The Sabotage Of Amakpe Refinery By Gov Akpabio

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Amakpe Refinery

Written By Dr. Tom Mbeke-Ekanem, REA

BRIEF BACKGROUND

After reading the recent Press Release by Chief Usua Amanam, I couldn\’t help but feel for him and Mrs. Nsidibe Ikpe, the two Amakpe principals. Thanks goodness that he chose to take the high road rather than descend to the level of Gov. Godswill Akpabio even after he characterized Amakpe project as fraud. With this Gov. Akpabio, once again, crossed the line with his unguarded utterances.

When the refinery was conceived, Akwa Ibom State government under Gov. Attah invested $10 million for 25% ownership.
In the waning days of the previous administration a lawsuit was filed by the state government demanding the withdrawal of its 25% equity from Amakpe investment.
In March 2007, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) canceled all the refinery licenses it issued to prospective refineries in Nigeria including Amakpe.
Following re-instatement, DPR in July 2007 issued a Refinery Construction License to Amakpe Refinery.
Later in July 2007, U.S. Ex-Im Bank approved a Comprehensive Loan Guarantee to finance major components of U.S. and Nigerian costs for the construction of Phase 1 – 6,000BPD of the 12,000BPD.
In August 2007, construction at the refinery project site at Ikot Usekong in Eket commenced.

FOUNDATION LAYING CEREMONY:

Date for foundation laying ceremony, October 27, 2007, was fixed, agreed and approved by AKIIPOC, agency representing the government as equity partner in Amakpe Board of Trustee.
The then Vice President, HE Goodluck Jonathan was to be the Guest of Honor while Gov. Akpabio was the Chief Host.

To the chagrin and consternation of Akwa Ibom State citizens and those who traveled all the way from United States, Gov. Akpabio abruptly blocked the ceremony from taking place. He claimed he was not notified of the ceremony! How could this be when the very date was selected and agreed by the AKIIPOC representatives?

No expression or words were adequate to describe the feelings. Disappointment and embarrassment caused the U.S. delegation, representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Lagos and the invited guests, local and foreign by this singular act of Akwa Ibom government spoke volume.

To move the project forward, intervention of the presidency was sought and this led to the issuance of the MOU. Gov. Akpabio motive was still shrouded in secrecy. His attitude and posture towards Amakpe changed for the worse. As a condition for signing the MOU and to further drive Amakpe aground Gov. Akpabio coerced and reduced government investment in the project to $6.5 million from the initial $10 million and still insisted on keeping the 25% share.

THE SABOTAGE OF AMAKPE REFINERY

In spite of being the second largest share holder, Gov. Akpabio became more belligerent and all cooperation for the advancement and development of the refinery project was thrown out of the window.

The sum of $20,792,308 is now the required amount to complete full implementation of the refinery project. If the AKwa Ibom State Government is still holding on to its 25%, it would be a matter of common sense for it to also contribute equitably to the estimated additional cost of about $21 million needed for the completion of the project.

To reassure the state of the progress, a visit to Ventech corporation at Pasadena, Texas where the fabricated equipment are still lying in wait was arranged by Amakpe. At the very last minute of the visit in Houston Gov. Akpabio pulled another fast one on Amakpe. He failed to show up even though he was in Houston. Only his selected staff visited the site (http://www.amakperefineries.com/index.php/refinery.html).

In view of the uncooperative posture exhibited by Gov. Akpabio, Amakpe principals decided to approach banks for the additional loan estimated at about $21 million. Not only did Gov. Akpabio refuse to deal with the banks, it threatened to revoke the certificate of occupancy (COO) issued to Amakpe should any bank went ahead with the deal. Isn’t this a clear case of sabotage?

It is also on record and has just been confirmed by Gov. Akpabio himself that Delta state government was approached by Amakpe Refinery on top of what Akwa Ibom government put down in the project.

This was to be followed with this statement by Gov. Akpabio, “Next I saw Governor (Emmanuel Uduaghan (of Delta State)) with a team with people from DESOPADEC came to Akwa Ibom. They said they wanted to come and look at our refinery but I told them it was an empty field. I told them don\’t bother yourselves…it was complete fraud”. With such disheartening and uncharitable utterances by Gov. Akpabio, no one should be in doubt as to the real motive.

Is Amakpe refinery a fraud!!! When did Gov. Akpabio realize that Amakpe is a fraud? Could it be when he shut down the groundbreaking ceremony? Or is it after the signing of MOU? Is this why he decided to reduce government\’s contribution from $10 million to $6.5 million while maintaining the same 25% shares? If this was the case, why didn\’t he just reduce it to zero instead? Is this why Amakpe project is now characterized as fraud because $2.5 million has not been refunded? By the quoted statement above, is Gov. Akpabio not implying that late Dr. Nsidibe Ikpe and Chief Usua Amanam are fraudulent individuals?

