Join journey for change –Abia APC chairman

The new state chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Fabian Okonkwo has said that the task ahead of the party is to create a self-sufficient and prosperous state, this is  even  as he called on Abians to join the party as they embark on the journey for change.

He stated this yesterday shortly after the inaugural meeting of the party, in Umuahia. He said that the party was out to expand the choices of the people to develop their full potentials and lead productive  and creative lives in accordance with their talents, needs and interests.

He  added that he would also want the people to lead lives that they value and improve the human condition, believing that human well being is the purpose and the end of development.

The new chairman dissolved all personal structures hitherto existing or parallel to the party structures and directed that youths and women leaders should form ward and local government wings immediately.

He warned that indiscipline and anti-party activities would not be tolerated and charged all members to obtain a copy of the party’s constitution to guide their conduct.

In his acceptance speech yesterday, Okonkwo thanked members for electing him to a position of trust and responsibility as the first state chairman of the party, acknowledging the sincere sacrifices many have made since, “we began this journey to establish APC in Abia State; beginning from membership registration, through to the ward and local government congresses, and now a successful state congress.”

He called on Abians of all occupations and backgrounds to join APC as they embark on the journey for change.

“The road ahead in our march for freedom and equality will be rough and our struggle tough; for our oppressors are well accustomed to appropriating our common wealth to themselves and are determined to maintain the status quo.

“They will fight us with everything in their arsenal including corrupt security forces and empowered thug groups in the guise of youth and support organisations.”

“But together, believing in the righteousness of our cause, we will build a revolutionary movement for change, organise and seize control of our destiny once and for all,”  Okonkwo said.

Powerful Anambra oracle stolen

Police arrest 4, retrieve deity

 From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha While Christians were celebrating Easter, Abatete community, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, was thrown into confusion and fear, following the disappearance of the popular Omaliko deity.

Respite, however, came as a police crack team, attached to the Ogidi Police Division, intercepted a gang which took away the deity.

According to a member of the community, who pleaded for anonymity,  some people  entered the shrine, took away the head of Omaliko deity, its staff of authority and symbol of authority.

The source said the Chief Priest (Eze Muo) of Omaliko broke the news of the stealing of the deity to the elders of Abatete community, who immediately reported the theft to the police.

The source further disclosed that the chief priest  told the elders and adherents of Omaliko that it was possible that those who stole the deity wanted to collect ransom before its release and expressed surprise that they  were not afraid of the consequences of their action.

However, four persons have been arrested by policemen attached to Ogidi police station in connection with the stolen deity. A police source, who pleaded anonymity, said that three young men were arrested for being in possession of the deity,  while the fourth suspect, a pastor, was nabbed later, based on the confession of the suspects.

The source said that the suspects confessed that they were asked to steal the Omaliko deity by a pastor of an undisclosed church, revealing that  the police had returned the deity rescued from the suspects to elders of Abatete community, while the suspects would be charged to court soon.

Omaliko is one of the popular deities in Anambra State, in the league of the popular Okija and Ntoko shrines. Yearly, indigenes of Abatete return home for the annual Omaliko Abatete, linked to the deity.

A Nigerian citizen pleaded guilty yesterday to U.S.

A man Yoroba is now a victim of Islam
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!!
Nigerian Pleads Gulty In US To Aiding Al Qaeda.

**Sheik Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi (33) faces a maximum of 30 years in US Jail.

A Nigerian citizen pleaded guilty yesterday to U.S. charges of providing material support to an Al Qaeda affiliate, and participating in its media and recruitment campaigns.

Sheik Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, 33, appearing before a federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The plea came ahead of a July 14 trial date and followed a Nigerian court’s decision in August to grant a U.S. request for Babafemi’s extradition.

Prosecutors said that, from January 2010 to August 2011, Babafemi traveled from Nigeria to Yemen twice to meet with leaders of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, known as AQAP.
“The defendant traveled to Yemen to put himself at the disposal of a violent terrorist organization that has repeatedly demonstrated its determination to inflict bodily and economic harm on the United States and its citizens,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

The U.S. government said Babafemi worked on AQAP’s media operations, including the publication of its magazine, called “Inspire.”
The group’s leadership, including Anwar al-Awlaki, paid Babafemi almost $9,000 to recruit English-speaking people from Nigeria, prosecutors said. Awlaki, a U.S. citizen born in New Mexico, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in 2011.
An indictment unsealed in February 2013 charged Babafemi, also known as “Ayatollah Mustapha,” with four counts including conspiracy to provide material support to AQAP, and use of firearms.
U.S. District Judge John Gleeson scheduled sentencing for August 27. Babafemi faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. - Hope For Nigeria

Terrorism: Ndume urges court to reject FG request to file additional evidence

Terrorism: Ndume urges court to reject FG request to file additional evidence

Senator Ali Ndume, who is standing trial before a Federal High Court over alleged link with the activities of the violent Boko Haram sect has told Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the court to turn down a request by the federal government to file additional proof of evidence and call additional witnesses against him.

Ndume was charged before the court in 2012 for allegedly having link
with the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The federal government, through its counsel, E. Orji, a Senior State
Counsel in the office of the Attorney-General of the federation, in a motion urged the court to allow him file additional proof of evidence against Ndume.

"The application is intended to give the accused person a fair hearing
and also the right to cross-examine the witness and contradict the
evidence that shall be given.

"We urge this court to grant this motion and dismiss the counter affidavit of the accused because it is intended to cause a clog in the
wheel of justice", he said.

Ndume's counsel, Mr. I. A. Kaigaman while responding to the submission
of Orji told the court that the motion will overreach the judgment of
the court of appeal, which set aside the admissibility of electronically generated documents as evidence against the accused
person.

He described the motion as a gross abuse of the process of the court.

"The motion constitutes a gross abuse of the process of the court and
should be refused. The application has no fact to convince the court
to grant it.

"Bringing additional evidence will amount to unfair trial for the
accused person", Kaigama said.

After listening to the submissions of counsel in the matter, Justice
Kolawole fixed May 27 for ruling.

(U.N)

Nigeria wants civil war averted in Ukraine

Nigeria has warned that a civil war in Ukraine can destabilise the international community and wants all concerned parties to resort to dialogue to resolve the conflict.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, made this known in New York on Tuesday night at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Ukraine.

Ogwu, who is currently the president of the Security Council for the month of April, spoke in her national capacity as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN.

Her comments came after Pro-Russia activists were reported to have stormed several more buildings in eastern Ukraine and kidnapped international monitors in the crisis-torn country.

“The situation in Ukraine remains tense and the risk of further escalation remains a matter of grave concern to the international community.

“Utmost care needs to be taken to ensure that the crisis does not degenerate into a civil war.

“If it does, it might become an internationalized conflict, with its attendant reverberations everywhere.”

Ogwu said that Nigeria had followed with keen interest recent talks in Geneva on Ukraine which resulted in a joint statement issued by Russia, Ukraine, the EU and the U.S.

She noted that the Geneva Statement had called for the disarmament of all illegally armed groups, the return of seized buildings and amnesty for protesters.

She said that Nigeria strongly believes that the agreement reached in Geneva would constitute the basis for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.

“This glimmer of hope, I’m afraid, is fast fading before our eyes as armed men continue to occupy buildings in eastern Ukraine and the level of violence is escalating.”

Ogwu called for the immediate release of the kidnapped international monitors, and stressed that the way to lasting peace rested in dialogue by all concerned parties.

She said that the alternative of a military option would “bleed the already-open veins of Ukraine” and a strong surgical procedure would be needed to mend those veins.

