Who Truly is the FOOL, IBB or Obasanjo? Only the masses can say

Obasanjo and Babangida

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday responded to the recent criticisms of his administration by a former military dictator, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, dismissing Babangida’s assessment as the “ranting of a foolish man”.

The former President, in an interview with selected reporters at his Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said that his achievements as a two-term civilian head of state towered above the legacies of Babangida’s eight-year rule.

He said, “Normally when I read these things I don’t believe them. Yesterday (Wednesday), when somebody phoned me and said this was what he (Babangida) said, I said, ‘Don’t believe it.’ They got me the newspapers and I read them. It’s a bit unlike Babangida. But if Babangida has decided, on becoming a septuagenarian, that he will be a fool, I think one should probably do what the Bible says in Proverbs Chapter 26, verse 4. It says don’t answer a fool because you may also become like him.

“When you go to the same Proverbs Chapter 26 verse 5, it says answer a fool so that he will not think he’s a wise man. So, I am now torn between which of the two verses I should follow in this respect.”

Babangida, however, reacted to Obasanjo’s remarks on Thursday, calling Obasanjo “a greater fool.” “We do not want to believe that he (Obasanjo) truly said that, but if it is true that he did say that, Nigerians know who the greatest (sic) fool is,” Babangida said in a statement by his spokesperson, Prince Kassim Afegbua.

“In terms of decency, finesse, class, distinction and general conduct, IBB could be described in the superlatives but for Obasanjo, God bless Nigeria.

“For a man who cannot possibly tell his true age, one may excuse his present outburst as the effusions of a witless comedian trying effortlessly to impress his select audience.

Obasanjo, himself a military dictator between 1976 and 1979, was elected president between 1999 and 2007. Babangida seized power in a military coup in 1985 and ruled till 1993 when he “stepped aside” in the aftermath of the crisis that greeted the annulment of the 1993 presidential election.

The spat between the two former heads of state began on Wednesday when Babangida, in an interview to mark his 70 birthday, berated the ex-president for lacking in vision and said his eight years in government had been a failure.

But Obasanjo argued that the premise on which IBB based his assessment exposed the former military dictator’s “ignorance”.

He said, “Unfortunately, some of the things he said were not well thought-out. For instance, he talked about our energy sector. When I was the military head of state, I built Jebba Dam; built Shiroro Dam; and I prepared the foundation of Egbin Power Plant, which President (Shehu) Shagari completed and inaugurated. That time, the money we were making was not up to the money Babangida was making annually for his eight years. Yet, we built two dams, because it was important.

“You know that power is the driving force for development and for any developing country. But since the building of Egbin power plant, until I came back in 1999, there was no generating plant for almost 20 years and Babangida spent eight years out of that. Now, he has the audacity to talk about anybody. I think that is unfortunate.

“Then, as elected president, I built Papalanto, Omotosho and others. I started five Independent Power Stations which were stopped for two-and-a-half years. As a country, Nigeria should be adding nothing less than 1,500 megawatts annually. South Africa with a population of 50 million generates 50,000 mega watts.

“As at 1999, we met 1,500 mega watts before we took it up to 4,000 mega watts. What we started they are now allowing it to go on. I believe if they continue with the programme that we left, in another two years, we will get to 10,000.”

Obasanjo added that the ex-dictator deserved pity as a result of the “inherent contradictions” in his comments.

He said, “I also read where he said in his time, he gave the dividends of democracy and at the same time he regretted. When I read that, I said Babangida should be pitied and shown sympathy rather than anger or condemnation because the old saying says a fool at 40 is a fool forever and I would say a regret at 70 is a regret too late. Well, a regret at 70 is a regret to the grave.”

Former Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, had claimed that Obasanjo blocked the sale of Nigeria Airways while testifying before the Senate Committee probing the sale of public enterprises from 1999 to date.

Obasanjo admitted that he blocked the sale of Nigeria Airways under the privatisation programme but explained that he did so because the organisation was not viable for sale.

Obasanjo said, “I blocked the sale of Nigeria Airways; not that I attempted to block the sale of Nigeria Airways. When I was the military head of state, Nigeria Airways had 32 aircraft. By the time I came back as elected president of Nigeria in 1999, Nigeria Airways had only one aircraft. One of the 32 was wide bodied; they had all gone. The report on which we worked is here and the amount of money we would have had to pay if Nigeria Airways was sold. What we would have got out of it was less than 10 per cent of the debt we had to pay. That will be the debt Nigeria taxpayers would have had to pay. I won’t run my own affairs that way, so I opted for liquidation.

