The European Union today approved €20 million financial aid from the stabilization support package for Mali. The financial assistance that is the first tranche under the Instrument for Stability (IfS) will be used to support Mali’s law enforcement and justice services, the Malian local authorities, dialogue and reconciliation initiatives and the first phases of the upcoming electoral process. EU Member State agencies and other partners, including the UNDP and civil society organizations will work in order to achieve positive results for the country.

As EU High Representative Catherine Ashton stated: “This first stabilisation support package is yet another contribution from the EU to assist Mali to fully restore State authority and stability. It will also help the Malian people through support for the restoration of basic State services. In the coming weeks, the EU will take further decisions to contribute to international efforts in support of Mali and to help the Malian Government and people achieve long term stability, security and development.”

The IfS stabilisation support package includes five main components: support for the restoration of security and protection of civilians through urgently required equipment, support to Malian local authorities to re-establish the presence of the State throughout the country, promotion of dialogue, reconciliation initiatives and support for efforts to reduce radicalisation and violent extremism, contribution to the first phases of the electoral process and finally, technical assistance to support local authorities in their efforts to stabilize Mali.

Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs announced on 12 February the overall aid to Mali will amount to some €250 million.

According to Reuters, presidential election in Mali will take place on July 7, while legislative elections will be held on July 21. These elections are critical to some Western governments, including the United States and Canada, and to some African governments.

Gunmen kidnapped seven foreigners and killed a security guard
when they stormed the compound of Lebanese construction
company Setraco in northern Nigeria’s Bauchi state early on
Sunday, the police said.

Among those abducted were a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and more
than one Lebanese worker, including two women, local government
chairman Adamu Aliyu and security sources said.

Northern Nigeria is plagued by attacks and kidnappings by Islamist
groups. Al Qaeda aligned group Ansaru claimed the kidnap in
December of a French national who is still missing.

Bauchi Police Chief Mohammed Ladan said the gunmen attacked a
police station and a prison overnight before storming the
construction firm’s compound in Jama’are town.

“We repelled the attack on police station and the security men at
the prison yard also repelled the attack, but they burnt two vehicles
in Jama’are police station,” Ladan said.

“They then attacked Setraco construction, killed a local security
guard and they succeeded in kidnapping people.”

The Italian foreign ministry confirmed one of its nationals was taken
in the raid. A spokesman for the British Embassy in Abuja said it
was investigating.

–

Source: Reuters

Delta state government has terminated the contract for the Multi- Million Naira Asaba Township Stadium.

The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this at the Asaba Manner Prayer and Anointing Service said he has directed that the contract be re-awarded and completed within 6 months time.

Dr. Uduaghan explained that the contract was terminated to ensure the speedy completion of the stadium which has been re-named Stephen Keshi Stadium and avoid the project becoming a white Elephant one.

The governor promised that he would complete all on-going projects and gave assurance that there would be no abandoned projects in the state before he handed over in 2015.

His words “l have told God that l am not going to leave any abandoned project in this state. We have been having challenges with the contractors in charge of this stadium. It was about becoming an abandoned project but this will not happen because it will be completed soon.”

He therefore invited the Founder of Our Daily Manna Devotional who officiated at the Asaba Manna Prayer and Anointing Service Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe to pray against the spiritual inhibition stalling the progress of the project.

Dr. Uduaghan regretted that a lot of people were hinging the slow progress of work at the stadium on what they called the cemetery issue attached to the location of the project and therefore enjoined the man of God to invoke the spirit of God on the stadium site to neutralize any negative spiritual inhibition.

The governor enjoined Deltans that instead of criticising his inadequacies they should pray to God to give him strength to enable him move the state to a higher pedestal.

He said that there was no one in the world who was perfect even as he said it was impossible to please everybody adding that pleasing the world was a thing no one had achieved.