AMAKPE REFINERY – A VICTIM OF SECOND TERM?

Perhaps what the principals of Amakpe would not confirm or deny is the fact that Gov. Akpabio’s re-election weighed in heavily on the fate of Amakpe. A successful Amakpe operation was seen as a financial power-house that could pose a serious threat to Gov. Akpabio’s re-election. The treatment meted to Amakpe refinery is a part of the kidnapping and assassination schemes that took over the state the past four years!

According to Christopher Ekpoudom’s posting on Ibom forum on August 27, 2011, “…the current administration is willing to work with any investor who can show by words, actions, deeds, boots on ground, and evidence on site that it is a viable venture. That Amakpe Refinery must meet these requirements for continuous governmental support, otherwise the Government will seek full refund for money already invested.”

Really? How long is Gov. Akpabio going to deceive Akwa Ibom citizens on this Amakpe issue? Gov. Akpabio is aware that for the project to commence, Amakpe needs about $21 million. Completed fabricated equipment is lying in wait in Pasadena, Houston yard. This is official sabotage of project that would’ve put food on the table for thousands of Akwa Ibomites and other Nigerians. If this is not sabotage, why did Gov. Akpabio block Amakpe principals from raising funds from banks to commence the project? If this is not sabotage, why did he inform Delta State government that Amakpe is a fraud in an attempt to drive them away?

How can Amakpe continue on the project when all the funding sources approached such as those mentioned above are blocked by Gov. Akpabio?

CONCLUSION:

Government, through Gov. Akpabio should come up with its fair share, rather than using the $2.5 million as reason which in itself is a ruse to kill Amakpe without caring about the $6.5 million the AKSG has put in it. The other option the state can readily use is to sell its shares and get back its money. Until Gov. Akpabio takes steps to undo the damages done already, Amakpe refinery is his albatross that stands to define his administration.

Dr. Tom Mbeke-Ekanem, REA

Embracing the new CBN Initiative on Agriculture

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Commissioning a Rice Processing Mill

The coming of the Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in June 3, 2009 as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] was turbulent – following the completion of tenure by the previous Governor of the CBN in the person of Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo. It brought shockwaves to the many regions of Nigeria and to the financial world as the new incoming Governor sought sweeping reforms to the Nigerian Banking system to bail out Nigerian Banks operating at the verge of near collapse.

Just two months following his arrival, the new Governor led the CBN into bailing out of Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank, Oceanic Bank and Finbank with 400 billion naira of public money, while dismissing their chief executives. \”We had to move in to send a strong signal that such recklessness on the part of bank executives will no longer be tolerated.\” – stated Sanusi.  Sixteen senior bank officials faced charges that included fraud, lending to fake companies, giving loans to companies they had a personal interest in and conspiring with stockbrokers to boost share price.

Sanusi’s immediate jolt was felt instantly which generated a reactionary clatter in high decibels that quickly took a political dimension threatening the near distortion of the new CBN and its initiatives.  

Economic development was top on the new CBN’s initiatives and it draws from the CBN Act of 2007 which explicitly provided and mandated for the CBN to play the developmental roles in the economy. Like other Central Banks in a developing economy, the development and sustenance of a vibrant real sector is germane to the efficacy of monetary policy tools.

Among the policy tools the new CBN has turned to stimulate needed economic activity in the real sector is the ground breaking initiative it recently launched on agriculture. Through a revolutionary approach designed by the new CBN, it boosts agricultural activity through softened lending programs.

According to official labor statistics, localized agricultural activity has been the largest employer in Nigeria. Specifically, 70% of available labor in Nigeria is employed in the local agricultural industry equivalent to 40.05million people out of the 57.21million total labor force. Interestingly, the large chunk of the labor market impacts the Gross Domestic Product [GDP] a messily 26.8% – indicating a wide untapped potential – to help boost the GDP per capital beyond the current $3640, and possibly an opportunity to decrease the segment of the population living below the poverty line from to the current 67.5million Nigerians [45% of Nigerian population] to below 34million.

Through this realization, the CBN sought to utilize its mandate in the CBN Act of 2007 to engineer the local agricultural sector into a vibrant sector to possibly affect the Nation’s GDP. It launched the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending [NIRSAL]. The NIRSAL, according to the CBN, is geared to make the risk of lending to local farmers who typically have little or no real collateral to present to lending Banks. The NIRSAL posits to provide shared risk to the lending Banks and to increase agricultural lending by $3billion over 10years equivalent to an increase from 1.4% to 7% of Nigeria’s total bank lending.

