Over 60 passengers were killed while dozens got injured following an explosion that hit an inter-state luxurious car park in Kano State North West Nigeria.
A member of Igbo traditional council in Kano, Tobias Idika confirmed the explosion to Channels Television shortly after the blast.
According to Mr. Idika “IED was kept inside the luxurious bus which was about to leave Kano to Lagos, people were frying like chicken here and you know there are over two hundred people in this bus when the two IEDs”
Another eyewitness told Channels Television that Dozens of people were injured but could not count the number of dead persons.
At the moment, no one can confirm the status of casualties in this attack as effort to contact the police or JTF was not successful as at the time of compiling this report, however residents say the area was combed by JTF.
Reports reaching 247ureports.com indicates that a massive bomb explosion has hit the popular New Road Luxury Bus Motor Park at Sabon Gari, Kano state killing not less than Twenty- five people and many other injured.
As at the time of filling in this report, there has not been any official casualty figure, but sources said that many passengers on a Lagos bound bus was affected in the blast.
The New Road Motor Park is where people travelling out of Kano board normally board their bus. According to an eyewitness, the explosion occurred when one of the buses was about leaving the park this evening.
Details are still as to the where the explosion emanated.
In a bid to support the Rescue Mission agenda of Governor Anayo Rochas Okorocha’s led administration, Nollywood actress, Evangelist Eucharia Anunobi has shown interest of joining in partnership with the Imo State government and other well-meaning Imolites to make the State drive developmentally for the general purpose of all.
The Imo born thespian disclosed this shortly after she paid a courtesy visit to the Imo State Liaison office in Lagos State with her team of top Nollywood movie practitioners.
Speaking, the actress turned evangelist stated that the purpose of her visit was based on the dividends of democracy that is on ground in Imo, which she said was visible after her review on the State; she added that the outcome was overwhelming and that it prompted her to support the government through her partnership that will go a long way into impacting the lives of the people of the State.
While receiving the actress and her team, the Special Assistant to the Imo State governor on Lagos Liaison, Hon. Lisa Asugha thanked her for making what she called the best decision every lover of human development could make, stressing that her choice to partner with the State would be acknowledged by the citizens and government.
“Even a blind person can feel the presence of government in the State. Of course, detractors will criticize but the steer-man in the person of Governor Okorocha is highly determined and focused to move Imo State to a greater height. We will not relent in bringing government to the door steps of our people. How will it work? Through the encouragement of anti-corruption we will get there.
Furthermore, the Liaison Officer for Lagos and South-West encouraged the actress not to relent in her vision to empower Imo citizens, especially those with an interest to act in the Nollywood big screen, noting that 73 percent of Imo citizens are renowned stakeholders of the film industry.
Meanwhile, the sultry actress lauded the effort of the Liaison Officer for establishing and maintaining mutual understanding between the two States, which she added that her communication with Imo citizens residing in Lagos shows that the government is indeed for the people.
The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to reports in sections of the press on the outcome of the South-South Special Zonal Executive Committee Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on Sunday, March 17, 2013 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and presided over by the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
Some newspapers, notably The Punch, Daily Champion, People’s Daily and DailyNewswatch reported that the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON, walked out of the meeting alongside the host governor, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. This is absolutely untrue.
On arrival in Port Harcourt, Dr. Uduaghan had informed Alhaji Tukur of his desire to return to Asaba same day. Given that Asaba Airport closes to air traffic by 5pm, the Governor had sought the permission of the chairman to exit the meeting whenever it gets to the threshold of arriving Asaba Airport ahead of its closure to air traffic.
Alhaji Tukur had graciously agreed to let Governor Uduaghan leave to enable him return to Asaba on time. When eventually it was time to leave for the return flight to Asaba, Dr. Uduaghan again notified the chairman who wished him a safe flight.
Governor Amaechi, as the host governor, had to see Dr. Uduaghan off.
At no time was there any disagreement to elicit a walk out by anybody. Alhaji Tukur had conducted the meeting in an atmosphere of candour and camaraderie and before Dr. Uduaghan left the meeting, all the parties present had addressed the meeting.
Speaking earlier at the meeting, Governor Uduaghan said whatever differences members of the party may have, they should come together in the interest of the party. He also called on the leadership of the PDP to endeavour to empower its members to engender greater commitment towards strengthening the party. He said alongside providing requisite infrastructure and a clement environment for businesses to grow, the leadership should evolve measures to empower the party’s faithful.
