Second Lady of Governor Suswam of Benue

She is of mixed parentage and a native of Tiv in Benue State. She studied mass communication in Benue State University before her lover sent her to the UK for a masters degree programme which she has recently completed.

''He bought her a state of the art house worth millions in abuja where he relocated her to and she is a household name in Benue State and even the governors wife knows about her hubbys long standing mistress whom he started dating since she was 18yrs old(she is now 24).

When she is going abroad to shop, the least money she takes with her is about twenty thousand pounds and she drives a state of the art car and lives very big.

''He has other babes lined up but does not play with Shidoo Imo whom he has a protected profile on facebook only accessible to those on her friends list

Here is beautiful Shidoo and possibly wife number two of the serial loverboy Governor.

GABRIEL SUSWAM

NPA Retirees decry non payment of pension

Secretary, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Retirees Association, Mr Lanre Adisa, yesterday alleged that the ports authority had not paid pensions to those who retired in 2006.
Adisa said the authority had remained adamant, in spite of calls by the affected retirees in the past four years.
He said that though the NPA paid them large sums of money when they were leaving, its refusal to include them in the list of its pensioners was against Federal Government's directive.
Adisa noted that the retirees were among Federal Government workers laid off during the government's rightsizing of its workforce between 2005 and 2007.
He claimed that the government, in a circular dated Aug.3, 2009, directed ministries and parastatal-agencies to put pensionable employees affected by the rightsizing on pensioners' list.
"We are more than 4000 that retired in 2006/2007, but we were not included in the pension scheme of the NPA.
"Are we not Federal Government retirees? Why are we not placed on pension?
"We were deceived and cajoled to fill a form which had two options -- five years pension buyout or immediate placement on pension scheme.
"Over 90 per cent of us opted for five years pension buyout with the belief that it meant a five-year pension upfront payment," Adisa said.
The retiree said NPA had a policy of giving an upfront payment of five years pension to retirees who applied for such, and that such retirees would still be entitled to pension after five years.
However, a source at the NPA told NAN that the retirees signed a pact with the management of the authority to be paid five years severance package as at the time of their disengagement.
The source, who pleaded anonymity said that retirees on NPA's pensioners' list were about 7,000 and that the ex-workers who left with the severance package were about to 9,000.
He said that putting the latter into the NPA's pensioners' list would be burdensome to the authority.
The source added that the NPA currently had a workforce of more than 4,000.

FOI: Soyinka Seeks Probe Of Yar’Adua’s Death

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka on Thursday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to get cracking with the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act by ordering investigation into the death of his predecessor, Umaru Yar’Adua, whose demise on May 5 last year touched off controversy.

Soyinka said at the annual general meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) in Lagos that Nigerians deserve to know those who concealed the true state of health of Yar’Adua from November 22, 2009 until his death.

To him, the point of the FoI Act is to bring to public knowledge incidents that portray the country in bad light, such as the concealment of the health condition of Yar’Adua.

He challenged Jonathan to unravel the circumstances of Yar’Adua’s medical treatment in Suadi Arabia, and his eventual demise, both of which are still shrouded in secrecy.

Soyinka acknowledged that Jonathan has set up commission of enquiry into the issue, “But I am challenging him to use the FoI Act to investigate those involved in the concealment,  how was this possible, what documents were involved, was any member of the Senate involved, were there public officers involved, whose signature appears on that document, who are the members of security involved  physically?

“That episode is over but knowledge is unending  and so I am challenging the government of Jonathan and the public to put this Freedom of Information Act to the test with  the melodramatic incident that happened in this country for more than one year.

“It is a once in a life time incident, and you can say that is the dramatist in me looking for materials, but as a citizen I have a right to know and I am compelling Jonathan to proceed with this Act by setting up the proceedings and panel that will find out what happened to (Yar’Adua) within this period."

Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger), who were also at the event, maintained that governance is a matter of trust, and the era of concealing information from the public by those elected to govern is over.

They said during a session chaired by former NPAN President Ismaila Funtua that the public has the right to have access to whatever information it needs, and disclosed that plans are afoot in their states to enlighten their staff on the essence of the FoI Act.

Fashola, however, maintained the same position as federal Attorney General and Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke, that there is no need for the domestication of the Act as canvassed by some states.

He reiterated that it is a federal legislation, and urged the executive to understand that the motive of the legislation is to liberate the country from the clogs in its wheel of progress. 

Canadian Federal Information Commissioner,  Susan Leagault, who delivered a lecture, charged the media and civil society to mount continuous pressure on the government to implement the FoI Act, and urged Nigeria to be prepared to fund its effective implementation.

House of Reps backs Sanusi on Islamic banking

House of Representatives members, with grumbling and applause, on Thursday backed Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Lamido Sanusi,  on his plan to introduce Islamic banking and limit cash withdrawal from commercial banks daily.

By  9 a.m., protesters bussed in by Youth United for Nigeria (YUN) had gathered at the gate of the National Assembly (NASS), chanting anti-Sanusi songs, and hoisting placards asking the legislature to block Islamic banking.

Some of the placards read: “We say no to Islamisation of our financial system,” “Nigerians shine your eyes. This is jihad,” “Please, stop Sanusi now, before he breaks Nigeria.”

Sanusi’s arrival at about 11 a.m. threw the protesters into a frenzy and they increased the decibel of their abusive songs.

The atmosphere inside the Chamber was calmer, even as the body language of agitated members showed they were poised for a showdown with Sanusi.

The man told the lawmakers that the new banking policy will reduce industry cost-to-serve by 30 per cent and help tackle money laundering and terrorism, eliminate subsidy by 90 per cent, lower lending rates, and improve financial infrastructure.

He  said individuals are not restricted to withdrawing N150,000 daily and corporate organisations to N1 million from banks, it only stipulates that withdrawal above the limits will attract a surcharge from June 2012.

This is  to reduce the high cost of cash transaction, which hit N2 trillion in 2010. Direct cost of cash is projected  at N200 billion by 2012.

From the total of N114.5 billion direct cost incurred  in the financial system in 2009, N27.3 billion (24 per cent) was spent on cash in transit, N69.1 billion (67 per cent) on cash processing, and N18.1 billion (nine per cent), excluding the cost of infrastructure and employees’ cost attributable to cash logistics by the CBN and the 24 commercial banks.

Sanusi said the Bankers Committee will deploy  Point of Sale  (POS) terminals to address infrastructure challenges.

He disclosed that “Agreement has been reached with the telecommunication networks to provide dedicated channels for POS transaction data; non-acceptance of cards over POS due to interoperability impediments by service providers has been out-ruled with strict compliance.”

There are plans to roll out 100,000 POS by June 2012 and 375,000 by December 2015.

