Pressure Mounts On Jonathan, Traditional Rulers To Save Al-Mustapha

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Mr. President in Bayelsa

FAMILY and friends of Major  Hamza Al Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer,(CSO)

to the former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, are lobbying traditional rulers accros the country to save him from an imminent death.

A Lagos High Court on Monday had sentenced him to death by hanging along with Lateef Shofolahan, for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola.

Investigation by Saturday Tribune revealed that the family, though had resolved to institute an appeal against the ruling, they  did not want to put all their eggs in one basket.

They were said to be making frantic efforts to use highly respected citizens to assist in reaching out to the government to temper justice with mercy by commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment.

It was learnt that the move was a prelude to securing a state pardon for the duo in the future.

According to the investigation, the current agenda  is to lobby influential traditional rulers in the north, who have friends among high-ranking traditional rulers in the south whose opinions are respected by government on the need to cooperate in seeking reprieve for al- Mustapha and Shofolahan.

The belief of the lobbyists was that the two had suffered enough, going by the number of years they had been in custody.

It was also learnt that the  friends and loyalists of al-Mustapha had decided not to intimate the family of their own separate plans to save him but to work assiduously towards achieving results.

According to them,the agenda of commutting the death sentence to  life imprisonment will go a long way in speeding up  genuine national reconciliation.

Similarly, indigenes of Kebbi state have urged President Goodluck Jonathan  to look into the conviction of the duo with a view to dousing the public anxiety caused by the judgment of the court.

The Kebbi State Indigenes Association, made the call during a courtesy visit on the management of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) at the Kaduna Zonal Office.

They also advised the Federal Government and the Nigeria Judicial Commission (NJC) to investigate the case and ensure that justice prevailed.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Association, Mallam Garba Muhammad Zuru, in his address said, “though, we are aware that the convicted persons have the right of appeal, the case should be looked into with a view to ascertaining the legality of remanding the suspects in prison custody for 13 years.

“This will help to restore the lost confidence of the judiciary on recent cases that border on issues of national security, political and peaceful co-existence of the country.”

They equally urged the national leadership of the Igbo community to retract its order, calling on Igbo resident in the north to return home because of the current insecurity in the country.

“This call does not reflect true federalism that the country is clamouring to sustain. you cannot tell someone who had established his business to return home without making any provision to rehabilitate him, and by implication, you are telling those that are of northern extraction too to leave.

“We want to believe that the best way to resolve this problem is to support President Jonathan’s call on Boko Haram to embrace dialogue to stop the killings of innocent Nigerians.We are also calling on the Boko Haram sect to seize the opportunity of addressing their grievances through dialogue with the relevant authorities, so that the north and indeed the country will return to the peace that it is known for.”

The  indigenes also condoled with the Kano State governor and the people of the state who lost their loved ones during the attacks in the State.

“Because we the indigenes have been living in peace among ourselves, despite our religious differences even among family members in Kebbi state. Therefore, we are calling on other states and the  Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to borrow a leaf from Kebbi with a view to proffering genuine lasting peace and security in the region,” he emphasised.

In his remarks, the NTA Kaduna Zonal Director (ZD), Mallam Bala Hassan commended the effort of the Kebbi indigenes for initiating a peace tour of states facing challenges of insecurity and tension between indigenes of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.

He called on other states to emulate the peaceful co-existence of the people of Kebbi  for the peace, development and unity of the country.

He also aligned with the call to the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts in ensuring peace,unity and security in the country.

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Source: Tribune

Boko Haram: Tambuwal gives condition for negotiation …denies knowledge of sect’s letter seeking help

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Tambuwal

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, has said that the only condition he can initiate a dialogue between Boko Haram and the Federal Government is for the members of the group to reveal their identities.

Tambuwal, who is from Sokoto State, said the acting Governor of the state, Lawal Zayyana, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, were ready to intervene in the crisis for amicable resolution so long as members of the sect identified themselves publicly. The Speaker explained that such intervention was in line with the spirit of dialogue canvassed by President Goodluck Jonathan, who had also challenged the group to reveal its identity.

Tambuwal was reacting to reports alleging that the group sent him a letter along with the acting governor and the Sultan, seeking their intervention to secure the release of sect members held by security agencies in Sokoto State.

In a statement by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, on Friday, Tambuwal denied receiving such letter.

“We are yet to receive any letter from the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’ati wal Jihad, aka Boko Haram and we’re not aware of the alleged arrest and detention of any of their members,” the statement said.

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Source: Punch Newspapers

APGA Thugs Attacks ACN Chairman, Set Two Cars Ablaze‏

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Uche Ekwunife

Information received by 247ureports.com indicate that thugs numbering  about  seventeen [17] yesterday invaded the residence of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] party chairman for Aniocha Local Governemnt Area, Chief Austin Egbobe shortly after he returned from an ACN campaign in Agulu.

