Southwest: The Return Of Locust

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By Lere Olayinka

The legacy bequeathed to the Yoruba race by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) and later, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was Education. Courtesy of Awolowo’s party, education was not only made affordable but also available in the entire Southwest States. But can it be said today that those who have used Papa Awolowo’s name and trade-marked cap to canvass for votes have done well in terms of promoting and sustaining this legacy?

Before the advent of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) government in the South Western States of Ondo, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos in 1979, there was only one secondary school in Okemesi-Ekiti, my hometown. However,
between 1979 and 1980, two more secondary schools, Okemesi Community
High School and Fabunmi Memorial Grammar School were established by the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin-led government of the old Ondo State. I attended one of them and I am sure many of the existing secondary schools in Ekiti State were established during that period.

Also, in the old Ondo State, the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti and Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo were established within the four years and three months that Chief Ajasin spent in office. Ondo State Polytechnic, which was established by Edict in 1979 with the name The Polytechnic, Owo by the then Military Governor, Sunday Tuoyo became operational in 1980, almost immediately Chief Ajasin took office. He (Ajasin) only changed the name to Ondo State Polytechnic.

Apart from the old Ondo State, all the States that the late sage,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s party, the UPN governed, including the old Bendel State witnessed establishment of new schools (primary, secondary and tertiary institutions). It was then that the Edo State University (Now Ambrose Alli University), Ekpoma, Lagos State University, Ojo, Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, Esa-Oke and Iree Satellite Campuses of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (now Osun State College of Technology and Osun State Polytechnic respectively), among others were established.
However, from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to Action Congress (AC) and now Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has a single new school, especially tertiary institution been created by these self-appointed Awolowo disciples?

Between 1999 and 2003 that the AD held sway in the Southwest, only Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko was established and this was done as a result of the squabble between Ondo and Ekiti States over the ownership of the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University).

It was only when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took over the Southwest States of Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Ogun that numbers of tertiary institutions in the States were increased to cater for the yearnings of the teeming admission seekers in the States.

In Ekiti State for instance, within the three and half years of the Segun Oni-led administration, four new Technical Colleges, University of Science and Technology and University of Education were created. Oni was also on the verge of establishing a College of Agriculture before he was removed from office.
Apart from establishment of new tertiary institutions, the Oni-led government also created Scholarship Scheme in which over 2,000 students benefited, Digital Education Programme under which 1,650 free laptops (connected to the internet) were provided for SSS1 students, School Feeding Programme under which school pupils were fed with eggs and chocolate was also established. All these laudable initiatives aimed at advancing education in Ekiti have been abolished by the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led government.

In Ogun, the Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led administration upgraded the then Tai Solarin College of Education to a University of Education, and established a new College of Education at Omu-Ijebu, four Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Polytechnics.

Also in Osun State, the Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration established the Osun State Universit (UNIOSUN) with multi-campus concept while in Ondo State; the Dr. Olusegun Agagu-led government established a University of Technology.

Today, the PDP governors, who are not seen as disciples of Awolowo are no longer in power in the Southwest. Those running the affairs of States in the region are the self professed Awoists. But what do we have in the States? Legacies built over the years are being destroyed.

Governor Fayemi of Ekiti State led the onslaught on tertiary institutions in the Southwest States and other ACN governors have followed suit. In spite of the difficulties being faced by Ekiti youths in securing admission into universities, Fayemi merged the three state owned universities, University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti (USTI) and The
University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti (TUNEDIK) into one. The new sole University is known as the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU).

Even with the merger, no increment has been made to the fund allocated to EKSU as the university still gets the same amount it received when it was UNAD. Instead of increased funding of EKSU, the sole University, monthly grant has been reduced by fifty percent and. Most importantly, Fayemi, who annouced to the whole world on December 3, 2010 that no student would pay more that N50,000 in the State University has now increased tuition fees in EKSU to as much as N190,000!

As a result of this merger, a trip to South Korea by 34 students of USTI for a one-year Exchange Programme with the Semyung University, Jecheon City, Chungbuk, South-Korea was cancelled. The one-year
programme would have enabled the students to obtain dual degree certificates.

