The mounting preference for steadily dwindling white collar jobs and open apathy shown by contemporary students and job seekers over Agriculture and food production all over the country has been described as one issue that affects our quest for food sufficiency if not addressed quickly soon.
This was the observation of the Awka Branch Controller of the Central bank of Nigeria, Mazi Azubuike Okoro, in a paper at a seminar on Agriculture Financing at the Anambra State University, Uli, (ANSU) Igbariam Campus. He stated that in response to the declining interest in farming in Nigeria, the apex bank has decided to venture into development projects, especially, in the area of agric financing.
Okoro noted that, “It is important to teach our children the essence of reading and practicing agriculture and more importantly, how to access funds in order to make what they read profitable, more interesting and ultimately make them employers of labour”.
That if Nigeria continues the massive importation of food without production, there will soon be pressure on the exchange rate of the naira, which is why the CBN is engaging a tripartite agreement between the ANSU students and financial houses, while CBN will come in to guarantee the borrowing process.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Fidelis Okeke, noted that there is need for emphasis on agriculture in the country presently, and charged the students to make use of what they learnt in promoting the school and in their own personal development.
Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Dr Chris Uzuegbunam, who disclosed that the seminar was a prelude to an international conference scheduled for next year, lamented that students greatly under utilize services provided by institutions like the CBN, because of lack of knowledge. He expressed optimism that the seminar will help agric graduates and students alike to find their feet in the outside world.
Already two students have benefited in the scheme, which enabled them to start up poultry and a fish farm.
Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman representing Kogi Central on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the release of twenty million naira as a start-up fund for The Umajene Abatemi Initiative (TUAI).
The senator made the announcement at the formal inauguration of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of TUAI, a community-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), he initiated to execute valuable projects that will have beneficial effects on the lives of the people of his constituency.
A statement issued by Michael Jegede, his Special Assistant (SA) on Media matters at the end of the event, which took place in the National Assembly Abuja quoted the Senator as saying that he cannot afford to disappoint the people who gave him the opportunity to serve them.
“I want to thank all of you for accepting to be part of this team meant to drive the scheme that we have designed to positively change the face of Ebira land and bring succour to our people. We know that the problems in our land are numerous and the challenges are enormous. But we would do our best not to let our people down. I hereby announced the sum of twenty million naira as a start-up capital for TUAI. If this money is properly applied, no doubt, it will attract more from the initiator and donors within and outside the country,” Abatemi-Usman, a member of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) said.
In a PowerPoint presentation of the blueprint of TUAI to the board members by the Executive Secretary (ES), Hauwa Ismail, she noted that the Imitative is an important milestone in the effort of the Senator to economically empower the people. According to her, the primary objective of the NGO is to create wealth by stimulating appropriate economic activities in the various wards of each Local Government Area in Kogi Central.
Chairman of the organisation’s BoT, Stephen Yakubu, a former Secretary to Kogi State Government, expressed delight over the decision of the Senator to come up with the Initiative as a way of making positive impact on the lives of Ebira people.
We have read in your esteemed medium the statement credited to Prof Dora Akunyili the defeated APGA candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial seat, which contains significant misinformation and under information.
Prof Dora Akunyili is right that the Election Tribunal sitting in Awka struck out the petition filed by her good self on October 20 ,2011.
However, she is wrong in misinforming the world that the file copy of the Form 008 was missing from the court file on October 20 , 2011, after being cited on October 4, 2011.
The truth is that Form TF 008 which defines the direction of the trial, since it contains the questions which SETS THE PARAMETERS FOR TRIAL has never existed and the tribunal found that as a fact.
As a result, when it was pointed out to Akunyili’s team that this all-important form was not filed, a counter affidavit was filed by the team annexing what the tribunal described as a ‘worthless document’ –a photocopy with original stamps, bearing conflicting dates- which we in the ACN know for a fact was a forged document.
This document was attached to a counter affidavit which claimed that the petitioner’s copy of the form was stolen from their hotel room.
This cock- and- bull story failed to reckon with three hard facts in line with the tribunal’s procedure.
· That 21 original copies of the form was supposed to be produced, so if one was stolen, 20 should survive, including copies served on parties.
· That the parties where supposed to be served with the original copies or at worst certified true copies within a specified time if the document existed.
· That there ought to have been a filing fee which payment ought to be evidenced.
