UDUAGHAN MOURNS UMARU DIKKO, SAYS HE WAS A TRUE NATIONALIST

Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed deep condolences to the people and Government of Kaduna State on the passing away of elder statesman and one time Minister of

Transport, Alhaji Umaru Dikko.

In a statement signed by Mr Felix Ofou, his Press Secretary, the Governor described the late minister as a nationalist who lived and was willing to sacrifice his life for the unity and survival of
Nigeria.

Said he, "The late Alhaji Umaru Dikko, will be remembered for his unusual candour and contributions in politics.

Though sometimes controversial and misunderstood in the past, you cannot take
away the fact that he was a true nationalist and who was ready to put down his
life for the unity‎ and survival of the country".

Governor Uduaghan also remarked that Dikko's death signified the end of an era of colourful politics when politicians were noted for flamboyance and intelligent contribution to national discourse as
against what obtains now wherein people pull down others irrespective of their
‎potentials or quality of what they have to offer.

He therefore urged politicians to embrace the "live and let live‎"  philosophy of the late elder of
the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and prayed God to give the Dikko
family, as well as government and people of Kaduna State the fortitude to bear
the loss.

LG POLLS: Party Forms Are Still Available…..Evang. Maduemezia

Addressing a joint meeting of all councillorship aspirants at the Oshimili South Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Evang. Ebielim Maduemezia, the party’s LGA Chairman, cleared the air on rumours making round about forthcoming council polls.

Evang. Maduemezia disabused the minds of asspirants and party faithfuls over the rumour that party nomination forms were hijacked and sold to selected few aspirants as both false and smarck of disloyalty to the party.

Any aspirant who want to obtain party nomination form should go the state secretariat of the party, there are no forms here at the LGA secretariat, there are enough party nomination forms, after all the party needs money and I cant hinder the party from making money, Evang Maduemezia stressed.

The LGA boss pointed out that he is not threatened by baseless rumors but committewd to uphold the party’s constitution and provisions of the electoral Acts.

Under my leadership the party has recorded great feats never before registered in the party before, for the first time councilors in one united spirit have agreed to approach their LGA with one mind to declare their political intention to contest in the council polls peacefully.

This is also the first time a representative from OShimil South LGA will be made a speaker of the house, Maduemezia told us  at Asaba Post News-Wire.

Evangelist Maduemezia recalled how he has always directed aspirants to first consult their God, and later approach their ward leaders without demanding any stuff from them.

My commitment is to build a party at the LGA level that is rooted in love and allows the will of God to prevail, on the line of duty, I will do all that ward elders and leaders deem most appropriate and necessary for the wards and the council, Evang Maduemezia said.

Igbo Group Lambasts Soyinka For Comparing Boko Haram’s Insurgency With Civil War

Igboezue, an Igbo socio-political organisation, has faulted a recent statement attributed to Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, that the Boko Haram insurgency is worse than Biafra-Nigeria civil war.

Soyinka had on Thursday stated that the ongoing activities of the Boko sect were worse than the civil war, noting that the development has made Nigeria’s breakup difficult.

In a controversial interview with Reuters, Soyinka said, “The bloodshed is now worse than during the 1967-1970 Biafra war, when a secessionist attempt by the Eastern Igbo people nearly tore Nigeria up into ethnic regions.

Reacting to the statement on Saturday, the group’s National President, Chekwas Okorie, described Soyinka’s comment as an “assault and shocking”.

The group said, though Soyinka’s statement, which was broadcast on Reuters and also published in most Nigerian newspapers, was advisory on the need to preserve the unity of Nigeria, it was at the same time insulting to sensibilities of the Igbo nation.

Okorie, who also described the statement as “unguarded, insensitive, reckless, irresponsible and reprehensible, however stated that someone like Soyinka, who played a historical role in that war up to the level of being suspected by the federal military government at the time of collaborating with the then Biafra leader, late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu for the injustices and massacre of the Igbo, should not be the one to make such a statement.

“We have never been confronted with butchery on this scale, even during the civil war. There were atrocities (during Biafra), but we never had such a near predictable level of carnage and this is what is horrifying.”

The Igboezue leader also said that to correct part of the deliberate alleged “misrepresentation” as he claimed contained in Soyinka’s statement, the group “wishes to state that the mandate given to Gen. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwuto declare the Independent State of Biafra was given to him by the then Eastern Nigeria Consultative Assembly and a large part of Mid Western Region in the present South-East and South-South geopolitical zones of Nigeria.”
--DAILYPOST

The problem with Anioma Politicians…….Ezeagwu

In a media chat with the current acting Delta state chairman of Labour Party, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, shared some in-sight into the nature of Anioma Nation’s politics with Asaba Post News-Wire.