Also, out of vendetta, Fayemi declined the request of the 74 year-old Semyung University to take over the funding of USTI. When Fayemi said he was scrapping USTI because the State cannot fund more than one university, top functionaries of the Semyung University visited him to signify their interest to take the burden of funding USTI off the State Government, but the governor refused to acede to this request that would have saved USTI from being scarpped!

After it appeared that Fayemi had successfully carried out his own agenda of scrapping tertiary institutions established by his predecessor, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State commenced his.

In one fell sweep, TASUED and the four ICT based Polytechnics
established by the Gbenga Daniel government were gone!

Like Fayemi in Ekiti, reason adduced for scrapping TASUED and the four ICT polytechnics was that Ogun State could no longer fund them.

However, unlike Fayemi’s Ekiti, people of Ogun State, including
leaders of Governor Amosun’s party, the ACN are not flowing with the governor. They have told him in clear terms that he cannot scrap the institutions. Even Senator Gbenga Kaka, representing Ogun East
Senatorial District went to the extent of dragging the governor to Court. Also, leaders of the ACN in Ogun East Senatorial District have told the governor to exercise restrain over the matter.

ACN leaders like Alhaji Rafiu O.Ogunleye, Senator Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka, Alhaji S. Abimbola Awofeso, Otunba Oluremi Onasanya, Mr F.A.
Sabitu, Alhaji F.G.O. Elias, Hon. Samson O. Onademuren, Mr Obafemi Adegboyega, Hon.(Engr.) Afolabi Odusote, Otunba T. Olu Adebanjo and Hon. Bukonla Taofeek Buraimo have told Governor Amosun his decision to scrap the institutions had created ominous problems and dangers in academic communities in the state.

“The meeting believes in expansion of the scope and scale of education and hence does not support the scrapping or merging of the tertiary
institutions in the State. Consequently, all tertiary institutions in Ogun State at present should be allowed to exist independently,” the
ACN leaders resolved after a meeting in Idowa on February 26.

While the Ogun debacle is yet to be resolved, rumour mill became agog that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has also concluded plans
to scrap some of the tertiary institutions in the State.

On Monday, February 27, teaching and non-teaching staff members of the Osun State College of Education, Ilesa stormed the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, protesting the alleged plan of Governor Aregbesola to scrap and merge the institution with another in the state.

The workers and students vowed to resist such a move especially now that the institution is already looking forward to the time it would become a full-fledged degree awarding one.

The protesters displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Aregbesola, don’t play with fire”, “Osun Government be warned”, “Aregbesola, we are ripe to be a university, don’t destroy a growing institution”, “Aregbesola, stop deceiving the people of Osun State.”
Apart from the Osun State College of Education, Ilesha, other tertiary institutions in Osun State are Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke (OSCOTECH), Osun State Polytechnic, Iree (OSPOLY), Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, Osun State University, among others. OSPOTECH and OSPOLY were established in 1992 (20 years ago). Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun was established in 1979 (33 years ago) as a Campus of Oyo State College of Education (now Osun State College of Education, Ilesa. It became autonomous in 1981 (31 years ago). Osun State College of Education, Ilesa was established in 1978 (34 years ago).

Several governors, including Chief Bisi Akande, the current ACN National Chairman, have ruled Osun State and funded the Schools before Rauf Aregbesola.

Besides, when Osun State College of Education, Ilesa was established in 1978, Aregbesola was just 21 year old. He was 24 when Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun was established in 1981.

Therefore, if truly Governor Aregbesola intends to scrap any of these institutions, it will simply mean that he (Aregbesola) is the only person who knows best how to govern Osun State among those who had governed Osun State before, including Chief Bisi Akande and had allowed these institutions to exist?

Interestingly, these same ACN governors that are scrapping schools on the excuse that there is no money to fund them are finding it more convenient to increase their Secuty Vote by as much as 200 percent. They are running government with over bloated cabinet members and aides, with increased salaries and allowances.
Painfully, the situation that the Southwest States is being confronted with is like that of the invasion of a cassava farm by locusts. The locusts will never plant, they will destroy. The level of destruction will also be determined by how long the farmer allows the locusts to have a field day in the farm.

In other words, the locusts that are now on rampage in the cassava farms of the Southwest States have just started the destruction of the plantation. They have started with scrapping of educational institutions, increment of school fees, revocation of duly issued Certificates of Occupancy, introduction of obnoxious taxes, demolition of churches, houses and shops.

