Odogwu Ahaba perfects his Ibu Eze rites in grand style

Some Umuada and okwulagwe youths dancing to the Egwu Ota rythme

Odogwu Ahaba, Anasi-Eze his wife-the Odoziaku Odogwu Ahaba dancing the Egwu Ota to the admiration of the people.

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Ogbu Akpele calling and praising the royal with the Umuada performing the ima nzu on Anasi-Eze, the Odozi-aku Odogwu Ahaba

Umuada celebrating the successful ibulu Eze rites Odogwu Ahaba just completed at Ihu Ani Ajaji

Odogwu Ahaba and Odoziaku Odogwu Ahaba performing the royal Egwu Ota dance

The People and their Eze, all united in the celebration

Umuada are performing the ima nzu on Anasi Eze, Odozi-aku Odogwu Ahaba

The arrival of Anasi Eze, Odozi-aku Odogwu Ahaba, heralded by royal chants of praises from umuada.

The Umuada performing their duties of pouring the royal chants of family acts of valour and greatness, reminding the Odogwu Ahaba his lineage of greatness and responsibility to the community.

relatives and friends doing the egwuota royal dance

Okwulagwe youths performing the Ibuni Obi Agbogidi Enu rites, the youths carried shoulder high Obi Agbogidi from the Ihu Ani Ajaji to his country home at Uda-Layout.

with his youthful act of raising the new obi shoulder high round the community, it becomes clear to all that we now have a new Obi.

Seven canon shots welcome the arrival of Obi Agbogidi from Ihu Ani Ajaji to his country home

The royal Egwu-Ota dance performers

The ever beautiful and youthful Anasi Eze, the Odozi-aku Odogwu Ahaba

Ogbueshi Nwaosisi, the Okei Eboh Ajaji praying for Odogwu Ahaba, asking the God of the Land for protection and prosperity for the new Eze Ahaba and his house-hold.

An elder form Umuda performing the red cap and Ugo Feather fixing rites

Odogwu Ahaba is now Eze Ahaba, Obi Agbogidi.....Igwe Oh

Obi E Chie Oh rented the air waves as Okwulagwe youths carried Obi Agbogidi home to his country home

Prayer for Odogwu Ahaba at Ihu Ani Ajaji by Okei Eboh, Ogbueshi Nwaosisi

A youth leader performing Ijebe Egbo Akwa Ocha at Ihu Ani Ajaji

Ihu Ani Ajaji before the arrival of Odogwu Ahaba, this is where the Ibulu Eze Ahaba rites will be performed.

Below: Odogwu Ahaba stepping out of his country home ready for the Ibulu Eze rites at Ihu Ani Ajaji.

Ogbueshi Edozie Ogochukwu's twin-babies turn ONE

 The celebrants, the number one twins in Umuda today, Asaba Post News-Wire wishes you many happy returns.

 The classical birth-day cake for the twins

 The celebrants in the comfortable arms of a relative.

 Delta State ace stand up comedian, Frank de don, thrill the kids and anchoring the event, Asaba kids just love Frank de don.

 Asaba kids catching their fun with kids friendly mascots

 Delta State number one D.J and sound engineer at work, there was no dull moment, their sound kept the occasion alive.

 The party is supreme, P.D.P Oshimili South local government Chairman, comrade uwaje in white supported by wards 4 & 5 chairmen behind him.

 An entertainer painting the occasion red

 Obi Sammy Ogochukwu on red cap surrounded by his Ajaji brothers at the event.

 Children and their mothers enjoying the event.

Friends, relatives and business partners of Ogbueshi Edozie Ogochukwu, who came to support one of their own, indeed no dull moment, Ani Ahaba Amaka, umu ahaba unu ana egoli, goli be nu na ONISHE amuka nwa di nma.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: APPLICATION FOR UNIVERSITY UNDER-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.

AHABA 88 CLUB OF NIGERIA
ASABA, DELTA STATE



PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

APPLICATION FOR UNIVERSITY UNDER-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.


Applications are invited from suitable qualified candidiates for the award of undergraduate university scholarships obtainable in all Nigerian universities for the 2011/2012 academic session.

SCOPE OF COVERAGE & ELIGIBILITY

* Students of Asaba indigene only pursuing 1st degree programmes in all Nigerian universities
* The award is tenable in all the disciplines
* Applicants must have completed their 1st year of study in the university.


METHOD OF APPLICATION

Application forms are obtainable from any of the undersigned persons on a payment of a non-refundable fee of five hundred naira (N500.00) per applicant.


CLOSING DATE

All application forms must be returned to the chairman of the university scholarship committee on or before 10th December, 2011




Ogbueshi O.F. Eluaka
National President
Ahaba 88 Club of Nigeria
No 2 Azubuike Ononye street
West end, Asaba
+2348035078812



Ogbueshi P.N.C. Ndili
Chairman, University scholarship committee
29, Obi-inalu street
Umuagu Quarters, Asaba
Or C/O Asagba's palace, Asaba
+2348063654668

A Peep Into Governor Okorocha’s First 100 Days

 The various States and the Federal Government are presently agog with celebrations to mark the First 100 Days of the various governors and the President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The First 100 DAYS of any administration has been surreptitiously accepted globally as a great landmark which should be celebrated with vim, pomp and ceremony. But what is the origin of this celebration? In fact, the kernel of this viewpoint is to highlight the origin of The First 100 Days Celebration and to take a little peep into Governor Okorocha’s tenure. The FIRST 100 DAYS which is globally celebrated today    started in the tenure of Franklin D. Roosevelt, a member of the Democratic Party in U.S, who served as the Governor of New York before he became President. Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the election in a landslide.  He rode to victory on the crest of “remembering the forgotten man” in the same way Owelle Rochas won the governorship race on the crest of “Imo Rescue Agenda”. On his inauguration day, Roosevelt addressed his countrymen on radio and announced plans for what he called a “New Deal” which became the main agenda of his administration. A tumult of applause rent the air when in his inaugural speech, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt(FDR) said: “…, First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…”

          He was the first politician to be judged on his performance in the first 100 Days. Like Rochas Okorocha, Roosevelt took office at a time of great anomie and angst among the citizenry.  It was during the Great Depression of 1929-1933 when U.S. citizens had lost faith in the political system as a result of the systemic collapse in the system.  Economic depression could be defined as a period of high level of unemployment as a result of the downturn in the economy, especially when this is sustained for months and even years.  Roosevelt was voted into office in 1932 and he was inaugurated President on March 4, 1933.  This was a time when the citizens were languishing under the weight of the Great Depression which was actuated by the stock market crash of October 29, 1929.  His ascendancy to power also took place within the period of World War II when humanity suffered untold hardship and anguish globally.       

          It was in this scenario of despondency and loss of faith in the political system that Roosevelt emerged as President.  Just like Chief Ohakim was voted out in his second term bid, President Herbert Hoover who was president from 1928-1932 was defeated in his second term bid in a landslide victory by Roosevelt.  In the same way Ndi Imo lost faith in Ikedi Ohakim’s Administration and reached a consensus that they needed a change in the 2011 election, U.S. Citizens also lost faith in Herbert Hoover on account of his poor performance hence they voted massively for Roosevelt in the presidential election of 1932. Sensing the frustration and despair among his people, President Roosevelt charged on that inauguration platform: “the only thing to fear is fear itself”.  Owelle Rochas Okorocha had said that much when he said on his official declaration as governorship aspirant: “I have heard the cries of my people that I should be your governor.  Today, I have accepted that offer and I assure you that the Egyptians you see today, tomorrow, you shall see them no more”. The euphoric and ecstatic crowd went wild with joy and shouts of Amen and Alleluia rent the air.

