The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed a powerful explosion that occurred this morning in Lagos from a building suspected to be loaded with ‘knockouts’ brands of fireworks that are usually used during festive periods.
The explosion which further triggered fire outbreaks within the neighboring environments occurred from a building suspected to be a warehouse for storage of electrical items at Jankara Market by Adeniji Adele in Lagos Island Local Government Council of Lagos State.
Although the Search and Rescue Officers had hectic time to reach the densely populated area due to heavy traffic and crowds, other response agencies and volunteers mobilized were able to control the fire incidents in area with supports from residents.
While security agencies would investigate and determine the real cause of the explosion and fire outbreaks, casualty figures are yet to be determined but some residents who were injured while attempting to assist in putting off the fire have been taken to hospital for treatment.
The crash of a naval helicopter yesterday in which six persons, including the Governor of Kaduna State Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser General Andrew Owoye Azazi, were killed when the helicopter they were travelling burst into flames in the forest of Okoroba, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, shortly after take-off necessitated the sharing of this article I actually wrote a few months back after the crash of Taraba state Governor Dambaba Suntai’s Private Jet. This latest crash is surely one too many.
The recent crash of Governor Dambaba Suntai’s Private Jet and yesterday’s naval helicopter crash in which six persons, among the dead are the Governor of Kaduna State Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser General Andrew Owoye Azazi, ensured that Nigeria maintained its high ranking in global air crashes in the last two decades in consonant with African Airlines Associated indices which placed Nigeria top among 10 African countries with high air accidents.
Carnage by flying coffins has claimed thousands of lives, including eminent Nigerians, promising children and officers of the Nigerian Army. Ten Generals lost their lives in a monumental crash in September 2006. Even in war front no country loses ten Generals!
Unknown to many, the litany of air mishap in the country dates back to four years before Nigeria’s independence and not 1969 as widely documented.
Today, the news of Air crash is hackneyed. Multiple crashes in a single year, now considered far from heartbreaking.
From November 1969, when a Government owned DC-10 aircraft on a flight from London crash-landed in Lagos, it’s been a flurry, particularly in the last 20years, averaging one crash every other year.
Between November 1969 and October 2006, at least 1000 persons have been killed in plane crashes involving Nigeria, Nigerians or Nigerian-operated aircrafts.
With the perpetual deplorable state of Nigerian roads, official statistics released by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) recorded more than 9, 395 deaths in about 29,000 road accidents across Nigeria between 2010 and 2011 and more than 35, 559 injured in these accidents during thesame period. To those who could afford Air travel, a safer, reliable and faster alternative it was meant to be, but the statistics below has proven otherwise…
* June 24, 1956: A British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) four-engined Canadair C-4 Argonaut airliner registered G-ALHE crashed into a tree on departure from Kano Airport in Nigeria, 3 crew and 29 passengers were killed
* November 20, 1969: A government owned DC-10 aircraft on a flight from London crash landed and killed all 87 passengers and crew on board in Lagos
* 1973, A Boeing 707 crashed in Kano. 171 Nigerian Muslims returning from Mecca and 5 crewmen died in crash.
* March 1978: A Nigeria Airways plane crashed in Kano, 16 people died.
* December 3, 1988, Nigeria Airways Forker-28 crashed in Enugu, killing 103 passengers.
* December 1988: Skypower Brandeironte aircraft overshot Ilorin Airport runway leaving all passengers dead.
* February 24, 1991: British Helicopter crashed in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, killing all nine people on board.
* May 21, 1991: A Cessna Citation 550 of Ashaka Cement, crashed, killing all on board.
* June 26, 1991: An Okada Air Bac-11 crashed in Sokoto, three people died.
* July 11, 1991: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Canadian chartered DC-8 carrying pilgrims returning to Nigeria crashed after take-off, killing 261 people.
* September 26, 1992: Nigerian Air Force A C-130 plane crashed minutes after take-off from Lagos. All 200 on board killed.
* Ibrahim Abacha, son of Sani Abacha, was killed in a plane crash on January 17, 1996. The group “United Front for Nigeria’s Liberation” (UFNL) claimed responsibility for the crash.
