An Address Delivered By His Excellency, Sunday Onyebuchi, Acting Governor Of Enugu State On The Occasion Of The Presentation Of The Year 2013 Budget Proposal

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An Address Delivered By His Excellency, Sunday Onyebuchi, Acting Governor Of Enugu State On The Occasion Of The Presentation Of The Year 2013 Budget Proposal To The Enugu State House Of Assembly On Friday, December 21, 2012

PROTOCOLS

I am quite honoured to address this esteemed audience on the occasion of the presentation of the 2013 Budget of Sustainability. Mr. Speaker, I stand here before you with the deepest sense of gratitude to this Honourable Assembly for your speedy consideration and passage of the 2012 budget into law.

Such collaborative gestures, without doubt, provided the Government the ample opportunity it needed to faithfully implement our policies and programmes to the ultimate benefit of our people. I also want to commend, in a special way, the leadership of the House which has demonstrated uncommon skills in engendering controlled debates since your inauguration.

The philosophy of the 2012 budget underlined the commitment of this administration to consolidate on the gains of the first term while equally breaking new grounds for the overall benefit of our people. The 2013 budget essentially aims at sustaining the gains of the past and prosecuting priority projects in line with our Four-Point Agenda and the needs of our people as articulated under the Visit-Every-Community (VEC) initiative.

This year’s budget, as you will notice in a short while, simply outlines this Government’s well-known desire and efforts about putting our people first, and above all other considerations. We will make the needed sacrifices to serve our people to the best of our abilities because they deserve no less than that.

YEAR 2012 BUDGET
Precisely on December 1, 2012, His Excellency, Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime presented this year’s Budget of Continued Renewal which highlighted Government’s resolve to consolidate on its achievements with the primary focus on better life for our people.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to inform this Honourable House that this year’s budget witnessed significant progress. From physical infrastructure, integrated rural development, health care service delivery, human capital development and the enhancement of security of lives and property, Government achieved a satisfactory percentage of the goals it set for itself.

These accomplishments justified, for instance, that the investments we made in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of urban and rural roads were well deserved. The following road projects have been completed:
*Mgbemena Street with streetlight
*Mbanugo Street with streetlight
*Old Airport Road
*Nike Avenue and Akpabio Street, both in GRA
*CBN Road in Trans-Ekulu
*Umuona and Otas Streets in GRA
*Abakpa Bridge Slip Road
*Presidential Road up to Port Harcourt expressway with streetlight
*Akwata completed with slope stabilization nearing completion
*Zik Avenue and Agbani Road were dualized and completed with streetlight. And lots more.

The following inter-Local Government roads are also in various stages of completion:
*Ugwuogo Nike-Ekwegbe-Opi junction
*9th Mile-Nachi-Oji River-Ugwuoba
*Ugwuogo-Neke-Ikem
*Eke-Ebe-Egede-Affa-Akpakwume-Aku-Nkpologu
*Amaetiti-Achi-Inyi-Awlaw
*9th Mile-Iwollo-Olo-Umulokpa
*Nara-Isiogbo
*Ezi-Abalu-Agbudu-Afia Mmanya
*Ukehe-Aku-Nkpologu
*Amaechi-Amodu-Umueze
*Nsukka-Ibagwa-Aji-Ette
*Nguru-Ede Oballa-Eha Alumona
*Ogrute-Igogoro-Amachalla-Ugbaike-Obollo Afor Road
Government equally funded the procurement of five hundred units of single arm streetlights that had since been installed across the city of Enugu.

Our dream to bequeath a functional public service to the present and future generations can only find true expression if we, as a Government, make deliberate efforts to create a conducive working environment for our public servants. This explains why this Government, after due consultations with the organized labour and other relevant stakeholders, recently commenced the building of a modern new secretariat that will promote efficiency, enthusiasm and dedication to duty when completed. We will complete it on schedule.

Today, I stand bold before all of you to confirm that there are critical road projects being done in virtually all the seventeen Local Government Councils in the three senatorial districts of Enugu State. I hereby restate our pledge to do more.

In education, we invested heavily and shall continue to do so in order to equip our children with the requisite knowledge that they need to compete in the emerging economy. The free basic education policy which covers children in primary and post-primary schools up to JSS III has continued to yield good dividends. Government also procured and distributed three hundred buses to all the public and some missionary secondary schools in order to ease their transportation challenges. In addition, Government carried out massive renovation of schools, provided instructional materials and built numerous facilities at the School for the physically-challenged and other public secondary schools in the state.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, the Enugu Polo Park Mall remains a pride to all of us. Only recently, the Ferris-wheel and the Carrousel recreational facilities opened their doors to customers to complement other trading operations long commenced by some globally-acclaimed international retail outlets and other reputable indigenous companies.

To further boost the effectiveness and coverage of the Coal City Cab programme, Government procured and handed over two hundred and twenty taxis to our people in the third phase of the scheme, both to enhance intra-city movement and as a poverty reduction package. Today, our people are better for it.

The different farm yields from the Adani farms and the corresponding farming activities at the Heneke farms, clearly indicate that the Enugu Songhai Initiative is a massive venture that will soon bridge the food gap in our State and ultimately serve as a revenue earner in addition to the employment opportunities it has created since its inception.

Beyond this, our Administration has continued to spend huge sums of funds either as counterpart contributions or to enhance agricultural productivity and access the World Bank-assisted funds for Commercial Agriculture and FADAMA III projects respectively.

I must admit that our efforts in the waste and environmental management have left much to be desired this outgoing year. The good news, however, is that the three mechanized sweepers, one thousand and forty dumpsters and the ten compactors purchased by the Government are to be put to use before the remaining days of this year.

We have consciously continued to build on the gains of the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare programme which has drastically reduced the mortality and morbidity of the affected groups. We shall sustain this success story and there is no looking back! This is, of course, in addition to several health centres that were built and the procurement and distribution of hospital equipment and drugs.