He commended the leadership of the party, especially the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, for his commitment to foster unity in the party, observing that the Governors who emerged on the PDP platform in the South South zone were delivering practical dividends of democracy to the people.
Dr. Uduaghan noted that apart from the provision of infrastructure, it was also important for the electorate to be empowered, asserting that “we are committed to ensuring that the PDP will continue to have its stronghold in the South South”.
Also speaking on behalf of Chairmen of the PDP in different states in the zone, the Delta State Chairman of the party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, thanked Alhaji Tukur for playing a fatherly role for the party, noting that the PDP will always emerge victorious in elections.
The Governor of Delta State is a loyal member of the PDP and holds the office and person of the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Tukur in high esteem.
We want to assume that the journalists who misrepresented the events may have genuinely misunderstood the early departure of Governor Uduaghan who was accompanied to the airport by Governor Amaechi. However, to have reached a serious conclusion as their reports did in stating that the two governors walked out of the meeting required more diligence. It is obvious that no official from any state could have suggested such interpretation to the press as no such thing happened. In effect, it is important that arm chair interpretations must be eschewed by the press in reporting events of national significance.
As every other political group, the PDP also has challenges to contend with. But has been the hallmark of the party, every issue is always resolved amicably.
Governor Uduaghan is a leader that has distinguished himself in the exercise of democratic principles and will never engage in acts that do not bind or unite. Besides, a platform was, in the spirit of reconciliation and progress of the party, provided for all to air their views.
Dana Air said in a statement it did not know the reason for the suspension by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
In June, Dana Air flight 992, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, crashed into an apartment block in a populated Lagos suburb, killing 153 people on board and 10 others on the ground.
Dana was suspended, but was allowed to start flights again in September, despite an inquiry into the cause of the crash not yet being complete.
President Goodluck Jonathan sacked the Director General of the NCAA last week and has proposed Captain Fola Akinkuotu as replacement to the Senate.
A statement by the Head, Corporate Communications, Dana Air, Mr. Tony Usidamen, said, “We regret to announce the temporary suspension of our flight operations following a directive from the Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday, March 16, 2013; no specific reason was given for the action.
“A meeting is, however, scheduled between the management of Dana Air, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA on Monday, March 18, and we will update you as we get more information. We thank you for your patience and understanding, and we look forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you on board again shortly.”
The Senate Committee on Aviation had a few months ago recommended that the Federal Government should revoke the operating licence of Dana Air, saying it was not issued in line with standard safety procedures.
The committee also recommended the removal of the former DG of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren
Speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly, Chief Ude Oko Chukwu has lauded Gov. Theodore Orji for his giant strides in the education sector as well as other key sectors of the state’s economy.
The Speaker gave the commendation in Umuahia during the distribution of educational equipment and instructional materials to selected secondary schools in the 17 local councils of the state by Gov. Orji.
Oko Chukwu noted that the educational sector is such a vital sector that no serious minded government with the interest and future of her children at heart would ignore.
He enjoined Abia students to be serious with their studies and shun cultism and indiscipline as future leaders of the state and nation at large.
The Speaker called on the authorities and students of the benefiting schools to ensure that the materials given to them are adequately protected and utilized and called on schools yet to benefit from the gesture to be patient for their turn.
The materials distributed include laptops, computers, television sets, textbooks, among others.
It is a universal norm of governance that no leader leads without advisers, and time has ascertained that a leader who acts solely on his own judgment surely falls. Consultations and taking of advice are therefore composite foundational elements of leadership – i.e. of governance. The institutional office of the Special Adviser, and its functions, is hence vital in the due discharge of political leadership. Indeed, the success or failure of a regime rests as much on the ability of the leader as on the competence or otherwise of his adviser(s).
Underscoring this point, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of our country creates at the federal level the Council of Ministers and offices of Special Advisers for the good purpose of executing the powers and functions due to the Office of the President. Invariably, this means that the stability and good governance of the country are dependent on the sound character, correct practice and good judgment of the President; and the well-being and quality judgment of the President depend on the knowledge, accuracy and truthfulness of his advisers. Blessed therefore is the President with truthful, knowledgeable, intelligent and right-doing advisers to remind him if he forgets, to assist him if he remembers, to correct him in secret and with respect if he is wrong, and to always lay to him the complete facts of every issue that may come before him to decide.
