Delta flooding: Speaker cuts short oversea conference trip

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GOV UDUAGHAN VISITS FLOOD RAVAGED AREAS

By Our Reporter, Delta state

 

As the flooding continues to ravage coaster communities across Delta state, speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei has cut short his International Bar conference trip to the United State of America.

 

Reacting to the flooding that has ravaged the state in a telephone interview with our correspondent far away in Dublin, Ochei said he was already in the airport to come back to Delta state and join hands with the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and others to ensure that all the displaced persons are evacuated and well taken care of.

 

According to the speaker “The scene is disaster; initially the people thought it was a mere joke but with what is on ground now is disastrous. I am in the airport, on my way back to Nigeria, we went for this International bar conference and the conference is billed to end on Saturday, but I have to cut short my trip and start returning to the state because the flooding situation in the state is very disastrous. Let me come and attend to the problems and join hands with our governor to tackle the problem headlong as we cannot allow our people to suffer in the face of the flooding.”

 

While calling on the Federal government and emergency management agencies to rise up to the occasion, the speaker noted that this is the ripe time for the concerned authorities to prove their worth and not just sitting down and make a lot of noise.

 

“This is the time they should rise up to the problem because they were warned well ahead of time and the issue should be that, now we have gotten here how do we resettle these persons whose houses have been over taken by the flood and then how do you get the state government and all other agencies engaged, particularly the Nigerian Medical Association.

 

This is the time to rise up to the challenge both the doctors should go round and start meeting and treating people who are displaced not only when they come out to campaign for pay rise and go on strike. This is the time to prove the worth of their profession that they are there for the people. Everybody must come together and all hands must be on deck and salvage the situation.”

 

The speaker however commiserates with those who lost their lives as well as property in the flood and thank all those who have taken up the challenge of rescuing and evacuating the displaced people.

Aba Business Community Laud Orji over Proposed Tax Regime

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Traders of Aba, the commercial capital of Abia state have commended Gov. Theodore Orji on the proposed tax regime in the state from next year. This came at the heels of the governor’s announcement at the state broadcast to mark 52rd Nigeria Independent anniversary that a new tax regime would commence in the state by January 2013.

247ureports.com gathered that from that period, tax demand notices will be issued to all landlords, factory owners, and other taxable property holders – with very clear details of all payable taxes.

“In this new Platform, all those involved in the present revenue collection of the state, have been given notices to wind-up and vacate their activities with effect from the end of December.

“They are to leave the new accredited Government Revenue Consultants, to begin to do their job.
This era will herald an end to double taxation and all other unsavory burdens that have been weighing down on our tax- paying citizens, and making the tax system unhealthy and unfair,’’ the governor said.

An Aba based businessman, Mr. Iheanacho Jeremiah in a chat with our correspondent yesterday, lauded the governor for the new tax regime, describing it as fair, equitable and with a human face.

He urged the government to adequately monitor the new accredited Government Revenue Consultants to ensure the objectives of introducing the new tax regime is not defeated for the benefit of both the government and the people.
According to him, the state government and the residents would stand to gain more if avenue for leakages were properly blocked to boost revenue to the government.

However, despite the commendations trailing the governor’s broadcast, many other businessmen say they prefer to reserve their comments on the development.

A hotel operator, who simply gave his name as Paul appealed to the state government to ensure proper harmonization of the existing levies which the members had severally decried, adding that such would boost business in the state.
“Government has been losing much revenue to private pockets. I think such moves are commendable. A list of the harmonized taxes and selected banks where they can be paid would be a step in the right direction,” he added.

247ureports.com further gathered that the governor had assured that in the new Platform, that all those involved in the present revenue collection of the state, have been given notices to wind-up their activities by December 2012.

 

Aluu Four and the Beast in Us – By Emmanuel Onwubiko

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JP Clark, the first African writer appointed to a chair of English, was born on December 6th 1933 into two old Izon families, Bekederemo and Adomi of Kiagbodo in the Niger Delta. He distinguished himself in scholarship so much so that he served as professor of English, university of Lagos; visiting Distinguished fellow, centre for the Humanities, Wesleyan University, USA; visiting professor of English, Lincoln university, USA; visiting professor of English, Yale university, USA and visiting professor, Institute of African Studies, university of Ibadan, Nigeria where he began as a Research Fellow and later worked internationally as a consultant to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO).

As one of the finest poets out of Africa, JP Clark wrote a highly philosophical poem titled; “season of Omens”, in which the worst form of human brutality and animalistic tendencies seem to be the dominant thematic concept.

This poem is found in his latest collection of poems rightly titled “full tide” which was first published in the year 2010.

In dissecting the unprecedented level of human brutality, wickedness and the crudest application of primitive jungle justice which was visited last weekend on four students of university of Port Harcourt, River State Nigeria, by the Aluu community in Ikwerre local government Area of River State, over suspected theft of mobile phones and computers, this beautiful poem of Professor JP Clark comes up handy.

I will therefore reproduce the essential aspects of Professor Clark’s thought in this poem to demonstrate the level of backwardness and primitivism that Nigeria has speedily reached in our contemporary times especially when viewed against the backdrop of the mob killing of the four university undergraduates and the massacre of over three dozen students of the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa by unidentified suspected insurgents in the North.