Historically the agricultural sector had not faired well due largely to limited available credit. This is because lending banks associate agricultural sector with high lending risk – the banks lack the skills to properly evaluate/ rank associated risks. Some lending banks did not trust the farmer would make enough profit to repay the loan. In affect, the lending banks did not want to carry the risk alone. For this reason, the monies previously made available by the past administration at the CBN failed to reach the intended final users – the local farmers.

Implementation of NIRSAL points to directly to sealing the gaps in the earlier interventions by designing into the program five solution components for the lending bank. The solution components are basically to provide incentives for the Banks to lend to local farmers at lowered risks and interest rates – they comprise of; Risk Sharing Facility, Insurance Component, Technical Assistance Facility, Bank Incentive Mechanism, and Agricultural Bank Rating System.

The NIRSAL as designed will not only cater to the farmer alone. The new CBN discovered that the local farmer depends on other factors to enable his crop reach the appropriate market in a timely manner. This requires the constructing, linking and servicing the commodity and financial value chains for all players to optimize their businesses by ensuring that operator, from the farm to the market, is properly funded, assisted and given adequate incentives to play their different roles appropriately.  It requires ensuring that needed infrastructure, roads, irrigation, processing facilities, extension service, marketing support, insurance, improved seeds variety, fertilizer, and technical assistance are provided – so that every part of the chain functions unhindered.

Through the CBN’s Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme [CACS] in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, established in 2009, the scheme sought implementation of the NIRSAL program of providing financing of agricultural value chain from input supply to commodity marketing. And the results, judging by data obtained from the field, indicate the new CBN’s scheme as having succeeded in its objectives.

Since the implementation of the scheme, under the new CBN, 20,826 new jobs have been created, 185 skilled, 231 semi-skilled and 20,412 unskilled. A reported increased in production output of 3.5metric tones per hectare of maize was recorded. Yoghurt and fruit juice increased to 3,000liters per hour and 1,200 tonnes respectively; fingerlings production increased to 260,000 per day; poultry increased to 1,800,000 birds manufacture of layers raised to 963,100; pigs increased to 20,500; nestle milk increased to 11,376metric tonnes; etc. In addition, 13 grounded large scale agricultural projects have been revived.

The success is credited directly to the NIRSAL program which enable for loan disbursement to the four main value segments of food processing [N46.14billion]; food production [N25.34billion]; food marketing N6.26billion]; and food storage [N1.08billion]. A remaining sum of N103.19billion awaits disbursement as at December 31, 2010.   

Perhaps, as the NIRSAL comes into full gear, and the credit facilities continue to reach the sector previously ignored by the previous failed interventions, the near 41million labor force employed in the agricultural sector would find their activities generate appreciable income to positively affect the National GDP and considerably decrease the percentage living below the poverty line in Nigeria. Just Perhaps

People’s trust in Peter Obi has been eroded – Ezeonwuka

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Rommy Ezeonwka

Rommy Ezeonwka is the owner of Rogeny village in Oba, Anambra State where the 60,000 capacity Rogeny Stadium is located. He is irked that the leadership of Governor Peter Obi has not lived up to the expectation of Anambrarians and he explains why in this interview with As. Politics Editor, Daniel Kanu

How would you assess governance in Anambra on the leadership of Governor Peter Obi?

I want you to leave anything I will say on this issue unedited because I stand by it. In the first place, I must say that Governor Peter Obi is a disappointment. Obi is a failure to Anambra people as far as his government is concerned. I must tell you that the trust the people had in him has been eroded. We thought we had gotten Messiah when he came to power but the people have discovered to their sorrow that the governor is a lone ranger. He has combined the entire governance of the state as business and where ever he goes he carries the briefcase. He does not work with the legislators; he doe not work with the best of ideas that will be beneficial to Anambra and he does not invite stakeholders to deliberate on sensitive issues bothering on the state. If you want to see the face of Anambra you need to see the face of Rogeny Stadium. Stars like Kanu Nwankwo, Wilson Oruma, and Celestine Babayaro, the Eaglet ’93, among others were here for years to receive their training. Before Obi became of the governor of the state, Rogeny was the busiest stadium in Nigeria where activities was going on even on fortnight basis or at worst very month but because of his attitude to so many things including social line, social life has dimmed in Anambra, there is no social life or I may even say it’s none existent again. People do not come out again after 7pm, as people are living in fear and sorrow. There is fear of kidnapping, armed robbery, people are being killed, police are killing people everyday, and corpses are in all the mortuaries in the state. I can tell you authoritatively that over 70 percent of Anambraians have deserted the state; the economy of Anambra was shattered when he told people to invest in shares and he did not educate them properly on how they will do it. He was telling them that everybody could buy shares and go to South Africa to enjoy their holidays. The traders, most of whom were not well informed on the issue, thought he was telling them the shares and at the end the shares collapse. That was an irreparable loss brought to Anambra traders by Governor Obi. Now there is no road anywhere. The roads we are managing now are the ones done by Chris Nwabueze Ngige and the woman of virtue, Virgy Etiaba. The makeshift roads by the time they finish one end the other side has collapse. You can see the Nnewi-Oba road; leys have cut off so many routes in the state. They will take picture of roads done by Ngige and put on the signpost as if they did it. This is a Governor who will say they have donated 10,000 computers to schools as if that is great achievement. He said he built 500 transformers, how much did those entire thing cost? There are no fresh plans and if you gauge the opinion of the people, they will tell you he has failed. They are talking of celebration for Anambra, what are we celebrating? How many infrastructures has he fixed to warrant any celebration? We are tired of newspaper giants with little achievement on ground. This is a governor that was there and the judiciary was on strike for seven months, doctors were on strike and he seems not to show concern. What is happening is not a good omen for both our people and the governor. The state is gradually becoming a ghost town.

