take campaign abroad •Supporters woo Igbos in US
SUPPORTERS of President Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday, warned would-be candidates for the presidency that it would be extremely difficult to unseat the president in the 2011 presidential election.
Dr Wolfe Obianime, president, Ijaw National Congress (INC), made the declaration at the 16th annual convention of the World Igbo Congress (WIC) in Philadelphia, USA.
Obianime, who led a delegation to the convention, urged Ndigbo to support Jonathan’s presidential bid, saying it represented a “generational and paradigm shift.
“His (Jonathan’s) major challengers have been presidents before and they have historical judgments against them, not by the Nigerian courts, but by the judgments of the people,’’ he told the North America correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the convention.
“I do not need to bait the Igbo people, Goodluck Jonathan is from the eastern region.
“Nineteen states were created from the North and they still relate as the northern region but they keep telling you zoning is between the North and South.
“They don’t tell you zoning is between North-West and North-Central, they tell you zoning is between the North and the South. In other words, they see themselves as a monolithic North.
“Then here I am from the eastern region and you are asking me what I am selling to the eastern region to be able to actualise an aspiration that will work better for them.
“Goodluck Jonathan is from the eastern region, his name is Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. So why must he bribe his brothers to get what he wants?,’’ he asked.
Obianime said it was “political arrogance”, for any man to promise to give Ndigbo presidency by 2015.
“To the level that Nigeria has developed today, no one man can come and tell a group to bring out one person in 2015 and he will make him a president,’’ he said.
Earlier, former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, had declared through his supporters that his desire to return to the presidency in 2011 was “to heal the past through national reconciliation.”
Babangida’s address was delivered by a member of the IBB 2011 Campaign Organisation, Dr Chidi Amuta, who led a team of supporters to the convention.
Babangida reaffirmed his resolve to support an Igbo president in 2015.
“I have recently expressed my commitment to completing “the work of national integration of Ndigbo into the Nigerian political leadership, which we, as military officers, began in the 1970s and 80s’.
“This commitment is cardinal to my current campaign that come 2015, Nigeria should by consensus elect a president of Igbo extraction. This is not only a historical necessity but also a moral imperative.
“We must pass around the torch of equity and justice so that our federation can thrive as a place where justice and fairness reign supreme,’’ he said.
The former military ruler said 40 years after Nigeria fought a bitter and tragic civil war, time had come to permanently heal the wounds of war and remove the scars of conflict.
“I stand before you not only as a witness to the ravages of that war, but as one whose professional career as a soldier was formed in the effort to defend national unity and protect our collective heritage.
“In those years of rage, I travelled through our South-East in the armour of a warrior.
“As a military president, I returned there as a messenger of peace and an agent of development and positive integration.
“Once again, driven by the urge to promote the consolidation of democracy in our land, I have returned to the South-East with a message of hope and promise that we should now permanently heal the wounds of war and remove the scars of conflict,” he said.
In his address, Ichie Chibuzo Onwuchekwe, chairman of the WIC, listed several proposals that the Igbo would want “serious presidential candidates to do for the region.”
He said the Igbos would like to have a date explicitly stating when work on the second Niger Bridge would start and end.
Onwuchekwe further identified the scrapping of the current local government system and formation of regional governments on the basis of geopolitical regions within Nigeria as another proposal.
He proposed that a “Nigerian president of Igbo heritage should be elected in 2015. “
NAN reported that a PDP stalwart, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Kema Chikwe, and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, attended the convention.
SUPPORTERS of President Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday, warned would-be candidates for the presidency that it would be extremely difficult to unseat the president in the 2011 presidential election.
Dr Wolfe Obianime, president, Ijaw National Congress (INC), made the declaration at the 16th annual convention of the World Igbo Congress (WIC) in Philadelphia, USA.
Obianime, who led a delegation to the convention, urged Ndigbo to support Jonathan’s presidential bid, saying it represented a “generational and paradigm shift.
“His (Jonathan’s) major challengers have been presidents before and they have historical judgments against them, not by the Nigerian courts, but by the judgments of the people,’’ he told the North America correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the convention.
“I do not need to bait the Igbo people, Goodluck Jonathan is from the eastern region.
“Nineteen states were created from the North and they still relate as the northern region but they keep telling you zoning is between the North and South.
“They don’t tell you zoning is between North-West and North-Central, they tell you zoning is between the North and the South. In other words, they see themselves as a monolithic North.
“Then here I am from the eastern region and you are asking me what I am selling to the eastern region to be able to actualise an aspiration that will work better for them.
“Goodluck Jonathan is from the eastern region, his name is Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. So why must he bribe his brothers to get what he wants?,’’ he asked.
Obianime said it was “political arrogance”, for any man to promise to give Ndigbo presidency by 2015.
“To the level that Nigeria has developed today, no one man can come and tell a group to bring out one person in 2015 and he will make him a president,’’ he said.
Earlier, former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, had declared through his supporters that his desire to return to the presidency in 2011 was “to heal the past through national reconciliation.”
Babangida’s address was delivered by a member of the IBB 2011 Campaign Organisation, Dr Chidi Amuta, who led a team of supporters to the convention.
Babangida reaffirmed his resolve to support an Igbo president in 2015.
“I have recently expressed my commitment to completing “the work of national integration of Ndigbo into the Nigerian political leadership, which we, as military officers, began in the 1970s and 80s’.
“This commitment is cardinal to my current campaign that come 2015, Nigeria should by consensus elect a president of Igbo extraction. This is not only a historical necessity but also a moral imperative.
“We must pass around the torch of equity and justice so that our federation can thrive as a place where justice and fairness reign supreme,’’ he said.
The former military ruler said 40 years after Nigeria fought a bitter and tragic civil war, time had come to permanently heal the wounds of war and remove the scars of conflict.
“I stand before you not only as a witness to the ravages of that war, but as one whose professional career as a soldier was formed in the effort to defend national unity and protect our collective heritage.
“In those years of rage, I travelled through our South-East in the armour of a warrior.
“As a military president, I returned there as a messenger of peace and an agent of development and positive integration.
“Once again, driven by the urge to promote the consolidation of democracy in our land, I have returned to the South-East with a message of hope and promise that we should now permanently heal the wounds of war and remove the scars of conflict,” he said.
In his address, Ichie Chibuzo Onwuchekwe, chairman of the WIC, listed several proposals that the Igbo would want “serious presidential candidates to do for the region.”
He said the Igbos would like to have a date explicitly stating when work on the second Niger Bridge would start and end.
Onwuchekwe further identified the scrapping of the current local government system and formation of regional governments on the basis of geopolitical regions within Nigeria as another proposal.
He proposed that a “Nigerian president of Igbo heritage should be elected in 2015. “
NAN reported that a PDP stalwart, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Kema Chikwe, and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, attended the convention.
CBN hands over 4 sick banks this month
CBN hands over 4 sick banks this month
BARRING any unforeseen circumstance, four of the eight sick banks in the country will be handed over to new investors this month.
This follows intense lobbying that had been going on between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) - appointed managements of the affected banks and some minority shareholders’ groups. Some of the banks are those that held investors’ forums recently.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that apart from meeting the shareholders under their group affiliations, the bank executives are reaching out to individual leaders of the groups, who are believed to be averse to the sale of the banks, particularly those that went to court.
It will also be recalled that the CBN had organised two consultative meetings with them, where the CBN governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, stated unequivocally that the shareholders would be carried along in the recapitalisation process, adding that it was not the business of the apex bank to sell the banks.
He, however, warned that if efforts to recapitaise the banks were continuously frustrated, he would be left with no other option but to hand over the banks to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for outright liquidation.
Also, the CBN governor confirmed recently that two foreign financial institutions and some local banks had indicated interest in four of the eight banks, stating that the process would be completed last month.
A leader of a shareholders’ group who was approached told the Nigerian Tribune that he told the bank chief that the stand of the bank owners was that, it was not the responsibility of the apex bank to sell any of the banks, stressing that due process must be followed to recapitalise the banks.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr Boniface Okezie, who said though he was never contacted, maintained that his stand on the recapitalisation was well known.
According to Okezie, neither the CBN appointed management nor the apex bank has the right to sell the banks, stressing that there was no need to embark on a futile exercise.
He stated that the first thing the CBN should do is to remove forthwith its appointees in those banks, paving the way to the remaining board members who survived the CBN’s last year sack to look for investors for the banks.
He noted that the present managers of the banks were doing the CBN’s bidding, stressing that with them there, there cannot be transparency exercise.
“These CBN-appointed people cannot be there for recapitalisation. They don’t have any business in those banks. They are doing CBN’s bidding. We are calling on CBN to withdraw them forthwith. If the people are good, let the board give them appointment letters,” he stated.
Okezie made a case for a time frame of not less than 18 months for the banks to recapitalise, adding that it was the easiest way to recapitalise the banks.
Another shareholder, Nona Awoh, said the banks should make sure that the interests of minority shareholders were taken into consideration.
According to him, beyond taking equity positions, the incoming investors must be made to make long-term commitments to the banks.
FinBank, Intercontinental Bank, Bank PHB and Oceanic Bank had held various meetings with their minority shareholders.
At an investors’ forum recently, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of FinBank, Suzanne Iroche, said there was need to recapitalise the bank as quickly as possible.
“If CBN takes away the forbearances without adequate capital and liquidity immediately, we are failed institutions and we can’t afford that,” she said. “An institution that operates negative capital is an institution which loses value over time.”
She added that the bank cannot continue to operate with negative capital as 88 per cent of its loans are currently not performing.
“We have taken deposits and shareholders fund up to N88 billion which is yielding nothing for us but that is costing us money. We have to resolve this as quickly as possible,” she said.
Meanwhile, commercial banks’ opening balance with the CBN has continued to maintain a drop, raising concerns over liquidity in the system.
The funds stood at about N420 billion on Friday, down from N535 billion on Thursday of the previous week, representing a 21 per cent drop. The drop, according to dealers, was largely due to foreign exchange and treasury bill purchases during the week.
“The market remains sufficiently liquid to support rates at the present level until the next cycle of disbursal of budgetary allocations,” one dealer said.
BARRING any unforeseen circumstance, four of the eight sick banks in the country will be handed over to new investors this month.
This follows intense lobbying that had been going on between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) - appointed managements of the affected banks and some minority shareholders’ groups. Some of the banks are those that held investors’ forums recently.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that apart from meeting the shareholders under their group affiliations, the bank executives are reaching out to individual leaders of the groups, who are believed to be averse to the sale of the banks, particularly those that went to court.
It will also be recalled that the CBN had organised two consultative meetings with them, where the CBN governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, stated unequivocally that the shareholders would be carried along in the recapitalisation process, adding that it was not the business of the apex bank to sell the banks.