In the ‘seasons of omens’, Professor JP Clark wrote thus; “when calabashes held petrol and men turned faggots in the streets, then came the five hunters; when mansions and limousines made bonfires in sunset cities, then came the five hunters; when clans were discovered that were not in the book and cattle counted for heads of men, then came the five hunters, when hoodlums took possession of police barracks in defiance of bullets then came the five hunters; when minister legislated from bed and made high office the prize for failure then came the five hunters; when wads of notes were kept in infant skulls with full blessing of prelates, then came the five hunters; when women grew heavy with ballot papers delivering the house entire to adulterers, then came the five hunters”.

Pardon my use of punctuation marks in the above poem because the author, the erudite Professor of English in his wisdom and in compliance with the high standard of poetry never used any punctuations but I did just that to comprehensively convey the metaphysical imports of this wonderful poem vis-a-vis the unprecedented violence in Nigeria.

The Sordid story making the rounds in newspapers and the social media is that last Friday, four students were allegedly arrested by members of the Aluu, Ikwerre community near Port Harcourt, River State, accused of stealing mobile phones and computers belonging to their fellow students and within few hours, in the broad daylight they were violently lynched to their gruesome death even as the primitive and brutal violence was recorded by some of the ‘eye –witnesses’ and/or ‘participant observers’ who then proceeded to post this insane video on the internet and the brutes who participated in the butcher of these four young Nigerian boys were captured clearly committing this atrocity and grave crime against humanity.

I watched this gory recording and wept profusely that Nigerians have lost the milk of human kindness and universal solidarity.

The police, State Security Service (SSS) and the so-called joint military task force that is usually active in catching “Crude oil thieves” were nowhere to be seen to rescue these four young Nigerian boys who were left to be butchered by some irrational and insane anarchists.

The spokesperson of the River State police had the temerity to tell the media that the mass murderers in Aluu community stopped the police from rescuing these four boys from the jungle justice that was unfortunately and callously visited on them.

Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) gives right to life to all persons.

The offences for which these boys were so callously executed by this self-righteous crowd in Aluu community is not a capital offence but the alleged theft of common telephone handsets and some stupid computers.

Section 36(1) of the Constitution unequivocally speaks of fair hearing for crime suspects.

But why has the law enforcement regime collapsed spectacularly in Nigeria to give way to these kinds of wicked vigilante and ‘lynch mob jungle justice’ like the extra-legal execution by the Aluu community members of four young boys suspected of theft?

Sadly, Aluu community is not alone in this kind of jungle justice because even in Abuja recently, a lady was stripped naked in Garki near the minister’s office when the crowd suspected her to be one of the car snatching syndicate that unsuccessfully tried to rob a resident of his jeep. There is unfortunately what I may call ‘the Aluu evil tendency’ in each of us which must be exorcised rapidly.

The Nigerian police Force Act stated clearly in Part II, article 4 that operatives of Nigeria Police Force must maintain law and order and protect lives and property of all Nigerians.

Aluu killing shows that Nigeria does not have a functional police Force and government is notoriously not committed to pragmatically set up workable police force because most Nigerians see the police operatives as the worst violators of the principle of rule of law who encourage impunity to a point that most criminal suspects arrested by the police are let off the hook to return to unleash bigger violence on the larger society and if they are not buoyant enough to buy their freedom, they are executed in police detention centers.

Government must arrest and prosecute for murder any Nigerian who participates in mob killing of crime suspects and these mass murderers who killed those four young Nigerians must face charges of murder and punished for these heinous crimes against humanity.

The World is watching us to see whether we will treat this latest bloodshed in the notorious business-as-usual approach that other violent crimes have been so treated to our collective shame.

* Emmanuel Onwubiko, Head, HUMAN Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria blogs@www.huriwa.blogspot.com.

 

Oshiomhole asks poll Tribunal to dismiss Airhiavbere’s application

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Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and his counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) (right); Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) (2nd right); and others at the resumed hearing of the Edo Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin City

Edo State election petitions tribunal sitting in Benin City has reserved ruling for today (Tuesday) on two applications filed before it at its resumed hearing, yesterday, in the case filed by the defeated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Maj.-Gen Charles Airhiavbere against the election of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State.

Maj-Gen Arhiavbere (petitioner) had in his petition requested leave of the court to bring in additional witnesses to testify on his behalf to which Counsel to Governor Oshiomhole (1stRespondent) and ACN (2nd respondent) filed a counter-application asking the court to dismiss the petitioner’s application, on the ground that it had been overtaken by events.

The 3rd respondent, INEC, aligned itself with the position of the 1st and 2ndrespondents seeking leave of the court to strike out the petitioner’s application.

The petitioner’s counsel, P.O. Ituah, while praying the court to allow him bring in additional witnesses said it would help prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.

However, counsel to Governor Oshiomhole, the 1st respondent, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) urged the tribunal to dismiss the application as it would serve no useful purpose in view of the ruling of the tribunal on September 27, which dismissed the application of the petitioner in respect to the academic qualification of the governor.

Chief Akintola submitted that the argument of the petitioner was merely academic as the application was not a live motion before the tribunal.

Buttressing his argument with relevant authorities, Oshiomhole’s counsel urged the tribunal to dismiss the application as it does not serve any useful purpose.

Counsel to the Action Congress of Nigeria (2nd respondent) and the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, (3rd respondent) allied themselves with the argument of the first respondent describing the application as an exercise in futility.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrusa reserved ruling on the application and counter-application for today October 9.

