A former Minister Of Interior ,Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho has reportedly been arrested in Lagos.He was picked up in connection with alleged oil theft.Investigations into a company linked to him led to his arrest.
The ex minister is believed to have been handed over to the State Security Service,SSS as investigations continue into the affair. Iheanacho had a controversial tenure as a minister as he was suspended only to be reinstated and later laid off.
While announcing the suspension of the minister pril 2011 in a a statement Mr. Ima Niboro who was then , Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has ordered the immediate suspension of Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho as Minister of Interior and member of the Federal Executive Council.
“Capt. Iheanacho has been directed to hand over to the Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu, who will, in addition to his present portfolio, oversee that ministry.”
Reports at the time said Olisa Metuh a PDP topshot from the South East lamented what he called at the time the disloyalty of then minister to the ruling party in his home state saying he had asked the president to call him to order whilst also directing the Imo State chapter to set up a disciplinary committee to investigate his activities and recommend necessary sanction against him. Metuh added then that “The president has shown that he is a peaceful man and that he has a listening ear.
But Iheanacho’s arrest on Saturday which came as a surprise to outsiders is bound to generate intense interest.A security official reportedly said the ongoing arrests may help stem the tide of oil theft on Nigeria’s waters.
President Jonathan recently said it was very embarrassing that Nigeria was the only country where oil theft has remained rampant.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has blamed corruption for the decay of infrastructure in the country. Head of Public Enlightenment Unit of the Commission, Mrs. Rose Ekawu, stated this while declaring open a one day sensitization programme on the ills of corruption for officers of the Federal Fire Service in Abuja.
She said infrastructural facilities have collapsed because those charged with their maintenance failed in their duties.
Mrs. Ekawu who described the sensitization programme as part of the Commission’s mandate under the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 explained that enlightening Nigerians on the consequences of economic crimes and corruption will go a long way in curbing the menace.
According to her, “everybody wants a decent society. It is obvious that nobody want a society where there is no rule of law, where professional ethics are only academic subjects learned and forgotten in school”. Considering the country’s enormous natural resources endowments, Mrs Ekawu noted that poverty ought to have no place in Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, economic mismanagement, corruption and lack of accountability and transparency have been the bane of poor economic performance and rising poverty. It is the light of this that we at the EFCC welcome genuine efforts at enlightening the sector that is crucial to our development”
She therefore enjoined officers of the Service to join hands with the anti-graft agency in the fight against corruption and economic crimes.
David Nkpe and Chinwe Ndubeze, who represented the Commission’s Directors of Operations and Legal respectively, observed that corruption is the reason for lack of sustainable development in post- colonial Nigeria.
In his opening remark, the Controller General of the Nigeria Fire Service, Engr. Olusegun James Okebiorun commended the EFCC for the sensitization programme and assured that the service will partner with the EFCC in the difficult task of fighting corruption and economic crimes.
“There is no doubt that corruption is the major problem of the country. If there is no concerted effort at ridding the country of the menace, there will surely be no positive development”,he declared.
UPDATE ON LOAN FACILITY FOR ABUJA LIGHT RAIL, NEW AIRPORT TERMINALS AND GALAXY BACKBONE
This update is being issued in response to many enquiries received by the ministry on the $1.1 billion soft credit recently obtained by the Federal Government from the Exim Bank of China for the above projects.
Please note the following:
– One of the new airport terminals will be located in Lagos, the commercial hub of the country which experiences more air traffic than any other city.
– The terms at which the soft credit was obtained are very favourable. It is a concessional credit obtained at 2.5% interest, compared to about 16% or higher from Nigerian banks. The repayment period is 20 years with a grace period of seven years.
– The projects are high priority, high impact ones which are designed to have practical economic effect and make life better and more convenient for Nigerians from all socio-economic groups.
– For instance, the Abuja light rail project in the Federal Capital Territory will significantly improve the lives of Nigerians especially those in the lower socio-economic groups who have to travel great distances from their homes on the outskirts to their places of work in the city. One part of the intra-city rail network will extend from the city centre to Kubwa and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The second will run from the city centre to Masaka in Nassarawa State. Both are high density, high traffic routes.