* November 1996, ADC Plane at Ejirin, near Epe, controlled by Captain Sama, Plunged into lagoon. The aircraft touched down about halfway down the runway and eventually skidded off the runway off to one side. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by fire. Nine of the 129 passengers were killed.
* September 12, 1997: A NAF Dornier 228 in Bornu State ran into a ditch during takeoff, none of the 10 people died.
* October 26, 2000: Dornier aircraft plunged into a thick bush near the Niger Delta, 6 occupants injured.
* May 4, 2002: EAS Airline BAC 1-11 bound for Lagos plunged into a poor, densely populated suburb of Kano shortly after takeoff, killing 148. Dead included all 76 aboard and dozens on the ground.
* March 20, 2003: An ADC Boeing 737 from Calabar Airport skidded off the runway. 100 people on board escaped death.
* November 30, 2003: A Cargo aircraft of Hydro Cargo, Brussels, Belgium, crash landed.
* March 6, 2004: An Aenail spray aircraft with registration number 5NBEF belonging to Berfieex Nigeria Ltd, crashed at the Bauchi Airport.
* July 26, 2004: Pan African Airlines’ helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in Delta State, 4 people on board died.
* December 29, 2004: A Boeing 727 of Chanchangi Airlines belly-landed at the MMA
* December 29, 2004: A Kenya Airlines aircraft crashed – landed at the MMA due to gear fault.
* December 29, 2004: A Kenya Airlines aircraft crashed – landed at the MMA due to gear fault.
.* January 28, 2005: A Nigeria Air Force fighter plane crashed into a farmland in Yar Kanya, Kano State.
* February 25, 2005: ADC’s B73 aircraft had its tyre burnt while landing at Yola airport.
* March 27, 2005: A Boeing 737 of Bellview, one of its engines caught fire.
* June 12, 2005, Lagos: A Boeing 727-200 aircraft belonging to the domestic Chachangi Airlines overshot the runway at Murtala Muhammed Airport, while another overshot the runway at the airport in Jos in central Nigeria a day earlier (June 11, 2005).
* June 24, 2005: A Russian aircraft belonging to Harka Air crash – landed at the MMA, all the people on board died.
* July 6, 2005, Port Harcourt: An Air France A330 plane crashed into a herd of cattle at Port Harcourt airport sustaining serious damage and killing many of the cows. The airport had no perimeter fence and herdsmen usually take their cattle across the tarmac and sometimes abandon them there.
* July 13, 2005, Lagos: A Ugandan-registered cargo aircraft, belonging to Almiron Aviation, overshot the runway at Murtala Muhammed airport. There were no casualties.
* On July 23, 2005, a Lufthansa aircraft crash – landed at Lagos airport and was badly damaged, but no life was lost.
* October 22, 2005: A Bellview airline Boeing 737 carrying 117 people on board crashes soon after take-off from the Nigerian city of Lagos, killing everyone on board.
* December 10, 2005: A Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashes in the southern Nigerian city of Port Harcourt, killing 103 people on board including 75 school children.
* September 17, 2006: Air Force Dornier 228-212 aircraft (with 18 people on board) crashed into the hills of Ushongo village in Benue State, 18 nautical miles from its destination, Obudu in Cross River State; 18 people (including 10 army generals and 4 colonels) died.
* October 29, 2006: Ninety-six of the passengers who boarded the ADC flight from Abuja destined for the north-western city of Sokoto, died including the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslim, the Sultan of Sokoto.
* November 10, 2006: OAS Service Helicopter crashed in Warri, Delta state killing 4 on board.
* August 2, 2007: Bristow-owned helicopter crashed inside ExxonMobil facility in Port Harcout.
* March 15, 2008: Beechcraft 1900D plane marked 5N-JAH, belonging to Wing Aviation crashed in the mountainous forest of Busi in Cross River State on its way to Obudu airstrip. The wreakage was not found until 6 months after the disappearance of the aircraft. All 4 man crew on board died.
* March 8, 2011: HS-125 chartered aircraft crashed in Bauchi. No casualty.
* July 29, 2011: A Kwara State-bound helicopter crashed in Osun State killing all on board.
* June 3, 2012 – A Dana Air passenger plane carrying 147 people crashed in the Agege suburb of Lagos. killing all 153 passengers and crew on board. Several others also died as the ill-fated Dana Airline Flight 992 plane destroyed some buildings in the area, killing about 12 residents and injuring many.