It will be recalled that the tribunal had on September 27 struck out the Edo PDP candidate’s petition contesting the academic qualifications of Governor Adams Oshiomhole on the basis that it was a pre-election matter that should have been addressed by a Federal High Court before the election, with the tribunal chairman describing the petitioner as embarking on a “wild goose chase”.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (3rd respondent) yesterday, produced at the tribunal, some of the electoral documents requested by the petitioner. INEC said it had to bring the documents to the premises of the tribunal after attempts to contact the petitioner failed.

The 1st Respondent, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was present at the tribunal yesterday while the petitioner, Maj-Gen Charles Airhiavbere was absent.

Police report affirms Agagu’s claim of forgery against Mimiko

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Gov Mimiko and wife

Report of the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) confirmed that the security reports which the Labour Party (LP) tendered before the Justice Nabaruma-led Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal to prove that its candidate, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, won the 2007 governorship election in the state were forged, National Mirror can reveal.

The report, entitled: Police investigation report on a case of forgery and altering of State Security Service report, said eight of the nine security reports presented by the LP before the tribunal were discovered to be fake.

The judgments of the tribunal and the Appeal Court, Benin Division, which sacked the former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, from office were essentially based on the security reports which claimed that the 2007 elections were marred with irregularities and violence in some Local Government Areas where Agagu won.

Following the petition addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan by the former governor in May 2010 urging the president to investigate the matter, the Inspector-General of Police directed that Agagu’s claim be investigated.

According to the police report, a letter was written to the Director General of the State Security Service to confirm if the security reports in the state during the 2007 governorship elections were forged. The report added that the Director General confirmed that eight out of the nine SSS reports tendered at the tribunal did not emanate from the organization.

The police report further said that the SSS boss tried and clarified the differences between the genuine reports of the organization and the forged ones presented at the tribunal. In Okitipupa Local Government Area, while the genuine report dated April 15, 2007, dwelt on the general conduct and activities of all the parties, INEC and security agents in the election, the forged report dated April 16, 2007, reported late arrival of election materials and allegations against PDP thugs at Igbotako and Ilutitun areas of the LGA.

The genuine report on the election in Ese-Odo Local government Area dated April 15, 2007, highlighted the activities of some security agents as well as members of the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party. But the fake report tendered by Governor Mimiko’s team of lawyers dated April 16, 2007 said election was not conducted in some unnamed areas in the local government area. Saying that the elections were not free and fair where they were conducted, the fake security report further alleged that some PDP stalwarts imported thump printed ballots boxes in favour of their party.

While the genuine security report on the election in Irele Local Government Area dated April 15, 2007 talked about the general conduct of the election, the forged report centered on the activities of the then Council Chairman and the PDP. It went further to indict an unnamed PDP leader who allegedly took ballot boxes to his residence where they thump-printed and returned them to INEC.

On the election in Odigbo Local Government Area, the original report dated April 15, 2007 raised the issue of ballot box snatching but did not indict any political party. It said election materials were promptly distributed by INEC and that officials of the commission were relatively objective. It also reported the whole process of the election. But the fake report which also dated April 15, 2007 said election did not take place in Ore and that one of the INEC officials cast vote for PDP.

The original report on the election in Ileoluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area was dated April 14, 2007 and that the election were conducted in all the 157 polling units in the LGA with pockets of skirmishes involving mainly the PDP and the LP. The forged report dated April 14, 2007 indicted members of the PDP for snatching ballot boxes. While it alleged that PDP attacked some members of the LP, it accused the police of intimidating LP members and disallowing them to vote.

The forged report on the election in Ose Local Government Area reproduced the original report which raised issues concerning the activities of a politician in the area verbatim in a detective format.

According to the Police, from the investigation conducted, it was clear that the security reports that the LP lawyers tendered at the tribunal in Akure were forged. It therefore recommended that all the persons involved be arraigned in court.

Agagu had in May, 2010, addressed a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan claiming that the two judgments that removed him from power were essentially based on fake security reports. The former governor pleaded with Jonathan to order that his claims be investigated.

He had written in the petition: “My tenure as Governor of Ondo state was terminated on 23rd February, 2009 upon the verdict of the court of appeal sitting in Benin which confirmed the rulling of the Justice Nabaruma-led Tribunal which awarded the gubernatorial elections of 14th April, 2007 to Dr. Mimiko of the Labour Party.

“Essentially, the verdict of the tribunal and the Appeal Court were based on the acceptance by the judges that elections in 10 LGAs where PDP won were marred with irregularities and violence and therefore cancelled over 63% of votes cast in these LGAs while retained all the votes in the seven LGAs where Labour Party won. In both judgments, the decision of the judges was substantially based on the fake security reports purportedly written by SSS which flawed the elections only in the local government areas where I won.

“It must be emphasized that our lawyers objected to the admission of these purported SSS reports especially since the SSS officer subpoenaed stated clearly in the open Tribunal that the Department of State Security Service did not have such reports. In spite of this, the judges still laid credence on the fake reports stating that the court is not concerned with how the evidence was obtained.”

The former governor had added in the petition that he was not interested in the judicial review of his case but that, “It is clear that if people who perpetrate forgery to pervert the course of justice and democracy and thereby change the course of lives of millions of people are allowed to go scot-free, they will be further emboldened to create even greater harm to our fledging democratic experiment.”