The Enugu State Medical Emergency Response Team (ESMERT) which began full operations this year, has saved many lives from preventable deaths and greatly helped people involved in trauma and other life-threatening emergencies from road traffic accidents, fire incidents, collapsed buildings and other such accidents.

Mr. Speaker sir, Honourable members, the review of the performance of Year 2012 Budget will be incomplete if I do not pinpoint the relevance of the re-introduction of School Sports among the public post-primary institutions in Enugu State. Apart from sharpening the competitive edge of the students and enhancing their health, it will, in future, surely serve as a breeding ground for the discovery of raw but potential sports talents.

I am also glad to report that a total number of 114 rural communities have been connected to the national grid in the life of this administration, with tens of them accomplished in the outgoing year alone. Our target is to give electricity to the remaining 37 out of 472 communities in our State before we quit the stage, and this we must accomplish. Ditto for the provision of potable water where there has been a remarkable improvement in supplies to many rural communities and house connections in the cities, especially in the densely-populated areas of Uwani, Achara Layout and some parts of Zik Avenue, GRA, Independence Layout, among others.

In addition, this Administration spent huge amounts of money as its counterpart contributions in order to be able to access the World Bank-assisted funds for Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP) for the implementation of prioritized multi-sectoral micro-projects that cut across different sectors in selected communities.

In the housing sector, our administration completed three blocks of 108 two-bedroom flats and provision of infrastructural facilities at Maryland Estate, just as work has begun in the Enugu Workers Estate which is a housing scheme for the state civil servants facilitated by the Government. The on-going Enugu Cultural and Tourism Fiesta has become an annual event meant to promote the culture and tourism opportunities which exist in our State.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, I crave your indulgence, at this juncture, to present to you the 2013 draft budget through which we shall seek to consolidate on the gains of the past and sustain those ideals that promote strict budgetary implementation and clear-cut improvements over the previous ones.

THE YEAR 2013 BUDGET OF SUSTAINABILITY
In Year 2013, our focus will revolve around completing on-going projects and choosing those people-driven development programmes that are the priority needs of the various constituents in line with Government’s Four-Point Agenda and the Visit-Every-Community report. Consistent with this, we shall refine and refocus our policies and plans to address the core issues which will impact positively on the quality of life of our people. The hallmark of Year 2013 estimate will be strict budget discipline as we shall strive to put in place suitable machinery for effective implementation of the budget.

POLICY THRUST OF THE 2013 BUDGET
The Policy Thrust of the 2013 Budget includes:
(i) Consolidating on the gains of the year 2012 Budget
(ii) Completion of on-going projects
(iii) Increased involvement of the private sector in the development of the State.
(iv) Provision of social and economic infrastructure in the rural and urban areas.
(v) Diversification and intensification of the resource and revenue base of the State.
(vi) Effective collaboration with other tiers and arms of Government for effective service delivery.

THE YEAR 2013 BUDGET SIZE
Mr. Speaker Sir, Honourable members, I present to you our Year 2013 Draft Budget of eighty two billion, nine hundred and thirty one million, seven hundred and eighty thousand naira (N82,931,780,000). This is higher than the 2012 budget size of seventy six billion, four hundred and fifty nine million, seven hundred and thirty nine thousand, seven hundred and seventy six thousand naira (N76,459,739,776) by six billion, four hundred and seventy two million, forty thousand, two hundred and twenty two naira (N6,472,040,224) representing eight per cent increase.

The budget is made up of forty five billion, eight hundred and forty one million, seven hundred and forty one thousand, seven hundred and twenty three naira (N45,841,741,723) as Recurrent Expenditure, which is 55% of the budget size. Thirty seven billion, ninety million, thirty eight thousand, two hundred and seventy seven naira (N37,090,038,277) is for Capital Expenditure, representing 45% of the entire envelope.

RECURRENT REVENUE
The State Government expects a Recurrent Revenue of sixty one billion, three hundred and nine million, nine hundred and twenty two thousand naira (N61,309,922,000) in Year 2013. Government intends to realize this through aggressive internally-generated revenue which is estimated at N14.31billion and our share of Federal Revenue put at forty seven billion naira (N47bn), representing 76.66 per cent.

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE
The estimated Recurrent Expenditure is forty five billion, eight hundred and forty one million, seven hundred and forty one thousand, seven hundred and twenty three naira (N45,841,741,723). Out of this, twenty eight billion, six hundred and sixty nine million, one hundred and forty one thousand, seven hundred and forty one naira (N28,669,141,741) representing 47% has been devoted to personnel costs including Consolidated Revenue Fund charges.

A total sum of eleven billion, forty four million, five hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and eighty two naira (N11,044,599,982) which translates to 18% is for overhead costs whereas six billion, one hundred and twenty eight million naira (N6,128,000,000) which is 10% goes to subventions to parastatals and tertiary institutions.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
The sum of thirty seven billion, ninety million, thirty eight thousand, two hundred and seventy seven naira (N37,090,038,277) is appropriated for capital expenditure in Year 2013.

Permit me, Mr. Speaker and Honourable members, to give brief explanations on some of the sectoral allocations rather than dwell on the fuller details, especially since you have them in the comprehensive proposal before you.

WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Our goal is to sustain the achievements recorded in road construction and rehabilitation by completing all on-going urban and rural road projects while also awarding new ones as the need arises and as funds permit.

As I said earlier, construction is on-going on the new ultra-modern State Secretariat complex which aims to tackle the current accommodation challenges and also provide conducive working environment thereby engendering higher commitment and productivity from our public servants. Work will also begin on the new Governor’s office (Lion Building) in the first quarter of 2013.