          As a result of the hopes built around him, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (a.k.a FDR) stepped out with so much energy and dynamism that within his first 100 days, he had achieved so much that his people became so fulfilled as they applauded his every move. He was sworn in on March 9, 1933 and by June 16 when he was 100 days in office; his administration was already a tumultuous success.  Within that short period, he had signed into law over a dozen recovery programmes in his frantic bid to reflate the comatose economy and to give his people a new lease of life.  Some of the agencies he set up survive even to this day and age.  They include the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Securities and Exchange Commission. FDR New Deal Programme was so effective that his first 100 days is officially recorded as the busiest fifteen weeks in the history of U.S. democratic evolution.  He was a president who brought so much vim and verve, so much creativity and innovation to governance to the extent that he ruled united states for three full terms while he was voted into office on four presidential elections, His first inaugural address was read on March 4, 1933; the second inaugural address was read on January 20, 1937; the third inaugural address was read on January 20, 1941 while the fourth inaugural address was read on January 20, 1945.  By the time he commenced his fourth tenure, the burden of leadership and the stress of prosecuting the ongoing World War II had taken its toll on his health.  His major official function was the Ydta Conference in the Crimea with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill after which he embarked on plans for a post war world and an international peacekeeping organization, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died suddenly at his retreat in Warin Springs, Georgia on April 12, 1945.  His sudden death was a great national tragedy to the citizens of the United States.  Tears cascaded down the cheeks of several United States citizens as if their lachrymal glands had gone burst.  It was a period U.S citizens lamented inconsolably on the death of a great president who pulled his country from the brink of an economic chasm to the zenith of economic prosperity and political calm and tranquility .Ndi Imo have faith that Governor Okorocha will pull Imo State out of its present economic coma and stagnation to another era of economic bliss and prosperity.

In looking at Governor Okorochas’s First 100 Days, one can see a rehash of the great days of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Governor Anayo Okorocha came to power at a period of great frustration and despondency by the citizens of Imo State.  Ndi Imo was fed up with the failed government of the last four years under Chief Ikedi Ohakim. There appears to be a consensus that the one-term administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim was the worst that ever ruled Imo State since its creation. It was on account of this ineffective, corrupt and rudderless administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim that Ndi Imo reached a tacit pact among themselves that Chief Ohakim would be voted out in the governorship election of 2011.

To a cross section of the people of Imo State, voting Ohakim out of power was the veritable do or die affair.  It was against this backdrop of despondency and abysmal frustration that the electorate trooped out on that election season to confront the so-called power of incumbency which was the reason for Governor Ohakim’s impunity and poor performance. Having reached a pact among themselves that they would never live to tolerate Ohakim’s second term, they gird their loins, put their backs to the walls and set out to confront Ohakim’s political machine.  As a hyperactive and swashbuckling political Governor, Chief Ohakim went to great lengths to actualize his second term bid but all to no avail. In spite of the incumbency, appurtenances and the accoutrements of power which were at his beck and call, the  electorate especially the youths blocked his every move.  He threw open the state treasury and started sharing money as if  the Naira was going out of fashion; the people took all his crisp wads of naira notes and gifts in kind (Luxury / exotic cars) but still refused to budge.

When the first governorship election was declared inconclusive, it was Governor Ohakim and the bigwig of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who threatened that they would catalyze anarchy in Imo State if INEC did not conduct a supplementary election.  In order to resolve the impasse, Governor Ohakim used his cozy relationship with the political hierarchy at the national level to hoodwink and compel INEC to run a supplementary election in which they felt they would have the last ditch opportunity of manipulating the poll result.  On the morning of the day of the supplementary election of May 6, the PDP was shocked to observe that the affected Local Government Areas (Ngor-Okpala, Oguta, Ohai Egbema, Mbaitoli, Orji) had been taken over by APGA faithful who infiltrated into these areas under cover of darkness in order to beat the illegal curfew which was imposed by Governor Ohakim.  It was at this point that Ohakim knew that the game was up; the cookie had crumbled.  When the result of the Supplementary election and the first poll was released it became clear that the wall of Jericho had collapsed; Chief Ohakim the say-styled Ikiri had bowed to the superior firepower of Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorochas.

In his FIRST 100 DAYS, Rochas Okorochas has made good his promise that after the elections, the Egyptians you saw yesterday, you will see them no more.  He has also commenced his free education scheme in line with his campaign manifesto.  Before now, nobody knew that it would be possible to actualize a free education scheme in Imo State. This free education scheme is the most important political development in Imo State since the return of party politics on 1st October; 1999.It is a big relief to various families who see this scheme as a big source of disposable income to the family budget.  Rochas Okorocha’s free education scheme to the Senior Secondary School level has superseded the requirement of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme which stipulates that education should be free and compulsory for the first 9 years (i.e. from primary to JSS3). Under the UBE Scheme, there is no obligation on any government in Nigeria to offer free education to the Senior Secondary School level; what Okorocha has done in extending his free education to the secondary school level is a bonus, a value added gesture which some ungrateful and perfidious elements have failed to acknowledge.  The money being used to run the free education scheme today is money which some corrupt and fraudulent politicians were sharing among themselves in the past.  Today, it is a windfall which is a disposable income to the IMO State economy.  I did not know that free education could be actualized in Imo State in the foreseeable future.  We were simply brainwashed to have a mindset that Imo was so poverty-stricken to venture into free education. At the tertiary level, education has become accessible and affordable in line with Okorocha’s campaign promises.  In this State, Governor Ohakim set up a panel headed by a former vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Professor T.O.C. Ndubuizu, which recommended N150, 000 as the school fees in Imo State University.  Ohakim was a wily guy who knew how to use people of integrity to achieve his ignoble goals.  He quickly distanced himself from the panel when Owelle Okorocha and Senator Ararume started making comments on free education and affordable and accessible education at the secondary and tertiary levels respectively.  If Okorocha did not succeed, most of those in the state school system, especially IMSU, would have pulled out on the grounds of financial constraints.

In the same vein, a brand new institution: IMO College for Advanced Professional Studies (ICAPS) is being built on the site of the former premises of Statesman Newspapers. Unlike the former Imo Job Centre which was a safe haven for defrauding jobless youths, ICAPS is a centre for producing professionals in different walks of life. In the same vein, Government has released the huge amount of N100ml to each of the 27 Local Government Areas in Imo State for the purpose of upgrading the deteriorating facilities in the primary and secondary school levels. The budget for this project is N2.7bn. The administration has also embarked on the building of 12 model classrooms in each of the 305 INEC wards in Imo State. Each of the 12- room blocks will gulp N30ml. The schools will be equipped with model laboratories, computers, libraries and related learning aids. A state of the art Young Scientists School is under construction at the former premises of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC).The school is targeted at those students who are naturally endowed to excel in the sciences. Construction work on the ICAPS and the Young Scientists’ School is progressing at a frenetic speed.