Most importantly, the locusts are discouraging private investors from investing in the States by revoking all business agreements entered into by their predecessors. They are even demolishing structures already put in place by these investors as was done to water concessionaires in Ekiti and the multi-billion naira Abeokuta Golf Resort Hotel, among others in Ogun State.

Soon, very soon, they will begin to destroy the people themselves, and by then, there will be no option for everyone than to run for cover. Reason is that, the locusts will not likely be patient enough to look at party identity cards. In fact, there will be no room for discrimination.

Olayinka, a journalist writes from Okemesi-Ekiti

US says it could take Iranian opposition group off terrorism list, if it cooperates with Iraq

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By  Associated Press,

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Wednesday offered an Iranian opposition group a path to get off of a U.S. terrorism blacklist, a move that would end years of high-profile campaigning from the Mujahadin-e-Khalq and infuriate Iran.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told a House committee Wednesday that MEK’s cooperation in a relocation plan from its paramilitary base on the Iran-Iraq border “will be a key factor in any decision” on whether to take it off the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations. The United States will help ensure the safety and security of the camp’s residents as they are moved to another site inside Iraq, she said.

Clinton’s guidance was the clearest indication that the U.S. is close to removing the MEK from the list. The State Department has been ordered by a federal court to re-evaluate the designation of the MEK, an obscure Iranian dissident group that carried out a series of bombings and assassinations against Iran’s clerical regime in the 1980s and fought alongside former President Saddam Hussein’s forces in the Iran-Iraq war.

Taking the MEK off the terror list would lift U.S. economic sanctions, which prevent the group from fundraising.

The group says it renounced violence in 2001, and it has assembled an impressive roster of advocates, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Bush administration Attorney General Michael Mukasey, FBI Director Louis Freeh and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Earlier this week, the MEK asked a federal appeals court to clear its name, arguing that its status was putting members long exiled in Iraq at risk. About 3,200 residents remain at Camp Ashraf, northeast of Baghdad, but are being pressured to leave by the new Iraqi government, whose Shiite officials want to build stronger ties with Iran. An Iraqi raid last year left 34 exiles dead, and the group claims its terrorist status has helped Iraqi authorities justify mistreatment of members and made it harder for residents to find permanent homes in other nations.

Clinton rejected the suggestion, saying that no country has raised the issue of the MEK’s terrorist designation with the State Department. And she backed an Iraqi relocation plan that has already taken 397 camp residents to their new, temporary home at the former U.S. Camp Liberty.

“There were complications but it was peaceful,” Clinton told lawmakers in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, several of whom have strongly pressed the MEK’s case. “There was no violence. The safety so far has been protected and we are watching that very closely.”

The closure of Ashraf remains an issue because it was the main paramilitary base for the MEK when it conducted terrorist attacks. Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Americans disarmed several thousand MEK members and promised to protect them at Ashraf, but for Iraqi authorities it essentially remained a no-go zone. They’ve bristled at the MEK’s attempts to defend a sovereign zone inside Iraq, which U.S. officials say contributed to the violence.

Clinton stopped short of explicitly saying the U.S. would remove the MEK from its list in exchange for fully leaving the Ashraf camp, but her comments suggested that any other requirements for delisting have largely been met.

The MEK is deeply controversial. Critics call it a cult with an ideology mixing Marxism, secularism, an obsession with martyrdom and near adoration of its leaders; American officials have long cited its role in the murder of Americans in the 1970s and attacks that killed hundreds of Iranians.

The group helped Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overthrow U.S.-backed Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979. But the MEK quickly fell out with Khomeini, and thousands of its followers were killed, imprisoned or forced into exile. It launched its campaign of assassinations and bombings against Iran’s government in retaliation.

Yet the group also has provided the Americans with intelligence on Iran and has convinced many governments that it has abandoned terrorism. The European Union removed it from its list in 2009.

The group was designated a terrorist organization in 1997 at a time when the U.S. sought warmer relations with Iran under the reformist presidency of Mohammad Khatami.

Tehran insists that the MEK continues to commit acts of violence. It claims the group has worked with Israel to kill several Iranian nuclear scientists in recent years. The MEK rejects the allegation.