He confirmed that approval has been given in principle to 16 mobile payment service providers which have piloted the service for three months, the final evaluation is going on, and eventual licensing and targets will be closely monitored.

Section 33 and 47 of the CBN Act empowers it to issue guidelines to any person and retail cash collection and lodgement on any person or institution under its supervision, promote and facilitate the development of efficient and effective systems for the settlement of transactions.

Sanusi disclosed that former CBN Governor Chukwuma Soludo had in 2008 given approval for Nigeria’s full membership of the Islamic banking council.

He said those against Islamic banking system are only crying wolf because it is operated  in over 435 institutions worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Bahrain, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and The Gambia.

The global assets of Islamic financial institutions amount to $1 trillion, with membership in African Central Banks in Nigeria, Zambia, Mauritius, and international organisations such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), African Development Bank (ADB), and Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

After speaking for about an hour, the majority of lawmakers expressed satisfaction with Sanusi’s presentation  and gave him a rousing applause.

However, some expressed concern over Islamic banking and the cash withdrawal policy, and blamed Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over plenary on Thursday, for denying them the opportunity to ask Sanusi questions on grey areas.

Ihedioha had told his colleagues that there would be no questions since the session was meant to educate them. 

He also cowed those yearning to bombard Sanusi with questions on the grounds that House principal officers were in a hurry to attend the burial ceremony of Aliyu  Dogondaji, NASS Commission Board Chairman, who died earlier in the day. 

Those dissatisfied with Sanusi’s presentation insisted that a new date be fixed for him to be questioned on Islamic banking.

Minister loses post in clash with former militant

When tall, dark skinned Yusuf Suleiman appeared before the Senate on June 29, 2011, one thing must have been on his mind: how to continue his activities as head of Nigeria's transport ministry.
Mr Suleiman's appearance on that Wednesday, 14 months after he was first appointed the minister of transportation, was supposed to be a prelude to his return to the transport ministry. Dressed in his usual free-flowing caftan, Mr Suleiman answered questions from the senators with ease.
The effortlessness with which he tackled the lawmakers' questions stemmed from his deep knowledge of agencies in the transport ministry. And this should not be a surprise, as he once worked as a director of administration and personnel at the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), a parastatal under the ministry.
The Senate had no problem confirming Mr Suleiman as minister. And after his confirmation hearing, President Goodluck Jonathan simply asked him to return to his former post at the transportation.
But three days after he assumed duties, the minister came to terms with the tremendous influence some former Niger Delta militants wield in the presidency. He was immediately redeployed to the National Sports Commission, as sports minister, following a disagreement he had with the director general of NIMASA, Patrick Ziakede, a protégé of former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a. Tompolo).
Presidency sources said Mr Ekpemupolo was instrumental to Mr Ziakede's appointment in the first place. It was a battle the Sokoto-born administrator could not win.
Both Messrs. Suleiman and Ziakede declined to respond to our requests for their comments. Mr Ziakede did not respond to calls or text messages sent to his phone. When contacted, Mr Suleiman declined to respond to any of our questions. He directed all enquiries concerning NIMASA to the new minister of transport.
Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, and Mr Ekpemupolo did not respond to our enquiries either. Both men did not respond to calls and text messages to their mobile telephones seeking comments for this story.
The standoff
When Mr Ziakede, the director general of NIMASA stormed Mr Suleiman's office with four naval escorts on Thursday, July 7, security details attached to the minister allowed him in but blocked his security details.
Sources say an infuriated Mr Ziakede caused pandemonium at the office, raising dust as he insisted to see the minister alongside his security details.
"He began to shout, everyone was surprised. At some point he almost fell. When he saw that no one would accede to his demand, he cursed and threatened the minister and then left the office,
Presidency sources said after he stormed out of the minister's office, Mr Ziakede called Mr Ekpemupolo and his other militant friends who in turn contacted the presidency, demanding Mr Suleiman's removal.
When Mr Suleiman got wind that the militants were pressing for his ouster, a source said he contacted Tony Anenih, former minister of works and a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, for help.
Mr Anenih is believed to be one of the most influential figures in the country who can get the president to do whatever he wants. A source privy to the meeting said Mr Anenih shocked the minister when he said Mr Ekpemupolo would have to be pacified for the minister to remain at his post.
"Anenih promised to intervene, but it happened the militant leader could not be pacified, The result was that Mr Suleiman was deployed to the sports ministry.
Mr Ziakede's problems with Mr. Suleiman did not start that July 7. It had been on before Mr Jonathan dissolved his cabinet on June 1st, 2011, and it involved the management of NIMASA, one of Nigeria's richest non-oil related parastatals and "one of the most mismanaged," according to a senior official of the agency who declined to speak on record for fear of losing his job.
The mismanagement of NIMASA
Temisan Omatseye, the immediate past director general of NIMASA, is currently facing charges of misappropriating about N4 billion of the agency's funds.
An audit firm, Akin Omorodion and Co., which Mr Suleiman hired upon his assumption of office, first indicted the former leader of the agency. He has since been investigated and is being prosecuted by the EFCC, alongside some other members of the former management of the agency. A few days after the removal of Mr Omatseye as DG in December 2010, Mr Ziakede was appointed as his replacement.
This appointment was not, however, without controversy. Several sources in the maritime industry claimed he was nominated for the position by Government Tompolo, a former leader of a Niger Delta militant group, Movement for the Defence of the Niger Delta (MEND), who has had several confrontations with the Nigerian Army before he embraced the amnesty programme of the federal government.
Our sources said shortly after Mr Ziakede assumed office, NIMASA became a playground for former militants allegedly led by Mr Ekpemupolo. Insiders said the DG constantly disregarded his agency's board of directors and the supervisory ministry while taking orders from the militants.
Those who should know said the militants decided who got employment and contracts at the agency. The overbearing influence of the militants on the activities of the agency and the alleged poor management of Mr Ziakede put him in constant confrontation with the minister.
"Phony and inflated contracts are given to shady companies owned by former militants, illegal deals are being perpetrated. In fact, NIMASA is now a worse cesspit of corruption than under Omatseye," our source in the agency stated.
The shady deals
On Friday, May 6, 2011, V.I. Onuzuruike, the acting director of finance and supply of NIMASA, wrote an internal memo to Mr Ziakede, the DG.
Titled ‘Revenue Collection up till 6th May 2011', the memo stated that between February and April, the agency had made a revenue of $44.4 million.
Mr Onuzuruike thus advised the sale of the foreign currency for local use of the agency.
"Management may wish to consider selling the sum of $30,000, 000 (thirty million US Dollars) from Zenith Bank, UK, at the prevailing exchange rate while the sum of US$10,000,000 (Ten million US dollars) may also be sold from Central Bank of Nigeria/Union of Nigeria Account," Mr Onuzuruike wrote.
Documents available shows that four banks bidded for the purchase of the foreign currency. The banks were UBA (150 naira), Skye Bank (150.50 naira), Spring Bank (153 naira) and Union Bank (154.00).
A bid of N153 was, however, preferred by the management of the agency over that of N154. In that transaction alone, the agency lost N40 million. This transaction, infuriated some senior members of the agency who saw it as collusion between Mr Onuzuruike and Mr Ziakede to rip the agency of the said sum.
One of those who complained about the transaction was Adeniran Aderogba, the director of finance and administration of the agency, who complained about the transaction going on without "reverting to my office." "Please provide clarifications as to why Spring Bank bid of N153 was chosen by you over that of Union Bank at 154 naira," Mr Aderogba stated in a memo to Mr Onuzuruike.
There were other strange dealings.
"The DG awards contracts to companies owned by fronts of some influential former militants. Some of these contracts are not necessary while many of them do not follow due process,
A company that benefits from such contracts is Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, a company allegedly owned by Mr Ekpemupolo's associates.
"It is one militant leader who comes to collect cheques due to this company (Global West). Ask the people in our finance department. They may be afraid to tell you. But any investigation will reveal that it is not people who claim to own the company who collect all cheques due to this company," the official stated.
One of such contracts involved the supply of boats to be used for monitoring Nigerian waterways. Documents available to shows that no competitive bidding was carried out for the contract. Based on the arrangement, the company would provide, run, and maintain five patrol boats at N49.7 million per month.
Sources in the agency, however, insist that this practice, which has been on for five months and has cost the agency about N250 million, is just used to siphon the agency's funds.
"They use low quality boats. A new quality boat costs N15 million. If we had bought ours, it would have cost us just N75 million and it will belong to the Nigerian government. This deal is just one of the ways the DG funds the former militants who helped him get to office," our source said.
Personalised account
Perhaps, the most controversial action taken by Mr Ziakede is the management of the accounts of the agency.
Two months after assuming office on December 24, 2010, Mr Ziakede sent a memo to his director of finance and administration. The memo, titled ‘Re: New signing mandate and streamlining of NIMASA bank accounts', and dated February 28th 2011, effectively made the DG the primary signatory to the agency's accounts.
"Henceforth, the Director General shall be the only Class ‘A' signatory in all our transactions with the Banks (all Nigerian banks) with the exception of Access Bank Plc," the memo stated.
Our source said this means that the DG can bypass any official who proves a bottle neck to his dealings and still get his financial transactions done.
"Even the ED F&A (Mr Aderogba), whose signature is supposed to be necessary for financial dealings for accountability, can now be put aside," our source stated.
The source maintained that this action of Mr Ziakede as well as his other dealings has put him at loggerhead with Mr Aderogba.
Several documents available to us show bitter exchange of letters between Mr Ziakede and Mr Aderogba. Two of such documents show Mr Ziakede issuing two different queries to Mr Aderogba on May 10, 2011 over the latter's official actions.
Minister intervenes
Sources close to Mr Suleiman said it was his decision to look into the happenings in NIMASA that cost him his position at the transport ministry. So when he called Mr Anenih, it was to ask the PDP leader to placate Mr Ekpemupolo.
"I learnt that Tony Anenih called Ekpemupolo who assured him that they would let Mr Suleiman remain in his position. Apparently, Ekpemupolo reneged on his assurances. We later learnt that Ekpemupolo met the first lady, which eventually led to the minister's re-designation," our source said.
Mr Suleiman, who is not a sportsman and has no experience in sports management, has now been moved to the sports ministry as minister.
Our investigation shows that some former militants have become especially influential and prosperous since 2010 when they agreed to the amnesty deal with the federal government.
Oil companies and government agencies have rewarded many of them with lucrative contracts and many of them have taken up what appears to be permanent residences in Transcorp Hilton Hotels in Abuja, where the cheapest room goes for N48,300 per night.

