Israelis, Palestinians Argue Their Case

Michael Bowman

On the eve of a U.N. Security Council meeting expected to consider a Palestinian petition for statehood, Israeli and Palestinian officials remain deadlocked over whether and under what terms negotiations should resume.

Israelis and Palestinians took their arguments to the American people on Sunday in a bid to explain their respective positions. At a minimum, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ actions at the United Nations last week dramatically refocused the world’s attention on the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, seizing the spotlight at the General Assembly meeting and sparking a flurry of activity among the Middle East Quartet, comprising the U.S., U.N., European Union, and Russia.

Returning to the West Bank from New York, Abbas told jubilant crowds that a “Palestinian Spring” has begun with the bid for statehood. The United States has threatened to use its veto power in the Security Council to block the Palestinian request for U.N. membership.

Appearing on U.S. television, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to blast the Palestinians' U.N. bid.

“The Palestinians want a state, but they have to give peace in return," he said. "What they are trying to do in the United Nations is to get a state without giving Israel peace and security, and I think that is wrong. That should not succeed.”

Netanyahu spoke on NBC’s Meet the Press program. He repeated his call for immediate peace talks. Palestinians say negotiations are futile. Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi appeared on ABC’s This Week television program.

“For the last 20 years, we have been negotiating, ad nauseam, with a process that has no relationship to reality," she said.

Ashrawi said Palestinians will not negotiate while Israel continues to build Jewish settlements and refuses to honor borders that existed before Israel gained control of Palestinian territories in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

But Prime Minister Netanyahu insists fruitful negotiations are possible.

“It is possible that you insist on the things that make life possible for the Jewish state, and make peace possible," he said. "The core of the conflict is the persistent Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel in any boundary. A peace that is based on lies will crash. I am responsible for the fate of the one and only Jewish state. And I am not going to recklessly feed more territory to the insatiable crocodile of militant Islam.

Hanan Ashrawi says it is Israeli intransigence that has long stood in the way of peace.

“Israel has placed so many pre-conditions. It wants to annex Jerusalem. It wants to remove the [Palestinian] refugees from the agenda. It wants to keep its troops in the Jordan valley. It wants everything, and then says ‘Let’s talk’. No, these are unacceptable pre-conditions," she said. "Either you negotiate in good faith and act accordingly in order to achieve the two-state solution, or this option will no longer be available, particularly given the Arab Spring. This is a new phase, a new ballgame.”

Security Council veto threats do not appear to have dampened Palestinian enthusiasm or anticipation surrounding the bid for U.N. statehood recognition, nor led Palestinian officials to embrace Middle East Quartet calls for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks.

For Monday, the Security Council’s official agenda lists several morning meetings and consultations regarding Libya. Consultations on admission of new members will come in the afternoon, New York time.

Wikileaks: Vice President Jonathan, a "corrupt and ineffective state governor"

 
 Elombah.com  

 A US Ambassador called current President Goodluck Jonathan a "corrupt and ineffective state governor". He also said the baggage that Jonathan will carry with him into State House includes "past reports of corruption, political thuggery, and payments to "militant factions".

A Wikileaks Reports stated that as President yar'adua remains in serious condition in Saudi Arabia, "dark rumors about Yar'Adua's health have given way to broad fears that Yar'Adua is likely entering his final days.

Even if he defies the odds and returns to resume his duties, at least nominally, his authority has taken such a battering that he would be hard pressed to keep rivals in check, much less enforce his writ in government and the party.

We will report on December 2 Vice President Jonathan's chequered past as a corrupt and ineffective state governor and his options in the current situation.  Whether Jonathan thinks he can ride the constitution to the presidency, or if he is simply playing his cards close to his vest, is unclear. 

Senator Mark's apparent support for Jonathan is ironic since the ambitious Mark is next in line for the presidency, if both the president and the vice president leave the scene".

Though Wikileaks did not contain the December 2 Report, in another report the US Ambassador said: "We are preparing a report (septel) on the baggage that Jonathan will carry with him into State House as there have been past reports of corruption, political thuggery, and payments to "militant factions" from his days as Governor of Bayelsa State as well as questions about his competency in general.