The Dana air mishap is still the world’s worst air crash in 2012, Nigeria’s worst air crash since the 1992 air disaster that claimed 200 lives.
And most recently…
* October 25, 2012: Taraba State Governor Dambaba Suntai’s self piloted Cessna-208 private Jet crashed few metres to the Yola International Airport in Adamawa State.
To underscore the importance of air travel, Gov Suntai of Taraba State crashed his private jet, lucky to be alive with injury, was flown in another to Germany for ‘proper’ medical attention, yet over the years our leaders have neglected this sector.
Political appointments have taken the place of technocrats made evident in the announcement by Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah of Dana Air as the best airline in 2012 after its crash of June 3 this year. Such award leaves much to be desired.
Typical of Nigerian Government tactics of circumventing a problem, they’ve found a new hobby in private jet acquisition, the latest being the $45m bombardier private jet by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi amid the flood disaster in the state.
The Presidency is not left out as The Federal Executive Council had on August 12, 2010 approved $102m for the purchase of two Falcon 7X and $53.3m for one Gulfstream G550 aircraft to beef up the presidential fleet.
As Gov Dambaba Suntai and Yakowa’s crash has shown, private jet(s) acquisition does not guaranty air safety. Government should rather channel such funds at fighting corruption, appointing technocrats, infrastructure maintenance/upgrade and tackle other critical issues bedeviling the Aviation Ministry over the years.
Over the years, precisely, I have a personal phobia for Nigerian social clubs until I was recently invited by a staunch member of the Isoko country club, Otunba Engr Isaac Emiyede, a frontline and cutting edge South-South Action Congress of Nigeria leader in Lagos state to understudy the operation of the club and to celebrate the end of the year party with them which eventually convinced me that some Nigerian social clubs are meant to change the face of Nigeria’s leadership and nothing more.
Some Nigerian social clubs are formed as cult groups to cause havoc in the society but Isoko country club is a club of prayer warriors and a place to build future political and economic leaders in Nigeria. Having visited some of Nigerian social clubs, I discovered that some are mere gatherings to enrich themselves physically and display their ill-gotten wealth with no traceable root.
Isoko country club is highly assembled with intelligent and gifted men with promising future on how to build one Nigeria in all ramifications. Isoko country club is not meant for Isoko people only but only for those that have purposeful leadership in Nigeria. Isoko country is just a name but for high professionals that know the worth of leadership in the country .it is not a political cub but a club that looks into creative leadership of the home and Nigeria.Isoko country club is more accessible and comprehensive in terms of political and economic leadership to Isoko nation and Delta State.
Though the Isoko country club started its operation since August 25th, 1990 with just four amiable and good-natured members, but today, it has grown beyond imaginable numbers of people of sound professions but highly selective in terms of membership of club for not admitting shenanigans and tomfoolery into the club. The purpose of Isoko country club is for high intelligent networking but some social clubs have their own into cult group to cause trouble in the country. Some Nigerian social clubs are being operated by half-baked people with myopic interests. Although social clubs are personal operation which ends of year witness the celebration of low, medium and high clubs in Nigeria? Social clubs are meant to network for business connections and others.
Isoko country club discusses issues that are paramount of importance of developing quality leadership in Isokoland. The membership cut across everybody in Nigeria and for those that know the intellectual leadership and to see the great future of Nigeria as country.
In my face book page recently, somebody commented that how many bottles of drink did I take when I was invited as a guest, point of correction, Isoko country club is full of anointed and spirit-filled pastors and their wives,. Every Nigerian profession is fully represented while most of them schooled in foreign countries with intimidating credentials. We have sound doctors, engineers, lawyers, publishers, technocrats and just mention but a few. Some so-called social clubs have ruined some decent Nigerian family homes especially the women folk while some men clubs are meant to create evil things in the land. Some clubs are converted to secret society but Isoko club is a different one.