“Dear colleagues, the clock is ticking, Ukraine is the patient and this council and the international community constitute the surgical team.

“Let us stabilize and restore the patient to health or many more might bleed. It is a collective responsibility,” Ogwu told the 15-member council.

Meanwhile, the council earlier on Tuesday voted unanimously to partially lift the arms embargo on Cote d’Ivoire, differentiating between lethal and non-lethal arms.

The council, in a meeting presided over by Nigeria also lifted the ban on importing rough diamonds from Cote d’Ivoire.

Also, the council extended for another year the mandate of the UN mission tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in Western Sahara and organizing a referendum on self-determination for the people of the territory.

The resolution called for greater efforts to improve human rights in Western Sahara, but stopped short of widening the mandate of its peacekeeping mission.

It will be recalled that Rights groups and the government of Western Sahara has repeatedly called for human rights monitoring to be included in the mandate of UN peacekeepers.

However, the move was fiercely opposed by Morocco.

Last week, the Saharawi Ambassador to Nigeria, Ubbi Bachir, told NAN in Abuja that the Saharawi Government had strong evidence of Morocco’s human rights abuses in the occupied Western Sahara.

The Nigerian government has strongly supports the liberation struggle of Saharawi people since their occupation in 1975 by Morocco after the departure Spain, her erstwhile colonial power.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, reaffirmed Africa’s support and position at a press conference on Monday in New York.

“The African position on Western Sahara has always been consistent; the OAU first recognized Western Sahara in 1982.

“That has been our position as the African Union up till today,” Wali said.

(NAN)

Abducted schoolgirls moved to border villages

Senator fears students may have been forced into marriage

… Senate seeks ‘decisive military action’ against Boko Haram
Abuja Senate yesterday pleaded with the United Nations (UN) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to urgently intervene and deploy forces to assist Nigeria in rescuing the 234 abducted female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok in Borno State. This is even as a senator revealed that they may have been moved to Chad and Cameroon.

Senate President David Mark will also meet with the security chiefs on the issue and report back to the chamber.

In his welcome speech after the Easter break, Mark said citizens should be under no illusions that with the current spate of insurgency, Nigeria is at war. He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to identify sources of funding for the Islamist militants, their sponsors and go beyond the declaration of state of emergency in the three states of the North-East.

Mark called on the President to launch a military offensive against Boko Haram.

Said Mark: “There is no doubt that our nation is at war. The enemy has clearly and unequivocally served the nation notice of its vile intentions. Therefore, a clear, unambiguous and decisive military response from the government, beyond the imposition of a state of emergency, is urgently required in this circumstance. This is an option we must consider now.

“It is obvious that we are dealing with insurgents and  well funded nihilists who are determined to violently trample upon the secularity of the Nigerian state and destroy the country. A modern, vibrant, progressive, multi-ethnic, multi-religious Nigeria is an anathema to them. Because they are fired by zealotry and extremism, they are not likely to be swayed by overtures of any kind.  We must henceforth shift from fighting terrorism to fighting insurgency.

“The government must do all it can to immediately identify the sponsors and the source of funds to the terrorists and the insurgents. In this connection, nobody who is implicated, no matter how highly placed, should be treated as a sacred cow.

“The tragedy is that at a time of grave national emergency like this when every Nigerian should stand in unity and openly rebuke evil, some of our countrymen and women, unfortunately only see this as an opportunity for partisan politics…”

On resumption of plenary, the chamber debated a motion on the abduction of the female students sponsored by 108 senators led by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN).

Senate condemned “the callous abduction of the girls” and also urged the Federal Government and all security agencies to intensify efforts at immediate rescue of the abducted girls.

The chamber also resolved that “the Federal Government and the security agencies should seek the cooperation of ECOWAS and the UN.”

The lawmakers prayed for “the safe release of all the abducted girls” and urged “the Federal Government to provide adequate security for schools and public places in their areas.”

Senators from Borno opened up on Boko Haram in their state, disclosing the four camps wing used by the sect as well as giving details of how the military failed to act on information passed to them about their activities.

Leading the debate, Ndoma-Egba disclosed that the Senate is “disappointed that two weeks after their disappearance, the girls’ whereabouts are still unknown. Prior to the attack and abduction, the school was closed down for four weeks due to the deteriorating security situation in the state, but were only recalled to their final exams in Physics.”

Thereafter, Mark called Senator Ahmed Zanna, (Borno Central) to contribute to the debate.

The chamber was held spell-bound by Zanna’s revelations on how he has given information to the military and how, after such disclosures, Boko Haram would move the girls from such hideouts.

He also supplied the current location of the girls, but expressed pessimism about the rescue of all the 234 girls.

His words: “I’ve been in touch with the security agencies; telling them of the movement of these girls, splitting of the girls into groups and the eventual marriage of the girls.

“What bothers me is that whenever I inform them of of the location of the girls, they will be moved. I lost hope when I learnt that they were moved to Chad and Cameroon.

“They are now in Kolofata, 15 kilometres from the Nigerian border because one of the insurgents called somebody in Bama that he’s just got married and he’s settling in Kolofata. Some Fulani herdsmen reported seeing the girls being moved from Sambisa forest in Borno.

“This is the new base of the insurgents and that place is called Chukunguduwa but I was informed that this is their current base. From there, they can enter either Chad of Cameroon, having snatched all the boats in that area, including the ones operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“There are about 40 islands in that area. They’ve ejected almost all the residents in that area. Sambisa Forest used to be their base and they’ve started moving out of there.

“I told the military. That was supposed to have been done about 20 days ago. By the time the military launched their attacks, they’ve already moved out of that Sambisa Forest. They’ve moved into a place where shrubs protect them.

“Their number is that much as is being touted. Without the cooperation of some persons in the military, there’s no hope of getting these girls. They are now scattered; even if they’re recovered, it will be in trickles, maybe in two’s or three’s definitely not in large numbers of 60’s,” he said.

Jonathan 1 Jonathan sacks Gulak

Jonathan sacks Gulak

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, ‎in a three-paragraph statement, said Jonathan thanked Gulak for his service to his administration and wished him success in his future endeavours.

He said “a replacement for Alhaji Gulak will be announced in due course.”

Ebonyi Assembly suspends deputy speaker, 2 others

 Ebonyi Assembly suspends deputy speaker, 2 others

 From the information reaching us this morning it has been confirmed that  Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday, suspended the Deputy Speaker, Chief Blaise Oji, representing Afikpo South East Constituency, for alleged insubordination and causing disaffection.

Also suspended were Mr. Eni Uduma Chima, representing Afikpo South West Constituency and Mr. Frank Onwe, representing Ohaukwu North Constituency, for alleged un-parliamentary acts capable of causing disaffection in the running of the government of Ebonyi State.

The motion for the suspension was moved by the Deputy Chief Whip and member representing Izzi East Constituency, Mr. Francis Nwifuru under matters of urgent public importance.

He urged that the Deputy Speaker, Onwe and Chima should be suspended by the House for allegedly causing crisis between the Executive and the House of Assembly, an act he described as detrimental to the developmental stride of the government.

While seconding the motion, the member representing Ikwo South Constituency, Mr. Chike Imo, condemned the actions of the three members, adding that anybody found guilty of trying to cause disaffection between the state executive and any other organ of government should be shown the way out.

He said that the wheel of progress and development in the state should not be disrupted because of any personal interest.

When the Speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku put the motion to vote, it was unanimously adopted and the Sergeant at Arms consequently matched the suspended members out of the chambers.