"As Nigerians come to grips with the probability of Yar'Adua's demise, there appears to be growing public support -- even in the North -- for Vice President Jonathan to assume the presidential mantle.  Despite widespread doubts about Jonathan's integrity and competence, there is encouraging deference, at least in public, to the principle that the constitutionally-prescribed line of succession should be respected."

See the first Full report below:

SUBJECT: HOPES DIM ON PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA'S HEALTH

REF: A. QUINN-MCCULLOUGH E-MAIL 12/01
     ¶B. ABUJA 2152
     ¶C. ABUJA 2132

Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).


-------
SUMMARY
-------

¶1. (S) Nigerian President Yar'Adua remains gravely ill,
according to multiple sources.  One confidant at Yar'Adua's
bedside insisted to Ambassador on December 1 that Yar'Adua is
still unwell but does not yet appear to be at death's door;
however, a doctor treating Yar'Adua told CG Jeddah at about
the same time that the Nigerian president is in his final
days.  We suspect the latter report is more credible; so, we
are looking at contingencies for the Mission.  USG next steps
should include a call to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to
underscore the importance of constitutional due process.  A
contingency statement and press guidance are also being
prepared.  The prospect that the widely-disparaged Jonathan
may be on the cusp of the presidency is a matter of growing
concern for some Nigerians.  END SUMMARY.

----------------------------------
YAR'ADUA'S CONDITION REMAINS GRAVE
----------------------------------

¶2. (S) Multiple sources agree that President Yar'Adua remains
gravely ill.  Late November 30, Kwara State Governor Saraki,
one of the Yar'Adua confidants who have gathered in Jeddah,
told Ambassador that Yar'Adua was responding positively to
treatment, had returned to his room, and had eaten.  On
December 1, however, Saraki acknowledged that Yar'Adua's
condition was serious, even if he didn't appear to be at
death's door.  Information Minister Dora Akuniyi, known to be
a straight shooter, separately confirmed to Ambassador on
December 1 that Yar'Adua is in very bad shape, and promised
an update later that day.  Also on December 1, a doctor
involved in Yar'Adua's treatment at King Faisal Hospital told
CG Jeddah that the Nigerian president's condition is
"malignant and irreversible," and that the end could occur in
a matter of days or less (ref e-mail).

¶3. (SBU) Senate President David Mark publicly dismissed calls
for Yar'Adua to step down for health reasons, and instead
urged Nigerians to pray during the next nine days for
Yar'Adua's recovery.  Separately, the ruling People's
Democratic Party (PDP) insisted that the National Assembly
had no power to remove Yar'Adua unilaterally from office, and
a PDP spokesperson reaffirmed support for Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan.

-----------------------------
FOCUS GROWS ON VICE PRESIDENT
-----------------------------

¶4. (C) As doubts intensify that Yar'Adua will leave the
hospital alive, the role of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan
is generating new speculation and concern as Yar'Adua's
constitutionally anointed successor.

¶5. (C) Jonathan Mark, Special Assistant to his father Senate
President David Mark, told PolOff December 1 that Vice
President Jonathan visited his father, a close friend and
fellow Catholic, on November 29 to seek his advice.  Contrary
to his public denial, Jonathan reportedly told Mark that
certain quarters had in fact pressured him to resign.  The
Qcertain quarters had in fact pressured him to resign.  The
younger Mark said his father advised the Vice President
against resignation, assuring him that he enjoyed the full
support of the Senate and the country's constitution.   The
younger Mark added that there is considerable discomfort
among Senate leaders over the religious and "North-South"
undertones of the debate over Jonathan's future.

----------

ABUJA 00002163  002 OF 002


NEXT STEPS
----------

¶6. (C) In addition to an immediate telephone call from
Assistant Secretary Carson to Jonathan in the event of
Yar'Adua's death, to underscore our support for
constitutional due process and not him as a person, it would
be appropriate and productive for the White House to issue a
condolence statement from one head of state to another.  We
are also drafting contingency statements and guidance, and
are reassessing Mission resources in the event of fast
changes on the ground.  The Defense Attache and Regional
Affairs Offices are closely monitoring sentiments and
activities in the military.