Agagu has againg writen the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJ) on the basis of the findings of the the Police Special Investigation Panel which discovered that the security reports used by Mimiko to displace the former governor from power were forged.

Agagu said in the petition: “My grouse with the verdicts of the Tribunal; and the Court of Appeal is essentially on the acceptance by the two tiers of courts that elections in ten Local Governments where I won were marredwith irregularities while conveniently all the votes cast in the 7 Local Governments where the Labour Party won were retained.

“In both judgments, (Tribunal and the Court of Appeal) the decision of the Judges was based on the Security Reports purportedly written by the SSS. The Security Reports which have now been pronounced to be forgeries by the SSS and the Police were the fulcrum of the decisions.

“Mr. Chairman Sir, my counsel objected to the admission of the fake SSS Reports more so that the SSS Officer who was subpoenaed by my opponents stated on oath that the service did not originate or possess such reports!

“The PDP lost more than 62,926 votes through this flaw in just two Local Government Areas (Okitipupa and Irele) where the fake SSS reports were directly used in the judgements and could have influenced decisions in other Local Government Areas.

“You will agree with my Lord that it is against public interest for a party in a suit to produce fraudulent evidence to deceive the court into giving him a favourable judgement. On ground of public policy and equity, he should not be permitted or allowed to profit or to continue to enjoy the fruits of such fraudulent victory or judgement particularly where it has to do with a very sensitive political office such as the exalted office of Governor of a State.”

There is no doubt that Agagu is desirous of justice in the case but will the CJN act on his latest petition and ensure that the culprits are exposed and punished? The Nigerian public and indeed the World are watching.

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Source: National Mirror

Flood Disaster In Anambra State: An Overview – By Oseloka H. Obaze, Secretary to the Anambra State Government

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SSG and Gov Peter Obi on site

Over the past three weeks, the nation has faced an unprecedented flood disaster resulting in loss of lives and property running into billions of Naira. Several states were affected, with Anambra, being the most acutely affected.

As of today, eight local government areas are affected, with Anambra West and Ogbaru LGAs now completely under water. The number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) now runs into thousands with an estimated 10,000 homes fully or partially submerged. Leading industries in south of the Onitsha Metropolis are also under water and no longer operational. The situation for these communities remains dire and very bleak. While homes, farmlands and livelihoods and productivity estimated at billions of naira have been lost, there has been minimal loss of lives with four casualties, thanks to the early warning and proactive intervention of the Anambra State Government (ANSG). Nonetheless, Anambra State is now a flood disaster zone.

The Anambra State Government has risen to the occasion, doing its utmost, within its limited resources to assist the affected communities and IDPs. The State-based Army and Navy formations,

the police, churches and NGOs have been most proactive in assisting the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in rendering the much-needed assistance to those most affected.

His Excellency Gov. Peter Obi, CON, has called on the Federal Government to intervene to assist those affected by this horrendous flood disaster. Other well-meaning Anambrarians have made similar calls to the Federal Government, as well as to international donors and organizations to assist the State. So far, SEMA, and its federal counterpart, NEMA, as well as UNICEF have conducted needs assessment missions. Consequently, relief materials are being delivered by NEMA and other donors, but remain far from the robust support required under the present circumstances.

ANSG in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and Navy continue to carry out evacuation and search and rescue (SAR) missions for stranded persons. Those already evacuated are being hosted in fifteen (15) IDP camps, namely, Sharon House, Bishop Crowder School, the Army Barracks, New Bethel Primary School, and Onitsha-South LGA premises in Onitsha; Health Centre Umueje, Community Primary School Igbakwu, the Skills Acquisition Centre Anaku, in Ayamelum LGA; St. Augustine Catholic Church and Unity Primary School Umuoba Anam; General Hospital Umuleri, and St Joseph Secondary School, Aguleri, all in Otuocha and Schools in Ossomala, Atani and St. Gregory Church Odekpe in the Ogbaru LGA.

The IDPs are accommodated and fed with medical care provided to them by the Anambra State Government and its local collaborators.

IN-KIND DONATIONS:

Well-meaning citizens and organization have also been making donations in kind, through SEMA. All in-kind donations should be directed to the SEMA Office along the Enugu-Onitsha Road (by J-Jumac Hotel), Awka (SEMA contact is 08037424242). Similarly, numerous enquiries about cash donations from Nigerians and Anambrarians at home and in the Diaspora have necessitated the establishment of a centralized fund where the donations can be remitted:

RELIEF FUND

The ANSG has set up the Anambra State Flood Disaster Emergency Fund, at the following banks:

Diamond Bank, Nigeria, PLC

AC #: 0028548840

Fidelity Bank, Nigeria, PLC

AC #: 4020912984

ANSG Contacts:

 Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, Chief of Staff/Commissioner for Economic Planning

Tel: 0803-336-4322

 Ms. Ngozika B. Okoye, Hon. Commissioner for Finance

Tel: 0809-777-1308

 Mrs. Azuka Enemo, Hon. Commissioner for Local Government

Tel: 0812-203-7655

ANSG invites Anambrarians and the Nigerians at home and in Diaspora as well as all well-meaning citizens of the world to rally to the support of the affected citizens of Anambra State. The bigger challenge will be in the medium and longer terms, when the IDPs will need to be returned to their respective homes, rehabilitated and resettled after the flood recedes. The ANSG will be counting on the Federal Government, its agencies, especially NEMA and its international partners, to join with it in overcoming this unprecedented humanitarian challenge.