Recall that the House had earlier impeached the first speaker, Ikechukwu Nwankwo, and six months later, it impeached the former deputy speaker, Valentine Okike and suspended a female member, Mrs. Lilian Igwe, representing Ivo Constituency.

Dangote joins Bill Gates in top 25 businessmen’s chart

Barely a week after he was ranked among the 100 most influential personalities in the world by  Time Magazine, leading business broadcast organisation, CNBC has ranked foremost entrepreneur and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote as one of the 25 people who have had the most profound impact on business and finance worldwide.

Forbes had earlier named him as the second most powerful black man, coming only after United States President, Barack Obama and the 64th most powerful person in the world.

CNBC ranked Dangote as 23rd among the first 25 people who have impacted the business world most since 1989, the year organisation went live on air. In the list, Steve Jobs led the pack followed by world richest man, Bill Gates. “They have disrupted industries, sparked change and exercised an influence far beyond their own companies,” the medium said. The South Africa based broadcast medium added: “As CNBC embarks on its second quarter-century, it faces a world completely altered from when it started.

“Then, the Dow was below 2,400, Wal-Mart didn’t make the list of America’s 500 largest companies and there was no World Wide Web. Only four U.S. companies had annual revenue of more than $50 billion.

“Today there are more than 50, including upstarts such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google. No dictionary contained the words “e-commerce” or “app.” A blog was still archaic slang for a servant boy.

“It described the 25 men and women from different parts of the world and across different industries as people who had “for better or worse, been the rebels, icons and leaders in the vanguard of that change.”

“The list:Here is our ranked list of the 25 people we judge to have had the most profound impact on business and finance since 1989, the year CNBC went live. They have disrupted industries, sparked change and exercised an influence far beyond their own companies.As CNBC embarks on its second quarter-century, it faces a world completely altered from when it started. Then, the Dow was below 2,400, Wal-Mart didn’t make the list of America’s 500 largest companies and there was no World Wide Web. Only four U.S. companies had annual revenue of more than $50 billion. Today there are more than 50, including upstarts such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google. No dictionary contained the words “e-commerce” or “app.” A blog was still archaic slang for a servant boy.The 25 men and women listed below—from different parts of the world and across different industries—have, for better or worse, been the rebels, icons and leaders in the vanguard of that change.

Police kill 3 herdsmen in gun duel

Three herdsmen suspected to be armed robbers met their waterloo yesterday during a fierce exchange of gunfire with operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Delta State Police Command.

The gun duel occurred in the early hours of the day in the forest linking Isselle-Azagba, Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku along the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha Expressway.

The felled suspects were alleged to be terrorising travelers on the expressway, dispossessing them of their belongings.

But the SARS operatives, who got wind of the nefarious activities of the herdsmen, swiftly mobilised and  combed the said forest, where the suspects had established their hide-out.

Parading the dead bodies of the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Asaba, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Celestina Kalu, said: “The hoodlums, who have been identified as Fulani herdsmen, opened fire on the patrol team.

“The police team, following the rule of engagement, returned fire and fatally wounded three of the miscreants while one escaped.

“DSP Kalu listed items recovered from the suspects to include one AK 47 rifle with rusty breach number, two AK 47 live ammunition, one locally made single barrel gun, one dagger, one cutlass, six handsets and assorted female bags.

According to her, the police were still combing the forest with a view to arresting the members of the gang, who fled with bullet wounds.

She warned criminals in the guise of herdsmen to desist from crime as the command would not rest on its oars until criminal elements were flushed out of the state.

“The command wishes to warn all criminally minded Fulani herdsmen and other criminal elements to either have a change of heart or relocate from the state as the command will not spare any effort in bringing all hoodlums to justice,” she said.

PANIC IN OWERRI AS SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM MEMBER TRIED TO BLOW UP CHURCH CATHEDRAL

PANIC IN OWERRI AS SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM MEMBER TRIED TO BLOW UP CHURCH CATHEDRAL
Residents of Owerri, the capital of Imo State,
were thrown into panic at the weekend,
following the failed bid of a crippled beggar,
suspected to be a member of the Boko
Haram sect to set ablaze a petroleum tanker
that fell near the Asumpta Cathedral, around
the ever busy Control junction.
But in a swift reaction, the state Police
Command dismissed the existence of
members of the Islamist sect in the state,
saying that what happened was an accident.
The police also debunked speculations that
the cripple had wanted to set the church
ablaze.
However, according to witness account, the
cripple beggar, identified as Destiny, from
one of the northern states, had allegedly
scaled the fence of the Asumpta Cathedral
building with a lighter, while fire fighters
and other volunteers were battling to
prevent a fire outbreak, before he was
caught by a vigilant passerby.
“When the tanker fell while trying to
negotiate the bend, fuel started gushing out
and was flowing into the Church premises.
So, people ran out of the area, afraid that
the tanker may explode. There was
commotion and traffic gridlock at that point
and if it had gone up in flames, the casualty
figure would have been very high. But thank
God the suspect was apprehended before
he carried out his evil plan,” said the source.
But the suspect, who claimed to be a
Christian denied any connection with Boko
Haram, insisting: “I was climbing the fence
to get some leaves when the fuel was
pouring out, but some people pulled me
down and when they saw the lighter in my
pocket which I use for smoking, they said
that I wanted to set fire on the church
which is not true.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent
of Police (DSP), said the incident was a mere
accident.
“When the Police got to the place, we
searched the suspect and nothing was
found on him and he was allowed to go; no
arrest was made.”
It was just a wolf’s cry, there is nothing like
Boko Haram involvement; it was purely a
case of accident,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Owerri,
Anthony Obinna, who doubles as the Bishop
of the Asumpta Cathedral, has expressed
worry over the incessant petroleum tanker
accidents at the Control Junction.
He said the incident occurred while the
Church was holding its evening Mass. “I was
celebrating Mass when we perceived heavy
smell of fuel coming into the Church. When
we looked out, there was noise which
attracted my attention and when I came out,
I saw that a tanker had fallen and a cripple
was apprehended while he was climbing
the fence of the cathedral.”

Kerry denies calling Israel 'apartheid state'

Kerry denies calling Israel 'apartheid state'

John Kerry has denied he has ever called Israel "an apartheid state", amid a row over comments reportedly made during a private meeting.

"I do not believe, nor have I ever stated, publicly or privately that Israel is an apartheid state or that it intends to become one," the US secretary of state said in a strong statement after calls for him to resign or at least apologise for the alleged comments.

"Anyone who knows anything about me knows that without a shred of doubt," said Kerry, according to the AFP news agency.

But Kerry, whose efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians have collapsed, did say that he had used a poor choice of words during his speech on Friday to international experts of the Trilateral Commission.

"I have been around long enough to also know the power of words to create a misimpression, even when unintentional, and if I could rewind the tape, I would have chosen a different word to describe my firm belief that the only way in the long term to have a Jewish state and two nations and two peoples living side by side in peace and security is through a two-state solution," he said.

"I will not allow my commitment to Israel to be questioned by anyone, particularly for partisan, political purposes."

The US-based Daily Beast online news site reported that Kerry had warned that "a unitary state winds up either being an apartheid state with second-class citizens - or it ends up being a state that destroys the capacity of Israel to be a Jewish state".

The website said it had been given a recording of Kerry's speech, which sparked a furore in Israel and led one Republican senator to call for his resignation.