– The new airport terminals will help Nigeria achieve the status of a hub on the continent and create jobs. The terminals will also help to grow passenger capacity to over 50 million from the current 20 million and increase the number of direct and indirect jobs in the sector to 1.5 million from the current 60,000.
– The Galaxy Backbone, will boost the sophistication and effectiveness of the government’s efforts to tackle security challenges and improve connectivity to modern technology, especially for Nigerian youths in underserved rural areas.
Paul c Nwabuikwu,
Senior Special Assistant to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance
Mitt Romney condemned the anti-Muslim film that incited the deadly attacks in Libya and Egypt, and used language that is awfully similar to the US embassy statement that Romney, Fox News, and a slew of Republicans have been calling “an apology.”
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: How about the film that seems to have sparked all this, the Innocence of Muslims film? Secretary Clinton today said she thought it was disgusting. How would you describe it?
MITT ROMNEY: Well, I haven’t seen the film. I don’t intend to see it. I you know, I think it’s dispiriting sometimes to see some of the awful things people say. And the idea of using something that some people consider sacred and then parading that out a negative way is simply inappropriate and wrong. And I wish people wouldn’t do it. Of course, we have a First Amendment. And under the First Amendment, people are allowed to do what they feel they want to do. They have the right to do that, but it’s not right to do things that are of the nature of what was done by, apparently this film.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We’ve seen General Martin Dempsey call Pastor Jones to say, “Please don’t promote this film.” You think that’s a good idea?
MITT ROMNEY: I think the whole film is a terrible idea. I think him making it, promoting it showing it is disrespectful to people of other faiths. I don’t think that should happen. I think people should have the common courtesy and judgment– the good judgment– not to be– not to offend other peoples’ faiths. It’s a very bad thing, I think, this guy’s doing.
“The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”
— Embassy statement, issued 6 a.m. EST, some six hours before the attack.
So let’s compare:
US embassy: “The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims… We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”
Romney: “I think people should have the common courtesy and judgment– the good judgment– not to be– not to offend other peoples’ faiths.”
Romney just said exactly the same thing that the embassy did, but Romney went one more step. He said that you should abuse the First Amendment. Remember, Republicans were upset that the embassy didn’t DEFEND the First Amendment. Romney, went one step further and accused the filmmaker of abusing it. So there are moral limits on the First Amendment, Romney says. So is Romney saying the violence was justified? Well, he’s certainly suggesting that the filmmaker doesn’t have clean hands here.
This is beyond belief. If anything, Romney’s statement is “worse” than the US embassy statement, because Romney made clear that there are moral limits to the First Amendment.
Under Romney’s definition, and Fox’s and GOP Chair Reince Priebus, Mitt Romney just apologized to the folks who killed our ambassador.
Just wait a few hours, Romney is going to be backtracking on this entire thing.
Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the entire 3rd Phase Ex- Agitators/militants have become filled with enthusiasm as they look forward to receive the full implementation and payment of the stipends due the Third Phase Ex- Agitators. President Goodluck Jonathan is said to have given his approval last week.
Speaking to 247ureports.com, the National Leader of the 3rd Phase ex-agitators/militants, General Eruabo Endurance (a.k.a Gen. Tallest) said that since Mr. President made the approval for 3,642 ex- agitators in the Niger Delta Region, they reiterate their pledge of absolute loyalty, commitment and support for his administration.
While making the pledge, the General, passionately appealed to Mr. President for more opportunities to enable those who could not benefit from this phase of the programme to have a sense of belonging. He also stressed that there are over 30,000 ex- agitators cutting across the nine Niger Delta States that enrolled for the ‘Third Phase’ amnesty programme.
They General also expressed profound gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Col. Dasuki Sambo, Chief Godday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator James Manager, Chairman Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs and Hon. Kingsley Kemebiridikumo Kuku, Special Adviser/ Chairman, Presidential Committee on Amnesty Programme on Niger Delta.
The General advised the ex- agitators whose names were not included on the approved list to remain calm and law abiding – as the process has just begun. “More names will be considered” stated the General.
Imo State Power-lifting team has assured the people of the state that
the team will come back home with more than 50 gold medals on the
forthcoming world powerlifting championship in the United Kingdom.
