Uwakwe Abugu
Information and Communications Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili, recently took the on-going campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan to the South-East when she constantly emphasised two middle Igbo names of the President during a convocation lecture she delivered at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.
She called the full names of Mr. President as Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, a development that stirred murmuring from the huge crowd at the Princess Alexandria Auditorium, venue of the lecture.
She went on to deliver the lecture on re-branding the Nigerian universities and was later made to come back to the reaction of the audience on Jonathan's name.
She had to take on the audience, saying she knew they would be surprised that she used those Igbo names. Then, she went on to explain to the audience that those were the names given to Jonathan by his grand parents.
In fact, what caused the seeming stir among the crowd was the introduction of Azikiwe, the name of the late first President of the country, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, to Jonathan's name but she defended it, saying it is not a new name but one of the names given to him by his grand parents.
Side talks, of course, trailed the drama, as some members of the audience saw the development as a ploy to make the President assume a closer affinity with the Igbo in the South-East as the controversy over the zoning of the presidency rages across the country.
She declared: I want to assure you that President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is very passionate about making life comfortable for all Nigerians and he needs your support to achieve this goal.
In her lecture, Prof. Akunyili lamented the decay in the nation's university system occasioned by corruption, sexual harassment and cheating in examinations, a situation that has led to loss of confidence in the system.
The minister regretted that the situation has become so bad for the nation's universities that brain drain both on the part of the lecturers and the students has become a permanent feature of the system as some lecturers and certain wealthy individuals have been sending their children and wards to universities in Europe, the United States and neighbouring Ghana.
She spoke passionately about the need to preserve the culture of merit and excellence in the nation's ivory towers and expressed worries that the ills plaguing the larger society have since crept into the system and eroded these ennobling virtues.
Corruption, she further stated, has, for instance, continued to rear its head in teaching and learning, in the process of admission of students into the universities, and that, regrettably, the appointment of Vice-Chancellors now appear dependent where the candidates for the post come from and not the qualities of the individuals involved in the contest.
She dwelt at length on the ills of sexual harassment perpetrated against female students but went to give certain graphic details and examples of how sometimes, some of the victims have also contributed to its prevalence.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Hon. Ndudi Elumelu now a J.P, promises to promote communal peace in the Nation.
from the right, Sir Onianwa is first on the line up, taking his oath of allegiance to the office of Justice of the peace
presenting vote of thanks on behalf of himself and other sworn in JPs
CELEBRATION TIME WITH FRIENDS AND WOMEN GROUP SUPPORTERS, OUR 9JA WOMEN NO DEY CARRY LAST, NO WOMAN NO POLITICIAN, NDUDI CARRY GO!!!!! THEY SAY.
Jonathan increases INEC budget to N89.6b
Kunle Akogun
President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the National Assembly to approve a supplementary budget of N89.6 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in preparation for the 2011 elections.
Also, the President has forwarded a list of additional three ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening.And in keeping to its pledge to cut short its two-month recess to attend to urgent national matters, the Senate will next Tuesday meet to consider the requests. INEC National Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, had requested for N84 billion for the purchase of equipment for the voters’ registration exercise and for payment of overheads of personnel to handle the exercise.
Also at the planned emergency session, the upper legislative chamber is expected to screen three additional ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Jonathan for confirmation.
Jonathan had appointed 39 ministers in the last shake-up and still had slots for three more. The constitution mandates that ministers must be nominated from every state of the federation but former President Olusegun Obasanjo started the tradition of six more slots for the six geo-political zones, bringing the total number to 42.
The names of the nominees were still kept under wraps last night, but THISDAY learnt that there was one from Delta State and another from the North-east zones.
The Senate had last Thursday gone on its annual break and was expected to resume plenary on September 29.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media Senator Ayogu Eze confirmed the new development yesterday, saying the upper house will at the emergency session “look at the proposed budget by INEC boss for the review of voters register and also screen the three additional ministerial nominees” forwarded to the Senate by the President for confirmation.
Eze, who declined to name the three ministerial nominees, however, said they would appear before the senators for their screening on Tuesday.
Briefing newsmen last Thursday on the Senate’s recess, Eze had said that the Senate would “even at short notice” cut short its recess to consider any request by INEC for the conduct of the 2011 election.He said yesterday that Tuesday’s emergency sitting is in keeping with the Senate resolve to provide the necessary legislative support to INEC ahead of the 2011 election.
Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark yesterday assured agitators of state creation that in spite of criticisms in some quarters against the exercise, the National Assembly would ensure that the yearnings and aspirations of the people are met.
He noted that the criticism that state creation is not desirable on account of inability of some states to be self-sustaining is not tenable “because we must find out why they are not doing well”.
Receiving a delegation of the movement for the creation of Karaduwa State from the present Katsina State, Mark maintained that more states would bring government and development nearer to the people.
He said the demand for more states are genuine, desirable and necessary to address some imbalances in the present structures.Besides, the Senate President said “the more states we have, the more there would be healthy competition between and among states which would ultimately usher in meaningful development.
“It will bring unity and harmony between and among the federating states,” he said. Mark expressed optimism that the exercise would be executed within the life span of the present National Assembly, saying that necessary preliminary works have been done in that respect.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and former speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, gave a historical perspective to the agitation for the creation of Karaduwa State, which he said is endowed with both human and material resources. Masari claimed that the proposed state would be economically and politically viable. Besides, Masari stated that the proposed Karaduwa State presently has 11 local government areas and endowed with agriculture and other mineral deposits.
President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the National Assembly to approve a supplementary budget of N89.6 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in preparation for the 2011 elections.
Also, the President has forwarded a list of additional three ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening.And in keeping to its pledge to cut short its two-month recess to attend to urgent national matters, the Senate will next Tuesday meet to consider the requests. INEC National Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, had requested for N84 billion for the purchase of equipment for the voters’ registration exercise and for payment of overheads of personnel to handle the exercise.
Also at the planned emergency session, the upper legislative chamber is expected to screen three additional ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Jonathan for confirmation.
Jonathan had appointed 39 ministers in the last shake-up and still had slots for three more. The constitution mandates that ministers must be nominated from every state of the federation but former President Olusegun Obasanjo started the tradition of six more slots for the six geo-political zones, bringing the total number to 42.
The names of the nominees were still kept under wraps last night, but THISDAY learnt that there was one from Delta State and another from the North-east zones.
The Senate had last Thursday gone on its annual break and was expected to resume plenary on September 29.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media Senator Ayogu Eze confirmed the new development yesterday, saying the upper house will at the emergency session “look at the proposed budget by INEC boss for the review of voters register and also screen the three additional ministerial nominees” forwarded to the Senate by the President for confirmation.
Eze, who declined to name the three ministerial nominees, however, said they would appear before the senators for their screening on Tuesday.
Briefing newsmen last Thursday on the Senate’s recess, Eze had said that the Senate would “even at short notice” cut short its recess to consider any request by INEC for the conduct of the 2011 election.He said yesterday that Tuesday’s emergency sitting is in keeping with the Senate resolve to provide the necessary legislative support to INEC ahead of the 2011 election.
Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark yesterday assured agitators of state creation that in spite of criticisms in some quarters against the exercise, the National Assembly would ensure that the yearnings and aspirations of the people are met.
He noted that the criticism that state creation is not desirable on account of inability of some states to be self-sustaining is not tenable “because we must find out why they are not doing well”.
Receiving a delegation of the movement for the creation of Karaduwa State from the present Katsina State, Mark maintained that more states would bring government and development nearer to the people.
He said the demand for more states are genuine, desirable and necessary to address some imbalances in the present structures.Besides, the Senate President said “the more states we have, the more there would be healthy competition between and among states which would ultimately usher in meaningful development.
“It will bring unity and harmony between and among the federating states,” he said. Mark expressed optimism that the exercise would be executed within the life span of the present National Assembly, saying that necessary preliminary works have been done in that respect.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and former speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, gave a historical perspective to the agitation for the creation of Karaduwa State, which he said is endowed with both human and material resources. Masari claimed that the proposed state would be economically and politically viable. Besides, Masari stated that the proposed Karaduwa State presently has 11 local government areas and endowed with agriculture and other mineral deposits.
CITY-LENS: IT HAPPENED AROUND US
Fumnanya Okonta graduates from the KG classes, now ready to embrace Primary education, Asaba-post Newspaper wish you many more colorful graduation ceremonies.
pose here with siblings (Chukwudumebi, Onyekachukwu and her mother, Nwakaego Okonta)
Accord Party, delta state chapter, shortly after the inaugration of their new state excos, at Asaba
Hon. Justice Rosaline P.I Bozimo addressing the newly sworn in JPs on their roles and obligation to the state.
Hon. Justice K.O. Okpu, chairman, local government appeal election tribunal, taking oath of office at Asaba
Hon. Justice P.N. Obanor (mrs.), member, local government appeal election tribunal, taking oath of office at Asaba
Dr. Modestus Eluani Chukwumah of Umu-ezeafadia, Ahaba, taking the prestigious Alor Title, the title that sparates the boys from the men, welcome to the AHABA LORDS fellowship.
The Umuada Eze-afadia doing the ITU-AFA rites, Alor title taking is not it until the Umuada does their rites.
Two policemen, AC aspirant die in Ekiti violence
Femi Makinde
A member of the Action Congress in Ekiti State, Mr. Kunle Ayaga, and two
policemen died on Sunday in a violence that rocked Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Our correspondent learnt that Ayaga, who was aspiring to a seat in the state
house of assembly, was allegedly shot dead on Sunday in Ilawe-Ekiti by a
policeman while the people of the town were celebrating the Ogun festival.
In a swift reaction, a mob rounded up some policemen, allegedly killed two of
them and injured the Divisional Police Officer in the town.
Our correspondent gathered that irate residents of the town chased the policemen
into a residential compound, beat two of them to death and seized a rifle from
one of them.
The bodies of the victims were deposited in the mortuary while doctors were
still battling to save the life of the DPO, whose name could not be ascertained.
Our correspondent, who visited the mortuary of the Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti,
where the bodies of the victims were deposited, saw armed policemen who brought
the corpses of their colleagues to the medial facility, wailing.
The spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Mohammed Jimoh, in a telephone
interview with our correspondent, said that two policemen were killed while the
DPO was critically injured.
He said that the police were in control of the situation and would ensure a
thorough investigation and prosecution of those found culpable.
A member of the Action Congress in Ekiti State, Mr. Kunle Ayaga, and two
policemen died on Sunday in a violence that rocked Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Our correspondent learnt that Ayaga, who was aspiring to a seat in the state
house of assembly, was allegedly shot dead on Sunday in Ilawe-Ekiti by a
policeman while the people of the town were celebrating the Ogun festival.
In a swift reaction, a mob rounded up some policemen, allegedly killed two of
them and injured the Divisional Police Officer in the town.
Our correspondent gathered that irate residents of the town chased the policemen
into a residential compound, beat two of them to death and seized a rifle from
one of them.
The bodies of the victims were deposited in the mortuary while doctors were
still battling to save the life of the DPO, whose name could not be ascertained.
Our correspondent, who visited the mortuary of the Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti,
where the bodies of the victims were deposited, saw armed policemen who brought
the corpses of their colleagues to the medial facility, wailing.
The spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Mohammed Jimoh, in a telephone
interview with our correspondent, said that two policemen were killed while the
DPO was critically injured.
He said that the police were in control of the situation and would ensure a
thorough investigation and prosecution of those found culpable.
2011: Minorities’ Coalition for President
Tom Chiahemen
Ahead of the 2011 general elections, minority ethnic groups from 21 states across the Federation are coming together to speak with one voice in demanding for their right to lead the nation as equal citizens in the Nigerian project.
Ahead of the 2011 general elections, minority ethnic groups from 21 states across the Federation are coming together to speak with one voice in demanding for their right to lead the nation as equal citizens in the Nigerian project.
To realize their aim of ensuring equal participation in the political leadership of the nation, the minorities, mainly from the South-South, North Central and North-East geo-political zones, have formed the Congress for Equality and Change (CEC), which has all the trappings of a political party.
The CEC, which was formally inaugurated in Abuja on Thursday, has elder statesman, Chief Edwin K. Clark as Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and a former Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute as National Chairman.
Other members of the BoT of the CEC are General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd), Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, Dr. Garba Daganda, Chief Solomon Lar, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas and Professor Jerry Gana.
National Publicity Secretary of the body, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, however, dismissed suggestions that the CEC would eventually metamorphose into a political party to be used as a possible platform for President Goodluck Jonathan to contest next year's presidential election.
There were insinuations in political quarters that the CEC, which has been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a non-governmental organization (NGO), would eventually transform into an alternative political platform in the event that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insists on its zoning arrangement and denies Jonathan its presidential ticket.
This view may have been buoyed by the disclosure by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the number of political parties in the country could be increased from the present 57 to 60 before the end of 1010, meaning that about three new parties would be registered.
Zwingina however, told Peoples Daily Weekend yesterday that the CEC would remain a non-partisan NGO for like minds. "We certainly don't intend to transform into a political party. We are banned by the constitution (of the organization) from doing that," he said.