This club is meant to proffer solutions to Isoko leadership. Isoko country club comprises of first class politicians who know their academic worth in the society. Isoko country club is rated among the first class clubs in Nigeria like Isoko club 2000, Ikoyi club, Atamu club, Ngwa social club etc. Isoko country club is a registered non profit socio- cultural organization which sole aim to foster unity and promote the interest of Isoko nation and Nigeria. It is not a gathering of blocked heads but for future leaders of our time as well as to build a virile social club founded on justice, unity and professionalism of Isoko in Diaspora and Nigeria.
This move was pioneered by brave, articulated, daring and visionary leaders of the 21st century knowledge gurus like a resounding prominent Isoko sons like Engr Johny Onozefe and three others. The club is opened to everybody that has creative vision to move Isoko nation forward not on political basis but social networking on objective basis to see Isoko nation in the vanguard of leadership in Nigeria.
Since the inception of the club, there has been a tremendous achievement in consolidating the vision of the members. One of the benefits of this intellectual and cerebral club is that Isoko country club is a place of cross- fertilization of ideas among products of creative mindsets whose intimidating resume are essential factors of progress of the club, The likes of Otunba Engr Isaac Emiyede, frontline ACN south-south leader and Ikorodu Iyede branch chairman has largely contributed to the developmental growth of the club at all levels while Engr Solomon Okpithe, the Deputy governor of the club is another icon of achiever with humbly spirit of association without qualms.
Engr Johny Onozefe is the Governor of the club and one of the founding fathers with creative mindset to build leaders with characters of visionary leadership. Others are Barrister Alfred Jarikre, Engr Sunny Iteire, Dr Chief Agbajileke OBJ, Tom Ededhoma, Chief Victor Oyoku,Patrick Ukpowe, Mike Ilivieda and others. Isoko nation must recognized the presence of Isoko country club and make it a remedy for creative leadership in the region. Isoko country club has given hopes to Isoko in digent students, personal scholarships and humanitarian services to the society. It is time for credible and reliable people to join Isoko country club now.
It was a tragic Christmas yesterday in Piri village, in the Potiskum local government area of Yobe State, after armed men attacked the community leaving tears, blood and sorrow in their wake.
By the time the men disappeared, at least six worshippers at the local branch of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) had been killed, the church burnt while scores of worshippers were reported missing.
The pastor of the church is believed to be among the dead, but that could not be independently confirmed on Tuesday.
The gunmen were said to have descended on the church during a midnight mass.
The BBC quoted Zakari Adamu of the Network for Justice, a human rights group, as saying the attackers also attacked the homes of villagers.
The chairman of Yobe State branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Idi Garba, told news agency AFP that many worshippers at ECWA were still missing.
Spokesperson for the Yobe command of the Nigeria Police, Adamu Salihu, confirmed the attack, saying unknown gunmen had attacked the village in the early hours of Tuesday.
Mr. Salihu told the News Agency of Nigeria there was no bomb explosion but that there were gun attacks with some casualties.
“We have received report on the attack but there are no details yet.
“There may be casualties but no accurate figure yet, we are still awaiting the details from our men in Potiskum Division,” he said.
Maiduguri too
There were also reports of attacks on worshipers at the First Baptist Church in Maiduguri on Christmas Day.
Although details of the incident were sketchy as at the time of this report, a deacon and five church members were reported killed.
Spokespersons of the Borno State Command of the Police and the Joint Task Force could not be reached for comments.
Gunmen shoot LG Chairman in Kano
In Kano, another set of gunmen shot and injured Kambai Sumaila, the Interim Management Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson for the Kano Police Command, Magaji Majiya, who confirmed the incident, said the driver of the chairman was killed on the spot while Mr. Sumaila suffered injuries.
Mr. Majiya said investigation regarding the shooting had begun, adding that the attack occurred early on Tuesday.
Responsibility for attacks
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but security agencies suspect the extremist Boko Haram sect might be behind the incidents.
Boko Haram set out seeking to impose a stricter form of Sharia or Islamic law in northern Nigeria and end corruption.
Violence by the group, which had only religious interest in the past, is traceable to the five days of clashes in July 2009 between the group and members of the security forces in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kano states that left hundreds dead, including at least 30 police officers.
The police summarily executed the captured Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, along with several dozens of his followers in front of the police headquarters in Maiduguri.
Dozens of its members were also arrested.
Boko Haram frequently said its attacks on the government, especially the police, are in revenge for these killings and an attempt to set free members incarcerated by the police.