The captain of the team Prince Kennedy China Nwamkpa while addressing journalists during their preparation for the World Championship at Dan
Anyiam stadium, Owerri, said that the team has selected 22 lifters
that will make Nigeria proud.
“I want to let the nation know that we are preparing very heavily to
compete with other lifters from other countries in this event coming
up very soon. The visa process is now going on and in the next few
weeks, our visa will be ready for travel. We also have another world
championship in powerlifting championship in Las Vegas, United States
America’.
Prince Nwamkpa who is popularly known as Mr universe recalled that
four months ago, he went to United States with four lifters from
Nigeria for power lifting championship and the four lifters came back
home with five gold, two silver and two bronze and that also in USA
power lifting championship, his team came back with fifteen gold which
Nigeria was rated the highest gold medalist.
He said that out of the 22 selected lifters for the world power lifting
championship, seven special citizens [diable] and made it clear that
some of them are greater in powerlifting. I have seen other countries
coming up in a world championship with their own special citizens and
I said to myself why I can’t move a long with my own special citizens’
Prince Nwamkpa who said that he has been into power lifting for many
years said that he will not relent in his efforts to promote sports
activities and urged the Federal government to assist his team for the
forthcoming world power lifting championship in United Kingdom.
He commended the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha for his
efforts in promoting sports activities in Imo state and pledges their
support and loyalty to the present administration.
The national congress of Nigeria students (NACONS) head quarter at human rights chamber, faculty of law, university of Ilorin here by confirmed the under listed executives of NACONS Anambra state with the believe that they shall make our generation proud by working strictly in pursuant to the law and ideology of NACONS.
The executive council list NACONS Anambra state
President Okoye Robinson Chibuzo
Vice president: Obijekwu Osy Stanley (ANSU, Uli)
Secretary General: Nwabue Chibuzo (NAU, Awka)
Ass. Secretary General. : Ekweoba Chisom (NAU, Awka)
Publicity Sec./Pro : Odogwu Obinna (NAU, Awka)
Financial secretary: Chibuzo Onyebuchi E. (NOCEN )
Treasurer: Kalu Oluchi (NAU, Awka)
Director of social: Ubah Chinedu C (ANSU, Igbariam)
Director of welfare: Oboshi Chukwuemeka D. (Fedpoly, Oko)
Director of sports: Ogbogu Uchenna (NAU, Awka)
State congress coordinator: Dike Ebubechukwu
Signed
Abdulsalam Abdulfatah Liberty
National President
University of Ilorin
Salam Nurudeen
Senate President
University of Abuja
Aba Town in the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria came into world news in the colonial days of1929 when women revolted over imposition of taxes among other unfavorable policies. Since this historic event, Aba has been basking on the euphoria, dwelling and growing with the can-do spirit, having the will and strength of an elephant in accomplishing tasks no matter how daunting. Little wonder the fond name, Enyimba. Aba can easily gather to challenge any action against their interest and comfort. Equally, they can quickly assemble to promote or support good gestures. It is on record that Aba business and bureaucratic elites made the highest monetary contributions to the then Abia State Movement, which midwived the birth of God’s Own State. Aba is as resilient as a stallion and strong as a bull. Aba is proactive and dogged, be it in commerce or industry. Aba is human and can at times like the Roman mob, be deceived into unwholesome actions.
Aba strives in all human endeavors and thrives almost in all, capitalizing in commerce to a world class level. Beside this, education is of high reckoning as Aba spawns one of the highest numbers of primary and secondary schools enrollment. It also outnumbers all other towns in Abia in terms of the domiciliation of tertiary institutions with not less than 4 reputable higher institutions as evident in the Polytechnics, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Health Technology, and Abia State University teaching Hospital. All these are in the overburdened payroll of the state government.
In sports, Abia leads. Enyimba Football Club, though a household name is of international status, having won one of the most prized laurels for Abia and Nigeria at large.