“So, it was bankrupted, it was liquidated. In which case, whatever you gain from liquidation, which is also a form of sale, (it) means the burden will be shared by all the creditors and everybody. So, I did not allow normal privatisation or sale because it would have put a very heavy burden on Nigeria. In fact my administration should be commended for that,” he added.

However, Babangida, in the statement, alluded to the widely held belief that he was one of the powerbrokers who engineered Obasanjo’s ascension to power after his prison term.

The statement reads, “When he was released from prison and granted state pardon, bathed in cerebral ornaments and clothed in royal beads and later crowned as President of Nigeria, IBB was not a fool then.

“Now that he is at the extreme of his thoughts and engagements, he can decide to dress IBB in borrowed robes. But the histories of both of them, when put to public scrutiny comparatively, IBB is far glowing and instructively stands poles apart from Obasanjo.

“On the issue of performance, Obasanjo cannot contemplate a comparison of his largely acquisitive regime that plundered our hard-earned state resources, with that of the IBB government with a verifiable record of achievements.

“Despite the fact that he carried out a clinical investigation of IBB’s regime, what did he establish against him? Nothing! We wish to refer Obasanjo to the National Assembly to give his own side of the story to the several revelations that have become the themes of his orchestra when he held sway as President of Nigeria. Perhaps, he would be able to tell the world how he managed Nigeria’s resources during his regime.”

Lagos State Government orders demolition of 500 illegal structures in Ilaje Bariga

The Lagos State Government has ordered the demolition of 500 structures and immediate eviction of the 2,000 inhabitants, who are mostly fishermen, at Ilaje in Bariga Local Government Area, Lagos State.

The government said the move had become necessary in to ensure the security of the state and to enhance the beauty of its beaches.

The state Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Mr. Adesegun Oniru, who led a team of government officials to Ilaje Bariga, said the movement would affect those living on the water body from Bariga up to Lagoon Front at the University of Lagos.

He added that the government would dislodge other illegal occupants along all the beaches in the state.

Oniru, who later addressed the leaders of the inhabitants of the area, said government could no longer fold its arms and watch the nuisance posed by the illegal structures on its waterfronts.

He added that the structures in Bariga, which are largely shanties, were visible from the Third Mainland Bridge. He noted that the structures had become an eyesore.

The commissioner said, “We have come here to warn you to leave this place; we will not come back here to warn you again. The bridge you see there is an international link bridge, and we do not like the nuisance these shanties are creating here, we do not want them near the bridge anymore. We also feel that they (shanties) are creating a security problem.

“We urged a fast and immediate movement because we will soon come back and when we do, the government will clear this area itself.”

Oniru said the state had earlier served the dwellers a notice to quit the area. He lamented that their continued stay in the place had also been posing an environmental threat to the state.

The commissioner also insisted that there was no plan to compensate those that would be affected by the ejection order.

He said, “Why will you relocate or compensate someone that is not supposed to be in this area in the first place? There are people here along the waterfront, they are not supposed to be here, they should move away from there and I don’t believe that a plan should be put in place to relocate them.”

Oniru added that the government would dredge and deepen the water to prevent other people from relocating to the area after ejecting the residents.

EXPOSED! EX-GOVERNOR BOLA AHMED TINUBU BUYS 3 PLANES FOR 40 BILLION

   Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu allegedly acquires First Nation Airways (formerly Bellview Airlines).

According to source, shortly after Tinubu completed the takeover of the airline in 2010, he ordered for three new aeroplanes from the United States of America to beef up the fleet of the airline.

The planes were delivered in early April 2011 and are at the Murtala Mohamed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos already painted with the airline’s name and logo.

The Airbus A320 is assembled in Europe and has sitting capacity of 220 passengers.

It can travel at a range of 3,100 to 12,000 KM.

The cost of one aircraft is put at $85 million (N13.6 billion).Our checks revealed that the aircraft is the very first on Nigerian soil, only few airlines in Europe and America have this type of aircraft.

The former Governor, who served the people of Lagos from 1999-2007 reportedly has other business interests in the Lekki Toll Services, Eko Atlantic City.