As the Chairman arrived his home, at 8.00pm, the thugs who are believed to have conducted a surveilance of the Chairman’s home with a black coloured Hillux Pick-up van – number plate covered – attempted to call Mr Egbobe  on the telephone with a blocked number – of which the chairman did not answer. The thugs then left.
At about 11.00pm, they returned with the same Black hillux van accompanied with a Nissan Urvan Bus filled with gun-tottiing  youths who scaled the  fenced compund and shot their way into the premises. The chairman, according to eyewitness reports, escaped, but sustained injuries.  He is being treated at a hospital in Awka.
The visibly agitated youths proceeded to burn the house in the compound, and they set an ACN  party bus belonging to the Anaocha LGA campaign team. They also burnt a private peugeot pick-up van parked in the premises.
Nearby neighbours made attempts at outing the fire but they were chased away by the hired youths.  The hired youths then supervised the burning.
The ACN believes that the action was politically motivated and sponsored by the APGA candidate for Aniocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka Federal constituency Mrs Uche Ekwunife. According to the ACN the genesis of the attacked dates back to January 3, 2012 when the ACN candidate for Aniocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka Federal constituency, Mr Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo tried to gain access to an event organized by the Agulu Youth Movement (AYM) in Agulu. An event the Uche Ekwunife was billed to attend also.
On arrival, ACN alleges that Mrs Ekwunife tasked the Chairman, Task force on Anambra Oarks and Markets  to stop Mr Nwankwo from entering the event. It resulted to a free for all fracas between Ekwunife’s men and those who stood the ground that Dozie must enter and speak. Dozie Nwankwo was said to have left the venue without speaking to the gathered audience.
The ACN in reaction has issued a warning to the Ekwunife campaign against their plot to cause fracas on the election day of February 15, 2012.