Among the notable personalities at the inauguration of the body, which had the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed in attendance as chief host, were Chief Clark, Senator Ebute, General Ishaya Bamayi (rtd), General Joshua Dogonyaro (rtd), Chief Don Obot Etiebet, Senator Matthew Mbu Jnr, Major-General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), Ambassador Wilberforce Jutta, Prince Chibudon Nwuche, Hon. Austin Opara, Dr.(Mrs.) Esther Uduehi, Senator Silas Jamfa, Senator Paul Wampana, Chief Seargent Awuse, Senator Fred Brumeh, Prof. Julius Ihombhere, Chief Alfred Diette-Spiff, Chief Medan Teneke (Adamawa PDP Chairman), Senator Zwingina and Chief Sunny Jackson, who represented Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio.
In his welcome address, Ebute said the CEC was to redress political inequalities and marginalization of the peoples in the three geo-political zones of South-South, the North-Central, the North-East and other communities in other zones where political experiences are similar and inseparable in all respects.
He lamented that for 50 years of existence of Nigeria as a nation, "political leadership has been advertently or inadvertently believed or claimed to be the exclusive preserve of a few political blocks to the exclusion of the others whose political activists are deemed or coerced into automatic followers and willing supporters, ad-infinitum."
Ebute said it was in the light of their strong belief in the doctrines of 'change' and 'equality' that human beings are born equal that the nation's minority groups decided, after following and supporting the self-acclaimed heirs to the political leadership of Nigeria for 50 years, "to turn around and assert our inalienable rights to the political leadership of this country as other privileged Nigerians."
While appealing to all Nigerians who believe in the doctrines of Equalitarianism and Change to join the minorities in educating, mobilizing and consolidating the political activities of the people, he said the minorities were convinced that the emergence of Dr. Jonathan as president of Nigeria was "divine recognition and acceptance of the doctrines of Equality and Change.
"Thus, we believe and support the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and urge him to embrace the God-given opportunity to run in the 2011 elections for the presidency of Nigeria on PDP platform," the former Senate president declared.
In his remarks at the occasion, Chief Clark, who was one of the proponents of similar effort in the short-lived 2nd Republic, described the inauguration of the CEC as yet another bold effort by patriotic and progressive Nigerians towards building bridges of understanding and cooperation across ethno-religious divide.
The Ijaw nationalist, who described Nigeria as a conglomeration of multi-complex ethnic nationalities, regretted that most of the ethnic nationalities were comparatively disadvantaged in terms of numerical strength. "Yet, these minority ethnic nationalities have contributed as much to the unity, development and growth of our country both in times of peace and turbulence," he said.
"Their collective sacrifices have contributed to building pillars of wealth, prosperity and fame for our great nation. Challenged by the experiences of common and similar sacrifices and contributions to the wellbeing of the country, the coming together of these ethnic groups is essentially to harness the potentials inherent in common identity, common socio-economic experiences and the pursuit thereon of the ideals of social justice and equal opportunities," he added.
He dismissed speculations in some quarters that the CEC was intended to pitch the ethnic minorities against the major tribes. "Even though the initiative came from the ethnic minorities because of their similar circumstances, I am not unaware that progressive Nigerians from major ethnic nationalities who believe in the principles of social justice and equal opportunities for all have already identified and expressed their desire to be affiliates of the Congress," he contended.
According to Chief Clark, any society where opportunities and privileges are lopsidedly distributed offers opportunities for mutual distrust, suspicion, civil unrest and instability. "I therefore urge the people of this greatly endowed country, in any position of responsibility God considers us fit to serve our nation, to bequeath legacies that bear equity, fairness and social justice. Let us treat one another as Nigerians first, not because we are from Hausa/Fulani, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Yoruba, Igbo, Efik, Tiv, Zuru," he said.
He recalled that in 1979, the minority ethnic groups in Nigeria elected the president. "The majorities of Kano voted for PRP, the south-East voted for NPP, the South West voted for UPN and the majorities of Borno and the old Gongola voted for the GNPP but the minorities of Nigeria made Shagari president of this country but when offices were shared, the minorities were not remembered. Offices were shared to the major ethnic groups," he recalled.
Also speaking at the occasion the FCT Minister, Senator Mohammed, expressed support for the call for change in the political leadership of the nation and called on minorities to "take the courage you have demonstrated here to the next level; go to the nooks and crannies of this country and make your case, agitate for your right."
He said, "Many people are talking about zoning and rotation, but here, you are talking about the need for balance of power. Equality based on reciprocity and respect. I am happy because you have defied all dichotomies and challenges to come here. If anybody talks about leadership, this is the time we need equality.
Jonathan is a divine decision - no election, no zoning but he has emerged and is touching lives. We need to give him t opportunity because of his humility. He is the most qualified, capable and suitable person having gone through the political mill as deputy governor, as governor, as vice president, as acting president and now as president. Who else has that record?"
He enjoined the CEC to continue with its agitation, promising that the rest of Nigeria would support them. "In doing that, your agitation should be devoid of regionalism, sectionalism etc. We want him (Jonathan) to take the torch and save us from all those people who think they will continue to recycle power and recycle leadership at our expense," said the FCT Minister.
Highlights of the occasion was the formal adoption of the constitution of the CEC by the 470 delegates that came from the 21 states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue Borno, Cross River, Delta Edo, FCT, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, rivers, Taraba and Yobe. The adoption followed a motion moved by Chief Henshaw from Cross River state and seconded by Senator Silas Janfa from Plateau state.
Besides the BoT, the CEC also has a National Working committee (NWC) led by Senator Ebute, with a former Presidential adviser, Dr. (Mrs.) Uduehi as Deputy national chairman. Other members of the NEC include Chief Ayakeme E. Whisky (National Secretary), Senator Zwingina (National Publicity Secretary), Senator Silas Janfa (Financial Secretary), Dr. Bitrus Pogu (National Auditor I), General S. E. Oviawe (National Auditor II), Prince Chibudom Nwuche (Ex-Officio), Dr. Christy Silas (Ex-Officio) and Dr. Abdulmumuni Vaki (Ex-Officio).
The rest are Dr. Bolere Ketabu (National Organising Secretary), Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (National Treasurer), David Umaru (Legal Adviser, Senator Paul wampana (Ex-Officio), Dr. Monday Okonny (Ex-Officio and Hon. Denyanbofa (Ex-Officio).
Reminded about the outlook of the CEC, Senator Zwingina insisted on Friday that the body would not turn into a political party as, according to him, there were PDP members, former soldiers and civil servants who are non-partisan in its fold.
The inauguration of the CEC coincided with a call by two influential northern groups on the leadership of the ruling PDP to made the stand of the party very clear on the controversial issue of zoning of the presidency. The groups are the G-15 led by former military president Ibrahim Babangida and Atiku Abubakar and the G-20 led by Professor Jerry Gana and Chief Solomon Lar.
Ahead of the 2011 general elections, minority ethnic groups from 21 states across the Federation are coming together to speak with one voice in demanding for their right to lead the nation as equal citizens in the Nigerian project.
Ahead of the 2011 general elections, minority ethnic groups from 21 states across the Federation are coming together to speak with one voice in demanding for their right to lead the nation as equal citizens in the Nigerian project.
To realize their aim of ensuring equal participation in the political leadership of the nation, the minorities, mainly from the South-South, North Central and North-East geo-political zones, have formed the Congress for Equality and Change (CEC), which has all the trappings of a political party.
The CEC, which was formally inaugurated in Abuja on Thursday, has elder statesman, Chief Edwin K. Clark as Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and a former Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute as National Chairman.
Other members of the BoT of the CEC are General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd), Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, Dr. Garba Daganda, Chief Solomon Lar, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas and Professor Jerry Gana.
National Publicity Secretary of the body, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, however, dismissed suggestions that the CEC would eventually metamorphose into a political party to be used as a possible platform for President Goodluck Jonathan to contest next year's presidential election.
There were insinuations in political quarters that the CEC, which has been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a non-governmental organization (NGO), would eventually transform into an alternative political platform in the event that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insists on its zoning arrangement and denies Jonathan its presidential ticket.
This view may have been buoyed by the disclosure by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the number of political parties in the country could be increased from the present 57 to 60 before the end of 1010, meaning that about three new parties would be registered.
Zwingina however, told Peoples Daily Weekend yesterday that the CEC would remain a non-partisan NGO for like minds. "We certainly don't intend to transform into a political party. We are banned by the constitution (of the organization) from doing that," he said.
Among the notable personalities at the inauguration of the body, which had the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed in attendance as chief host, were Chief Clark, Senator Ebute, General Ishaya Bamayi (rtd), General Joshua Dogonyaro (rtd), Chief Don Obot Etiebet, Senator Matthew Mbu Jnr, Major-General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), Ambassador Wilberforce Jutta, Prince Chibudon Nwuche, Hon. Austin Opara, Dr.(Mrs.) Esther Uduehi, Senator Silas Jamfa, Senator Paul Wampana, Chief Seargent Awuse, Senator Fred Brumeh, Prof. Julius Ihombhere, Chief Alfred Diette-Spiff, Chief Medan Teneke (Adamawa PDP Chairman), Senator Zwingina and Chief Sunny Jackson, who represented Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio.
In his welcome address, Ebute said the CEC was to redress political inequalities and marginalization of the peoples in the three geo-political zones of South-South, the North-Central, the North-East and other communities in other zones where political experiences are similar and inseparable in all respects.
He lamented that for 50 years of existence of Nigeria as a nation, "political leadership has been advertently or inadvertently believed or claimed to be the exclusive preserve of a few political blocks to the exclusion of the others whose political activists are deemed or coerced into automatic followers and willing supporters, ad-infinitum."
Ebute said it was in the light of their strong belief in the doctrines of 'change' and 'equality' that human beings are born equal that the nation's minority groups decided, after following and supporting the self-acclaimed heirs to the political leadership of Nigeria for 50 years, "to turn around and assert our inalienable rights to the political leadership of this country as other privileged Nigerians."
While appealing to all Nigerians who believe in the doctrines of Equalitarianism and Change to join the minorities in educating, mobilizing and consolidating the political activities of the people, he said the minorities were convinced that the emergence of Dr. Jonathan as president of Nigeria was "divine recognition and acceptance of the doctrines of Equality and Change.
"Thus, we believe and support the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and urge him to embrace the God-given opportunity to run in the 2011 elections for the presidency of Nigeria on PDP platform," the former Senate president declared.
In his remarks at the occasion, Chief Clark, who was one of the proponents of similar effort in the short-lived 2nd Republic, described the inauguration of the CEC as yet another bold effort by patriotic and progressive Nigerians towards building bridges of understanding and cooperation across ethno-religious divide.
The Ijaw nationalist, who described Nigeria as a conglomeration of multi-complex ethnic nationalities, regretted that most of the ethnic nationalities were comparatively disadvantaged in terms of numerical strength. "Yet, these minority ethnic nationalities have contributed as much to the unity, development and growth of our country both in times of peace and turbulence," he said.
"Their collective sacrifices have contributed to building pillars of wealth, prosperity and fame for our great nation. Challenged by the experiences of common and similar sacrifices and contributions to the wellbeing of the country, the coming together of these ethnic groups is essentially to harness the potentials inherent in common identity, common socio-economic experiences and the pursuit thereon of the ideals of social justice and equal opportunities," he added.
He dismissed speculations in some quarters that the CEC was intended to pitch the ethnic minorities against the major tribes. "Even though the initiative came from the ethnic minorities because of their similar circumstances, I am not unaware that progressive Nigerians from major ethnic nationalities who believe in the principles of social justice and equal opportunities for all have already identified and expressed their desire to be affiliates of the Congress," he contended.
According to Chief Clark, any society where opportunities and privileges are lopsidedly distributed offers opportunities for mutual distrust, suspicion, civil unrest and instability. "I therefore urge the people of this greatly endowed country, in any position of responsibility God considers us fit to serve our nation, to bequeath legacies that bear equity, fairness and social justice. Let us treat one another as Nigerians first, not because we are from Hausa/Fulani, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Yoruba, Igbo, Efik, Tiv, Zuru," he said.
He recalled that in 1979, the minority ethnic groups in Nigeria elected the president. "The majorities of Kano voted for PRP, the south-East voted for NPP, the South West voted for UPN and the majorities of Borno and the old Gongola voted for the GNPP but the minorities of Nigeria made Shagari president of this country but when offices were shared, the minorities were not remembered. Offices were shared to the major ethnic groups," he recalled.
Also speaking at the occasion the FCT Minister, Senator Mohammed, expressed support for the call for change in the political leadership of the nation and called on minorities to "take the courage you have demonstrated here to the next level; go to the nooks and crannies of this country and make your case, agitate for your right."
He said, "Many people are talking about zoning and rotation, but here, you are talking about the need for balance of power. Equality based on reciprocity and respect. I am happy because you have defied all dichotomies and challenges to come here. If anybody talks about leadership, this is the time we need equality.
Jonathan is a divine decision - no election, no zoning but he has emerged and is touching lives. We need to give him t opportunity because of his humility. He is the most qualified, capable and suitable person having gone through the political mill as deputy governor, as governor, as vice president, as acting president and now as president. Who else has that record?"
He enjoined the CEC to continue with its agitation, promising that the rest of Nigeria would support them. "In doing that, your agitation should be devoid of regionalism, sectionalism etc. We want him (Jonathan) to take the torch and save us from all those people who think they will continue to recycle power and recycle leadership at our expense," said the FCT Minister.