He is also the promoter of The Nation Newspapers.

Mikel father’s car found, kidnappers contact family

Mikel Obi

The kidnappers of Mr. Michael Obi, father of Chelsea star Mikel Obi, have made contact with the family. Mr Obi, a retired civil servant, who runs a transport company in the city of Jos was abducted on Friday evening, and has not been seen since.

On Tuesday the police made a general appeal to the public for information that could help solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance. But later on Tuesday it was alleged that the family had received two calls from the kidnappers, who first warned them that Obi senior had been taken out of Jos.

“They called mummy (Mikel’s mother) and told her that we should not bother looking for Daddy in Jos because he had been taken to Lagos,” a family source informed KickOffNigeria.com.

A few hours later a second call came in, giving the family the location of the car which Mr Obi was driving when he went missing. Tony, the eldest of the Obi children, allegedly confirmed to KickOffNigeria.com that the car was found in Jos, but declined to say where.

But despite the report, Mikel’s mother denied that the family had received any call from anybody claiming to be the abductor. She, however, confirmed that her husband’s car had been seen but that the discovery was based on a tip-off from an informant.

“Somebody who had an idea of the make of the car contacted us. And based on that information people were sent out to the spot and confirmed the information to be correct. That is the much that has happened and that’s the much we can say for now until tomorrow,” she said.

The car was seen around Kwali Falls in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

After the appeal made by the Plateau State Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni, our correspondent who visited the family home could not obtain any photograph of him for publication. The plea that the picture and more information released to the public as to the make of his car and other details could be of great help was turned down. On Monday, several friends of the family cordoned off the family home, making it impossible for journalists to gain access to the house.

Mikel pleaded on Monday for his father’s kidnappers to free him, begging, “Please just let him go.”

Dora Akunyili Erects N150m Country Home On NAFDAC Land!

Former Minister for Information, Dora Akunyili is surfing her way back to the top of public discourse.

She is attaining this feat on the platform of a grave allegation.

Informants alleged that the personal house the former minister is currently putting finishing touches to in Agulu, Anambra state is located

on a portion of the land the community gave to National agency, NAFDAC (National Agency For Food, Drug Administration Control)

The ‘gift’ was reportedly influenced and made during the tenure of Akunyili as Director General of the agency.

The former NAFDAC boss’ part heritage is from Agulu. Her father is from Nanka, while her mother is from Agulu.

Information pieced together alleged that Akunyili had cornered a portion of the expanse land as the gains of her effort.
The country home, valued at one hundred and Fifty million naira, is said to share a fence with NAFDAC office, Anambra state.

Informants revealed that news of this development floating around has started causing an agitation of sort within and outside official quarters.

Presently sources alleged a movement to correct the alleged anomaly is on.

The growing agitation is said to have the subtle support of current head of NAFDAC, Paul Orhii.

Orhii is said to maintain a low profile in the matter based on his ongoing battle to retain his seat-he fears Dora still has enough clout in government circles to compound his problem if he takes her headlong.

The positioning of Akunyili’s home gives her vantage view of going ons within the NAFDAC compound- a situation many have described as ‘unsettling’ given her pedigree at the agency.

Akunyili had used the agency- her performance there- as a spring board for her political ambition.

The former minister and defeated senatorial aspirant refused to respond to enquiries on the matter when contacted.

FG seals agreement with Labour, pays N18,900

L-R: Omar, Esele

The long drawn battle between the Federal Government and the organised labour on Tuesday both parties signed a final agreement on the implementation of the 2011 minimum wage Act.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Pius Anyim, who led the government team announced to labour leaders the willingness of the Federal Government to pay a minimum wage of N18,900 to federal workers.

Other members of the government delegation included the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, and the Chairman, National Salaries Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule.

The presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar and his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele, signed the agreement entitled ‘Final Agreement between the Federal Government and the labour movement represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act 2011’ on behalf of labour.

Anyim said President Goodluck Jonathan had approved an annual release N11bn to take care of the salaries of federal workers in compliance with the agreement reached with workers.

He assured the labour representatives that the government would ensure that all measures required for the implementation of the agreement were put in place.

He commended the leadership of the organised labour for their maturity and show of patriotism which eventually led to the final agreement reached on the protracted labour disagreement.