Government will complete all the on-going urban roads in Enugu and Nsukka as well as the rural road projects including but certainly not limited to Nara-Isiogbo, Ugwuogo Nike-Opi junction, Amaechi-Amodu-Umueze, Ugwuogo-Neke-Ikem, Amaetiti-Achi-Inyi-Awlaw, 9th Mile-Iwollo-Umulokpa, 9th Mile-Nachi-Ugwuoba and Nguru-Ede Oballa-Eha Alumona.

Within the 2013 fiscal year, work will also continue and be completed on Eke-Ebe-Egede-Akpakume Nze-Nkpologu, Akpasha-Ozalla-Agbogugu-Ihe-Owelli-Awgu as well as Nsukka-Ibagwa-Ogrute-Aji-Ette and Nenwe-Oduma-Okpanku-Mpu-Ndeabor roads.

The underlisted are the new roads that Government has earmarked for execution in the coming year:
*Iheaka-Ibagwa-Itchi-Unadu-Alor Agu
*Agbani-Mbogodo-Ikuokpara
*Nenwe-Oduma-Mpu
*Umulokpa-Adaba-Ukpata-Uvuru-Nkpologu
*Adani-Adarice (Enugu Songhai Farm, Adani)
*Udi-Amokwe-Obeleagu Umana-Imezi Owa-Mgbagbu Owa
*Milken Hill-Ngwo
*Imilike-Ezimo Uno-Imilike Agu-Ogboduaba-Obollo Etiti-Obollo Afor
*Amechi Idodo-Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu, and
*Agbani-Ugbawka-Nara-Nkerefi.

To accomplish these set goals, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has received an allocation of N11.35 billion in the 2013 budget which represents 30.6% of the entire capital budget of the State.

AGRICULTURE
As the mainstay of our people and a major source of job and wealth creation, the importance of agriculture to our well-being as a State cannot be over-emphasized. That clearly explains why the Government has continued to invest heavily in material and human capital development in agriculture especially through the Enugu Songhai Initiative which promotes integrated modern agriculture and guarantees our much-desired food security, increased revenue generation and the employment of our growing youth population.

In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture was allocated the sum of N1.09 billion in the 2013 budget. Emphasis will be on the procurement of agricultural inputs and machineries for the Heneke and Adani Farms as well as the development of the 17 green cities.

The State Agricultural Development Agency also received an allocation of N299.2 million to enable it prosecute its agricultural extension services to farmers. The sum of N254.95 million has been set aside for the State College of Agriculture and Agro-entrepreneurship, Iwollo to help in the provision of agricultural facilities and effective running of the school which is expected to produce the needed manpower for the State.

EDUCATION
The importance of education was so aptly captured by His Excellency, Governor Chime during our inauguration for our second term in office on May 29, 2011 when he said, and I quote: “We cannot secure the future of our State if we do not equip our children to compete in the knowledge economy by providing them with the best education that our resources can afford,” (unquote). The above underscores the upward review in Government’s investment in the education sub-sector in the 2013 budget.
Having already successfully conducted the 2011/2012 annual school census and employed thousands of tutorial and non-tutorial staff in both our primary and post-primary schools, it must be a thing of immense joy to us all to know that our free education for pupils from primary school to Junior Secondary School III has continued to make functional and qualitative education accessible to our children.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the education sub-sector has a total allocation of N4.47 billion in the 2013 budget. This covers allocations to the Ministry of Education, State Universal Education Board, the Post-Primary School Management Board, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), College of Education (Technical) and the Science & Vocational Schools Management Board.

We shall continue with the construction of new classroom blocks and the rehabilitation of existing ones in the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the State in our quest to create the right teaching and learning environment in the schools. Government will continue with the provision of other teaching aids including the computerization of our public secondary schools and the upgrade of thirty four schools to have boarding facilities.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this Government has vowed that henceforth, when our children go to their respective schools, they shall sit on stable school desks and in proper classrooms and that they will be taught by qualified teachers who are employed to teach them. We will put in place an effective monitoring mechanism to ensure that these objectives are consistently achieved.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
This administration, like I pointed out earlier, made substantial progress in this area in the outgoing year. Out of the total number of 472 communities in Enugu State, only 37 of them from eleven Local Government Areas have no electricity at all. We are poised to connect these 37 communities to the national grid by the end of next year.

The benefitting communities are as listed below:
Ado-agbalatu, Awgunta, Agunese Ugwueme, Nenwenta, Eziobu Ugwueme and Eziama Ogbaku from Awgu Local Government Area; Amofia Agu Affa and Amaukwu Affa (Udi Local Government Area); Amankanu, Obodo Uvuru, Eziama Amechi Idodo and Ohuani Amechi Idodo (Nkanu East).

Others include Agu Ukehe, Udueme and Ugwunaoda from Igbo-Etiti; Odega Ette, Umuadonu Owo, Ubere Ette and Ebi-Ega Ette (Igbo-Eze North); Akpugo Ezedike, Ezikolo, Nkpunato and Ukpata (Uzo-Uwani); Ihenyi Agaramaa from Isi-Uzo Local Goverment Area.

The rest benefitting communities are Obeagu Oduma, Amagu Oduma and Amokwe Oduma from Aninri; Umuaji Mgbagbuowa and Owha Ndiagu (Ezeagu) and Agu Orba in Udenu. From Nsukka Local Government Area are Utobolo, Anuka, Eha Azuabo, Ogbozalla Opi, Ibagwa Agu, Ezebunagu and Ogbagu Obukpa.

Consequently, the sum of N2.588 billion will be spent on the integrated rural development programme within the 2013 fiscal year by both the Rural Electrification Board and Ministry of Rural Development.

