The proposed Saturday civic reception by the Ebonyi state government for her federal government appointees have elicited mixed reactions and controversies as some of the guests have planned to shun the occasion.
Our reporter gathered that the programme which is being planned to receive the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Minister for Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu among others including the newly appointed Supreme and Appeal Courts Judges from the state has suffered setback.
According to the source who pleaded anonymity, some of the guests have signaled their unwillingness over the reception, adding that they had made it clear that they don’t want to be associated with failure and infrastructural decay in the state.
“Some of the people whom Governor Elechi and his men are planning to receive or accord special reception like SGF apart from his tight schedule had always shown disgust over the tempo and present condition of the state and at the same time would not allow themselves to be associated with the problem in the state”
“You must have also forgotten that Elechi’s role during the emergence of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as SGF is still not well known and so, it will be a payback time as some of these people have shown little or no interest to attend the occasion”
The source however noted that another area which may not allow Ebonyi state government to have a smooth and successful reception would be the non implementation of the Minimum wage by the state government.
“We cannot be receiving all of our respected and highly placed brothers and sisters in the appointment of the Federal government when our workers are suffering, no meaningful development has taken place. I believe that these men whom we hold in high esteem would not rubbish their image by associating with a government that has brought us nothing but grief” he said.
He called on SGF and all other appointees from the state to shun the proposed reception which he described as a jamboree in the state, adding that they should be more interested in charting a new course for the development of their state.
“Our people said that he whose house is on fire does not chase after rats, what Ebonyians and indeed Nigerians need from SGF and his brother appointees from the state should be how to brainstorm on the need for the development of the state and definitely not the reception which is aimed at wasting the tax payers’ money by the state government.
Entrance Road Leading To Ezeigbo's Home in Nnewi, Anambra State
The 78th birthday of the Ezeigbo Gburugburu [November 4, 2011] may have served a festive occasion for the immediate nuclei family of Ezeigbo and the entirety of Nigeria but all that glitters is not gold.
This is as information available to 247ureports.com reveals that the supposed birthday celebration at Ezeigbo’s residence hosted by Mrs Bianca Onoh-Ojukwu was not attended by Ezeigbo’s children for reasons believed to border on the misuse of their father’s name and illness for political gains. An exclusive sources close to the Ezeigbo family inform that the children of Ezeigbo remain unhappy with the continued misuse of the name of Ezeigbo by individuals who do not mean well.
Inquiry into the present condition of Ezeigbo reveals a bitter reality difficult to swallow. Bianca Ojukwu’s has renewed her secret move to remove Ezeigbo from the present medical facility to a much cheaper facility similar in kind to a nursing home.
Her previous abrupt decision to remove Ezeigbo out of The Wellington, one of the best neurological rehabilitation hospitals in the United Kingdom for stroke patients, and admit him into a cheaper alternative, Lynden Hill, a nursing home in Berkshire resulted in the near death of Ezeigbo. This was as Ezeigbo’s lung became infected and he fell to phnemonia induced coma and had to be rushed to the intensive care unit of another medical facility. And the worst was averted.
Principal sources close to the activities of the Ojukwu family revealed that Bianca and her sister Lillian Onoh, who has become increasingly involved in her younger sister’s marriage and family affairs, have once again, without consulting the family, decided that no more can be done for Ezeigbo. Apparently, the money put aside by Governor Peter Obi for Ezeigbo’s medical care in a top medical centre would be better spent on ‘other family-related things’. According to the source, these women have deemed it appropriate and fitting for Ezeigbo to be placed into another nursing home. As expected, the members of Ezeigbo’s immediate family who appear helpless in the matter are horrified by this decision.
The general feeling within the family, it is understood, is that Ezeigbo should be given the best possible treatment he can get, and that the care he needs should be provided in a hospital environment eminent in the field of neurological rehabilitation. This is also the view a third-party medical expert who was invited by senior members of the family to assess Ezeigbo.
Ezeigbo’s move to the Lynden Hill Nursing Home on the 6th of June 2011 was also a decision apparently made by Bianca and her older sister. The move resulted in the rapid deterioration of Ezeigbo’s condition and the reversal of his then improving state of health. He was subsequently rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s A & E unit on the 26th of June and then into a Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) a day later; an event which members of his family and close friends are still seething about.