Anyim said, “So, today we will be finalizing the process that has been on for some time now and I know each would have reviewed the agreement as jointly drafted. So, we will simply sign the agreement and we can assure you that on the side of the Federal government we will certainly put every machinery in motion to implement the agreement as signed.”

In his response, Omar expressed happiness at the resolution of the impasse, urging the Federal Government to adhere strictly to the date of implementation in the agreement.

He said the organised labour displayed goodwill and put in a lot of sacrifice during the long period of negotiation with the government and expected implementation of the new wage law without further problems.

His TUC counterpart, Esele advised the Federal Government to ensure that the laws of land and agreement reached were respected.

“We must all learn that subsequently, we won’t have to go through this long process of discussing and negotiating laws over and over again.”

The Chairman of Salaries and Wages Commission, Egbule, who was directed by the SGF to read the agreement, said the implementation of the new Act and the issues of salary relativity would be limited to N11bn.

He recalled that the government had implemented an harmonised salary structure for federal workers at 53.4 per cent which made it necessary for both labour and the FG to look into the implication of relativity on the implementation of the new law.

FG promises ‘uninterrupted power supply’ before 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has again assured Nigerians that his administration is working hard to ensure that the citizens enjoy uninterrupted power supply before the end of his tenure in 2015.

A statement from the office of his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted Jonathan as giving the assurance while receiving members of the board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company led Vice- President Namadi Sambo, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The President said his administration would do everything possible to ensure that all the plans and projects aimed at guaranteeing stable power supply were implemented successfully.

He said this was informed by the understanding that steady power supply was important to national development.

“We all know the importance of power. We look forward to a time when Nigerians can enjoy uninterrupted power supply from the beginning to the end of a year and we are working hard to ensure that that objective is attained within the life-span of this administration,” he said.

The President urged members of the board and management of the company which was established to oversee the implementation of the National Integrated Power Projects to ensure they contributed effectively to meeting the country’s power needs.

Sambo assured Jonathan that the firm would deliver all the medium-size gas-fired NIPP power generating stations as well as associated transmission projects on schedule.

This, he explained, would go a long way in ensuring that the administration’s promise of steady power supply was fulfilled.

“We will work relentlessly to fulfil our mandate on time,” the Vice-President said.

All S’East govs to foot Ojukwu’s bills –Gov Orji aide

The Special Adviser on Public Relations to Abia State Governor, Mr. James Okpara, has denounced recent newspaper reports, which credited Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State with the payment of the hospital bills for Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in the United Kingdom.

Okpara, in an interview with SATURDAY PUNCH in Lagos on Friday, described the reports, which were published on Thursday, as untrue and mischievous.

He said, “The Ikemba of Nnewi is arguably the greatest Igbo man alive. It is unfortunate that some people have chosen to toy with issues concerning his ill-health. I think this is unfair and extremely disrespectful.

“It is wrong for these people to come out and say that only Governor Peter Obi has been paying the Ikemba’s hospital bills abroad. What about the other state governors in the South-East?”

Okpara said that contrary to the reports, Ojukwu’s welfare and the cost of his treatment in the British hospital had been the collective responsibility of all the governors of the South-Eastern states and not just that of Obi.

He said, “I know, for sure, that all the South-East governors, under the aegis of the South East Governors’ Forum, have been rendering assistance to Ojukwu since his illness began.

“They have been channelling aid to the Ikemba through Governor Obi, who is the chairman of the forum.

“I know how much the Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, has contributed to Ojukwu’s welfare till date. I know, too, that he has always been interested in the welfare of other notable Igbo sons and members of their respective families.

“Even before Ojukwu’s illness became critical, Orji had been doing his best to take care of him. Do you then expect the Abia State governor to start making noise about it?”

Okpara blamed the reports on certain people, whose sole objective was to cause disaffection between the South-East governors and the people.

He said that since no member of Ojukwu’s immediate family had openly accused the South-East governors of neglecting him, nobody else had any right to applaud anybody for doing what they were bound to do under Igbo tradition and custom.

He said that the Abia State government was willing to pay the new minimum wage to workers in the state.

Dismissing insinuations that the government was deliberately foot-dragging on the subject, he noted that the state governor had made the payment of the minimum wage one of his priorities and could not afford to disappoint the workers

Famine: Jonathan pledges support for Somalia

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern at the famine in Somalia, and pledged that Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States would make appropriate responses at the forthcoming pledging conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on August 25, 2011.