Northern Delegates Reject New State For South/East

To hell with The so called evil one Nigeria, why should Igbos be one with the senseless animal in Nigeria?
NATIONAL CONFERENCE!!!
Northern Delegates Reject New State For South/East

Northern Delegates Reject New State For South/East

Northern delegates at the National Conference have opposed the proposal for the creation of an additional state in the South- East.
The delegates are, therefore, mobilising to thwart the suggestion before it gets into the final resolution.

Spokesman for the northern delegates and former Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum ACF, Anthony Sani, described the agitation as misplaced.
However, one of the Igbo delegates and President of the South-East Forum, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, has called for the cancellation of the conference, saying except other delegates are ready to listen to the “reasonable propositions” of others, the exercise is a waste of time and money.

But Sani faulted those who said the agitation was to pacify the South-East, saying no one had wronged anyone.
He also said the present circumstance where many of the states were not economically-viable and where many of the governors had contributed to the underdevelopment of the country, it would be foolish to create more states.
“When people say we should create states to pacify them (South-East), the impression one gets is that a wrong has been done. It is not so.

“To create states, there are conditions that must be met. One, how homogeneous, the population, the landmass and lastly, the viability. All these are there.
“We have insisted, in the light of so many created and which have led to the underdevelopment of the country while some are not viable, that will it be politically correct to still create states? We have to address that.

“I feel a bit worried when the South-East insists that on the basis of equality, there must be six states. When people say appease, it is as if they have been wronged.
“South-West was a region and it has six states. The old Eastern Region has nine. The whole of the North, which is half or even more than half of the country, has just 19. You do not just create states like that,” he said.
On whether the northern delegates will shoot down the proposal before the final report of the conference, Sani said the North would move against it, stressing that it would amount to injustice against her people.

“If it is on the basis of equality that they are making that suggestion, we are going to counteract it. Have they forgotten that injustice is not just when equals are treated unequally but when unequals are treated equally?”
Izuogu described the stance of the North as “unfortunate”.
He said if others were not ready to listen to reasonable propositions, then it would be wrong to continue with the conference.

“It is unfortunate. It means they (North) do not want us to remain as one country. Look at Bayelsa, it is very small but it is a state. The South-East is very big. We are just asking for one more, after all, the North- West has seven. Let us be at par with others.
“We are reasonable. This is a reasonable proposition. If people do not want to listen to a reasonable proposition, then we can as well go back home and forget this conference. If people want to reason as mad men, then there is no need for the conference in the first place,” he said.

Members of the National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring, and Forms of Government had last week canvassed the creation of an additional state in the South-Eeast to redress the apparent marginalisation of the geopolitical zone.
Senator Femi Okurounmu underscored the need for the creation of an additional state to strike a balance in the present number of states in the zones.
The President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Iwo Igariwo, backed his view.

Mrs. Binta Garba had, however, called for the creation of Sardauna state in the North and adding a state to the South-East.
But Mr. Yinka Odumakin, a South-West delegate, who also supported the idea of another state in the South-East, said it should be based on the principle of self-sufficiency, claiming that most states were not economically viable.

Chairman of the committee, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, had expressed optimism that the proposal would scale through.
He said: “I must thank my committee members for their maturity and ability to discern the need for Nigerians to have more states based on merit and particularly to give the South-East an additional state, bringing it in line with other states to six.
“But I have a strong feeling that at the end of the day, we must be recommending equality of states in the zones and then allow the zones to decide which state should be created.”
Co-chairman, Hon. Mohammed Kumalia, however submitted that demands for creation of states from other zones would be treated according to merit.

You can’t impeach Jonathan, Rep dares 37 APC lawmakers

You can’t impeach Jonathan, Rep dares 37 APC lawmakers

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change, Eziuche Ubani, yesterday dismissed the threat by 37 All Progressives Congress (APC) members to initiate impeachment proceeding against President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the lawmakers were embarking on a futile mission that would only make them a laughing stock at the end of the day. Eziuche, in a reaction to the threat by 37 former Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) lawmakers, who defected to APC last year, contended that APC could not muster enough members required by the constitution to impeach the President.

The 37 APC members had, last weekend, boasted that they would table a 30-point impeachment motion against the President, even as they  declared  that they were ready for  a, “ total war” against him.

One of the lawmakers, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that they had gathered all the impeachable sins of the President.

The lawmaker,  who is from the North said: “ We are going to the floor of the House to convince our colleagues that it is high time we impeached President Jonathan. We have chronicled his offences, we are ready to fight since the President has declared war on us.”

He itemised the President’s alleged sins to include financial  recklessness, missing  funds, genocide in the North-East, breach  of parliamentary resolutions and extra-budgetary spendings.

However, dismissing the threat, Eziuche warned his colleagues against further heating up the polity. He said: “Our colleagues in APC should be careful not to further heat up the polity. We don’t need such distraction at this moment.”

The Chairman of House Committee on Climate Change Committee stressed that the country

Boko Haram: Cripple causes scare in Imo

Boko Haram: Cripple causes scare in Imo

Residents of Owerri, the capital of Imo State, were thrown into panic at the weekend, following the failed bid of a crippled beggar, suspected to be a member of the Boko Haram sect to set ablaze a petroleum tanker that fell near the Asumpta Cathedral, around the ever busy Control junction.

But in a swift reaction, the state Police Command dismissed the existence of members of the Islamist sect in the state, saying that what happened was an accident. The police also debunked speculations that the cripple had wanted to set the church ablaze.

However, according to witness account, the cripple beggar,  identified as Destiny, from one of the northern states, had allegedly scaled the fence of the Asumpta Cathedral building with a lighter, while fire fighters and other volunteers were battling to prevent a fire outbreak, before he was caught by a vigilant passerby.

“When the tanker fell while trying to negotiate the bend, fuel started gushing out and was flowing into the Church premises. So, people ran out of the area, afraid that the tanker may explode. There was commotion and traffic gridlock at that point and if it had gone up in flames, the casualty figure would have been very high. But thank God the suspect was apprehended before he carried out his evil plan,” said the source.

But the suspect, who claimed to be a Christian denied any connection with Boko Haram, insisting: “I was climbing the fence to get some leaves when the fuel was pouring out, but some people pulled me down and when they saw the lighter in my pocket which I use for smoking, they said that I wanted to set fire on the church which is not true.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the incident was a mere accident.

“When the Police got to the place, we searched the suspect and nothing was found on him and he was allowed to go; no arrest was made.”

It was just a wolf’s cry, there is nothing like Boko Haram involvement; it was purely a case of accident,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Owerri, Anthony Obinna, who doubles as the Bishop of the Asumpta Cathedral, has  expressed worry over the incessant petroleum tanker accidents at the Control Junction.

He said the incident occurred while the Church was holding its evening Mass.  “I was celebrating Mass when we perceived heavy smell of fuel coming into the Church. When we looked out, there was noise which attracted my attention and when I came out, I saw that a tanker had fallen and a cripple was apprehended while he was climbing the fence of the cathedral.”

Boko Haram, our common enemy –Sheriff

Boko Haram, our common enemy –Sheriff

Boko Haram, our common enemy –SheriffFormer governor of Borno State, Senator  Ali Modu Sheriff, has described Boko Haram as enemy of Nigerians and Nigeria, urging the people to unite to fight a common enemy.

Sheriff, who was at the helm of affairs in the state as governor in 2009 when the first Boko Haram uprising broke out in Maiduguri, condemned the terrorism ,  aggression against the state and her people, stressing that  it was high time Nigerians forgot their differences and  joined forces  to fight  the sect.