Nigerian Women Are 9th in survey of most stressed women in the world

A recent study released by the Nielsen Company that examines the consumer and media habits of women in emerging and developed countries has found that women in India are the most stressed – and they spend differently. The Women of Tomorrow Study, which examined 6,500 women across 21 different nations from February through April 2011, found that an overwhelming 87% of Indian women said they felt stressed most of the time, with 82% claiming they had no time to relax.
Indian women are not alone. The vast majority of Mexican (74%) and Russian (69%) women surveyed also reported feeling stressed. List of 21 countries surveyed in order of most stressed women:

1- India (87%)
2- Mexico (74%)
3- Russia (69%)
4- Brazil (67%)
5- Spain (66%)
6- France (65%)
7- South Africa (64%)
8- Italy (64%)
9- Nigeria (58%)
10- Turkey (56%)
11- U.K. (55%)
12- U.S.A. (53%)
13- Japan (52%)
14- Canada (52%)
15- Australia (52%)
16- China (51%)
17- Germany (47%)
18- Thailand (45%)
19- South Korea (45%)
20- Malaysia (44%)
21- Sweden (44%)

 Across the board, women in developing economies spent more of their additional cash on clothes, health and beauty items, groceries and education for their children. Women in the developed economies surveyed dedicate more of their cash to vacations, savings and paying off debt.

Body of a ministerial candidate found in Lagos lagoon

LAGOS, July 20,  The body of Mr. Al-Mustaim Alade Abaniwonda, 56, has been recovered after he allegedly slipped into the lagoon as he tried to defecate late Monday afternoon.
Abaniwonda until his death was a ministerial nominee from Lagos State, who had earlier contested in the Lagos East Senatorial April poll on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lost to incumbent Senator Gbenga Ashafa of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
There are however conflicting reports surrounding the drowning incident. Some eyewitnesses told local media that Abaniwonda deliberately allowed himself drown in the lagoon, while some accounts say he slipped into the lagoon as he sought to ease himself.
He was reported to have been on his way to his office after a meeting at a bank in Marina and told his driver, Wasiu to pull over as he had to use a toilet immediately. His driver according to reports pulled over around Leventis Bus stop in Marina where the politician disembarked from his chauffeur driven Toyota Camry sedan and made for the lagoon, where he drowned after allegedly stripping himself of his entire clothing.
It was gathered that Marine Policemen with the assistance of local boat operators located and eased his remains out of the lagoon at about 12.15pm on Wednesday and thereafter delivered him to his family at his Victoria Garden City (VGC) residence.
He has since been buried at the VGC Cemetery in accordance with Islamic tradition.
Abaniwonda was founder and managing partner of Alade Abaniwonda & Partners, an investment firm and was a former Managing Director of the defunct Crystal Bank.