Emphasising further he said “ It is impossible to please everybody. I am not perfect, l have my weaknesses and inadequacies. So instead of criticizing me pray to God to give me the capacity to do what is proper and good for the generality of Deltans so that we can move our state forward.”

Dr. Uduaghan commended Deltans for their support especially the man of God Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe who he described as his spiritual father for their contributions towards the economic, spiritual and socio- political development of the state.

Founder of the Daily Manna Devotional, Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe commended Governor Uduaghan for the economic transformation of the state especially the construction of the Airport, Roads and other infra-structures.

He also commended the state governor for making it possible for the religious programme to be held in Asaba and prayed for God to protect all Deltans.

Packing sand from the Stephen Keshi’s Stadium, Dr. Kwakpovwe prayed against any negative force stalling the completion of the stadium.

His words” I bind and completely destroy every negative force holding back the progress of the Stephen Keshi Stadium. I bind all arrows pointing to destroy this good project and all negative tendencies will return to senders a thousand times.”

Highlight of the occasion was when he called out the governor and his family for prayers especially for the 25^th Anniversary of the marriage of the governor and his wife.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said the PDP is exposing its own folly by blaming the glaring marginalisation

of the Yoruba by the Jonathan Administration on the ACN, saying the PDP has nothing but total contempt for the

Yoruba in particular and Nigerians in general.

Reacting to the allegation by Dr Doyin Okupe that the ”Yoruba people in the ACN conspired against the Yoruba”

to scuttle the election of a Yoruba as House Speaker, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,

said in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday that ACN is not bound by the shifty and phoney zoning formula of the PDP.

”If the PDP had indeed wanted a Yoruba as Speaker, the party should either have won enough seats in the South-west

or used its majority in the House to push through its anointed candidate. Failure to ensure the election of its candidate is

a reflection of the insincerity of the PDP about the zoning of the post to Yoruba and the gross indiscipline in the party of

tattered umbrella.

”In any case, the last option open to the PDP would have been to support any other Yoruba for the post across party lines.

We the ACN have very capable members in the House to serve as Speaker. But the truth is that the ruling party wants a

PDP member, not a Yoruba, for the post.

”Therefore we are not surprised that the PDP easily acquiesced to the defeat of its Yoruba candidate for the post of

Speaker of the House. The PDP zoning formula is pivoted on convenience rather than principle, After all, the zoning was easily

jettisoned to pave the way for Jonathan to contest as President,” it said.

ACN said even if the PDP had not succeeded in giving the post of House Speaker to Yoruba in accordance with its so-called

zoning formula, it could have rewarded them with known choice ministries or other top appointments, instead of totally relegating

a whole people into irrelevance in its scheme of things.

The party slammed the PDP for playing the ethnic card, and rejected the cheeky and devilish move by the PDP to pigeon-hole

the ACN into an ethnic cocoon.

”We are a national party and our spread attests to it. We have shown by supporting the election of Aminu Tambwal as Speaker

of the House that our agenda is not sectional but national, and we have no apologies to offer for that

”Let the PDP continue to wallow in insufferable arrogance and disdain for the electorate, by sharing posts before elections are

concluded. It is like sharing the parts of an animal that has yet to be killed. This is the stuff of which the PDP is made, and that is

why it is crumbling now like a pack of cards,” it said.

Prince Chukwuemeka Onyesoh writes South-East Governors Pleading with them to rescue Ohanaeze from the pit into which Uwechue plunged it. He reveals very many duplicitous activities in Ohanaeze under Uwechie. Read on:

–

OKPALA EZE NA NRI CHUKWUEMEKA I. ONYESOH

NRIENWELANI DRIVE,

OFF FIRST AVENUE,

INDEPENDENCE LAY-OUT,

ENUGU.

PHONE: 08033125223

08024518268

14^th Feb. 2013.

The Governors of the South-East,

Thro’ the Chairman,

South-East Governors’ Forum,

Government House,

Awka.