-----
KUDOS
-----

¶7. (SBU) We would like to thank our colleagues at Embassy
Riyadh and especially CG Jeddah for their outstanding support
in tracking Yar'Adua's condition.

-------
COMMENT
-------

¶8. (C) Dark rumors about Yar'Adua's health have given way to
broad fears that Yar'Adua is likely entering his final days.
Even if he defies the odds and returns to resume his duties,
at least nominally, his authority has taken such a battering
that he would be hard pressed to keep rivals in check, much
less enforce his writ in government and the party.  We will
report on December 2 Vice President Jonathan's chequered past
as a corrupt and ineffective state governor and his options
in the current situation.  Whether Jonathan thinks he can
ride the constitution to the presidency, or if he is simply
playing his cards close to his vest, is unclear.  Senator
Mark's apparent support for Jonathan is ironic since the
ambitious Mark is next in line for the presidency, if both
the president and the vice president leave the scene.

Yar'adua, Ribadu, Aondoakaa and I - by Emeka Ugwuonye

Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye  


Ribadu
...Ribadu's story in some respect is consistent with my own notes. Ya'Adua was so freaking scared that the tribunal headed by Justice James Ogebe was going to nullify the election in which Maurice Iwu massively rigged him into power. This was the defining issue in Yar'Adua's thinking. That was the central force behind the elevation of Attorney General Aoandoaka from just another attorney general to a key figure in Yar'Adua's kitchen
 cabinet. That was the defining rivalry between Oandakaa and General Abdulahi (the chief of staff at the presidency) that led to the latter being forced out....................

Ribadu, describing the plans and method of EFCC against him, wrote as follows:

"They thought I would be angry and would show up and say, “Look, I have my asset declaration forms. How dare you take me to court?” And when they get me there, they take my passport, possibly put me into prison. We’ve seen this happen across Africa -not just Africa, across the world. The case is still on. About a month or two ago, my lawyers presented the asset declaration. And the court said it was not just that, “but we want to have a physical look at him. He is an accused person, he must come before the court.” Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, In an interview with Ron Singer on February 23, 2010

Fellow Nigerians, can you now understand why EFCC charged me to court under the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria for "breaching my contract with the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC'?  You don't need to look further, the former head of EFCC has explained their modus operandi above. My worry is never so much the madness of Mrs. Farida Waziri and her fellow elements in the EFCC or the other shenanigans that rule Nigeria. My worry has always been those innocent Nigerians in the Diaspora with all their nice educational certificates but who could not tell their right hand from their left. They believe everything they hear. And the Government of Nigeria knows that they are truly not bright; so the government sells them dummies all the time. The first step to creating a better Nigeria is actually by being able to ask your government touch questions.

Now, As I read the Wikileaks' revelation of Ribadu's conversation with Ambassador Sanders, I laughed. Ribadu's story in some respect is consistent with my own notes. Ya'Adua was so freaking scared that the tribunal headed by Justice James Ogebe was going to nullify the election in which Maurice Iwu massively rigged him into power. This was the defining issue in Yar'Adua's thinking. That was the central force behind the elevation of Attorney General Aoandoaka from just another attorney general to a key figure in Yar'Adua's kitchen cabinet. That was the defining rivalry between Oandakaa and General Abdulahi (the chief of staff at the presidency) that led to the latter being forced out. In January, 2008, they flew me to London for meetings. During those meetings we held, they begged me to convey the sum of 2 million dollars to the judge as bribe. We had detailed discussions because I wanted to understand their thought process, and the degree of concern they had about losing at the tribunal. They wanted to disguise this bribe in the fees they owed me. They made it clear that unless I did it, they would not pay me right away. I felt so insulted that they could drag me into such a mess over my fees. It was as if I had not earned my money after hard work. Why would they insist on my cooperation in such a scheme? Also, I discovered that they had already sent some money to the judge. But the mechanism they used could only allow them to give smaller amount at a time. They felt I could provide them excellent cover for a substantial payment to the judge.