HOW A 2YRS OLD GIRL WAS RESCUED FROM A 4O FEET PIT

FOR the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Lemchi, June 29, 2011, started like all previous days. They woke up hale and hearty, said their prayers as usual, ate their breakfast and left for their respective assignments. The children left for school.
Nobody knew that danger was lurking around the corner. In fact, they would have stoned anybody who prophesied a looming danger. Why wouldn’t they? The day was bright and fair. It was a happy day and indeed, a day of joy.
Two-year-old Miss Anulika Lemchi and her elder brother, Ebube, left for their school, Saint Andrews Anglican Nursery/Primary School, Okwelle, Onuimo Local Council Area of Imo State.
At break time, the school children went out to play. This was an exercise that almost turned out to be costly for both the school proprietor and the Lemchi family.
Midway into their recess, the harmless, hapless Anulika fell into a 40-feet deep pit! The joy of the children and their teachers vanished abruptly. Confusion set in. Some people even wept bitterly like wet babies. Her 12-hour journey in the pit of hell started. The blame game started.
Nobody expected to see Anulika alive again. No one was sure if dangerous reptiles were not in the pit and ready to pounce on any prey. Did she break her limbs in the fall? These were possibilities.
Truth was that Anulika was deep down the pit and languishing in pain. She must have obviously cried herself to sleep while her agony lasted.
The news of the mishap spread like wild fire. Before long, sympathizers gathered round the scene of the incident.
The Police, the Nigerian Red Cross personnel, the local vigilante and other curious citizens were all in attendance. Suggestions started making the rounds and they acted fast.
Narrating his ordeal, the little girl’s father, Mr. Lawrence Lemchi, said he rushed to the scene at about 10am, adding that he actually lost hope of ever seeing her daughter and the fifth child alive.
For him, it was devastating to think of his loved daughter lying in a narrow, 40-feet deep pit.
He also recalled that it was Anulika’s elder brother, Ebube, who informed him about the family’s predicament, adding: “I hurried to the scene only to behold my daughter in the deep pit”.
Anulika’s mother, Mrs. Ifeoma Lemchi, fumed that the deep pit is an uncompleted borehole, which the proprietors of the school left uncovered and unprotected from the school children.
In his own reaction, the leader of the Red Cross rescue team, Mr. Innocent Okehi, said his team arrived the scene at about 6pm, as soon as they got the information. He also recalled that the mission of trying to rescue the baby from the pit looked impossible.
“The narrowness of the pit and the inability of the little baby to respond to the tactics adopted by the rescue team made the task a bit difficult. We dug wider and continued working despite the rain.
I thank God that we eventually succeeded in rescuing the baby at about 10pm,” Okehi said.
As at the time of going to press, Anulika was still receiving serious medical attention in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. It was not possible to get her medical record but Vanguard Metro recalls that she suffered head and body injuries.

ASABA AIRPORT RECORDS FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT

The first commercial flight with passengers from Abuja landed at the Asaba International Airport yesterday at exactly 12.17pm.

The 48-seater Overland aircraft with registration number 5N-BND landed the airport with 20 passengers on board.

One of the passengers who spoke to reporters Engr. Sam Arowosafe commended the standard of the airport.

Engr. Arowosafe said the completion of the airport was a good development as it would boost the economic development of the state. “This is a good development. We are happy to be here and it will reduce cost,” he said. He was optimistic that the airport would take Delta State to the top.

Another passenger Hon. Ezechi Nwoye was full of praise for the administration of Governor Uduaghan especially for constructing the airport. He said the Asaba International Airport has made air transport easy for the people living in Anambra state.

Hon. Nwoye explained that before now they travelled to Benin Airport for all their movements but with the commencement of commercial flights in Asaba, it would cost them less to travel by air. He said “Dr. Uduaghan is doing well. We from Anambra State will not be going to Benin again as it is easier and cheaper for us here in Asaba.”

The State Governor who came from Abuja with the same Overland flight, expressed appreciation to God for a dream that has manifested into concrete reality. An elated governor Uduaghan told reporters that the flight was smooth and pleasant.

Dr. Uduaghan who fielded questions from journalists said the completion of an airport takes a long time.

He explained that even the best airport in the world still has some minor works going on either in form of renovation or adding more facilities.

The Governor therefore appealed to Nigerians to be patient and follow the trend in Airport development as it was not easy to completely finish work in an airport in one swoop.

Dr. Uduaghan who said his administration was not against criticisms promised to welcome any form of criticism provided such criticisms are constructive.

His words “I welcome criticism at any time. In fact my administration is open and ready to listen to criticisms provided such criticisms are constructive and aimed at moving the state forward”.

At the booking counter, intending passengers were seen purchasing tickets for their flights.  Thereafter, they were frisked alongside their luggage with metal detectors before taking their seats in the departure hall.

One of the intending passengers waiting to catch his flight to Lagos, Mr. Nosakhare Edokpayi, described the Asaba Airport as very unique, convenient.

His American based-son, Idahosa Edokpayi said “the airport is world class and comparable to those in Europe and America.”

An official of OVERLAND Airlines told journalists that the airline presently operates two flights to Lagos and Abuja on a daily basis.

CURRENT AFFAIRS NIGERIA: WHERE LIES THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY?

CURRENT AFFAIRS NIGERIA: WHERE LIES THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY?

WHERE LIES THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY?

Raise no doubt that the future of our country rests on dysfunctional police force. The notion that “our safety from Boko Haram requires armored cars” is a pretension that the police or State Security Service (SSS) has the muscle to take on Boko Haram. They do not, and innocent Nigerians are paying the price daily with their blood and the price are far higher than the security Nigerian Police force has brought to our people.

We cannot rate inspector general of police on tough talks but on competent and effective response to our security needs. The record shows that Nigeria Police force were at the scene as armed robbers robbed two banks in the heart of commerce in Eket while the police officers stationed in Eket were watching. The robbery lasted for two good hours without police response.

The citizens we are told “were there clapping hands and admiring the brazen acts of the robbers” showing disdain and contempt for the corrupt police force. Four innocent citizens were reported killed in the operation. The writer lost two relatives during that attack. No letter of condolence has ever been received by those who lost their loved ones either from the commissioner of police or Inspector General of Police.

The Nigeria Police force is not a force we can count on but has long been a national embarrassment. Police failures are deeply rooted in our national consciousness. For more than a century, police corruption has touched more than a facet of our daily lives. There is structural ethics and moral deficit in the Nigeria Police Force that is not going to be cured by a war against Boko Haram. The Nigeria Police Force is at war with itself. No Police Force can war against itself and still function effectively. One of the reasons why the Inspector General of Police warnings to Boko Haram seems to travel so slow is because we have a law enforcement system that is under indictment. So, how can it remedy the ills of the Country?