Fallouts from bombings in Nigerian

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By Muhammad Ajah
A lot has happened as reactions from the bombings and killings of innocent citizens since the surfacing of Boko Haram, the most recent being end of year 2011 Madalla blast and Kano multiple blasts on 20th January, 2012, barely one month after the Madalla’s.
The most serious reaction, as Nigeria has often proved to be a reactionary nation, is the declaration of emergency in some local government areas across the nation and the eventual sacking of the Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim and some top officers in the police who are believed to have done not enough to forestall peace and safety of the citizenry. It is, then, hoped that the new IG Muhammad Abubakar will tow the path clearly different from his predecessor. Straight to point, he should not allow the sacked officers to go home completely without explaining their possible connections with the happenings they failed to curtail or curb. Can this new IG be different!?
Truly the security situation in Nigeria has been of serious concern to many patriots as it has created a false Muslim-Christian faceoff which has never existed in the country to such a disturbing level. Some disgruntled elements in the society have been found to be using the trigger-headed, vulnerable and gullible youth to pursue their heinous political cum social pursuits, exploiting religious and ethnic sentiments.   
This false faceoff, though latently propounded by the bigots has reared its ugly head, resulting from the indiscriminate bombings and killings that have been orchestrated by Boko Haram. Government and people of Nigeria have attempted to resist this development by all legitimate means without causing more bloodshed or misunderstandings. So, those Nigerians who still think of Nigeria breaking-up should desist from being wishful thinkers. By God’s grace, the 2015 prophecy and any attempt of such kind will fail.
It is more worrisome that some miscreants have utilized the situation to cause more tension. So, it is important for Nigerians to note that national security is the responsibility of every citizen. Any attempt by any group of persons to cause disunity amongst the citizenry wherever each citizen chooses to live should be resisted.
But again, it is pertinent to make some clarifications on the present security situations in the country. Boko Haram must be clearly identified as a militant group. Recent events and revelations have proved that merely linking the group with Islam is a misnomer that should be avoided if the collective effort to subdue the group is to be meaninggful. The Niger Delta militants, the OPC, the MOSOP, the MASSOB and other regional groups fought for clear regional causes that were never interwoven with religious sentiments, despite they were threats to national existence. As it were, many Nigerians are still in the dark over the real motives of Boko Haram which is killing Christians and Muslims alike, including prominent political and religious leaders of northern extraction.
However, many Nigerians among the elite know that it was a creation of political manipulations which has turned out to be fighting an unacceptable cause. The activities of this group have been vehemently condemned by both the political and traditional leaders of the north in particular and Nigeria in general.
As the name denotes adversity to westernization (not Christianity), it is not hidden that a good percentage of the Muslims of the north have been heavily westernized. And apart from nationhood, there are many similarities between Muslims and Christians. Islam does not refer to the Christians and Jews as infidels. That is why it has been observed that the group has targeted every person who identifies with western ways of life including deceitful politics.
Nigeria is a home for all Nigerians and every Nigerian should be free to seek legitimate livelihood in any part of his or her fatherland. Therefore, the threats by Boko Haram against Christians in the north and such counter threats by militant groups against northerners in the South should carefully be handled by the nation’s security outfits. On the other hand, every Nigerian who sincerely believes in the cause of unity, peace and progress of the nation should not be cowed to leave his place of birth. There are many Southerners living in the north and many Northerners living in the South who ONLY KNOW their states of origin by names. That is the best way to seal the fallout of colonialism and our amalgamation.  
Cases have been recorded that Boko Haram is a gang-up of people who profess different religions and ethnic backgrounds. A case was reported of a Christian woman in the north who attempted to bomb a church that was not her denomination under the instruction of her own church leader. A national daily also reported of a non-Muslim dressed in kaftan and turban who attempted to bomb a church in a Southern state.
Also, use of firearms during festive periods often cause harm and sometimes make it difficult to differentiate between genuine celebration and attacks by hoodlums. I recall an incident in a southern city when during festive periods, armed robbers raided homes and people could not differentiate between gunshots and such firearms commonly used by revellers.
Another dimension in this is that Boko Haram would claim responsibility of any bomb blast since it is seeking relevance just as it happened during the Niger Delta crisis when even armed robbery cases – which have become quotidian in Nigeria – and kidnappings were ascribed to the Niger Delta militants and specifically to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
Howbeit, reactions and counter reactions from even highly placed religious and political leaders especially those of President of Christian association of Nigeria (CAN) Ayo Oritsejafor said Christians, the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, Muslim groups NSCIA and JNI, South East zone of CAN, Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Northern Progressive Forum, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), League of Imams in Abuja, leader of the Dariqa sect, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, amongst others have been recorded. Distinguished political calibres such as Senate President David Mark, National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi, Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and a host of them have made commendable comments that should douse tension and foster understanding amongst Nigerians in their diverse backgrounds.
I was all ears when Kaakaki programme of African Independent Television (AIT) of Thursday, 29th December 2011 specifically discussed matters arising from the Christmas Day Bombings. A clergy, Tennyson Amazama and Director of Niger Delta Non-Violence Movement, Onengiya Erekosima were featured. Amazama noted that if top ranking political officers die from the bombings ravaging parts of the country – as the ordinary citizens have bee – a bill would be immediately sponsored and all the carnages would stop.
According to him, the political leaders seem not to be too serious about the bombings since their children and wards and immediate family members are either outside the country or are protected by the security men who are supposed to work for the majority of Nigerians.
Erekosima particularly noted that many Nigerians have been pushed to the wall by the way affairs of the peoples are run by the governments. Said he, “I have never condemned the Boko Haram, but their acts. The President should listen to the people like his predecessor, late President Yar’Adua. He should understand and note the significance of the amnesty instituted by Yar’Adua.”
He opined that solutions to the security crisis in the country can be gotten from outside the circle of security chiefs, most of who have proved otherwise. “We know those security men who remove their uniforms and go to cause these troubles. When security votes receive huge money, it does not need explanation that the beneficiaries will not want the crisis to end. It has happened before. If just a percentage of such huge money is given to us, we can restore peace in the whole country.”
All in all, can it be ascertained that non-Northerners, non-Muslims and quite possibly non-Nigerians are also into this conundrum?
Muhammad Ajah is a writer, author, advocate of humanity and good governance based in Abuja. E-mail mobahawwah@yahoo.co.uk

Bayelsa guber: At last, Dickson flags-off rally

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At last, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, will flag-off his campaign rally in grand style today February 3, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The beautiful campaign posters and large billboards bearing the portraits of Dickson and his running mate, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd.) have already been placed in strategic spots of Yenagoa and other local governments. Dickson will finally be given the party’s flag at the epoch ceremony that will attract chieftains of the ruling party.

But controversy trailing his emergence is yet to be laid to rest, as former Governor Timipre Sylva is in Supreme Court challenging the candidature of Dickson as the party’s flagbearer. Sylva is not relenting. He has prayed the court to recognise him as the candidate of the party having won the January 2011 primary conducted by the PDP in which President Goodluck Jonathan personally participated as a delegate. Sylva is hopeful of victory in the court to regain his plum job.

The legal battle over the party’s candidature is still generating anxiety in the ruling party. It has deepened the crisis in the political party. The much-awaited governorship rally is billed to take place at the main bowl of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex located along Ovom in the state capital. It was learnt that the campaign slated for last month was postponed by the party, occasioned by the deadly Boko Haram attacks in Kano where more than 200 lives were lost.

Among dignitaries expected at the event are President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice- President Namadi Sambo, Acting National Chairman of PDP, Kawu Baraje, Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman and former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Others include governors, ministers, senators and representatives from the South-South, former BOT Chairman, Tony Anenih, Ijaw National Leader, Edwin Clark, ex- Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),Timi Alaibe. Investigations by National Mirror revealed that the Acting Governor of the state, Nestor Binabo and a good number of lawmakers in the state legislature, including some serving commissioners have already thrown their weight behind the candidature of Dickson in the election.