Recently, the ideology behind Boko Haram attacks got more confusing with increasing attacks on schools, churches, mosques, media houses and almost any soft target within its reach.
Reports reaching 247ureports indicates that there has been an explosion in Lagos state. The Explosion is said to have occurred around 9am this morning, as an eyewitness said that a powerful explosion struck a building, which contains fireworks.
According to an eyewitness report, it involved a multi-storey building packed which is packed with fireworks in the Idumagbo area of Lagos Island, Lagos.
As gathered explosion affected nearby buildings and cars is said to have been caused by a Fireworks storage facility in Jankara market Idumota. The building is said to be located on Oko Awo Street in the popular Jankara area of Lagos, close to King Ado Secondary School.
According to the Witnesse the explosion went off around 9.30a.m as the city marked Boxing Day amid a lull in business activities. The eyewitness also, fire explosion has consumed two blocks of buildings on Lagos Island. The blast blew out windows of a school across the street
Wounded persons have been taken to the hospital with serious burns even as firefighters and rescue agencies swiftly deployed on the scene and battled the raging inferno.
As part of measures to boost the revenue profile of Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson has inaugurated the state board of internal revenue with Mr. Torukuru Godson as its executive chairman.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson charged the board to develop new revenue streams and work out appropriate modalities to block all leakages and wastages in the state.
Hon. Dickson, who described the assignment of the board as critical to the present administration’s restoration agenda, urged it to work closely with the ministry of finance and a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), which are expected to perform oversight functions on the activities of the board.
Lamenting the low Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) level of the state, the Governor noted that his administration would not depend on federal allocation to execute its revolutionary infrastructural development initiative.
According to Hon. Dickson, government intends to take aggressive steps to shore up its IGR to cover all recurrent expenditures of the state.
The Governor, who decried the situation where multinational oil companies carry out their operations in the state and pay taxes outside, vowed to explore all legitimate means to put the unwholesome practice to a halt.
To this end, he directed the board to liaise with the Attorney-General of the state with a view to creating an enabling legal environment to address the situation.
“I don’t see any reason why multinational companies operating in the state with the massive degradation they wreak on our environment will not pay tax to our state…. Where we need amendment of the law,
Work with the Attorney-General that I have already mandated so that we can create an enabling legal environment when necessary”.
Responding, the Executive Chairman of the board, Mr. Torukuru Godson expressed gratitude to Governor Dickson for their appointment and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them.
The committee which is expected to brief the state executive council at least once every three months has Barr. (Mrs) Ezougha Ogborodi as Legal Adviser and Secretary.
Other members of the committee include Mr. Anthony Ikobho, Chief Felix Pere-Kalama, Mr. Joseph Freeman Isowo and Anthony Audy with two directors to represent the Inland Revenue Board.
The Iranian navy is to begin a week of maneuvers by the end of December that will include the testing of new weapons, combat simulations and electronic warfare, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.
Iranian Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari was quoted as saying that the war games, dubbed Veleyat-91, would also involve Iranian-produced drones, submarines, two new hovercraft and destroyers.
According to the regime-sanctioned Press TV, the Iranian navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to defend naval routes and provide security for Iranian tankers and merchant ships.
“War games are aimed at enhancing preparedness and testing new weapons and exercising modern tactics. Since Iran is the most important security provider in the region, the Islamic Republic of Iran embarks on conducting these war games in a bid to boost preparedness to better ensure security,” Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi was quoted by the Fars news agency as saying.
Revolutionary Guards Admiral Ali Fadavi stressed the “high capability” of the Iranian navy, and said “Americans do not know the power” or Tehran’s maritime force.
Iran has faced increased international sanctions over the last few years as the US and its allies try to force the Islamic Republic to abandon its nuclear program.
Israel has indicated a readiness to resort to the use of force and the US has not removed the possibility of military action against Iran in order to stop or deter its alleged drive to a nuclear weapon.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz as a retaliatory action if attacked, in order to hurt the global economy. The US military has said that it is is prepared to ensure that the strait remains open to traffic and is ready to face any challenge in the area.
One-fifth of the world’s oil transports pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Before 2011 elections Nigerian opposition parties have made serious efforts to form a united alliance to dismantle PDP from 16 years on the grief of power. These efforts did not yield desired result, eventually they all parted their ways.