He, however, warned that if efforts to recapitaise the banks were continuously frustrated, he would be left with no other option but to hand over the banks to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for outright liquidation.
Also, the CBN governor confirmed recently that two foreign financial institutions and some local banks had indicated interest in four of the eight banks, stating that the process would be completed last month.
A leader of a shareholders’ group who was approached told the Nigerian Tribune that he told the bank chief that the stand of the bank owners was that, it was not the responsibility of the apex bank to sell any of the banks, stressing that due process must be followed to recapitalise the banks.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr Boniface Okezie, who said though he was never contacted, maintained that his stand on the recapitalisation was well known.
According to Okezie, neither the CBN appointed management nor the apex bank has the right to sell the banks, stressing that there was no need to embark on a futile exercise.
He stated that the first thing the CBN should do is to remove forthwith its appointees in those banks, paving the way to the remaining board members who survived the CBN’s last year sack to look for investors for the banks.
He noted that the present managers of the banks were doing the CBN’s bidding, stressing that with them there, there cannot be transparency exercise.
“These CBN-appointed people cannot be there for recapitalisation. They don’t have any business in those banks. They are doing CBN’s bidding. We are calling on CBN to withdraw them forthwith. If the people are good, let the board give them appointment letters,” he stated.
Okezie made a case for a time frame of not less than 18 months for the banks to recapitalise, adding that it was the easiest way to recapitalise the banks.
Another shareholder, Nona Awoh, said the banks should make sure that the interests of minority shareholders were taken into consideration.
According to him, beyond taking equity positions, the incoming investors must be made to make long-term commitments to the banks.
FinBank, Intercontinental Bank, Bank PHB and Oceanic Bank had held various meetings with their minority shareholders.
At an investors’ forum recently, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of FinBank, Suzanne Iroche, said there was need to recapitalise the bank as quickly as possible.
“If CBN takes away the forbearances without adequate capital and liquidity immediately, we are failed institutions and we can’t afford that,” she said. “An institution that operates negative capital is an institution which loses value over time.”
She added that the bank cannot continue to operate with negative capital as 88 per cent of its loans are currently not performing.
“We have taken deposits and shareholders fund up to N88 billion which is yielding nothing for us but that is costing us money. We have to resolve this as quickly as possible,” she said.
Meanwhile, commercial banks’ opening balance with the CBN has continued to maintain a drop, raising concerns over liquidity in the system.
The funds stood at about N420 billion on Friday, down from N535 billion on Thursday of the previous week, representing a 21 per cent drop. The drop, according to dealers, was largely due to foreign exchange and treasury bill purchases during the week.
“The market remains sufficiently liquid to support rates at the present level until the next cycle of disbursal of budgetary allocations,” one dealer said.
2011: Militants hold secret meetings with IBB, Buhari •Ex-military president given conditions
2011: Militants hold secret meetings with IBB, Buhari •Ex-military president given conditions
THERE are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to strike a deal with leaders of key militant groups in the Niger Delta to strengthen his chances of winning the South-South zone if he decides to run in the 2011 presidential election.
Indications to this effect emerged in the light of efforts by leaders of the militants, who had given up on the government amnesty initiative to engage presidential aspirants from the North in exploratory talks on how to fit into their presidential programmes.
Two leaders of militant groups which surrendered arms in the wake of the Federal Government’s amnesty had arrived in Abuja last week to hold talks with northern presidential aspirants, including General Ibrahim Babangida and General Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigerian Tribune learnt through aides of the aspirants that the militants complained that they were not being consulted by President Jonathan.
The militant heads were said to have canvassed a view that their full participation in the ongoing political process would enhance their resolve to finally discard the toga of militancy, just as they reportedly expressed dismay that their efforts to dissolve into the campaign programme of President Jonathan were not being appreciated.
It is not certain which specific roles the militants desired to play in the presidential campaigns of the aspirants, whom they reportedly met. However, it was disclosed that tentative agreements were reached by the campaign team of General Buhari that they should make a bold appearance during his inaugural campaign summit scheduled to take place in Abuja any moment from now.
Checks within the IBB campaign organisation revealed that none of the militant leaders was able to meet the Minna general in person, but reportedly met his aides in Abuja and told them about their desire to feature in his campaign programmes.
When the militants met with the representatives of the ex-president recently, Nigerian Tribune gathered that they vowed to support him if he agreed to a one-term tenure and hand over power to a candidate from the South-South geopolitical zone in 2015.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that Babangida was told to rescind his decision of handing over to a candidate from the South-East, choose a vice-president from South-South, implement the white paper of the Ledun Mittee committee and create additional states in the South-South geopolitical zone.
Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the militants were working with notable South-South governors, who were said to be working underground for different northern presidential aspirants following their irreconcilable differences with President Jonathan.
THERE are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to strike a deal with leaders of key militant groups in the Niger Delta to strengthen his chances of winning the South-South zone if he decides to run in the 2011 presidential election.
Indications to this effect emerged in the light of efforts by leaders of the militants, who had given up on the government amnesty initiative to engage presidential aspirants from the North in exploratory talks on how to fit into their presidential programmes.
Two leaders of militant groups which surrendered arms in the wake of the Federal Government’s amnesty had arrived in Abuja last week to hold talks with northern presidential aspirants, including General Ibrahim Babangida and General Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigerian Tribune learnt through aides of the aspirants that the militants complained that they were not being consulted by President Jonathan.
The militant heads were said to have canvassed a view that their full participation in the ongoing political process would enhance their resolve to finally discard the toga of militancy, just as they reportedly expressed dismay that their efforts to dissolve into the campaign programme of President Jonathan were not being appreciated.
It is not certain which specific roles the militants desired to play in the presidential campaigns of the aspirants, whom they reportedly met. However, it was disclosed that tentative agreements were reached by the campaign team of General Buhari that they should make a bold appearance during his inaugural campaign summit scheduled to take place in Abuja any moment from now.
Checks within the IBB campaign organisation revealed that none of the militant leaders was able to meet the Minna general in person, but reportedly met his aides in Abuja and told them about their desire to feature in his campaign programmes.
When the militants met with the representatives of the ex-president recently, Nigerian Tribune gathered that they vowed to support him if he agreed to a one-term tenure and hand over power to a candidate from the South-South geopolitical zone in 2015.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that Babangida was told to rescind his decision of handing over to a candidate from the South-East, choose a vice-president from South-South, implement the white paper of the Ledun Mittee committee and create additional states in the South-South geopolitical zone.
Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the militants were working with notable South-South governors, who were said to be working underground for different northern presidential aspirants following their irreconcilable differences with President Jonathan.
Halliburton: $130m bribe cash in Swiss bank frozen
WHERE is $180 million Halliburton bribe cash?
The puzzle seems to be getting clear, with the filing of charges against 15 suspects and the discovery that of the $180million cash, $130 million has been traced to the account of a British lawyer, Jeffrey Tesler. Tesler is believed to be the one who shared the money to public officers.
It was gathered yesterday that Tesler’s account in Switzerland has been frozen, following the intervention of the US Department of Justice.
The Federal Government is planning to get Tesler extradited from Britain whenever the trial of the 15 suspects begins.
The Federal Government, on Friday, filed charges against the 15 suspects at the Federal High Court, Abuja and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
The suspects are: Adeyanju Bodunde, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s aide, George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and Bilfinger Berger GMBH.
The others are: Ibrahim Aliyu, AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello, Mohammed Gidado Bakare, Urban Shelter Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, Sherwood Petroleum Limited, Tri-Star Investment Limited, Maizube Holdings Limited, TSKJ Nigeria Limited-(a) Technip S.A., (b)Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan.
Investigation by The Nation revealed that although Tesler was asked to give out $180million to government officials in Nigeria, he disbursed about $50million.
According to findings, the short-changing of Nigerian officials became noticed in September 2008 during the trial of a former Chief Executive Officer of Halliburton, Albert J. Stanley, in a Houston, United States court.
A highly-placed source, who was central to the investigation, said: "During the trial of the ex-CEO of Halliburton, the US government traced about $130million to Tesler’s account. It means that the $180milion was not wholly disbursed.
"After the conviction of the former Halliburton boss, the US Department of Justice succeeded in convincing the Swiss authorities to freeze access to the bribe sum by Tesler.
"That is why the Commissioner of Police, Presidential Panel of Investigation, Amodu Ali and his team recommended the trial of the 15 suspects.
"Nigeria can only have the $130million repatriated, if only the bribe beneficiaries in Nigeria are tried and justice meted out.
"You can now appreciate why the US Government is insisting on the trial of all those implicated in the scandal."
The Federal Government plans to ask the UK Government to extradite Tesler to hasten the trial of all the 15 suspects.
Another top source added: "From our records, Tesler is on bail in the UK. Both the US and Nigeria are interested in his trial over the scandal.
"Having filed charges before two courts, the Federal Government can explore its Extradition Treaty with the UK to bring Tesler to Nigeria for trial.
"The bribe giver is central to the trial of the 15 suspects. With this commitment from Nigeria, we hope that the UK authorities will extradite Tesler so that we can keep this scandal behind us as a nation."
The $180million bribery scandal involved the former Halliburton subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), in respect of the Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Bonny.
Albert J. Stanley admitted before a Houston court in the US on September 4, 2008 that he orchestrated more than $180million in bribe to senior government officials.
Stanley alleged that the bribe was channeled through Tesler in four instalments of $60million; $32.5million; $51million and $23million.
The bribe was allegedly facilitated between 1995 and 2005 in London.
The cash was allegedly stashed by some top government officials and their accomplices in France, Britain, Switzerland, Portugal and Seychelles.
The puzzle seems to be getting clear, with the filing of charges against 15 suspects and the discovery that of the $180million cash, $130 million has been traced to the account of a British lawyer, Jeffrey Tesler. Tesler is believed to be the one who shared the money to public officers.
It was gathered yesterday that Tesler’s account in Switzerland has been frozen, following the intervention of the US Department of Justice.
The Federal Government is planning to get Tesler extradited from Britain whenever the trial of the 15 suspects begins.
The Federal Government, on Friday, filed charges against the 15 suspects at the Federal High Court, Abuja and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
The suspects are: Adeyanju Bodunde, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s aide, George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and Bilfinger Berger GMBH.
The others are: Ibrahim Aliyu, AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello, Mohammed Gidado Bakare, Urban Shelter Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, Sherwood Petroleum Limited, Tri-Star Investment Limited, Maizube Holdings Limited, TSKJ Nigeria Limited-(a) Technip S.A., (b)Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan.
Investigation by The Nation revealed that although Tesler was asked to give out $180million to government officials in Nigeria, he disbursed about $50million.