We thank all those who have expressed concern in cash or in kind or sent goodwill messages about this catastrophic disaster.

<sgd.>

Oseloka H. Obaze

Secretary to the Anambra State Government

0815-164-2112

 

 

We need another war… – By John Okiyi Kalu

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Earlier today, I posted this on my facebook wall.

 

“Ultimately, Nigeria will need another civil war to end the first civil war of 1967-70.”

 

Many of my friends made comments but am sure the hard hitters among my friends must have been silently watching my wall knowing that the JOK they know is anti-war and hate blood shed. Naturally, they will be astounded by this “new JOK”. One very close female friend of mine summarized the understandable confusion when she wrote “Haba Oga JOK! Diplomacy is not working again abi? It is well oo”.

 

Permit me to start with a question here. Is the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70 over? Two recent unrelated events in Nigeria should guide us in answering that question.

 

Speaking at a recent Leadership Newspapers Awards event held at Abuja and reported by Thisday Newspaper of September 19th 2012, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reportedly stated as follows.

 

“I want to recall that during the 1994-95 Constitutional Conference, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the Second Republic vice-president of this federation, introduced and canvassed for the concept of geopolitical zones.

 

“I was among those who opposed it because I thought that Ekwueme, coming from the defunct Republic of Biafra, wanted to break up the country again.

 

“Now, I realise that I should have supported him because our current federal structure is clearly not working. Dr. Ekwueme obviously saw what some of us, with our civil war mindset, could not see at the time. There is indeed too much concentration of power and resources at the centre.

 

“And it is stifling our march to true greatness as a nation and threatening our unity because of all the abuses, inefficiencies, corruption and reactive tensions that it has been generating.

 

“There is need, therefore, to review the structure of the Nigerian federation, preferably along the basis of the current six geopolitical zones as regions and the states as provinces.

 

“The existing states structure may not suffice, as the states are too weak materially and politically to provide what is needed for good governance.”

 

Personally, I support restructuring of Nigeria with the 6 geopolitical zones becoming 6 Regional Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with as many states and LGA as they want to create. Derivation should be 50% to cure the regions of laziness while the Federal Government will share the remaining revenue strictly on the basis of equality of regions. Of course the centre will have a President with 6 Vice Presidents and part time national Assembly that convenes not more than 4 times per annum, to approve Federal Budgets and legislate on critical issues that will be left in the exclusive list. We need not pay them anything more than a fixed sitting allowance that will take care of their transport and accommodation at Abuja.

 

Pardon my digression.

 

Those who believe Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970 should read these lines from Atiku Abubakar. “I was among those who opposed it because I thought that Ekwueme, coming from the defunct Republic of Biafra, wanted to break up the country again.

Now, I realize that I should have supported him because our current federal structure is clearly not working. Dr. Ekwueme obviously saw what some of us, with our civil war mindset, could not see at the time.” This is coming from a man who ended up being the most powerful Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is also reputed to be one of the most powerful power brokers from Northern Nigeria.

 

Obviously the Atiku mind set is the Northern/Western Nigeria mind set. To them the war is not over yet. Ndigbo must be punished further for daring to ask for freedom from a marriage that was killing them in 1966. I recall current CBN governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi pointing out the dangers of this anti-Igbo mind set in one of his presentations titled “The Yoruba are Nigeria’s problem” in a Paper Presented At The “National Conference On The 1999 Constitution” Jointly Organised By The Network For Justice And The Vision Trust Foundation, At The Arewa House, Kaduna From 11th –12th September, 1999. (You can read a copy from http://theafricansense.blogspot.com/2012/02/yorubas-are-problem-with-nigeria-by.html?m=1). While not agreeing entirely with Sanusi, it is important to note that anti-Igbo sentiments accounts for why Igbo are massacred whenever the gods of the North need blood appeasement. The whole country appears to be involved in this conspiracy and share the Atiku mind set. That explains why even though Dr Ekwueme was a key founder of PDP and the most qualified Nigerian to lead in 1999 the Atikus of this world and their military wing conspired to dash his ambitions. Ekwueme lost PDP primaries because he is “coming from the defunct Republic of Biafra that wanted to break up the country again”. That must have been what Atiku and others told the talakawas of the North while bribing them to vote against arguably Nigeria’s best hope in 1999. Otherwise, every PDP delegate to Jos convention of 1999 knew Ekwueme was the best of the lot.

 

Of course we all know the rest of the story, including how a Former military leader was sprung from jail and pardoned of treason convictions and then literally washed, bathed and delivered to Nigerians as our President. That arrangement favored Atiku who knew that an Obasanjo who is just coming out of jail cannot lead and so must depend on his Vice. The arrangement “worked” well till Obasanjo’s rehabilitation was concluded and he started thinking for himself. Suffice it to say that Atiku later joined Obasanjo’s opponents, even as Obasanjo’s VP, because there is no how those involved conspiracy against justice, equity and good conscience will not ultimately disagree and fight each other. But the loser was Nigeria and Nigerian masses who lost an opportunity to have a fit and proper civilian President. We have not recovered from that yet. We will not recover from it until a Nigerian President of Igbo origin is installed. Mark it somewhere and quote me freely, Nigeria will continue to grope about in search of leadership, peace and development until an Igbo man emerges as President. The coming of the Igbo President will signpost the end of Nigerian civil war. For now, the war is still ongoing. By other means.