Some Nigeria Police officers are on pay roll of crime bosses. Some Police officers are complicit in the crimes that are taking place in the country. Criminals pay high ranking police officers some healthy monthly salaries to protect their criminal activities against the country and its people instead of protecting the lives and property of the Nigerian people. Little wonder why the Boko Haram is reported as asserting that the Nigeria Police force and the State Security Service can only bark but they cannot bite.” There may some kernel of truth to this statement. How can the Nigeria Police Force take on Boko Haram - a well equipped revolutionary group when they cannot take on armed robbers that molest the daily lives of our citizens and in some instances conduct two hours operation twice in Eket and got away with no single arrest or confrontation? Some citizens who are fed up with corruption and exploitation by the police force "could be supporting Boko Haram’s revolutionary ideology as claimed by Boko Haram."

The report in the forum that “soldiers intercepted a truck load of no fewer than 700 explosives in Abuja and that the vehicle was escorted by two armed police men” suggest implicit or explicit complicity by the police and should come as no surprise to anyone who understands the culture and history of corruption in the Nigeria Police Force.

Lack of proper oversight and misplaced priorities and greed has led to unbelievable corruption in the police force. The primary motivations of some Nigeria Police Officers appear not to be honest public service and what is good for the country but self promotion, financial empire building, blinding ego and abuse of power that too often comes with high office.

The numerous security lapses and the lawlessness that has engulfed the nation and rising simmering anger toward the police force obviously require urgent police reform.

BOKO HARAM KILLS 30 AT A BAR IN MAIDUGURI

It was another day of tragedy yesterday as members of the Boko Haram sect stormed a drinking joint in the Maiduguri metropolis killing no fewer than 30 people even as fears heightened in Bauchi over rumour of fresh attack.

A source who witnessed the act said that the members numbering about 10 had arrived at a popular drinking joint at Dala Kwamti around the Dala Alanderi area of the Borno State capital at about 6 pm in a convoy of two cars and started shooting sporadically.

Another source also claimed the men rode to the area on motorcycles from different direction, to beat the heavy security in the city.
“I don’t think they came in a convoy of cars as suggested. They might have ridden on motorcycles from different directions to beat the soldiers and police at a junction close to the area. They started firing shots from different directions into the joint and there were many people there at that time because it was not dark yet,” a resident of the area told Daily Sun on telephone.

It was also gathered that the Vice Chairman of Ngala Local Government, Alhaji Baba Kamfut and two others were shot and killed on Saturday night. Details of the killing of Kamfut were sketchy as at Press time, but sources said he was killed in his residence within the metropolis.
Unconfirmed report claimed the second victim was killed on Sunday while sympathisers were at the deceased local government boss house to condole with his family. Gunmen were said to have stormed the place again and shot two; one of whom died on Sunday, the source claimed.

Efforts to get official confirmation from the police as at Press time yielded no results. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abdullahi Lawal, could not be reached as his mobile line was unavailable.
Meanwhile, palpable fears yesterday gripped the residents of Bauchi metropolis over a rumour of fresh attack by Boko Haram. The fears were heightened as unconfirmed reports claimed yesterday that the group plans to attack parts of the Bauchi State capital.

Residents in Yelwa told Daily Sun that the Rafin Zurfi was one of the places slated for attack.
A resident, who opted for anonymity, said as a result of the news, the men in the area formed themselves into groups patrolling at night in order not to be taken unaware. Daily Sun learnt that the insecurity was believed to have been heightened by rumours that there had been a bomb explosion at Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

It turned out that there was no bomb explosion in the volatile Tafawa Balewa council headquatres, but a fire, which gutted the treasury department.“Bauchi is one of the states where Boko Haram had a running battle with the law enforcement agencies.“Such onslaught had led to the killing of many of the Boko Haram members and policemen. For instance, on July 26, 2099, the group had an all-night attack on Dutse Tanshi police station. Several members of the sect and two policemen were killed.

“On September 7, 2010, the group stormed Federal Prison in Bauchi and freed about 700 of their detained members facing trial. Innocent people had also been killed when the group carried out a spate of bomb attacks at Mammy Market in the 33 Artillery Brigade headquatres, Bauchi.“The group has also threatened more attacks and Bauchi is one of the states the Boko Haram wants Sharia law to be implemented as conditions for peace.”

Many people were considering the option of leaving the state en masse as a result of the insecurity if the situation does not improve. A week ago, a student of the Bauchi State-owned Polytechnic, Abba Abdullahi, was murdered on campus, prompting the students to protest against insecurity. However, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Barua, said the police were investigating the murder and assured the public that it would ensure protection of lives and property of citizens.

Barau could, however, not be reached to react to the news of the plan to attack some places as at Press time.
“There is actually, a threat to security that is why we must all be vigilant and secure yourself and property. It is only God that can save us for now,” another resident who said he was among those patrolling all night in Yelwa said

PROPOSED SHARIA BANK BY CBN WILL FURTHER TIGHTEN AL QEADA GRIP ON NIGERAI

Christians in the South-east under the aegis of Christians Council of Nigeria (CCN) have raised the alarm that the proposed Islamic bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has some Al Qaeda connections and Sharia rules guiding it.

The Christian group, led by its Chairman and Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma; Vice Chairman, Rev. (Dr.) Totty Onoh; Secretary, Very Rev. Ekpe; Methodist Archbishop, Most Rev. Samuel Uche; Rev. James Igwilo; Women Leader, Mrs Ego Kalu; Rev. Canon Jonathan Agbo and Rev. J. N. Ajuzie disclosed this at a press conference yesterday in Enugu and, therefore, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to stop the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on the bid.

The clerics reminded Jonathan that it would be dangerous to allow a religious bank in a secular state such as Nigeria, saying that; “Nigeria will be sitting on a keg of gun powder because this Islamic banking will be used to fuel terrorism.”

Explaining further, the group said: “It is going to be a very serious way of equipping and financing people who will destabilize this country because they don’t want this leadership. This is why we are saying it must not come.”
They suggested that the government should instead float a non-interest bank for every body in the country, but not one belonging to a particular religion.