Why are the legislators keeping quiet in view of all this allegations?

But you know that the people did not elect even the legislators. Majority of them bribed their way and are and are there as robots to rubber-stamp what the governor wants. The legislators are just keeping mute because most of them have been compromise. Can you imagine that since now there is no local government election? Before the excuse was that there was security threat and as a result the local government election could not be conducted so why is still being delayed? The governors are not telling us the whole truth.

Most critics say Ndigbo are their worst enemy, do you share this view?

There are a lot of things that we are going to do in Igbo land. We are going to do what is called cleansing, an atonement. The souls of most our people killed during the war are yet to have a good rest. There are certain things we have done wrong that must attract atonement. If you ask me I can say that Ndigbo are the highest haters of themselves and that is not good for us. That is why we lose opportunities when we get them in the national portfolio. You give them the Senate Presidency and they impeach themselves, you give them the national Chairmanship of a party they quarrel among themselves, give them anything sensitive they ruin themselves, but I know that will stop soon. We need to re-bury our dead heroes, our men and women and the children who lost their lives during the pogrom so that they can have peaceful rest and I believe after that exercise the desired unity will evolve. Even this idea of Ndigbo keeping corpses in the mortuaries is wrong, I do not know where we got this culture and it is not helping us. We do not need to keep corpse for long as it is against our culture

Why is it that the Igbo elite seems not to be backing MASSOB unlike their counterparts in the Nort h backing Arewa or South West backing the OPC?

It is a sad development. I will not say it’s cowardice but they are making a big mistake not to embrace a structure, a God-giving structure that is very relevant in their political struggle for which t he activist championing it has gone to prison over 16 times. All the Igbo politicians are saying they want to be Igbo president without a structure that can back them up. It may be a sign of foolishness on their part because they need the MASSOB structure as far as concerned. Ndigbo needs an activist structure like MASSOB.

Let me tell you, aside from the OPC plat-form, the South West wouldn’t have gotten the presidency, minus the activities of the Niger Delta militants the minority or south-south would not have smelt this presidency, now the North is throwing up the Boko Haran and they have Arewa standby so as to truncate the Igbo presidency ambition in 2015 and you will see what will happen. Sometime, I wonder whether Igbo politicians do not see all these political calculations. I am telling you that except we embrace MASSOB no Igbo man will smell the presidency, you just watch and see what is evolving and where we are going to land by 2015. Already, that federal government is to commence negotiation with the Boko Haram group. We will see how everything will play out. In this present Nigeria system, you must have a serious structure that is ready to die for others to live.

Are you saying Boko Haran is preparing for 2015 Presidency?

That is what I am just saying. They are on serious agenda. It is either they get back the presidency or bomb will litter everywhere. They are ready to die because that is the only way they feel they can get justice or the only way they think they can achieve their purpose in a situation where injustice has been projected into the political system. What we are having now is that if you keep quiet nobody takes you serious.

President Goodluck Jonathan is proposing a six-year single tenure, what is your take on it?

Well I think many people may misunderstand the President on the six-year term. The over zealous politicians may be blaming him but Jonathan must be a prophet and a seer and a diviner to bring in this proposal. If you see the horror, the evil and the danger of sycophantic activities that come to display when a governor’s tenure or that of the president is about to expire, you will give the president kudos for this proposal. It is sad that these sycophants, after two years in office are already proposing for their second tenure while abandoning governance. For me if there is a law that can be promulgated that whoever goes for one term, of any agreed years must nut aspire again, it will be better for our politics. It will help those in power to concentrate better and it will help us to avoid the evil of second term craze. The bid for second term by all means is part of the trouble with Nigeria. Even when the incumbent is not interested in second term proposition the political sycophants around will ensure they force it down the throat of the incumbent

What of if a bad leader emerges to handle the clutches of power for those six years?