Highlights of the occasion was the formal adoption of the constitution of the CEC by the 470 delegates that came from the 21 states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue Borno, Cross River, Delta Edo, FCT, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, rivers, Taraba and Yobe. The adoption followed a motion moved by Chief Henshaw from Cross River state and seconded by Senator Silas Janfa from Plateau state.
Besides the BoT, the CEC also has a National Working committee (NWC) led by Senator Ebute, with a former Presidential adviser, Dr. (Mrs.) Uduehi as Deputy national chairman. Other members of the NEC include Chief Ayakeme E. Whisky (National Secretary), Senator Zwingina (National Publicity Secretary), Senator Silas Janfa (Financial Secretary), Dr. Bitrus Pogu (National Auditor I), General S. E. Oviawe (National Auditor II), Prince Chibudom Nwuche (Ex-Officio), Dr. Christy Silas (Ex-Officio) and Dr. Abdulmumuni Vaki (Ex-Officio).
The rest are Dr. Bolere Ketabu (National Organising Secretary), Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (National Treasurer), David Umaru (Legal Adviser, Senator Paul wampana (Ex-Officio), Dr. Monday Okonny (Ex-Officio and Hon. Denyanbofa (Ex-Officio).
Reminded about the outlook of the CEC, Senator Zwingina insisted on Friday that the body would not turn into a political party as, according to him, there were PDP members, former soldiers and civil servants who are non-partisan in its fold.
The inauguration of the CEC coincided with a call by two influential northern groups on the leadership of the ruling PDP to made the stand of the party very clear on the controversial issue of zoning of the presidency. The groups are the G-15 led by former military president Ibrahim Babangida and Atiku Abubakar and the G-20 led by Professor Jerry Gana and Chief Solomon Lar.
Oprah's Campaign of Calumny Against Nigeria
Paul I. Adujie
Oprah Winfrey is a person of African descent, for whom I have publicly expressed admiration, poured encomiums in a most public way, and only recently in: "Oprah Winfrey: Powerful, Selfless & Giver of Dignity!"
Sadly and painfully, it has come to pass that our daughter, the highly achieved and accomplished Oprah Winfrey, our most famous descendant, has chosen, wittingly or unwittingly, to add her high profile voice, through her far reaching medium, to the campaign of calumny against Nigerians and invariably, Nigeria.
Oprah maligned Nigerians and Nigeria , all in the name of discussing identity theft and sundry frauds, which have become prevalent in America . These crimes and others are a public threat and as such, warrant public conversation, but why must Oprah and others focus on whether some perpetrators are Jews, Germans, Japanese, Mexicans or Nigerians?
Generalizing and stereotyping Nigerians or Nigeria , labeling and castigating Nigerians and Nigeria , has become a totem of American journalism.
What Oprah and her cohorts are doing to Nigerians and Nigeria , with these frequent stereotyping and generalizing, should be exposed for what they are! These are primordial, primitive and erratic ignorant responses or value judgments about 140 million Nigerians, of whom these journalists know nothing about! And yet, these journalists, in their happy ignorance, talk about Nigerians with some sorts of expertise, amounting only to, automatic responses without erudition analytic acumen.
There are unfortunately, some Nigerians who are forever willing to jump to justify these attacks on Nigeria; Such as when Nigeria was maligned by CNN in "How to rob a bank" or when CNN's Jeff Koinage orchestrated and choreographed a pay-per-view strip-tease "expose" on Militants in the Niger Delta or when ABC Television's Brian Ross' "Black Money: The Latest Twist in the Billion Dollar Nigerian Scam Racket"
I am no longer willing to be patient with the halting Nigerian, who keeps insisting, that 100 percent of Nigerians must do right, always, for we must act just right, so that Americans and Europeans complaints and castigations of Africans may come to a stop. Non-Africans' uncommon negative ferocity directed at Nigerians and other Africans, must be seen for what they are! Irresponsible journalistic prejudices wrapped in racism. As often as I encounter these ferocious attacks against my nation and my continent, I always wish that I have the natural, divine and even, supernatural powers to write thrillingly eloquent defense of Nigerians, continental Africans and all peoples of African descent.
This week alone, I have read public comments by a tenured Nigerian professor at the University of Maiduguri, Professor Abba Gana Shettima who was denied a visa to the Gambia, a visa that would have enabled him deliver a public lecture of continental proportions in importance. He narrated his ordeals in an article titled "Between ('419') fraudsters and their greedy 'victims" Additionally, an article by Joseph Anwana who also narrated what is increasingly appearing to be concerted efforts to repudiate everything Nigerian and Nigeria, Nigerian Employers And Tokunbo Mentality.
These persistent and sustained attacks on Nigeria , have dire consequences for Nigerians and Nigeria , severally, in the short and long terms, as well as repercussions for Nigerians as individuals striving, in and outside Nigeria . And
Nigeria as a corporate entity, that is continually under barrages of attacks or endless bashing.
If you happen to disagree or do not see the point here, just ask yourself, what did Professor Shettima do, to be denied a visa to Gambia to attend a seminar/workshop? Then further ask yourself who is next in line to be meted this injustice resultant from our national smears, you or me? Why is it, that we never similarly see press references to other criminals by race, ethnicity and nationality? A fraudster is a fraudster, a killer is a killer, not because he is American or Nigerian or Briton!
Oprah Winfrey is a very experienced and savvy journalist. Oprah posses a very powerful medium, her show is seen worldwide. When she mentions a book, it becomes an instant bestseller. Imagine then, the impact, the damaging impact of her singling out Nigeria , in negative portrayals! That is the power of O! I take the view that Oprah must therefore use such phenomenal power with utmost restraint and sense of responsibility.
Oprah's singular act of choosing to join the voyeuristic, scandalous and teasingly salacious Western Press' sour attitude toward Nigeria is a new low in American journalism.
It is the responsibility of Nigerians to inform Oprah and others in the world, that corruption, advance fee frauds and other aberrant behaviors, are not inured and infused into Nigerians' DNA. Thieves must be called thieves and murders must be called murderers, not Americans or Nigerians. Bad behaviors are not peculiarly Nigerian!
There is no national particularity or outlook, in the methods of operations deployed by criminals born in America or Nigeria ! Those who generalize about Nigerians, and Nigeria , are aware of this. They chose to gloss over these pertinent and salient points.
How could Oprah with her American experience along with other 40 million persons of African descent in the United States , afford to stereotype 140 million Nigerians? How could Oprah not know or remember the racist charges against African Americans? And how African American males were, and are still stereotyped in American press as having predispositions to violence and love for raping white women? How could Oprah forget how racists in America portrayed African American women as having predisposition to being harlots and prostitutes with lose or easy morals. All these, to enable racists white America , to demean and devalue African Americans and then, lynch them metaphorically and physically?
Nigerians are being maligned now, just as African Americans, this, in complete disregard the overwhelming evidence and facts, African Americans were, and are still disrespected in the press, and Oprah knows it! The disrespect and stereotyping of Africans Americans continues even though there are available cogent, concrete and compelling truth of African American resilience and successes against all pains and all odds.
Oprah's joining of the bandwagon of those at CNN and ABC Television etc is a shock to me. Those who have selectively and deliberately chosen to highlight some Nigerians with negative or criminal behaviors, as the gold-standard for measuring 140 million multitude of Nigerians on earth, are most offensive and pedestrian. Only those who are willfully undiscerning, who would choose to excuse or exonerate the mugus, those gullible and greedy persons, who often collude and connive with crooks, in their joint attempts to reap from where they have not sown. Those who connive with 419ers are criminals with criminal tendencies. Or why would they expect their cats to give birth to hens? Or expect to inherit millions of dollars from strangers, suddenly?
Oprah by this act, plays into the hands of those who have accused her of offering meticulous orchestrated and equally carefully choreographed shows to please her audience, an audience said to be overwhelmingly and predominantly White/Caucasian.
Why can't discussions or conversations about identity thefts and frauds in America , be in proper big picture perspectives and done in contextual manner? Why blame it on the Nigerians? And why for instance, did Oprah not refer to the mugus on her show, solely, as American mugus? So that it will be the Americans versus Nigerians, on her show? Truth be told, the persons on that episode of her show, comprised, the crooks and the gullible.
Oprah's attack and onslaught on Nigerians, is an ironically sad throwback, it is reminiscent of the mindless stereotypes and sweeping generalizations against peoples of African descent in Minstrel shows in America of yore.
What a sad irony? A person of African descent, as knowledgeable and media savvy as Oprah, would condescendingly generalize and stereotype her own Nigerian Kit and kin in Nigeria , Africa ?
Oprah should be told not to hit anyone who is already down. Oprah should be told to be quiet if she has nothing good to say about Nigerians, her African relatives!
Nigerians, continental Africans and all peoples of African descent are minutely inundated with scathing and scorching negative world press. Without the rare luxury of presentations in positive lights. I assume Oprah is clearly and keenly aware of this luck of the draw for our peoples.
Our peoples, all through history, have not had the favor of dignified and respectful presentations of our culture and way of life, of our birth, death or marriage etc.
Some including myself had expected, imagined and assumed that, our peoples have common fate and have a common cause. Consequently, the first amongst us to have a high pedestal, such as Oprah Winfrey has created for herself, would inevitably, aspire to portray our peoples in the best of lights.
As oppose to, and instead of, joining the bandwagon and taking the easy and low road to the perdition of negative sweeping generalizations and stereotyping of our peoples.
How be it, that Oprah did not opt for the high road? How be it that Oprah did not engage in the more difficult and arduous tasks of using her worldwide platform to drum up business investments and tourism for Nigeria and all Africa ?
Why did Oprah have to ply the low road? Why did she choose the route of maladroitly recycled garbage, recycling old news of the lowest negatives, and aberrant behaviors of a few Nigerians. Is it about television ratings, the Nielsen? Is it to whet the appetites of those in these parts, with unquenchable appetite for lurid dinner jokes at our expense? Or is it for the voyeuristic consumption of her worldwide audience?
Crimes and criminals are repulsive and are deemed repugnant and reprehensible by majority Nigerians just as the majority of their American counterparts do.
A majority of Nigerians at home and abroad, are law abiding, hardworking decent human beings, just like their American counterparts.
A majority of Nigerians are virtuous and decent.
It is our belief that virtues and vices are universal, as universal as the addresses of junk-mail senders and as universal as the addresses of Spammers - who frequently invade the privacy of our e-mail, addresses, soliciting, and making legal and illegal propositions!
Oprah and others, must ask themselves what percentage of their received junk-mails spam-mails are generated by Nigerians? Which will enable them to extrapolate and by extension, assert the castigations and labeling of 140 million as irredeemably corrupt or corruptible.
Clearly and certainly, therefore, its one thing to hold lectures, seminars and television shows on the evils imbued and encased in identity theft, advanced fee frauds, the perpetrators and the persons involved, are persons, who are for the most parts, comprised of crooks, the greedy-gullible sorts, who seek to take unfair advantage of us all.
It is however, quite another thing to hold television shows as CNN has done as ABC television done, as they engage in sordid campaigns, of which Oprah has now joined, and to describe in false pretense, in manners - as if junk-mails, Spam-mails and identity theft or even corruption are things peculiar Nigerians! In fact, I have been a victim of identity theft, and I am red-hot, fully blooded Nigerian!
What is worse? Oprah and others, have most ignominiously use these awful phenomena of junk-mails, spam-mails, identity - theft and corruption to label Nigerians and Nigeria for behavior that are not particular and peculiar to Nigeria .
Oprah and others like her, have extrapolated in their strenuous efforts to label and castigate Nigerians, and by extension, Nigeria as a nation of, 140 million as if, a nation of irredeemably corrupt and corruptible persons?
As a Nigerian, I worry about Nigeria 's image in particular, the image of all Africans and all peoples of African descent in general. I often worry about our peoples image and how to transcend these negative images thrust upon our peoples. Negative images coupled with our peoples checkered history, has caused immeasurable pain and enduring damage, to our sense of self and self worth. These are indeed, un-quantifiable losses, to our peoples.
As Nigerians, Africans and peoples of African descent it is our responsibility and in fact our sacred duty to repel and throw off the negative and false images that have been thrust upon Africans and peoples of African descent.
Often, I write or aspire to write positively, deliberately positively, about our peoples, because, knowing as I do, from experience, that our peoples do not as yet posses the medium to broadcast our images positively as CNN and the BBC do for the US and UK respectively and Oprah and others most probably, already knows about this dearth of positive images of our peoples in the American and European or so-called Western Press.
I am charitable and objective enough, not to assume or even think that Americans own, hold trademarks, copyrights or patents and exclusive preserves to criminalities - whether of murder, frauds etc. Nigerians hold no such trademarks, patents, copyrights and exclusive preserves in advance fee frauds or 419 and other crimes. Americans and America are not perfect. Nigerians and Nigeria are not perfect. There are virtues and vices in America ; and let us be clear and fair about it, just as we have them in Nigeria .
Nigerians worldwide must reject the unfair labeling and castigations by Oprah and her cohorts. Nigerians worldwide, do in fact reject these negative characterizations and the gratuitous insults that emanate from such. Nigerians and Nigeria , will surmount these evil campaigns! Nigerians must not be willing to lay down and die or just roll over, as these castigations and unfair labeling are being stacked and piled upon us. Arise Nigerians, Nigeria !
Oprah Winfrey is a person of African descent, for whom I have publicly expressed admiration, poured encomiums in a most public way, and only recently in: "Oprah Winfrey: Powerful, Selfless & Giver of Dignity!"