A statement from the State House on Friday quoted Jonathan as speaking when former Ghanaian President, Jerry John Rawlings, who is also the African Union High Representative for Somalia, came to brief him on the situation in Somalia, and seek a response to the conference.

While describing the famine in the Horn of Africa as worrisome, he said African leaders must take action to help the unfortunate situation.

My question is this? are we as a country satisfied and already feed to be thinking of feeding others? a yoruba adage says and i quote 'ile la ti n ko eso ro de'. If  as a country blessed with everything to make life comfortable, majority of her citizens still lives in abject poverty, then the world should be looking for a way to help us and not the other way round

Britain tense as gangs roam , Riot in Britain gets out of hand

Britain tense as gangs roam   
  UPDATED: Aug 9, 2011 18:01 GMT    Some 16,000 police officers will be on the streets of London Tuesday night, after British Prime Minister David Cameron vowed tough action to quell rioting in Britain's cities. He said the extra officers -- more than twice as many as the night before -- would tackle the "criminality, pure and simple" that has shaken the capital. Officers from several other cities were drafted in to help in the effort. "People should be in no doubt that we will do everything necessary to restore order to Britain's streets and make them safe for the law-abiding," Cameron said. Violence initially sparked by the shooting death of a 29-year-old man in London, Mark Duggan, spread to other parts of the nation Monday night, with dramatic scenes of blazing buildings and confrontations between police and hooded youths. The trouble -- described by police as "'copycat criminal activity" -- takes place against a backdrop of austerity measures and budget cuts. An independent police body reported Tuesday that there was "no evidence" that Duggan had opened fire at officers, a result that may further anger his community. The police appealed for calm in light of the report. The Metropolitan Police in London said Monday night's disturbances were the worst the force "has seen in current memory for unacceptable levels of widespread looting, fires and disorder." Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man who was found with a gunshot wound to the head in Croydon, south London, on Monday night has died, police said Tuesday. His is the first riot-related death since the unrest broke out Saturday night. Rumours swirled Tuesday afternoon of police responding to different areas of London, but the only outbreaks of disorder confirmed by police were in Wolverhampton and West Bromwich, about 100 miles north of London, and the northwestern city of Manchester. Cameron, who cut short his vacation in Italy to hold an emergency meeting Tuesday, has also taken the highly unusual step of recalling lawmakers from their summer break, with Parliament to meet Thursday.

Troubled Banks get New Chairmen, DGs

CBN Governor Mr. Lamido Sanusi

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Sunday approved new management teams for the three nationalised banks-Afribank Plc, Bank PHB Plc and Spring Bank Plc.

The appointment was announced by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.

AMCON in the statement announcing the appointments said “The newly appointed boards are entrusted with the mandate to manage these banks along best commercial practice to compete effectively in the Nigerian banking sector and provide quality service to customers.

“Depositors are again assured that their deposits are safe, and employees are also assured of seamless continuity of business operations and job functions.”

The move followed Friday’s takeover of the three troubled banks by the Federal Government and the decision to inject N678.5bn into the banks by AMCON.

The banks, along with Union Bank Plc, Intercontinental Bank Plc; Finbank Plc; and Oceanic International Bank Plc, had been given up to September 30 to recapitalise or face liquidation.

But sources told THE PUNCH that the Federal Government reviewed the situation last week in Abuja and concluded that it would be risky to allow the three banks to operate till September 30.

Already, Afribank Plc, has been renamed Mainstreet Bank Limited; while Bank PHB now bears Keystone Bank Limited Spring Bank Plc is also now Enterprise Bank Limited.

Following the CBN approval, Keystone Bank Limited now has Mr. Jacobs Moyo Ajekigbe as Chairman, while Mr. Oti Ikomi would serve as the Managing Director.

Ajekigbe is the former Managing Director of First Bank Plc succeeded by Mr. Lamido Sanusi, the current CBN Governor. The statement further said that Mr. Shehu Abubakar; Mr. Demola Adewale; Mrs. Yvonne Isichei; Dr. Shehu Mohammed; and Mr. Raphael Ereyi would serve as Executive Directors.

