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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.
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Wednesday
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
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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.
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.
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