His latest planned move to another nursing home, 247ureports.com understands, came as a complete surprise to family members. It has left them dismayed, especially because Bianca had recently claimed that Governor Peter Obi had assured her that he would make certain the great man, Ezeigbo, who he sees as his Godfather, is given the best treatment possible in an environment that will accord him the respect and dignity he deserves.
But there was an interesting development unfolding against the promise of Gov Peter Obi. And that is the subtle and/or secret move of Ezeigbo to another nursing home – scheduled to happen last Monday, the 31st of October; a day after Governor Peter Obi visited to the hospital. It is not clear whether the Governor of Anambra State knew about the plan to relocate Ezeigbo but it is certain that the decision to move him came after Gov Peter Obi visited the hospital facility. Nonetheless, the planned relocation was delayed following Ezeigbo’s re-infection of his respiratory system – requiring a closer supervision by his doctors.
Meanwhile Ezeigbo’s family are peeved by Bianca’s decision to leave her husband this critical time to travel to Nigeria. At a time her husband is undergoing a critical medical situation. Bianca left her husband in London to attend a prayer session in Nigeria organized by Ralph Uwazurike of MASSOB and hosted by her. “Apparently her prayers will be more effective in Nigeria than by her husband’s side. …Last year she flew to the USA just before Ezeigbo’s birthday. This year she has flown back to Nigeria from the UK, again just before her husband’s birthday which is very ironic.” – stated close source to the family.
Not minding that the birthday prayer was attended by many great people who genuinely love and respect Ezeigbo but Bianca’s motives are suspect. Impartial observers point out that hosting an event in honour of her husband as not being the priority, rather taking the ‘right’ decision about her husband’s future medical care and being by his side is the priority. Speculators charge that she is angling for political recognition – while using the occasion as just another political rally; another chance to gain relevance in Nigeria’s political arena.
It is interesting to note that the said organizer of the event, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, the leader of MASSOB, has yet to visit Ezeigbo in London or send a delegation to visit him.
Information available to 247ureports.com indicates a renewed tension in the capital city of Jos appears to have enveloped the holiday mood as the resident of city prepare for the festivities of Sallah celebration. According to information received from security operative in the North Jos environs, security has been beefed up in the capital city against what is believed to be a weekend of possible violence.
Clerics in North Jos informed 247ureports.com of the renewed tension. They indicate that the renewed tension was the result of the head of a Muslim sect, the Izala sect, by the name Ali Zengre instruction to his followers to hold their Sallah prayer at the controversial Kabong Prayer ground. The Kabong prayer ground was the site that sparked the violence during the last Sallah season – which then spread across the city.
As can be recalled, during the last Sallah holiday, Islamic youths and their cleric leaders had gone to the Kabong prayer grounds for their religious rites. At the end of the rites, some reports indicated that violence met the Islamic youths as they existed the prayer grounds while other reports indicated that the Islamic youths are fired gunshots from the prayer grounds into the crown of Christian youths outside the prayer grounds. But in all, human deaths were incurred.
With another Sallah period around the corner, the Security agents in Jos, in the attempts to avert disturbing the relative peace, beckoned on the Islamic cleric to consider holding their prayers at another more appropriate location. But Islamic clerics have refused the plea.
Rather, one of the more influential and militant Islamic leader, the head of the Izala sect, Ali Zengre presently away on pilgrimage to Mecca, instructed his followers to go to the prayer ground for the prayers – defying warnings by security task force to keep off the area – thus cause fear and panic for the residents of the immediate vicinity of the prayer ground.
Agents of the State Security Services [SSS] stationed in Jos have also become concerned. They indicate that followers of the Islamic cleric, Ali Zengre have begun arriving to Jos from various parts of the country such as Gombe. One of the sources in SSS states that “they are known to be radicals and violent. The mercenaries from Gombe are in Jos on a mission. The security agencies already know that. The problem is that they are leaving there communities and walking three kilometers into a completely Christian community for this prayer. They were offered an alternative place for the prayer and they refused”.