This is not a joke. I have the dates. I have my ticket. I have the name of the hotel and room number that the Attorney General lodged in and you can call the hotel to confirm this. The hotel would confirm his presence in that room on those dates and my own hotel would confirm my presence in an adjourning hotel on the same dates.

I felt that these people were insulting me. I realized that the Government would even pay me up to 5 million dollars for a role in bribing the judge. I refused to play along. Even after I returned to the US, the government continued to pressure me. This led to an exchange of emails. (They still exist and they were written in February of 2008). In my email to the Attorney General, I threatened to sue all of them including the judge. Only then did they relent. But they made sure that they did not pay my fees.

Also, Oandoaka was so scared about Ribadu. He explained to me that Ribadu had certain hold over his predecessor which was why the latter would do anything to please Ribadu. As he put it, "If Ojo were stopped in the middle of the high way and asked to sign any document from Ribadu, he would sign without reading it". Oandoaka feared that Ribadu had friends in the US law enforcement who would help bug his hotels in the US. That was why Oandoaka would officially check into a hotel in Washington, but would quickly and secretly stay in another hotel even though he remained officially checked in elsewhere. On several occasions, he urged me to counter Ribadu's activities in Washington. But I explained to him that there was no way for me as a lawyer to go about Washington trying to counter Ribadu. And besides, that was never necessary. I tried to explain to him that the US authorities were actually more informed about the situation in Nigeria than the Nigerian Government seemed to realize.

I understood the plans for the removal of Ribadu and the choice of Ribadu's successor. Mrs. Waziri was picked to replace Ribadu by Oandoaka because Mrs. Waziri was considered weak, desperate for a share of the national cake, and highly corrupt. At that time, for me, Farida Waziri was just a name. It is correct that Yar'Adua's fear of losing at the Tribunal caused him to depend on people, some of whom were against Ribadu. The same people endorsed Mrs. Waziri. Initially, the removed Lamode of the EFCC, but they realized he could play ball and they left him.

My observation of the Nigerian government was from close quarters and as a lawyer, I could understand a few things easily. Much of this will come out in the cases I have against the Government, no doubt. For example, I was an official guest to the President of Nigeria and I will be requesting for the transcripts of my meeting with the President and some members of his cabinet. It is just unfortunate how Nigerian leaders have played the people.  Nigeria is not really a country. It is just one big criminal gangland.

Anyway, Ribadu has just told you how they worked. It was not Emeka Ugwuonye that said it. They like to put you into their criminal justice system as a way to control you. They believe they would silence me if they charged me with criminal offenses. But as I have said before, they are the criminals and I would say it to Jonathan in his face. Indeed, they are actually unintelligent. They believe that if they can kill a man, they can also kill truth. But I think they should try to get a basic lesson in history.

Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye, Esquire
President
ECULAW GROUP
Website: www.eculaw.com
Tel: 202-459-3382
Fax: 240-489-9300

Dutch Judges refuse to dismiss Nigerian terror case

Netherlands Judges refused on Monday to dismiss a terrorist case against a Nigerian activist charged with conspiring to attack oil pipelines in his homeland as well as people smuggling and fraud. Sunny Ofehe, a Netherlands-based activist who campaigns to bring peace to the oil-rich Niger Delta, urged

 judges Monday to dismiss a terrorism case in which prosecutors have charged him with conspiring to attack oil pipelines in Nigeria as well as people smuggling and fraud saying the charges are based on "premeditation, prejudice and profiling."

However, prosecutor Gert Veurink dismissed Ofehe's claims as "a conspiracy theory" and urged judges at Rotterdam District Court to let the case continue.
The claims and counterclaims came during a preliminary hearing in the case

Judges refused to throw out the charges and adjourned the case for six weeks. No trial date has been set.