It is on this background that the State Government is concerned in the welfare and reputation of Aba in spite of the lean resources available. In the bid to make Aba the beautiful bride, the topography of being a table land, has not helped matters. Drainage easily blocks, domestic waste once rose to a mountainous level, claiming affinity with Kilimanjaro until the Abia State Government went into partnership with some who claimed expertise in disposal and conversion. Unsatisfied by the pace of action, the people-oriented T. A. Orji’s administration, galvanized the restless ASEPA, then led by Dr Cosmos Ndukwe into a near day and night operation. Lest we forget, Aba rumbled when the last elected chairmen owed a backlog of worker’s salaries for upwards of ten months, it was the governor who came to their rescue. As you are completing one project site in Aba, they curiously point at another.
Unknown to many, His Excellency has sited infrastructural projects in all the nooks and crannies of Aba Zone.
These are few examples of projects executed in the first tenure:
Construction of a functional water borehole with fire hydrant at the Aba Fire Service Station
Repair of Umuojima Road Aba
Rehabilitation of Nwogu/Ukonu, Ajagba, Ajiwe Street Aba
Rehabilitation of Adazi & Okwunuka Road, Aba
Repair of East Street Road, Aba
Repair of Umule Road Aba
Rehabilitation of potholes along Queens & Ochefu Road, Aba
Rehabilitation of Umule by Tonimas junction, Aba
Rehabilitation of Milverton and Hospital Roads
Rehabilitation of Ehi Ehere, Azikiwe and Asa Roads Aba
Rehabilitation of Osusu Road, Aba
Construction of ‘A’ Line road in Ariaria market
Construction of Ikonne Street Aba
Construction of ‘F’ Line Road Aba in Ariaria market
Construction of Aba Abayi Nchokoro Ohanku road
Construction of Timber and Allied Products Market road Aba
Reconstruction and expansion of Brass/Faulks Road Aba
Construction of Okwu Avenue Aba
Reconstruction of P.H. Road Aba
Construction of Nwauba Street Aba
One year in the second tenure has witnessed more fireworks
Dualisation /reconstruction of Aba Owerri Road Aba
Reconstruction/ dualisation of phase1 Aba-Owerri road Aba (from Osisioma Express road junction to Umuimo Road Junction) 3.4km
Rehabilitation of 5no selected roads in Aba Metropolis-Ehi Road (2.1km) Ehere Road (0.8), Ogbor-Hill, Azikiwe road, Asa Road all in Aba
Reconstruction/rehabilitation of Ohanku (4.7km) Aba
Rehabilitation of Osisioma park Ekeakpara road (4.5km) Aba
Reconstruction of Asa Road, Aba Owerri Road by Umuiron junction to Aba Motor Park and asphalt overly of Asa Road Aba
Construction of unity Garden/Osisioma Ring Road, Aba
Demolition/carting away of twelve (12) Storey buildings and landscaping/modeling of old Osisioma park, Aba.
Construction/dualisation of Aba-Owerri road phase 11 (from Umuimo Road junction to Aba Motor Park) and Asphalt overlay from
Reconstruction of port-Harcourt Enugu Express way from Osisioma Junction
Reconstruction of Obohia Road, Aba
Construction of Additional stretch of the Osisioma Ring Road, Aba
Construction/ rehabilitation of Samek Road, Aba
Construction of Old Express Road, Aba
All in the bid to make Aba work, His Excellency Dr T. A. Orji has made liberal appointments to accommodate settlers and natives alike. For instance, the former Transition Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area is a known Aba resident from a neighboring sister State. It will be illuminating to cast your mind back to a few occurrences before the present peace in the state. Aba was invaded by criminals who zoomed in as if they were for an international seminar. They made life miserable and unbearable for residents and the numerous visitors who thronged Aba on trade missions.
The soldiers who have encamped in Abia State are neither tourists nor vacationers. They are on a serious mission of peacekeeping and crime combating. His Excellency Dr T A Orji pressed his presidential button for this to happen and makes a colossal budget for a popular saying goes, ‘he who pays the piper dictates the tune’.
‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy’. Martin Luther King Jnr.
Chief T A Orji in his service-driven nature is aware of these wise words of Dr Martin Luther King Jnr and has stood firmly with Aba. He is equally cognizant of the obvious facts that Aba is of high political and social awareness, therefore no body in his right minds can afford to toy with Aba, not in the least Chief T. A. Orji. In truth, he is aware that Aba is laden with hardworking people who have unimaginable vote potentials.