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi yesterday said that the present political structures of Nigeria are too cumbersome and economically wasteful to guarantee rapid development of the country.
Sanusi who spoke as the Guest Speaker on the occasion of the presentation of professor Adamu Baike’s book, “Against All Odds” at Are…wa House, Kaduna noted that the present 36 States are spending 96 percent of their revenues to pay salaries of their respective civil servants in an economy that is to develop on a long term basis, and posed a rhetorical question, “do we need 36 States, do we need the number of ministries that we have”?
He also pointed out that the Federal government is spending 70 percent of its total revenue to pay workers’ salaries as well as taking care of the overhead cost, maintaining that it has denied the growth of some vital sectors of the socio-economy of the nation, leaving only 30 percent for 150 million Nigerians.
The CBN boss whose paper presentation was entitled, “Re-Invigorating Education In Nigeria”, lamented that there are 71, 000 Nigerian students in Ghana who are paying not less than 155 billion naira as tuition annually, compared with the annual budget of 121 billion naira for the entire federal university education in Nigeria.
According to him, “ltimately we will have to be confronted with the task of taking very difficult steps in looking at the political structures that we have, do we need 36 States, do we need the number of ministries that we have, it is an economy in which States spend 96 percent of their revenues to pay their civil servants, an economy that is likely to be developed in the long term.?
“These are difficult questions that we need to ask, we have created States and local governments and ministries structures that are economically unviable, and the result is that we do not have funding for infrastructures, we do not have funding for education, we do not have funding for health.
“I don’t know how many people know that 70 percent of the total revenue of the Federal government is spent paying salaries and over head, and leaving the remaining 30 percent for 150 million Nigerians.
“For example, according to a newspaper account, and quoting the chairman, committee of governing councils of Nigerian Federal Universities: “there are 71, 000 Nigerian students in Ghana who pay not less than 155 billion naira as tuition annually, compared with the annual budget of 121 billion naira for the entire federal university education in Nigeria. Findings placed Nigeria third on the list of countries with the highest number of students studying overseas.
“The poor state of education is also manifested in dearth of functional libraries, poor state of learning infrastructure, limited access to recent advances in various spheres of knowledge, and longer time required to complete a programme. Others include modality of teaching with instructional materials and facilities, lack of space for admission and irregularity in academics calendars of tertiary institutions arising from incessant strike actions embarked upon by both academic and non-academic staff union.
“In emerging economy like Nigeria, a well designed education policy should be an integral part of its development strategy; the present economic strategy should include measure to invest in human capital that facilitates in upgrading of industries, and ginger the economy to attain utmost resources utilization.
“It is not enough to simply lament the tragedy, let alone treat it with kid gloves, we completely agree with the House of Representatives that a state of emergency should be declared in our education sector now. Further procrastination on this very matter will inflate impracticable and irreversible damage to the nation.”
I arrived PortHarcourt the Rivers State, Nigeria capital city on the 22nd October, 2011 aftera two months hiatus away on a much needed vacation to recover from theexhaustion that was a result of the break neck schedule I had to contend withduring the last April Polls in Rivers State; to be flung headlong into anequally busy schedule as a result of the three major events held in the Stateto commemorate the historical and landmark judgement by the Supreme Court ofNigeria that brought Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to power as the Governor ofthe State. The first stop was the thanksgiving service on 23rd October, wherethe Governor described the Supreme Court Judgement that brought him to power asan Act of God. The second event, a colloquium, featuring an esteemed panel oflegal luminaries in the country, washeld on 25th October, 2011 the exact date four years ago when the landmarkSupreme Court judgement, lauded as unprecedented in judicial rulings in thecountry, ruled in favour of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, endorsing him as theauthentic flag-bearer of PDP in the place of his kinsman Sir Celestine Omehia,who had with the support of party leadership in the state hijacked Amaechi’smandate and following PDP’s victory at the polls now held sway as Governor ofthe State albeit temporarily. The third event was an interactive session theGovernor held with the Rivers State Youths on 26th October, 2011.