“I wish to join other Nigerians in adding my voice to the condemnation of all acts of terrorism and aggression against the Nigerian state and fellow citizens. I wish to particularly condemn the abduction of innocent school girls in Chibok, in my home state, Borno, and call on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious, political inclinations, to rise up against such ignoble acts,” Sheriff said through a message he personally signed and made available to journalists in Maiduguri at the weekend.

He said that the nation must rise up against what he called “sheer madness and affront on all Nigerians.”

The former governor described the abduction of the schoolgirls at Chibok as insensitivity towards  innocent girls, saying the insurgents exhibited their criminality by taking  the girls out of their learning environment for unknown reason.

The statement read in part: “As a former governor of Borno State, I am saddened that our people are being subjected to horrific experiences occasioned by the condemnable activities of the Boko Haram, which agenda is to destabilise the country and subject Nigerians to undeserved conditions.

“I am confident that government at all levels are doing everything possible to get to  the roots of the matter and bring this madness to an end, but suffice to say at this juncture, that all Nigerians must rise up in unison to condemn these people and offer useful information on how they can be contained.

“My heart goes out to my people every time one life is lost or any citizen is subjected to unbecoming experiences, and I have always condemned such acts in my heart. We must intensify prayers and rededicate ourselves in these trying times, so that Nigeria can progress.”

Julius Berger, NMIC promise to deliver 2nd Niger Bridge on schedule

The Consortium  handling the construction of the second Niger Bridges, Julius Berger-Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Motorways Investment Company (JB-NMIC), yesterday said it had commenced full mobilisation to site on the project, while pledging timely execution.

This is coming at a time the  senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Dr. Chris Ngige, described the   Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement of the Federal Government for the Second Niger Bridge as financial victimisation and maltreatment of the Igbo. He also queried the construction cost of N115 billion.

In a joint statement by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSIA, Uche Orji and the Managing Director of Julius Berger Plc, Wolfgang Goetsch, the consortium said that compliance with Nigerian Environmental laws continues to be a paramount priority and that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was an intrinsic part of the project, which was carried out in compliance with the environmental laws that govern Nigeria and in collaboration with the relevant ministries.

It stated: “Contrary to recent reports, work on the Second River Niger Bridge project continues to progress according to schedule, to ensure timely completion of the bridge, which is set to be executed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a concessional period of 25 years, through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.

“In fact, the nominated EPC contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has commenced full mobilisation to site and timely execution of all scheduled activities is anticipated.”

Meanwhile, Senator Ngige, while describing the PPP arrangement for the project as financial victimisation and maltreatment of the Igbo, has frowned at the N 115 billion pricing of the contract.  Speaking to journalists at the weekend, in Awka, Ngige said the cost of contract was not appropriate when compared with a 1.35 kilometre bridge constructed in Lagos at the cost of N30 billion by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

He lamented that the Federal Government had not built a bridge anywhere in the country on such an exploitative “toll basis” except the second Niger Bridge.

While stating that the Igbo do not need a bridge where they would pay tolls, Ngige explained why he did not attend the ground-breaking ceremony of the second Niger Bridge.

He said: “On that basis, I told them I will not come for the groundbreaking because I do not believe that the Igbo in Onitsha and Anambra, if they want to go and greet fellow Igbo in Asaba, will pay money to go there and come back.

“And mark you, a lot of Anambra people are now living in Asaba and they come to work here from Asaba and go back. A lot of Anambra people also have their kith and kin there in Asaba. So, for me, I felt it was maltreatment, financial maltreatment, and financial victimisation for anybody to say he is going to toll that bridge, which is just a 1.7 kilometre bridge.

“We need a bridge that will be put for our people free of charge, a bridge that will be given to our people soonest, urgently, not four years. Fashola built his own in one and half years, the bridge from Lekki into Ikoyi. It dropped at Ikoyi-Bourdillon and dropped at Lekki, at the other end. You will see it in Lagos, a beautiful bridge with good lighting system; it was also built on PPP. So, even if you are adding interest on that one, you will see that N115 billion is an overpriced estimate and it is the same Julius Berger that built it.”

Deadly tornadoes devastate US states

At least 17 people have been killed by tornadoes as a huge storm system swept across the central and southern United States.

Sixteen of the victims were in several suburbs of Little Rock in Arkansas, officials said.

One other person was killed in the town of Quapaw in the north-east of Oklahoma where officials said many buildings were badly damaged.

Tornadoes also struck in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

President Barack Obama, on a trip to the Philippines, offered his deepest condolences to those affected and said federal emergency officials would be on the ground to help: “Your country will be there to help you recover and rebuild, as long as it takes.”

Most of the casualties were in suburbs west and north of Little Rock. The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management said 10 people died in Faulkner County, five in Pulaski County and one in White County.

Mayflower and Vilonia, two small towns in Faulkner County, appear to have borne the brunt of the damage. In Vilonia, the County Sheriff’s office spoke of a “mass casualty situation”.

The Arkansas tornado touched down about 10 miles (16km) west of the city of Little Rock and left a 40 mile (65km) path of destruction.

It is said to have passed through several northern suburbs – including Mayflower where a witness described a twister half a mile wide crossing Interstate 40 on Sunday evening, the National Weather Service said.

Congressman Tim Griffin told Reuters news agency an “entire neighbourhood of 50 homes or so” in Faulkner County had been destroyed, with many “completely gone except the foundation”.

Many homes and businesses, including a new secondary school worth $14m (£8.3m), were left in ruins in Vilonia after the storm.

“There’s just really nothing there anymore. We’re probably going to have to start all over again,” said Vilonia schools chief Frank Mitchell after inspecting the wreckage of the school.

First reports from Oklahoma said two people had died in Quapaw but officials later revised the figure down to one. Another six people were injured.

Quapaw, which has a population of about 900, was badly hit by the tornado, Ottawa County Emergency Management director Joe Dan Morgan said.

“Looks like about half of town got extensive damage as well as the fire department,” he said.

The tornado then headed northwards into the state of Kansas where it struck Baxter Springs, injuring several people and causing further damage.

Over the weekend, storms struck the eastern part of the US, killing a child in North Carolina.

(BBC)

Syria’s President Assad declares candidacy for third 7-year term

President Bashar Assad announced his candidacy for the June 3 presidential elections on Monday, a race he is likely to win amid a raging civil war that initially began as an uprising against his rule.

The statement, made by Parliament Speaker Jihad Laham on state-run television, was quickly followed by broadcasts of nationalistic music praising God.

Assad — who has ruled the country since taking over from his father in 2000 — was widely expected to run for a third seven-year term in office, although it remains unclear how the vote can take place in areas engulfed in fighting.

Six other contenders are in the race, but they are mostly expected to give the election a veneer of legitimacy, analysts say.

Following the announcement, the state-run TV also ran a brief biography of Assad, quoting him as asking Syrians not to resort to celebratory gunfire and telling them that “we are now in the atmosphere of (democratic) elections in Syria for the first time in its contemporary history.” It was unclear if that was meant as acknowledgement that previous elections were not democratic.

But a call to elections — or the vote, if and when it’s held — won’t be enough to heal Syria’s bitter war, now in its fourth year, said activists.

The conflict, which has killed over 150,000 people and displaced more than one-third of the population, began as largely peaceful demonstrations against Assad’s rule in March 2011. But it quickly turned into an armed uprising and a civl war.

“If he (Assad) had announced this at the beginning of the revolution, it would have saved all that blood that was shed,” said activist who uses the name Abu Akram al-Shami, speaking over Skype from Damascus.