“We feel as a church that this Islamic bank should not be encouraged and Sanusi should stop being fanatical about it. This bank is having a religious connotation and inasmuch as we support non-interest banking, it should not have a religious attachment; so, they should understand the Christians.
“If it is going to have religious attachment like Islamic bank, then we will demand for Christian bank, African traditional bank and that will bring division and trouble for Nigeria. So, if Sanusi and the other people in Islam have the interest and unity of this country they should decide right now to mellow down and forget about this Islamic banking, unless there is an ulterior motive behind it for which should be a condition for this country to be a member of the Organisation of Islamic Council.
“We said we cannot belong to this council and Nigeria is a secular nation and it can never be smuggled into the Organisation of Islamic Council.
“Again, if Sanusi cannot think of the unity of this nation, he should resign and leave this country alone because this is part of the problems they want to cause to make the country ungovernable for the incumbent president who is a Christian.

“Again, the Act that established the Central Bank does not allow a religious bank to operate unless Sanusi wants to let us know that he can do and undo things. The president should call him to order and caution him, the president cannot afford to be docile on this issue,” the group warned.
They argued that if the Federal Government had in the past refused to register some higher institutions because they bore Christian names why is it now allowing a bank with a religious attachment.

“If the Federal Government refused religious names attached to universities why should it now allow it for a bank, this is selective negligence. We feel unhappy about it; they refused Christian names for our institutions during NUC registration. So, why are you now giving religious name to a bank? This is a plan to Islamize the country,” they believed.

They also condemned attacks by the Boko Haram, saying that innocent citizens have lost their lives even when they were not involved in politics.
They accused northern leaders who lost in the last general elections of using Boko Haram to destabilize the country in disguise.
“They should know that this nation does not solely belong to them, this nation belongs to all of us, an election has been conducted, free and fair as judged by people outside this country and we are satisfied; so, they should give Jonathan the chance to govern as the Lord leads him and allow peace to reign,” the clerics said.

They also dismissed the amnesty sought for the Boko Haram sect, saying that their agitation was not similar to those of the Niger Delta militants.
“Theirs cannot be the same as that of the Niger Delta militants because the militants had a reason because of the oil resource they said was not equally shared. So, if they have any problem in the North for which the Boko Haram is protesting, let them come out in a decent way and let there be dialogue with the Federal Government for them to settle than using this violent way of killing innocent souls,” they said.

NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS INSISTS ON STRIKE

NLC President Omar

-Govt fails to persuade NLC, TUC on action

The stage seems set for another nationwide strike as the Federal Government – Labour parley yesterday failed to stave off the planned three-day warning strike.
The meeting ended in a stalemate last night. Unless today’s meeting between Labour leaders and governors turns the tide, the economy will be paralysed for three days beginning from tomorrow.
The government promised to: 
•pay the N18,000 minimum wage to workers on grade levels 01 to 06 immediately;
•pay workers on levels 07-17 after the passage of a supplementary budget; and
•pay the new wage to only core civil servants
But Labour rejected the proposals.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim chaired the meeting in his office at Shehu Shagari House, Abuja.
Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu; chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abdulwahed Omar; Trade Union Congress (TUC) President General Peter Esele, Director General, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu and others attended the meeting.
Wogu told the workers’ representatives that the government shifted its ground by accepting to pay across board, but the immediate challenge is that because the new wage was misinterpreted, the government only included grade levels one to six in this year’s budget. He urged labour to be patient for it to be included in next year’s budget.
“A lot has changed. We have agreed with your position to review the table. The issue now is the funding. We have also agreed to pay across board,” he told the union chiefs.
NLC Deputy President Promise Adewusi said the government was adopting a divide-and-rule approach by offering to pay some workers now and others later.
He said the NLC may boycott today’s meeting with the governors.
According to him, the Labour leadership had discovered that the government wanted to engage Labour leaders in Abuja to prevent them from mobilising workers for the warning strike.
His words: “If there is going to be a strike on Wednesday, all workers in public and private sectors will be involved. First, I have come to know that nothing is impossible. Almost N100billion for INEC. It will not be impossible for a few billions for Nigerian workers. If there is an emergency, government rises to it. Let it rise to this. What I am hearing and seeing is not giving me the confidence that the strike will not hold on Wednesday. Labour expected an agreement with government; if that will be done, we will be very happy to leave this place.”
To Anyim, there is no problem as the Federal Government has agreed to all that the workers demand. He said because the labour leaders should agree with the government’s plan to pay level seven to 17 next year.
“We have agreed to what you said; you should agree to ours,” he told the union chiefs.
Obviously to show a good example as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Amaechi yesterday ordered the payment of the minimum wage.
Amaechi gave the directive at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, while opening the state’s Civil Service Week/Awards’ Day.
He pleaded with other governors to pay the wage to avert a strike.
Amaechi, who was represented by his deputy Tele Ikuru, said his administration would deliver on its mandate of ensuring that workers get the best.
The Abia State chapter of the NLC said there was no going back on the strike.
Its Chairman, Comrade Sylvanus Eyeh, accused government of “making empty promises with the minimum wage”, and said workers were running out of patience.
Eyeh said: “They have been telling us they will pay but till when? We are demanding that the minimum wage will take effect from the 1st of April, 2011 taking into consideration that the President assented to it in March. We have waited for so long and workers are becoming impatient, knowing full well the cost of living in Abia State today.
“Even traders have skyrocketed their prices, yet the money we have not seen. We are calling on Abia State government to implement this minimum wage urgently without which we will be left with no alternative than to obey our principal, the Labour house in Abuja, which has directed all workers to down tools with effect from Wednesday.”
In Ondo State, workers yesterday said the on-going strike would continue till the state government honours the agreement on payment of salary relativity to workers.
The agreement was signed between the state government and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) on July 1 by the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration.
The Labour unions, in a communiqué at the end of its emergency meeting in Akure, condemned alleged antics of the government since May 1, 2009.
“We regret that a government enthroned by workers on the platform of LP is 100 per cent anti-labour, thereby negating the principles, philosophy and ideologies underscoring the formation of LP.
“Governor Olusegun Mimiko should tell the world whether the minimum wage was not in existence on June 20, 2011 when the state government entered into an agreement with labour on the implementation of salary relativity before minimum wage,” the statement said.
At a stakeholder’s forum at the weekend, Mimiko called on well meaning indigenes to the State to prevail on the workers to reciprocate his administration’s commitment to their welfare by calling off the strike.
The strike entered its fourth day, paralysing all ministries, departments and agencies as well as local government.
Members of the State Executive of the union, which comprise workers in the public sector, declared the strike in Ibadan yesterday after their meeting.
The meeting was presided over by the council’s chairman, Mr. Nurudeen Arowolo.
While justifying the industrial action, the workers alleged that the state government reneged on agreements reached with them on the new minimum wage on four occasions.
They explained that the strike became necessary as the government’s failure to keep an agreement could no longer be tolerated.
The strike is expected to paralyse activities at all public premises.
Chairman Bashiru Olanrewaju said the strike planned for tomorrow stands.
Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda said some states cannot afford the N18,000 wage but such states are ready to sit down with the NLC, open their books and agree on what is payable.