Anioma politicians are funny set of people, it still marvels me why they are not firm, I don’t know why they are an easy push over in nature.

If you ask me, I will say they are too hungry politically, and as such most of them cant see beyond their nose, it worries me that they are not like or have the type of spirit somebody like Chief Great Ogboru has nor do they float the type of political sagacity he maintains.

When Asaba Post News-Wire asked him what his positions were on Anioma 2015 guber agenda was vis a vis hosting the state capital and producing the next Governor of the state, his response went thus:

  Do we now stop the Northers from agitiating for the nation’s number one office just because the Federal Capital City is in the north; we are all equal before mankind, law and God.

As a people and party, our motto is ‘equal opportunity and social justice’ in the same vein we call on all Deltans to reject all attempts to incite them unto undemocratic acts, Chief Ezeagwu warns.

Chief Ezeagwu attributed weak political attitude of Anioma Politicians to fear of the unknown, fear about tomorrow and unnecessary simplicity in the face of political adventure.

My people don’t want to make serious political moves; it will take a longer time for Anioma to take the political center stage, if we need power, we must not beg but fight to collect it.

I don’t want any weak Anioma Politician to use me to negotiate for commissionership position; hence, I have ACTIVELY REMAINED here on the left.

I am committed at carving an independent political niche for myself, hence, my firm position, come to think of it what stops Anioma Politicians from actively sponsoring an opposition political party like Chief Great Ogboru did, Chief Ezeagwu pointed out.

The Abduction Of Umaru Dikko In 1984

 Max Siollun

On 31 December, 1983, the elected government of Nigeria was overthrown in a military coup by the country’s army. The new military government jailed several government ministers for corruption and embezzlement while in office. However, the powerful former Transport Minister, Umaru Dikko, fled to London. The military claimed that Dikko used his position as Transport Minister to enrich himself in a series of racketeering scandals. It regarded Dikko as its most wanted fugitive from justice and wanted to bring him back to Nigeria to face trial.

To bring this about, they hatched a plot to kidnap him off the streets of London. Nigerian intelligence services and undercover agents (with the help of several Israelis who were alleged to be members of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad) tracked Dikko to a house in west London. After placing the house under surveillance, the agents decided to strike on 5 July, 1984.

Moments after Dikko emerged from the house, two men burst out from a van parked outside the house. They grabbed Dikko and bundled him into the back of the van. The team inside the van included a doctor who injected Dikko to render him unconscious.

Dikko’s kidnappers locked him in a large crate labelled “diplomatic baggage” and addressed to the Nigerian Ministry of External Affairs in the then capital city, Lagos. They claimed diplomatic immunity for the crate’s contents, and drove him to Stansted airport to place him on a waiting Nigerian cargo plane.

Unbeknown to the kidnappers, Dikko’s secretary had glanced out of her window just in time to see her boss being bundled into the van outside his house, and she dialled 999.

The kidnap was initially thought to be the work of criminals and was referred to Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorist squad. The Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was also informed.

The British government ordered customs officials at airports, ports and border crossings to be vigilant when inspecting Nigeria-bound vessels. One customs officer at Stansted airport was especially vigilant. Although the Nigerian cargo plane was minutes from taking off with Dikko on board, he ordered the crate to be opened. Nigerian intelligence officials and diplomatic staff protested that the crate could not be opened as it was protected by diplomatic immunity.

The customs officer called anti-terrorist police. They cordoned off the area and evacuated airport staff. Customs then opened the crate with armed police watching. Inside the crate, they found Dikko unconscious, next to the doctor who had injected him. The doctor had accompanied Dikko in the box to top up his anaesthetics and ensure he did not die during transit.

Armed police surrounded the Nigerian cargo plane on the runway, arrested its crew and refused to allow the plane to take off. They also arrested the Nigerian officials and Israelis who drove the crate to Stansted, and several members of Nigeria’s High Commission in London.

The Nigerian and Israeli governments always denied any involvement in the affair. Foreign intelligence involvement became apparent only when the sophistication and daring of the Dikko kidnap was revealed.
The kidnap caused one of the worst-ever diplomatic crises between Britain and Nigeria. The Nigerian High Commissioner was declared persona non grata in London, and the head of Nigeria Airways narrowly escaped being arrested by British police. Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Britain were suspended for two years. The controversy also weakened Nigeria’s war on corruption, as Britain rejected a subsequent formal request from Nigeria to extradite Dikko and other Nigerian politicians in the UK who were wanted in Nigeria on charges of corruption.