July 14: Deputy governorship ticket shreds Edo PDP

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*Anenih holds ace to save situation
By Olajide Fashikun
The controversy that enveloped the candidature of retired Nigerian Army General, Charles Ehigie Aiwiriavbere, to contest the gubernatorial ticket and the stream of fresh controversy after he emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the July 14, 2012 Edo State governorship election does not seem to simmer. The choice of who becomes his running mate is further deepening emotion and the future health of the party in the state.
From his own camp, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Zakawanu Garba and Johnson Abolagba have pitched fiercely against each other in the fight. Whereas, some concerned members of the party feel that the deputy governorship ticket should have been given out to the more popular candidates defeated in the primaries as a way of getting their support and structures to deliver the party against a seemingly formidable Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN who are already reaching into the PDP flanks.
Electoral values: For party pundits, both Zakawanu and Abolagba may not deliver the quality of electoral values to the party in the 14th July election. Zakawanu is from Etsako-West. He was Speaker. He’s gotten so much from the system. The average person from his constituency is so jealous and not too happy with him because he can barely count how many youths he has helped to be better with the political offices he has held. His electoral strength is Auchi and within Etsako-West.
Whereas, Abolagba, a former House of Representatives member and former chairman of Owan-West local government area is very popular amongst members of the party’s leadership but not with the lower rung of the followership of the party. He contested and lost a bid to return to the National Assembly by not winning a ward in his constituency. An opponent of his within the party described him as a moral burden despite being the vice chairman of the PDP in Edo-North.
If the party must do well in the general election, the wisest thing to do was to secure the favour of the Mathew Iduoriyekemwen group with the deputy governor slot. They were able to wire all the dormant youths in the party structures across the state for the primaries. The primaries were like a war between the old forces and the very young generation. These new folks were more in population and aggression. They were mobilised without cash. They volunteered and worked so hard.
The old generation held on to Dan Obi (the state PDP chairman), Zakawanu Garba, General Aiwiriavbere who had the stamp and support of Chief Tony Anenih, the former Minister of Works under Chief Obasanjo’s administration who is seen and addressed as “the leader”.
The new generation were effectively carried along by Iduoriyekemwen and his campaign director, Jarret Tenebe. A top politician in Anenih’s camp who offered to do this analysis on condition of not being quoted said, “if Tenebe is offered deputy governor, if he will accept it, that will mean that we can get Iduoriyekemwen and his structure to return to the fold because they would have won the election if not for the intervention of the leader. You know that Oshiomhole is already reaching out to them and to the Kenneth Imasuangbon folds.”
The electoral mathematics: Iduoriyekemwen is from Ikpoba-Okha one of the largest and most populous local government councils in the state’s South constituency. Tenebe, his campaign director, is from Etsako-West (where AdamsOshiomhole is from). His mother is from Etsako-East, he school in Etsako-Central. This candidature can help weaken the base of the ACN candidate to the advantage of the PDP. Which other candidate in the General’s group would have delivered the combined Iduoriyekemwen-Tenebe structure. If Oshiomhole gets this value to what he already has in addition to the incumbency factor, its surely a home run for his second term. Don’t forget the way and manner their flank controlled the votes from Ovia-South, Ovia-northeast and Oredo.
The current ticket bearer, General Aiwiriavbere, is from Edo South. He got the votes in the primaries from Edo north and Edo central based on instructions from Chief Anenih. His own people rejected him at the primaries. How does he convince them to vote for him in the general election? What about the investigation hanging on his neck by the EFCC? Will the opposition not maximize his records against the PDP?
Intra-party healing processes: Two other candidates that ran in the primaries who would have been considered to be good to sort out the deputy governorship ticket in the media to strengthening theparty are Professors Julius Ihonbvere and Osarhiemen Osunbo. Both men are considered to belong to the “old school” in their 60s. They have their own followership no doubt but they should not be expected to be looking for the deputy governorship slot as that will mean the whole leadership will be old, conservative and pensionable. Osunbo and Imansuagbon are both from Edo central.
Unverified sources claimed that the way the duo went ahead pre-primary worried the old members of the party. They poisoned the mind of the leader who eventually saw in them a more viral set that can be worse than Oshiomhole. This informed why he gave instructions that the General should be the candidate anointed to carry the flag of the party.
Meanwhile, when reached, one of the losers in the primaries are nursing a legal challenge to the party’s ticket. “We have concluded to go to court to challenge the result. By our party’s constitution, only Oredo local government held primary election. The other 17 local governments did not. We are still awaiting the results. Our constitution recommended that primary elections shall hold in the local government council headquarters with the results announced in the state capital. It is this legal interpretation we want to explore,” he said.