Having failed to do the proper thing, the re was a clear resort to criminality, which made the ACN legal team move a motion inviting the security agencies to investigate the matter. Dora Akunyili is the main beneficiary of these corner-cuttings.
The motion was heard side –by side with a motion filed by INEC, the second respondent seeking to strike out the petition for non-filing of the form.
The tribunal having established that the form was not filed, but instead a ‘worthless document’ was brought held that the tribunal is handicapped to proceed and therefore had no jurisdiction to proceed.
On the second motion ,filed by Dr Chris Ngige, First Respondent, the tribunal gave Dr Ngige is at liberty to invite the police or SSS to unravel the crime.
We therefore hasten to say that the frame of Dora Akunyili’s statement which leaves out these worthy facts in the judicial records shows that she may know something about the decision to forge documents to subvert justice by all means, just like she knew something in April 2011 about the attempted compromise of a returning officer, his subsequent sack and the appointment of another who was Akunyili’s student in University of Nigeria.
We concede Akunyili her right of appeal, hoping that indeed there is anything to appeal, but insist that facts are sacred and must be placed in perspective.
While awaiting Dr Ngige’s decision and perhaps a full-scale investigation of the criminal offence clearly committed by those working to further Akunyili’s political interest, which may and may not include her person, we invite Sahara Reporters and the entire press to step forward and investigate this matter ,independent of Akunyili and the security agencies.
The National Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Awka has decleard that the House committee chairman on Environment Hon Uche Ekwunife was not dully elected and retuned by INEC and called for re election in some areas affected, like Enugu Ukwu ward one, Nimo ward 1 and 2 , Umunnachi and Ezumezu village square.
The judgement delivered under tensed security autmosphere, started by 12 noon and was read by Hon Justice Y Mukhtar.
The Hon justice Onajite Kuejubola three men tribunal held that there are substantial evidence for the Tribunal to arrive at his finding and subsequently held that the election is inconclusive and ordered for re election in the affected areas .
It will be recalled that the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo had approach the Tribunal for an order to nullify the election for non compliance and irregularities during the election. The petitioner through his counsel, called in 10 witnesses which included a witness expert who carried out forensic analysis of all the materials used during the election,while the respondents called in 8. Counsel to the A C N candidate, Ken Njemanze had earlier in the trial, tendered documents, which the tribunal admitted on the grounds of their relevance to the petition.
It is pertinent to note that today marked the 180 days of this petition as enshrined by the electoral act as amended and failure on the part of the Tribunal to give the judgement today will amount to exercise in futility. Delivering the judgement, the tribunal ordered the Independent national electoral commission to conduct election in the affected areas within 3 months.
Akunyili clarifies tribunal verdict, confident of justice
My attention has been drawn to media reports claiming that the Election Tribunal handling my petition in connection with the outcome of the April 9, 2011 senatorial election for Anambra Central has dismissed my case. The impression created by these reports is that my case lacks merit and that I have lost out, but nothing could be further from the truth.
In the circumstances, I consider it necessary to provide the following clarifications:
The case was not dismissed; it was struck out.
The case has not been heard at all but is still at pre-hearing stage.
The striking out of the case was based on the non-availability of Form TF008 which mysteriously disappeared from the case file.
The tribunal had earlier ruled on October 4 that Form TF008 was in fact filed by my lawyer.
Surprisingly, the tribunal on Thursday, October 20, over-ruled itself on the ruling of October 4.
We have gone on appeal and are confident that the God of justice will give us justice.
I therefore urge my teeming supporters to remain calm and prayerful as we persist in our quest for justice.
Signed:
Prof. Dora Akunyili, OFR
APGA Candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District
Campaign for the eradication of illicit drugs from Lagos State is yielding positive results as Operatives of the Lagos State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) impounds a Hilux vehicle belonging to the Ondo State Government allegedly used in conveying 316.65kg of dried weeds found to be cannabis. A group of female believed to be the brain behind cannabis trafficking and two male drivers with the Ondo State government had been smashed. The suspects last week met their waterloo when they were arrested along Lagos Ibadan expressway on their way from Owo in Ondo State.
bags of cannabis
NDLEA Lagos State Commander Aliyu Sule gave the names of the suspects as Mr. Olasupo Taofeeq Olabode, 31 years, a driver with the Ondo State government; Mrs Rose Ossai, 39 years, sells kerosene and drinks and Mrs. Grace Adejo, 40 years, a trader who used to sell clothes. According to the commander, the suspects smuggle cannabis from Owo in Ondo State and distribute in Lagos.