According to findings, the short-changing of Nigerian officials became noticed in September 2008 during the trial of a former Chief Executive Officer of Halliburton, Albert J. Stanley, in a Houston, United States court.
A highly-placed source, who was central to the investigation, said: "During the trial of the ex-CEO of Halliburton, the US government traced about $130million to Tesler’s account. It means that the $180milion was not wholly disbursed.
"After the conviction of the former Halliburton boss, the US Department of Justice succeeded in convincing the Swiss authorities to freeze access to the bribe sum by Tesler.
"That is why the Commissioner of Police, Presidential Panel of Investigation, Amodu Ali and his team recommended the trial of the 15 suspects.
"Nigeria can only have the $130million repatriated, if only the bribe beneficiaries in Nigeria are tried and justice meted out.
"You can now appreciate why the US Government is insisting on the trial of all those implicated in the scandal."
The Federal Government plans to ask the UK Government to extradite Tesler to hasten the trial of all the 15 suspects.
Another top source added: "From our records, Tesler is on bail in the UK. Both the US and Nigeria are interested in his trial over the scandal.
"Having filed charges before two courts, the Federal Government can explore its Extradition Treaty with the UK to bring Tesler to Nigeria for trial.
"The bribe giver is central to the trial of the 15 suspects. With this commitment from Nigeria, we hope that the UK authorities will extradite Tesler so that we can keep this scandal behind us as a nation."
The $180million bribery scandal involved the former Halliburton subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), in respect of the Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Bonny.
Albert J. Stanley admitted before a Houston court in the US on September 4, 2008 that he orchestrated more than $180million in bribe to senior government officials.
Stanley alleged that the bribe was channeled through Tesler in four instalments of $60million; $32.5million; $51million and $23million.
The bribe was allegedly facilitated between 1995 and 2005 in London.
The cash was allegedly stashed by some top government officials and their accomplices in France, Britain, Switzerland, Portugal and Seychelles.
Super Eagles fly past Barea by two goals in Calabar
NIGERIA's Super Eagles defeated the Barea of Madagascar 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Sunday at the Calabar Stadium.
The widely criticised Super Eagles started Sunday’s Group B encounter against the Barea with great determination. Nigeria's midfielders were lively in the early minutes as they looked to provide service to the strikers up front. But the visitors did enough to survive the opening onslaught.
But it was only a matter of time before the Eagles took the lead and in the 19th minute, Obafemi Martins ran at the visiting defence and beat his marker, but instead of playing the ball into a crowded penalty area, he placed his shot outside of the goalkeeper's outstretched arms. The jam-packed Calabar Stadium soon vibrated in celebrations.
By the 35th minute, the game was mostly being played in the midfield as a number of Nigerian moves and combinations orchestrated by Chelsea’s Mikel Obi and Peter Odemwingie.
With the Eagles in firm control of the situation, but still unable to get a desired opening, Martins decided to take matters into his own hands in the 44th minute. The former Inter man outpaced his marker from the left flank and played in a short pass towards 24-year-old Esperance of Tunis striker Michael Eneramo, who easily lobbed the ball into the back net to give the Super Eagle a two-goal cushion going into the half-time interval.
Martins' header early in second half found the back of the net but was disallowed the referee, who judged the Rubin Kazan forward to have fouled a Madagascar player before the move.
Nigeria took their foot off the gas after that with the Barea mounting determined attacks to menace Nigerian ‘keeper Vincent Enyeama. Ahmed Musa, a 17-year–old local talent came in for injured Mikel Obi and was extremely impressive. His tackles pushed back the clearly advancing visitors.
The Nigerians were comfortable for the remainder of the half and will be pleased with the 2-0 win.
Nigeria is grouped alongside Madagascar, Guinea and Ethiopia in the Group 2 of the Nations Cup qualifiers. Nigeria's next match is on October 8 against Guinea in Conakry.
The widely criticised Super Eagles started Sunday’s Group B encounter against the Barea with great determination. Nigeria's midfielders were lively in the early minutes as they looked to provide service to the strikers up front. But the visitors did enough to survive the opening onslaught.
But it was only a matter of time before the Eagles took the lead and in the 19th minute, Obafemi Martins ran at the visiting defence and beat his marker, but instead of playing the ball into a crowded penalty area, he placed his shot outside of the goalkeeper's outstretched arms. The jam-packed Calabar Stadium soon vibrated in celebrations.
By the 35th minute, the game was mostly being played in the midfield as a number of Nigerian moves and combinations orchestrated by Chelsea’s Mikel Obi and Peter Odemwingie.
With the Eagles in firm control of the situation, but still unable to get a desired opening, Martins decided to take matters into his own hands in the 44th minute. The former Inter man outpaced his marker from the left flank and played in a short pass towards 24-year-old Esperance of Tunis striker Michael Eneramo, who easily lobbed the ball into the back net to give the Super Eagle a two-goal cushion going into the half-time interval.
Martins' header early in second half found the back of the net but was disallowed the referee, who judged the Rubin Kazan forward to have fouled a Madagascar player before the move.
Nigeria took their foot off the gas after that with the Barea mounting determined attacks to menace Nigerian ‘keeper Vincent Enyeama. Ahmed Musa, a 17-year–old local talent came in for injured Mikel Obi and was extremely impressive. His tackles pushed back the clearly advancing visitors.
The Nigerians were comfortable for the remainder of the half and will be pleased with the 2-0 win.
Nigeria is grouped alongside Madagascar, Guinea and Ethiopia in the Group 2 of the Nations Cup qualifiers. Nigeria's next match is on October 8 against Guinea in Conakry.
Friday
Dangers of Nigeria’s population boom
A just-published British Council study says Nigeria’s booming population of young people may be a great boom for the country’s economy in the coming decades. But it says if the Nigerian government does not take steps to engage them, the country could face a "demographic disaster."
Farida Ashu is a 22-year-old who lives in Nigeria and is looking for job as a teacher.
She says she is optimistic young people in Nigeria are ready to take the country into the future, according to newsnow.co.uk.
"Now young people are not waiting for someone else to do it for them, they are striving to do it for themselves," said Ashu. "Most very good initiatives when you look at them critically, you discover that there is a young mind behind them and there is a young person that is driving and executing them."
But she says like many young people in Nigeria, she does not have work. She says major steps need to be taken to ensure the growing population of her country can fulfill its potential.
"I fear that the government might not necessarily make use of this opportunity as it is supposed to," she adds. "I fear that the private sector, that we are all begging to come and invest in us will be grossly disappointed and we will go back to where we were in the beginning. I have so many fears."
Ashu took part in a new British Council study looking at how Nigeria can cope with its growing population. It already has one of the highest populations in the world and by 2050 is set to be the fifth most populous nation.
The report by the government-sponsored nonprofit organization says if the country takes full advantage of that baby boom, the average Nigerian’s income could triple during the next two decades.
Ben Fisher is the director of programmes for the British Council in Nigeria.
"By 2030, it will be one of the few countries in the world which has got a plentiful supply of young worker," said Fisher. "So the expectation is that if there is an investment in youth, that Nigeria could reap huge economic benefit in a similar way as has been experienced in Southeast Asia."
But a lot needs to be done in order to make that happen, he says. About 25 million jobs will need to be created during the next 10 years, the report says, and more attention needs to be paid to education and health.
It also says focus must be drawn from oil and towards other sectors. The oil industry counts for up to 40 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, but Fisher says it does not create many jobs for the population.
A young population without work will be bad news for Nigeria, he says.
"If Nigeria fails to put the correct policies in place and to reap the demographic dividend, the seriousness of the predicament should not be underestimated," Fisher added. "Youth could be a force for great instability and social unrest in Nigeria."
The report says 30 per cent of people who completed secondary education in Nigeria are unemployed.
Farida Ashu is a 22-year-old who lives in Nigeria and is looking for job as a teacher.
She says she is optimistic young people in Nigeria are ready to take the country into the future, according to newsnow.co.uk.
"Now young people are not waiting for someone else to do it for them, they are striving to do it for themselves," said Ashu. "Most very good initiatives when you look at them critically, you discover that there is a young mind behind them and there is a young person that is driving and executing them."
But she says like many young people in Nigeria, she does not have work. She says major steps need to be taken to ensure the growing population of her country can fulfill its potential.
"I fear that the government might not necessarily make use of this opportunity as it is supposed to," she adds. "I fear that the private sector, that we are all begging to come and invest in us will be grossly disappointed and we will go back to where we were in the beginning. I have so many fears."
Ashu took part in a new British Council study looking at how Nigeria can cope with its growing population. It already has one of the highest populations in the world and by 2050 is set to be the fifth most populous nation.
The report by the government-sponsored nonprofit organization says if the country takes full advantage of that baby boom, the average Nigerian’s income could triple during the next two decades.
Ben Fisher is the director of programmes for the British Council in Nigeria.
"By 2030, it will be one of the few countries in the world which has got a plentiful supply of young worker," said Fisher. "So the expectation is that if there is an investment in youth, that Nigeria could reap huge economic benefit in a similar way as has been experienced in Southeast Asia."
But a lot needs to be done in order to make that happen, he says. About 25 million jobs will need to be created during the next 10 years, the report says, and more attention needs to be paid to education and health.
It also says focus must be drawn from oil and towards other sectors. The oil industry counts for up to 40 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, but Fisher says it does not create many jobs for the population.
A young population without work will be bad news for Nigeria, he says.
"If Nigeria fails to put the correct policies in place and to reap the demographic dividend, the seriousness of the predicament should not be underestimated," Fisher added. "Youth could be a force for great instability and social unrest in Nigeria."
The report says 30 per cent of people who completed secondary education in Nigeria are unemployed.
The Super Eagles yesterday arrived Calabar
The Super Eagles yesterday arrived Calabar, Cross River State in preparation for their Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar at the U. J. Esuene stadium.
The Eagles' Technical Adviser Austine Eguavon said the team was happy playing in Calabar and are confident that they would beat Madagascar.
Eguavon said the team is made up of twenty-four players and eight officials including Mikel Obi, Captain Joseph Yobo ,Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingwe, Vincent Enyeama and Dan Shittu.
Captain Joseph Yobo told Sports Writers that the Eagles was determined to win even though they are not underrating Madagascar.
The team which was received at the Margaret Ekpo International Aiport by the Deputy Secretary Technical, had their first training at the main pitch of the U J. Esuene stadium last night.
The Eagles' Technical Adviser Austine Eguavon said the team was happy playing in Calabar and are confident that they would beat Madagascar.
Eguavon said the team is made up of twenty-four players and eight officials including Mikel Obi, Captain Joseph Yobo ,Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingwe, Vincent Enyeama and Dan Shittu.
Captain Joseph Yobo told Sports Writers that the Eagles was determined to win even though they are not underrating Madagascar.