In a soon to be released article titled‘25thOctober, 2007: Supreme Court, Obasanjo, Amaechi, Omehia and the k-leg episode –divine or devilish?’ I would be spotlighting thethanksgiving service and the colloquium on the landmark Supreme Court judgementof 25th October, 2007. However for the purpose of this discourse Iwould like to focus on the Youth Interactive Session ably anchored by anembodiment of the Youth struggle in the State and member representing the AsariToru/Degema/Akuku Toru Federal Constituency in the Federal House ofRepresentatives, Hon. Dr. Dawari George, who prior to his election into theHouse, served meritoriously as Honourable Commissioner of Energy in the State.
At the interactivesession, various suggestions on strategies to curb he malaise of unemploymentamongst youths where proffered. The Governor used the opportunity of the eventto reiterate Government’s commitment to capacity building and reassured theYouth of that their issues where at the front burner of his administration’s policies.
My interest in theevent piqued as the Governor took time to enlighten both supporters and criticsof his vision about the immediate needs and most importantly the future ofRivers State Youth. This interactive session was also unique because contraryto what Amaechi critics said when such sessions where held previously, callingit a show to canvass for votes for the election”, this event served to provethe genuine concern the Governor has for this demographic group often times thebrunt of any major lull in the economy.
In choosing tothoroughly handle the subject of unemployment at the event, the Governor whoalso serves as Chairman of the Governors Forum in the country was bringing topublic consciousness the need for immediate intervention by government and theprivate sector working together to ensure that Youth are gainfully employedespecially at a time when anti patriotic elements can prey on them to fermenttrouble in the polity. It is a known fact that the idle mind is the devil’sworkshop.
Recent studies haveshown that 90% of crimes being committed today in our nation are mastermindedby the youths, these in itself is considered a direct outcome of unemploymentamongst the youths who after several years of graduation from high institutionsstill find themselves in the job market. A publication of Punch Newspapers of28th October, 2011 titled “28 million Nigerian Youth unemployed –Minister” brings to fore the inherent danger facing the nation if efforts arenot made at Federal and State level to address this malaise. In the report, theMinister of Youths Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said that of the67million youths in the country, 28.14m (a 42 per cent ratio) where unemployedand 80 percent of this number had a maximum qualification of SSCE. He spokeduring the inauguration of the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in NigeriaCompetition for North Central Zone, in Ilorin on Thursday, where he is quotedas saying “The Federal Government alone cannot create jobs. No matter howwell-intentioned it is. There is the need for the private sector to supportgovernment in job creation and youth empowerment. If we do not find jobs forour youths, the devil will find jobs for them”.
Rt. Hon. ChibuikeRotimi Amaechi the Governor of Rivers State while interacting with the youthsacknowledged this fact of the enormous challenges in tackling youthsunemployment when he said, “youth empowerment is the most challenging and mostdifficult aspect of governance”.
THE STRATEGIES AND STEPS GOVERNOR CHIBUIKE ROTIMIAMAECHI INTENDS TO EMPLOY TO ADDRESS THE MALAISE OF UNEMPLOYMENT AMONGST THEYOUTHS IN RIVERS STATE:-
Below are some ofthe plans highlighted by Amaechi that will hopefully alleviate unemployment:
He stated that the Rivers State Government has signed a long lease contract with Siat Firm to revamp and manage the RISONPALM. According to him, when fully operational it would create about 4,000 job opportunities.
Additionally, the Rivers State Government has commenced paper work to establish and develop a N20bn Agric Scheme. According to him, “The scheme would encompass a settlement and cluster units in different areas of agriculture and is geared towards providing jobs for the teeming youths of our State”. He said the project is expected to have about 300 housing units, a processing industry and primary schools. This multi billion Naira Agricultural Scheme will be splintered into three areas of the State housing 100 families each in the 100 housing units to be constructed.
Construction is now ongoing to construct a multi-purpose Shopping Mall located at the Front gate axis of the Government House. On completion the mall will employ about 600 youths.
The state is embarking on establishing a Banana Farm at Ogoni where about 200 workers will be engaged.
The Rivers State Government has established a Fish farm at Buguma where many youths are today engaged.