Sadly and painfully, it has come to pass that our daughter, the highly achieved and accomplished Oprah Winfrey, our most famous descendant, has chosen, wittingly or unwittingly, to add her high profile voice, through her far reaching medium, to the campaign of calumny against Nigerians and invariably, Nigeria.
Oprah maligned Nigerians and Nigeria , all in the name of discussing identity theft and sundry frauds, which have become prevalent in America . These crimes and others are a public threat and as such, warrant public conversation, but why must Oprah and others focus on whether some perpetrators are Jews, Germans, Japanese, Mexicans or Nigerians?
Generalizing and stereotyping Nigerians or Nigeria , labeling and castigating Nigerians and Nigeria , has become a totem of American journalism.
What Oprah and her cohorts are doing to Nigerians and Nigeria , with these frequent stereotyping and generalizing, should be exposed for what they are! These are primordial, primitive and erratic ignorant responses or value judgments about 140 million Nigerians, of whom these journalists know nothing about! And yet, these journalists, in their happy ignorance, talk about Nigerians with some sorts of expertise, amounting only to, automatic responses without erudition analytic acumen.
There are unfortunately, some Nigerians who are forever willing to jump to justify these attacks on Nigeria; Such as when Nigeria was maligned by CNN in "How to rob a bank" or when CNN's Jeff Koinage orchestrated and choreographed a pay-per-view strip-tease "expose" on Militants in the Niger Delta or when ABC Television's Brian Ross' "Black Money: The Latest Twist in the Billion Dollar Nigerian Scam Racket"
I am no longer willing to be patient with the halting Nigerian, who keeps insisting, that 100 percent of Nigerians must do right, always, for we must act just right, so that Americans and Europeans complaints and castigations of Africans may come to a stop. Non-Africans' uncommon negative ferocity directed at Nigerians and other Africans, must be seen for what they are! Irresponsible journalistic prejudices wrapped in racism. As often as I encounter these ferocious attacks against my nation and my continent, I always wish that I have the natural, divine and even, supernatural powers to write thrillingly eloquent defense of Nigerians, continental Africans and all peoples of African descent.
This week alone, I have read public comments by a tenured Nigerian professor at the University of Maiduguri, Professor Abba Gana Shettima who was denied a visa to the Gambia, a visa that would have enabled him deliver a public lecture of continental proportions in importance. He narrated his ordeals in an article titled "Between ('419') fraudsters and their greedy 'victims" Additionally, an article by Joseph Anwana who also narrated what is increasingly appearing to be concerted efforts to repudiate everything Nigerian and Nigeria, Nigerian Employers And Tokunbo Mentality.
These persistent and sustained attacks on Nigeria , have dire consequences for Nigerians and Nigeria , severally, in the short and long terms, as well as repercussions for Nigerians as individuals striving, in and outside Nigeria . And
Nigeria as a corporate entity, that is continually under barrages of attacks or endless bashing.
If you happen to disagree or do not see the point here, just ask yourself, what did Professor Shettima do, to be denied a visa to Gambia to attend a seminar/workshop? Then further ask yourself who is next in line to be meted this injustice resultant from our national smears, you or me? Why is it, that we never similarly see press references to other criminals by race, ethnicity and nationality? A fraudster is a fraudster, a killer is a killer, not because he is American or Nigerian or Briton!
Oprah Winfrey is a very experienced and savvy journalist. Oprah posses a very powerful medium, her show is seen worldwide. When she mentions a book, it becomes an instant bestseller. Imagine then, the impact, the damaging impact of her singling out Nigeria , in negative portrayals! That is the power of O! I take the view that Oprah must therefore use such phenomenal power with utmost restraint and sense of responsibility.
Oprah's singular act of choosing to join the voyeuristic, scandalous and teasingly salacious Western Press' sour attitude toward Nigeria is a new low in American journalism.
It is the responsibility of Nigerians to inform Oprah and others in the world, that corruption, advance fee frauds and other aberrant behaviors, are not inured and infused into Nigerians' DNA. Thieves must be called thieves and murders must be called murderers, not Americans or Nigerians. Bad behaviors are not peculiarly Nigerian!
There is no national particularity or outlook, in the methods of operations deployed by criminals born in America or Nigeria ! Those who generalize about Nigerians, and Nigeria , are aware of this. They chose to gloss over these pertinent and salient points.
How could Oprah with her American experience along with other 40 million persons of African descent in the United States , afford to stereotype 140 million Nigerians? How could Oprah not know or remember the racist charges against African Americans? And how African American males were, and are still stereotyped in American press as having predispositions to violence and love for raping white women? How could Oprah forget how racists in America portrayed African American women as having predisposition to being harlots and prostitutes with lose or easy morals. All these, to enable racists white America , to demean and devalue African Americans and then, lynch them metaphorically and physically?
Nigerians are being maligned now, just as African Americans, this, in complete disregard the overwhelming evidence and facts, African Americans were, and are still disrespected in the press, and Oprah knows it! The disrespect and stereotyping of Africans Americans continues even though there are available cogent, concrete and compelling truth of African American resilience and successes against all pains and all odds.
Oprah's joining of the bandwagon of those at CNN and ABC Television etc is a shock to me. Those who have selectively and deliberately chosen to highlight some Nigerians with negative or criminal behaviors, as the gold-standard for measuring 140 million multitude of Nigerians on earth, are most offensive and pedestrian. Only those who are willfully undiscerning, who would choose to excuse or exonerate the mugus, those gullible and greedy persons, who often collude and connive with crooks, in their joint attempts to reap from where they have not sown. Those who connive with 419ers are criminals with criminal tendencies. Or why would they expect their cats to give birth to hens? Or expect to inherit millions of dollars from strangers, suddenly?
Oprah by this act, plays into the hands of those who have accused her of offering meticulous orchestrated and equally carefully choreographed shows to please her audience, an audience said to be overwhelmingly and predominantly White/Caucasian.
Why can't discussions or conversations about identity thefts and frauds in America , be in proper big picture perspectives and done in contextual manner? Why blame it on the Nigerians? And why for instance, did Oprah not refer to the mugus on her show, solely, as American mugus? So that it will be the Americans versus Nigerians, on her show? Truth be told, the persons on that episode of her show, comprised, the crooks and the gullible.
Oprah's attack and onslaught on Nigerians, is an ironically sad throwback, it is reminiscent of the mindless stereotypes and sweeping generalizations against peoples of African descent in Minstrel shows in America of yore.
What a sad irony? A person of African descent, as knowledgeable and media savvy as Oprah, would condescendingly generalize and stereotype her own Nigerian Kit and kin in Nigeria , Africa ?
Oprah should be told not to hit anyone who is already down. Oprah should be told to be quiet if she has nothing good to say about Nigerians, her African relatives!
Nigerians, continental Africans and all peoples of African descent are minutely inundated with scathing and scorching negative world press. Without the rare luxury of presentations in positive lights. I assume Oprah is clearly and keenly aware of this luck of the draw for our peoples.
Our peoples, all through history, have not had the favor of dignified and respectful presentations of our culture and way of life, of our birth, death or marriage etc.
Some including myself had expected, imagined and assumed that, our peoples have common fate and have a common cause. Consequently, the first amongst us to have a high pedestal, such as Oprah Winfrey has created for herself, would inevitably, aspire to portray our peoples in the best of lights.
As oppose to, and instead of, joining the bandwagon and taking the easy and low road to the perdition of negative sweeping generalizations and stereotyping of our peoples.
How be it, that Oprah did not opt for the high road? How be it that Oprah did not engage in the more difficult and arduous tasks of using her worldwide platform to drum up business investments and tourism for Nigeria and all Africa ?
Why did Oprah have to ply the low road? Why did she choose the route of maladroitly recycled garbage, recycling old news of the lowest negatives, and aberrant behaviors of a few Nigerians. Is it about television ratings, the Nielsen? Is it to whet the appetites of those in these parts, with unquenchable appetite for lurid dinner jokes at our expense? Or is it for the voyeuristic consumption of her worldwide audience?
Crimes and criminals are repulsive and are deemed repugnant and reprehensible by majority Nigerians just as the majority of their American counterparts do.
A majority of Nigerians at home and abroad, are law abiding, hardworking decent human beings, just like their American counterparts.
A majority of Nigerians are virtuous and decent.
It is our belief that virtues and vices are universal, as universal as the addresses of junk-mail senders and as universal as the addresses of Spammers - who frequently invade the privacy of our e-mail, addresses, soliciting, and making legal and illegal propositions!
Oprah and others, must ask themselves what percentage of their received junk-mails spam-mails are generated by Nigerians? Which will enable them to extrapolate and by extension, assert the castigations and labeling of 140 million as irredeemably corrupt or corruptible.
Clearly and certainly, therefore, its one thing to hold lectures, seminars and television shows on the evils imbued and encased in identity theft, advanced fee frauds, the perpetrators and the persons involved, are persons, who are for the most parts, comprised of crooks, the greedy-gullible sorts, who seek to take unfair advantage of us all.
It is however, quite another thing to hold television shows as CNN has done as ABC television done, as they engage in sordid campaigns, of which Oprah has now joined, and to describe in false pretense, in manners - as if junk-mails, Spam-mails and identity theft or even corruption are things peculiar Nigerians! In fact, I have been a victim of identity theft, and I am red-hot, fully blooded Nigerian!
What is worse? Oprah and others, have most ignominiously use these awful phenomena of junk-mails, spam-mails, identity - theft and corruption to label Nigerians and Nigeria for behavior that are not particular and peculiar to Nigeria .
Oprah and others like her, have extrapolated in their strenuous efforts to label and castigate Nigerians, and by extension, Nigeria as a nation of, 140 million as if, a nation of irredeemably corrupt and corruptible persons?
As a Nigerian, I worry about Nigeria 's image in particular, the image of all Africans and all peoples of African descent in general. I often worry about our peoples image and how to transcend these negative images thrust upon our peoples. Negative images coupled with our peoples checkered history, has caused immeasurable pain and enduring damage, to our sense of self and self worth. These are indeed, un-quantifiable losses, to our peoples.
As Nigerians, Africans and peoples of African descent it is our responsibility and in fact our sacred duty to repel and throw off the negative and false images that have been thrust upon Africans and peoples of African descent.
Often, I write or aspire to write positively, deliberately positively, about our peoples, because, knowing as I do, from experience, that our peoples do not as yet posses the medium to broadcast our images positively as CNN and the BBC do for the US and UK respectively and Oprah and others most probably, already knows about this dearth of positive images of our peoples in the American and European or so-called Western Press.
I am charitable and objective enough, not to assume or even think that Americans own, hold trademarks, copyrights or patents and exclusive preserves to criminalities - whether of murder, frauds etc. Nigerians hold no such trademarks, patents, copyrights and exclusive preserves in advance fee frauds or 419 and other crimes. Americans and America are not perfect. Nigerians and Nigeria are not perfect. There are virtues and vices in America ; and let us be clear and fair about it, just as we have them in Nigeria .
Nigerians worldwide must reject the unfair labeling and castigations by Oprah and her cohorts. Nigerians worldwide, do in fact reject these negative characterizations and the gratuitous insults that emanate from such. Nigerians and Nigeria , will surmount these evil campaigns! Nigerians must not be willing to lay down and die or just roll over, as these castigations and unfair labeling are being stacked and piled upon us. Arise Nigerians, Nigeria !
OGD: Beginning of the end
Wale Adedayo
The end appears in sight for Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s, dictatorial tendencies, which manifested shortly after the 2007 general elections leading to a deliberate sidelining of structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among other institutions, that ensured electoral victory for the ruling party in the state. The directive dissolving the Ogun State chapter of the PDP is a welcome development, which discerning observers believe is a clear testimony that Daniel no longer enjoys the undue backing of the party’s national leadership.
But a bravado built on political naivety is being displayed by a few hirelings of the Ogun State governor. And such can only happen in a polity, where unabashed sycophancy is a ticket to pecuniary gains and sundry material support from a man, who is being sustained in office through the goodwill of a PDP-controlled Federal Government. It is interesting to note that these sycophants are against this genuine attempt by the PDP national leadership to resolve the festering crises in the Ogun State chapter and restore internal democracy in a party where Daniel has enthroned dictatorship using government funds and machinery to completely sideline opponents of his style of leadership.
Former Ogun State PDP Chairman, Elder Joju Fadairo, was made to address a humiliating press conference last week, where he catalogued reasons why the decision of the party’s national leadership should not hold and also sought to cast aspersions on the legitimacy of the National Working Committee itself as he threatened a legal battle. I remain firm in my convictions that Fadairo was railroaded into addressing that press conference. The Fadairo I know would not have willingly made himself a party to that charade called press conference. I’ll, therefore, plead that the national leadership try to understand the ‘Christian Chairman’s’ problems as it was under his watch that oath-taking became an integral part of PDP operations in Ogun State. I have no doubt that Fadairo is a hostage to Daniel and the cabal around him. Instances abound when the old man has complained severally of “being treated like an errand boy by the governor in party affairs.” Chief Olalekan Ojo was the only State Chairman who could look Daniel in the face without the fear being displayed by Fadairo. It is possible Ojo’s background as a retired police officer gave him the required courage.