The team which was received at the Margaret Ekpo International Aiport by the Deputy Secretary Technical, had their first training at the main pitch of the U J. Esuene stadium last night.
Tuesday
When Jonathan welcomed Orji into PDP
THOUGH it was a rally to receive Abia State Governor Theodore Orji back into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it could as well pass as a gathering to sell the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan for the office of president in 2011, reports Assistant Editor (News) OLUKOREDE YISHAU
THE Umuahia Township Stadium started receiving guests from as early as 8am. Before then, policemen, civil defence corps, mobile policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) had taken positions at strategic parts of the capital of Abia State. Street sweepers moved from street to street ridding them of dirt.
As from Friday, August 27, hotels had been fully booked. Walls of public and private property were defaced with posters and banners. The bulk of the posters and banners were of myriad organisations campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan to return as president in 2011. They bear all kinds of names such as Better Nigeria Movement, Goodluck Nigeria and so on. There were also posters saying ‘Orji can’t stop Orji.’ This is a play on the surname of the state’s former governor, Orji Kalu and the sitting governor, Theodore Orji—who have fallen out politically. And for those who may be querying the rationale behind Orji’s move from Progressive Grand Alliance (PPA) to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and then to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), member representing Aba North at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Joe Mgbeh, commissioned a leaflet explaining ‘the change from PPA to APGA now PDP.’
Mgbeh said: "His Excellency, Chief T. A Orji, the executive governor of Abia State, like Moses in the Bible who was brought up as Pharaoh’s prince, forsook all the luxury and comfort of Egyptian kingship and told "Pharaoh" that PPA is dominated by people of insatiable appetite of their own only. Not the interest of the people that called for "Point Blank ‘let my people go…’ At first he led them near Jordan, APGA though fertile land, but the people must go to the promise land (Canaan) where his Excellency Ochendo said is full of milk and honey, where he will bring the federal presence, where he will bring prosperity for the entire Abians, above all where the dividend of democracy will be assured PDP.
"Ochendo has effected the change and caused Abia-God’s own people, the children of God to rejoice— which means he is experienced, he has the good will but what he doesn’t have is time. So let us with charity support Ochendo onward 2011 bid, so as to give him the needed time. The change he has brought to Abia is a divine project. He is on the Lord’s side, let him ride on."
That Saturday, August 28, youths bearing vest with the picture of Jonathan and Governor Orji, who was that day formally received into the PDP by Jonathan, marched from streets to streets telling those who cared to listen that Jonathan and Orji must both be re-elected in 2011.
While Jonathan was yet to leave Abuja, the stadium was already filled to the brim. But popular high-life musician, Bright Chimezie was there to cool their nerves with melodious tunes.
But it was not until about mid-day that Jonathan came in. Signs that he was soon to emerge had surfaced when Vice President Namadi Sambo came in. With Jonathan in, the event started, with the traditional breaking of kolanut, which was passed round key chieftains of the party.
Speakers after speakers, such as National Chairman Okwesilieze Nwodo, the immediate past PDP National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Governor Martin Elechi, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, and Hon Agwu U. Agwu of the Abia House of Assembly, took the stage and did nothing but sing the praise of Orji and PDP. They described their party, as usual as the biggest in Africa. They also added that it is "the party that puts the food on the table.’’
Nwodo, who a month ago made the first move to woo the governor into the party, said that the party had finally found its missing rib. "This is a historic occasion that will usher in good governance in the state. What we are seeing here today can only be done by God alone," he said. He later handed over the PDP flag to the governor.
President Jonathan, who was the last to speak, restated his commitment to free and fair election in 2011 even as he charged members of his party to work hard to achieve that in order not to be queried by the international community.
Jonathan said he was passionate about his party but that it had nothing to do with the elections. "We have to do what is right in order to continue bring good leaders," he said.
"I have to thank PDP elders in Abia for what is happening today. Let me specially thank Chief Onyema Ugochukwu for making this event possible, because he was the one that contested election with the governor and there are so many litigations in court over the election. Without him dropping the suits, all we are witnessing today would not have been possible."
He said: "Our primaries is an election before election and once we do that we will go and start celebrating. "The whole of South East is a critical place and I have never seen a people that work hard like the Igbo. If you remove men and women of Igbo origin doing business in Lagos, Lagos would go into oblivion."
Jonathan further said that now that PDP has got Abia, the next target is Anambra, which he said would join in no distant time.
Orji had earlier assured Jonathan of total support. He said: "Abia is number one in your support. You are anointed. If there are people who will not support the president, let there be confusion in their camp. I have come back to PDP. If I have problem I can freely go to him and say help us. When I was in another party, he could say that helping us is anti-party (activity). But today it will no longer be anti-party to help members of your own party."
He castigated those who are working against Jonathan’s emergence in 2011 and expressed his belief that God would see Jonathan through to Aso Rock in 2011.
The crowd of commoners and dignitaries soon dispersed and Umuahia became its quiet self once again. It remains to be seen if opposition within the PDP in the state will make things smooth for the governor or ruffle feathers with him in his quest for a second term in office.
For now, he seems to be the man with the ace- despite the opinion of APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh that the governors has betrayed Ndigbo by returning to the PDP.
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THE Umuahia Township Stadium started receiving guests from as early as 8am. Before then, policemen, civil defence corps, mobile policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) had taken positions at strategic parts of the capital of Abia State. Street sweepers moved from street to street ridding them of dirt.
As from Friday, August 27, hotels had been fully booked. Walls of public and private property were defaced with posters and banners. The bulk of the posters and banners were of myriad organisations campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan to return as president in 2011. They bear all kinds of names such as Better Nigeria Movement, Goodluck Nigeria and so on. There were also posters saying ‘Orji can’t stop Orji.’ This is a play on the surname of the state’s former governor, Orji Kalu and the sitting governor, Theodore Orji—who have fallen out politically. And for those who may be querying the rationale behind Orji’s move from Progressive Grand Alliance (PPA) to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and then to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), member representing Aba North at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Joe Mgbeh, commissioned a leaflet explaining ‘the change from PPA to APGA now PDP.’
Mgbeh said: "His Excellency, Chief T. A Orji, the executive governor of Abia State, like Moses in the Bible who was brought up as Pharaoh’s prince, forsook all the luxury and comfort of Egyptian kingship and told "Pharaoh" that PPA is dominated by people of insatiable appetite of their own only. Not the interest of the people that called for "Point Blank ‘let my people go…’ At first he led them near Jordan, APGA though fertile land, but the people must go to the promise land (Canaan) where his Excellency Ochendo said is full of milk and honey, where he will bring the federal presence, where he will bring prosperity for the entire Abians, above all where the dividend of democracy will be assured PDP.
"Ochendo has effected the change and caused Abia-God’s own people, the children of God to rejoice— which means he is experienced, he has the good will but what he doesn’t have is time. So let us with charity support Ochendo onward 2011 bid, so as to give him the needed time. The change he has brought to Abia is a divine project. He is on the Lord’s side, let him ride on."
That Saturday, August 28, youths bearing vest with the picture of Jonathan and Governor Orji, who was that day formally received into the PDP by Jonathan, marched from streets to streets telling those who cared to listen that Jonathan and Orji must both be re-elected in 2011.
While Jonathan was yet to leave Abuja, the stadium was already filled to the brim. But popular high-life musician, Bright Chimezie was there to cool their nerves with melodious tunes.
But it was not until about mid-day that Jonathan came in. Signs that he was soon to emerge had surfaced when Vice President Namadi Sambo came in. With Jonathan in, the event started, with the traditional breaking of kolanut, which was passed round key chieftains of the party.
Speakers after speakers, such as National Chairman Okwesilieze Nwodo, the immediate past PDP National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Governor Martin Elechi, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, and Hon Agwu U. Agwu of the Abia House of Assembly, took the stage and did nothing but sing the praise of Orji and PDP. They described their party, as usual as the biggest in Africa. They also added that it is "the party that puts the food on the table.’’
Nwodo, who a month ago made the first move to woo the governor into the party, said that the party had finally found its missing rib. "This is a historic occasion that will usher in good governance in the state. What we are seeing here today can only be done by God alone," he said. He later handed over the PDP flag to the governor.
President Jonathan, who was the last to speak, restated his commitment to free and fair election in 2011 even as he charged members of his party to work hard to achieve that in order not to be queried by the international community.
Jonathan said he was passionate about his party but that it had nothing to do with the elections. "We have to do what is right in order to continue bring good leaders," he said.
"I have to thank PDP elders in Abia for what is happening today. Let me specially thank Chief Onyema Ugochukwu for making this event possible, because he was the one that contested election with the governor and there are so many litigations in court over the election. Without him dropping the suits, all we are witnessing today would not have been possible."
He said: "Our primaries is an election before election and once we do that we will go and start celebrating. "The whole of South East is a critical place and I have never seen a people that work hard like the Igbo. If you remove men and women of Igbo origin doing business in Lagos, Lagos would go into oblivion."
Jonathan further said that now that PDP has got Abia, the next target is Anambra, which he said would join in no distant time.
Orji had earlier assured Jonathan of total support. He said: "Abia is number one in your support. You are anointed. If there are people who will not support the president, let there be confusion in their camp. I have come back to PDP. If I have problem I can freely go to him and say help us. When I was in another party, he could say that helping us is anti-party (activity). But today it will no longer be anti-party to help members of your own party."
He castigated those who are working against Jonathan’s emergence in 2011 and expressed his belief that God would see Jonathan through to Aso Rock in 2011.
The crowd of commoners and dignitaries soon dispersed and Umuahia became its quiet self once again. It remains to be seen if opposition within the PDP in the state will make things smooth for the governor or ruffle feathers with him in his quest for a second term in office.
For now, he seems to be the man with the ace- despite the opinion of APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh that the governors has betrayed Ndigbo by returning to the PDP.
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Eguavoen dares NFF over Eagles job
SUPER Eagles stand-in coach Austin Eguavoen has told the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to hastily unveil the new Super Eagles coach vowing to dump the team after the African Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar on Sunday at the National Stadium Abuja.
In an interview with NationSport in Abuja, the former international said the Football House should waste no time in ensuring that a new coach takes over the helm of Eagles' affairs before the next match.
"I am not desperate about handling the Super Eagles. I have contributed my quota for the team. I think this is the time for the Football House to unveil the new coach to enable him settle down for the task ahead," Eguaveon stated.
He stressed that his decision to handle the team for the Madagascar match was purely out of his patriotic desire fo his Fatherland.
"I was in Belgium when I was called upon to handle the team for this match. I was skeptical about it, but after a second thought, I took it as a call for service, and accepted it," the coach added.