Celebrating Abuja Slums, the Federal Capital Territory

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Celebrating the federal capital territory, Abuja. The seat of power for the federal republic of Nigeria. The home to the house of representatives, the senate and the presidency.

God Bless Nigeria.

 

EFCC Docks Ikuforiji, Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday March 1, 2012 arraigned the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji and his personal assistant Oyebode Alade Atoyebi before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The duo were arraigned before Justice Okechukwu Okeke on a 20 count charge of allegedly conspiring to commit an illegal act of accepting cash payments amounting to N273,303,780 (Two hundred and seventy three million, three hundred and three thousand, seven hundred and eighty naira) from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution, thereby committing an offence contrary to sections 18(a) of the money laundering (prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under sections 16(2) (b) of the same Act.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.  Tayo Oyetibo, SAN counsel to the 1st accused person told the court that he had filed a motion for bail and that the motion had been served on the prosecution counsel. The same argument was canvassed by counsel to the 2ndaccused person.
Counsel to the EFCC, Godwin Obla said he was not going to oppose the bail but was more interested in the expeditious hearing of the substantive matter.
Justice Okeke then granted Ikuforiji bail on self recognition while his personal assistant was also granted bail with the Clerk of the House standing as his surety.
The  EFCC had tried to arraign the speaker and his co-accused before Justice James Tsogho on 30thof January but did not succeed as Justice Tsogho decline to hear the case on personal grounds. Part of the 20 amended charge read: Count one

That you Rt. Honourable Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji and Oyebode Alade Atoyebi sometimes between April 2010 and July 2011 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit accepting various cash payments amounting in the aggregate to the sum of N273,303,780 (Two hundred and seventy three million, three hundred and three thousand, seven hundred and eighty naira) only from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution, thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18(a) of the money laundering (prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under sections 16(2) (b) of the same act.
Count Two That you Rt. Honourable Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji, whilst being the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Oyebode Alade Atoyebi whilst being the personal assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly sometime between April 2010 and July 2011 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did accept a cash payment of the sum of N7,150,000.00 (Seven million, one hundred and Fifty Thousand naira) only from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering  (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under section 15(2) (b) of the same Act. Count 3 That you, Rt. Honourable Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji whilst being the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly sometime between April 2010 and  July 2011 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did accept a cash payment of the sum of N8,135,083.00 (Eight Million, one hundred and thirty five thousand, Eight three naira) only through one Oyebode Alade Atoyebi (your personal assistant) from the Lagos state of Assembly without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the money laundering (prohibition) act, 2004 and punishable under section 15(2) (b) of the same act.

Ribadu Flashes Red Card to ‘Unscrupulous’ Oil Players‏

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UNSCRUPULOUS players in the nation’s petroleum industry were yesterday told that the game is over.

The presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the last year’s election, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said it will no long be business as usual.
He spoke in Abuja after the inauguration of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke.
Ribadu is the chairman of the task force.
The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the taskforce would promote values that support a new dawn of business conduct in the sector for the benefit of those who play by the rule.
He said:  “We seek a new ethics by promoting values that support a new dawn of business conduct in the sector so that those who play by the rules enjoy all the best support and the unscrupulous players get a red card announcement that the game is finally over.”
He however noted that the country is currently at a crossroad, stressing that the inauguration of the task force is to connect the administration and members of the public to a fresh level of accountability.
Ribadu admitted that part of the future challenges is to renew the faith of accountability with the citizenry.
“The truth, however, is that Nigeria is today at a crossroad, we are at a juncture. We understand the constitution of this task force as part of the efforts to connect the public and the administration in newer levels of accountability,” he said.
Ribaldu pleaded with Nigerians to intimate the task force with information that will make the job easier.
He promised that the taskforce which was given 60 days to accomplish its task will be able to deliver.
Mrs Allison-Madueke, who expressed confidence in the calibre of the members, mandated them to work with consultants and experts to determine and verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes, royalties, etc.) due and payable to the Federal Government.
Besides, she urged the Ribadu-led task force to take all necessary steps to collect all debts due and owing; to obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by all oil industry operators.
The task force, said Mrs Allison-Madueke, is expected to design a cross debt matrix between all agencies and parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
It is also to develop an automated platform to enable effective tracking, monitoring, and online validation of income and debt drivers of all parastatals and agencies within the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Court grants Delta community leader bail over alleged murder case