Never before has this level of speed in the construction of capital projects  been witnessed in the First 100 days of any Administration since Dee Sam Mbakwe left office. Chief Udenwa’s first 100 days in 1999 was basically a period of learning. He also made impressive impact in settling debts owed staff of the Civil/Public Service. In the case of Alvan College of Education and Statesman Newspaper, outstanding salaries of about fourteen months were settled. Chief Udenwa also made a good foray in sanitation in Owerri Municipality, although he could not sustain the tempo. Ohakim’s first 100 days in 2007 is noted for his Clean and Green programme during which shanties and illegal structures were demolished. The climax of his First 100 Days was on 10th August, 2007 when the Senate President, Senator David Mark, made an official visit to IMO State to officially launch Chief Ohakim’s Clean and Green Initiative. It was a one day wonder which attracted so much media hype. But by the time Chief Ohakim was voted out on 6th May, 2011, Owerri Municipality had become as dirty as it was before Ohakim took power. I am not aware of any capital project in Ohakim’s First 100 Days. Unlike Governor Okorocha who has embarked on a number of capital projects in his First 100 Days, neither Ohakim nor Udenwa embarked on any capital project in the first 100 days. But today, in Okorocha’s First 100 Days, Imo State has become a massive construction site. The projects are ongoing not just in Owerri Municipality, but in all the nooks and crannies of the three senatorial zones.

          This viewpoint did not set out to discuss the details of Governor Okorocha’s achievements in his First 100 Days, but rather to unravel the origin of the First 100 Days celebration. I have however discussed only a small segment of his projects in the education sector. Aside the projects in the education sector which I listed above, one may mention such other projects as Ojukwu Conference Centre, Heroes’ Square, Commissioners’ Quarters, Concord Hotel flats, and the Concord Hotel itself is being upgraded to a mega–star luxury hotel. Today, the Concord Hotel boulevard is a piece of entrancing and scenic beauty – all these within first 100 days. Governor Okorocha has also paid arrears of pensions for three months to the erstwhile abandoned IMO State pensioners. This quantum of activity has not been witnessed in the First 100 Days of any administration since Dee Sam Mbakwe left office on December 31st 1983. Perhaps, one may focus a full searchlight on Governor Okorocha’s First 100 Days in due course.  Governor Okorocha should remain focused on his promise to supercede the performance of Dee Sam Mbakwe. The vociferous vituperations of the Mafiosi cabal that held Imo State hostage over the years should be ignored. Governor Okorocha had promised during the campaigns that “the Egyptians you saw yesterday, tomorrow you shall see them no more’’. He actualized this promise on May 6TH when he defeated the PDP. Nobody expected such deeply entrenched interests in the political ambience to vamoose without throwing some punches. Such stereotypes and shibboleths (e.g. Rochas has achieved nothing) with its accompanying acrimony should be seen as a de javu (i.e. something we are used to). When Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe (PHD) won the governorship election in 1979 under the platform of Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), his opponents dragged him to court on the grounds that Dee Mbakwe’s victory should be cancelled because his Deputy Dr. Amalaha did not resign formally from Alvan Ikoku College of Education where he was a staff. The tribunal ruled in favour of the opposition party (NPN) but this did not invalidate the governorship victory of Governor Sam Mbakwe. Dee Sam Mbakwe picked Prince Isaac Uzoigwe as his Deputy Governor and the brouhaha ended abruptly. In the first 100 days of Chief Achike Udenwa in 1999, a member of the House of Assembly, Hon Jasper Ndubuaku, accused him of money laundering. He was alleged to have stolen N100 ml from Imo State and used it to buy houses while he was on an official visit to United States. Speaker Noel Agwuocha set a panel to investigate the matter. Hon. Jasper Ndubuaku who set up the scam fled to Amaifeke and asked Chief Achike Udenwa for pardon. In 2007, Ikedi Ohakim’s First 100 days was turbulent and bumpy. Before his First 100 days, Chief Ohakim had become a sworn enemy of his godfathers even till this day. It was in the midst of this crisis that chief Ohakim said: “I owe my victory to Professor Iwu”( and not to God or Udenwa). With that statement, the glory departed from him, thus setting the platform for his ignominious fall from power. Our Lord is a jealous God who will not share his power. The bottom line is that the ‘First 100 Days’ of any governor in Imo State is always marked with acrimony and recrimination; it is a trend which is deeply entrenched in the system. So, the ongoing recriminations should be seen as a gale which will soon subside. It’s a family affair.

          The reason for the massive gang up and hostility against Okorocha’s Administration are not far to seek.  The group who has been looting the monthly allocations to the State and Local Government Councils in the last four years is not expected to be happy that Governor Okorocha has demystified their invincibility.  Those who had planned to take education beyond the reach of the masses are not happy that education is now accessible and affordable to the masses.  Do you think that politicians are happy that Governor Okorocha slashed his security vote from N6bn to N2bn thus exposing the looting that existed in the Government House in the locust years?

          If you take the education sector alone for analysis, it becomes glaring that in just 100 days, this administration has surpassed what the administration of Chief Ohakim achieved in four years.  In the whole of his 4-year tenure, Chief Ohakim did not commission even one-room project in Imo State education system.  Huge budgets to institutions such as IMSU, IMO Polytechnic, IMSUTH Orlu, and College of Engineering, IMSU, Okigwe campus were misappropriated/ embezzled by politicians. Ohakim’s Administration was the first time that a State Governor would complete a full tenure without building, even one room in any of the tertiary institutions in his state.  At the end of Governor Peter Obi’s first term, he commissioned various capital projects in Anambra State University.  They  include the Faculty of Law building, Moot Court, Faculty of Social Sciences building, Department of Mass Communications Building, a state- of- the- art library complex (fully equipped) Hostels and  class room blocks.  He laid the foundation stone for Faculty of Agriculture building, Management Science complex.  Just to mention a few of the capital projects actualized by Governor Peter Obi on his first term in his State University. Can Ohakim’s admirers provide a list of what projects he actualized in IMSU in his 4-year tenure? My investigation shows that Chief Ohakim abandoned IMSU in particular and the education sector in general during his autocratic regime. In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Godson Akpabio performed wonders by transforming the much maligned Akwa Ibom State to a modern state.  In Akwa Ibom state, education is free and compulsory and over 20000 students are on university scholarships tenable at home and foreign universities.  Governor Godson Akpabio built the first ultra modern e-library in West Africa.

He completed Ibom International Airport; he completed three new fly over bridges in Uyo, built a world class Tropicana Business and Entertainment Complex, first Gas processing plant which is said to be the first in Africa. He built an International Specialist Hospital and Reference Centre, five brand new General Hospitals, first-in Africa underground pipe-jacking drainage project and a brand new State University (AKUTECH). These are just a few of what Ohakim’s peers did in Akwa Ibom State in four years.  At the pace of Ohakim, it would have taken Imo State about 30 years to catch up with the present economic transformation in Akwa Ibom State.  The economic miracle of Governor Godson Akpabio, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi is better seen than described.  The first 100 days of Governor Anayo Okorocha has been eventful and a paradigm shift from what we are used to in Imo State.  Whatever real or perceived mistakes made should be seen as mistakes of the head and not of the heart .Such mistakes should be seen as a family affair which will be resolved amicably presently. Perhaps, there is a need to state that Lagosians rejected Fashola in his first 100 days.  They said he was ineffective and slow and unable to do anything.  Governor Fashola pleaded with them to give him time.  Today, there is a consensus that Babatunde   Fashola, Governor Godson Akpabio and Governor Rotimi Amaechi  are just some of the most effective governors in Nigeria today. Of course, one cannot forget the irrepressible and resourceful Mr. Peter Obi of Anambra State.