The former ACB of Lagos player said the NFF should hand over the team to Samson Siasia because he seems to be the most popular candidate among all. He however sounded a note of warning to Saisia that he would need to apply wisdom to enable him succeed at the job.
In an interview with NationSport in Abuja, the former international said the Football House should waste no time in ensuring that a new coach takes over the helm of Eagles' affairs before the next match.
"I am not desperate about handling the Super Eagles. I have contributed my quota for the team. I think this is the time for the Football House to unveil the new coach to enable him settle down for the task ahead," Eguaveon stated.
He stressed that his decision to handle the team for the Madagascar match was purely out of his patriotic desire fo his Fatherland.
"I was in Belgium when I was called upon to handle the team for this match. I was skeptical about it, but after a second thought, I took it as a call for service, and accepted it," the coach added.
The former ACB of Lagos player said the NFF should hand over the team to Samson Siasia because he seems to be the most popular candidate among all. He however sounded a note of warning to Saisia that he would need to apply wisdom to enable him succeed at the job.
2011: Babangida, Atiku selfish, says VP Sambo
VICE-PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo Monday took a swipe at ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over their insistence on the North producing the President in 2011.
Sambo said they were passionate about the zoning of the presidency to the North by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of their personal interest and aspirations.
Sambo, an architect and erstwhile Kaduna State Governor, also said the North would not lose anything, if it conceded political power to the South in next year’s election.
The Vice-President spoke on a wide range of issues in an interview –perhaps his first major outing since leaving Kaduna’s governorship for vice president – with select journalists in Abuja.
Both Babangida and Atiku have been threatening fire and brimstone, should the PDP fail to adhere to zoning which, in their estimation, cedes the presidency to the North.
They have also vowed to sink their differences and fight together to win the presidency for the North next year.
But Sambo said: "If the people that are talking do not have personal interests, then it will be a different matter. But when you see people that have interest, and they are the same people talking, then it becomes a kind of problem."
He said only President Goodluck Jonathan and his team were in the position to deliver Nigeria now, adding that it was time to refocus politics to issues rather than talking about North or South.
Said the VP: "Am I not part of the power? I think I am from the North and as the Vice-President, I have confidence that whatever a President from the North will do, I am in the best position to do it for the North.
"I remember in the 60s, when we were still children, these issues that have to do with religion, zoning and what have you were part of the issues that did not really exist.
"So, I am from the North; I’m part of power and everything that is needed to do for the North is being done. Look at what has been happening of recent.
"The major programmes that are being implemented for this part of the country, that is the northern part, there are evidence to show that we have a President that is patriotic, a President that does not have anything that is religious or sectional as part of his disposition or administration."
Asked why he is advocating a "back seat" for the North, Sambo said: "That is why we have chauffeur- driven cars. If you are chauffeur-driven, which will you prefer; will you sit in the front or at the back?"
Sambo added: "And today; we are 50 years old. The PDP has made it clear that the issue of its candidature will be in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and zoning is still an existing factor, it is part of the PDP constitution.
"We have gone up, we are just going to celebrate our 50th anniversary. And at the age of 50, we expect any state to have grown. This country has come a long way and, therefore, the issues that have to do with our development of effecting programmes of government that will rejuvenate the country and create a better standard of living for Nigerians are what we are looking for."
Sambo said "very soon" Jonathan would make public his intention to contest for the 2011 election, adding that Ramadan fasting accounted for the delay. "Very soon; there is no specific date yet but it will be very soon."
Sambo said Jonathan would not be breaching any law by contesting in 2011.
He added: "We have agreed that zoning is part and parcel of PDP; it has not removed zoning. But PDP has said that as far as its candidate is concerned, it respects the Federal Constitution. And in all previous elections of the PDP, despite the fact that there is zoning, all Nigerians that were interested participated in such elections.
"Just look at the last election, there were 15 candidates from the South, and about 12 or so from the North. Despite the fact that there was zoning in PDP, still the Constitution is still the prime factor that is considered in the candidature for PDP.
"Any interested candidate from any part of the country, as a Nigerian, has the right to contest, if he wishes, just like it has been proved in other PDP’s presidential primaries."
Responding to a question, the Vice-President said all the governors were backing the Jonathan ticket.
He said: "The Northern Governors, and in fact all the Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are being carried along and we have good relationship with them, we are moving this country together.
"And the positions of all the sections or the zones of this country have been made very clear. The governors of the Southsouth have made their statement; the governors from the Northern states have made their statement; members of the Nigerian Governors Forum have also made their statement. These statements are all in line with our position. So we are all together."
Sambo dismissed alleged threats to his office by some governors who wanted VP as a precondition for backing Jonathan.
Concerning purported threats from governors to hijack the primaries with the new Electoral Act, Sambo said: "How? Have you read the amendments? Who has read the amendments? The governors do not control as many official delegates as it used to be.
"Their concern is about who can deliver so that our society will change to a society we can all be proud of and so that our socio- economic status will improve. I think that is the major concern of Nigerians."
Regarding the new management of INEC, he said it would be able to deliver its target.
The Vice-President denied that his political influence had waned in his Kaduna home state.
He said: "I have not heard of that really and in practice I have not seen anything like that. In fact, just before you came in, I received a group of political friends from Kaduna and they said the government is doing everything in line with the programmes we have put in place together in Kaduna and all these politicians are from Kaduna.
"We are even always getting stronger and strengthening all issues with politics in Kaduna State. It is just the same thing. Like I said, it is the same story; people say a lot of things that may not be right.
"So, really as far as I know, Kaduna is still a strong PDP state and we are moving on as one family."
Sambo said they were passionate about the zoning of the presidency to the North by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of their personal interest and aspirations.
Sambo, an architect and erstwhile Kaduna State Governor, also said the North would not lose anything, if it conceded political power to the South in next year’s election.
The Vice-President spoke on a wide range of issues in an interview –perhaps his first major outing since leaving Kaduna’s governorship for vice president – with select journalists in Abuja.
Both Babangida and Atiku have been threatening fire and brimstone, should the PDP fail to adhere to zoning which, in their estimation, cedes the presidency to the North.
They have also vowed to sink their differences and fight together to win the presidency for the North next year.
But Sambo said: "If the people that are talking do not have personal interests, then it will be a different matter. But when you see people that have interest, and they are the same people talking, then it becomes a kind of problem."
He said only President Goodluck Jonathan and his team were in the position to deliver Nigeria now, adding that it was time to refocus politics to issues rather than talking about North or South.
Said the VP: "Am I not part of the power? I think I am from the North and as the Vice-President, I have confidence that whatever a President from the North will do, I am in the best position to do it for the North.
"I remember in the 60s, when we were still children, these issues that have to do with religion, zoning and what have you were part of the issues that did not really exist.
"So, I am from the North; I’m part of power and everything that is needed to do for the North is being done. Look at what has been happening of recent.
"The major programmes that are being implemented for this part of the country, that is the northern part, there are evidence to show that we have a President that is patriotic, a President that does not have anything that is religious or sectional as part of his disposition or administration."
Asked why he is advocating a "back seat" for the North, Sambo said: "That is why we have chauffeur- driven cars. If you are chauffeur-driven, which will you prefer; will you sit in the front or at the back?"
Sambo added: "And today; we are 50 years old. The PDP has made it clear that the issue of its candidature will be in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and zoning is still an existing factor, it is part of the PDP constitution.
"We have gone up, we are just going to celebrate our 50th anniversary. And at the age of 50, we expect any state to have grown. This country has come a long way and, therefore, the issues that have to do with our development of effecting programmes of government that will rejuvenate the country and create a better standard of living for Nigerians are what we are looking for."
Sambo said "very soon" Jonathan would make public his intention to contest for the 2011 election, adding that Ramadan fasting accounted for the delay. "Very soon; there is no specific date yet but it will be very soon."
Sambo said Jonathan would not be breaching any law by contesting in 2011.
He added: "We have agreed that zoning is part and parcel of PDP; it has not removed zoning. But PDP has said that as far as its candidate is concerned, it respects the Federal Constitution. And in all previous elections of the PDP, despite the fact that there is zoning, all Nigerians that were interested participated in such elections.
"Just look at the last election, there were 15 candidates from the South, and about 12 or so from the North. Despite the fact that there was zoning in PDP, still the Constitution is still the prime factor that is considered in the candidature for PDP.
"Any interested candidate from any part of the country, as a Nigerian, has the right to contest, if he wishes, just like it has been proved in other PDP’s presidential primaries."
Responding to a question, the Vice-President said all the governors were backing the Jonathan ticket.
He said: "The Northern Governors, and in fact all the Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are being carried along and we have good relationship with them, we are moving this country together.
"And the positions of all the sections or the zones of this country have been made very clear. The governors of the Southsouth have made their statement; the governors from the Northern states have made their statement; members of the Nigerian Governors Forum have also made their statement. These statements are all in line with our position. So we are all together."
Sambo dismissed alleged threats to his office by some governors who wanted VP as a precondition for backing Jonathan.
Concerning purported threats from governors to hijack the primaries with the new Electoral Act, Sambo said: "How? Have you read the amendments? Who has read the amendments? The governors do not control as many official delegates as it used to be.
"Their concern is about who can deliver so that our society will change to a society we can all be proud of and so that our socio- economic status will improve. I think that is the major concern of Nigerians."
Regarding the new management of INEC, he said it would be able to deliver its target.
The Vice-President denied that his political influence had waned in his Kaduna home state.
He said: "I have not heard of that really and in practice I have not seen anything like that. In fact, just before you came in, I received a group of political friends from Kaduna and they said the government is doing everything in line with the programmes we have put in place together in Kaduna and all these politicians are from Kaduna.
"We are even always getting stronger and strengthening all issues with politics in Kaduna State. It is just the same thing. Like I said, it is the same story; people say a lot of things that may not be right.
"So, really as far as I know, Kaduna is still a strong PDP state and we are moving on as one family."
Don’t dare Ojukwu –APGA warns Jonathan
Don’t dare Ojukwu –APGA warns Jonathan
From NEWS EDITOR
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Ojukwu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh has warned President Jonathan and his PDP to steer clear of Anambra State as the party is ready to fight to protect the mandate which the people gave to Mr. Peter Obi in the last election.
Umeh, who addressed a press conference in Enugu, Monday against the backdrop of attempt by the PDP to take over the entire South-eastern states, also warned that any attempt to claim Anambra would amount to an attempt on former Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu whichwould not be tolerated.
The APGA chairman, who was particularly concerned with the utterances credited to President Jonathan over the weekend in Abia State where Governor T.A Orji defected to the PDP, that Anambra State would be next, warned that the people would resist such an intimidation.
He urged Dr. Jonathan not to dissipate energy trying to annex the South-east but to first of all solve the problems in his own home front if he wanted to run for presidency in the 2011 general elections.