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By Our Reporter, Delta state

An Abuja magistrate court has granted an unconditional bail to the former President General of Irri community, Isoko South local government area of Delta state, Chief Joshua Uturu.

It would be recalled that Chief Joshua Uturu was said to have been arrested on the 8, February, 2012 at the premises of the High Court in Warri, Delta state by a team of Policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) on allegations that he was responsible for certain killings that took place while he was in Prison custody in Kwale.

Police sources in Abuja who confided in our reporter revealed that the arrest of the former PG was not unconnected to a petition written by one Mr. Alex Ofehe on behalf of one Jacko Eloho.

In statement released by counsel to the former PG, Barrister Tony Ejumejowo said “We had written a petition on the 13th February, 2012 to the Inspector -General of Police on the most embarrassing arrest of Chief Joshua Uturu in the court premises while he is under a court bail and brought to Abuja when even if there is any case that can as well done by the Delta State Police Command. The Inspector-General of Police responded by directing the D.I.G. “D” Dept on the 18th of February, 2012 to investigate the matter. We further filed for the enforcement of fundamental Human Rights Enforcement in the FCT High Court. The Deputy Commissioner of Police had other ideas when it became apparent that he must release Chief Joshua Uturu or send him back to Delta State. He directed that he be arraigned before an Abuja Magistrate Court on the allegation that he and two other persons attempted to kill Eloho Jacko along Kubwa Expressway by shooting sporadically while the said Eloho Jacko escaped unhurt and without bullet touching his car just in a bid to keep him in Abuja to jeopardize the bail granted him by the court.”

According to the counsel, the said attack was alleged to have happened in the second week of February while the former PG was in the Police custody.

“We moved a motion for his bail on his arraignment and the bail was granted despite a stiff opposition from the Police.”

Ojukwu’s Burial: Jonathan Boycotts Enugu

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Available information to 247ureports.com through sources close to the State government of Enugu State reveals a cantenkerous fete appears on the offing over the Enugu leg of the festivities sorrounding the burial of the Late Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Ezeigbo Gburugburu slated for February 29 and March 1, 2010.

According to information gathered, the burial festivities in Enugu State – choosen home of Ezeigbo and capatal of the former Eastern Region and the defunct Biafra nation – has begun exhibiting signals of trouble/problem – within the planners of the event, the Ojukwu family and the governor of Enugu State.

This is as the governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime has publicly given strong indications of his limited interests towards the burial of Ezeigbo. Gov Chime, as learnt, has boycotted the entire festivities held for the Late Ezeigbo. He was the only South East governor to have failed to attend all festivities. He did not attend the event in Zungeru, Niger State, Abuja, Owerri, Imo State, Umuahia, Abia State and Enugu State.

Due to the lack of eagerness to aide the burial committee in Enugu, the governor hasmanaged to ground the activities of the committee.

The governor, according to a source in his cabinet, has been at odds with the family of the Onoh’s in Enugu. The widow of late Ezeigbo comes from the Onohs. Governor Chime belongs to the political camp of the Jim Nwobodo – and the Onohs belong to another political camp – of which, both have been at daggers drawn. The source explained that the governor may have taking his political game a bit too far. “Ojukwu is Ojukwu, Death is Death”, added the source.

The Presidenct who was previously scheduled to arrive Enugu State on March 1, 2012 for the final honor to the Late General, according to a source, cancelled his already concluded visited to Enugu State on the grounds of Governor Sullivan Chime ill-attitude towards the burial arrangment. This is as the President’s security handlers received informational report of  the potential scantiness in the preparations put in place against security of the President and participants -particularly citing the importance of the Enugu State leg of the burial to the Eastern region and the Nation. On this note, the President cancelled the planned visit to Enugu. Mr President shifted his visit to March 2, 2012 at Nnewi, Anambra State.