Four men were convicted of kidnapping Dikko (three Israelis and a Nigerian) in a trial at the Old Bailey, and were jailed. All were released and returned to their countries after serving their sentences. After regaining consciousness in hospital, Dikko remained in Britain for over a decade.
This article is an excerpt from Max Siollun's book of “Soldiers of Fortune: Nigerian Politics Under Buhari and Babangida“.

Please follow me on twitter @maxsiollun

Max Siollun is a writer, historian, and author of the book 'Soldiers of Fortune: Nigerian Politics from Buhari to Babangida (1983-1993)'

Nigerian's New 19 State: Details You Must Know

Details of the 19 new states proposed by the ongoing National Conference to be created in addition to the 36 already in existence have been identified. This was contained in the documents obtained Saturday.

For the proposed Edu State, which will be created out of the present Niger State, it will be made up of Agagie, Bida North, Edati,Agbakoba, Katcha, Lapai, Labun and Mokwa Local Governments with its capital in Bida.

Apa State will be carved out of the present Benue State and made up of Agatu, Apa, Otukpo, Oju, Obi, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu and Ofbadigbo Local Government Areas with capital in Otukpo.

If Kainji State is created, it will be created from the present Kebbi and Niger states and it will be made up of Danko/Wasagu, Fakai, Zuru, Shanga, Sakaba, Nhaski, Yauri, Rijau, Mariga, Magama, Kontagora, Agwara, Borgo and Mashefu Local Governments. Its capital is proposed to be in Zuru.

For the proposed Katagun State, which is recommended to be created out of Bauchi State, it will be made up of Gamasa, Dam-an, Misau, Giade, Shira, Jama’re, Itas/Gadau, Zaki with the capital in Azare.

If Savanna State is created as recommended, it will be from the present Borno State and it will be made up of Gwoza, Chibok, Askira/Uba, Biu, Hawul, Shani, Kwaya-Kusar, Bayo and Damboa Local Governments with its capital in Biu.

Amana State is expected to be created from Adamawa State from Maiha, Mubi North, Mubi South, Hong, Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas with capital in Mubi.

The conference also recommended that Gurara State be created out of Kaduna State, with Sanga, Jama’a, Jaba, Kargako, Kaura, Zango Kataf, Kachia, Kajuru, Chikun, Lere Local Governments as constituent parts. Its capital will be Kachia.

If Ghari is created from Kano State, it will be made up of the following local governments:Bagwai, Bixhi, Dawakin Tofa, Dambatta, Gwarzo, Kabo, Kunchi, Makoda, Rimin Gado, Shanono, Tofa and Tsanyawa. Its capital has not been decided.

Also, the capital of the proposed Etiti State has not been decided, but it will consist of Orumba North, Orumba South, Agwu, Animi, Oji River, Ivo, Afikpo North/South, Okigwe, Onuimo, Ehime Mbano, Umunneochi and Isiukwuato Local Government Areas.

The proposed Aba State will have its capital in Aba town, which is part of the present Abia State. It is expected to be made up of Isiala, Isiala Ngwa South, Obingwa, Aba South, Ugwunagbo, Aba North, Ukwa West, Ukwa East and Osisioma Ngwa Local Governments.

Adada State, which is expected to be created from the present Enugu State, will have its capital in Nsukka. It will consist of Igbo-Etiti, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Isibor-Uzochukwu, Nsukka, Udenu and Uzo-Uwani.

Njaba/Anim State is recommended to be created from Imo and Anambra states with the capital in Orlu. Local governments expected to be under it are Orlu, Orau, Oru East, Oru West, Ohaji/Egbema, Ogut! Njaba, Isu, Nwangele, Mkwere, Ideato Nirth, Ideato South and Ihiala.

The New Oyo State has no capital yet, but local governments that are expected to be part of it from the present Oyo State are Irepo, Olorunsogo, Oorelope, Saki East, Saki West, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Iseyin, Afijio, Oyo East, Atiba, Ogoja Oluwa, Surulere, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South and Orire.

The proposed Ijebu State from the present Ogun State will have its capital in Ijebu-Ode, and made up of such Local Government Areas like Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-North East, Ogun Waterside, Odogbolu,Ijebu East, Shagamu, Ikenne and Remo North.

Ogoja State, which is expected to be carved out of the present Cross River State, will have its capital in Ogoja. It will be made up of Bekwarra, Bokki, Etung, Ikom, Obanliku, Obubra, Obudu, Ogoja and Yala Local Government Areas.

The expected Anioma State to be created from Delta State will also have its capital in Asaba, if the proposal scales through. Local Government areas expected to be under it are Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North-East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South and Ukwaani.