Said he: “That is a wishful thinking; Jonathan should learn from Obasanjo, who in his brute dictatorship could not conquer Anambra State under the control of APGA. So for him to begin to imagine that the state will join the PDP so soon is a very wrong calculation on his part. One is that Mr. Peter Obi who is governor of Anambra State today is holding a sacred mandate of the people given to APGA, Governor Obi, and principally, to Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.
“If you go through the longest road running through Awka today you will still see Ojukwu’s billboards with Obi, ‘this is my last wish’ vote for him. Our people voted for APGA, Ojukwu in the main and then Peter Obi as an instrument. So it’s not something anybody can stay somewhere and think he can takeover. All the things Obasanjo did to destroy APGA failed due to our resistance; he even admonished the Igbo to stop following Ojukwu’s party. So this time around, the last thing Goodluck can achieve is taking over Anambra State, he cannot do that. Governor Obi on his own cannot join the PDP with this mandate he has now; that mandate is the most sacred mandate in Nigeria; it is the only one, anybody can safely say that was given by the people.
“From what we have read in recent times it is obvious that his own backyard is leaking, so if he is serious about bidding for the presidency he should go back home to patch-up his backyard instead of being desperate to annex the whole of Igbo land. It is not the way to get the support of Igbo people by intimidation and force; it has not worked for anybody in the past and it will not work this time around.
On T.A Oji’s defection, Umeh said the Abia governor “is confused and we shall look for a man of valour who will fly our flag for the governorship election in Abia State.He has a personal right to join any political party but in doing that is expected to be very firm and decisive.
“On his invitation, Ojukwu went to receive him in Umuahia alongside the governor of Anambra on July 2; that he can within so short a time make a u-turn, he has in-advertently slighted Dim Chukwuma Odimegwu Ojukwu who we hold in very high esteem in Igbo land by telling the people that he had to join the PDP on the directive of President Jonathan. What he simply exhibited is lack of courage. And portrayed Igbo as slaves in Nigeria and I want to say that Igbo are not slaves and we can never be slaves; nobody can take Igbo by force the way Governor Orji made it to look. By abandoning Ojukwu and pitching his tent with Jonathan the way he presented it, what it shows is that he doesn’t have the courage to stand on anything Igbo.”
On Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo’s assertion that APGA was a village party, the APGA boss challenged his PDP colleague to name the parties those prominent Abia leaders belonged to at their time. “Dr. M.I Okpara who was the premier of the Eastern Region and the greatest Igbo man from Abia State was a member of the NCNC; Okwesilieze Nwodo’s father served M.I Okpara in the government of NCNC.
So if NCNC cannot be described as a village party but was able to impact in the lives of the people of Eastern Region, the people who made it happen then never belonged to an amorphous party like PDP; it could be said that Nwodo lost his head when he couldn’t remember historical records.
The PDP which Nwodo is leading is an amorphous party and it doesn’t represent anything in Nigeria.”
Also Reacting to recent endorsement of presidential aspirants in the zone, Chief Umeh said; “I was with Ojukwu in Dallas USA and we monitored all these developments in the internet and we were laughing away because if you look at the endorsements being paraded you will know that Igbo have not endorsed anybody. These endorsements were procured by those being endorsed and in a period of hunger and joblessness in Nigeria people are ready to do anything for money.
“Ojukwu will come back in the next one week from his vacation and when he returns APGA will hold a leadership meeting to review all the shenanigans going on in the Igbo land politically and he will be speaking to our people. And I am sure when he speaks the people will respect him because they know where he is coming from all these people running round the streets are doing that because Ojukwu is not at home. And they are also sending people to Ojukwu to secure his support but one thing is very clear, Ojukwu is not looking for anything in Nigeria today except the uplift of the generality of the people.
APGA as a political party will play the lead in determining who becomes president and anybody looking for support in the South-east must get the nod of APGA.”
From NEWS EDITOR
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Ojukwu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh has warned President Jonathan and his PDP to steer clear of Anambra State as the party is ready to fight to protect the mandate which the people gave to Mr. Peter Obi in the last election.
Umeh, who addressed a press conference in Enugu, Monday against the backdrop of attempt by the PDP to take over the entire South-eastern states, also warned that any attempt to claim Anambra would amount to an attempt on former Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu whichwould not be tolerated.
The APGA chairman, who was particularly concerned with the utterances credited to President Jonathan over the weekend in Abia State where Governor T.A Orji defected to the PDP, that Anambra State would be next, warned that the people would resist such an intimidation.
He urged Dr. Jonathan not to dissipate energy trying to annex the South-east but to first of all solve the problems in his own home front if he wanted to run for presidency in the 2011 general elections.
Said he: “That is a wishful thinking; Jonathan should learn from Obasanjo, who in his brute dictatorship could not conquer Anambra State under the control of APGA. So for him to begin to imagine that the state will join the PDP so soon is a very wrong calculation on his part. One is that Mr. Peter Obi who is governor of Anambra State today is holding a sacred mandate of the people given to APGA, Governor Obi, and principally, to Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.
“If you go through the longest road running through Awka today you will still see Ojukwu’s billboards with Obi, ‘this is my last wish’ vote for him. Our people voted for APGA, Ojukwu in the main and then Peter Obi as an instrument. So it’s not something anybody can stay somewhere and think he can takeover. All the things Obasanjo did to destroy APGA failed due to our resistance; he even admonished the Igbo to stop following Ojukwu’s party. So this time around, the last thing Goodluck can achieve is taking over Anambra State, he cannot do that. Governor Obi on his own cannot join the PDP with this mandate he has now; that mandate is the most sacred mandate in Nigeria; it is the only one, anybody can safely say that was given by the people.
“From what we have read in recent times it is obvious that his own backyard is leaking, so if he is serious about bidding for the presidency he should go back home to patch-up his backyard instead of being desperate to annex the whole of Igbo land. It is not the way to get the support of Igbo people by intimidation and force; it has not worked for anybody in the past and it will not work this time around.
On T.A Oji’s defection, Umeh said the Abia governor “is confused and we shall look for a man of valour who will fly our flag for the governorship election in Abia State.He has a personal right to join any political party but in doing that is expected to be very firm and decisive.
“On his invitation, Ojukwu went to receive him in Umuahia alongside the governor of Anambra on July 2; that he can within so short a time make a u-turn, he has in-advertently slighted Dim Chukwuma Odimegwu Ojukwu who we hold in very high esteem in Igbo land by telling the people that he had to join the PDP on the directive of President Jonathan. What he simply exhibited is lack of courage. And portrayed Igbo as slaves in Nigeria and I want to say that Igbo are not slaves and we can never be slaves; nobody can take Igbo by force the way Governor Orji made it to look. By abandoning Ojukwu and pitching his tent with Jonathan the way he presented it, what it shows is that he doesn’t have the courage to stand on anything Igbo.”
On Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo’s assertion that APGA was a village party, the APGA boss challenged his PDP colleague to name the parties those prominent Abia leaders belonged to at their time. “Dr. M.I Okpara who was the premier of the Eastern Region and the greatest Igbo man from Abia State was a member of the NCNC; Okwesilieze Nwodo’s father served M.I Okpara in the government of NCNC.
So if NCNC cannot be described as a village party but was able to impact in the lives of the people of Eastern Region, the people who made it happen then never belonged to an amorphous party like PDP; it could be said that Nwodo lost his head when he couldn’t remember historical records.
The PDP which Nwodo is leading is an amorphous party and it doesn’t represent anything in Nigeria.”
Also Reacting to recent endorsement of presidential aspirants in the zone, Chief Umeh said; “I was with Ojukwu in Dallas USA and we monitored all these developments in the internet and we were laughing away because if you look at the endorsements being paraded you will know that Igbo have not endorsed anybody. These endorsements were procured by those being endorsed and in a period of hunger and joblessness in Nigeria people are ready to do anything for money.
“Ojukwu will come back in the next one week from his vacation and when he returns APGA will hold a leadership meeting to review all the shenanigans going on in the Igbo land politically and he will be speaking to our people. And I am sure when he speaks the people will respect him because they know where he is coming from all these people running round the streets are doing that because Ojukwu is not at home. And they are also sending people to Ojukwu to secure his support but one thing is very clear, Ojukwu is not looking for anything in Nigeria today except the uplift of the generality of the people.
APGA as a political party will play the lead in determining who becomes president and anybody looking for support in the South-east must get the nod of APGA.”
No deal with IBB - Jonathan •Aide faults report on president
2011 presidency:
No deal with IBB - Jonathan
•Aide faults report on president
From NEWS EDITOR
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
IBB
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
The presidency has debunked insinuations that President Goodluck Jonathan tried dissuading former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida from pursuing his presidential ambition come 2011.
The Presidency also assured that Jonathan is not against Nigerians seeking to occupy the highest office in the land, hence, he will not dissuade aspirants from pursuing their ambitions.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, reacting to a publication (not Daily Sun), insinuating that President Jonathan complained to some northern groups that visited him that some South-South governors were out to sabotage him, said the newspaper’s refusal to correct the report despite being reminded that it was false, was an ongoing campaign of calumny against the President.
Niboro said this is even moreso when there is no purpose to be served by it, since the long suffering masses would decide who governs them in a free and fair contest.
“Anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with the President knows he is not one who dissuades people from pursuing their personal ambitions. This is even moreso when there is no purpose to be served by it, since the long suffering mass of the Nigerian people would decide who governs them in a free and fair contest.
“Since June 12, 1993, Nigerians have in successive elections become wiser. The next presidential elections, no matter who the candidates are, would sound a resonant. Never Again! Never again shall the will of the Nigerian people be quashed underfoot by the vaunting ambitions of a few.
“This is what the President has promised Nigerians, and he is fully committed to delivering on this pledge. It is therefore, unfortunate that any self-respecting newspaper should lend its pages to reporting a series of lies against the person and the institution of the Presidency. These tales are unverified and sourced from openly interested parties. They are lies, pure and simple.
“The fact is that President Jonathan had been meeting different leaders on different occasions and platforms. Some have come to inform him of their intentions to run for the Presidency. Others he has met with as a matter of courtesy being a sitting President, and keen to ensure that the next presidential elections do not degenerate into a do or die affair as our elections are sometimes wont to do.
“He has met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; he has met with Babangida; he has met with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and will meet him again soon. He has met with Gen. Yakubu Gowon, two-time president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, and former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. He will meet with even more leaders and political actors as the race to 2011 heats up.
“It is extremely uncharitable for anyone to spin these meetings in such negative lights, and attempt to force the President into retreat from these well-thought out engagements with political leaders of all hue and disposition in the interest of the country.
“We think it is time to put an end to this long line of false stories and verify what is served to the general public,” Niboro said.