But my concern is not even about Fadairo as I am very sure the old man knows what is really happening but may not be able to complain publicly due to a fear of being killed by ‘armed robbers.’ My concern is about persons who believe they have some knowledge about what is going on, but are unfortunately naïve to the point of stupidity. Till date, the Police and the State Security Service (SSS) are being used to intimidate persons who do not support Daniel across the 20 local government chapters of the party in Ogun State. These law enforcement agents regularly invite known members of the internal opposition against Daniel for “chats” in their offices, where these party members are often asked to stop attending Ward and Local Government meetings of the PDP. Examples of these abound in local governments where the ‘strong boys’ have broken off from Daniel’s authority. In other places, it is the ‘strong boys’ who do what the law enforcement agents do, which is a major reasons for some of the clashes in some parts of the state recently. It is natural that the opponents resist where there is clear evidence of intimidation.
In Ijebu East Local Government, for instance, the Police and SSS in Ogbere, the LG headquarters, have ‘invited’ several PDP members to their offices with a view to intimidate them out of organising at the grassroots level. This support for dictatorship by the law enforcement agencies is often justified by frivolous petitions authored by known Daniel acolytes, who till tomorrow remain political paperweights in the local government. My hometown, Ijebu Ife, is a typical example. The Ward Chairman of Ijebu Ife I, Hon. Adewale Adebowale (Jaro), has been ‘questioned’ by both the SSS and Police in Ogbere more than 30 times in the last six months. They want him to stop going to the party secretariat, which some of us paid the rent for and also equipped the place. Since these intimidations at the local government level did not work, Jaro along with some others have been invited to ‘report’ at the Eleweran, Abeokuta headquarters of the Ogun State Police Command next week.
How these incidents relate to the matter at hand? Without the use of the Police and SSS by Daniel to intimidate opponents within the party, especially at the grassroots, the governor would have by now known the quality of his political structure. Daniel’s political structure in ALL the 20 local governments of Ogun State cannot be effective without tacit support from Abuja through the use of law enforcement agents. A generous dose of pecuniary fertiliser and appointments into political offices were the initial additional tools to brute force (official and unofficial) by this dictator. The recent appointments of two ministers from the state without his input have greatly helped to show some light that Abuja might be distancing itself from him. Patronage to party members is thus not limited to Daniel’s supporters alone. With this dissolution, it is an icing on the cake for us. And this is where his hirelings, who do not understand how things work, should seek counsel.
God seems to be answering our prayers with the dissolution of the party executives. Now, we naturally expect that the law enforcement agencies, through their handlers in Abuja, should no longer take illegal instructions from Daniel. But most importantly, since Daniel is now preparing for a full-scale war against Abuja, which has been shielding him from sanctions due to sundry malfeasance, we feel it is time Abuja ask the law enforcement agencies to revisit a number of issues that they have refused to act upon till date “because Daniel is a loyal PDP governor.”
The end appears in sight for Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s, dictatorial tendencies, which manifested shortly after the 2007 general elections leading to a deliberate sidelining of structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among other institutions, that ensured electoral victory for the ruling party in the state. The directive dissolving the Ogun State chapter of the PDP is a welcome development, which discerning observers believe is a clear testimony that Daniel no longer enjoys the undue backing of the party’s national leadership.
But a bravado built on political naivety is being displayed by a few hirelings of the Ogun State governor. And such can only happen in a polity, where unabashed sycophancy is a ticket to pecuniary gains and sundry material support from a man, who is being sustained in office through the goodwill of a PDP-controlled Federal Government. It is interesting to note that these sycophants are against this genuine attempt by the PDP national leadership to resolve the festering crises in the Ogun State chapter and restore internal democracy in a party where Daniel has enthroned dictatorship using government funds and machinery to completely sideline opponents of his style of leadership.
Former Ogun State PDP Chairman, Elder Joju Fadairo, was made to address a humiliating press conference last week, where he catalogued reasons why the decision of the party’s national leadership should not hold and also sought to cast aspersions on the legitimacy of the National Working Committee itself as he threatened a legal battle. I remain firm in my convictions that Fadairo was railroaded into addressing that press conference. The Fadairo I know would not have willingly made himself a party to that charade called press conference. I’ll, therefore, plead that the national leadership try to understand the ‘Christian Chairman’s’ problems as it was under his watch that oath-taking became an integral part of PDP operations in Ogun State. I have no doubt that Fadairo is a hostage to Daniel and the cabal around him. Instances abound when the old man has complained severally of “being treated like an errand boy by the governor in party affairs.” Chief Olalekan Ojo was the only State Chairman who could look Daniel in the face without the fear being displayed by Fadairo. It is possible Ojo’s background as a retired police officer gave him the required courage.
But my concern is not even about Fadairo as I am very sure the old man knows what is really happening but may not be able to complain publicly due to a fear of being killed by ‘armed robbers.’ My concern is about persons who believe they have some knowledge about what is going on, but are unfortunately naïve to the point of stupidity. Till date, the Police and the State Security Service (SSS) are being used to intimidate persons who do not support Daniel across the 20 local government chapters of the party in Ogun State. These law enforcement agents regularly invite known members of the internal opposition against Daniel for “chats” in their offices, where these party members are often asked to stop attending Ward and Local Government meetings of the PDP. Examples of these abound in local governments where the ‘strong boys’ have broken off from Daniel’s authority. In other places, it is the ‘strong boys’ who do what the law enforcement agents do, which is a major reasons for some of the clashes in some parts of the state recently. It is natural that the opponents resist where there is clear evidence of intimidation.
In Ijebu East Local Government, for instance, the Police and SSS in Ogbere, the LG headquarters, have ‘invited’ several PDP members to their offices with a view to intimidate them out of organising at the grassroots level. This support for dictatorship by the law enforcement agencies is often justified by frivolous petitions authored by known Daniel acolytes, who till tomorrow remain political paperweights in the local government. My hometown, Ijebu Ife, is a typical example. The Ward Chairman of Ijebu Ife I, Hon. Adewale Adebowale (Jaro), has been ‘questioned’ by both the SSS and Police in Ogbere more than 30 times in the last six months. They want him to stop going to the party secretariat, which some of us paid the rent for and also equipped the place. Since these intimidations at the local government level did not work, Jaro along with some others have been invited to ‘report’ at the Eleweran, Abeokuta headquarters of the Ogun State Police Command next week.
How these incidents relate to the matter at hand? Without the use of the Police and SSS by Daniel to intimidate opponents within the party, especially at the grassroots, the governor would have by now known the quality of his political structure. Daniel’s political structure in ALL the 20 local governments of Ogun State cannot be effective without tacit support from Abuja through the use of law enforcement agents. A generous dose of pecuniary fertiliser and appointments into political offices were the initial additional tools to brute force (official and unofficial) by this dictator. The recent appointments of two ministers from the state without his input have greatly helped to show some light that Abuja might be distancing itself from him. Patronage to party members is thus not limited to Daniel’s supporters alone. With this dissolution, it is an icing on the cake for us. And this is where his hirelings, who do not understand how things work, should seek counsel.
God seems to be answering our prayers with the dissolution of the party executives. Now, we naturally expect that the law enforcement agencies, through their handlers in Abuja, should no longer take illegal instructions from Daniel. But most importantly, since Daniel is now preparing for a full-scale war against Abuja, which has been shielding him from sanctions due to sundry malfeasance, we feel it is time Abuja ask the law enforcement agencies to revisit a number of issues that they have refused to act upon till date “because Daniel is a loyal PDP governor.”
Zero tolerance for thugs in Delta North..........Elue
* Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi will conduct the 2011 primaries in Delta State
* supports one man one vote programs, urge all aspirants to go to the grass root and begin effective campaigns
* sustains the Goodluck and Uduaghan 2011 political aspiration
* the Anioma Nation will never give their votes to their political enemies
* PDP will capture Delta State through a free and fair electroral process, PDP has all it takes to meet such aspiration
* encouraged leaders to motivate their grassroot followers to obtain both party registration and voters card registration.
This is my beloved son in who i am well pleased, PDP DELTA STATE, do hear him, he will not fail us.
* there was no truth in the rumour that the office of the speaker will be removed from delta north
*we are planning for the overall benefit of Delta North agenda, and if it means staking my life for that cause i will
* No PDP state exco was disolved, we will allow rumour mongers to continue with their works, if that is what it will take to have them fill happy, why not allow them have a fools ride, we are in for real.
* PDP Delta state will advance the freeest and fairest elections, where no consensus canidiate emerge, we will adopt the polls option, thereby allowing the people to vote their heart, and the peoples vote stands.
Police hunts rumour merchants
Patience Ogbo
The Lagos State police command said those behind the recent hoax text messages circulating in the state will soon be arrested.
Marvel Akpoyibo, the Commissioner of Police, said this in a press briefing at Ikeja on Thursday. Mr Akpoyibo stated that the police are liaising with the National Communications Commission (NCC), and mobile telephone service providers in the country, to fish out those behind the anonymous text messages which have caused panic and fear in the state in the last one week.
"You can recall that on the 2nd of August 2010, the Lagos State police Command issued a press release alerting the members of the public of an emerging but disturbing trend among unknown persons who are in the habit of originating and circulating unsolicited, spurious and sometimes frightening text messages among law abiding citizens of Lagos," he said. "These messages [are] usually sent using modern communication and IT devices such as GSM, voice messages and e-mail often times contain bogus and outright false information alerting members of the public of either an on-going crime or other forms of imminent dangers within the city."
The police boss said that despite appeals by the command that such mischievous text messages should cease, the trend has continued which has made the command to take urgent steps to halt the trend. "It is regrettable to note that these faceless groups appear unrelenting in their satanic mission of spreading these mischievous mails aimed at misleading and unnerving, law abiding citizens," he said. "A classical example is the recent false alarm raised about the supposed collapsed of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
The message circulated via GSM text read, Breaking news! The middle of Third Mainland Bridge just had a sharp crack and is about to collapse! Drivers beware! Send it to your loved ones...' TV is currently showing live update of this unfortunate occurrence; this information is not only false but also embarrassing and, therefore, must be halted."
The Lagos State police command said those behind the recent hoax text messages circulating in the state will soon be arrested.
Marvel Akpoyibo, the Commissioner of Police, said this in a press briefing at Ikeja on Thursday. Mr Akpoyibo stated that the police are liaising with the National Communications Commission (NCC), and mobile telephone service providers in the country, to fish out those behind the anonymous text messages which have caused panic and fear in the state in the last one week.
"You can recall that on the 2nd of August 2010, the Lagos State police Command issued a press release alerting the members of the public of an emerging but disturbing trend among unknown persons who are in the habit of originating and circulating unsolicited, spurious and sometimes frightening text messages among law abiding citizens of Lagos," he said. "These messages [are] usually sent using modern communication and IT devices such as GSM, voice messages and e-mail often times contain bogus and outright false information alerting members of the public of either an on-going crime or other forms of imminent dangers within the city."
The police boss said that despite appeals by the command that such mischievous text messages should cease, the trend has continued which has made the command to take urgent steps to halt the trend. "It is regrettable to note that these faceless groups appear unrelenting in their satanic mission of spreading these mischievous mails aimed at misleading and unnerving, law abiding citizens," he said. "A classical example is the recent false alarm raised about the supposed collapsed of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
The message circulated via GSM text read, Breaking news! The middle of Third Mainland Bridge just had a sharp crack and is about to collapse! Drivers beware! Send it to your loved ones...' TV is currently showing live update of this unfortunate occurrence; this information is not only false but also embarrassing and, therefore, must be halted."
Fresh Facts on Professor Jega's Financial Outrages
Seyi Olu Awofeso
The National Assembly faces a litmus test Tuesday as it considers the N74 billion budget demanded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a new voter registration exercise. The public outcry that greeted the announcement of the budget last week forced Ike Ekwerenmadu, Deputy Senate President, and some other legislators, to call for a review of the budget, describing it as ‘too high’.
A lot of questions beg for answers as the budget comes before the parliamentarians: Who did the costing? Which IT consultants advised INEC in computing the costs? Who are INEC’s equipment suppliers for the project? Where has the recommended types of equipment been used before, and at what cost? Was thorough price sampling done in determining the costs? Could the same equipment be procured at much cheaper costs? All of INEC’s statements concerning the cost of the voter registration exercise have been devoid of itemized details of the expenditure pattern.
BusinessDay’s investigations on the cost of similar exercises in Bangladesh, India, South Africa and Ghana - four countries that INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, specifically said his administration would learn from - indicate that none of them spent, on per capita basis, half the cost that INEC has given for the exercise. INEC’s N74 billion amounts to N1,138 per registered voter given the country’s estimated 65 million voter population.
INEC particularly identifies Bangladesh as a successful example it hopes to model after, following counsel by multi-lateral agencies and institutional advisers. The voter list compiled in 2008 by the Bangladesh Elections Commission registered over 80 million eligible voters using biometric face and fingerprint technology at a total cost of $65 million (N9.75 billion), amounting to a per capita cost of N121.88. With a population of 165 million, Bangladesh is the seventh most populous country in the world.
The country’s electricity supply is as epileptic as that of Nigeria. With a total installed capacity of 5,493 megawatts, its national power authority, Power Development Board (PDB), manages to generate between 3,000 and 3,500mw, a situation which makes it one of the most deficient in electricity infrastructure. The registration exercise in Bangladesh witnessed significant deployment of generating sets in rural and urban areas to cater for power supply shortfall.