Your Excellencies,

GENUINE RESOLUTION ON PREVIOUSLY RESOLVED OHANAEZE IMBROGILO:

Valentine and Lenten greetings to your Excellencies. May I first of all crave your indulgence to allow me poke my uninvited nose into an Ohanaeze matter your Excellencies have decided to resolve in your own style. I do so with the best of intentions for peace and progress in Igbo land. I have nothing personal at stake. At over 70, I am swallowing some bit of my personal pride by inviting myself into a discussion. However, I find solace in the fact that my fore-bears of Nri never waited to be invited to settle disputes between warring communities in Igbo land, when in Igbo was Igbo and truth reigned supreme over false-hood.

On 15^th Nov. 2012, I and fellow compatriot, Chief Oyibo Chukwu, filed in an Enugu High Court suit no. E/435/012.  The intention of the suit is to stem the monumental erosion of values in our own dear Ohanaeze Ndigbo. We had no ambitions except to reclaim Ohanaeze from the personal fiefdom into which Chief Uwechue had converted it, with nobody seemingly raising objections.

Imeobi  Ohanaeze and General National Assembly (GNA) used to sit monthly and determine policies/set policy guide lines for the President –General and his executive but in Chief Uwechue’s 4 years, he called only 4 Imeobi meetings and one general assembly. The net effect was that in the 4 years, Chief Uwechue trampled on Ohanaeze Constitution as if it did not exist. The summary of our claims before Enugu High Court are (1) that Chief Uwechue’s legitimate tenure expired on 29^th Jan. 2011 and therefore he is incompetent to conduct any lawful election in Ohanaeze in 2013, and (2) He illegally registered two Foundations in the name of Ohanaeze, collected and spent huge sums of money in the name of the Ohanaeze Foundations and must return those Foundations to Ohanaeze and account for all the monies collected.

A summary of the duplicitous claims being asserted by Chief Uwechue and, unfortunately, Chief Nduka Eya, is as follows:

1. Chief Uwechue was elected and sworn-in to a single term of two years on 29^th Jan. 2009. I conducted his election, published the result and assisted Hon. Justice GU Ononiba (Rtd. CJ, Anambra State) in swearing him in on the same Constitution that enabled his predecessor – Dr. Dozie Ikedife – to serve only two years and hand over to him.
2. 2.      On 6^th Nov. 2010, Chief Uwechue called an Imeobi meeting where he claimed to have amended the Ohanaeze Constitution Article 11 iv(c) extending his tenure of office from two to four years. Unfortunately for him, Nigeria’s laws forbid retroactive legislation. Only Buhari, as a military ruler decreed retroactively and executed Mr. Owo and two others with the retrospective effect of his decree. Buhari is still paying for the national out-rage against this despotic display of power. Again unfortunately for Chief Uwechue, he issued a communiqué of that same Imeobi meeting of 30^th Oct. 2010, which he advertised in the Sun newspaper of Friday 5^th Nov. 2010 and that advertised communiqué does not support his claim that article 11 iv(c) was ever amended. The clause “ It (Imeobi) approved the extension of the tenure of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its Executive  by two year” does not mean by any stretch of imagination , an amendment of the Constitution.
3. 3.      On 6^th Nov. 2010 summoned the lone National General Assembly (NGA) of his regime to amend the Constitution and give himself extra two years in office. The rule is that the NGA must ratify whatever clause the Imeobi was proposing for amendment by not less two-thirds majority of members of the total membership of the General Assembly. To ensure easy ride of his proposal, he deployed more than 90 battle-ready riot police men in the Ohanaeze national head-quarters at 7 Park Ave Enugu, the venue of the meeting. I was there like I was in the 30^th Oct. Imeobi meeting. Again, no amendment clause was proposed and none was ratified. The communiqué issued by Chief Uwechue’s National Executive Committee, attached, confirms that the NGA amended no clause of Ohanaeze Constitution.  Resolution 1 of the communiqué, “In accordance with article 29 of the Ohanaeze Constitution, that amendments should be made, to the constitution to provide that the national and state offices be a one term of four years and that the current Executive Committee shall remain in office till December 2012 as approved by Imeobi on 30^th October 2010” does not mean that the constitution was amended.
4. 4.      In answer to our suit of 22^nd Nov. 2012, Chief Uwechue, conscious of the fact that he would perjure if he answered any of the claims against him by affidavit statement, on 15/1/13 filed a written address to his notice of preliminary objection without, an affidavit. He attached a copy of Ohanaeze Constitution with 2-year single tenure for the office of President General.
5. 5.      On 21^st Jan. 2013, we filed a motion for restorative order on the purported election Chief Uwechue claimed to have conducted on 12^th Jan. 2013 despite the fact that he was served all court processes including Motion on Notice on 13^th Dec. 2012. We further filed a written address in answer to his preliminary objection.
6. 6.      After examining the full implications of our paragraphs16,17, and 18  of our proposed statement of claim and finding that his two communiqués admit that there was no amendment of the Ohanaeze Constitution in the meetings of Imeobi and NGA of 30^th October and 6^th Nov. 2010 respectively, Chief Uwechue turned around and claimed that he is relying on a constitution amended or ratified on 30^th Nov. 2003 and attached it to his written address in reply to our written address in opposition to his preliminary objection (relevant pages of that constitution attached). That Constitution dated 27^th Jan, 2004 admits a 4-year single tenure for the office of President-General and other elected officials.
7. 7.      Not being an active member of Ohanaeze Nigbo before his election in 2009, Chief Uwechue was not aware that he was exposing himself to out-right falsehood, deception and forgery on account of following non-controversial facts:

(a)   The Traditional rulers of South-East had on 25^th Jan. 2006, reviewed the matter of two-year and four-year tenure and came to the conclusion that the 2-year tenure Constitution of Ohanaeze is the genuine Constitution of Ohanaeze. Their communiqué was published in the national dailies;

(b)    On 3^rd Feb. and 5^th April 2006, South-East Bishops and Arch-Bishops met with Ohanaeze leaders on the two sides of the divide at the DRAGG Centre, Emene. Both sides made very lengthy presentations, at the end of which the church leaders agreed that the tenure of the President-General was 2 years but pleaded that Chief Irukwu, then President-General of Ohanaeze whose term had expired, should be given some soft landing by graciously allowing him 6 months to wind up.

(c)    South-East governors met with the two sides on the tenure dispute on 18^th Dec. 2005 and received presentations from both parties. Thereafter, they commissioned their Attorneys-General to review the case and advise them on which is the genuine Constitution of Ohanaeze.

(d)   On 17^th February 2006, the five South-East Attorneys-General, two of who were SAN, came out with a unanimous finding that the 2-year tenure Constitution is the genuine Constitution of Ohanaeze. They made specific remarks on the 2-year and the 4-year Constitution. A copy of the findings of the SE AGs is attached.

(e)   On 18^th Jan. 2008, the five Governors of the South-East attended a special over-night meeting with 10 Ohanaeze elders from each of the 5 States at Protea Hotel, Nike Lake, Enugu to resolve Ohanaeze tenure crisis. Present were such elders as late Chief C C Onoh, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Obi of Onitsha, Agbogidi, HRM Nnaemeka Achebe among several others from all the five States of the south-East including, incidentally, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku – HRH Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo. The two-year tenure Constitution was re-affirmed as the genuine constitution of Ohanaeze. The 4-year tenure Constitution was dismissed as a wild assertion. The only matter left out-standing was whether a fresh election shall be held or Dr. Dozie Ikedife, elected by the 2-year Constitution, should be allowed to serve out his remaining term and hand over to another elected official by end of 2008 . Anambra elders decided to go home and make a decision. I was one of the ten elders from Anambra State.