After 2011 elections proper, it became clear had the opposition articulate their positions and galvanized the goodwill of Nigerians across various strata and divide, they could be able to at least forced INEC to conduct for the first time a run-off of elections in Nigeria.
In the current dispensation the opposition are at the helm of affairs in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Ekiti, and Osun in the former Western region. And controlling Imo and Anambra in the Eastern region. And Yobe, Borno, Nassarawa and Zamfara states in the North. Virtually holding sway in one third of the country.
In less than a year after failing to capture power at the centre, the opposition is now gearing up early to forged a common front and re-engineer their platforms to have an alternative and effect a positive change to the current political set up in the country.
The parties apparatchiks are making headway to formed a new party between CPC, the party that came second in the last presidential elections, ACN the party which sweeps all Yoruba dominated states and ANPP which had controlled many states in the North since 1999.
The aim of the fusion and the idea of single entity with national outlook is for progressives to come together to push out Jonathan government and end the misrule and bad governance of the PDP, which according to them has failed Nigerians in all sectors. There is no employment for the youth, no security, and no power and above all the rate of corruption has increased and highly placed Nigerians can’t even be touched.
Now the vexing question is, which option is better for the oppositions in true sense, a strong and formidable alliance or total merger? Joe Igbokwe spokesman of ACN in Lagos says “The merger is at an advanced stage, it is going to work and all the needed measures have been put in place to ensure it works.” Also in one of the several interviews he gave to press, National Chairman of ANPP, Chief Ogbonnoya Onu said ” The whole thing is on the table, you come, we discuss, though the ultimate thing is for us to get a merger. But if we can’t get merger, then coalition or alliance, as some people may call it.”
But Shekarau, the Chairman of National Re-building and Inter-Party Contact Committee of opposition parties has move further in foreclosing any option of alliance. ” The merger plan will be concluded not later than the first quarter of 2013 so that we would have at least two years to go into every nook and cranny of the country before the 2015 general elections” According to him the new identity of the merger is to be unveiled in 2013 taking a symbol, a flag and any other identity from the parties, so that every party will have a sense of belonging or all will just forget their identities for a new one.
It seems former Kano state governor and presidential flag bearer of ANPP Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has accepted the idea of merger hook, line and sinker. Likewise ACN leaders and strongmen of CPC.
Even though, there are insinuations in some quarters that in the first, second and this republic experience has proved that alliance is not the best option. But looking closely we will noticed that all previous coalitions were built on shaky foundations culminating in their failure. Also taking into cognizance our democratic past during these periods all efforts at alliance were only marriage of convenience both NPC/NCNC after elections in the first republic, there was no similar alliance before elections in the presidential experience of the NPN era in the second republic and the PDP rule in the fourth.
That is why I doubt much in the feasibility of these forces to converge as a single entity and defeat PDP in the forthcoming 2015 general elections. This is after considering two factors; enormous influence of Buhari and his interest in CPC, his party, which is highly enmeshed in crises across all its stronghold in one hand and that of interested parties in ANPP/ACN on the other hand.
My fear is when opposition came as a single body they risk being an easy prey to the ruling PDP. Whenever PDP used hammer at the right position, it will wound the opposition and may even killed it. It is simpler for it to confront an enemy with gigabytes of internal liabilities and local problems. But if a working relationship was build between various fronts and which is sustainable, even if PDP was able to penetrate through backdoor the impact will be minimal and can be tackled from many angles.
Shekarau’s committee and other party leaders should developed a frame work for the opposition parties to retain their states and formed an alliance through these suggested scenarios. Firstly, the parties should concentrate on finding a suitable presidential candidate from North West geo-political zone and his running mate from South West Zone. This is because CPC is very popular with the conservative Northern electorate, it is also easier to cheap on its popularity. Similarly, since South West zone have the culture of voting en bloc conceding vice presidential candidate to the area will translate to huge votes and patronage.