Al-Shami said he and other activists would ignore the election, adding that their war now wasn’t just against Assad but for his entire government to fall.

“It’s about the whole regime. Even if, let’s say, he (Assad) left office, as things now stand his regime would continue,” al-Shami said.

37 Reps declare war on Jonathan

37 Reps declare war on Jonathan

 37 Reps declare war on Jonathan
• Compile impeachment charges

As the  House of Representatives resumes  from a two-week Easter break tomorrow, the chamber may be a theatre of another crisis as the 37 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC ) have vowed to initiate impeachment moves against  President Goodluck Jonathan.

The lawmakers said that they will table a 30-point impeachment motion against the President next week, declaring that they are ready for  a “ total war” on the President.

One of the 37 lawmakers, who doesn’t want to be named, revealed that they have gathered all the impeachable sins of the President. But he said the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, does not support their plan.

The lawmaker, who is from the North, said: “We are going to the floor of the House to convince our colleagues that it is time we impeach President Jonathan. We have chronicled his offences, we are ready to fight since the President has declared war on us”.

He listed the President’s alleged sins to include financial  recklessness, missing  funds, genocide in the North- East, breach  of parliamentary resolutions and extra- budgetary spendings.

The lawmaker also said that his colleagues have resolved to drag the President before the International Court of Justice at The Hague for alleged genocide in the North-East and crime against humanity via a petition.

As a way of mobilising support for their plans , he said  they will visit past presidents, former heads of state and vice presidents, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Shehu Shagari, Atiku Abubakar and Alex Ekwueme.

He said: “ The 37 of us are going to pay visits to all former presidents and vice presidents concerning the issue and to explain why we are taking that position”.

The battle plan also include a demonstration at the ECOWAS Parliament where the lawmakers will present the list of the alleged crimes of the President and the impeachment notice.

The protest would  move to the United States, the British, Canadian and French embassies, as well as all other European Union (EU) countries, the source said.

Justifying their decision to tackle President Jonathan, the  lawmaker said that  since the President does not want peace “and he is going for our jugular, it’s a fight to finish.”

He noted that the  strategy of the Presidency is clear: “they are trying to destabilize the House by influencing the courts to declare our seats vacant, but this will not work. We are going to meet him head-on. And since he does not want peace, he will not get peace.

“PDP, as a party, has been the greatest beneficiary of defection and the heavens did not fall, now because they are losing, they want to declare seats vacant through illegal means. Is it unconstitutional to move to another party? He doesn’t want peace and we will ensure he doesn’t get it.”

The legislator stressed that all  the governors of the 37 lawmakers have been briefed on their move and they have approved it. “Our governors are aware and we have their blessings. “We know the PDP members in the House will fight the move, but we are ready for them.

“We will also call for the removal and prosecution of the PDP Chairman, Adamu Muazu for alleged corruption by the anti-graft agencies, while he was Bauchi State governor.

When contacted, the Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Mallam Imam Imam, said he is not aware of any plan to impeach the President. He said his boss is focused on what will make Nigeria great.

PDM snubs Anenih, fixes convention for August

PDM snubs Anenih, fixes convention for August

Despite the threat by a faction of the Peoples’ Democratic Movement led by Chief Tony Anenih to institute litigation against  the leadership of the new political party, with same acronym, the PDM, leadership of the political party at the weekend fixed August for conduct of its national convention to elect substantive national officers.

Recall that  the faction loyal to the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Anenih at a recent meeting called on the INEC to deregister the new political party and  claimed that the new political party was registered clandestinely without the knowledge of the founding fathers of the movement formed by the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

In the  team led by Chief Anenih which claimed to be PDM foundation members and elders committee are Senator Abubakar Mahdi, Dr Farouk Abdualzeez, Dubem Onyia, amongst others .

The faction which insisted that the PDM and PDP were mutually inclusive further threatened to take court action against the leadership of the new political party led by Bashir Ibrahim Yusuff.

But  the PDM in a communiqué read to newsmen at the weekend in Abuja at the  end of a meeting of the national executive committee, national advisory and chairmen of state stakeholders committee of the party declared that state and national officers of the party would emerge through a consensus arrangement in the next four months.

The communiqué signed by  the PDM National Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, noted that the consensus option was adopted  in line with  its determination to ensure harmony within the young political party.

The party chieftains who expressed satisfaction over  the achievements of some of their stated priorities which include,  the establishment of party structures at all levels across  the country and registration of party members in all the wards across the country however stated that election would be conducted where consensus fails.
The party also resolved to set up a national fund raising committee ahead of its forthcoming congresses and national convention.

The communiqué read in part:’’  National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) met with members of the National Advisory Committee and Chairmen of State Stakeholders Committees of the party to review the conduct of the manual membership registration exercise of the party which held between March 17 and 25, 2014 as well as strategise for the conduct of congresses and national convention of the party.

“Following reports received from the state chairmen and national officers, who were deployed to monitor and supervise the exercise, the party noted with great satisfaction that the membership registration exercise was a huge success, surpassing expectations, in spite of the hitches experienced in Ekiti and Kogi States.

It was resolved that NEC should consider a special dispensation for the two states to enable them tidy up and resolve the challenges confronting them.

‘’Consequent upon this huge success, the Party commended its officers and members for their sacrifice and for the peaceful and successful conduct of the exercise. The Party most especially appreciated the sacrifice made by officers and members in conducting the exercise through personal contributions of Party officials and members in their own states, LGAs and wards. This, it was observed, is unprecedented in the history of Party politics in the country and demonstrates the commitment and resolve of members towards growing and sustaining the Party along the lines of its guiding philosophy of ownership by members, big and small.

‘’ The meeting further observed that with the successful completion of the manual membership registration exercise, the Party had attained the third, amongst its four priority programmes following its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission in August, 2013.

‘’This goes to show that the Party has come of age under a committed and focused leadership. The three other priorities are a) successful establishment of Party structures at all levels across the country, b) establishing Party offices in the 36 states of the federation and FCT, and c) registration of Party members in all the wards across the country.

‘’ Following the attainment of the third priority programme, the

Party is now positioned and ready to embark on the fourth priority

programme, which is the conduct of Congresses and National Convention to elect its substantive officers at all levels (Wards, Local Government Areas, States, Zones and National).

‘’In setting about the above task, the meeting resolved to adopt and promote consensus among Party members in producing officers and to conduct election where consensus fails. Along these lines, officers of the Party, leaders and members were advised to commence preliminary consultations and engagements towards the Congresses and Convention slated for not later than August, 2014.

‘’To raise funds for the forthcoming Congresses and National

Convention, it was resolved that a National Fundraising Committee is to be formed and put to work with immediate effect. State chairmen were advised to consult and send in a nominee each by Monday, April 28 so that the Committee could be inaugurated before the end of April 2014.

‘’The meeting  noted with delight the deluge of requests from members and leaders of other political parties who wish to defect to the Peoples Democratic Movement and directed Party leaders at all levels to make adequate arrangements to receive the defectors . It was further emphasised that, in line with its philosophy and spirit of openness, leaders of  Peoples Democratic Movement at all levels should always welcome, accept and confer its membership rights, privileges and responsibilities on members of other political parties who align themselves with the spirit and philosophy of the PDM and decide to join the Party.’’

Elechi blames South East govs for delay in creation of additional state Elechi blames South East govs for delay in creation of additional state

Elechi blames South East govs for delay in creation of additional state

 Elechi blames South East govs for delay in creation of additional state
By JEFF AMECHI AGBODO, Abakaliki on April 28, 2014 · National

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has blamed South-East governors for the delay in the creation of additional state for the zone.