olasupo taofeeq olabode
“This group made up of women cannabis merchants and two drivers specialise in inter-State distribution of cannabis. They operate cleverly and smoothly using official vehicles as a cover. We got the information and have been working hard to arrest them. We must work hard in making Lagos drug free” Aliyu stated. He added that one driver and two women who are members of the group but currently at large are being hunted by officials of the command.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade noted that the use of official vehicle belonging to the State government is an indication of the desperation of drug barons. According to the NDLEA boss, “this is worrisome because these are mothers with children distributing cannabis to other children. I urge members of the public to report suspected cases of drug trafficking to the Agency. The consequences of these drugs on the society are grave. Drug barons are constantly looking for who they will engage in their illicit trade and it is wisdom not to yield to their deception”.
rose ossai
The suspects have made confessional statements on their involvement in the criminal act and investigation is still ongoing. Mr. Olasupo Taofeeq Olabode, a driver with the Ondo State government explained that one Ogidan Kayode the official driver of the vehicle used in smuggling the cannabis was responsible for his involvement. “My daughter was sick and I needed six thousand naira for her treatment. I met my colleague Ogidan Kayode for help and he promised to assist. He later drove his official vehicle to my house in Akure and told me to convey cannabis from Owo to Lagos. That was how I got involved. All I wanted was to take care of my sick child but unfortunately, we were arrested” Olasupo stated. He hails from Akure, Ondo State.
One of the female suspects, Rose Ossai, a 39 year old divorcee residing in Lagos said that this was her very first time in the criminal trade. “I was told that there is much profit in hemp sales. I entered into the trade because I wanted to pay for my rent. I am a divorcee with four children. I sell kerosene and drinks and I beg for pardon in the interest of my children and this is my very first time” Rose stated. He hails from Ndokwa West Area of Delta State.
grace adejo
Another female suspect who is also allegedly involved in cannabis sales in Lagos is Grace Adejo, a widow with two children. She pleaded for mercy adding that she regrets her action. “I am a widow with two children. This is my second trip to Owo to buy cannabis. I have realised my mistake and pray for mercy because of my children. I used to sell clothes in Jos to sustain my family after the death of my husband. Unfortunately, I lost my shop and everything to the Jos crisis and I relocated to Lagos where I was lured into cannabis trade” she stated.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has appointed a 4-member Federal Government delegation to attend the burial of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, who died last Friday. The burial is scheduled for 1600 (Saudi Time) tomorrow, October 25, 2011.
The delegation to be led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Saad Abubakar III will depart from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport , Abuja at midnight today, October 24, 2011.
Other members of the delegation are the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Haliru Bello Mohammed, the Minister of State II, Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nuruddeen Mohammed and Prof. Daoud Naibi.
Over the years, I heard of Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, especially, about his then long running conflict with Chimaroke Nnamani, the then governor of Enugu State. Lately, for the first time, I listened to a few of his CDs. They are usually a combination of songs, exhortations and sermons.
I found them very impressive. I was captivated by his directness and candor. I have always respected and admired those who can honestly express themselves: saying things the way they see it or feel it. These are the exceptional few, the courageous and honorable few, who can live their lives not swayed by promises of reward or threats of punishment.
Courage comes from God. Therefore, every true man of God, that is, those with the calling and unction of God must be courageous. Any priest, pastor, evangelist, etc that professes Christ but remains gutless and spineless and is tossed about by fear of possible punishment or anxiety over potential rewards is an impostor – a con artist and a pathological lair. Such a “man of God” does not have the calling of God, but took to the ministry for pecuniary and other incentives.
Secondly, Ejike Mbaka’s message is a refreshingly different from that of most Nigerian preachers. It goes beyond the usual trite palliatives of pay your tithes and sow your seeds, and then, prosper and the prosaic doctrine of get born again and inherit eternal life in the hereafter. He addresses the problems of the day, issues that affect us directly in this world.
He indicts the power elite of their multitude of wickedness, theft, corrupt dealings and abuse of power, and urges them to mend their evil ways. As I listened through his songs and unequivocal and defiant sermons, I was fascinated especially by one song. It was his rendition of a song by the people of Imo State against an unbridled act of impunity:
Onye ahu tiri father ihe (He that beat up a Reverend Father)
Chorus: Ogahi achi anyi oso (He will not govern us again)
Ohakim tiri father ihe (Ohakim that beat up a Reverend Father)
Chorus: Ogahi achi anyi oso (He will not govern us again)
The song expressed the prevalent mood in Imo state after Governor Ohakim’s security men, at the direction of the governor, beat up and detained an elderly priest. The priest’s only crime was that he did not hurriedly drive his car out of the way as the governor’s siren blaring motorcade sped through.