Secondly, established opposition parties which are not in government of the state and who are willing to participate in the merger should collapsed all their structures and people in the party of the government. What in intended to show is DPP, CPC, ANPP, APGA, LP in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Edo and Osun should collapses into ACN. But if there happen to be a strong candidates of either NASS or state assemblies from other parties than the leading government of states then should be given chance to run on the platform of ACN. This arrangement should apply in Nassarawa state for CPC and also for ANPP in Zamfara, Borno and Yobe states, LP in Ondo state. If its effected, the other parties should use their energies, resources and give their full support to the success of the leading opposition party in the state. But this should be with a proviso that when successful, a unity government will be formed were all will participate in the development of the state.
Thirdly, states were in the previous elections have performed well or were able to formed government and currently have either members of NASS or state assembly, other parties should collapsed into the leading opposition. For instance, in Kano ACN, CPC should merge into ANPP, but if there are strong contenders for elective offices with capacity to win in CPC/ACN they should be allowed and given chance under the banner of ANPP to be the flag bearers. Using this formula, Sokoto as a stronghold of Bafarawa should be handed over to ANPP the rest of parties to follow. Also since national chairman of ANPP hails from Ebonyi, other parties: APGA and PPA should submerged into ANPP. But in Katsina, Kaduna, Abuja , Bauchi, Gombe, and Niger states all other parties should collapsed into CPC as the party has a strong outing in the previous elections and there followers are still intact. In Plateau, Benue, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Bayelsa and Taraba ACN should be given a field day there. Imo state and other states of Igbo land with the exception of Ebonyi here APGA should be allowed to lead others. In the remaining South-south states Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River any party that came second in the most recent elections, its aspirants should be supported wholeheartedly.
May be this simple political arithmetic will assist opposition parties and serve as another option to consolidate their local gains at the centre. This calculations was based on its practicability with little casualties, and to avoid and address mass grievances that may arise in the cause of merger. To further and strengthen internal democracy. Also their structures will remained firmed and intact, even when there are need for reshufflement, accommodation of new members with their established leanings and groupings, in the alliance will not be as cumbersome as if a new party is formed.
The essence of this method in all, is to defeat PDP in 2015 elections, first at local level, then at national. The moment opposition were able to capture power at the centre there parties should came under one strong umbrella for effectiveness, control and stability. It is here after consolidation of power the issue of frame work and structure of total merger will come up for deliberation, adoption and implementation, not now!
A UK based organisation The International Lawyers for Justice and Peace in Africa(TILJPA) has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over an alleged plot to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to intimidate a former governor of Kogi State who was elected on the platform of the ANPP.
In its December 24th petition to the President, the UK-based organization queried why the EFCC is
The petition which was signed by Paul Smith alleged that the invitation of Prince Abubakar Audu by the EFCC for interrogation and subsequent rearraignment was an abuse of court process.
The petition said: “We wish to draw your kind attention to our concerns on the many petitions from our members in Nigeria on recent actions of the Economic Financial Crime Commission of Nigeria and the shocking allegations against it.
“This is coming after extensive study and consultations on the many petitions forwarded to our office by our members, including a well-circulated press release by Chief Mike Ozekome (SAN) Chambers, regarding the escalation of threats of harassment and even physical attacks against Prince Audu, a former Governor of Kogi Sate.
The petition condemned EFCC’s letter No: CR: 3000 / EFCC / ABJ / ISOS / TM.11 / VOL. 7/ 37 dated 11th December, 2012 inviting Prince Audu for an interrogation over an undisclosed on-going investigation activities involving the former Governor, with a view to freshly arraigning him before a Court in Abuja in the face of a pending charge duly initiated by the same EFCC at the High Court of Justice presided over by Justice S. T. Hussaini with respect to the same offences allegedly committed by the Prince Abubakar Audu during his tenure as Governor amounts to a gross abuse of the process of court.
“Any organisation that is serious about fighting corruption in Nigeria should know that Prince Abubakar cannot legally be arraigned and / or prosecuted by the EFCC or any other person or authority within the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect of offences allegedly committed during his tenure as Governor of Kogi state between May 1999 and May 2003 when there is subsisting a charge pending before the High Court of Justice, Lokoja presided over by Hon. Justice S.T. Hussaini and the Court of Appeal, Abuja in Appeal No: CA / A / 381c / 2011, alleging the same offences committed during the same period and arising from same facts as the pending and extant charges.”