That is where the legislature will step in. Do we no longer have impeachment clause for those that are not performing in office? Part of our problem also is that even when these legislators pass the laws it is not observed. If this single term is there and they see a president that is not doing fine then the power of the National Assembly comes in because impeachment is an alternative to bad governance. For me idea of single term is the best that can happen to this country if accepted by the National Assembly. There is nothing wrong with single term. If will not give room for the evil associated with the battle for second term. A lot of resources are wasted on second term bid

MASSOB Leader and His repeated Arrests by Nigeria

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Protest in Lagos

Posted: Aug 27 2011 [10:32 am]

The August 24, 2011 arrest of the MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike by the Federal Government of Nigeria [FGN]arresting authorities in Enugu at an Igbo Youth Movement Event at the Presidential Hotel marked 46months following the conditional release of the MASSOB leader from Federal Prisons on the slippery charge of treason against Nigeria.

The MASSOB leader has had a percular relationship with the law enforcement officers of Nigeria since the formation of the peaceful movement for the soverign republic of Biafra. Uwazurike, as many freedom activists, have been arrested numerous occassions. Starting from 2000 when the activities of MASSOB began to make waves in the south eastern geo cultural zone, the law enforcement officers have not rested on the mention of Ralph Uwazurike.

May 2000, the MASSOB leader narrowly escaped with his life when unidentified men attacked him in Lagos along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

July 2000, the MASSOB leader was arrested in Lome, Togo at the Organization of African Unity [OAU] summit. He was arrest on the charge that he had gone to solicit support from African leader for his peaceful movement.

December 2000, shortly after the MASSOB leader\’s return to Nigeria, uniformed security men ransacked a hotel where he was believed to have been staying, they shot at cars, and fired into the crowd in search for the MASSOB leader.

February 2001, the MASSOB leader was arrested again by Nigerian arresting authorities.

May 2005, the home of the MASSOB leader was invaded by uniformed soldiers against the planned MASSOB rally.

October 2005, the Federal Government of Nigeria arrested the MASSOB leader and charged to court for treason. He was denied bail. He was conditionally released on October 26, 2007 to bury his dead mother.

January 2010, the MASSOB leader was arrested in Owerri and reprimanded in police custody for 7days.

August 2011, he was arrested in Enugu following his attendance of an award event.

Jonathan orders release of MASSOB Leader and members

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President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Posted: Aug 31 2011 [09:13 am] 

Information available to 247ureports.com indicate that the President of Nigeria has weighed in on the continued incaceration of the MASSOB Leader and the members. This is according sources close to the MASSOB leader who stated that some of the leaders of the Igbo community in the South East pleaded with the President to release the MASSOB leader and the members. 
As gathered, the President, along with his directive, has ordered for all the South East Governors to release the leader of MASSOB and all MASSOB members detained in Enugu prison, and other prisons and police stations. The President’s order is said to have come as a result of pleadings from the President General of Ohaneze Ralph Uwechue, Igwe [RTD] Justice Ozobu, some Igbo leaders, and Students/Youth leaders. 
According to gathered information, the President General of Ohaneze and Igwe Eze Ilomuanya had met with President Goodluck Jonathan on the weekend following the arrest of Ralph Uwazurike and 280 MASSOB members on August 25, 2011, and weighed on him to intercede on the continued detention of the MASSOB members. 
Arraingments are being put in place for the release of other MASSOB detainees in other prisons and police stations around the country. 
Stay tuned

MASSOB Leader, 280 members to regain freedom tomorrow

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Ralph Uwazurike

Posted: Sep 01 2011 [01:15 am] 

Information available to 247ureports.com indicate that the leader of MASSOB, Ralph Uwazurike and the 280 members who was arrested by the Nigeria police force in Enugu State on the weekend of August 26, 2011 at an award event in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State – will be released from detention on Thursday, September 1, 2011. 
According to the information gathered, the President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had inssued a directive following the news of the arrest of MASSOB members. His directive which was issued the next day – directed the law enforcement authorities detaining the MASSOB members to release the members. The directive was given on Sunday, August 28, 2011. 
As gathered, the directive reached the desk of the Enugu State Attorney General, Mr. Tony Ani on the Sunday. Mr. Tony Ani was reported to be out of the country at the time the presidential directive was given. 247ureports.com gathered that immediately following the arrest of Ralph Uwazurike and the 280 MASSOB members, Tony Ani jetted out of the country for the United States of America [USA]. 
With the President\’s order of release, Tony Ani is expected to return to Nigeria on Thursday September 1, 2011 to append his signature on the appropriate documents of release. 
It is recalled the 280 members of MASSOB were arrested by the Enugu State police under the directive of the State government in Enugu while the leader of MASSOB accompanied by 280 of MASSOB members was attending an event he was invited to received an achievement award. The 280 MASSOB were arrsted immediately they arrived the venue and many more were arrested along the highways. Others were arrested as they escorted the wife of Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu to her Enugu home. The home of Ojukwu was ransacked and windows broken in the process of the ransacking. 
Hours following the arrest, the 281 MASSOB members were arraigned in a kangaroo magistrate court by a borrowed former magistrate from the Enugu State Registrars office. The borrowed magistrate remanded the 281 members of MASSOB and charged them with treason for ploting to overthrow the south east governors and to declare the south east as Biafra without weapons. 247ureports.com\’s investigation found that none of the arrested members of MASSOB were seem with a weapon