India, with a voter population of 714 million, executed a similar exercise at a per capita cost of $0.62. With a voter population of 12.8 million, Ghana conducted its 2008 elections at the cost of $40 million, which amounts to an overall per capita of $3. This cost includes voter registration, public enlightenment and other logistics as well as the actual conduct of the elections. The elections, which ushered in the administration of incumbent President John Atta Mills, witnessed two presidential run-offs.
Some information technology experts who spoke with BusinessDay while acknowledging the technological edge the Asian region has over Africa, are of the opinion that the wide cost estimate differential seems inordinate and therefore difficult to defend.
Maurice Iwu Speaks out on Professor Jega's Financial Outrages
Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Maurice Iwu, has said the 33,000 units of Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines the commission bought under him are still in perfect form.
His revelation potentially raises questions on why his successor, Attahiru Jega wants brand new 120,000 such machines to produce a new voter register ahead of 2011 ballot.
Jega, former university vice chancellor appointed INEC boss in June, requests for a whopping N74billion to bring forth a wholesale credible register, which he and most Nigerians say ranks highest among the requisites for guaranteeing credible poll next year. The Senate has to cut short its vacation to be able to consider the urgent request.
But Iwu told Sunday Independent in a telephone interview that the commission currently has 33,000 working DDC, all of them high-quality laptop computers and spread across the 774 local government areas where INEC staff are domiciled.
It is unclear if the ones Jega wants are DDC laptop computers with new capabilities such as webcam and other new sensitive systems.
Iwu admitted that those bought during his tenure do not have such capabilities, but insisted, “they were top of the range HP products” as at the time of purchase and were used satisfactorily in the continued voter’s registration the commission embarked upon after the 2007 general election.
“33,000 units of DDC machines which were bought were mainly laptop computers, and they were best of the class of HP products as at the time we bought them. Even the central main database server was IBM, again top of the class,” Iwu said.
“However, with the fluid nature of technology with new innovations, most of the machines which top of the range when they were bought may not be the latest today. Laptop now comes with webcam which was not the situation then.”
Asked why the computers were not kept in the central store of the commission, he said it “would have been unpatriotic to those computers to lie fallow after the registration, and so every staff of INEC from Grade level 06 and above were given a laptop. There is no issue of favouritism because the laptops were given out at the state level, and till date not any single staff of INEC of that level has complained of not getting the laptop. Six were decommissioned to each of the 774 LGAs in the country because we concluded that that would be the number required per local government where the maximum INEC staff strength is nine. It was for the use of the commission (in the ongoing exercise).”
Iwu said some of the machines were also given to sister government agencies, such as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and they are still being used till date.
Iwu’s revelation would heighten debates on the propriety of spending a whopping N74b to prepare new register, particularly after Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has advised Jega to trim down the amount to a realistic realm.
But Jega could as well mount formidable defence that the amount is not meant for the machines alone and that the thin time limit (between now and November) within which another register, devoid of strange names must be ready, is another factor.
Bangladesh, a country next door to Nigeria corruption-wise and in population, spent a meagre $65million (N9.7b) in 2008 to compile a voter register for over 80million voters with which they held their world-acclaimed credible ballot – but within a lengthy period of 11 months.
In any case, INEC itself has given reasons it cannot use the DDC machines procured and used by the Iwu administration for the 2011 ballot.
INEC Director of Public Affairs, Emmanuel Umeger, told Sunday Independent that some of the DDCs have already been dolled out to the NIS, the Nigerian Customs Service, schools and INEC staff and that some are in bad conditions.
Umeger said it would be time-wasting taking stocks of such machines in view of the urgency at hand. His words: “Some of these machines were donated to the NIS, the NCS, some were given to schools and some to INEC staff. Some others were vandalised, some of the machines that were given to the staff of the Commission were carcasses and not functional.
“I was given one but up till now I cannot use it because the battery was removed, and going through an inventory of what is left and what is of good use is a luxury that the Commission cannot afford now. We are not out to indict anybody or try to witch hunt any person.”
Last Tuesday Jega defended its N74billion request for the compilation of a new voter register, saying it did its homework well before arriving at the figure.
He was reacting to Okweremadu’s claim that the estimate was too much for the exercise.
But the Senate has cut short its vacation to consider INEC’s request. It will resume next Tuesday, its spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze, told reporters in Abuja last week.
INEC said its request was in order because of the total cost of the DDC machines.
The National Assembly faces a litmus test Tuesday as it considers the N74 billion budget demanded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a new voter registration exercise. The public outcry that greeted the announcement of the budget last week forced Ike Ekwerenmadu, Deputy Senate President, and some other legislators, to call for a review of the budget, describing it as ‘too high’.
A lot of questions beg for answers as the budget comes before the parliamentarians: Who did the costing? Which IT consultants advised INEC in computing the costs? Who are INEC’s equipment suppliers for the project? Where has the recommended types of equipment been used before, and at what cost? Was thorough price sampling done in determining the costs? Could the same equipment be procured at much cheaper costs? All of INEC’s statements concerning the cost of the voter registration exercise have been devoid of itemized details of the expenditure pattern.
BusinessDay’s investigations on the cost of similar exercises in Bangladesh, India, South Africa and Ghana - four countries that INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, specifically said his administration would learn from - indicate that none of them spent, on per capita basis, half the cost that INEC has given for the exercise. INEC’s N74 billion amounts to N1,138 per registered voter given the country’s estimated 65 million voter population.
INEC particularly identifies Bangladesh as a successful example it hopes to model after, following counsel by multi-lateral agencies and institutional advisers. The voter list compiled in 2008 by the Bangladesh Elections Commission registered over 80 million eligible voters using biometric face and fingerprint technology at a total cost of $65 million (N9.75 billion), amounting to a per capita cost of N121.88. With a population of 165 million, Bangladesh is the seventh most populous country in the world.
The country’s electricity supply is as epileptic as that of Nigeria. With a total installed capacity of 5,493 megawatts, its national power authority, Power Development Board (PDB), manages to generate between 3,000 and 3,500mw, a situation which makes it one of the most deficient in electricity infrastructure. The registration exercise in Bangladesh witnessed significant deployment of generating sets in rural and urban areas to cater for power supply shortfall.
India, with a voter population of 714 million, executed a similar exercise at a per capita cost of $0.62. With a voter population of 12.8 million, Ghana conducted its 2008 elections at the cost of $40 million, which amounts to an overall per capita of $3. This cost includes voter registration, public enlightenment and other logistics as well as the actual conduct of the elections. The elections, which ushered in the administration of incumbent President John Atta Mills, witnessed two presidential run-offs.
Some information technology experts who spoke with BusinessDay while acknowledging the technological edge the Asian region has over Africa, are of the opinion that the wide cost estimate differential seems inordinate and therefore difficult to defend.
Maurice Iwu Speaks out on Professor Jega's Financial Outrages
Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Maurice Iwu, has said the 33,000 units of Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines the commission bought under him are still in perfect form.
His revelation potentially raises questions on why his successor, Attahiru Jega wants brand new 120,000 such machines to produce a new voter register ahead of 2011 ballot.
Jega, former university vice chancellor appointed INEC boss in June, requests for a whopping N74billion to bring forth a wholesale credible register, which he and most Nigerians say ranks highest among the requisites for guaranteeing credible poll next year. The Senate has to cut short its vacation to be able to consider the urgent request.
But Iwu told Sunday Independent in a telephone interview that the commission currently has 33,000 working DDC, all of them high-quality laptop computers and spread across the 774 local government areas where INEC staff are domiciled.
It is unclear if the ones Jega wants are DDC laptop computers with new capabilities such as webcam and other new sensitive systems.
Iwu admitted that those bought during his tenure do not have such capabilities, but insisted, “they were top of the range HP products” as at the time of purchase and were used satisfactorily in the continued voter’s registration the commission embarked upon after the 2007 general election.
“33,000 units of DDC machines which were bought were mainly laptop computers, and they were best of the class of HP products as at the time we bought them. Even the central main database server was IBM, again top of the class,” Iwu said.
“However, with the fluid nature of technology with new innovations, most of the machines which top of the range when they were bought may not be the latest today. Laptop now comes with webcam which was not the situation then.”
Asked why the computers were not kept in the central store of the commission, he said it “would have been unpatriotic to those computers to lie fallow after the registration, and so every staff of INEC from Grade level 06 and above were given a laptop. There is no issue of favouritism because the laptops were given out at the state level, and till date not any single staff of INEC of that level has complained of not getting the laptop. Six were decommissioned to each of the 774 LGAs in the country because we concluded that that would be the number required per local government where the maximum INEC staff strength is nine. It was for the use of the commission (in the ongoing exercise).”
Iwu said some of the machines were also given to sister government agencies, such as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and they are still being used till date.
Iwu’s revelation would heighten debates on the propriety of spending a whopping N74b to prepare new register, particularly after Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has advised Jega to trim down the amount to a realistic realm.
But Jega could as well mount formidable defence that the amount is not meant for the machines alone and that the thin time limit (between now and November) within which another register, devoid of strange names must be ready, is another factor.
Bangladesh, a country next door to Nigeria corruption-wise and in population, spent a meagre $65million (N9.7b) in 2008 to compile a voter register for over 80million voters with which they held their world-acclaimed credible ballot – but within a lengthy period of 11 months.
In any case, INEC itself has given reasons it cannot use the DDC machines procured and used by the Iwu administration for the 2011 ballot.
INEC Director of Public Affairs, Emmanuel Umeger, told Sunday Independent that some of the DDCs have already been dolled out to the NIS, the Nigerian Customs Service, schools and INEC staff and that some are in bad conditions.
Umeger said it would be time-wasting taking stocks of such machines in view of the urgency at hand. His words: “Some of these machines were donated to the NIS, the NCS, some were given to schools and some to INEC staff. Some others were vandalised, some of the machines that were given to the staff of the Commission were carcasses and not functional.
“I was given one but up till now I cannot use it because the battery was removed, and going through an inventory of what is left and what is of good use is a luxury that the Commission cannot afford now. We are not out to indict anybody or try to witch hunt any person.”
Last Tuesday Jega defended its N74billion request for the compilation of a new voter register, saying it did its homework well before arriving at the figure.
He was reacting to Okweremadu’s claim that the estimate was too much for the exercise.
But the Senate has cut short its vacation to consider INEC’s request. It will resume next Tuesday, its spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze, told reporters in Abuja last week.
INEC said its request was in order because of the total cost of the DDC machines.
NIGERIA: We Are An Unfortunate Nation
Dr. O. B. Jack
An unfortunate lot we are. Our leaders have long forgotten the roles intended for political leadership, and the essence of leadership. The improvement of the economy and social conditions of the people, and bringing respect for the people and nation, are no longer seen as important by our leaders. Obasanjo was testament to such notion, when he said that he was not elected to provide infrastructures. In our country, leadership has become a joke, effused with one melodrama or the other, while the nation totters. Our Leaders are only interested in the game of deceit, and how to amass more wealth than their predecessors. To create diversion from their heinous crimes against the nation, these leaders have always come up with one make believe national crises or the other, no matter how expensive, or wasteful such diversion is to the nation. Monies that should have been used for developmental purposes have always been wasted, as the nation has remain's poor.
These diversions started with Buhari, after the overthrow of Shagari. Instead of facing the enormous political and social problems facing the nation at that time, Buhari wasted scarce resources on his pet project, WAI, and Dikko in a crate saga. He was unable or interested in dealing with the soaring unemployment, and increasing nation debt. The economy was comatose, until he was booted out of power by his friend Babangida, who perfected the act of national diversion.
To remain as life president, Babangida took the nation through wasteful, and endless political gimmicks and deceptions. Billions wasted on the creation of political parties, and building of party headquarters in all state capitals. Elections were held and cancelled arbitrary to the detriment of a nation. Development, and maintenance of infrastructures were kept on hold, and the remaining money was looted, and the nation raped by Babangida and his friends. Babangida could only give us an interim government, and later the sociopath, Abacha. Abacha did not even pretend to be a leader. His only interest was to amass as much wealth as possible, to give him lordship over the Nigerian political terrain forever, and pass the lordship over to his descendants, after his reign.
Reprieve did not come to a hapless nation, as Obasanjo embarked on his futile third-term agenda. Billion of dollars was wasted, and the country became poorer. Obasanjo eight years of misrule continued with the bastardization of the electoral process, and inauguration of Yaradua. The whole period of period of Yaradua's reign was only about his chronic illness and death. Monies that should have been used for development were all wasted in the course of Yaradua's illness and death. His death was kept hidden, while his wife and collaborators raped the treasury, and any money they could lay their hands on. There was no single meaningful development in Yaradua's reign, and the nation became worse off. The emergence of Jonathan was suppose to be a victory of good over evil, and many celebrated, but the victory lap was immediately subdued by Jonathan's actions or inactions.
Another silly season started, this time it is zoning. Billions that is needed to provide basic infrastructures is now wasted on governors and criminal politicians, whike the nation weeps for another wasted opportunity. The so-called cardinal programs, Niger Delta security, electricity, electoral reforms, and war against corruption did not even see the light of day, except in the creation of useless committees to encumber the already scarce resources. Many had hoped that Jonathan would keep to his promises, and set the stage for a new commitment to democracy. All that is talked about these days is zoning, and meetings about zoning by one group or the other, if only to get their share of money circulating because of zoning, while every other duties of leadership are on standstill.