The people of Imo state were outraged by what was by any standard a sacrilege. It was a behavior that smacked in the face of everything the people of the state held dear. And they vowed that he will not govern them again. Refreshingly, Ohakim did not govern them again, they voted him out. In Nigeria where elections were previously fixed by political godfathers in total disregard for the electoral preferences of the electorate, this expressed power of the electorate in removing an unwanted governor is exhilarating. For once, the real essence of democracy triumphed over the forces of arrogance and insensitivity in Nigeria.
It must have taken utmost recklessness and total “I don care” to beat up an elderly priest in a predominantly Catholic State. It was the height of the arrogance of power, disdain for tradition, and scorn for the beliefs of the people and total contempt for the Catholic Church.
In the old Igbo tradition, to beat up someone older than you was awful. To beat an older man who is also a priest was abhorrent. And to do it for no legitimate reason was abominable. It was an act that must have deeply offended the sensibilities of the people of the state. But that was not the first time that Nigerians were profoundly affronted by the excesses of the Nigerian power elite. However, generally, they helplessly stomached such affronts because the power of the vote was emasculated by an ignoble oligarchy that disregarded the people’s electoral choices. To successful wield the power of the vote against a governor for bruising the sensitivity of the people is very new in Nigeria.
It was Ukpabi Asika, as the administrator of East Central State, who once said: nobody put me in power and nobody can remove me. Arrogant parlance it was, but then, that was under military rule. He served at the will of gun tooting soldiers that shot their way into power, and held the people in submission to the gun.
But then, even under democratic dispensations in Nigeria, such supercilious choice of words was not uncommon because most elected officials served not at the will of the people, but at the pleasure of the political godfathers. For example, Chimaroke Nnamani, at the height of his murderous binge, in Enugu State, could have made a similar statement because he needed not the people’s accent, but his party’s dexterity in electoral fraud and the approval of his political godfathers, to remain in power.
Having been rigged into power by a corrupt collusion of the People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) chieftains and Morris Iwu led Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Ohakim must have been buoyed by a similar mindset. So, as he (through his security men) assaulted and humiliated a priest, violated the sacrosanctity of the Catholic Church, and by extension, insulted the susceptibilities of the whole Catholic votaries of the state, he must have felt that nobody put him in power and, as such, nobody could remove him from power. Poor Ohakim, he failed to realize that times were beginning to change. And that the Nigerian electorates, for once, will effectively exercise the power of the vote. Thanks to Goodluck Jonathan and Attahiru Jega.
This new found power of the vote in Nigeria is remarkable. If wielded strategically, it can begin the process of sanitizing the democratic process by weeding off the undeserving and undesirable elements that suffice the Nigerian corridors of power. As we can now insist and actualize that as for those greedy and indolent legislators that make 10 times as much as the United States of American senators and 4 times as United States’ president by saying yays and nays; they will not legislate for us again. That those voracious and underperforming governors steep in the theft of public funds; they will not govern us again.
In addition, we can also demand and effect that that ineffective president, purposely chosen, by his political godfathers, for his docility, who cannot tackle the problems of the country, but wants to elongate the president’s term of office and remove the fuel subsidy; hewill not preside over us again
As the National Assembly Election Petitions tirbunal sitting in Awka races against time to meet up with the time stipulation for the conclusion of cases before it, the case between Mr Dozie Nwankwo of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Iyom Uche Ekwunife,of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) the incumbent, both of who contested for the Njikoka,Dunukofia and Anaocha Federal Constituency in the last general elections would be decided this morning.
The submissions and presentations by the parties, their candidates and the Independent National Electoral commission , INEC were concluded last week while judgement was slated for today.
Guardian inquiry revealed that extra security arrangements have already been made for the premises of the tribunal. This includes limiting of vehicular movement and traffic in and around the area
Also the two political gladiators and their supporters have made arrangement to celebrate the verdict in style. Nwankwo was said to be very popular among the electorates but was robbed of victory by INEC at the collation centre, a supporter told journalists in Awka yesterday
Recent events in the life of the nation especially the numerous acts of bombings and mass murders in Borno and other Northern states and Abuja have impelled me to write this piece. Before the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, many people had tried to use these of bombings and mass killings to discredit him as a weakling who could not act as commander-in-chief. Fortunately, all of that came to naught and a great majority of Nigerians came out and voted for him in an election which was generally certified as free, fair and credible by both the local and international observers.