OTHERS
With a total vote of N3.58 billion for the health sub-sector, our administration will continue to make the healthcare delivery system one of its top priorities as enshrined in our Four-point Agenda. The success of the Free Maternal Child Healthcare programme gives us the encouragement to make commensurate investment. Work is on-going at the ultra-modern Enugu Diagnostic Centre and I want to reaffirm the commitment of this Government to its speedy completion so that our doctors will have access to the right facilities that will enable them to know what ailments afflict our people.

To sustain the successes recorded in the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare programme, the upgrade of our district hospitals and the employment, training and retraining of our health workers, the State Ministry of Health has an allocation of N3.44 billion while the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane and the Enugu State Action Committee on AIDS (ENSACA) were allocated N134.5 million and N8.5 million respectively.

In addition to other interventions from water service providers, the State Government has budgeted N1.08 billion for urban and rural water supply within the period under review. We have begun to refine Government’s strategies to ensure that the Iyioku Water Scheme, the 9th Mile Crash Programme, the Nsukka Water Scheme, the rural water schemes and other reticulation efforts provide our people steady water supply wherever they live.

Out of the above sum, the State Water Corporation has an allocation of N645 million while the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) got N413.5 million respectively. The State Government has also made adequate provision for the payment of the State counterpart fund contribution for CSDP to enable the Agency complete all the on-going micro-projects in 120 communities in the State and also fund two hundred and fifty (250) micro-projects in one hundred and twenty (120) communities in the State during this fiscal year.

In the area of tourism, Government has finalized arrangements for the establishment of a zoological garden and an amusement park in addition to sustaining the Enugu Cultural and Tourism Fiesta as an annual event.

The School Sports Festival which re-emerged on the school calendar this year has come to stay. We have made adequate provisions that will make it grow from strength to strength, year to year. The Enugu State Traffic Management Authority will also begin operations as Government will procure and deploy more traffic-lights for more efficient traffic control on our roads.

At this point, I want to make it explicitly clear that as you will notice in the details of the budget proposals, we have made commensurate provisions for all the other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government to reflect their specific needs and empower them to accomplish their set goals.

CONCLUSION
Mr. Speaker Sir, Honourable members, this is the true picture of our dream for 2013. It may not have addressed all our aspirations and expectations but I strongly believe that it has touched on those priorities that will benefit the generality of our people. I have, therefore, come to place this budget proposal before you with optimism that you will, as our worthy partners in the governance of our dear State, give it accelerated consideration and passage so that we can begin to implement its provisions in earnest.

A cursory look at the flipside of the coin reveals that if we must sustain the tempo of our development initiatives, all of us must, in equal measure, manage and deploy our lean resources prudently and wisely. The time calls for such sacrifices and adjustments from us all.

Our Government has continued to receive overwhelming support and fervent prayers from our friends and citizens. And to all of you, we offer our gratitude. We thank you for always being there for us. We pledge, in return, our commitment to transparent and dedicated service as we invite all hands on deck to make that Enugu State of our collective dream.

The times may be harsh. The funds at our disposal may not match our aspirations. But with your support and with God’s guidance, we shall triumph and have every cause to celebrate at last.

My dear brothers and sisters, it is just few days to the yuletide. So, it gladdens me to wish all our people a merry Christmas in advance and a prosperous Year 2013 ahead.

Thank you and may God bless you and bless Enugu State.

SUNDAY CHIDI ONYEBUCHI
ACTING GOVERNOR, ENUGU STATE

HURIWA CONDEMNS KANO BOMB BLAST: DEMANDS EFFECTIVE ACTION

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A development focused Non-Governmental Organization- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA [HURIWA] has strongly condemned the weekend bomb attack of the Airtel Telecommunications regional office in Sabon Gari near the popular Market in Kano metropolitan area and demanded that the security chiefs should not rests on their oars but should further expand and effectively activate their intelligence gathering capacity to enable the operatives nip in the bud the sinister plots by armed Islamic Terrorists to bomb civilian targets in the Northern parts of Nigeria capitalizing on the end of year relaxation moods of the populace.

Specifically, news report has it that a suspected lone suicide bomber attacked the Airtel Telecommunication regional office in Kano making use of a car suspected to be an Honda civic just as the suicide bomber was reportedly shot dead but not before he set off what the security sources identified as light bomb explosion which affected the perimeter fence of the telecommunications office wounding an undetermined number of innocent passersby in the process.

In a media statement jointly issued by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Officer Miss. Zainab Yusuf, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA [HURIWA] said it was barbaric, primitive, irreligious and heinious for a human being to set out as a suicide bomber with the diabolical intention of killing innocent persons for only doing their legitimate duties as citizens and contributing to the economic wellbeing of the society.

The Rights Group said the security operatives must up their ante and necessarily put in place effective military cum civilian partnership mechanism to make it impossible for such sinister bomb plots to occur. HURIWA canvassed the establishment of functional and accessible toll- free- phone lines by all private telecommunications and GSM operators in all parts of the Country to be coordinated by anti-terrorism operatives from the office of the National Security Adviser and the various service chiefs including the office of the Inspector General of Police; the Deputy Inspectors General; the Assistant Inspectors General; Commissioners of Police; the State Security Services [SSS]; Civil Defence Corp; Customs and the Immigration office so that Nigerians can incognito [anonymously] volunteer cogent; verifiable and workable solid intelligent information to assist the security operatives to wipe out all traces of terrorism and check the unprecedented rise in sophisticated violent crimes across the Country.

HURIWA stated thus; “We condemn without reservations the weekend barbaric bomb attack targeting the telecommunications facilities of a private telecommunications firm in Kano state by a suspected lone suicide bomber. We call on the Federal Government to pragmatically set up military cum civilian partnership mechanism whereby there could be free flow of conversations and information on the best ways to tackle our rising security challenges. It is the obligation of Government to mobilize Nigerians and create the national consciouness to make security awareness imperative and nationally acceptable. Government must do all within their power to protect the lives and property of Nigerians and save Nigeria from the imminent economic collapse that the ongoing terrorism may necessitate. It is high time that Nigeria consider the creation of state and local police with greater independence and control vested constitutionally on the state commissioners to operationally tackle and confront violent crimes.”