Binabo may likely replace Seriake’s in the House of Representatives if a rumoured political bargain is finally sealed. Di ckson may clinch the February 11 governorship poll if the party’s strategy is actualized given its door-to door campaign strategy to reach out to the rural areas. Lots of resources have been expended by the gubernatorial candidate to sensitize the electorate on the need for his choice in the election. But, some constituents of Dickson in Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency have alleged that the PDP flag-bearer did not impact meaningfully on his people during his four-year stay in the House of Representatives.

Dickson’s supporters have dismissed the allegation describing it as false and baseless. No fewer than 34 candidates from various political parties are vying for the governorship election in the state. But the serious contenders are about five while others have been described by analysts as pretenders. Former PDP Chairman in the state and Campaign Director of Dickson  Governorship bid, Fred Agbedi and the state party chairman, James Dugo and their supporters have been holding rallies in the local governments of the state to solicit for votes in the election. They move from ward to ward to meet the people.

Last week, the party’s flag bearer constituted the  Keme 2 Keme, a replica of the Neighbour 2 Neighbour campaign outfit of the President. Incidentally, Keme 2 Keme in Ijaw parlance means Neighbour 2 Neighbour and is headed by, Dr. Stella Dorgu.

Agbedi in one of the rallies told party supporters and the people that Keme 2 Keme will move from room to room in the eight local government areas of the state to canvass for votes and educate the electorate on how to cast their votes to ensure minimal record of invalid votes at the election. In an interactive session with journalists in Yenagoa, the PDP gubernatorial candidate said he would lead by example, exercise power with compassion, responsibility and work closely with his team if elected as governor of the state.

He said:  I am a man of ideas, but I don’t claim to know everything. I promise to lead by example and assemble a time-tested team of men and women who will help implement our lofty agenda for the good of the people and peace of our state.  Dickson further noted that he was in politics to build consensus and to serve the people, stressing that his antecedents as Attorney-General of Bayelsa State and Commissioner for Justice attest to his claim.

According to the candidate, if given the mandate, he will rescue the state from corruption, bad governance, violence and years of locust by Sylva’s ad ministration. His words:  All incomes and expenditure of government shall be published regularly to keep the public abreast of government activities. I will not steal public funds and I don’t expect government functionaries to embezzle either. If you steal, you pay for it .

We shall put in place in-built mechanism aimed at instituting transparency and accountability in the day-to-day administration of the state. People will be unhappy under our government because people will work for every money they get. There will be no free money to share. We shall fight corruption with vigour and stop wastage in government. 

We shall run a simple government in such a way that capital projects will be given a pride of place. We shall shore up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state through aggressive revenue, though with human face. Through this, we can save enough money to execute capital projects. We shall pay priority to education, health, wealth creation and provision of critical infrastructure which will create a conducive environment for a private sector to drive the economy to ensure our people will be empowered.

Dickson also promised that his administration will establish an Economic Advisory Council to develop a blue print for a modern economy driven by commerce. According to him, SMEs, agriculture, energy and tourism would be encouraged by government. The flag bearer said his administration would not depend on the monthly federal allocation, as he assured that unemployment would be drastically reduced through welfare schemes and the setting up of Direct Labour Bureau for small contracts and maintenance.

The governorship candidate said his government will complete abandoned and ongoing projects in the state and would provide power by tapping into the vast gas resources of the state. He promised to ensure gender equality by giving women folks equal opportunity with men and tackle the problem of cultism to instil peace in the state.

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Source: National Mirror

Tears, Anger As Community Buries 13 Boko Haram Victims

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lineup of caskets of the deceased during the memorial service

*northern govs snub the event

From Chuks Collins, AWKA.

It was an outpouring of emotions, tears and anguish again at Adazi-Nnukwu, Anaocha council of Anambra State where 13 victims of the Boko Haram mayhem of December 28, 2011, January 5 and January 6, 2012  in Mubi, Adamawa State were buried after a memorial service.

 

left - right: The National Chairman of the All Prpgressives grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, the Leader of the Movement for the actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State at the Thursday, February 2, 2012 funeral service of the 12 Adazi Nnukwu community members that were killed by the Boko Haram sect in Mubi, Adamawa State

This now makes it two communities in the state to have buried their dead from the Boko Haram menace. The other was Azigbo, where a bank manager and his driver were interred amidst tears and curses, last month

At Adazi Nnukwu yesterday, the people, in their wailings cried for urgent measures by the authorities to secure the lives and property of Nigerians irrespective of where they reside or work.