Nigeria, an OPEC member nation, is one of the top crude oil suppliers to the U.S. Its Niger Delta, a region of mangroves and swamps about the size of South Carolina, has seen oil production for more than 50 years, with Royal Dutch Shell the dominant force.

Despite the oil wealth pouring into Nigeria's federal government, villages in the delta remain in abject poverty and pollution from spilled oil has caused tremendous ecological damage.

In 2006, militants began a campaign of kidnappings and pipeline bombings in what they described as a political campaign, though some attacks seemed carried out by criminal gangs.

A government-sponsored amnesty program in 2009 led to a sharp reduction in attacks, but many in the region have become disillusioned by a lack of jobs. Meanwhile, oil thieves continue to drill into pipelines to siphon crude for makeshift refineries that dot the region.

Ofehe said the terror charge of conspiring to bomb an oil pipeline is based on three tapped phone calls to a contact in Nigeria. His lawyer, Ed Manders, told the court Ofehe spoke to the man because he wanted to film a pipeline attack to help raise awareness of such attacks.

"He wants to show the world the abuses in the Niger Delta," Manders said.

Manders called the charge "character assassination" that could lead to Ofehe being kicked out of the Netherlands as an undesirable alien.

Judges also rejected Manders' argument that the case should be tossed out because prosecutors have so far refused to hand over the results of their initial investigation into Ofehe. Manders told judges the refusal to turn over evidence amounted to an abuse of process.

The first probe led to charges of involvement in people smuggling and fraud. Ofehe insists he is innocent of all the charges.

We must Pay teachers' salaries........Gov. Uduaghan

Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has assured Primary school teachers in the State that there will be no longer delays in the payment of their salaries.

Dr Uduaghan who gave the assurance at an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at St Patrick Catholic Church Asaba to mark this year’s Independence Day anniversary said henceforth, primary school teachers would be paid as promptly as civil servants in the state.

He said there was no reason why primary school teachers should not be promptly paid explaining that the state Government supplements council’s funds every month to enable councils pay primary teachers promptly.

Promising that the issue would be effectively addressed, the governor said ‘Primary school teachers are supposed to be paid few days after JAAC meeting but I am surprised to hear that their salaries are delayed. I think there is communication problem and I assure teachers that this will be addressed.’

Dr Uduaghan said civil servants in the state are promptly paid and explained that teachers should enjoy the same gesture as civil servants and receive their salary on or before 24th of every month.

He promised to tackle the rehabilitation of roads in the state immediately the rains were over even as he disclosed that efforts were being made to control erosion and flood in Asaba and other urban centres.

The governor enjoyed Deltans to cooperate with his administration in its determination to accelerate economic growth especially in the energy sector, agriculture and health among others.

His words ‘we are making effort to improve electricity supply. Indeed we have paid for turbines and once all our efforts succeed we will enjoy stable electricity.

Dr. Uduaghan who almost outlined his score card promised to appoint local government caretaker committee soon, to run the affairs of Local Governments before the election into the councils.

On security he assured Deltans that his peace and security agenda will be religiously pursued in spite of the challenges facing the nation.
The Governor called for prayers to enable the Nation surmount the security challenges facing it.

Explaining further he said, we need prayers to check successfully the security challenges facing the nation. Indeed the challenge is daunting but with prayers we shall overcome it.

In his sermon, a catholic priest Rev. Aniyem Buchi enjoyed the political class to keep their promise to the electorate and provide dividends of democracy to the people.

Rev. Aniyem said it was necessary for politicians to attend to the welfare of workers so that through then the economy will blossom.
The interdenominational church service featured thanksgiving prayers and choir ministeration.

Community development is at the center of my being.......Tobechukwu Okonkwo

 Mr. Tobechukwu Okonkwo( 3rd from left) presenting 10 mobile phones, SIM cards and recharge cards to Asaba Community Policing

 Mr. Tobechukwu Okonkwo presenting the star prize to the current champion of Mgba Aja Ahaba

How Asagba Ahaba celebrated Iwaji festival