(f)     On 31^st Jan. 2008, 37 elders of Anambra met in the conference hall of Anambra Government House unanimously agreed that the 2-year term having been resoundingly accepted, that Dr. Ikedife should serve out his already running tenure and quit. Luckily four of the Governors who attended these two meetings are still Governors. Imo is the only State where there has been a change.

(g)    On 10^th April 2008, the fifty elders of South-East reconvened at Nike Lake hotel for another over-night meeting. HRH Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo – Obi of Ogwashi-Uku – was again present. The meeting accepted that Dr. Ikedife should serve out his two-year tenure and that the Governors should provide him financial support.

(h)    Not knowing that the 4-year Constitution has been exhaustively examined, Chief Uwechue knowingly and with intent to deceive the Court and thereby cause unnecessary confusion, dissension and rancour among Ndigbo, altered and forged following aspects of the so-called 4-year Constitution: (i) he dated the constitution contrary to S-E Attorneys’ General findings; (ii) the last 7 lines on the front page including dates were super-imposed. S-E AGs did not find any such 7 lines on the front page of the Constitution; (iii) the 4-year Constitution was not signed but Uwechue imposed signatures on page 24 of his Constitution; and (iv) if any of the three signatories, really did sign, it would mean they signed after the S-E AG’s review in 2006.

1. Knowing full well that Senator Obi-Committee had wound up sittings and that we were neither invited to the S E Governors’ meeting or Senator Obi’s Committee,  and that your Excellencies would be sitting on Sun. 17^th Feb., probably to take final decisions, Chief Uwechue sent his lawyer to Court on Tuesday 12 Feb. to lie that we were invited to both the Governors’ meeting and Senator Obi’s Committee sittings and that we refused to withdraw our case in court in spite of the fact that all others had withdrawn their cases at the instance of the SE Governors and Igbo leaders. The lawyer even quoted the withdrawal notice of a case he filed for Uwechue’s election committee with which they stopped Ebonyi State from holding their own election, as evidence of our intransigence. Based on this unconventional practice, Uwechue’s lawyer was able to obtain adjournment of proceedings to 19^th March, probably long enough date for the matter to be over-taken by events. The court granted the long adjournment on an undertaking to court by Chief Uwechue’s lawyer that he was going to get us invitations to your reconciliatory meetings. Your Excellencies can judge for your good selves as to whether that was 419 or a respectful conduct. You are meeting on Sunday 17^th Feb. and but for a chance phone call today, there is no way I would have known and be able to make this presentation! One of Uwechue’s deputies even indulged in the unethical conduct of trying to persuade one of our key counsels, who is rendering us pro bono service, to withdraw appearance. Desperation!   Could that have been in the name of rendering service to Ndigbo?
2. We also sued Chief Uwechue for signing resolutions appointing himself and one Akachukwu, trustees of two Ohanaeze Foundations without the authority of his National Executive Committee (NEC), Imeobi and the supreme organ of Ohanaeze – the national General Assembly. This fake resolution, never made by any Ohanaeze organ, was criminally registered at Corporate Affairs Commission; for collecting huge sums of money in the name of Ohanaeze without lodging such monies in any known Ohanaeze account and spending such moneys without the knowledge of any of the three above-listed Ohanaeze organs. His NEC fact-finding committee found all of the above against him in a published report which I am not annexing for want of time. I feel ashamed and belittled reading that the President-General of our Ohanaeze Ndigbo received only $150,000,000 & #20million from the Presidency (Daily Independent, Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012, photocopy attached). For what? Are Ndigbo for sale? And if so, for such miserable & paltry sum?
3.  A decision has therefore been previously taken on the issue of tenure by South-East Governors and Ohanaeze elders at great expense of time and resources to the South-East and at this stage, S-E Governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo elders are expected to up-hold their decisions based on principles and not expediency. Expediency, from the 1950s, has brought Nigeria to the very low ebb in which we find our country today. Chief Uwechue is therefore out of office from Jan. 2011 and cannot validly conduct a lawful election in 2013.  He should be roundly condemned for acts of infamy against Ndigbo at such a venerable age. We can only stop these condemnable acts of our senior elders if, and only if, we all stand up against them. I have nothing personal against Chief Uwechue who is very much my senior. Besides, he is supposed to be my distant cousin. Ogwashi – Ogwa Nshi – Obi Nri – was set up by an Nri prince like me. If I allow primordial filial sentiments to dominate my thoughts, I should be protecting him. But Nri abhours  alu, nso (taboos). We cleanse them wherever we meet them and we are invited.