Gov Chime thrilled with progress at Adani farm settlement

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Gov Sullivan Chime

The efforts of Enugu State Government to promote agriculture and boost food production have continued to yield good results with the cultivation of more than eighty hectares of pepper and rice farm at Songhai graduate farm settlement at Adani, Uzo-Uwani Council area.

The cultivated hectares of land in the farm settlement being managed by the state government sponsored graduate farmers, is made up of twenty hectares of pepper and sixty hectares of rice farm as well as poultry sections, fish pound and orchard.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the farm, the State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime described it as one of the practical demonstration of his administration to revive agriculture and restore the state premier position in food production.

Stressing that the State Government was committed to ensuring massive food production in the state from the Songhai Graduate farm settlement, the Governor stated that agriculture had been the main stay of the economy of the state in the past and promised to restore it to its past glories in the state.

He said that the challenges facing the farm especially transportation, provision of health facilities and access road to the farm and its host community would be addressed quickly to ensure the optimal benefits and smooth operation of the settlement

He expressed satisfaction on the level of work done in the renovation of facilities at the farm and also thanked the farmers for their level of achievements, commitments and patriotism shown so far and assured them of continued government support.

Earlier in an address, the leader of the graduate farmers, Mr. Chijioke Uwaemena said that with proper management and support by government, they will do more to boost food production in the state.

Mr. Uwaemena thanked the state government for her interest in agriculture and the opportunity given them to be part of the success story of government in the area of agriculture.

He, therefore, appealed to the Governor to assist them to access CADP/FADAMA grant, early take off of other green cities of farm in local government areas in the state and ready market for their produce during harvest time.

Mr. Uwaemena used the occasion to draw the Governor’s attention to some of their problems which included poor road network to the farm, electricity supply, early supply of farm inputs, proper definition of their working conditions and health care facilities and appealed to him to address them.

As Prof. Afolabi Retires, What Fate Awaits South-West In Government?

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Prof Oladapo Afolabi

Probably worried that in the next few weeks the exit of Professor Oladapo Afolabi as the Head of Service of the Federation [HoS], will mean a total non accommodation of Yoruba Nation in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government as they would have been comprehensively relegated to the background in the political scheme of things; the Yoruba Council of Elders [YCE], stormed Aso-Rock to register their anger over the marginalization of Yoruba race to Mr. President. In response, President Jonathan assured them that he is working round the clock to correct the imbalance. An Internet site, RepublicReport.Com quoted President Jonathan thus: “the issue of federal character and position, especially those political offices, were quite worrisome to me, but we had to achieve political balancing and federal character. “That is why this thing you describe as zoning was to make sure that every zone should be represented in the one you describe as top six, but for some political reasons, it was not possible. But on my own, in terms of appointments, I tried to see that the way appointment was made, you will agree with me that the appointments we have made so far did not exclude any section.”

Though all agree that President Jonathan is not the architect of Yoruba nation marginalization in his administration but the onus is on him to ensure a balancing policy in the short and medium run to avoid the looming scandal of edge out- not seeing a single Yoruba man at the decision making level of his government. Thankfully, he had assured the delegation of YCE, led by the President of the Council, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), that any existing lapses in the distribution of positions and offices would be corrected to conform with the principles of Federal Character. Mr. President’s assurance here could be seen as frank and helpful. The consensus of Nigerians is that the Yoruba nation is very educated, sophisticated and useful to Nigeria growth generally and therefore should not be consigned to the fringe in the political scheme of things in the nation. Professor Afolabi’s retention is a classical example of Mr. President’s assurance here.

A brief roll call in geo-political appointments in the three [3] arms that constitute Federal Government, reveals the following: South-South produced the President and the Commander -in- Chief of the Armed Forces, the Senate Leader, the Chief of Staff in the Presidency. South-East went home with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative. North on the other hand, corned the following posts: Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of Court of Appeal, and the Chief Justice of the Federation. South-West has only the Head of Service of the Federation.