 

Recently, renowned Prof of Literature and arguably Nigeria’s best writer, Prof Chinua Achebe, released his latest and only book on Nigeria civil war titled “There was a country”. This book which was released in UK just thursday and will be released in America on 11th October is not yet in Nigeria. I am not sure that any Nigerian, including those who reacted to excerpts from the book published on wednesday can claim to have read the book as at yesterday. Yet Achebe is being attacked by a whole tribe with the leaders of that tribe already subtly threatening members of the Igbo tribe living in their area because of what Achebe wrote.

 

“Almost 30 years before Rwanda, before Darfur, more than 2 million people-mothers, children, babies, civilians-lost their lives as a result of the blatantly callous and unnecessary policies enacted by the leaders of the federal government of Nigeria.”

Prof Achebe also said “The wartime cabinet of General Gowon, the military ruler, it should also be remembered, was full of intellectuals, like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, among others, who came up with a boatload of infamous and regrettable policies. A statement credited to Awolowo and echoed by his cohorts is the most callous and unfortunate: all is fair in war, and starvation is one of the weapons of war. I don’t see why we should feed our enemies fat in order for them to fight harder’. “It is my impression that Awolowo was driven by an overriding ambition for power, for himself and for his Yoruba people. There is, on the surface at least, nothing wrong with those aspirations. However, Awolowo saw the dominant Igbo at the time as the obstacles to that goal, and when the opportunity arose with the Nigeria-Biafra war, his ambition drove him into a frenzy to go to every length to achieve his dreams. In the Biafran case, it meant hatching up a diabolical policy to reduce the numbers of his enemies significantly through starvation eliminating over two million people, mainly members of future generations.”

 

That was the offensive portion of Achebe’s book, at least to my Yoruba brothers. Ever since, they’ve rolled out the drums of “war” against, note this carefully, Igbo and Chinua Achebe. Please don’t ask me why Igbo. Don’t ask me if the book was written by the whole of Igbo land and Ndigbo. Don’t ask me if Ohaneze Ndigbo authored or published “There was a Country”. Just read two prominent Yoruba leaders in their own word.

 

1. “Let our Igbo brothers be reminded that about three-quarters of their assets not in the eastern Region are in Lagos and we have been very liberal and accommodating. We have allowed them to live undisturbed.” This statement was credited to Mr. Ayo Opadokun who was Assistant Director of Organisation of the late Chief Awolowo’s. He aslo said; “It is a rehearse of the perverted intellectual laziness which he had exhibited in the past in matters related to Chief Obafemi Awolowo. When Achebe described Awo as a Yoruba irredentist, what he expected was that Awo should fold his arms to allow the Igbo race led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, to preside over the affairs of the Yoruba nation,” Opadokun said.

 

2. Senator Biyi Durojaiye, another Yoruba shares Opadokun’s view. He said the Igbo should be more charitable, seeing that both sides of the war are now benefiting from its outcome. He enjoined all to join hands in facing the challenges of the moment, insisting that the way to go is for all Nigerians to support a Sovereign National Conference and restructuring of the polity. “My view is that you don’t expect somebody on the receiving end of a war to say something pleasant about the winners. “I don’t share Achebe’s view that Awolowo did all he did for personal political aggrandisement. It was all in the process of keeping Nigeria one. What he and General Gowon did was in the process of preserving the integrity of Nigeria.”

 

What does such response tell you about the end of Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970? Personally, it tells me the war is not over yet hence nobody wants the truth about an unfinished war to be exhumed. A whole tribe has been threatened and reminded simply that the war is not over and “we can hurt your properties if you don’t stop your son from revealing the truth about the first phase of the civil war”.

 

Taking a cue from Ayo Opadokun and others, many of my online friends went to war against Achebe and Ndigbo. Non even bothered to find out if Achebe lied or not. The most exciting was a full note published by one Festus Akanbi titled “ACHEBE’s guided missile on Awo: Awolowo’s Account of the Biafran War”(https://m.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10151266120884104) in which he published a 1983 interview by Chief Obafemi Awolowo where he puportedly denied the 5 key accusation against him regarding his civil war activities. Those familiar with the war blame Awolowo for (1) the £20 policy that robbed returning Igbo of billions of money left Nigerian banks before the war. (2) Starvation policy that used hunger as a weapon of war. (3) Change of currency at the beginning/end of the war, (4) abandoned property and (5) indigenization policy almost immediately after the war that allowed Yorubas to buy up UAC, Lever brothers, Cadbury, NBL etc.

 

Naturally I was interested in reading Awo’s defense against those policies for two principal reasons

1. My elder brother, Jona, died of Kwasiokor during the war

2. I learned “tribalism” from Chief Awolowo.

 

My first instinct when I started reading the interview as published by Festus Akanbi was that Chief Awolowo was speaking as a politician. When he said ordinary Igbo love him I couldn’t reconcile that with the fact that as a small boy I watched him and his helicopter being stoned at Etche Road field Aba. My father was living at 119 Etche Road then and I witnessed this stoning by angry Igbo men, boys and girls. Naturally I was attracted to the location by the helicopter hovering to land at the field that is almost opposite my father’s house. When I asked my mother why Aba people stoned the man, she told me the man was a wicked man called Awolowo. It was that very day I found out that my only brother then died of Kwasiokor as a result of Awolowo’s starvation policy as a weapon of war. I know for a fact that anything named Awolowo in Igbo land is something that reminds Igbo people of civil war wickedness. I challenge my readers to find out about awolowo leaves for wounds and awolowo anti malaria leaves. Ask your parents why they were named after Awolowo and not even Gowon or the butcher of Asaba, Murtala Muhammed.