Nkiru Sylvanus’s Family Paid N8m Ransom To Secure Her Release – Police

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Nigeria Nollywood actress and Special Adviser to the Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State who was kidnapped in Owerri the Imo State Capital was released Thursday night; even as the Imo State Police Command has said that a ransom of N8 Million was paid by her family to secure her release.
According to Commissioner of Police Imo State Police Command, Adisa Bolanta, said that the amount was paid by her family even after they have been repeatedly warned by the police against such an action.

In his words the Police Commissioner said; “They defied our warnings and continued negotiations with the kidnappers. They went behind us and paid N8 million to them. We have made some arrests in connection with the case and very soon they will all be apprehended.”

However, the Police commissioner said that police have recovered and returned N7m paid by the family.

“Let me assure the good people of Imo that we will not rest until all forms of criminality has been eradicated from this state,” he concluded.

Meanwhile 247ureports gathered from close source, that the reason for the abduction of the actress may not be due to her alleged secret affair with the Imo State Governor.
According to the source, “the actress and the governor has been having affair even before he became a governor.”

The source further said that she was abducted as her captors wanted to use it to get money from the Imo State Governor.

Updated: Twin Bomb Explosion At Airtel and MTN Kano Office

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Reports reaching 247ureports indicates that there have been two bomb explosions in Kano Metropolis.
According to an eyewitness, the twin bomb explosion is happening now, as one of the bomb was heard near Bata Roundabout entrance to the Sabon Gari Market close Ibrahim Taiwo Road;

As gathered the Bomb explosion at the Airtel office may have injured unconfirmed number of people,247ureports gathered two suicide bombers in different cars carried out the attack.

According to an eyewitness, the first car rammed the gate before a second car, laden with explosives, drove into the building. The driver of the second car then came out and exchanged gunfire with the security personnel before the explosives went off.

At the moment Firefighters are fighting the blaze even as officers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have cordoned off the area.

It was believed that the explosion was occurred as the police was chasing them. As gathered from the Eyewitness, the Airtel office at Bata was bombed.

Meanwhile the second explosion exploded at MTN office located at Independent road by Bompai. It is not certain, the number of casualties.

A top security source confirmed the two incidents as suicide bombers. Soldiers shot and killed the one at the Airtel office before it exploded. However,the MTN Bomber hit the pole near the MTN office and the bomb exploded killing him. He could not reach his target.

As gathered Bornu and Yobe state are said to have the history of Boko Haram Group blowing up Telecommunication mast and communication offices, but now it seems they are spreading their tentacles to other cities like Kano as the Yuletide season is on now.

More details to follow.

THE UNBORN CHILD HAS HUMAN RIGHT—–By Emmanuel Onwubiko

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As a proud African that loves tradition and the cultural values that make us unique in the global village, one aspect of our life that I have come to admire so much is the sacredness that we attach to life. The coming of a new born in Africa and especially in my community is seen as the most significant symbolism that signposts the arrival of life. A new born gives us the assurance of hope that humanity is not about to be wiped out and that the best way to sustain the human society is to teach the younger generations the beauty of respecting and according life that sacred position that would make it absolutely unacceptable for human beings to take away life.

It was therefore natural for me to comprehensively understand and accept the scholarly and scientifically based presentation that was beautiful made recently by the Think Tank Committee of Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja in which the Catholic Church in Nigeria through a formidable team of theologians made up of Bishops Dunia of Auchi Diocese and Ansalem Umoren of the Archdiocese of Abuja reemphasizes her strident opposition to the clamour for the legalization of abortion through the unprecedented campaign for what some theorists call reproductive and/or sexuality right.

Supporters of this strange teaching of legalization of abortion right have gone to the extent of driving their ideology of campaigning for the National Assembly of Nigeria to pass a health bill that have obnoxious provisions that make it possible for a prospective mother to exercise the ‘right’ to determine whether her unborn child should be aborted or not as if the unborn child has only become a mere object that can be discarded at the whims and caprices of the would-be mother. Where has our humanity gone to? How come that we have gone this far in our quest to promote the selfish ideology of reproductive and/or sexuality right as if the human right of the unborn child to be born is not much more imperative and inalienable.

If we were aborted before birth would we be around nowto rule the World?
I have therefore decided to relay the message of the Catholic Church in which they rightly oppose any move to legislate in support of abortion right that would consign the human right of the unborn child to the whims and caprices of some mean health practitioners who take delight in terminating the precious lives of these beautiful gifts of God who can not speak for themselves.
According to the Catholic Church, Nigerians love children as precious gifts from God. Similarly, being a mother is a blessing. But Nigerian women – our mothers, wives and sisters should not continue to die in the noble and joyful duty of bringing forth new lives – the younger members of our families and communities.

Because pregnancy is not a disease, and children are not articles to be discarded or burdens to be off loaded along the bush paths. In the 21st century, pregnancy and child birth should not result to loss of lives – not of the mother, not of the baby.

Based on the premise of the foregoing, and the unalienable dignity of every human person (babies in the womb, the sick, the aged, everyone) and the respect due to them, the Catholic Church has customarily provided health care services wherever it carries out her missionary work. In Nigeria, health education and clinical services form integral components of the Church’s services which are made accessible to everyone in need.

In recent times, however, the Church is aware of the increased flurry of activities in different spheres and by many agencies of government and foreign organizations to achieve various objectives under the pretext of providing health care or reproductive health services to our citizens. Regrettably, Nigerians have been forced by poverty, illiteracy and corruption to grope for the basic necessities of life, leaving no opportunity to scrutinize the specious interests underpinning the health and population control interventions going on across the country.