It is almost obvious that the next Head of Service of the Federation will not come from this heavily politically marginalized South-West, to cushion the looming scandal of comprehensive political exit of Yoruba in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government. If Professor Oladapo Afolabi’s successor will not come from South-West as we are sure of, it certainly follows that either of these blocks, South-South, South-East or North will have it. If this scenario plays itself out, what will be the political fate of South-West in the short and medium run, in the administration of President Jonathan in view of the obvious existing imbalance in the polity? How long will they have to wait for Mr. President reassurance on their quota in the federal character mix, in this circumstance?

Surely, President Goodluck Jonathan has a tricky task ahead of him as Professor Afolabi, an accomplished intellectual and astute reformer exits the exalted position of HoS in a couple of weeks. By the Civil Service Extant rule, Prof. is expected to leave; however on moral and political expediency ground now, where will his successor come from- which geo-political zone will produce the next head of service of the federation, in view of the fact that other geo-political zones have had a fair share in the distribution of offices in President Jonathan’s administration, from the point of view of federal character.

Only recently, President Jonathan, while trying to persuade the leaders of South-East to see reason with him on why the next Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] should come from the North East, reminded them that the zone being considered has not got a single position to their credit. Even in considering the North-East for the post of Chairman of PDP, the Constitution of the party had to be sidestepped for equity sake. It is a well known fact that there is no law against peace, equity and stability, and the President as the giver of these, is at liberty to ensure its effect in practical terms.

Clearly then, President Goodluck Jonathan, could as well extend the tenure of Professor Oladapo Afolabi for two [2] years or more, to avoid a complete and comprehensive shot out of Yoruba race from the decision making arm of his administration which will be a negation of his government’s commitment to equity. The alternative is for Mr. President to search for Prof.’s replacement from South-West zone, but the problem here is that the fellow must be next to him in terms of civil service progression, it is clearly impossible. Thankfully, Prof’s intellectual ability couple with his reformist inclination will be a veritable asset in the ongoing merger of parastatals and agencies of government exercise. His retention as HoS will ensure intellectual fine-tuning and coordination of the final report of the committee set up for the merger purpose, in line with the transformation agenda of Jonathan’s administration, which must be based on zero tolerance for job loss at the end of the fusion implementation. In-fact, Professor Afolabi should supervise the final collapse of most of the Parastatals and Agencies into their parent Ministries as Head of Service, to avoid instability associated with massive job loss that may arise from rationalization in the end. It is in the light of all these that his tenure should be extended.

Emeka Oraetoka

Information Management Consultant & Researcher

Wrote in from Garki-Abuja

P.O.Box 18928

e-Mail:oramekllis@lycos.com

Address by President Jonathan at the Launch of New National Driver’s License And Number Plates

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Federal Road Safety Corps

Protocol

1. Today marks another step in our transformation journey. The launch of the new driver’s licence and number plates today is the culmination of three years of hard work which started with a discussion I had with the Corps Marshal in my office then as Vice President on the need to improve our driver’s license for it to meet international standards.

2. Today’s launch has acquired greater significance following last Friday’s unprovoked attack which led to the loss of lives and has left in its trail gory images of the threat terrorism now poses to the peace and security of our nation and the safety of our citizens.

3. Since the last bombing episode on October 1, I had directed the hastening of efforts to build a credible database of drivers and vehicles in order to improve public safety. The importance of this project is reaffirmed by the consistent use of vehicles in the conduct of the recent bombing episodes.

4. Let me use this occasion to reassure Nigerians and members of the international community that we now have strong leads as to those involved in this terror war on Nigeria and Nigerians. I have directed security operatives to go after them no matter where they may be hiding.

5. Also I am using this opportunity to warn that those who choose to hide under our new freedoms to perpetuate evil against our people shall have no hiding place. This administration is fully determined and able to deal with all threats and agents of instability who continue to test the resolve of our nation and its democratic institutions and leadership.

6. As President and Chief Security Officer of the nation, I will employ every means and instrument at my disposal to secure this nation against forces of evil, which seek to divide and sabotage our country. There shall be no sacred cows in our efforts to expose, contain and defeat this network of terror and its sponsors.

7. I have directed a review of our national security architecture to lay greater emphasis on intelligence and citizens’ participation in security surveillance.

8. It is in this regard that government is pleased that FRSC has delivered on the promise to introduce a credible driver’s license that meets international standards. This is a positive development, which demonstrates FRSC’s commitment to the government’s transformation agenda and a testimony that we can get it right in this country.

9. Restoring the integrity of the driver’s license aligns fully with the transformation agenda of this government, it is at the heart of the efforts to alter a culture of recklessness, impunity and lack of consideration for other road users and to transform these negative traits to a positive affirmation of a rule – driven society.