This is an onerous job that necessarily requires very special proficiency to perform. Great political thinkers are agreed that the adviser needs five basic attributes, if his work is to be fruitful and satisfactory:- i. Wisdom, whereby he will perceive clearly the outcome of everything into which the Principal enters; ii. Knowledge, whereby implications of actions of the Principal will be open to him; iii. Courage, so as to act as and when appropriate on the Principal; iv. Truthfulness, so that he will treat all men honestly without exception; and v. Discipline, so as to keep secrets at all times. If the President is able to appoint suitable men, he is most likely going to succeed, for ‘a good adviser is like the ornament of the President’; but if he is unable and appoints unsuitable men, his regime is most likely going to fail. Aristotle said that when a ‘king’ has an unsuitable [ignorant] adviser, his reign will be like a cloud which passes without dropping rain. The great Greek philosopher then warned that since what is most important in the polity is the ‘kingship’ institution, no adviser may be spared to spare it.
Interestingly, the fact that all advisers are appointed by the President means the quality of advice is dependent on the kind of advisers the President assembles to himself. His skill or lack of it to distinguish, in appointing advisers, the great disparity that there is between men who are suitable and men who are not itself can decide the ultimate destiny of his regime. To this extent, therefore, the President must necessarily think deeply, consult widely and select carefully in matters regarding the appointment of advisers.
Clearly, recent inexcusable misadventures of the President on some key national issues, necessitate a critical examination of the competence or otherwise of his advisers; and the desirability or otherwise of the President retaining them in office. I will take three cases which ordinarily ought to have gained for the President political goodwill but all failed to do so, instead earned him unwarranted criticisms and stigmas, to buttress my point.
Firstly, the change of name of the University of Lagos to MKO Abiola University which should have earned the President political capital, at least from the Yoruba Southwest, ended up distancing the people from the President on account of his action. The main reason for this political backlash is to be found in the method and procedure adopted by the President in the implementation of the policy. Secondly, the recent visit of the President to Borno and Yobe states. After nearly two years of blood-letting and destruction inflicted on the people of these states by Boko Haram insurgence and the security forces, the President’s visit was naturally supposed to have been a soothing balm to the open wounds of the people. Such an act ought to gain support for a leader from among the people. Unfortunately, what followed the visit were criticisms, resentments and mass opposition to the President and his regime. Again, the reason for this hostile response is to be found in the timing and hollowness of the visit. It is instructive to note that the President failed to visit the states all this while until shortly after the merging APC Governors’ visit; and the President, unlike the APC Governors, went with no policy proposition either for the resolution of the insurgency or for the reconstruction of the destroyed lives, businesses and infrastructures of the people affected.
Thirdly, the issue of pardoning some eminent Nigerians convicted of criminal charges. Included on the list are late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’adua, Gen. Oladipo Diya, late Gen. AbdulKareem Adisa, DSP Alamieyesiegha, etc. Two things are wrong in the pursuit of this Presidential power – facts of the matter with regard to the first 3 beneficiaries and timing with regards to the fourth. On the point of fact, it is now public knowledge that all the 3 generals involved were long pardoned by a previous regime and therefore did not need another pardon nor was there any need for the President to pardon them. If this is true, which I verily believe it to be (at least for Shehu Yar’adua), then the President has goofed and is a huge embarrassment to his leadership. On Alamieyesiegha, I fully agree with the President pardoning him as a personal moral obligation, given the political circumstance joining the two, but the timing was essentially ill-advised. Most appropriately, the President would have done it as a parting gift, on the eve of his departing office, as President Gerald Ford did for his impeached predecessor, Richard Nixon.
These three political bouts have gone a long way to demonstrate how un-thorough the President can be in his policy formulation, execution and general decision making. But to be fair to the President, on all the 3 cases sited, the fault can hardly be of him but instead a clear manifestation of the failure of presidential advice – in other words, these are basically mistakes of the President but fault necessarily that of the advisers. In my view, the work of an adviser to the President is like that of a pilot. Just as the pilot makes sure that the aircraft and weather are 100% without any problem before taking off, so also the adviser is to ensure that all matters are 100% without error before being decided by the President. Mistakes on the part of the President are therefore primarily the malfunctions of his advisers. In fact, the analogy may even be in twist against the pilot – for the extreme that can happen to the aircraft is to crash; the harm that can come to a nation with a slip of the President’s pen is better imagined.