The governor said President Goodluck Jonathan was before now ready to push for the creation of additional state for the South-East  but noted that the governors from the zone were not steadfast because of the area it would be carved out from.

Elechi, who spoke to journalists after the church service yesterday at Governors House Chapel during the child dedication of his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, said since the consensus was building up for the creation of additional state for the South-East, Adada state stood the best chance in all ramifications.

According to him, “we the governors of the South-East should be blamed for not enforcing the demand for the additional state for the zone. This is because President Jonathan was ready to push our case of state imbalance to the National Assembly, but we the governors never agreed from which  area of the South East zone the new state will be carved out.

“But for now, the consensus is building up to the fact that in terms of the history of state creation demand, the landmarks and  even for development, Adada stands a better chance. I believe that this time around, we shall be more proactive for the new state in the South-East that will bring it to six states for the zone,” he stated.

He however, supported the zonal structure already existing but rejected regional government.

“We acknowledge the need for the zonal structure to remain but not with zonal government. We don’t want regional government. Then again if you look at the six states for the six zones, the South-East has only five states which is not supposed to be so.  There is need for additional state for the South-East state and without having regional government.”

Gunmen kill 2, burn police outpost

• As villagers declare police officers missing in Zamfara

Gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers  stormed the village of Faru, in Maradun Local Government Area on friday night,killed two people and set a police post ablaze. The gunmen, who were alleged to be more than 100 in number, were said to have surrounded the village and  shot sporadically.

A source at the affected village told Daily Sun that after the shooting, all the policemen on duty ran for their lives and the police post was set on fire. According to the source,the policemen who ran away were declared missing by the villagers.

“Since the time of the incident, we have not set our eyes on police officers that are living with us. We learnt that they have run away to save their  lives. We, the villagers are yet to know their where about” he said.     It was gathered that the two people that were killed died as a result of suffocation after the burning of the police post.

When contacted over the incident, the Zamfara State Police Command Public Relation Officer (PPRO) DSP  Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the incident and said security operatives had been deployed in the area.

He disclosed that normalcy had returned to the town, adding that police would not relent in their effort to ensure safety of lives and property of every citizen.

Imo 2015: ‘No vacancy in Douglas House’

Patron of Okpoko Igbo, Chief Tobby Anumaka, is a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Daily Sun, he emphasised that those jostling to oust Governor Rochas Okorocha from continuing in office beyond 2015 would be disgraced. According to him, anyone nursing ambition of becoming governor in 2015 should wait till 2019. According to him: “There is no vacancy in Douglas House, Owerri, in 2015.”

He also spoke on the ongoing National Conference. Excerpts:

So far, would you say Igbo delegates have presented the agenda of the South-East zone at the ongoing national conference?

First, those selected to represent Igbo, especially the leader of the delegation, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, were not the choice of Ndigbo, nor our first eleven. It was a political appointment by President Jonathan to appease some politicians from the zone. We are not against the conference but the composition of Igbo delegates and the recycling of the same people, who have been in the system since independence.  Of course, that is why you see them, sleeping while in session. This generation of leaders cannot decide the future of this nation. They have been in the system for over 50 years. Let me dwell a bit on Ike Nwachulwu, what qualifies him as Igbo leader?  What is his contribution in the fight against marginalisation of Igbo in Nigeria?  During the civil war, he fought against Biafra, how can he suddenly become Igbo leader?

The only period he served Ndigbo was when he was appointed military administrator of the old Imo State and his only achievement was to move Imo State University from Owerri to Uturu in the present Abia State where he hails from. Look at the South-West, when the initial list of delegates from the zone filtered out, the people rejected it and the Presidency made a u-turn and came up with the present delegates and you can see that they have represented their people well so far, unlike those from the South-East, led by Nwachukwu. I am not saying Ike Nwachukwu is not a true son of Igbo or he is not qualified to represent the South-East at the ongoing conference but he shouldn’t have led the delegation. We have the likes of Chief Ezekiel Izuogu, the former governor of Anambra State,  Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and the former National Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, just to mention but a few.

  How would you evaluate the conference within a month it started debate?

They have not discussed anything meaningful, rather they have spent close to one month deliberating on the Presidential speech and religion. The basic issues have not been addressed; issues, such as, true federalism, equality of state structure and resources control amongst others are yet be discussed and the confab is about to end. It is a known fact that South-East zone is short of one state against other zones. Igbo delegates should insist that one additional state must be created in the south-East to balance the state structure in Nigeria.

Why didn’t Igbo object the appointment of Nwachukwu as leader of Igbo delegation?

Ike Nwachukwu was recommended by Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State to lead the delegation to compensate him for supporting the governor to slight his benefactor the former governor of the state Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. It started with what I call funny movement to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters in Abuja to protest Kalu’s return to PDP. When Governor Orji directed Nwachukwu to speak on behalf of the group, Ndigbo and indeed Nigerians were shocked and disappointed in Ike Nwachukwu. Many people asked if this was the General we used to know, who has now reduced himself so low to the extent of being an errand boy to Governor Orji. However, I don’t know the criteria of making him head of the Igbo delegation to the confab. I don’t want to repeat myself, he is an Igbo man. We know his antecedent; we know the side he fought for during the civil war. Like I said earlier, I am not saying he is not qualified to be a delegate but not qualify to lead Igbo delegates to the conference. So, those who selected shouldn’t have gone for someone who cannot speak Igbo fluently.

The President recent visit to Imo and Enugu States during which a lot of aggrieved members of the PDP that jumped ship returned to the ruling party and they vowed to wrestle power from Okorocha. Isn’t this a threat to APC in Imo?

The coming together of strange bed fellows in Imo is a blessing to APC in Imo. This has made the contest easier for Owelle Rochas Okorocha. He should start popping champagne and rejoicing because most of them have not won election before and some of them failed to return for second term during the 2011 general elections. Majority of them have no second address, that is, they don’t have any other business aside politics. Confusion has always engulfed PDP in the South-East especially, in Imo State. It has started already between Governor Sullivan Chime and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu in Enugu State and Senator Ararume and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha in Imo. By the time they are through with the in-house fighting, Okorocha would have won  and APC also would have won Enugu State. That was what happened in Imo in 2011. PDP was busy fighting and Okorocha won.

Protest greeted APC congress in some states, won’t this affect the chances of your party in 2015?

Those who just joined the party must queue behind the existing leadership of the party in the states. The governors who crossed over to APC from the PDP, ordinarily as sitting governor should be the leaders of the party in their various states. So, we are doing everything within our powers to resolve whatever misunderstanding among members of our party in those states. PDP is afraid of us. The umbrella is in tatters, hurricane has torn the umbrella. Very soon more members of the ruling party in the National Assembly and governors will decamp to APC. They are only waiting for court pronouncement.

Which of the zones would your party chose its flag bearer from in the 2015 presidential election?

 At the appropriate time you will know. Every zone is qualified to vie to be APC presidential flag bearer but whoever the party chooses, no matter the zone, would fly the party’s flag in the 2015 presidential race and we will all support him or her.

Missing girl found bound under policeman’s bed

A Mobile policeman identified as Gbuchenge Augustine with Force number 400823 in Lagos, is on the run following a foiled  attempt to allegedly use an eight-year old girl for ritual.

The girl identified as Amarachi, was found under his bed in his one-room apartment at Olufowobi Street, Ikosi Ketu with her mouth gagged and legs and hands tied. When she was eventually rescued  by neighbours, little Amarachi had injuries on her skull and neck.