The Catholic Church delved into scientific research when it noted that the death of a woman in the process of bearing children (pregnancy and child delivery) is a human tragedy, any day. But research and practical evidence show over and again that 91% (9 out of every 10) death of women during pregnancy and child birth are due to causes which are preventable (bleeding – 35%, high blood pressure – 18%, difficult labour – 18%, malaria – 11%, infections – 8%). Thus women die not because of pregnancy, but as a result of the absence of the right personnel, right equipment, right infrastructure, right community preparedness and right support to assure the best outcomes.

On the other hand, abortion which is the intentional killing (termination) of the life of an unborn baby in its mother’s womb accounts for about 9% (1 out of 10) of maternal deaths.

Therefore, given the relative burden of the causes of maternal deaths, the question is loudly being asked; why are the so-called development partners forcing Nigeria to focus on abortion as the panacea for curtailing the scourge of maternal mortality in our communities? The focus for me should be on how to provide sound health services to the Nigerian family rather than Government of Nigeria shying away from carrying out her constitutional duty of building functional health infrastructure to provide quality and sound healthcare services for all citizens. The people of Nigeria are the rightful owners of the nation’s sovereignty and it is from the people that the officials of government derive their legitimacy and authority. Why then is the government failing to deliver quality healthcare services to the citizenry but would be quick to accept the offer from foreign jurisdictions of certain medical services that would only encourage the spread of abortion and the termination of the lives of our unborn children?

Medical experts and public health practitioners rightly insist that 91% of cases of women dying during pregnancy and child birth can be prevented through the provision of easily-accessible blood transfusion services, skilled midwives during child delivery, malaria treatment, control of high blood pressure and infections. Other sectors such as transportation, clean water and electricity are also critical for reducing the scourge.

A well functional primary health care system with referral pathways is the basic ingredient towards this goal. In practice, the government can leverage on the backbone of the extensive presence of Catholic health service networks across the country to ensure that no woman suffers death or disability because of pregnancy-related conditions.

As stated by the Catholic Church in Nigeria I think young people need adequate information and guidance on how best to live out their sexuality in a healthy, Godly manner through character education, self-mastery and pre-marital sexual abstinence. But what they receive from the media, government agencies and many NGOs is categorical encouragement to engage in illicit sexual escapades through the promotion and use of condoms and other contraceptives.

The sad results are obvious everywhere: abysmal level of social morality, promiscuity, diseases, unfulfilled life ambitions, family dislocations and premature deaths of many young Nigerians. Religious and community leaders should play the good roles of preaching the preservation of lives as the way forward to preserve our cheerished African traditional value system that sees life as sacred and sacrosanct.

Obama Nominates John Kerry As Next Secretary Of State

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U.S. President Barack Obama has nominated Democratic Senator John Kerry as his next secretary of state on Friday, making the first move in a sweeping overhaul of his national security team heading into a second term.

Kerry will take the helm at the State Department from outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has long stated her intentions to leave early next year. Kerry, a longtime Massachusetts senator, is expected to be easily approved for the cabinet post by his Capitol Hill colleagues.

The moves opens up the Senate seat Kerry has held for nearly three decades. Recently defeated Republican Senator Scott Brown is eying it, though Massachusetts Democrats insist the party can keep the seat out of Republican hands.

Word about Washington’s latest worst-kept secret came at a sombre and somewhat unusual time, with both the president and Kerry attending a memorial service for Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. At the same time, leaders of the nation’s divided government were in limbo about how to head off the fiscal cliff’s looming Jan. 1, 2013, deadline.

Kerry 1st piece of cabinet shuffle

Kerry was the Democratic nominee for president in 2004, losing a close election to incumbent George W. Bush. He’s a decorated Vietnam veteran who was critical of the war effort when he returned to the U.S., even testifying in front of the Senate committee he eventually chaired.

Kerry’s only other rival for the job, UN ambassador Susan Rice, faced harsh criticism from congressional Republicans for her initial accounting of the deadly September attack on Americans in Benghazi, Libya. Obama vigorously defended Rice, a close friend and longtime adviser, but Republican senators dug in, threatening to hold up her nomination if the president tapped her for the post.

Rice withdrew her name from consideration last week, making Kerry all but certain to become the nominee. People familiar with the White House’s decision-making said support within the administration was moving toward Kerry even before Rice pulled out.

The cabinet nomination of Kerry, 69, is the first Obama has made since winning a second term, and the first piece in an extensive shuffle of his national security team. The president is also expected soon to nominate a new defence secretary to take over for retiring Leon Panetta and a new director of the Central Intelligence Agency to replace former spy chief David Petraeus, who resigned last month after admitting to an affair with his biographer.

INEC DE-REGISTER THREE MORE POLITICAL PARTIES

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In continuation of the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (As amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has de-registered three more political parties.
The affected political parties are:-

(a) African Renaissance Party (ARP);

(b) National Democratic Party (NDP);

(c) National Transformation Party (NTP).

The de-registration of these political parties is premised on the following grounds:
S/NO POLITICAL PARTY REMARKS
1 African Renaissance Party

(ARP)
(i) Composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) fails to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended)

(ii)No verifiable Headquarters office contrary to Section 222(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended)

(iii) Has not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies
2 National Democratic Party (NDP)
(i)Composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) fails to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended)

(ii)No verifiable Headquarters office contrary to Section 222(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended)
Has not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies

3 National Transformation Party (NTP)
(i)Composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) fails to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended)
(ii)Has not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies

The Commission reiterates its commitment to relating with all registered Political Parties as specified by the extant laws of the land.

ABDULLAHI A. KAUGAMA
SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION

Money Gram Fraud: First Bank Official Conspire With Fraudster To Falsify Identification Card.