As it appears, Aba gets more than required attention, evident in billions spent in construction, maintenance of infrastructure and crime prevention. Unfortunately the lifestyle of some Aba residents has become a constant source of sleepless nights to leadership in Abia. When Aba people block drainages which results in flooding, the governor takes the blame. When the submerged road disintegrate and eroded away, the state Government draws unusual flak as if nothing had been done even when the same road was worked on in the last season.
As it stands today, One thousand eight hundred houses are built without authority on the drainage channel ensconcing environmental hazards.
The Abia helmsman has sworn to sanitize Aba at all cost but he equally warned that that he wouldn’t spend all that accrues to the state on Aba at the detriment of other cities. As he bemoaned, these buildings are standing on the drainage and should go down the drains for Aba to work, no matter whose ox is gored
These projects listed above, though a few examples are for all to see, especially those in doubt. They are physical and can be seen and touched. These are all exclusive of other efforts of Ochendo of restoring the days eaten by the desolating locust, including the liquidation of salaries owed numerous LGAs in Aba, not talking about the donation of the supply of transformers aimed at improving energy supply to the teeming industries that constitute the Aba main stay.
…Aba wise up, others are watching and waiting for your characteristic leadership. As it is said, the aged cannot watch the goat strangle itself with the leash. Equally true that no responsible leadership can fiddle like Emperor Nero while some residents indulge in the utterly absurd.
It is more than one year now since the demise of Engineer Ahmed Aliyu Dogondagi, the Chairman of National Assembly Service Commission [NASC]; the commission appears to be in a comatose condition as nobody is directing the affair of the establishment.
Reports from the commission indicate that Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tanbuwal is at each other throat as to who brings the Chairman of the commission. Honourable Tanbuwal is said to have insisted that somebody from Sokoto must replace Dogondagi to complete his term in office. Before the demise of Dogondagi, report has it that he has six [6] months left to stay in office out of which he was to proceed on disengagement leave, in effect, he had effective three[3] months to stay in office.
The report further has it that Senate President; David Mark prevailed on Mr. Speaker to allow one Mr. Yemi Ogunyomi, the immediate past Clerk of National Assembly [NASS] to take over from the vacant office. Mark was said to have argued that Mr. Yemi Ogunyomi will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the vacant position as he knows how to develop legislative service from the point of view of an insider. Besides, his experience and expertise, Ogunyomi heals from southwest geo-political zone that has been complaining of marginalization within PDP fold.
Now, there appears to be stalemate in the appointment of Chairman of National Assembly Service Commission [NASC], as the leaders of the two chambers who are suppose to agree on new Chairman in accordance to the Act establishing NASC whenever vacancy present itself, are at each other’s jugular. For avoidance of doubt, the NASC Act Section 3(3) states: “The President of the Senate shall, upon consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, submit to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a proposed list out of which the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall nominate for appointment a Chairman and members of the Commission.
Who will call the duo of Tanbuwal and Mark to order on this? As they have failed to agree on who should replace Engineer Dogondagi, who will appoint the Chairman or will the commission be left without a head? Watchers of events at National Assembly are however condemning the apparent belligerent position of the Speaker on the appointment of new Chairman of NASC on the ground that since the inception of the commission, only people from northwest geo-political zones have been heading the commission. They reason that it is time Honourable Tanbuwal allows another zone to have a shot at the position. Besides, they argued that it is even wrong for him to be canvassing for somebody from his State to mount the saddle on the account that other zones must be given the opportunity to occupy top positions at NASS. It has been reasoned that since Hon. Tanbuwal emerged as the Speaker of the House of Representatives despite attempt by the ruling party to impose unpopular candidate on the House, he should not derail the principle that brought him to office by showing anti democratic tendencies with respect to who becomes NASC Chairman.
The task before Honourable Aminu Tanbuwal now is to deflate the growing perception that his belligerence is responsible for non appointment of National Assembly Service Commission’s Chairman since the demise of Engineer Ahmed Aliyu Dogondagi about one year ago. Honourable Speaker is reminded that his near perfect handling of affairs in the House has already catapulted and positions him for greater task ahead politically, to this end, he should be politically sensitive on issues like this.
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Emeka Oraetoka
Information Management Consultant & Political Researcher