Against this backdrop, therefore, President Jonathan’s leadership mistakes may have given the nation one very important lesson – i.e. that the capacity for sound advisory skills in a presidential system of government like ours is not always found in about every Nigerian. It definitely needs special skills and total commitment. This then calls to question the essence of retaining such advisers in the light of their manifest ineptitude, laziness and incompetence in handling the affairs of the President at the expense of the popularity of the regime and the stability of the country. Clearly, the President’s Advisers have proven themselves to be lazy, incapable and incompetent. All related Advisers, including Ministers, should bury their heads in shame for having failed in their duties to guide the President aright. It is my opinion that the President needs to change his advisers to save himself, his regime and the nation from further unwarranted and avoidable embarrassments. He may well need to heed to Aristotle’s admonition; no adviser may be spared so as to spare the ‘King’s regime’, and to regain national stability.
As spotted, the title of this commentary is in pidgin English; it was with intent. As literates, we seem to write to please only readers who understand plenty ‘Oyinbo’, forgetting that half of the population is not so educated to read a plethora of vocabulary.
In addition, I am inspired by writers who blend our culture, tradition, happenings in our surrounding and mother’s tongue in order to pass across their views in a staid but witty manner; Yomi Odunuga, Sonala Olumhense, Pius Adesanmi, Tunde Fagbenle, SOC Okenwa, most recently Tunji Ariyomo, just to cite a few fall into this category.
‘You don fall my hand’ is a native phraseology which in proper English means ‘You have disappointed me’. This locution rightly depicts President Goodluck Jonathan’s absolution of certified superlative rouge.
Last Tuesday, the National Council of States, an advisory body on policy making to the President, granted pardon to former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Also granted pardon were Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya; Brig. Gen. Abdulkarim Adisa; Maj-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju; Major Bello Magaji; Mohammed Lima Biu; and erstwhile boss of Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.
Predictably, of all the names, Alamieyeseigha’s has been singled out for pummeling. It was not unexpected of a man who, like his senior terrific thief James Ibori, magnetized a deleterious attention to us as a people. At present, opinions are divided with antagonists scoring high marks.
The pros believe that the number one citizen is being attacked since he hails from same state as Alams. This is incorrect. Absolutely, one is tempted to look at it from that perspective but it isn’t precisely what the grumble is about. We are talking about pride, morals, decency and of course impression of the international community. Have we short memory? Have we forgotten so soon that it took us a decade to repair the downright damage the military junta did to our image?
I can concoct the kind of pressure GEJ faced before he exonerated his former boss. He might not have actually wished to succumb knowing full well the consequence of such on his administration. However, bowing ultimately to the force was a monumental blunder that will remain on record. The apologists who did the idiosyncratic job of efficaciously convincing him, must have spoken extensively on the 2015 project, how they fought to install him as Commander-in-chief, reflect of his home state (and by extension South-south region), and other factors they rehearsed.
But then is there any sense in granting mercy to someone who in spite of everything is at risk of arrest? For crying out loud investigations are ongoing, so the President should have tactfully turned down the request by his kinsmen, insisting he would only let off Alams with the proviso that there are no further charges against him, home or abroad.
In good conscience, GEJ should not have easily erased the ex-convict tag off a man accused of allocating a chunk of state funds to himself and family, accumulating properties, investments and cash exceeding £10m – overseas that is. The loot lodged in local accounts might actually be close to that or above.
Adding their voice to the already gargantuan condemnation trailing this matter, the United States Government through its embassy said, “We see this as a setback in the fight against corruption.”
I am all the more so irritated each time I think about the threat by the USG that it may withhold a whopping $660.5 million it budgeted as assistance to Nigeria in its 2012 budget. It is germane to note that this figure is the highest when compared to any other sub-Saharan country except Ethiopia. Ladies and gentlemen, the import of the above is that we are about to lose more than N93 billion because of one obese crook who once changed into a woman.
Even if our leaders decide to ‘chop’ half of the USG financial support and would be kind to use the remainder on developmental projects, it would go a long way in stirring the standard of living of the impoverished electorates.