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First Bank Officials Conspire with fraudsters to falsify receivers Identification Cards

As Nigerians abroad send money to their love ones this yuletide season, officials of First Bank have also devised corrupt means of fraudulently stealing money sent to their families and friends.

Fraud is one of the greatest challenges to progress in every sector in Nigeria, swindling consumers of their money by fraudulent bank officials is now a booming business across Nigeria.

PSN investigation showed that when Nigerians in Diaspora sends money to their relatives and friends in Nigeria through the Money Gram or Western Union, some bank officials in complicity with some crooks, give out details of receivers, falsifying Identification cards to pick up their monies. Over 4 cases has been reported this yuletide involving First BANK officials.

According to one of the victims, “On December 15, 2012 I wired $300 through Money Gram to my Aunt in Benin City, Nigeria.” About 4 hours later, I called and gave her the Reference Number #72914011. She proceeded to the First Bank Branch, at Mission Road in Benin City to pick up the fund.

She was however shock to be informed by the paying bank staff that the Reference number was not good. At that time it was 3am local time in California, so I told her that once Money Gram opens later in the morning I will call their office. At around 9am California time I called Money Gram, and was told the money was picked up about 5 hours ago, which was exactly the same time my aunt was in the bank. The strange thing to me is that the officials of the bank refused to show my aunt the identification used to pick up the money, neither were they helpful in retrieving the money back. It is unfortunate to lose money like that, especially money intended for their Christmas season holidays.

According to Gutierrez Mike of the Money Gram Corporate office in Dallas, Texas, who told the PSN that, “We work extensively with Law Enforcement agencies to reduce the menace of fraud, especially when it involves our customers. It is unfortunate that we have to work with regulations in different countries.

He confirmed receipt of several allegations of clients losing their monies especially during this Christmas season with their agent banks in Nigeria.

Recently two officials of Skye Bank Plc, Agodi, Ibadan branch, was arraigned before a chief magistrate’s court on a three-count charge of forgery and stealing.

According to the charge, the bank officials, Funmi Adekanbi and Adebukola Ademola, were accused of conspiring to commit felony including forgery and stealing, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Voll. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.

They were accused of forging the name of Kazeem Oludare Olukunle on a Western Union Money Transfer form to receive money with the intent to steal, contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Voll. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 were further accused of unlawfully and fraudulently stealing $3,300 being property of one Rotimi Onadipe and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Voll. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.

Source: Persecondnews.com

Jonathan, Anenih And The Pdp Cahoots—–By Theophilus Ilevbare

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Once again, President Jonathan did not disappoint as he amazed Nigerians with his relentless comic fight against corruption, leaving no modicum of doubt that he is nowhere close to tackling the ‘cancer’. His bizarre decisions and actions accentuating his lacklustre combat against graft to new horizons.
This time around, it was the appointment of Chief Tony Anenih, chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the new chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), one of the most lucrative agency outside the oil and gas industry and one that has served as an agency of choice for PDP leaders since 1999.

The ineptitude and cluelessness of the PDP and Jonathan led administration came to the fore as the septuagenarian returned to the honey pot he occupied for few years without any impact. In awe Nigerians were made to wonder if there is anything he left behind at the nation’s doorway of commerce and industry that he intends to pick up. Or How else can we describe this open show of PDPs shamelessness considering that a former NPA chairman and PDP deputy national leader, Chief Olabode George, not long ago completed his jail term in connection with funds he stole while at the helm of the NPA board. This was the height of comic mesmerism capable of making even lucifer laugh himself to a jerk. Of recent Nigerian memory is the fact that Chief Tony Anenih once served as the Minister of Works of which he misappropriated funds to the tune of N300 billion meant for road construction and reconstruction.

Mr Jonathan has raised the ante to appoint him as the new NPA Boss as part of his Machiavellian tactics towards self succession in 2015. Obliviously, Jonathan failed to realise that Anenih has since lost the sobriquet of ‘Mr fix it’, his political prowess is dwindling and deeming as we can recall that not too long ago Pa Anenih, as the ageing politician should now be addressed, served as the godfather of the trounced PDP candidates in the Anambra and Edo States gubernatorial polls, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo and Maj. General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) .

From the inception of the fourth republic in 1999, PDP has been known for its penchant for celebrating failures, hence, the emergence of Tony Anenih as Nigeria’s minister of works during Obasanjo’s tenure came as no surprise. Till today, the Nation’s highways, like the Lagos-Ibadan , East-West and Benin-Ore roads remain death traps. He left the roads worse than he met them. To him, pillaging state funds meant for road construction became his full time calling. So much was his fleece that till today a good number of the roads have remained in deplorable condition.

In the PDP, their cunning ability to recycle mediocrity has seen Pa Anenih metamorphose from Board of Trustees chairman to minister of the federal republic, then NPA chairman in 2009 and now chairman of the NPA again in 2012. His 2009 role as the Chairman of the NPA was an indirect appointment as Late President Yar’Adua’s second term ‘campaign manager’.

The same strategy is the record Jonathan seem to be playing. Anenih’s indictment during his time at the Ministry of Works without prosecution and conviction reinforces the public belief that some individuals are above the law. To succinctly put, “the anti-corruption law and war in Nigeria is like a cobweb. It is strong to catch the weak but very weak to catch the strong”. This action validates the school of thought that the prosecution of Bode George was a smokescreen, he was only a victim of high level political scheming.

The man that has been deployed to the prime government agency to superintend the activities of the NPA, should remember that it is the same post that landed Chief Bode George in Kirikiri Maximum Security
Prison.

Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole buttressed this point during his heated face-off with Anenih prior to the July gubernatorial election in Edo state, stating that it was ominous that the last bus stop on the highway to Kirikiri Prison is the NPA chairmanship!

Severally, Mr Jonathan, has demonstrated his willingness to condescend to this base level to ridicule his administration already bedeviled with sleaze, profligacy, impunity and other concomitant effects of corruption.