10. Today, a new era has begun with the introduction of the new driver’s license and number plates. The government has invested in technology, people and processes that will not only restore the integrity of the driver’s license but also provide the nation with a credible database of drivers and vehicles.

11. This administration, in line with the reform agenda, acceded last December to the Vienna and Geneva Conventions on road signs and markings. The accession to these conventions, which have been in existence since 1949, imposes new responsibility on Nigeria to ensure that the driver’s license is a competency-based certificate.

12. Therefore I am happy to announce that part of what we are launching today is the immediate implementation of the Driving Schools Standardization Programme (DSSP) that stipulates that only accredited driving schools must sponsor all fresh applicants for driver’s licence. Also a new regulatory regime of mandatory test and continuous drivers training has been introduced for commercial drivers.

13. Let me assure the FRSC of my total support in ensuring that enforcement of road traffic rules does not exempt or accord any undue respect to positions, ranks and status of any select group of road users. I will therefore like to see greater enforcement on indiscriminate use of siren by unauthorised persons on our roads and removal of tankers and trailers that are indiscriminately parked to obstruct the roads.

14. I charge the Corps Marshal to come up with an immediate action plan in conjunction with other stakeholders for ensuring that adequate parks are provided for trailers and tankers on our highways nationwide.

15. In the last five years, government has increased FRSC’s budget and has observed appreciable decline in road traffic crashes and fatalities.

Government will continue to support the FRSC in its quest to sustain the decline in road crashes and attendant injuries in order to achieve the objectives of the Accra Declaration of reducing road crash fatalities by 50% by 2015 and the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety (2011 – 2020) which hopefully will make Nigerian roads to rank among the world’s 20 safest roads by year 2020.

16. The international dimension of driver’s licence and number plates imposes on us as a country the need to ensure that they are not used as instruments of terrorism. I want to reassure Nigerians and members of the international community that terror groups will be defeated in our land. This administration will spare no effort or resource in containing this latest threat to the unity and stability of our nation. Terrorism has no conscience and spares no one. We must all stand together against terror in its destructive manifestations.

17. We are in touch with all international agencies, involved in the global war against terror. We will work in tandem with all organizations and partners towards the timely and eventual containment and defeat of terror and their sponsors in our land.

18. I therefore appeal to all State governments, law enforcement agencies, transport unions and institutions, non-governmental organisations, the organised private sector and of course, the general public to be resolute in their support for the FRSC in their quest to reform motor vehicle administration in Nigeria for our collective good.

19. I hereby launch the new National Driver’s Licence and Vehicle Number Plates to the glory of God and for the safety of all road users and promotion of national security.

20. Thank you.

Pay Health and Judicial Workers or resign-ACN‏

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Gov Peter Obi

We call on the governor of Anambra State Peter Obi to pay the health and judicial; workers their accumulated salary or resign from office along with his health commissioner Mr Amobi Ilika,and the Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice as the state cannot afford to return to the situation it was before 2003.

It is bad enough that the state government allowed the key sectors-health and judiciary- to go through untold decay in the past six months, during which the people of Anambra State relied on Delta, Enugu and Imo states for key health services like BCG injection for babies, affordable morgues and post-natal inoculation for mothers and the state’s criminal activities and injustice rose sharply because there there were no courts.

But it is worse that the state governor cannot pay in part or whole the accumulated salary two weeks after the health workers strikes were partially called off and six weeks after the judicial staff resumed work.

ACN will not be surprised if these salaries have been piled up in private accounts of insiders and collaborators of the inept government in Awka, targeting corrupt influence of future elctions, rather than letting the money work for Anambra. We are also surprised that the state government would rather spend ample time grandstanding with the United Nations on a security matter at the purview of the federal government than thinking strategically to deal with issues dear to the heart of Anambra state.

If the current situation is to be acceptable to the long-suffering Anambra people, then we need to apologise to Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju for all the invectives poured on his administration by the old and the young; the high and the mighty in the wake of owing salaries to workers in 2002.

We take this opportunity to appeal and challenge simultaneously that Governor Obi should not allow the situation to degenerate beyond current levels, as every labourer deserves his wages.

As a peep into the future of the state which is smarting from celebrations of its 20th birthday, the APGA government of Anambra State is invited to elucidate with facts and figures how the much trumpeted ANIDS programme of their government has placed the internally generated revenue of the state government on the path of growth in the last five years.

Hence they should explain to Ndi Anambra, why we should again be discussing basics like salary, stabilised in 2003, instead of the quantum leap of development that this poorly governed state desires and deserves.

Okelo Madukaife

State Publicity Secretary, ACN Anambra

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