He said what the governors agreed last Saturday was that the implementation of the new wage is “doable, when able”.
He asked the NLC not to embark on blind agitation for N18, 000 wage in all the 36 states.
He said: “Well, we have all agreed that it (the N18, 000 wage) is something doable, when able. As far as I am concerned, N18, 000 is even too small for the average Nigerian worker. If we can even add more, we should do that.
“Labour knows the sources of funds of states and allocation of funds. They know how much we get and what we spend with many competing needs.
“There are states, like Lagos and Rivers, whose Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) runs into billions of Naira. If I were the governor of those states, I will certainly pay N50, 000 or N80, 000. There is nothing as good as investing in human resources.
“I also believe that there are states that can pay less than N18, 000. There are some states, from what I gathered from some of our colleagues, that the revenue that they are getting is not enough to pay the staff of the local governments, let alone that of civil servants.
“We know the truth, we know the facts and we run away from the facts. We have an army of unemployed graduates in millions. It is scary, having university graduates without jobs. And we are all running away from the facts. If I don’t have money to pay, do I print money to pay?
“All these labour leaders, are they not human beings? Why do they not fight for deregulation when they know that they are also going to be beneficiaries of the new minimum wage? If we are not careful with this country, it will collapse.
“There is no where in the world you borrow to finance recurrent expenditure (salaries and wages). If you are doing that, you will fail. When are we going to start telling ourselves the truth?
“The NLC leaders should not close their eyes because they are Nigerians. If this country fails, they have also failed. Every state should look at its own peculiarities and what it can pay.
“They should sit down with every state and look at their books. We would sit down with them, do our computation and see whether we will be able to pay the N18,000.
“For every kobo that comes into government, every citizen of that state is entitled to benefit from it. Do you want me to stop that? I can stop so many things to pay N18,000. Do you want me to cut the workforce? When will Nigerians start thinking Nigeria? I am worried when they talk about pedestrian issues.
On withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products, Yuguda said it is long overdue.
“Deregulation should have been done so many years ago. It is a necessity; it is sine qua non for the development of Nigeria.
“Nigerians should allow Mr. President to take that decision. If N600billion or N700billion is going into few hands in the name of subsidy, is that proper?
“You can count those benefiting from subsidy; they are few who are buying yacht and mansions in different parts of the world at the expense of all Nigerians. Those benefiting from the subsidy are oil marketers and those in the petroleum industry. It is a cartel.
“I want to make it clear that it (deregulation) is a war that every Nigerian must fight. If you remove subsidy and pump N600billion or N700billion monthly into the state treasuries every month, all these criminalities and infrastructural decay will end.”

TINUBU HITS PDP OVER BOKO HARAM

•It’s failure of governance, says ACN leader at Chatham House

BEFORE an elite audience of intellectuals and eminent personalities, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday offered President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan his candid advice on the Boko Haram violence. Find a durable solution to the dilemma or watch as your failure damages Nigeria, he told the President.
Tinubu said the Boko Haram threat has serious implication for national security. He described the emergence of the sect as indicative of failure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.
The ACN chieftain was delivering a lecture entitled Democracy and the rebirth of opposition in Nigeria at Chatham House, London. He said without a secured environment, the touted transformative agenda of the Jonathan administration will crash.
In the about 100-man audience were technocrats, politicians, researchers and scholars.
Tinubu said though there was an improvement in the conduct of the 2011 elections, compared to the brazen electoral heist of 2003 and 2007 elections, there were strong indications that the 2011 election was systemically rigged.
He said the violence that erupted after the emergence of Jonathan could be linked to perceived inequities and obvious dwindling of quality of life.
His words: “The electoral violence comes from the same wellspring that has produced the urgent security threat called Boko Haram, which has launched a violent campaign against government authority. Boko Haram signposts the deficiency of the ruling party in governing the country.
“The nation’s stability and the President’s mettle are being tested.  Should he stumble on this, unrest may follow in other areas. Different groups may race to mimic Boko Haram’s apparent success in challenging government. This is a serious matter not to be under-estimated. On this issue, the President has my full sympathy and support in finding ways to quickly resolve Boko Haram. He must succeed, for his failure will damage Nigeria. However, he must do much better at communicating with the public, to build widespread support for a durable resolution to this dilemma. Without enduring peace, government will not be able to achieve the transformational agenda already promised Nigerians.”
Tinubu, while acknowledging that the opposition parties did not get their acts early enough to challenge the machinery of the PDP, noted that the greatest electoral fraud was carried out in Akwa Ibom State where the full force of government security apparatus was used to emasculate the governorship candidate of the ACN and his supporters.
Reiterating his call for the full implementation of the Justice Muhammed Uwais report on electoral reform, Tinubu said although the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could have achieved some relative transparency, it should not be seen as a total transformation of the electoral process.
He noted that leaving the power of appointing the INEC chairman and the other commissioners to the President would expose the electoral body to manipulation and political influence.
“It must be stressed, however, that the change in the leadership of INEC is insufficient for the total transformation of the electoral process in Nigeria.
“First, the recalcitrant government failed to resolve the issue of the independence of the Electoral Commission.  Second, government refused to alter the selection process giving a president unilateral power to appoint the chairman and its commissioners. And third, government refused to provide the Electoral Commission an independent budget. This means the Commission remains susceptible to political influence because the National Assembly and President could control the Commission’s purse strings for as long as they deem appropriate,” he said.
ACN’s resurgence as the leading opposition party and government-in-waiting to a determination by its leaders to stand firm and fight the corrosive rape of democracy being practised by the PDP under the leadership of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his successors.
His words: “The PDP management of the economy in the last 12 years has been ineffective and here I am being charitable in my use of adjectives. They claim real GDP growth at a robust pace of nearly seven per cent per annum. How can that be? Inflation runs at over 12 per cent. Are they really claiming the economy is growing at nearly 20 per cent in nominal terms?
“High unemployment rates remain unchanged. Official statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics puts unemployment rate in Nigeria at 19.7 per cent, with about 10 million Nigerians unemployed as at March 2009. But we know the figures are much higher. The amount of people living below the poverty line has not decreased. The middle class – the backbone of any democracy - is an endangered specie.  Manufacturing and industrial firms are closing faster than others are opening. Electricity supply remains a serious challenge. In the last 10 years, over $15 billion has been spent to improve power generation. Yet, it remains at an abysmal level of less than 4,000 megawatts per day.  Cities, such as London and New York, enjoy four to five times more electricity than the entire Nigeria.