This system has failed us, and we just cannot continue on this path that has brought so much pain to the people, and expect different results. Just take a look at the political arena. See the major players. Dictators that have been discredited and should have been jailed for crime against the Nigerian nation, are still talking about leading a nation that they destroyed. This is a sure sign that the nation can no longer move forward. The path to any meaningful progress as a nation has come to a halt. We must change path or die. I actually feel a bitter taste in my mouth anytime I read about Buhari, Bavangida or Atiku. What I actually think about when see the names of these criminals wanting to be president, is like a father who endured the forced rape of his daughter, and have the rapist come years later to ask his daughter's had in marriage. It is painful to see what we have become as a nation.
No elections would be free or fair under this circumstance, and no product of such elections would satisfy the aspiration of the people. We should not be talking of elections, but independent national conference. Until such moment, we are only postponing our doom's day. Nigerians, and the world have come to hate what the Nigerian nation constitutes and represents. It is time to modify or dismantle it, and create an entity or entities, that would serve the aspiration of the masses, and not a selected few.
An unfortunate lot we are. Our leaders have long forgotten the roles intended for political leadership, and the essence of leadership. The improvement of the economy and social conditions of the people, and bringing respect for the people and nation, are no longer seen as important by our leaders. Obasanjo was testament to such notion, when he said that he was not elected to provide infrastructures. In our country, leadership has become a joke, effused with one melodrama or the other, while the nation totters. Our Leaders are only interested in the game of deceit, and how to amass more wealth than their predecessors. To create diversion from their heinous crimes against the nation, these leaders have always come up with one make believe national crises or the other, no matter how expensive, or wasteful such diversion is to the nation. Monies that should have been used for developmental purposes have always been wasted, as the nation has remain's poor.
These diversions started with Buhari, after the overthrow of Shagari. Instead of facing the enormous political and social problems facing the nation at that time, Buhari wasted scarce resources on his pet project, WAI, and Dikko in a crate saga. He was unable or interested in dealing with the soaring unemployment, and increasing nation debt. The economy was comatose, until he was booted out of power by his friend Babangida, who perfected the act of national diversion.
To remain as life president, Babangida took the nation through wasteful, and endless political gimmicks and deceptions. Billions wasted on the creation of political parties, and building of party headquarters in all state capitals. Elections were held and cancelled arbitrary to the detriment of a nation. Development, and maintenance of infrastructures were kept on hold, and the remaining money was looted, and the nation raped by Babangida and his friends. Babangida could only give us an interim government, and later the sociopath, Abacha. Abacha did not even pretend to be a leader. His only interest was to amass as much wealth as possible, to give him lordship over the Nigerian political terrain forever, and pass the lordship over to his descendants, after his reign.
Reprieve did not come to a hapless nation, as Obasanjo embarked on his futile third-term agenda. Billion of dollars was wasted, and the country became poorer. Obasanjo eight years of misrule continued with the bastardization of the electoral process, and inauguration of Yaradua. The whole period of period of Yaradua's reign was only about his chronic illness and death. Monies that should have been used for development were all wasted in the course of Yaradua's illness and death. His death was kept hidden, while his wife and collaborators raped the treasury, and any money they could lay their hands on. There was no single meaningful development in Yaradua's reign, and the nation became worse off. The emergence of Jonathan was suppose to be a victory of good over evil, and many celebrated, but the victory lap was immediately subdued by Jonathan's actions or inactions.
Another silly season started, this time it is zoning. Billions that is needed to provide basic infrastructures is now wasted on governors and criminal politicians, whike the nation weeps for another wasted opportunity. The so-called cardinal programs, Niger Delta security, electricity, electoral reforms, and war against corruption did not even see the light of day, except in the creation of useless committees to encumber the already scarce resources. Many had hoped that Jonathan would keep to his promises, and set the stage for a new commitment to democracy. All that is talked about these days is zoning, and meetings about zoning by one group or the other, if only to get their share of money circulating because of zoning, while every other duties of leadership are on standstill.
This system has failed us, and we just cannot continue on this path that has brought so much pain to the people, and expect different results. Just take a look at the political arena. See the major players. Dictators that have been discredited and should have been jailed for crime against the Nigerian nation, are still talking about leading a nation that they destroyed. This is a sure sign that the nation can no longer move forward. The path to any meaningful progress as a nation has come to a halt. We must change path or die. I actually feel a bitter taste in my mouth anytime I read about Buhari, Bavangida or Atiku. What I actually think about when see the names of these criminals wanting to be president, is like a father who endured the forced rape of his daughter, and have the rapist come years later to ask his daughter's had in marriage. It is painful to see what we have become as a nation.
No elections would be free or fair under this circumstance, and no product of such elections would satisfy the aspiration of the people. We should not be talking of elections, but independent national conference. Until such moment, we are only postponing our doom's day. Nigerians, and the world have come to hate what the Nigerian nation constitutes and represents. It is time to modify or dismantle it, and create an entity or entities, that would serve the aspiration of the masses, and not a selected few.
KIDNAPPING: TASKS BEFORE SOUTH-EAST GOVERNORS
JOEL NWOKEOMA
The governors of the five South-Eastern states, with prominent leaders of thought from the region in tow, cut a pitiable look when they went cap-in-hand to meet with "Big Brother Abuja", President Goodluck Jonathan recently. Though the meeting was prompted by the embarrassing high incidence of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the region, especially the kidnap of the four Lagos-based journalists in Aba earlier, it turned out to be an opportunity for them to present a long request list of the region's needs to the president.
This, they did, I suppose, cognisant of the Igbo adage that "He who climbs an Iroko tree, must take whatever he wants because climbing an Iroko tree is not an everyday adventure."
It must be pointed out that this was not the first time the "men from the East" would hurry to Abuja horrified. On March 22, the South-East governors held a closed-door meeting with then Acting President Jonathan where they confronted him with the growing concerns over insecurity, erosion, and abandoned federal projects in the region.
The leader of the delegation and Chairman of South-East Governors Forum, Mr. Peter Obi, while speaking with journalists after the meeting, noted that they were spending huge funds to support the police and other security agencies. But, he lamented that "we found out that the hoodlums firepower is more than the police. The security agencies are trying but they need more from the Federal Government."
The consequence of that over-powering of the security agencies by hoodlums in the region was that Igboland was slowly and surely turned into a kidnappers paradise. It was thus not unexpected when the country was recently classified as 6th among the 10 countries in the world where people are more likely to be kidnapped.
Now, back to the most recent meeting of the governors with President Jonathan last week. They demanded so many things that would make Oliver Twist look like an apprentice in begging, and making one wonder what type of federalism the country is practicing that supposed federating units would be so structurally helpless and fiscally incapacitated as to rely and depend on an overbearing and powerful centre for virtually everything!
While they cried blue murder that Ndigbo are "not proportionately represented at the Supreme Court" as well as "being progressively replaced by our brothers and sisters from other zones whenever changes are made in the headship of (federal) commissions", they also, for good measure, drew attention to ecological problems and the need for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge.
This is not forgetting their demand for a new state to be created from the region and for the exploration of crude oil and gas deposits in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu and also "reactivate Enugu coal mines."
But, by far, what caught the attention of many was their Macedonian cry that they were incapable of confronting criminals unless Abuja came to their help! As Ikedi Ohakim, governor of Imo State, put it, "There is no particular state government that has the capacity to match these criminals (kidnappers) except with the federal might. The types of arms and ammunition at the disposal of the criminals and (their) professionalism are beyond the capacities of individual (South East) states."
To corroborate him, Obi disclosed that "although the state governments of our zone have adopted a number of stringent measures to combat the menace, we request (the Federal Government) to accord a special security attention to the zone through logistical interventions and provision of enhanced security infrastructure to sustainably address the situation."
As commendable as the efforts of the distressed governors seemed, it is important to state that while Igboland deserves a "special security attention" from Abuja, the governors themselves must be told that they have not provided the essential human security attention Ndigbo sorely needs, by their poor governance! With the probable exception of Sullivan Chime and Peter Obi, others are plain journeymen who are on Agbata eke (hire purchase) governance (Apologies to Douglas Anene).
For, however one looks at it, the "war in Igboland today, as prolific writer, Okey Ndibe, recently alluded to it, is occasioned by bad, nay, non-existent governance of the region by its political elite since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999. And, if the governors cannot confront criminals, can they just tell us what they can confront, like hunger, unemployment in the region with all their security votes and quarterly allocations?
It is very disheartening that Igbo governors seem oblivious of the ominous causative factors of crime evident all over the South-East, which essentially is a product of their great undoing to their people. As the Igbo proverb reckons, the time is now to begin to examine "ebe mmiri siri banye nâ opi ugboguru", (meaning, knowing where the rain started beating us as a people)
For one, the structures of selecting leaders in Igboland have been hijacked, read kidnapped, by a vicious band of money-miss-road folks who abhor logic, reasoning and sound argument.
With their ill-gotten wealth, they saw in politics a veritable platform of deepening and sustaining their economic power. This explains why politics in Igboland is seen as an extension of business investment, just like importing goods, where huge returns are inevitably expected after every (s) elections.
It is not for nothing that a certain governor preferred closing schools in his state for as long as his godfather got his huge returns uninterrupted. The interests, and welfare of the people, obviously are not matters for consideration. This, unfortunately, has been exacerbated in recent years by the capture of traditional institutions for their selfish political interests.
The misery in Igboland, as a result of poor and deteriorating governance, is palpable; what with collapsed industries, decayed infrastructure and unspeakable looting and worsening income inequality. Because governance cannot deliver the "dividends of democracy", given that wrong and ill-prepared people are in positions of authority, frustration becomes second nature to many Igbo youths. With greed and corruption tugging at one end, what is left is a region lying like a carcass on the roadside. The result is crime everywhere. In fact, the face of the failure of the Nigerian state is Ndigbo, though this is debatable. But, the failure of the governors to create opportunities for the bulging youth population is at the heart of the rampant criminality in the beleaguered region.
Ndigbo survived the civil war because they are an industrious, determined, enterprising and self-conscious people. More so, because their "enemy" was identifiable. This time around, it is difficult to see how they can survive the raging "war" in the land, with the "enemies" roving in their midst, and without the people rising up to clean the Augean stable and reclaim their land!
Does it not bother anyone that there are more Igbos in search of survival outside Igboland than inside, not those outside Nigeria; more Igbo youths hawking on the streets of major city centres in Nigeria than any other tribe; that Igboland is increasingly becoming uninhabitable and hostile to enterprise; and that two out of every three drug peddlers arrested in Nigeria are Igbo?
So, beyond begging or blaming Abuja, Igbo governors should help themselves first. They should realise that if Akanu Ibiam, Michael Okpara, Mbonu Ojike, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other departed Igbo leaders were to rise from their graves to visit to Igboland today, they would be ashamed of what remained of their beloved homeland. Let them, like the Biblical sluggard, come to the ant (Raji Fashola) and learn his ways. Why can't they articulate and implement a regional economic revival programme to secure their people first! We have not been our best friends, even without an unhelpful Federal Government
The governors of the five South-Eastern states, with prominent leaders of thought from the region in tow, cut a pitiable look when they went cap-in-hand to meet with "Big Brother Abuja", President Goodluck Jonathan recently. Though the meeting was prompted by the embarrassing high incidence of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the region, especially the kidnap of the four Lagos-based journalists in Aba earlier, it turned out to be an opportunity for them to present a long request list of the region's needs to the president.
This, they did, I suppose, cognisant of the Igbo adage that "He who climbs an Iroko tree, must take whatever he wants because climbing an Iroko tree is not an everyday adventure."
It must be pointed out that this was not the first time the "men from the East" would hurry to Abuja horrified. On March 22, the South-East governors held a closed-door meeting with then Acting President Jonathan where they confronted him with the growing concerns over insecurity, erosion, and abandoned federal projects in the region.
The leader of the delegation and Chairman of South-East Governors Forum, Mr. Peter Obi, while speaking with journalists after the meeting, noted that they were spending huge funds to support the police and other security agencies. But, he lamented that "we found out that the hoodlums firepower is more than the police. The security agencies are trying but they need more from the Federal Government."
The consequence of that over-powering of the security agencies by hoodlums in the region was that Igboland was slowly and surely turned into a kidnappers paradise. It was thus not unexpected when the country was recently classified as 6th among the 10 countries in the world where people are more likely to be kidnapped.
Now, back to the most recent meeting of the governors with President Jonathan last week. They demanded so many things that would make Oliver Twist look like an apprentice in begging, and making one wonder what type of federalism the country is practicing that supposed federating units would be so structurally helpless and fiscally incapacitated as to rely and depend on an overbearing and powerful centre for virtually everything!
While they cried blue murder that Ndigbo are "not proportionately represented at the Supreme Court" as well as "being progressively replaced by our brothers and sisters from other zones whenever changes are made in the headship of (federal) commissions", they also, for good measure, drew attention to ecological problems and the need for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge.
This is not forgetting their demand for a new state to be created from the region and for the exploration of crude oil and gas deposits in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu and also "reactivate Enugu coal mines."
But, by far, what caught the attention of many was their Macedonian cry that they were incapable of confronting criminals unless Abuja came to their help! As Ikedi Ohakim, governor of Imo State, put it, "There is no particular state government that has the capacity to match these criminals (kidnappers) except with the federal might. The types of arms and ammunition at the disposal of the criminals and (their) professionalism are beyond the capacities of individual (South East) states."