I wish to conclude by stating for the umpteenth time that in his First 100 Days in 2007, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State was ridiculed by Lagosians on the grounds that he was both ineffective and bereft of ideas. After overcoming his initial setbacks, there is a consensus that Fashola is about the most effective and resourceful governor in the present political dispensation. have no doubt in my mind that in 2015,NDI IMO will join Owelle  Okorocha as he sings the age-old victory tone of Julius Caesar: Veni,Vidi, Vici (meaning: I came. I saw. I conquered).Objective criticisms are necessary in order to ensure that the RESCUE IMO Administration is not lulled into a fall sense of complacency.

The ongoing call by a tiny cabal for the imposition of an emergency government on Imo State is most absurd as it is a classic case of youthful, sorry, adult exuberance/delinquency. In order to help Governor Okorocha to take us safely to the Promised Land, let us emphasize those variables that unite us and jettison those that are acrimonious and divisive.  Finally, 100 days is so short a time for any objective analyst to write off a governor who has a statutory tenure of four years, more so, when there are numerous ongoing capital projects and the State has become a large construction site. Yes, the real and perceived mistakes of Governor Okorocha should be seen as the pattering of little feet of a child that is learning to work. It is comparable to the initial turbulence of a plane that has just taken off. Presently, the plane attains balance and stability and the flight becomes a great fun. Such real or imaginary mistakes must be made in the normal course of governance because that political leader and, above all, that man who is omniscient and cannot make mistakes are not yet born.

JOHN I MGBE

08032722897

We The Stupid Southerners

Rudolf Ogo Okonkwo

If you are a Southerner reading this, I want you to know that you are stupid.

If you are a Northern Muslim reading this, I want you to stop. Now!

I want you to stop because I am not feeling that brotherly love now. I will say some things you may not like. And I dont give a hoot how they will make you feel. I am as mad as hell. I ve had it up to my neck.

Nigeria is on a slow motion suicide mission. Sometimes it is horrifying. At other times, it is amusing.
This is not one of those amusing times.

In our eyes, the knife goes round the neck, maneuvers its way until it slices off an ear. At other times, it misses the wrist and slices off a finger. In one motion it goes for the testicles but ends up slicing off a chunk of the anus.

Nobody will admit it. But the wait is on for when Boko Haram will strike Lagos. Southerners who want to stay alive have left Maiduguri and many parts of the North.

They have abandoned their sources of livelihood. They have also abandoned their homes. As the fear spreads, the number of internally displaced people increases. But who is counting? When Boko Haram finally strikes Lagos, the bottom will fall off.

It could be tomorrow. It could be the day after tomorrow. But it is coming. When it comes, there wont be room for any more denials.
Nigerians are good at denying the reality in their face- even after it had slapped them. You hear it when Nigerians discuss the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.

Contrary to what revisionist historians are now claiming, the pogrom of 1966 was neither an isolated incident nor was it just a reaction to the coup of January1966. It was rather an escalation of what had been a continuous and systematic dislike, discrimination and massacre of the Eastern Nigerian people in Northern Nigeria. It happened in Jos in 1945. It happened in Kano in 1953.

In a report put together by a British Administrative officer after the 1953 massacre in Kano, the officer warned, No amount of provocation, short-term or long-term, can in any way justify their behavior the seeds of the trouble which broke out in Kano on May 16 (1953) have their counterparts still in the ground. It could happen again, and only a realization and acceptance of the underlying causes can remove the danger of recurrence.

Of course, there was no realization by the Nigerian government. There was neither a search nor an acceptance of the underlying causes. Thirteen years after, when it reoccurred, it took the lives of millions.

Going through the history of Northern massacres of Southerners, the Maiduguri area had been one of the major centers of these atrocities. They only stepped it up when these seasoned killers transformed themselves into Boko Haram.

The Boko Haram killings have been going on for a while. No amount of provocation can justify the mayhem that has been happening. The underlying causes have been there for a long time. And these causes are very simple- from the very beginning, some people in Northern Nigeria have brandished a different agenda and they have gotten away, over the years, with using violence to exert their will on the rest of the country.

That is what it is all about. Because they have gotten away with it, they have continued to ratchet it up.

So if tomorrow, Boko Haram hits Aso Rock, nobody should pretend that it is a surprise. If they use shoulder-to-surface missiles (many of which are known to have been smuggled into Nigeria) to shoot down a plane, nobody should wonder how. If they hit Lagos and the resulting crisis gets out of control, nobody should forget when it really started or say that what might follow is avoidable. Those interested in avoiding the coming doom, should stop the provocateurs. Now.

There comes a point when the usual plea, We are all Nigerians. We have to find the solution together makes no sense. If you line up the bodies of Southerners who have died in Northern Nigeria since 1945, they will go from Sokoto to Port Harcourt and then up to Maiduguri.

The rate the killings have been going in the last ten years, the dead bodies will soon complete the triangle by going from Maiduguri to Sokoto. These Nigerians died for no other reason than their innocent belief that as Nigerians the territory called Nigeria belonged to us all.

Of course, it doesnt. Because if it does, people in those lands where the blood of Southerners have been wasted for the past 70 years should be the ones providing human shield against elements in their midst who want to use violence to prove that some parts of Nigeria do not belong to us all.

I dont know where you come from. But where I come from, every family has lost someone in the North. To them, the North is a graveyard of many of their children. To the victims, it is not comforting to say that these disgruntled elements in the North are beginning to kill Northerners too. One too many Southerners have died. And many more are still dying.

It is reprehensive that the citizens of Northern Nigeria have never staged a protest against the killings of Southerners in the North. Not in Jos in 1945. Not in Kano in 1953. Not in Kano in 1980. Not in Maiduguri in 1982. Not in Jimeta in 1984. Not in Gombe in 1985. Not in Kaduna & Kafanchan in 1991. Not in Bauchi, Kastina, & Kano in 1991. Not in Zango-Kataf in 1992. Not in Funtua in 1993. Not in Kano in 1994.

Since 1999, no year passes without killings somewhere in Northern Nigeria. Even the January 10, 2001 riot in Maiduguri, which was inspired by Luna eclipse, did not necessitate a protest against such lunacy. But when America bombed Afghanistan on October 15, 2001, the North gathered enough crowds in Kano to protest, carrying the picture of Osama bin Laden.

They also used that opportunity to kill more Southerners. That protest did not show how appalled they were of the annual killings.
I know the matter is more complicated than this. I know there are Christians in the North. I know it is not absolutely a matter of North and South. I know it has been said that there is a silent majority in the North that is welcoming and willing to live in peace with others.

But please spare me. Spare me of these excuses. Spare me of these alibis. They mean nothing to Gideon Akaluka killed in December of 1994. They mean nothing to the truck driver, Saint Moritz killed on December 12, 2001. They mean nothing to thousands of dead men who were burnt to death in their houses. They do nothing for the dead women who were hacked to death on the street. The dead children will not come back to life because there are some good people in the North silently observing the killings of their fellow human beings.