“Fuel supply is also a major challenge. We have a government unable to provide millions of Nigerians with refined petroleum products. While in the past, oil majors were able to meet demand, the reverse is the case now. Food prices are climbing so much so that hunger has entered households where it was once a stranger. After earning about 200 billion dollars from oil revenue in 10 years, based on NNPC documents, Nigeria is still a pauper nation. The PDP big guns must be the only ones benefitting from this illusory economic growth.”
Describing corruption as the bane of development in the country, Tinubu noted: “Corruption continues unabated and examples abound. There are allegations bordering on the extortion of illicit payments from operators in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil economy. The outright wastage of financial resources on illegal subsidies that never percolate to the people need to be boldly addressed by President Jonathan. Mis-management of scarce resources as exemplified in the delegation of the Petroleum Subsidy Funds (about $8billion per year) to the Ministry of Petroleum instead of the Ministry of Finance leaves the door wide open for corruption.
“Nigeria suffers one of the world’s worst rates of income inequality. The economy is not an open one and we do not yet practise sufficient economic justice to change the skewed regime. The PDP strategy is a corporatist/financier model whereby it seeks to place a greater and greater concentration of economic wealth and power in the hands of a select few. The party exploits the levers of government to lay claim to vast tracts of economic power to the exclusion of everyone else. This is dangerous. This policy began with President Obasanjo, who tried to establish new economic elite in his own image. He pushed the formation of the holding company called Transcorp.  The plan was to use Transcorp to lay claim to an obscene amount of the nation’s resources with the support of self-acclaimed technocrats in Obasanjo’s cabinet. Transcorp was to resemble one of the vast royal corporations of two or three centuries past. This entity began purchasing everything it could grab, from national telephone company to the best hotel in Abuja. Had Obasanjo and his platoon of merry men succeeded with extending to a third presidential term, this vision for the domination of the Nigerian economy would have been realised.”
Commending the late President Umaru Yar’Adua for dismantling the Transcorp scam, Tinubu cautioned Jonathan to be wary of some of Obasanjo’s men who are currently hanging around the corridors of power.
He lashed the PDP for its “skewed” fiscal federalism, “despite the Supreme Court verdicts”.
“Under the excess crude account and now its progeny, the Sovereign Wealth Fund, the federal government has improperly siphoned funds constitutionally meant for the states.  This represents a massive slush fund that the federal government can use as it wishes with little public knowledge or oversight. At best, the monies will be used to fund rentier practices that enrich government cronies but pauperise the larger economy. At worst, the money will be squandered,” he said.
“I cannot speak for other states, but I wager that the people of the ACN states would rather see their states’ proper share of these funds in the hands of their governors than in the custody of the unnamed bureaucrats servile to PDP chieftains. The ACN will do better than the PDP in managing the economy by pursuing a true fiscal federalism,” Tinubu said.
At the lecture, which was chaired by a member of the British Parliament, Chi Onwurah, who also moderated. In attendance were the Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr. Muiz Banire, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Hon. Mudasir Obasa, Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Mr. Dele Alake, Muti Bello, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Pivs Akinyelure and Prof. Adebayo Williams.
After the event, the entourage proceeded to the Novotel Hotel, Waterloo, where Tinubu delivered a lecture on deepening democracy.
Members of the Oyo State branch of the Joint Negotiating Council will today start an indefinite strike.

'Steal & go to jail' President Goodluck advises Ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday warned ministers and presidential aides that his government would never offer protection to anyone in government with questionable integrity and corrupt tendencies. Jonathan, who spoke in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Presidential retreat and induction for new ministers, special advisers and permanent secretaries, said that his government was determined to sincerely wrestle and win the battle against graft. The retreat followed the completion of the swearing-in ceremony for members of his cabinet with the last batch of nine ministers who took oath of office on Thursday bringing the total number of ministers who had taken oath to 40 with the exception of Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is yet to take oath of office because she is still trying to disengage her services from the bank.

The President said: “Let me reiterate that public funds are meant for the public good and I am quite pleased to note that this administration’s commitment to the rule of law is common knowledge because neither the Vice President nor I will offer protection to anyone in government whose integrity is called to question.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPOINTS MORE MINISTERS

12/07/2011 13:37:00

President Goodluck Jonathan named career diplomat Olugbenga Ashiru as foreign minister and Bart Nnaji as power minister among several Cabinet appointments late on Monday.

Mr. Ashiru has served as a diplomat for almost three decades and was recently Nigeria's high commissioner in South Africa.

Mr. Nnaji was the head of a company that built a major power distribution plant in a country suffering from chronic electricity shortages. He was also the former head of the presidential power task force. He will arguably have one of the toughest ministerial challenges.

Mr. Jonathan was sworn in for his first full term on May 29 and his ministerial choices are being watched closely by Nigerians and foreign investors keen for a team capable of driving badly needed reforms.

He has already reappointed 12 ministers from the outgoing government to their old jobs, including Oil Minister Deziani Alison-Madueke, a move his critics saw as an uninspiring start.

World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was approved by the Senate to join the Cabinet last week and is expected to be sworn in by Mr. Jonathan in an expanded role as finance minister in the coming days.

Ms. Okonjo-Iweala, a respected former finance minister who helped negotiate debt relief in 2005, said last week she was concerned about the high cost of government and the depletion of foreign reserves, despite high oil prices.

NIGER DELTA MILLITANTS WANTS A REPUBLIC

THE Niger Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to convene a sovereign national conference, SNC, to afford Nigerians the opportunity to discuss and possibly give birth to the Republic of Niger Delta as was witnessed in Sudan, where the people met and agreed on the formation of a new nation, South Sudan Republic, without spilling blood.
Spokesman of the militant group, “Captain” Mark Anthony, in a statement, noted that Nigeria’s problem was political and what was needed to resolve it was a political solution, involving a roundtable conference of all the ethnic nationalities in the entity called Nigeria.
He said: “In SNC, every ethnic nationality shall come forward through a delegation and put up a referendum for the interest of every geo-political region. The referendum shall determine the continued existence or separation of the contraption called Nigeria. Nigeria is a creation of falsehood and it is standing on a keg of gun powder being mismanaged by former military dictators.
“We use this medium to hail great men like Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, late Major Isaac Boro, Ken Saro-Wiwa and their followers, as well as all freedom fighters who had paid the supreme price with their lives for Biafra and Niger Delta, for their courage and patriotism. These great men were men of vision who saw the type of fake Nigeria left behind for us by the British imperialists.
“We also hail the people of the new South Sudan nation for their determination and doggedness. We the people of Niger Delta shall one day join the world to celebrate Niger Delta Republic. Nobody should deceive himself and play politics with our call for splitting Nigeria into segments for the interest of every geo-political region,” he added.