To corroborate him, Obi disclosed that "although the state governments of our zone have adopted a number of stringent measures to combat the menace, we request (the Federal Government) to accord a special security attention to the zone through logistical interventions and provision of enhanced security infrastructure to sustainably address the situation."
As commendable as the efforts of the distressed governors seemed, it is important to state that while Igboland deserves a "special security attention" from Abuja, the governors themselves must be told that they have not provided the essential human security attention Ndigbo sorely needs, by their poor governance! With the probable exception of Sullivan Chime and Peter Obi, others are plain journeymen who are on Agbata eke (hire purchase) governance (Apologies to Douglas Anene).
For, however one looks at it, the "war in Igboland today, as prolific writer, Okey Ndibe, recently alluded to it, is occasioned by bad, nay, non-existent governance of the region by its political elite since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999. And, if the governors cannot confront criminals, can they just tell us what they can confront, like hunger, unemployment in the region with all their security votes and quarterly allocations?
It is very disheartening that Igbo governors seem oblivious of the ominous causative factors of crime evident all over the South-East, which essentially is a product of their great undoing to their people. As the Igbo proverb reckons, the time is now to begin to examine "ebe mmiri siri banye nâ opi ugboguru", (meaning, knowing where the rain started beating us as a people)
For one, the structures of selecting leaders in Igboland have been hijacked, read kidnapped, by a vicious band of money-miss-road folks who abhor logic, reasoning and sound argument.
With their ill-gotten wealth, they saw in politics a veritable platform of deepening and sustaining their economic power. This explains why politics in Igboland is seen as an extension of business investment, just like importing goods, where huge returns are inevitably expected after every (s) elections.
It is not for nothing that a certain governor preferred closing schools in his state for as long as his godfather got his huge returns uninterrupted. The interests, and welfare of the people, obviously are not matters for consideration. This, unfortunately, has been exacerbated in recent years by the capture of traditional institutions for their selfish political interests.
The misery in Igboland, as a result of poor and deteriorating governance, is palpable; what with collapsed industries, decayed infrastructure and unspeakable looting and worsening income inequality. Because governance cannot deliver the "dividends of democracy", given that wrong and ill-prepared people are in positions of authority, frustration becomes second nature to many Igbo youths. With greed and corruption tugging at one end, what is left is a region lying like a carcass on the roadside. The result is crime everywhere. In fact, the face of the failure of the Nigerian state is Ndigbo, though this is debatable. But, the failure of the governors to create opportunities for the bulging youth population is at the heart of the rampant criminality in the beleaguered region.
Ndigbo survived the civil war because they are an industrious, determined, enterprising and self-conscious people. More so, because their "enemy" was identifiable. This time around, it is difficult to see how they can survive the raging "war" in the land, with the "enemies" roving in their midst, and without the people rising up to clean the Augean stable and reclaim their land!
Does it not bother anyone that there are more Igbos in search of survival outside Igboland than inside, not those outside Nigeria; more Igbo youths hawking on the streets of major city centres in Nigeria than any other tribe; that Igboland is increasingly becoming uninhabitable and hostile to enterprise; and that two out of every three drug peddlers arrested in Nigeria are Igbo?
So, beyond begging or blaming Abuja, Igbo governors should help themselves first. They should realise that if Akanu Ibiam, Michael Okpara, Mbonu Ojike, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other departed Igbo leaders were to rise from their graves to visit to Igboland today, they would be ashamed of what remained of their beloved homeland. Let them, like the Biblical sluggard, come to the ant (Raji Fashola) and learn his ways. Why can't they articulate and implement a regional economic revival programme to secure their people first! We have not been our best friends, even without an unhelpful Federal Government
OPRAH WINFREY SAYS: All Nigerians Are Corrupt including Dangote
Worst of all the countries, Oprah surmised, is Nigeria.
According to her, "all Nigerians - regardless of their level of education - are corrupt."
It is very pathetic that Oprah could ascribe to a larger population, the evil act of an insignificant number of persons in the world's most populous black nation.
Oprah's conclusion is based on the fact that a Nigerian of Igbo extraction was caught with $500,000, which was alleged to have been stolen from a foreigner through the Internet fraud popularly known as 419.
Oprah had sponsored an hour-long programme, which ran for several days on the CNN, with the sole aim of exposing the clever tricks espoused by this group of Nigerians to con their victims.
Much has been said about the greed of the victims themselves, and I need not say more about it.
However, at a time when Americans are committing heinous crimes against children and women, nobody has tagged all Americans as murderous.
So, why call all Nigerians rogues because of the sin of a few bad eggs?
Oprah regularly tells her life story: how she was sexually abused by close relations, how she ‘walked the streets' (Americans' euphemism for prostitution) , etc., but nobody has ever deemed it fit to tag all American men as incestuous because of Oprah and others' experiences.
She did drugs - just like the typical American teenager, but nobody has cast all American youths in the mould of drug abusers!
So, why should an individual that is supposed to know better sentence a nation to odium for the infraction of a tiny fraction of its population?
I urge Oprah and her likes to disabuse their minds about Nigerians.
Be wary of requests for money from strangers, and if you fall for a scam, blame your greed and not Nigerians.
According to her, "all Nigerians - regardless of their level of education - are corrupt."
It is very pathetic that Oprah could ascribe to a larger population, the evil act of an insignificant number of persons in the world's most populous black nation.
Oprah's conclusion is based on the fact that a Nigerian of Igbo extraction was caught with $500,000, which was alleged to have been stolen from a foreigner through the Internet fraud popularly known as 419.
Oprah had sponsored an hour-long programme, which ran for several days on the CNN, with the sole aim of exposing the clever tricks espoused by this group of Nigerians to con their victims.
Much has been said about the greed of the victims themselves, and I need not say more about it.
However, at a time when Americans are committing heinous crimes against children and women, nobody has tagged all Americans as murderous.
So, why call all Nigerians rogues because of the sin of a few bad eggs?
Oprah regularly tells her life story: how she was sexually abused by close relations, how she ‘walked the streets' (Americans' euphemism for prostitution) , etc., but nobody has ever deemed it fit to tag all American men as incestuous because of Oprah and others' experiences.
She did drugs - just like the typical American teenager, but nobody has cast all American youths in the mould of drug abusers!
So, why should an individual that is supposed to know better sentence a nation to odium for the infraction of a tiny fraction of its population?
I urge Oprah and her likes to disabuse their minds about Nigerians.
Be wary of requests for money from strangers, and if you fall for a scam, blame your greed and not Nigerians.
Swazi minister resigns over Queen affair scandal
Daniel Elombah
Swaziland's justice minister Ndumiso Mamba has resigned, following allegations of a love affair with one of King Mswati's 13 wives.
"I have consulted with him and he has forthwith resigned," Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini said in a brief statement.
A Palace source told AFP that Queen Nothando Dube, the king's 12th wife, would dress in a military uniform to slip out of the palace and meet Mamba in a hotel room.
Mamba is a childhood friend of Mswati.
The king was on a visit to Taiwan at the time, but they were discovered by military intelligence agents, the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"For many months the inkhosikati (queen) would dress in an army uniform whenever the king was not around," the source said.
"She allegedly got into her room and changed into her uniform and walked straight to the gate and no one bothered to ask where was this soldier going. In no time a car was there to pick the 'officer' up and whisked her to Royal Villas about 10 kilometres west of the Lozitha Palace," the source added.
The Royal Villas is a hotel.
Mamba could be expelled from Swaziland, while Dube could be confined to her parents' home.
Both could also be fined a herd of cattle, the source added.
Swaziland's royal household, including the 42-year-old king and his 13 wives, are known for their extravagant lifestyles while the rest of the 1.1 million population live largely in poverty.
Swaziland's justice minister Ndumiso Mamba has resigned, following allegations of a love affair with one of King Mswati's 13 wives.
"I have consulted with him and he has forthwith resigned," Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini said in a brief statement.
A Palace source told AFP that Queen Nothando Dube, the king's 12th wife, would dress in a military uniform to slip out of the palace and meet Mamba in a hotel room.
Mamba is a childhood friend of Mswati.
The king was on a visit to Taiwan at the time, but they were discovered by military intelligence agents, the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"For many months the inkhosikati (queen) would dress in an army uniform whenever the king was not around," the source said.
"She allegedly got into her room and changed into her uniform and walked straight to the gate and no one bothered to ask where was this soldier going. In no time a car was there to pick the 'officer' up and whisked her to Royal Villas about 10 kilometres west of the Lozitha Palace," the source added.
The Royal Villas is a hotel.
Mamba could be expelled from Swaziland, while Dube could be confined to her parents' home.
Both could also be fined a herd of cattle, the source added.
Swaziland's royal household, including the 42-year-old king and his 13 wives, are known for their extravagant lifestyles while the rest of the 1.1 million population live largely in poverty.
PDP - Ogun State Communique - Clarification Please
RAHMAN ASHIRU
Good evening Attorney Oke,
I need some clarification on the Communique. As always, I do not have any connection to Ogun State politic as stated previously in one of my email. Went to college in Ijebu Ode, neighborly acquaintance to Chief Niyi Adegbenro in Lagos, and membership in the same club with Remi Osunde. I am a casual observer asking questions that an Appeal Judge may ask.
Can you please explain why Clauses 12.72 c, d, e, l, m and 12.73 of PDP Constitution will not provide the basis for the National Working Committee's (NWC) action?
I noted that the Communique objected, among other reasons, that 12.72 (c) is unconstitutional. I may not have a problem with that position, however all members of PDP freely joined knowing or should have known that part of their party's constitution is unconstitutional.
Please also explain why 12.72 (l) which states that the NWC (through the National Executives) can "make rules for party discipline" (emphasis added) would not be additional basis for the NWC's action. Further, what about 12.72 (d) specifically the "effectively" part of the clause. What that section means to me is that the PDP can act "democratically' or "effectively". Again, everyone joined PDP freely knowing that PDP may not always does thing democratically but effectively.
Attorney Oke, it will be helpful for some of us if you can state the issues that was brewing among Ogun State PDP or that was presented to the NWC that formed the basis of the NWC's decision. And please don't tell me there is no issue. I believe there are always two sides to a fight and I am giving you the honor to present both sides.
At first read, the Communique seems to suggest that the NWC acted arbitrarily which will not be good for our young democracy.
Finally, I previously sent you an email about the Ogun State Legislature's lawsuit against EFCC for EFCC's investigation of some of Ogun State's executives. Please response by distinguishing your case from the Abuja case if it would not affect your pending case. I noted that you attempted to address that issue in one of your email, however my email asked specific questions that you did not address.
Thanks.
Good evening Attorney Oke,
I need some clarification on the Communique. As always, I do not have any connection to Ogun State politic as stated previously in one of my email. Went to college in Ijebu Ode, neighborly acquaintance to Chief Niyi Adegbenro in Lagos, and membership in the same club with Remi Osunde. I am a casual observer asking questions that an Appeal Judge may ask.
Can you please explain why Clauses 12.72 c, d, e, l, m and 12.73 of PDP Constitution will not provide the basis for the National Working Committee's (NWC) action?
I noted that the Communique objected, among other reasons, that 12.72 (c) is unconstitutional. I may not have a problem with that position, however all members of PDP freely joined knowing or should have known that part of their party's constitution is unconstitutional.
Please also explain why 12.72 (l) which states that the NWC (through the National Executives) can "make rules for party discipline" (emphasis added) would not be additional basis for the NWC's action. Further, what about 12.72 (d) specifically the "effectively" part of the clause. What that section means to me is that the PDP can act "democratically' or "effectively". Again, everyone joined PDP freely knowing that PDP may not always does thing democratically but effectively.
Attorney Oke, it will be helpful for some of us if you can state the issues that was brewing among Ogun State PDP or that was presented to the NWC that formed the basis of the NWC's decision. And please don't tell me there is no issue. I believe there are always two sides to a fight and I am giving you the honor to present both sides.
At first read, the Communique seems to suggest that the NWC acted arbitrarily which will not be good for our young democracy.
Finally, I previously sent you an email about the Ogun State Legislature's lawsuit against EFCC for EFCC's investigation of some of Ogun State's executives. Please response by distinguishing your case from the Abuja case if it would not affect your pending case. I noted that you attempted to address that issue in one of your email, however my email asked specific questions that you did not address.
Thanks.
Sir Onianwa Ubakaeze Utomi sworn in as Justice of the Peace
believe that Delta State youth can lead effective peace process if properly involved
plans to establish a peace advancement center where community development through pro-peace processes will be advanced
see peace as the ultimate goal of any civilized race, promised to use his new position to advance and sustain peaceful Delta State.
from the left, Sir Onianwa is second on the line up, taking his oath of allegiance to the office of Justice of the peace
group photograph with other JPs
Uduaghan has failed Deltans, must leave Govt House by 2011........Ovie Omo Agege
Ovie Omo Agege educating the Delta South Supporters on his 5 point strategies to a new Delta State
Counts numerous fake projects the current administration told the world were on-going in Delta South
passes vote of no confidence on the governor Uduaghan led administration
Challenges the present government to prove him wrong
youth and women groups listening and cheering Ovie to speak on
are all these crowds actually for Ovie or were they products of idle Deltans, politicians must begin some serious business, both those in power and those at the corridors of power as well as those eyeing and aiming at power, Deltans must never be reduced to puppets, we worth more than bench warmers.
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