A leeway to self-succession in 2015 must have necessitated the NPA appointment. The PDP must also be playing out a script to wriggle itself out of the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairmanship tussle. Pa Anenih’s juicy post as NPA Boss, will help to divest his interest in the BoT race, giving room for the emergence of former President Obasanjo’s anointed candidate. This arrangement is the grand political game plan of the Jonathan administration towards the 2015 elections. Anenih as the Boss of the NPA would ensure he embezzles enough cash and be in high spirit of ‘fixation’ when the 2015 elections comes around.

The recycling of the old brigade of PDP politicians that have milked the country dry over the years, by the Jonathan government and the PDP at such a time in Nigeria’s history, is another indication that Mr Jonathan lacks the will power to bring Nigeria out of the wood. Mr Jonathan should be aware that
Nigerians have given up on any hope of restoration let alone transformation from his administration.

He has shown to Nigerians in different shades that is it business as usual with his PDP cahoots. For a man who ran a campaign with a subterfuge that he walked without shoes as a boy, promising zero tolerance for corruption, ‘fresh air’ and El dorado to turn his back on Nigerians barely two years into his tenure is not fit to be considered for a second term.

Jonathan’s tenure will readily go into Nigeria’s history books at the end of his four years as one of Nigeria’s most corrupt administration if the plethora of reports, investigation and other indices available is a yardstick. Well meaning Nigerians would rather wish 2015 can fast-forward to save us from this leadership plunge.

President Jonathan has shown from this despicable appointment of Tony Anenih as NPA Chairman that his is in Aso Rock to perpetuate sleaze, entrench impunity and sustain the legacy of waste bequeathed to him by his predecessors. It is a cinch that corruption has come to stay in his administration.

As 2015 beckons, Nigerians must be vigilant and vote wisely.

Azazi, Yakowa’s Death: How Safe Is President Goodluck Jonathan?—–Obinna Akukwe

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General Andrew Azazi, Nigeria’s former NSA and Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State died in a plane crash a week ago raising concerns over the safety of President Goodluck Jonathan. Those who removed Gen Azazi from the way can remove any other person including the sitting president. Therefore, it is time for the feasters and revellers in Aso Rock to jettison all corrupt tendencies and face squarely the business of providing good governance, backed by equity and justice so that when the enemies of democracy tries the Azazi experiment on them, the hand of God will provide the missing safety link. This article earlier published in February this year under the title ‘Boko Haram: How Safe is President Goodluck’ is still relevant today in the face of the suspicious elimination of Azazi .

The embattled and fleeing former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva,once described Nigeria’s President Goodluck as a lameduck and even threathened to snuff life out of his Ijaw kinsman. Many Nigerians though not particularly fans of Sylva’s governorship style, will not fault his remarks. The Boko Haram creating problems in Nigeria is the same group which late president Yar’adua hunted, killed and fragmented when they reared their head in Borno State. Though weak and infirm, late Yar’adua couldn’t tolerate this now all powerful monster. The Boko Haram foot soldiers dared not ply their trades in other states of the federation while he was alive. They restricted their murmurings to Borno axis. Now Boko Haram is even making attempts to strike at Nsukka and environs.

How did we come to this stage? Presidential lameduckism or appropriately put, presidential timidity is the major problem. The PDP branch of Boko Haram which I prefer to call the PDP Boko Haram are growing restless each day especially with the arrest of most of their contacts and leaders. Their fear is that the more the foot soldiers are arrested the more likely their secret will be exposed. Their second problem is that the lame duck president can react if pushed to the wall. The Sylva experiment is a serious case study. Their third headache is that the president once desperate for dialogue is now slowly approaching the matter. Their calculation is that they will use the option of negotiating with Boko Haram members on the behalf of the north to equally clear their tracks. The cautious approach to the dialogue issue by the presidency is causing psychological irritations to some members of the PDP Boko Haram.

President Goodluck should be careful of his personal safety. This growing irritation and desperation could result in extremist attacks on the life of the nation’s number one citizen. These desperate ones finished off MKO Abiola with the most perfect alibi, in front of international visitors. They equally finished off Tunde Idiagbon, Nigeria’s former Chief of General Staff. They equally planned to arrange accidents for Obasanjo if he attempts tenure elongation. If they could finish these people without effort then they could do anything.

These PDP Boko Haram members can buy up anybody they want to buy including President Goodluck’s cook, advisers, and inner confidants. They bought Henry Okah , President Goodluck’s brother to throw Bomb at the Eagle Square during Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. If they could buy Henry Okah , the chief spokesman of the Niger Delta struggle, then they can buy up any other militant or military officer who has ambiguous tendencies. They have stolen enough billions of dollars to buy up anybody. They can buy and are still buying security information from and around the State House.

General Aguiyi Ironsi did not know when his security system was jeopardized until he was dragged and murdered by forces led by Danjuma in 1966. Surrounding himself with competent persons is very necessary as well as proper counter intelligence. President Goodluck needs to bring in anybody from any part of the country whose loyalty and professionalism is proven. In the dying days or Yar’adua regime, General Aliyu Gusau was brought back to help the presidency regain control of the security apparatus when it was obvious that Major General Sarki Muktar then National Security Adviser was playing sentiments with the nation’s security and has contempt for Goodluck, then the Acting President. The presence of General Gusau helped to open up the security space and equally in concert with other checks and balances averted what would have been a coup de tat the day Yar’adua was flown in from Saudi.

Nigerians are frustrated that the president seems to be carrying on the art of governance with the same business as usual indifference of past regime while their living conditions continue to deteriorate. The profligacy of government functionaries is equally disheartening. This does not however suggest that Nigerians want the PDP branch of Boko Haram to serve President Gooddluck the same dish they served Aguiyi Ironsi.

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