If the North wants a Mohammedan world where they will stone women to death for adultery, let them have it. If they want a world where thieves have their hands cut off, let us indulge them. If they want a world where women will not show their bodies in public, let it be for them. If they want a world where there will be no churches, for Christ sake, lets give it to them.

If the North wants a world where the Imam is the head of government, lets help them have it. If they want a world where the Koran is the constitution, by all means, let them own it. If the North wants a world where there are no Christians, let the Christians give way. If they want a world where there is no freedom of thought or freedom of expression, let them enjoy it.

Let us not continue to be stupid, let the North have their world.

The South must stop this ritual of getting angry the first two weeks after every mayhem and start doing something about this madness.

There are basically only two choices left for the South - to excise itself from Nigeria or to exert itself in Nigeria.

Until Southerners firmly state that they cannot allow these killings to continue, the North will do nothing to stop it. Until Southerners make it clear that they are out of Nigeria, the so-called silent majority in the North will continue to maintain their observer status while abominations are committed by their brothers.

The Southern intifada must begin now.

One more strike, the wrist of the nation called Nigeria may burst open. One more hit, the neck may fly off its shoulders. One more mayhem, the testicles may fall on the floor.

When that happens, dont be surprised.

Stupid people!

Jonathan’s Denial of Ticket to Sylva: The Diezani Allison Madueke Factor

The Peoples Democratic Party’s [PDP]  musical chairs in the Niger Delta State of Bayelsa appears a never ending episode as the Jonathan led PDP recently announced through its National Working Committee it has denied/disqualified the incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva and three others from contesting in the PDP gubernatorial exercise scheduled for November 19, 2011. The Jonathan led PDP disqualification announcement came 24 hours following the flag off of Gov Timipre Sylva’s campaign for the PDP primary election.

Information available to 247ureports.com through impeccable sources close to the activities in the Presidency reveal that there appears more than meets the naked eye in the imbroglio unfolding between the President and Bayelsa State. Information has it that the refusal of ‘certain’ candidates from participating in the PDP primaries rests principally on the politics of 2016 in Bayelsa State.

Our source revealed that President Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan’s interest in the ongoing tussle for the PDP gubernatorial ticket has to do with his prefered choice for the governor’s seat come 2016.  The President, according to our source, wants the current Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Allison Madueke  to mount the seat of Governor come 2016 in Bayelsa State – for reasons that are not clear.

As gathered, the President who remains hurt and somewhat vengeful over the role played by the Bayelsa State governor during the period when the Late President Yar’Adua was ill and admitted to a hospital outside the country, fears that Governor Timipre Sylva, if allowed to hold on to the PDP gubernatorial ticket, may win the general elections, and may not hand over to his [Jonathan] preferred choice for the seat in 2016. Our source indicates that the President had sought hard promises from Gov Timipre Sylva that he will ensure that the Petroleum Minister takes over in 2016 – of which Gov Timipre Sylva obliged and pledged to ensure the Petroluem Minister gets a smooth path to achieving her aspiration.

But the Presiency could not bank their trust on the Governor. The source also points to the President’s refusal to allow the NWC of the PDP to clear the likes Ben Bruce and Timi Alaibe as symptomatic of the same fear of not handing over to the Petroleum Minister come 2016.

247ureports.com is not certain the reasons for the President’s determination to clear the way for the Petroluem Minister to mount the revered seat in Bayelsa come 2016 but unconfirmed sources in Bayelsa State indicate that the Presidency is interested in providing immunity cover for the Federal Minister.

Achebe is ignorant of Nigerian situation..........GEJ

Yinka Odumakin


PresIdent  Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said he regretted  the decision of US based Nigeria literary giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe to once again, reject the conferment on him of the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).



President Goodluck Jonathan in a statement issued on his behalf by Reuben Abati, his spokesperson, the President Jonathan also said he was surprised by claim that the issues which caused him to reject the same award seven years ago, still remain unresolved arguing that the literary giant may not be aware of true contemporary political situation in Nigeria.

Coming as it does, against the background of the widely acclaimed electoral reforms undertaken by the Jonathan Administration, the claim by Prof. Achebe clearly flies in the face of the reality of Nigeria's current political situation.

As reflected in the immense improvements recorded in the conduct of the last general elections which were applauded within and outside the country as the most credible elections in Nigeria in recent years, the Jonathan Administration has made tremendous efforts to positively change the political architecture complained about by Prof. Achebe and other Nigerians.

Politically, Nigeria cannot be said to be where it was in 2004 as the Jonathan Administration has embarked on extensive electoral reforms to institute a regime of electoral integrity that all Nigerians can be proud of, believing that governance will be greatly enhanced in the country if the will of the people prevails at elections.

While President Jonathan acknowledges that there are still challenges in the path of Nigeria's attainment of its full potentials as a nation, he believes that his Administration is moving the country in the right direction and therefore deserves the support, encouragement and cooperation of all citizens.

The President continues to hold Prof. Achebe in very high esteem in spite of his regrettable decision which may have been borne out of misinformation as to the true state of affairs in Nigeria and hopes that he will find time to visit home soon and see the progress being made by the Jonathan Administration for himself.

Prof. Achebe remains in President Jonathan's consideration, a national icon, a Nigerian of high attainments, indeed one of the greatest living Africans of our time, Abati concluded in the statement he signed on behalf of his boss.

The call for Southern intifada

Muhammad Ajah

The Southern intifada must begin now. One more strike, the wrist of the nation called Nigeria may burst open. One more hit, the neck may fly off its shoulders. One more mayhem, the testicles may fall on the floor. When that happens, dont be surprised.
Stupid people! one Rudolf Ogoo Oknokwo posted on the web, NigerianWorldForum.

Intifada literally means shaking-off or struggle for emancipation. It is an Arabic loan-word that came into use in the late twentieth century. The Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip sometime in 1987 in protest against the continued Israeli occupation brought this word into common use.

It should not be accepted that the Southerners are stupid, as claimed or insinuated by Mr. Oknokwo. It is definitely out of passion for what is palpable. Yet, in certain circumstances certain effort can create more hatred and rancor in the minds of Nigerians. The Igbo people, widely acknowledged by all, are the most patriotic citizens of Nigeria, though they have been politically subjugated since the civil war caused by the attempted cessation from Nigeria and declaration of Biafra Republic.

But it is accepted that the Igbo have contributed seriously to the building of Nigeria. There is hardly any village in Nigeria where an Igbo person is not found. In short, because of the dexterity of the Igbo and their inclination to business and development, it is widely said that no business thrives where there is no Igbo man. In Kano, in Lagos, in Maiduguri, in Kaduna and now in Abuja, the Igbo have distinguished themselves in the nation building. This is not to justify whether or not the existence of the Igbo in every non-Igbo community and their willingness to develop wherever they are in order since other ethnic groups have often proved the contrary, it is an attestation that the Igbo love Nigeria more.

Instances abound where non-Igbo living in Igboland have not helped in developing the land. They stay long in the places and refuse to learn the language. Rather, they attempt to spread their language and even culture in the area. There are stories of such people who dwell over forty years in the Igbo communities and refuse to acquire lands, not to talk of building. They only engage in their businesses and politics. Its very unfortunate and unacceptable for the unity and progress of the nation.   