 

Mrs. Perpetua Mgbemena (middle), pregnant widow of one of the deceased, Mr. Job Mgbemena being helped by two women at the service

They equally spoke of the need for a political solutions to the worsening spate of insecurity in the country as its destroying the international community\s confidence in the nation. It was viewed as counter productive for a struggling and forward looking developing economy to allow so much insecurity to drive away local and foreign investors, noting that in a matter of time the negative effects would begin to show.

The 12 men and a woman were killed by armed Boko Haram members days after the blood thirsty sect jolted the country on the 2011 christmas day church service, killing of dozens of Christian worshippers at Madalla, Niger state and Jos, Plateau State.

 

Placard carrying youths of Adazi Nnukwu at the service

 

But as the people mourned, they had one clear message to the nation and perhaps the murderous sect, that “enough is enough”

The President General of the Adazi NnukwuTown Development Union, Chief B.C. Enemuo, dismissed the insinuations created by the Adamawa State Government that the deceased were killed over business deals that were sour. He saw the claim as the hieght of irresponsibility and official dishonesty in trivializing a serious issue.

According to him, “The cold blooded massacre of Adazi Nnukwu citizens on the 5th and 6th January 2012 absolutely had nothing to do with business disagreements or leaders contest as is being foisted on the minds of the general public by callous and insensitive agents of the ex-Governor Murtala Nyako’s administration,” Enemuo said.

 

The widows and families of the deceased at teh graveside

 

The community also called for adequate compensation to the families of all those killed in the Mubi mayhem.

The Catholic Bishop of Awka, Rt. Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, who preached the homily at the burial mass, said when other nations were contending with natural disasters, Nigeria is in the throes of human disaster perpetrated by a group called the Boko Haram.

“It is painful and shocking to have to bury 13 people whose lives have been wasted by deranged individuals. But they are all Catholics who died in the Lord. May their soils rest in the bosom of the Lord,” he declared.

While condemning any attempt to avenge the killings of Christians and Igbos in the North, the bishop said government and the security agencies must do something to bring an end to the colossal loss of human lives and threat to national unity.

“When will all these barbaric human waste end? Who will save this country and end the menace of the Boko Haram? What are the security agencies doing to end this violence?” Ezeokafor continually asked.

Declaring, “Enough is enough,” the bishop urged the people to cry with faith to God for whom vengeance belongs.

“As we pray to God, we must shine our eyes and think through the issue so that we do not carry out the agenda of the Boko Haram, which they want to use religious and ethnic differences to achieve.

The Adamawa State Government was not represented at the event nor sent any formal message, other than that Governor Peter Obi announced that Adamawa State Government has awarded N1 million to each of the families of the deceased. He said the Governor of the state will eventually visit Adazi Nnukwu to condole with the families of the deceased. The people muffled, while some insinuated that the cash promise may actually be by the Anambra state government, as no one who did not deem it fit to send a representative or written condolence would be “kind enough” to give them any money.

Obi also said that in addition to the scholarship that the state government would offer to the children of the deceased, the state government would give each of the families N1million each in the first instance.

Obi who called for patience from the people, said that the Federal government was working hard at finding a solution to the insecurity problems that have claimed the lives of Igbo people in the North.

The Leader of the Anambra State Caucus in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, said the House was considering a Terrorism act to check the activities of the likes of the Boko Haram.

Describing the killings as a monumental loss, Ekwunife said, “We are dealing with a people who have no value for human life. And you cannot win such a battle without Christ. As Christians, they teach us not to take revenge by ourselves.”

She said the burden was now on the shoulders of the Governors of the South east States to lead the people on what to do about this development.

The Leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, said MASSOB will announce its stand on Boko Haram and the spate of insecurity in the northern parts of the country after the burial of Chief Emeka Ojukwu, the leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra.

The National Chairman of the All progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, said that the convoking of a national conference where the peoples of Nigeria will discuss how they can relate with one another was has become more imperative than ever before.

He said the people of the South East can no longer accept the gradual but systematic decimation of their kith and kin in the North. Efforts, he said must be made to protect the lives of these people who have contributed immensely to the development of their host communities.

Peres: Iran’s ‘evil’ leaders must not be allowed to gain nuclear weapons

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Iran’s “evil” leaders cannot be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, President Shimon Peres said on Tuesday, calling the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions the world’s single most important issue.

Peres’ comments came at the opening of the Herzliya Conference, which was attended by World Bank President Robert Zoellick, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, and former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.

Referring to Iran’s contentious nuclear program, the president called the issue “ours and the world’s central problem at this time, accusing Iran of attempting to achieve regional and “even global hegemony.”

“Nuclear weapons mustn’t be allowed to fall into the hands of Iran’s Ayatollah regime,” Peres said, calling Iran’s religious leadership the “most morally corrupt regime in the world.”

Hinting at the possibility of a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, the president reiterated the Israeli stance, according to which “no option should be ruled out in our dealing with the Iranian danger. This is an existential threat.”