The Chief Press Secretary [CPS] to the Enugu State Governor, Chukwudi Achife, in responding to inquiries from 247ureports.com on why the Governor boycotted the Enugu leg of the burial festivities, he said that the Governnor was busy in Abuja with the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan confering over the security arrangements for the February 29 and March 1 events. He added that the governor had sent his deputy to the airport to received the corpse of Ojukwu.

Members of the governor’s team are reported to be unhappy/angry with the actions of the Governor. Particularly, the deputy governor is said to be livid with the actions of the governor to boycott Ezeigbo’s burial. “I am ashamed”, states the deputy governor. Other cabinet members expressed their discomfort over the actions of the governor.

Khartoum accuses S. Sudan in rebel attack

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Khartoum threatened retaliation on Sunday after accusing breakaway South Sudan of backing a rebel attack inside its territory, adding to tensions which have sparked international concern.

Rebels in a “revolutionary front” aimed at toppling the Khartoum regime claimed the attack in the disputed Jau area — part of an oil-rich region on the poorly defined border — as their first joint operation against government forces.

“It is a very big victory,” said Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

The rebels claimed to have seized three tanks along with hundreds of weapons and vehicles in the joint operation with fighters from Darfur’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

“Joint forces managed to surprise them,” he said.

Sudan’s foreign ministry said rebels accompanied by officers from South Sudan’s army launched a “direct attack” on the area six kilometres (four miles) inside the border, in violation of a memorandum on non-aggression and cooperation signed this month.

“Sudan reserves the right according to international law to react to this attack,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that it will complain to the UN Security Council and African Union.

It is the latest flare-up over the Jau area and comes after UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned that the crisis between Sudan and South Sudan has become a major threat to regional peace and security.

Britain this month expressed “grave concern at the recent build-up of forces and escalation of tensions in conflict-affected border areas.”

The SPLM-N has for several months been fighting in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states along the border with South Sudan.

One analyst has dismissed the Revolutionary Front as “just a name,” but Lodi said the joint attack — albeit with a small JEM component — showed their commitment to work together.

“We are not just talking. We are doing it,” he told AFP.

Last November, both rebel groups joined with factions of Darfur’s Sudan Liberation Army to form the front dedicated to “popular uprising and armed rebellion” against the government in Khartoum.

“This attack is under the umbrella of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front,” JEM spokesman Gibril Adam Bilal told AFP.

Sudan Armed Forces spokesman Sawarmi Khaled Saad confirmed that the area had come under attack, but he blamed the forces of South Sudan.

“This attack was completely planned and sponsored by the government of South Sudan,” he said. “The fighting is going on now.”

Neither side could immediately give casualty figures.

Access to the state is restricted, making independent verification difficult.

In December, Sudan accused the South Sudan army of attacking the Jau region, but Juba’s military insisted its troops were defending an area on their side of the frontier.

Two weeks ago, Juba said Khartoum had bombed the same area from the air, violating the memorandum on non-aggression and cooperation.

Washington has condemned the “unjustified and unacceptable” bombing of civilians by the Sudanese military in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

South Sudan broke away in July last year after an overwhelming vote for independence following more than two decades of war that killed two million people.

Border tensions have since flared, with each side accusing the other of supporting rebels within its territory, while a major dispute over oil transit fees remains unresolved.

Asked about Khartoum’s latest accusations, Juba’s information minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said the rebels were Sudan’s problem.

“We don’t give any support to opposition groups in Sudan,” he said.

The ethnic minority insurgents from SPLM-N had previously fought alongside the former rebels now ruling in Juba.

Lodi, the SPLM-N spokesman, said Sunday’s joint attack followed formalisation last week of the Revolutionary Front’s structure, and vowed that more combined operations will occur “when appropriate”.

JEM and SPLM-N had fought together once before, in August.