But the unfortunate thing is the religious divide and claims that the northerners are Muslims while the Southerners are Christians. It is this divide that is one of the greatest problems in the country. Christians in the north should be as free as Muslims in the South. They should enjoy equal rights like other citizens. There should be a national debate to practically realize this freedom. Sometimes, one wonders what really is the faith of he who kills a fellow citizen in the name of religion.   

For God sake, were our forefathers born Christians or Muslims? Why all these understandings, claims and counterclaims?
  
My dear compatriots, there should be love and understanding. Both Islam and Christianity condemn bloodletting. Killing a soul, without justification, in Islam is like killing mankind as a whole. But the two religions have become destructive weapons in the hands of politicians. God save Nigeria. God save the Igbo. God save Nigerians. Amen.

Earnestly, my belief is that the sufferings of the Igbo in Nigeria will be a triumph at last. It is said that he who laughs last laughs longer. The Igbo are just patient people. And another adage warns, beware of the wrath of the patient. 

For Mr. Okonkwo to presume that Boko Haram may one day strike Lagos may not be far from mere imagination. Boko Haram is a creation just like many political gangsters formed for political use but which went weird because of lack of control. There is hardly any state where political gangsters are not nursed by the people in power. Many Nigerians, like myself, have not understood why all these killings.

Truly, the Boko Haram killings have been going on for a while. Many unpatriotic citizens are hiding under this name to perpetrate their wicked acts, just like it happened with the Niger Delta crisis where criminals infiltrated the genuine cause. Niger Delta crisis started as a joke until some of the youths were recruited and armed by their politicians. As time went on, dialogue and bargaining were employed to douse the tension.

We can remember that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) often claimed any attack on government interests during the peak of the regional upheaval. Kidnapping for ransom was reported on daily basis. It gradually became clear that even people who were not from the region hid under MEND and sundry nomenclatures to carry out dastardly assaults. Mr. President himself once vehemently defended MEND on the grounds that MEND had genuine cause and so should not involve in such negative acts.

Except if Boko Haram has become an insurmountable entity, how can it hit Aso Rock? This kind of feelings should not portray our security as being so fragile or weak. The country had faced hard times and overcome them. It is just that the leadership is wary of killing innocent and law-abiding citizens in the course of applying force to quash any rebellious group. We know what happened in the Niger Delta, although the people were aggrieved on marginalization and alleged injustice and iniquity against them.

What is needed is for the security outfits especially the intelligence to intensify their efforts. Whoever is a trouble-maker has a home, a family and friends. He cannot succeed if he is not haboured by fellow citizens. But sometimes, it is reported that giving intelligent information to security outfits brings negative result to the informant who will be exposed to the criminals by the same security operatives. Such informants are then exposed to risks of attacks from the criminals. Which way, my people?
  
Whatever happens in Nigeria, we should not think of breaking into pieces or smaller countries. We should be thinking of creating more states so that development will go round and to the grassroots. North and South of Nigeria will be one and all these events will be history. It will be the United States of Nigeria (USN).

So Mr. Okonkwo, there should be no such choice left for the South to excise itself
from Nigeria BUT to exert itself in Nigeria. The South has the potentials to exert itself in this country economically cum politically if they can showcase political maturity and unity. These are what they seemed to have been lacking since from the past.

We must be very conscious of security intrigues from the West. We must always remember the American prediction of Nigerias breakage by 2015. We must resist this wicked insinuation by our collective selves.

Like many other compatriots, I was elated when Nigeria dismissed the terror advisory issued United States citizens in Nigeria by the US Embassy, warning of possible terror attacks on three major hotels in Abuja: NICON Luxury, Transcorp Hilton and the Sheraton Hotels. Such advisories were issued during the Niger Delta crisis but they did not yield any result than only created fear and confusion in their nationals.

While the National Security Adviser, Owoeye Andrew Azazi should be hailed for this brave stand, he should ensure that our security torchlight also beams outside the shores of Nigeria to track any foreign infiltration.

Muhammad Ajah is a poet, writer, author, advocate of humanity and good governance based in Abuja.

Scholarship: Ahaba 88 Club organizes scholarship examinations

 Some of the senior secondary school students writing the scholarship examinations in their various school uniforms, with a club member monitoring the process

 Actively monitoring the examination, a club member doing his task from behind the class, more of the senior boys and girls brain tasking session.

 Ogbueshi O.F. Eluaka, National President of the club (middle); Ogbueshi Ebenuwa E.O., Chairman, Educational Committee(left) and Ogbueshi P.N.C. Ndilli, Chairman, University scholarship committee.

 The Junior categories selected form Asaba based secondary schools.

A club member watching over the conduct of the exercise.

No UN Agreement on Recommending Palestinians for Statehood

Margaret Besheer

A Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership has failed to win approval in the U.N. Security Council committee that deals with new members. Friday’s outcome was not unexpected.

The committee met Friday to adopt a report saying the 15 members were “unable to make a unanimous recommendation to the Security Council” to admit the Palestinians. The committee will now send the report to the council, which will decide what, if any, actions to take.

The Palestinians, frustrated by stalled peace talks with Israel, launched a bid for statehood via the United Nations in September. But several member states, including the United States, have said the only road to statehood goes through peace talks.

Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters that his government had hoped for a different outcome Friday, but is not giving up.

“Unfortunately, this is not the reality today," said Mansour. "We have, collectively, to do more work and we more determined than ever to continue with this exercise until the conditions in the Security Council are ripe for Palestine to become a member state.”

The Palestinians have several options. They can ask a Security Council member state - possibly Lebanon or South Africa - to call for a vote in the council. If they do that, they will certainly fail, as diplomats say they do not think the Palestinians would get the required nine ‘yes’ votes, and even if they did, the United States has said it would veto such a move.

They could also go the U.N. General Assembly where they hold observer status as an ‘entity’, and if they get a two-thirds majority approval - which is likely - upgrade to ‘non-member state’ observer. This would expand some of their ability to participate in U.N. activities, such as being signatories to some international treaties.

Ambassador Mansour said all the options are under consideration and that the Palestinian leadership, together with its Arab and other partners, would decide what route to go in the coming weeks.

Is it GEJ talking or Reuben Abati making stuff up?

 Eze Nwanmadu


For GEJ to have said everything credited to him below is the worst that could ever happen.
Okay, I take it Reuben Abati is putting words in the mouth of his boss.  He said;

 " the President Jonathan also said he was surprised by Achebes claim that the issues which caused him to reject the same award seven years ago, still remain unresolved arguing that the literary giant may not be aware of true contemporary political situation in Nigeria".

If GEJ actually said those words, then it follows that we have no idea who is leading the morbidly corrupt nation, Nigeria, now.  How could he have said that when Emanuel Uba and Chris Ngige are now senators for the same Anambara the Iroko Achebe came from?

How could he have said that when the government has sabotaged Enugu International Airport, replacement Niger bridge, all federal roads in the East ....etc to date?

And now, an agency of Nigerian government turned all awusa terrorists organ, EFCC, terrorizes and kill innocent Nigerians with impunity.

There is no drivable roads  anywhere in Nigeria, no good drinking water, and thieves, armed robbers, kidnappers, and Islamic terrorists control just about everything.