No deal with IBB - Jonathan
•Aide faults report on president
From NEWS EDITOR
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
IBB
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
The presidency has debunked insinuations that President Goodluck Jonathan tried dissuading former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida from pursuing his presidential ambition come 2011.
The Presidency also assured that Jonathan is not against Nigerians seeking to occupy the highest office in the land, hence, he will not dissuade aspirants from pursuing their ambitions.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, reacting to a publication (not Daily Sun), insinuating that President Jonathan complained to some northern groups that visited him that some South-South governors were out to sabotage him, said the newspaper’s refusal to correct the report despite being reminded that it was false, was an ongoing campaign of calumny against the President.
Niboro said this is even moreso when there is no purpose to be served by it, since the long suffering masses would decide who governs them in a free and fair contest.
“Anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with the President knows he is not one who dissuades people from pursuing their personal ambitions. This is even moreso when there is no purpose to be served by it, since the long suffering mass of the Nigerian people would decide who governs them in a free and fair contest.
“Since June 12, 1993, Nigerians have in successive elections become wiser. The next presidential elections, no matter who the candidates are, would sound a resonant. Never Again! Never again shall the will of the Nigerian people be quashed underfoot by the vaunting ambitions of a few.
“This is what the President has promised Nigerians, and he is fully committed to delivering on this pledge. It is therefore, unfortunate that any self-respecting newspaper should lend its pages to reporting a series of lies against the person and the institution of the Presidency. These tales are unverified and sourced from openly interested parties. They are lies, pure and simple.
“The fact is that President Jonathan had been meeting different leaders on different occasions and platforms. Some have come to inform him of their intentions to run for the Presidency. Others he has met with as a matter of courtesy being a sitting President, and keen to ensure that the next presidential elections do not degenerate into a do or die affair as our elections are sometimes wont to do.
“He has met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; he has met with Babangida; he has met with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and will meet him again soon. He has met with Gen. Yakubu Gowon, two-time president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, and former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. He will meet with even more leaders and political actors as the race to 2011 heats up.
“It is extremely uncharitable for anyone to spin these meetings in such negative lights, and attempt to force the President into retreat from these well-thought out engagements with political leaders of all hue and disposition in the interest of the country.
“We think it is time to put an end to this long line of false stories and verify what is served to the general public,” Niboro said.
Monday
PDP primaries: IBB, Atiku’ll lose – Jonathan’s aide
The Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji, on Sunday said that former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubabar, would lose the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Abba-Aji, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, said that the endorsement of Jonathan by the South-West PDP on Saturday had further strengthened Jonathan’s chances of winning the primaries.
He said, “It (South-West PDP‘s declaration) is heart-warming. It is expected, judging by the fact that South-West is a very enlightened section, if not the most enlightened, of the country.
“I am happy that the South-West has come behind the President. I was expecting it judging by the utterances of its leaders.”
The presidential aide restated that Jonathan‘s camp was not disturbed by Babangida’s decision to declare his presidential ambition on September 14 or 15.
He said, ”We are not disturbed. IBB is a former President. Let him come and test his popularity. Abubakar is a former vice-president; let him also come and test his popularity . If they lose, they and their supporters will come behind Jonathan.
”The Board of Trustees , the National Working Committee, and National Executive Committee of the PDP have said that the President can run. In effect, the President is the official candidate of the party. Others could contest because of the internal democracy in the party. Let them contest, they will lose.”
Abba-Aji spoke as indications emerged in Abuja that the Babangida camp had panicked over the South-West PDP‘s endorsement of Jonathan.
A source close to the ex-military ruler said that members of his inner caucus were taken by surprise by the way all the five governors of the party in the zone endorsed Jonathan.
He said that Babangida was surprised that the governors — Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Mr. Segun Oni (Ekiti) and Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) — agreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to support Jonathan.
The source, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity, said the former military dictator had thought that at least two of the governors would break rank with the rest and support his aspiration.
He said, “Following the decision of the people of the South-West to back Jonathan, there is a serious problem in the camp of Babangida at the moment.
“The camp had thought that at least two governors from the zone will support him.
“I think he knows that the people of the region are still not happy with the way he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election which eventually led to the demise of its winner, Chief M.K.O Abiola. But he never thought that those who are close to him among the governors would not back him.”
The other South-West PDP leaders that attended the meeting that endorsed Jonathan’s bid were the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole; the National Vice- Chairman (South-West), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo;and a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.
Others were the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; Bankole’s predecessor, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh; speakers of all the state houses of assembly in the zone; and other lawmakers from the zone in the National Assembly.
Others at the meeting held at the State Parliament Building also, were a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu; the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; Bankole’s predecessor, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh; speakers of all the state houses of assembly in the zone; and other lawmakers from the zone.
Reading an eight-point communiqué to journalists at the end of the meeting, Oladipo said the decision to back Jonathan for the 2011 poll had been taken after a critical assessment of all the presidential aspirants of the party.
Abba-Aji, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, said that the endorsement of Jonathan by the South-West PDP on Saturday had further strengthened Jonathan’s chances of winning the primaries.
He said, “It (South-West PDP‘s declaration) is heart-warming. It is expected, judging by the fact that South-West is a very enlightened section, if not the most enlightened, of the country.
“I am happy that the South-West has come behind the President. I was expecting it judging by the utterances of its leaders.”
The presidential aide restated that Jonathan‘s camp was not disturbed by Babangida’s decision to declare his presidential ambition on September 14 or 15.
He said, ”We are not disturbed. IBB is a former President. Let him come and test his popularity. Abubakar is a former vice-president; let him also come and test his popularity . If they lose, they and their supporters will come behind Jonathan.
”The Board of Trustees , the National Working Committee, and National Executive Committee of the PDP have said that the President can run. In effect, the President is the official candidate of the party. Others could contest because of the internal democracy in the party. Let them contest, they will lose.”
Abba-Aji spoke as indications emerged in Abuja that the Babangida camp had panicked over the South-West PDP‘s endorsement of Jonathan.
A source close to the ex-military ruler said that members of his inner caucus were taken by surprise by the way all the five governors of the party in the zone endorsed Jonathan.
He said that Babangida was surprised that the governors — Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Mr. Segun Oni (Ekiti) and Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) — agreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to support Jonathan.
The source, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity, said the former military dictator had thought that at least two of the governors would break rank with the rest and support his aspiration.
He said, “Following the decision of the people of the South-West to back Jonathan, there is a serious problem in the camp of Babangida at the moment.
“The camp had thought that at least two governors from the zone will support him.
“I think he knows that the people of the region are still not happy with the way he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election which eventually led to the demise of its winner, Chief M.K.O Abiola. But he never thought that those who are close to him among the governors would not back him.”
The other South-West PDP leaders that attended the meeting that endorsed Jonathan’s bid were the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole; the National Vice- Chairman (South-West), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo;and a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.
Others were the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; Bankole’s predecessor, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh; speakers of all the state houses of assembly in the zone; and other lawmakers from the zone in the National Assembly.
Others at the meeting held at the State Parliament Building also, were a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu; the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; Bankole’s predecessor, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh; speakers of all the state houses of assembly in the zone; and other lawmakers from the zone.
Reading an eight-point communiqué to journalists at the end of the meeting, Oladipo said the decision to back Jonathan for the 2011 poll had been taken after a critical assessment of all the presidential aspirants of the party.
Mourinho will make me better coach
Guardiola: Mourinho will make me better coach
Our Editor
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola says Jose Mourinho's arrival at Real Madrid will make him a better coach this season.
Guardiola expects to be driven to his limit by Mourinho this term.
"The arrival of Jose Mourinho to our league will make me a better coach. It is very important he coaches in Spain because he is one of the best in the world.
"He will make all coaches better," said Guardiola.
The Barca coach also spoke of his row with new AC Milan signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola, who still has the likes of Maxwell on his books.
"I thank the club which has sent out a statement on the issue, but I know how to defend itself," he added.
Our Editor
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola says Jose Mourinho's arrival at Real Madrid will make him a better coach this season.
Guardiola expects to be driven to his limit by Mourinho this term.
"The arrival of Jose Mourinho to our league will make me a better coach. It is very important he coaches in Spain because he is one of the best in the world.
"He will make all coaches better," said Guardiola.
The Barca coach also spoke of his row with new AC Milan signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola, who still has the likes of Maxwell on his books.
"I thank the club which has sent out a statement on the issue, but I know how to defend itself," he added.
NIGERIAN striker Brown Ideye was on target
NIGERIAN striker Brown Ideye was on target yesterday for his French Club, Sochaux as they thrashed Paris Saint Germain (PSG) 3-1 in front of thousands of home fans at the Stade Auguste-Bonal.
The Nigerian player hit the net in the 20th minute to record Sochaux's second goal of the game.Sochaux who banked on some sloppy PSG defending with some swift and efficient counterattacking smashed their way ahead in the in the 14th minute when Nicolas Maurice-Belay’s angled drive was only palmed away by Gregory Coupet, who scrambled helplessly as Modibo Maiga tapped home the rebound.
But PSG continued to look fairly positive but were caught again by Brown who beat PSG, keeper Gregory Coupet at his near post after another strong Sochaux break down the left.
The first half ended on a high note for the hosts as Damien Perquis took advantage of yet more uncertain goalkeeping to head Francis Gillet’s side into an unassailable lead.
Guillaume Hoarau reduced the visitors’ deficit soon after the break with a powerful left-footed drive, but les Parisiens couldn’t get any closer, with Jeremy Clement sent-off late on.
Brown joined Sochauxd in January on a three-and-a-half year deal from Neuchatel Xamax of Switzerland. The 21-year-old makes the short jump across the Franco-Swiss border as a direct replacement for headline summer signing Charlie Davies, who was involved in a serious car accident in late 2009, and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Nigerian player hit the net in the 20th minute to record Sochaux's second goal of the game.Sochaux who banked on some sloppy PSG defending with some swift and efficient counterattacking smashed their way ahead in the in the 14th minute when Nicolas Maurice-Belay’s angled drive was only palmed away by Gregory Coupet, who scrambled helplessly as Modibo Maiga tapped home the rebound.
But PSG continued to look fairly positive but were caught again by Brown who beat PSG, keeper Gregory Coupet at his near post after another strong Sochaux break down the left.
The first half ended on a high note for the hosts as Damien Perquis took advantage of yet more uncertain goalkeeping to head Francis Gillet’s side into an unassailable lead.
Guillaume Hoarau reduced the visitors’ deficit soon after the break with a powerful left-footed drive, but les Parisiens couldn’t get any closer, with Jeremy Clement sent-off late on.