Trouble started for the policeman in the evening of Thursday last week when the parents of the girl, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Abakwan, who had gone out for their businesses returned and did not find their daughter, Amarachi at home.

The girl’s father, a driver with Strands Communications Limited, told journalists that when he returned from work, he noticed that Amarachi did not come to greet him and when he  queried his wife on her whereabouts, he was told that she was asleep.

“I demanded to see her and when they went to call her, she was nowhere to be found. Another little child in the compound later said she saw “Oga Olopa” (the policeman) carrying Amarachi in his arms from their room where she was sleeping, to his room. You know, as a child, nobody took her seriously but the child insisted that Amarachi was in the policeman’s room.

“The policeman, we gathered, had before the incident, sent Amarachi to buy Akara (bean cake) and  recharge card at different times before she went to sleep.Mr Abakwan said the policeman, who sat outside his room smoking, got up and pretending to be angry, insisted that he was falsely accused.

It was gathered that the suspect used the opportunity of the ensuing confusion, to escape from the crowd that had gathered in their residence, and had not returned as at press time. The parents of the girl later reported the incident at the  Ketu Police Station and investigation has commenced.

According to the girl’s father, the Police detective sent to their home, peeped through the window of the suspect’s room and found two human legs struggling to be freed. It was gathered that the crowd at the scene later broke into the policeman’s room and set the girl free.

“The man had twisted her neck and used an object to break her skull thinking that she would die in the process but God saved her. My interest was to save my daughter first. We rushed her to Dafe Medical Hospital where they refused to admit her,” the father narrated. The state Police Spokesperson,Ngozi Braide said the Police have started investigation to ascertain if the suspect is truly a policeman.

Jonathan, wife visit  Sambo over brother’s death

•Says death necessary journey for everyone

President Goodluck Jonathan accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, yesterday visited Vice President Namadi Sambo to console him over his brother’s death, Capt Yusuf Sambo.

Capt. Sambo , a pilot died in a ghastly car accident on Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja, early yesterday when his car collided with a tree and burst into flames.

The Vice President had just returned to the country from the United Republic of Tanzania, where he represented President Goodluck Jonathan at  the  golden jubilee celebration of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar‎ on April 26th, 1964.

Sambo on his return, was driven to the National Mosque where a brief funeral service was conducted in honour of the deceased.

He was later buried according to Islamic rites at a cemetery within Abuja.

Jonathan, at the Akinola Aguda official residence of the Vice President, described the days as one of the saddest days for the country.

He described human beings as mere mortals, saying death is a journey everybody must make.

He said, “We are all mere mortals. All of us are from the earth, we must all go back to the earth. We do not know the timing of this journey all of us must make.

“This world is a place where we come to play our different roles. He left too early. Maybe he left when the ovation is loudest. He left at a time we needed him most. But there is nothing we can do.”

The President  described as saddening, the circumstances of Capt Sambo’s death. In his remarks, Sambo said the deceased who was his immediate younger brother was one of the most experienced pilots in the country.

He thanked the President for leading government officials to condole with him.

Special prayers were said for the repose of Capt Sambo’s soul.  Some of the early callers at the Vice President’s official residence were Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State; Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Muhammed; Minister of Defence, Aliyu Guasu; Minister of State, Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; other members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council as well as other top government officials.

Until his death the deceased was a qualified pilot who worked with the former Nigerian Airways and the Presidential Air Fleet before retiring to be on his own.

Late Capt. Sambo was born in 1956, and died at the age of 58. He is survived by his wife, three daughters and 10 brothers and sisters.

The Vice President had just returned to the country from the United Republic of Tanzania, where he represented President Goodluck Jonathan at  the  golden jubilee celebration of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar‎ on April 26th, 1964.

Sambo, who got the news just when he was preparing to return to the country from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, was driven straight to the National Mosque from the airport, where a brief funeral service was conducted in honour of the deceased.

He was later buried according to Islamic rites at the Apo cemetery.

Present at the burial rites were former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and several other dignitaries and sympathizers.

Power: FG to build training centres in 6 geo-political zones

ABUJA – Determined to fast track capacity building aimed to ignite revolution in the power sector of the economy, the Federal Government says it has completed arrangements construct training centres for electrical engineers across the six geo-political zones in the country.

Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, disclosed this while inspecting the construction of permanent site of National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, NAPTIN, Friday, at Idu Industrial area of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. The minister was taken round the edifice by the Director General of NAPTIN, Engr. Rueben Okeke.

He said that the government was ready to give priorities to capacity building in power sector in order to avoid the repeat of ugly experience of the oil industry where the workforce, including the low level, turned out to be expatriates.

Prof. Nebo noted that, “we would not want to learn from a horrifying experience. And that is why it is important for us to learn from the mistakes of others and position the entire power sector so that it has an indigenous face and not a completely foreign or international face.

According to him, “and we will urge NAPTIN to go beyond the graduate skill to at seasonal level because it appears that at the very lower rungs of electricity value chain, Nigeria doesn’t have a lot of workforce. We will encourage you to have schemes at the various centres all over the country distributed in geo-political zones to make sure that we will begin raise a critical mass of workforce in those areas. “

He said, “the wonderful work that is ongoing, this is evident that National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, NAPTIN, is the one that is positioned to build capacity and also to ensure that the new electricity market which is now dominantly controlled by the private sector takes off on a very sound footing. One thing I have always been concerned about is capacity building to making sure we have the right workforce.

“ If that were not taking into account, we will run into the problem of the oil industry where even at the low level , most of the workers turned out to be expatriates.  Very thankfully, the Local Content bill is helping to correct that. We would not want to learn from a horrifying experience.

“And that is why it is important for us to learn from the mistakes of others and position the entire power sector so that it has an indigenous face and not a completely foreign or international face.
“That would also empower our young people to ensure that our institutions that are producing professionals in all the fields of engineering and other fields that would be functional within the power sector are empowered to work, create wealth and keep the country moving on.

“It is obvious for all of us that power stands as the very veritable key to industrial revolution in Nigeria. We are rejoicing, Nigeria is now number one economy in the whole of Africa, growing at a beautiful rate of more than 6.5 percent annually. But experts have said if the power is corrected, and we have enough quantity and good quality in Nigeria, that our growth rate might even get to double digit.

“ So that is challenge for all of us. We are now number 26 economy in the world, but power alone can get us to faster than anything else to one of he top economy in the world. So, I must commend the visionary leadership of Director General of NAPTIN, Engr. Rueben Okeke. I am so thrilled with the brinkmanship with regard to paddling the canoe of power training institute with regard to infrastructural development content development, capacity building, etc.

“NAPTIN recently, won an international award for best practices in instruction. And we are very proud that the entire NAPTIN family, so I congratulate the entire NAPTIN family. So, we will continue, on the Federal government perspective to empower NAPTIN so that the dreams are eventually realised.

“There is a lot of crunch in the economy, physically, funds are not coming in because of loss or all the challenges, but as they trickle in, we will make sure that NAPTIN is not marginalised at all. Because if you are not empowered, it means we will have a very sloppy workforce. But we can’t contend with a sloppy. We want the best possible workforce to move the power sector. Forward.

“I will once again want to congratulate all of you and to pledge the commitment of the federal government of Nigeria to continue to help. You know that Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan stands out as a president who has done most for the power sector since the onset of Nigeria. He is not resting on his oar.

“He is the one who saw very critical need that made it possible that after 16 years of non employment of engineers that we now have fresh engineers, young engineers within the power sector, and who mostly will have some training from NAPTIN.”
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