“It is the duty of the international community to prevent evil and nuclear [weapons] from coming together. That is the obligations of most of the leaders of the free world, one which they must meet,” Peres said.

On what he called “the moral significance of this battle,” the president spoke of an Iranian regime which “executes people for their views. It funds, trains, and guides terrorists to spread terror and murder across the globe.”

“This is a way of operation that must be condemned by everyone everywhere,” Peres said, adding that, “eventually, the current Iranian leadership offers the future only destruction. It threatens human rights and the peace of nations.”

In his address to the Herzliya Conference, president Peres also spoke of the necessity to restart peace negotiations with the Palestinians, saying that ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the only way to ensure Israel isn’t made into the scapegoat of a rapidly changing Middle East.

If peace is not advanced, the president said, religious extremism could gain control of the region, “an extremism which Iran attempts to lead using its two proxies: Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, as well as other extensions throughout the region.”

“The terror organizations are trying to drag Israel into an Arab internal struggle so they can direct the masses’ rage against us. They have no rehabilitation plans, only incitement habits,” Peres added.

The only way to prevent this takeover of extremism, then, is “to put an end to the conflict between us and the Palestinians, similarly to the agreements with Egypt and Jordan.”

“When I say we must, I say so because I believe ending the conflict is possible. I’ve known the people heading the Palestinian Authority for decades,” Peres said, adding that he believed “[Palestinian] President Mahmoud Abbas and [Palestinian] Prime Minister Salam Fayyad are worthy partners who do not wish to see the conflict go further.”

Speaking of the reasons for the recent inability to restart peace talks, the president said that the two issues mainly holding up negotiations were “borders and security.”

“The borders must be set as to determine the security arrangements, and must be set soon. This kind of negotiations must take place outside the box, and away from the headlines. Through it both sides will achieve something which cannot be achieved without talks – an end to the conflict,” Peres added.

The president’s comments came after, on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that peace prospects with the Palestinians were looking poor.

“As things stand now, according to what happened over the past few days – when the Palestinians refused even to discuss Israel’s security needs with us – the signs are not particularly good,” he told his cabinet in public remarks.

Netanyahu’s remarks came after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters in Ramallah on Saturday that Israel was to blame for the failure of the recent round of talks to relaunch direct talks.

Abbas claimed that during talks mediated by Jordan in recent weeks, Israel had presented an unclear position on security matters and on the question of borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state. Palestinian sources said Israel’s border proposal would have prevented the establishment a Palestinian state.
Palestinian officials said last week an Israeli negotiator’s verbal presentation on Wednesday of ideas for borders and security arrangements of a future Palestinian state was a non-starter, envisaging a fenced-off territory of cantons that would preserve most Jewish settlements.

Netanyahu said he still hoped the Palestinians would “come to their senses and continue the talks so that we can move on to real negotiations.”

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held five rounds of exploratory talks in Jordan, part of a push by international mediators to revive negotiations suspended in 2010 in a dispute over Jewish settlement building in the occupied West Bank.

Jonathan Vows To Grow Petrol Refining Capacity

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By DANIEL IDONOR
Abuja—President Goodluck  Jonathan Thursday assured investors that his Government was willing to give licences to those interested in setting up refineries in the country, as part of the overall effort to raise the nation’s petroleum refining capacity and reduce the importation of refined products.
President Jonathan was speaking to a delegation of investors from Brazil, led by Mr. Reuben Voigt, chairman of the Voigt Group, at State House.
He said, ‘Nigeria has four refineries, but their combined capacity does not meet the country’s needs, so we are willing to approve applications for refining licences’.
The President said Nigeria is still a green area in terms of investments, and Government has opened up sectors of the economy, which were previously restricted, to private sector investment.
He directed the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to hold discussions with the Voigt Group, to explore areas of mutual cooperation. The Ministers of Housing, Trade and Investment, Power and FCT (State) also attended the discussions.
Earlier, Mr. Voigt had said they were donating 120,000 housing units to Nigeria over three years, adding that the Voigt Group was interested in investing in construction, housing, power plants , petroleum refining and oil spillage clearing.
The delegation was led to State House by Mrs. Ngozi Olajeme, of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.

Boko Haram’s Option To secede from Nigeria With The Sharia North

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Madalla

On the 11th of September 2001, Al Qaeda,  a terrorist  group of mass murderers carried out  the  bloodiest  terrorist attack to date  in human history, leaving more than  3000 dead and heaps of ash  in place of the once glistening twin towers of the world trade centre in New York. The attacks spanned the whole of America with targets that included the Pentagon and the White house. Beyond incoherent noises, Al Qaeda could not give any reason why they had to carry out such cowardly attacks on innocent people.  Then on the 25th of December 2009, Umar Farouk Abdulmuttallab, a Nigerian terrorist, tried to down a plane over American airspace Al Qaeda style which would have led to the mass murder of the 289 people on board the Northwest Airlines Flight. Unknown to many, Abdulmuttallab’s attempt  to down a plane  in the United States was the graduation of Nigerian terrorism into the deadliest and final phase of organised  acts of mass murder.