For criticizing the decision of Nigeria’s overall Oga at the top, his men say we are exhibiting sophisticated ignorance, a refined way of calling us ‘Olodos’. I myself take the slur in good faith. However, posterity will not only judge but also ruthlessly punish those hiding under the prerogative of office to unapologetically insult the poor masses who essentially want to see corrupt public officials get appropriate punishments and resultant ridicule.
This pardon is just one too many and if truth be told, President Goodluck Jonathan really ‘fall our hands’.
President Goodluck Jonathan’s pardon for Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha is expectedly eliciting quite a lot of surprise, indignation and condemnation. Public commentators and individual citizens have used the media to express their disappointment and anger; there is a palpable sense of rage and frustration on the Internet. On the surface and maybe to an outsider, such anger and indignation are understandable and logical because, let’s not forget, the beneficiary of this controversial pardon was a former air force officer turned politician, convicted of stealing public funds in Nigeria, gained international fame for money laundering and jumping bail, thanks to his ability to cross-dress and disguise.
I say this general indignation is understandable only on the surface because it is based on the assumption that Nigerians were not expecting such a move from this administration. Everybody is acting like a good innocent and hard work-driven population that has just accidentally fallen victim of some sort of unpredictable injustice. Is that really so? Can we all truly in our heart of hearts say that we knew Dr. Goodluck Jonathan well enough to vouch for and count on his being in tune with the general feeling that corruption is at the root of all the evils befalling our country? If so where is the proof? What exactly has he done to fight corruption in the past? These same questions can be asked of all those in power, but it is the President that issued this pardon, so let us stick to him.
We do not spend enough time and resources to explore and embed the rights and duties each of us has as a citizen. As a country, we spend too little time on civic education, and in that little time we do not take time to explain and understand that in democracy, indignation is a privilege not a right. For one to be able to complain about the way things are going, one needs to have done everything possible to avoid such state of things. For our indignation to be legitimate we need to have done or at least be ready to do our own bit.
None of those ruling us come from Mars. Before becoming President, Dr. Jonathan went through a series of electoral processes, including a period of electioneering. We all knew that he was deputy to Alamieyeseigha. How many of those that are so surprised and angry today took time to find out what his position was on the deeds and misdeeds of his former boss?
During the 2011 electioneering period, how many people deemed it necessary to find out if this man that was to be our party’s presidential flag bearer was complacent with or ignorant of the operations of his former boss? Did we ever wonder why he did not blow the whistle on him? I am sure any employer would ask this kind of questions if they knew their prospective driver or manager had close links to a fellow suspected of stealing (never mind if convicted).
A lot of time we complain about the behaviour and misconducts of those in office, but what have we done as a people to stop them from behaving in such ways? If on any every issue we attack or defend a public figure not on the merit of the question, but with reference to his ethnic group or declared religion, why should we expect such a person to act on merit? We cannot continue to pay deference to and celebrate those that become rich by looting our commonwealth or by abusing their offices and expect them to stop their plundering and mismanagement or just hope that others will not do the same once in power.
Miracles might happen but it is not the norm; if we want those in charge of our affairs to be decent and respectful of our being and wishes then we have to compel them to do so. We have to realise that citizenship and the right to exercise it come with duties and even sacrifices. Just as we spend time and use our intelligence to find the best barbers and hairdressers for our hair and best schools for our children or discover and purchase the best electronic gadgets, we need to invest time and courage for our country to prosper, gain and give dignity. Most Nigerians are not stupid, when we see people giving out money in order to get into office we cannot seriously believe that they are doing so for the interest of Nigeria. Nobody pays to serve.
Politicians will not by their own freewill or out of pure generosity or patriotism encourage citizens to be rational and independent; it is not in their interest. Where possible they will rather have their citizens blindly divided along ethno-religious cleavages so they can go to the centre to negotiate crumbles for you whilst they share the pie amongst themselves and cohorts.
Don’t believe the hype, democracy is not an easy stroll; to make it work we all have to be vigilant and ready to do our bit. Though it was the president that granted this pardon, we as citizens must also not lose sight of those that approved it. Some opposition representatives were in that Council, some ex this, ex that were also present, let us find out what they did to stop or expose this pardon.