Rape Scandal Hits Aso Rock

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A massive cover-up is underway in the Presidency amid allegations that a personal assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan raped an expatriate staff. A furious President Goodluck Jonathan called an urgent meeting at his official residence in Aso Villa and imposed a code of silence on all his aides and personal assistants as part of damage control efforts to deal with a scandal that alleges the rape of an expatriate staff by the President’s personal assistant for domestic affairs, Dr. Temple, who has been ignominiously relieved of his duties.

The circumstances under which Dr. Temple found himself inside the private quarters of the expatriate staff (names withheld) remain unclear. Authoritative sources inside the Presidency that while in her apartment, situated inside Aso Villa, Dr. Temple had sex with her against her consent under the watchful eyes of security cameras that recorded the heinous act of shame as it unfolded.

After the incident, the lady reported the crime to the authorities within Aso villa. Consequently, security tapes from her apartment were reviewed and after watching her “rape on tape,” the presidency, in an attempt to cover up the crime, relieved Dr. Temple of his duties and evicted him from the Villa, manu military. Informed of the unsavory incident that has diplomatic undertones, Jonathan reportedly imposed a gag order on all his aides from commenting on the affair.

However, sources close to Dr. Temple allege that he was involved in an extra marital affair with the expatriate staff. They blame the situation on cultural irredentism, arguing that foreigners do not understand that in Africa a wife or girlfriend is obliged to satisfy the sexual cravings of her partner, no matter the circumstances. “This is not the first time that Dr. Temple is having sex with that woman, so why all the fuss? a close ally to Dr. Temple queried.

Aides to President Jonathan all deny that such an incident occurred and said the Presidency would not “dignify gossip with a response. These rumors appear to be part of an ongoing and malicious campaign to undermine the right of the president and his family to privacy and dignity.”

Asked about the cover up, Mr. Reuben Abati, special adviser to the president on media and publicity said: “This is the figment of someone’s imagination. Please, no one committed such a crime around here.”

But none of the President’s men could explain the unceremonious sacking and eviction of Dr. Temple from Aso Villa. Attempt to reach Dr.Temple was unsuccessful, as his four cell phones have been out of coverage area since the incident. Dr.Temple, who hails from Bayelsa State like Jonathan, came highly recommended at a time when there was a crisis of confidence within the President’s inner circle. Sources reveal that he was handpicked by the first lady, Patience Jonathan.

His predecessor, Mr. Obuchie was accused of spying on President Jonathan and his wife and releasing information about them to Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa state. However, a source close to Obuchie affirmed that Obuchie was fired by the first lady, simply because she did not like him. “The First lady had an open hatred for Obuchie, everyone in the villa knows this,” said the source. In her desperation to get rid of Obuchie, she labeled him a spy and he was sacked.

Speaking further, the source stated that the presidency had moved against Timipre Sylva re-election, and in return, the former Governor threatened to kill President Jonathan and his wife.”

Dr. Temple has since been replaced with Hon. Dudafa Waripamowei, former commissioner for local government in Bayelsa state. He resumed penultimate Monday. Hon. Dudafa Waripamowei had been penciled as deputy governor to Gov. Dickson, recently elected governor of Bayelsa, but was dropped.

The rape incident at Aso Villa and the ensuing cover-up by Jonathan comes hard on the heels of another sex scandal involving the Presidency wherein the names of senior officials, including President Jonathan are said to have featured in a black list released by detractors of an accomplished Abuja Madame, Halima Mohammed Gambo, the ex-wife of former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Gambo.

A successful woman by all standards, Halima Gambo is also arguably the culinary queen in and out of the seat of power.

However, the messy rumor of her alleged sexcapades being spread around Abuja is creating white nights inside Aso Rock enough to keep all able and enabled men of means in the society off her radar for now. The scandal assumed a broader dimension, when a list of some top Nigerians that have allegedly slept with her or dated her, started making the rounds in some social circles. Some of those women who’ve seen the list are now confronting their husbands, while those whose husbands did not feature in the list have vowed to keep their men away from her even if it means hiring private investigators to keep tabs on them 24/7.

A former democratic President of the federal republic once said that any female aide who refused his sexual overtures was considered disloyal, irrespective of their marital status. In his estimation, sexual intercourse with his female subordinate was his bonus for empowering them. Barbaric as it may sound; this obnoxious practice within the corridors of power did not end with the erstwhile democratic President, who has since retired to his farm.

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Source: Huhonline

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