 

While going through that interview, I stumbled upon the truth from Awo’s own lips. Read this line and take a minute to digest it.

 

“So I decided to stop sending the food there. In the process the civilians would suffer, but the soldiers will suffer most.”-Obafemi Awolowo

 

Like a Facebook friend of mine wrote recently, English language is not my strong area. Of course I was among those who started primary education under a big tree at the end of the civil war. My 6 year old daughter is more of my English teacher because she is receiving better quality education. But even as an “olodo” I can see that Chief Awolowo used personal singular in describing that policy. Instead of saying “we” or “the govt” he said “I decided…” That means he takes personal responsibility for that policy and it’s execution. He expects to be given credit for that “brilliant” starvation policy. What Achebe did in his book was simply to give Obafemi Awolowo credit for the hunger policy of the Federal Govt that led to the death of of my brother Jona and about 2m children.

 

So why was Achebe and Igbo attacked if Awolowo accepted authoring the hunger policy? My answer is simple, the civil war is not yet over. Our brothers are reminding Achebe and Ndigbo that the winners must be allowed to decide what is true, when the truth can be revealed and also choose who will reveal it.

 

In conclusion, I think Nigeria needs another war to end the civil war of 1967-1970. This war will be fought with truth and forgiveness as our major weapons. The role played by living and dead Nigeria leaders must be revealed and examined to aid the healing process and those found culpable punished or vilified appropriately.

 

Today, 7th of October, is the anniversary of the Asaba massacre. Nobody is talking about Murtala Muhammed lining up defenseless Igbo men, women and Children at Asaba and shooting them to death at point blank range. People are making excuses for that crime against humanity and telling us how “all is fair in war” as if there is nothing called war conventions. The articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) extensively defined the basic, wartime rights of prisoners (civil and military); established protections for the wounded; and established protections for the civilians in and around a war zone. The treaties of 1949 were ratified, in whole or with reservations, by 194 countries, including Nigeria of 1967-70 and the present. Massacre of unarmed civilians and even prisoners of war is a crime against humanity. Yet Murtala Muhammed’s face is on our currency notes and the biggest airport in Nigeria is named after him. Nobody is complaining thereby legalizing that act of wickedness for the next generation to copy. And copy they have, in Madalla, Kano, Mubi, Bauchi etc.

 

Let every Nigerian with a conscience join this war to free Nigeria of the evils of our “heroes” past and present. Let us honor men like Prof Wole Soyinka and Late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya who vehemently condemned Awolowo and Nigeria’s war time policies and actions even when it was unpopular to do so. Let us borrow a leaf from Prof Chinua Achebe and expose the evil policies and contradictions that have conspired to keep Nigeria down and under after 52 years of independence.

 

Unless we fight this war, the civil war of 1967-1970 will not end. And might just end Nigeria as we know it.

 

Thank you.

Slaughter of Uniport Students: Monarch, 13 others Arrested, More Details

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Before they were burnt alive

 

Information available to 247ureports.com obtained through sources within the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State indicate that the four [4] students slaughtered by the mob may have been the result of actions sanctioned by the community monarch of the Aluu in Rivers State.

The brutal beating, burning to death and video taping of the four University of Port Harcourt students whose names were reported as Ugonna, Lloyd, Tekana and Chidiaka was the result of official vigilante work setup by the community and authorized by the Rivers State government.

As gathered, the community of Aluu had experienced series of robberies and rampart killings – of which include rape of women and other violent crimes.

The community which has been described as a low income area populated by ex-militants – was said to take the rampart armed robberies and killings by the horns – and in so doing – the vigilante group set up a heightened watch over the community.

On the morning of the given day, believed to be Thursday or Friday [October 4 or 5, 2012], the community got information that the robbers had entered the community and had begun operations. Information had it that the robbers were tipped off of a wealthy man that had arrived to the community.

With the information of robbers having arrived to the community, the vigilante men were said to have blocked all entrances and exits of the community. At about 4:45am, the boys were nabbed by the vigilante men. They were five [5] at the time the vigilante approached them but one managed to escape.

The four boys were then dragged to the community head [Monarch] – where they were presented and questioned. During questioning, the stories of the four boys were said not to tally together. And so the beatings began. They were undressed and moments later they offered a “confession”.

Following the said “confession” the community head ‘gave’ the signal. An eyewitness said he gave a nod to the vigilante men who were dressed in a uniform – white and blue polo shirt.

The four boys were then paraded around the community while being beaten. The parade ended at a square where they were displayed to the community. The people of the community gathered to watch the beating of the four boys – who the Monarch had given the blessing for the lives to be taken.

As the beating continued – some within the community were said to have pleaded on behalf of the boys – asking that their lives be spared. But the pleadings fell on deaf ears. The beating continued till the vigilante men poured petrol on the boys and lit them on fire – with tires hanging on their necks.