Brown joined Sochauxd in January on a three-and-a-half year deal from Neuchatel Xamax of Switzerland. The 21-year-old makes the short jump across the Franco-Swiss border as a direct replacement for headline summer signing Charlie Davies, who was involved in a serious car accident in late 2009, and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Jonathan’s campaign chief rescued
Jonathan’s campaign chief rescued
Abductors from Minna – Police
From Our Editor
Monday, August 30
Jonathan
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
The Campaign Chief of President Goodluck Jonahan, Dr. Jaihilil Tafawa Balewa, who was kidnapped last Friday, in Abuja, the Federal Capital, has been rescued by the police.
Balewa who is the son-in-law to the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Samuel Akintola was reportedly abducted at a shopping complex in the Jabi District, where he had gone to visit hs wife.
FCT Police Commissioner, Haruna John during a press conference where he handed over the rescued Tafawa-Balewa further disclosed that the suspects who were arrested in the process of collecting the ransom fee, confessed that they all hatched the plans. The police boss also said the abductors came from Minna, the Niger State capital.
The police said the kidnappers had initially demanded N100 million ransom from the victim’s family who negotiated the sum down to N10million. He added that the two of the suspects were nabbed with one of them sustaining serious bullet wounds and receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja. The injured suspect, the police said, was wounded while trying to pick the ransom at a designated venue within Abuja at about 10.00 pm on Saturday.
According to Haruna, “when we got the report of Dr. Jaihalil Tafawa Balewa on Friday evening, I mobilized my men including myself and swung into action. We had sleepless a night all through using every method and available equipment. Eventually, through intelligent report gathering, we traced the kidnappers and finally got this breakthrough of rescuing the victim unhurt.
“Preliminary investigation so far revealed that the kidnappers came from Minna. The one we got has confessed. Two of them were arrested while trying to pick their demanded ransom fee. The suspects came within a Honda saloon car Reg. No. KB AL 874 BRK. After finishing the operation, they still drove back to Minna with the car which is parked at the Command here.”
One of the suspects who identified himself as Adamu, a student of the College of Education, Minna, and the driver of the gang, alleged that it was one of his friends by name Fatai, who is still at large, who drafted him into the crime.
“It was my friend by name Fatai, a carpenter, who called me that there was a work that we would do in Abuja. He left Minna before me and said I should meet him at Mpape junction. I arrived Abu
Abductors from Minna – Police
From Our Editor
Monday, August 30
Jonathan
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
The Campaign Chief of President Goodluck Jonahan, Dr. Jaihilil Tafawa Balewa, who was kidnapped last Friday, in Abuja, the Federal Capital, has been rescued by the police.
Balewa who is the son-in-law to the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Samuel Akintola was reportedly abducted at a shopping complex in the Jabi District, where he had gone to visit hs wife.
FCT Police Commissioner, Haruna John during a press conference where he handed over the rescued Tafawa-Balewa further disclosed that the suspects who were arrested in the process of collecting the ransom fee, confessed that they all hatched the plans. The police boss also said the abductors came from Minna, the Niger State capital.
The police said the kidnappers had initially demanded N100 million ransom from the victim’s family who negotiated the sum down to N10million. He added that the two of the suspects were nabbed with one of them sustaining serious bullet wounds and receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja. The injured suspect, the police said, was wounded while trying to pick the ransom at a designated venue within Abuja at about 10.00 pm on Saturday.
According to Haruna, “when we got the report of Dr. Jaihalil Tafawa Balewa on Friday evening, I mobilized my men including myself and swung into action. We had sleepless a night all through using every method and available equipment. Eventually, through intelligent report gathering, we traced the kidnappers and finally got this breakthrough of rescuing the victim unhurt.
“Preliminary investigation so far revealed that the kidnappers came from Minna. The one we got has confessed. Two of them were arrested while trying to pick their demanded ransom fee. The suspects came within a Honda saloon car Reg. No. KB AL 874 BRK. After finishing the operation, they still drove back to Minna with the car which is parked at the Command here.”
One of the suspects who identified himself as Adamu, a student of the College of Education, Minna, and the driver of the gang, alleged that it was one of his friends by name Fatai, who is still at large, who drafted him into the crime.
“It was my friend by name Fatai, a carpenter, who called me that there was a work that we would do in Abuja. He left Minna before me and said I should meet him at Mpape junction. I arrived Abu
vanguard backs Jonathan
2011: PDP vanguard backs Jonathan
By Our Editor
Monday, August 30
President Goodluck Jonathan’s perceived Presidential aspiration in the 2011 polls has recorded a major boost. A vociferous group within the fold of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) known as PDP Vanguard has resolved to throw its weight behind the president if he decides to contest.
The group equally warned proponents of the party’s zoning policy in order to stop President Goodluck from vying for the office to desist forthwith. Mazi Chinasa Nwaneri spoke on behalf of the group after a retreat at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
According to him, they resolved to support Jonathan after a careful performance analysis since assuming office in the last four months. They noted that some of the economic and socio-political problems that confronted the nation in the past, which appeared insurmountable, have been solved. Some of the economic problems they noted include: perennial fuel shortages, power generation which is seriously receiving presidential attention, implementation of the terms of post amnesty programme of the Niger Delta region, among others.
Again, the group maintained that a careful perusal of President Jonathan’s odyssey including his ascendancy to power reflects the true meaning of his name ‘Goodluck’. “Obviously, there is no doubt that God has packaged Jonathan to lift Nigeria from the pit of backwardness to the rostrum of development,” the group said.
However, the group went further to observe with great interest the president’s quiet but focused disposition, loyalty, respectability, sound intellect and high leadership ability. The group observed that all these rare qualities distinguished the President from other presidential aspirants hence their resolve to support him in 2011. The President, they said is a detribalized Nigerian who has shown enough evidence that he has outgrown cultural and tribal barriers which makes him the most suitable for the office of the President come 2011.
On zoning, the group maintained that it is not only unconstitutional but retrogressive. He, however, advocated for a level playing ground where every aspirant would be given equal opportunity to contest. They labeled those zoning as anti-Nigeria and ethnic bigots, and advised them to rise above parochial and mundane issues.
...As group gives reasons for support
Mr. Emola Andrew is the Secretary General of the Lagos State Chapter of the Middle Belt Forum and a die-hard loyalist of President Gooduck Jonathan. He spoke to CHINELO AGINA on the position of the middle belt on Jonathan’s presidency and his chances in 2011polls. Excerpts
Our focus
Since the independence of this country, the middle belt region has been largely marginalized. Most often, we are denied the oppourtunity to benefit from the resources of the country. If you take a tour to the region, you will find out that most of our areas are underdeveloped, while some other parts of the country are developed.
We have suffered this injustice for long. Based on this, we decided to come together and form a body through which our agitations will be addressed. A body that will represent the ideals of the people, and that was how the Middle Belt Forum was born. This middle belt in question comprises Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Southern Borno and Southern Kaduna state.
The stand of the middle belt on zoning
I am speaking the stand of the totality of those from the middle belt. We are standing on the side of people like Solomom Lar, Theophilus Danjuma, Air Commodore Dan Suleman and others who are our leaders. After the meeting, we had in Abuja in 2005, we resolved that any of our sons from the middle belt or the South-South that declares interest in the presidency, we are going to support him. That is why anytime Jonathan declares his plan to run; we have resolved that we will give him our full support.
Our fears for the North
I foresee a situation where Nigeria will divide into two after Jonathan rules for the next eight years. Apart from General Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo, since the independence of Nigeria, the North has ruled for 35 years. Jonathan was very loyal to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, and we believe that God has ordained him this time for him to be on top.
By Our Editor
Monday, August 30
President Goodluck Jonathan’s perceived Presidential aspiration in the 2011 polls has recorded a major boost. A vociferous group within the fold of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) known as PDP Vanguard has resolved to throw its weight behind the president if he decides to contest.
The group equally warned proponents of the party’s zoning policy in order to stop President Goodluck from vying for the office to desist forthwith. Mazi Chinasa Nwaneri spoke on behalf of the group after a retreat at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
According to him, they resolved to support Jonathan after a careful performance analysis since assuming office in the last four months. They noted that some of the economic and socio-political problems that confronted the nation in the past, which appeared insurmountable, have been solved. Some of the economic problems they noted include: perennial fuel shortages, power generation which is seriously receiving presidential attention, implementation of the terms of post amnesty programme of the Niger Delta region, among others.
Again, the group maintained that a careful perusal of President Jonathan’s odyssey including his ascendancy to power reflects the true meaning of his name ‘Goodluck’. “Obviously, there is no doubt that God has packaged Jonathan to lift Nigeria from the pit of backwardness to the rostrum of development,” the group said.
However, the group went further to observe with great interest the president’s quiet but focused disposition, loyalty, respectability, sound intellect and high leadership ability. The group observed that all these rare qualities distinguished the President from other presidential aspirants hence their resolve to support him in 2011. The President, they said is a detribalized Nigerian who has shown enough evidence that he has outgrown cultural and tribal barriers which makes him the most suitable for the office of the President come 2011.
On zoning, the group maintained that it is not only unconstitutional but retrogressive. He, however, advocated for a level playing ground where every aspirant would be given equal opportunity to contest. They labeled those zoning as anti-Nigeria and ethnic bigots, and advised them to rise above parochial and mundane issues.
...As group gives reasons for support
Mr. Emola Andrew is the Secretary General of the Lagos State Chapter of the Middle Belt Forum and a die-hard loyalist of President Gooduck Jonathan. He spoke to CHINELO AGINA on the position of the middle belt on Jonathan’s presidency and his chances in 2011polls. Excerpts
Our focus
Since the independence of this country, the middle belt region has been largely marginalized. Most often, we are denied the oppourtunity to benefit from the resources of the country. If you take a tour to the region, you will find out that most of our areas are underdeveloped, while some other parts of the country are developed.
We have suffered this injustice for long. Based on this, we decided to come together and form a body through which our agitations will be addressed. A body that will represent the ideals of the people, and that was how the Middle Belt Forum was born. This middle belt in question comprises Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Southern Borno and Southern Kaduna state.
The stand of the middle belt on zoning
I am speaking the stand of the totality of those from the middle belt. We are standing on the side of people like Solomom Lar, Theophilus Danjuma, Air Commodore Dan Suleman and others who are our leaders. After the meeting, we had in Abuja in 2005, we resolved that any of our sons from the middle belt or the South-South that declares interest in the presidency, we are going to support him. That is why anytime Jonathan declares his plan to run; we have resolved that we will give him our full support.
Our fears for the North
I foresee a situation where Nigeria will divide into two after Jonathan rules for the next eight years. Apart from General Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo, since the independence of Nigeria, the North has ruled for 35 years. Jonathan was very loyal to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, and we believe that God has ordained him this time for him to be on top.
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