The organization declared that the unlawful invasion of the residence of Prince Abubakar Audu in the early hours of 11th December, 2012 without any prior invitation and without a valid search warrant or warrant of arrest, under the pretext of arresting him and the subsequent wide publicity accorded the invasion by the EFCC in the print, electronic and internet media without any prior invitation to the effect amounts to crass irresponsibility, undue sensationalsim, humiliation, intimidation, and invasion of the former Governor’s right to privacy and family life contrary to the provisions of Sections 37 of the Constitution if the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is a shame that a responsible organisation like the EFCC should know that the Supreme Court decision delivered on November 23, 2012 overruling his appeal “did not effectively and finally terminate his trial on the – 80 count charge at the High Court of Justice, Lokoja.
“We therefore protest in the strongest terms against the purported use of the EFCC for the purpose of harassment and intimidation. The information made available by our members in Nigeria shows that the current involvement of the EFCC in the matter may be rightly interpreted as promoting institutionalized intimidation in a democracy”.
The organization said while it believes in anti-corruption campaign, it should not be used to criminalise political opponents.
The petition added: “While we applaud and endorse any initiative by the EFCC to fight corruption in Nigeria, we however do not believe that criminalising political opponents can ever serve that purpose.
“We strongly feel that a focused organisation like the EFCC under the leadership of highly respected Ibrahim Lamorde should take decisions based on merit, not politics or the party involved
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) heartily congratulates the Nigerian people for stoically wading through a very horrendous year, largely made so by the deliberate pauperization policy of the PDP-led ruling Federal government. A year that started with the crude and perilous forty-nine percent increase of petrol pump price by a very cruel and insensitive regime, eventually unveiled the most bizarre incongruence in national life in the over five decades’ existence of the Nigerian State!
President Goodluck Jonathan, in his season’s message to Nigerians, said inter-alia: “No one should doubt that we have the political will and determination to deliver on our promise of positive changes in the living conditions of our people in the shortest possible time….. It is my hope and expectation that more of the efforts, actions and measures we are already undertaking in these areas will successfully come to fruition next years and make the results of the diligent project planning and execution being done under this administration more apparent to all Nigerians.” It is doubtful if the President truly believes that Nigerians can trust him on this one, after many broken promises in the past one year and sheer unwillingness to assuage the cruelty unleashed on them by his administration’s lethargy and incompetence. Indeed, this President and his forebears in the ruling behemoth have collectively mismanaged – in the last thirteen years – the hopes of Nigerians and brought the Nation into impecunious status through unprecedented corruption and profligacy.
With N2.67 Trillion and N1.05 Trillion said to have been spent on fuel subsidy in 2011 and 2012 respectively, this administration has unwittingly created a bleeding pipe – in which the scarce resources of State are siphoned into private pockets of cronies and acolytes of the regime. The conundrum that this Administration has brought the Nation is that: any increase in world crude oil Price would not translate into the prosperity of the Nigeria and her Citizens. The administration of the fuel subsidy, under the regime, has become a phenomenon in legendary opacity and monstrous corrupt tendencies.
On security, the administration has demonstrated lack of capacity in tackling the myriad of insecurity issues that have assailed the Nation in the outgoing year. After each deadly bomb blast- with attendant fatalities- it had become a regular template of Presidential response to listen to assurances of investigation and security cover for all under the Nation space. This is why, as a Party, we believe President’s season’s message is a damp squib.
An Administration that continually carries on with nauseous impunity, whilst the people’s rights to good living are continually being trampled upon, cannot be trusted. An Administration, that is incapable of prioritizing the Nation’s need as against the avaricious comfort of its Principals and minions, cannot be trusted. An Administration that, through its character and body language continually plays up the ethno-religious fault lines of the Nation’s geo-politics, cannot be trusted. An Administration, that continually deals in deliberate mendacity and employs obscurantist policy as its philosophy, cannot be trusted.
As a Party, we know too well about the extemporaneous foundation of this regime. It was more interested in seizing political Power rather than the adequate planning for effectual governance. We have equally noted that the same national existential conditions, that brought untold anguish and increased the squalid environments of the Nation in the last one year, have not changed. It is easily discernible, therefore, that the President’s speech was meant to fulfill a hollow ritual and not the communication based on perspicacious planning for a better future. On our part, we wish the Nigerian people Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.
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