They burned alive. And as they burned, none of the members of the community moved to save them.

The school administration is yet to make a comment on the incident but the head of the ASU Port Harcourt Branch, Dr. Adiele [a lecture at Uniport] told 247ureports.com that he was not aware of the incident and that he is confident that the incident was not at Uniport or involving Uniport students. The student government is yet to speak on the case.

Interestingly, the police have made arrests. Thirteen persons have been arrested including the Chief of the Community, stated the Police Public Relations Officer [PPRO]; Ben Ugwuegbunam.  “The suspects are being interrogated by crack detectives from SCID department”.

The police also pleaded with the Uniport students to reman calm.

The students are reportedly on rampage, burning markets houses and attacking the community members some of who watched and filmed the horrendous killing of the students with their phones.

 

Peter Obi Assures Continued Recognition of worthy Anambra people

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The Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Emmanuel Chukwuma (middle), Gov. Peter Obi (right) and the Governor’s wife, Margaret Peter Obi (left) after the requiem mass for the former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Chief Emmanuel Aniagor at St. John’s Anglican Church, Abagana

Governor Peter Obi has reassured that his administration will continue to recognize and honour those who served the society faithfully Governor Obi was speaking at the burial service of the former Deputy Governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Vincent Aniagoh at Saint John’s Anglican Church, Abagana.

The Governor said there should be collective efforts towards restoring the social and moral values as well as project positive role models people should emulate. He expressed satisfaction that the collaboration with the church is yielding the desired goals as testified by outstanding results recorded by students in external; examinations.

On Onitsha Inland Port, the Governor said the Management would be under Public Private Sector partnership. He explained that his government is working to entrench a private sector driven economy to build entrepreneurs and generate employment.

In a sermon, the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Right Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma charged Christians to aspire to attain salvation. He condemned unbridled quest for materialism and self-enrichment from public wealth, stressing that all will give account of their deeds at the judgement day.

The Transition committee Chairman, njikoka Local Government Area, Chief Dazza Udozor said Chief Aniagoh will be remembered for his immense contributions to the Civil Service and governments of old and present Anambra State.

Chief Udozor noted that his virtues of humility, integrity and hardwork should be emulated and thanked Governor Obi for his support to give the deceased a befitting burial.

In his remarks, a retired judge, Justice E.U Ubazonu said the Governor had remained humble and responsive to aspirations of the people and prayed God to continue to guide him to achieve his vision for the State.

Jobs figures a boost for Obama camp

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BARACK Obama’s hopes of holding on to the White House have received a major  boost from new figures showing that the US unemployment rate has dropped below 8  per cent for the first time since he took office in January 2009.

The US added 114,000 new jobs in September, in line with expectations. But  August’s disappointing jobs figure was dramatically revised upwards from 96,000  to 142,000, helping to bring the unemployment rate down to 7.8 per cent.

”Today, I believe that as a nation we are moving forward again,” Mr Obama  told a raucous campaign rally in Fairfax, Virginia, after the figures were  published. ”This morning, we found out that the unemployment rate has fallen to  its lowest level since I took office.”

Acknowledging that the economy was not out of the woods yet, he added: ”Now,  every month’s figures reminds us that we have still got too many of our friends  and neighbours struggling to pay the bills … But now is certainly not the time  to talk down the economy and score a few political points. It’s a reminder that  this country has come too far to turn back now.”

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Dan Greenhaus, chief global strategist at BTIG, described the report as  ”pretty darn good”. Mr Greenhaus highlighted the fact that the total number of  employed persons rose by ”a whopping” 873,000 while the number of unemployed  persons declined by 456,000, the largest increase in employment since January  2003.

The news could not have been better timed for Mr Obama, whose re-election  campaign has been rattled in recent days by his perceived weak performance in  his first debate with rival Mitt Romney. The report contained good news for many  voters in key demographics being targeted ahead of the election.

The unemployment rate for adult men is now 7.3 per cent, and for adult women   7 per cent. But problems remain. September’s unemployment rate for teenagers was  23.7 per cent and there was little change for black Americans (13.4 per cent) or  Hispanics (9.9 per cent).

The number of people working part-time because their hours had been cut back  or because they were unable to find a full-time job rose from 8 million in  August to 8.6 million in September.

”This is not what a real recovery looks like,” Mr Romney said. ”We created  fewer jobs in September than in August, and fewer jobs in August than in July,  and we’ve lost over 600,000 manufacturing jobs since President Obama took  office.”

He added: ”The results of President Obama’s failed policies are staggering –  23 million Americans struggling for work, nearly one in six living in poverty  and 47 million people dependent on food stamps to feed themselves and their  families.”

The Republican House speaker John Boehner also noted the figures are too high  but acknowledged there was  good news, too. ”While there is positive news in  today’s report, job creation is far too slow and the unemployment rate is far  too high.”

While Mr Obama can now point to 24 consecutive months of growth, the  Republicans argue the rate remains historically weak. An increase of 114,000  barely covers population growth in the US as new entrants come into the job  market.

Geoff Hoffmann of recruitment firm DHR International said employers were  growing  confident but a lot of uncertainty remained. ”There’s uncertainty  about the impact of healthcare legislation, tax impacts, it’s not really clear  what is going to happen in 2013 and beyond,” he said.

 

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