If my opinion is invited, I have suggestions on how to avoid these internecine re-occurring disputes among, other-wise, over-aged elders in Igbo land so that we can begin to out-live civil- war- defeat syndrome and leave a worth-while legacy for up-coming generation who are already, unfortunately, watching us dance naked in market places.

Long live Ndigbo!

Long Live Nigeria, better structured and balanced!

Most sincerely yours,

Chukwuemeka I. Onyesoh (Prince)

…As Gov Vows to Win South East for Party
The participation of Gov. Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo state in the merger talks that led to the formation of All Progressive Congress(APC) has been applauded by members of the state expanded executive and his political associates who described the move as visionary and timely.
The members unanimously expressed their support to Gov. Okorocha and endorsed the new mega party in an affirmative voice vote after the governor briefed them on the matter during a close-door meeting with political appointees and associates which took place at the Sam Mbakwe Expanded Council Chamber over the weekend.
While throwing more light on his participation, Gov. Okorocha is said to have expressed satisfaction and optimism that APC would provide a formidable platform that will enthrone good governance at all level in the country in 2015.
The rescue mission governor our sources added also carpeted the ruling Peoples Party(PDP) for failing to address the socio-economic problems that have continued to slow down the development of the Nigerian nation for 14 years the party has ruled the country.
Also fielding questions from journalists, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, who was also in attendance described the meeting as fruitful and a significant step towards making APC a household name in Imo and south east.
He said” You know that Gov. Owelle Rochas Okorocha since this week has been in Abuja following his deep involvement in the formation of the first ever mega party in the country comprising the four leading opposition parties including our party, APGA. As a leader, the governor deemed it necessary to brief members of the state expanded executive and other political associates on his participation and the level of progress so far made in building a very strong platform that will wrest power from PDP in 2015. In fact, we applauded his vision in making sure that the south east is fully represented in the party. The governor’s bold step has no doubt given hope to the people of south east who are presently marginalized by the PDP”.
Speaking on the challenges posed by the crisis rocking APGA in respect to the merger, Mr. Uzoukwa said “The real APGA people otherwise known as APGA-APGA are part of the merger while the APGA-PDP led by our brother, the Anambra state governor will join later. We really understand his predicament and as an appointee of President Goodluck Jonathan, you do not expect him to declare open support to whatever move that is targeted at sacking the PDP.

However, the spirit of Gov. Peter Obi is with us in APC and at the appropriate time his body which is presently with the PDP will definitely join the spirit in APC”.
The governor’s media aide added that having secured the support of his political associates, Gov. Okorocha who is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the activities of the party in the south east has commenced putting the necessary structures on ground towards strengthening the party for victory ahead of future elections in the zone.
“As I am speaking with you, Gov. Okorocha who no doubt is a beautiful bride in the merger considering his popularity in the north and west and the massive support he has continued to enjoy in the south east, has started consultation with other leaders and progressives from the zone. Then considering the achievement of the governor in the bid to rescue Imo state vis-a-vis the fact that he remains a brand well respected by the Igbos owing to his uncommon leadership qualities, APC will definitely win Anambra in 2014 and other south east states in 2015” Uzoukwa said.