 

Kano has consequently become Nigeria’s ground zero of sorts with more than 200 people murdered in cold blood by the cowardly boko  haram group of terrorist mass murderers who have perfected the suicide bombing methods   Abdulmutallab had earlier attempted in his bid to down a plane  in the United states. Indeed between Christmas day and today, the boko haram group of cowardly savages have murdered more than 350 people in cold blood.  Like Al Qaeda,  boko haram  has only mouthed  some laughable  reasons  for their attacks. In all these attacks, there is a clear intent,  and it is to murder as many people as possible. The true reason thus for such attacks is to satisfy the  blood thirst  as dictated by  a religion which Salman Rushdie famously called the “satanic verses”.

 

 

There is a long history and (DNA) of terrorism and organized acts of mass murder in the North, beginning from the Islamic jihad centuries ago in which there were organized invasions of communities with the sole aim of forcing such communities into  the  Muslim creed  and slaughtering  those who refuse. With the arrival of the British imperialists, such organized  jihadist massacres were halted, but by 1945, with the evolving  Nigerian state it resumed again in Jos and in 1953 in Kano. This time as a means of demonstrating  their intolerance of others and of protesting against those who were fighting for independence  from Britain.  In the aftermath of the Major  Kaduna  Nzeogwu  led anti-corruption revolution in 1966, another pretext was created for the Northern leadership  to pioneer Africa’s first genocide. More than  50,000 innocent civilians including women and children were slaughtered in cold blood.

 

Of greater note is the fact that the whole northern leadership including top Northern military and police officers who were supposed to be maintaining law and order were all directly involved in the mass killing of civilians. After the interregnum of the civil war occasioned by the pogrom, Maitsasine riots continued the long tradition of mass murder. More than 10,000 people were brutally killed and countless properties looted and burnt in the mayhem. By now such acts of organized mass murder had become routine. In 2000 a new dimension was added to the routine acts of organized  mass murder when several northern states began the application of Sharia law  in violation of the constitution. Sharia riots consequently led to the deaths of more than 30,000 people. Through the decade from 2000 to 2010, barbaric acts of mass murder have been consistent. Most notable have been the unending Jos massacres that have since snowballed into a low intensity conflict,  the 2002 miss world riots, the 2006 Denmark cartoon riots,  the gruesome murder in 2007 of Ms  Oluwatoyin Oluseesan a school teacher in Gombe state by her students.

 

 

In all, it is estimated that more than 300,000 people have been brutally murdered in cold blood, another 400,000 maimed and property worth at least five billion dollars looted or destroyed in the seven decades since 1945 of organized and targeted ethnic cleansing-genocide in Northern Nigeria.There is thus a centuries long history predating Nigeria,  of acts of organized mass murder sponsored  by the Northern leadership.  It is in that light that boko haram must be seen.  It should therefore not be a surprise that Northern leaders are supporting a cold blooded terrorist group engaged in mass murder like boko haram, it is consistent with their history to organize and support such acts of targeted mass murder.  One only needs read some of the laughable arguments advanced in support of boko haram by northern leaders to understand their psychology. While some of them have tried equating  boko haram with MEND, MASSOB and OPC, some others have claimed that boko haram is fighting for justice, while the CBN governor have linked boko haram with the 13 per cent derivation. This is the extent to which they have been ridiculing themselves with silly arguments.

 

It is self evident that neither MEND, MASSOB, nor OPC bears any resemblance in the least to a group of terrorist mass murderers such as boko haram. Indeed these groups were created by successive years of injustice, marginalisation, exploitation, domination, environmental degradation and misrule under successive northern leaders.  MEND, MASSOB and OPC used civilized methods to agitate for genuine issues of injustice, environmental degradation, marginalisation amongst others. None of these groups ever attacked or massacred innocent people. Indeed MASSOB operates on a platform of non-violence.  It is thus strange that any sane person can equate groups with legitimate grievances  to  an Al Qaeda inspired group of terrorist mass murderers like boko haram.

 

Boko haram  cannot also be said to be fighting  for justice when those  who institutionalised  injustice, corruption,  marginalisation and misrule are northern leaders. The North dominated nigeria’s leadership since independence and in spite of the nations  potential ruined it with monumental corruption, mediocrity, incompetence, oppression and injustice.  If anything the South has been practically spoon feeding the ungrateful sharia north.  It beggars belief that the same people who  have  been the purveyors of injustice  and who  benefit without contributing anything  can claim to be fighting for justice. Truth is;  the northern leaders do not yet realise that they have created a Frankenstein in boko haram which is going to eventually destroy them.  Al shabbab, a similar group in Somalia has made sure that Somalia remains ungovernable for more than two decades. Like Al shabbab, boko haram is predictably going to be an oversize bone in the throat of the sharia north that eventually suffocates it.