And GEJ people said he said what?   It is hard to believe that a guy with Ph.D.  What a shame!





PresIdent Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said he regretted the decision of US based Nigeria literary giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe to once again, reject the conferment on him of the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).



In a statement issued on his behalf by Reuben Abati, his spokesperson, the President Jonathan also said he surprised by Achebes claim that the issues which caused him to reject the same award seven years ago, still remain unresolved arguing that the literary giant may not be aware of true contemporary political situation in Nigeria.

Coming as it does, against the background of the widely acclaimed electoral reforms undertaken by the Jonathan Administration, the claim by Prof. Achebe clearly flies in the face of the reality of Nigerias current political situation.

As reflected in the immense improvements recorded in the conduct of the last general elections which were applauded within and outside the country as the most credible elections in Nigeria in recent years, the Jonathan Administration has made tremendous efforts to positively change the political architecture complained about by Prof. Achebe and other Nigerians.

Politically, Nigeria cannot be said to be where it was in 2004 as the Jonathan Administration has embarked on extensive electoral reforms to institute a regime of electoral integrity that all Nigerians can be proud of, believing that governance will be greatly enhanced in the country if the will of the people prevails at elections.

While President Jonathan acknowledges that there are still challenges in the path of Nigerias attainment of its full potentials as a nation, he believes that his Administration is moving the country in the right direction and therefore deserves the support, encouragement and cooperation of all citizens.

The President continues to hold Prof. Achebe in very high esteem in spite of his regrettable decision which may have been borne out of misinformation as to the true state of affairs in Nigeria and hopes that he will find time to visit home soon and see the progress being made by the Jonathan Administration for himself.

Prof. Achebe remains in President Jonathans consideration, a national icon, a Nigerian of high attainments, indeed one of the greatest living Africans of our time, Abati concluded in the statement he signed on behalf of his boss.

Address by Jonathan At The Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja

 PROTOCOL


1.                I am delighted to be here with you today at the formal opening of the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#17), an event organized jointly by the private and public sectors, represented by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the National Planning Commission (NPC).

2.                I am even more elated that you all agreed to come and dialogue, and partner with us, in our effort to transform our blessed country.  Our Administration is committed to sustaining this successful partnership, which is why I have directed that the Public Sector participation be broadened.  I trust that the representation from the private sector will continue to be very robust.

3.                This year’s Economic Summit is unique in several respects.  It is the first to be held since the inception of the current Administration, in May this year.  It is also coming at a critical time in our political and economic history, following on the heels of our 51st independence anniversary. It is even more important when you consider the fact that public expectations are high. We are fully aware that concrete progress needs to be made in terms of national development, hence we have introduced measures, including the establishment of a National Economic Management Team, to place the right emphasis in this regard. I want to assure you of the determination of my Administration to lay a solid foundation for economic prosperity, upon which successive Administrations would build.

4.                Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, there are many strong indications that the global community has renewed its confidence in our great Country.

I am pleased to be addressing you on the heels of the positive ratings of our modest effort by the rating Agency, Fitch, which recently upgraded our outlook from negative to stable.  The Agency has also affirmed our long term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BB’- and Long-term local currency IDR at ‘BB’.

5.                Messrs. Fitch also affirmed the short term rating at ‘B’ and Country Ceiling at ‘BB’-.  For me, this means that the effort we have made so far is yielding dividends.  I can only but thank the organized private sector for supporting the government in achieving this target.

6.                We must, however, not relent in our effort.  Instead, the recognition of our efforts by the ratings agencies should ginger us to be more diligent and strategically focused, in our response to the challenges we have as a country.

7.                You would recall that the celebration of our Nation’s 51st independence anniversary, on October 1st, was rather somber, having pulled all the stops to celebrate our 50th anniversary the previous year.

8.                It was a conscious decision to celebrate our 51st birthday in a low key fashion; while using the occasion for reflection on our country’s future for the next 50 years and beyond.  We have paid attention to the size of our population and its demographic characteristics.  We also strategized on how we can turn the challenges of managing a population of 167 million into opportunities for the future, with focus on empowering our vibrant youth.

9.                Let me reaffirm that from this position, we see only opportunities.  We see opportunities for investment in power generation, transmission and distribution.  We see opportunities in mining of non-oil minerals, as well as the processing of agricultural products to add value to our produce.  We see opportunities for investments in the transport sector, as well as for investments in the tourism sector.

10.          We also see opportunities for investments in education, health, agriculture, aviation, and fast moving consumer goods.

All these form the key thrusts of our Government’s Transformation Agenda and Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020, which all agencies of government are working hard to actualize.

11.          I am pleased to note that the 17th Nigeria Economic Summit has been structured to include a Presidential Policy Dialogue, involving Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the world’s global corporations from Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa.  The Presidential Policy Dialogue (PPD) is the second in the series to be held under our Administration.

12.          It is reassuring to note that the PPD has served as a veritable platform for sharing information on the key initiatives of this Administration.  I also note that the Summit has been designed to feature other critical sessions, aimed at bringing Chief Executive Officers of leading corporations and multilateral agencies together to discuss issues related to Nigeria’s economy and investment agenda.


13.          I will like to note that the Economic Summit has, over the past 17 years, contributed immensely to strengthening the relationship between the public and the private sectors, in seeking solutions to issues critical to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

14.          One key outcome of previous Summits is the Policy Commissions, which were established to facilitate the formulation and implementation of the Summits’ recommendations.  In particular, the technical inputs received through the Policy Commissions have played a critical role in the emergence of a number of Government policies and reform measures.

15.          Let me state that the blueprints on the Transformation Agenda and the Vision 20:2020 are a manifestation of that process.       The Vision 20:2020 is a long term, strategic plan for moving our country to the league of twenty largest economies by the year 2020.



16.          The framework for the implementation of the Vision is the medium term plan and, in particular, the Transformation Agenda, which is this Administration’s blueprint on key policies, programmes and projects to be implemented during 2011-2015.

17.          Let me commend the organisers of the Summit for the choice of this year’s Summit theme, which is “Attracting Foreign Direct Investment, through Global Partnerships”. This is quite apt and timely.  It is also consistent with the aspirations of the Transformation Agenda and Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020.  This also reinforces the need to do all that is necessary to guarantee the security and profitability of foreign investments in our country.

18.          We are committed to doing things differently and to fulfilling our role to our citizens and the global community.  We have established clear criteria and mechanisms for benchmarking and the setting of performance targets, so we can drive our economy in a positive direction, in line with global best practices. 

19.          It is my belief that this forum will come up with far-reaching recommendations to address the challenges impeding our ability to fully harness our abundant human and natural resources endowment to the fullest.

20.          We understand that we cannot drive this change in isolation.  We urge you to be part of this process to rebuild our infrastructure, create jobs and greater wealth for our people.

21.          We understand the demands which strains in the global economy are making on business.  That is why we have been deliberate in our decision to accelerate economic diversification, by improving our investment environment; ensuring that our high GDP growth rates translate to significant employment generation; and implementing fiscal policies that support the private sector.

22.          Our hope is that the private sector will become the real driver of economic development and growth in the country, leading to sustained wealth creation and poverty reduction.