For Mainstreet Bank, the statement said that Mr. Falalu Bello would serve as Chairman, while Mrs. Faith Tuedor-Matthews, would now be the bank’s Managing Director. Bello was the Group Managing Director of Unity Bank Plc before he resigned on July 1 this year.

The Executive Directors are Mr. Kola Ayeye, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Bello, Mr. Bolaji Shenjobi, Mr. Anogwi Anyanwu and Mr. Roger Woodbridge. The statement also named Mr. Emeka Onwuka as Chairman of Enterprise Bank Limited, while Mr. Ahmed Kuru was appointed the bank’s Managing Director.

Onwuka was the Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc before he retired on April 1 after serving the bank for 19 years. For the position of Executive Directors, the apex bank appointed Mrs. Louisa Olalokun, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Mr. Aminu Ismail, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, and Mr. Audu Kazir.

Other members of the board, according to the statement, will soon be announced.

It said, “The CBN has granted the same interbank guarantee as it did to the banks that have signed Transaction Implementation Agreements, until December 31 2011.

“The banks are therefore fully capitalised, strengthened and well positioned for future growth.”

AMCON on Saturday at a press conference in Lagos had said that by Monday (today), it would take over Spring Bank Plc, Afribank Plc and Bank PHB Plc and recapitalise them to the tune of N110.5bn, N285bn and N283bn respectively through the issuance of bonds in order to raise their capital adequacy ratio to 15 per cent.

The fresh N678.5bn brings to N1.298.5tn the total amount injected into the eight rescued banks after the CBN had earlier bailed them out with N620bn in 2009.

The CBN had said that the move was to ensure that the eight rescued banks were fully recapitalised by September 30, in order to end the crisis plaguing the Deposit Money Banks operating in the country.

It added that AMCON would recapitalise the nationalised banks before sourcing for new investors, an exercise that might take up to two or three years, and that all deposits with the bridge banks had been guaranteed by the apex bank.

Meanwhile, findings by one of our correspondents revealed that the revocation of the licences of the three banks was done by the Federal Government as a pre-emptive measure to prevent other banks that had inter-bank deposits with the nationalised banks from withdrawing their funds before September 30.

It was also learnt that the move was also a technical way of solving the crisis in the affected banks by ensuring that the banks continued in operation but in a different form.

Illegal refining: JTF intensifies patrol of N’Delta waterways

There were indications on Sunday that the military might have intensified its patrol of the waterways in the Niger Delta following the recent discovery of illegal oil refineries in the region.

The military Joint Task Force had in March, destroyed over 500 illegal oil refineries in the region in a move to curtail the destruction of oil pipelines and wellheads by oil thieves.

The JTF also destroyed over 600 illegal refineries in the region last December, an illegal business which industry experts say costs the country a loss of about 100,000 of crude oil per day.

The JTF spokesman, Lt. Col Timothy Antigha, who confirmed the renewed onslaught on the illegal oil business, noted that at least four suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime.

The military, he said, had considerably reduced the activities of the militants noting, however, that its major challenge was how to curb the illegal activities of the bunkerers who had resorted to local refining.

Antigha also refuted reports that there was a lull in its efforts to curb militancy in the area because some of the military officers had been moved to fight Boko Haram in the north.

He said, “Last month, we (the military) raided many illegal oil refineries because that seems to be the major challenge now since militancy has significantly receded. We have also redirected our energies to the patrol of central areas in the Niger Delta and we will continue to chase the criminals.

“These products are poorly refined and this is added to the issue of environmental pollution when they break crude oil pipes because they don’t have the technology to seal them back. Even their illegally refined products damage car engines and cause kerosene explosions.

“We have raided them several times and we will continue to intensify the raids until we chase them out and stop their nefarious activities. The JTF is confronting them frontally because this is pure economic sabotage.

“They steal oil; they damage pipelines and in the course of that they pollute the environment because they do not meet industry standards.”

The military, he added, was on the trail of the sponsors of those involved, adding that all the states in the region were involved in the illegal business.

He said the four arrested persons were already helping in unmasking the sponsors of oil bunkering.

He also called on all concerned agencies to support the JTF in advocacy and public enlightenment in their efforts.

“The JTF calls on all concerned agencies of government to key into our activities by way of advocacy, prosecution and public enlightenment because this is a very dangerous business and we need their support,” he added

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.”