It is a demonstration of cowardice that northern leaders have remained in the shadows secretly sponsoring a cowardly murderous group like boko haram while deceitfully claiming that boko haram is fighting for justice. When Emeka Ojukwu chose to fight for justice, he  drew a line and fought against the rest of Nigeria for almost 3 years. If  the leaders of the sharia north are not cowards,  they should come out, draw a line and fight against the rest of Nigeria for their so called injustice and let’s see if they can survive the onslaught for up to a month after which they will still be thrown out of the country.  Cowards will always be cowards and it is obvious  that northern leaders do not have the stomach to draw a line and confront the rest of the nation, so they will continue to hide and sponsor a group that is sure to be their eventual waterloo.

 

Boko haram cannot ask all southerners to leave the north and then stop short of seceding. It  doesn’t make sense beyond the fact that they  want to eat their cake and still have it by clinging onto Nigeria in order to continue to parasite on southern resources. Beggars can’t be choosers and sooner or later boko haram and the  sharia north will realise that they have pushed their luck too far this time.

 

We are in the age of self determination and Boko haram should exercise their  choice to retreat into the stone age and live in a Taliban republic  without western education.  The rest of the nation is waiting earnestly to allow them achieve their dream. It is a simple and  common sense solution  and it is that boko haram should  announce their secession  with the sharia north and go and create their own sharia nation.  They can unilaterally leave the nation or they can organize a referendum to leave, nobody will stop them. This is a simple and practical solution for boko haram and their sponsors to achieve  their own republic and introduce whatever level of sharia they want. Indeed it will be a celebration  for the rest of the nation.  Once freed from the strangulating cloak of the sharia north,  the rest of the nation will convene a sovereign  national conference and choose their own future through the democratic will of the people.

 

Expunging the sharia north that has survived practically on southern resources with their bloated states and local governments will save the rest of the nation more than 2 trillion Naira annually that was being allocated  to an arrogant and ungrateful  sharia north.  That money will return to those whose lands generate the resources,  effectively ending the parasitic  “monkey dey work baboon dey chop” system created by northern leaders .

 

Boko haram  should quit being clever by half and take the bull by the horn by announcing their secession from Nigeria.  If they are not  blood suckers and cowardly hypocrites,  let them take-up this challenge and quit the nation. Secession is the only  solution that will give them  and their  sponsors  the freedom to implement sharia 1000 per cent, so why waste time when there is an easy option of asking for secession?  Boko  haram its time to secede from Nigeria! Go boko haram and take the sharia north with you!

 

Lawrence Chinedu Nwobu

lawrencenwobu@yahoo.com

Igboville Evacuates Igbos From The North‏

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Igboville members arranged free buses to evacuate Igbos stranded in Maiduguri, Borno state. Attached images show some of the evacuees being interviewed by journalists at 9th Mile corner Enugu state.

Ecavuated Member

The initial evacuation involved two buses with about 150 Igbo men, women and children who left Maiduguri on wednesday morning and arrived the east early this morning (2/2/12).

In his goodwill message delivered through a member of Igboville, Nelo Fina, the group’s founder, Barr Emeka Maduewesi, implored the evacuees to quickly resettle in the East while the government sorts out the security situation. The Igboville evacuation anchor, Dr Chin Akano, praised the members of Igboville for living up to the group’s slogan of “Onye Aghana Nwanneya”.

Nelo Fina

He promised that many more such evacuation will be undertaken to ensure that every Igbo that is willing to leave is enabled to leave. The President of Oganiru Ndigbo Foundation, Dr Lucas Onuh, urged Ndigbo to think home in terms of investment and take measures to relocate the headquarters of Igbo owned business to the South East. He also urged governors of the south east states to assist the evacuees resettle in the South East as well as authorize public schools to automatically re-absorb returning Igbos from the North.

Dr Onuh who is a renowned architect, urged the government to crash the cost of acquisition of stalls in the East as well as build more markets to accommodate those relocating from flash points in the North. The evacuees were full of praises for Igboville and described the assistance as not only timely but excellent show of love and concern for their plight in the North.

They called on the federal government to compensate them for losses in properties and loved ones occasioned by the terrorist campaigns of Islamic terrorists masquerading as jihadist. Many of them narrated how they relocated to the bush for days until they received news of the free buses arranged by Igboville. They also spoke of continuing bombings and killings in Maiduguri and environs. One of the representatives of Igboville who met the evacuees, Alvan Chinagorom, called on politicians and well meaning Nigerians to assist in removing Igbo men and women from harms way.

He reaffirmed the group’s commitment to one Nigeria founded on equity, justice and good conscience. Mr Chinagorom reiterated that the government must do more to secure the lives and properties of Ndigbo and Nigerians in general.

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