23.          The 17th Economic Summit is unique in another sense; as it represents the first, major, interaction of local and global business communities on the Nigerian soil.  Over the last two years, I have requested that the recommendations of the Summit be considered by the Federal Executive Council.  It is in that line that the key recommendations arising from last year’s Summit were formally discussed and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in December 2010.

24.          Our Administration also took steps to ensure that the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) implemented those aspects of the recommendations made by the Summit that related to their mandates and also rendered necessary reports.  Let me assure you that the recommendations of this year’s Summit will also be appropriately tabled before the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

25.          Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the Nigerian economy recorded an average GDP growth rate of 7.85% in 2010 and 7.72% in Q2 of 2011.

With this development, our country is at a point in its history where it should attract more global investors.  There is now a global understanding that Africa, and Nigeria in particular, is the new investors’ haven.

26.          Let me appeal, once again, to our global partners to see us as partners in progress.  The investment environment in Nigeria is ripe.  We are taking necessary steps to put in place appropriate legislation to guarantee and protect your investments.

27.          We are not unmindful of the security challenges that confront us. Government is taking firm steps to address the problem.  We will continue to fight crime, punish offenders and do everything necessary to make our country conducive for everyone to live in and engage in genuine enterprises.

28.          To members of the global investor community, I want to tell you that our economy has maintained its growth, in the face of the global economic downturn.

Meanwhile, our external trade and tariff policies are being reviewed, even as we recognize the need to promote and protect domestic industries.  We are committed to creating a more responsive tariff policy which will make our prohibition list more manageable.

29.          The Ministers and other public sector officials will be providing more details in their presentations and further in-depth discussion with their private sector counterparts during the course of the Summit. I understand also that a number of state Governors will participate in this Summit and use the opportunity to promote available business opportunities in their states.

30.          I would like to formally acknowledge the presence of the array of experts invited from within and outside Nigeria to speak and participate in this year’s Summit.  I am confident that the Nigerian economy will benefit immensely from your expertise and wealth of experience.

31.          Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now my honour and pleasure to formally declare the Seventeenth Nigerian Economic Summit open.

I wish you all fruitful deliberations and look forward to receiving the report of the Summit.

32.          I thank you for listening and may the Almighty God bless you all.

Nigeria: Insolvent States Should Be Dissolved

In human existentiality change is a natural phenomenon. The dynamics of life is such that nothing is permanent. Change is a reality beyond human understanding, control and manipulation. Man cannot stop change whether he likes it or not. When it becomes expedient man sometimes facilitate change. Change must always occur. That is the truth about life.

Nigeria is a country of thirty-six states and seven hundred and seventy- four local governments majorly created by military fiat in the years when the khaki men held sway the reins of political power. The Nigerian people were hardly consulted in the lumping of communities that make up the states and local governments and in the delineation of boundaries of those states and local governments. They accepted it however as they looked through futuristic prism with buoying hope in them for a better tomorrow of viability.

The fundamental reason for the creation of states and local governments is to foster speedy development anchored in the quest of the people for distinct identity that will give them a sense of belonging. Many people rejoiced when states were created. They thought that their dream of actualisation as a people with unique identity has manifested in reality. The vast majority of the people looked forward to a viable state they can proudly call their own.

However, several years after states and local governments were created; many Nigerians cannot say for certain whether the exercise conducted by the military was a blessing or a curse. Many compatriots are not shouting eureka because the zeal and optimism that greeted states and local governments’ creation has waned for the single reason that expectations have not been met. Centripetal expectations are more in the breach than in its fulfilment. Centrifugal forces have taken over and people hitherto united see themselves as beings without any commonality.

The recent sacking of civil servants who are not from Abia State by the state government readily comes to mind. Although, Abia state government was not the first to carry out such retrogressive exercise, many see it as engendering disunity and sowing dangerous seed of bitterness of brothers against brothers. It can now be said without equivocation that more states and local governments are akin to more divisions of a people once united. The problem of boundary delimitation; the challenge of assets sharing; and the palaver of who gets what in the state’s micro macrocosm; cumulatively become a cog in the wheel of progress and development.

Since after creation of states and local governments, development and progress of those entities are nothing to write home about as; there have not been any crystal clear differences in terms of meeting the expectations and enthusiasm that greeted the exercise then. Many state capitals are nothing but glorified local government headquarters. Roads are still in deplorable conditions, pipe-borne water pipes are still dry, hospitals are still mere consulting clinics, and many are still more in the dark than in the light as a result of epileptic electricity supply.

The states and local governments that are not performing blame paucity of funds as reason for non performance. Why wouldn’t funds be a problem when 70% of state’s funds go to recurrent sub head, while mere 30% is for capital development? There is no way development and progress can flower in a state where only meagre amount is earmarked for capital projects.

Recently the Nigerian senate observed that some states are in financial distress and called for more funds to be given them. The Senate revealed that Kano, Sokoto, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, and Osun are distressed. And those in critical conditions are Ekiti, Plateau, Benue, Edo, Borno, Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu, Taraba, Ogun, Kogi, Yobe, Ebonyi, Ondo and Kaduna. Unhealthy ones are Bauchi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Gombe, Rivers and Oyo. Those that are tolerable are Imo, Kwara, Lagos, kebbbi, and Delta. Healthy ones are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra and Jigawa.

Going by the information emanating from the senate, 6 states are in distress; 15 are in critical conditions; 6 are in unhealthy state; 5 in tolerable conditions and 4 are healthy. In other words, only four out of thirty-six states in the country have clean bill of health. If that is so, one is inclined to ask; what is the essence of having litany of states and local governments that are not self-sufficient. I want to believe that self-sufficiency was one of the critical conditions that qualified the existing states to be created and not just political exigency.

Now that the states instead of finding ways of generating internal revenues and becoming economically solid; go cap in hand to the federal government soliciting for funds to keep them afloat, one is inclined to call for the dismembering all distressed states. One does not know how long such states should be pampered with oil money. If the government at the centre can and often authorise the merger and acquisition of distressed companies and even banks, one wonders why such measures should not be taken against states that are not performing in accordance to their constitutional obligations. I hold the opinion that unless such measure is taken; many states will continue to look up to the centre for funds from oil sale, which is spent as soon as allocations get to them.

Nigerians want viable states and local governments. They want states and local governments that will invest in developmental projects that will impact them. They want to see jobs created. They want to see roads constructed and repaired. They want to see electricity steady. They want to see hospitals equipped with modern gadgets and medicines and sundries. They want to see children and other students learn in clement environment. Nigerians are tired of highfaluting esoteric speeches of our politicians and government officials laced with deceit. They are tired of the opulence of few in the midst of penury of majority.

The lawmakers at the National Assembly as representatives of the people should as a matter of urgent national importance begin a process of enacting law that will give teeth to merger of distressed states with the healthy ones. Asking for more funds for unviable states is not a one off solution to the cancerous problem. Any state that wants to exist should seek viable ways to be solvent.

In this 21st century, proactive solutions should be found for cancerous challenges. Distress in states is a cancerous problem facing Nigeria and Nigerians that needs urgent surgical operation to remove the tumour of insolvency. Some few political beneficiaries may oppose such viewpoint but indefensible sentiments should not becloud the humanitarianism of opinion expressed in this piece. Let distressed states be merged with healthy ones. Let solvent states swallow insolvent states.