Now, even after his swearing-in and more than 100 days into his presidency and counting, the bombings and mass murders in Borno and Jos have not abated despite the good intentions and efforts of the Jonathan administration. Fortunately, however, there has been a large measure of peace in his native Bayelsa State. His Governor, the young Chief (Dr) Timiprie Sylva had the foresight to commence a process of reconciliation with the militants who had made the State and the entire nation ungovernable. Not long thereafter, the then president, Umaru Musa Yar’Ardua (now late) and his able Vice, now president, saw the wisdom in this approach and established the Amnesty Programme. Today, relative peace has returned to the creeks of the Niger Delta and the nation’s crude oil production capacity has jumped from about 750,000 barrels per day to more than 3 million barrels per day. This has yielded substantial revenue for national development at all tiers of governance.
This is where the worrisome development in Bayelsa State arises. Who wants to disturb this relative peace in the Niger Delta in general and particularly in Bayelsa State? Who wants to destabilize Bayelsa? Is it intended to be used to further attack and disparage the president as a man who cannot keep the peace even in his own home? Or as some skeptics would ask, is Mr. President trying to use his federal might to orchestrate the current state of suspense in Bayelsa?
For most people not steeped in the mucky waters of Nigerian politics it may be difficult to know where all this is going to. But as everyone knows, the governorship election in Bayelsa State did not hold in April, 2011 along with those of 5 other States. Before the High Court overruled INEC, the parties had held their primaries, elected their candidates for governorship and submitted same to INEC. By that ruling, the governorship election in Bayelsa was postponed to ————————-2012. So many months after the general elections, INEC has now woken from its slumber and is pressing for a ruling to the effect that the High Court was wrong in extending the tenure of the affected governors.
In a nation where all the parties are agreed on the fact that the judiciary is up for sale to the highest bidder (remember the Salami saga?) the question now is: who is beating the drum for this latest bravado by INEC? But before you hazard any guess, it is important to speculate what will happen in Bayelsa and the 5 other states should the Court of Appeal come to a different ruling from the High Court. Strictly speaking, the Governors and their deputies will automatically step down and the Speakers of their various Houses of Assembly will assume the mantle of leadership. Then the sleeping EFCC will wake up from its slumber, chase the ex-governors and their deputies for just or for no cause whatever as the ‘harmless’ president and his enforcers in Abuja anoint his chosen ones to run on the ticket of the ruling party.
On paper this sounds very simple. But I can assure you that this is a harbinger for instability the like of which the nation has not seen in a long time. To be sure, the governors will not go down without a fight. To chase them off before the elections with EFCC and the Courts will further scandalize the anti-corruption agency and lower its already low standing in the eyes of right-thinking members of our nation and the international community. Secondly, there will be no better way to heat up the polity than embarking on this gambit. Third, the unrepentant militants who have remained dormant for some time now will find the excuse and the space to come back to ‘business.’
The other thing the ruling PDP must consider is the combined effects of sections 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended. Can any party legitimately hound a governor who is yet to be convicted out of a race for which he has been nominated by the party in a primary and his name has been submitted to INEC as the party’s representative merely because the election was delayed by an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction? I respectfully submit that it is not open to a party to substitute a candidate whose name has already been submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate on the mere ground that that election was postponed by order of court. The only condition under which the party is allowed to substitute a candidate is where the candidate has died or is incapacitated or has voluntarily withdrawn from the race or from the party and he has put his position in writing to his party.
As several commentators have stated, the PDP will be handing over the reigns of power in the affected States to the opposition by default if it ventures to substitute candidates it had already submitted to INEC for the same elections. On mere technicality, the opposition will clinch victory from the jaws of defeat.
All said the wise path to follow is either to allow the primaries already held to stand or to use the current State party structures to hold new primaries if directed in writing to do so by INEC. If the second option is followed all the parties will be affected and none will take advantage to clinch the position merely by resort to litigation. Finally, though we all strive to have an independent INEC, where as in this case, its pursuit of the current appeal might lead to a breakdown of law and order, then it must be prevailed upon to abandon its appeal and work hard towards giving Nigerians an even freer and more credible election.