He reiterated government’s commitment to revamp most of its ailing companies to create jobs for the youths based on Public/private partnership to avert the pitfalls of the old system. In this regard, both the SUPABOD and the Olympia Hotel will soon be leased out.
EDUCATION
Apart from the areasmentioned above, the Governor stated that the Rivers State Government under hiswatch apart from retraining its Teachers has employed more Teachers to teach inthe new model schools. The State he said has offered scholarships to over 2,000students in Nigerian Higher Institutions and has spent about N5bn for herstudents in foreign Intuitions. The State is building a world Class Universitywhich when completed will turn out well equipped graduates that will hold theirown in any field and compete with the best in the world. In Rivers StateUniversity of Science and Technology the Rivers State Government is building ahostel that will accommodate about 6, 000 students and accommodation for allthe Lecturers of the university. The university according to him will be fullyICT compliant. He stated plans to buy acomputer for every student in the secondary schools to ensure that the state isICT compliant. It’s important to point out here that the Rivers StateGovernment is among the few States in Nigeria that offer free education andfree health delivery to its people but stands apart as the only State offeringfree education, free sandals, free books and free uniform in Nigeria. About 200primaries schools have been set up in 200 communities, a feat that no otherstate is yet to accomplish.
HEALTH
So far, about 100medical Doctors have been employed to staff most of the Health Centres in therural areas. The Rivers State Government has currently embarked upon theexercise to eradicate malaria vectors from the State. The Health Centre at theRivers State University of Science and Technology will soon be opened to thepublic. The State was lauded last year for its daily commissioning of a healthcentre over a 60 day period in 60 communities in its 60-60-60 initiative. TheDental Hospital located in the Garrison area of Port Harcourt will soon beopened. All of these will also generate employment amongst the youths in theState.
SECURITY AND PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY
The State intends topurchase two equipped and modern Helicopters for aerial surveillance to fightcrime in the State. Considering that foreign investors can only operate in anenabling environment, the issue of tackling the state of security is of primaryimportance because it has a multiplier effect that includes employmentgeneration. The Power Sector in the State is working tirelessly to ensure anend to epileptic power supply in the State by the year 2014 this would alsoserve to boost employment in the state and will also encourage entrepreneurshipamong the Youths.
In conclusion, RtHon. Chibuike Amaechi Rivers State Speaker of the State House of Assemble from1999-2007; Chairman, conference of speakers of State Houses of Assembly inNigeria. (1999 – 2000) Governor of Rivers State (2007 – date), Chairman of theGovernors Forum in Nigeria, a humanist, radical and a pragmatist added anotherfeather to his cap that day of the interactive session by enlighteningNigerians on what good governance is all about.. Going by the look of hope onthe faces of majority of the Youths in attendance at the end of the event, ithad become glaringly obvious that he had become a symbol of sheer tenacity andresolve to succeed against all odds. It became quite clear to me that Amaechihad finally shed whatever “Toga” that had plagued him during the course of hiscampaign for second tenure, when opponents where vocal about his complicity inall that ailed Rivers State giving that he held sway as Speaker for 8 years, 3of which were during the dark days that preceded the end of Sir Peter Odili’stenure. Suffice it to say, Amaechi has proven his mettle and shown in the lastfour years that the fateful decision of 25th October 2007 is onethat people of the state who thronged out enmasse to the streets of PortHarcourt on hearing the good news four years ago will never rue.
EzeChukwuemeka Eze is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt
…Decry hunger, poverty and slow pace of development
Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital of Ebonyi state was still snoring in the slumber of slow pace of development both human and economic when the peace of the serene city was troubled by the huge crowd mainly women who trooped out from every part of the city armed with brooms.
Ordinarily many people thought that they were members of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN but on the second thought, they also realized there was no political activity in the state to call for rally in the state.
Like a wild fire, they were expanding and spreading, reaching out to all parts of the city chanting different songs both in Igbo and English asking for God’s intervention in the state and for demolition of the stronghold of the devil.
While the male were busy controlling the crowd from turning the peaceful protest to violent one, the women were busy with their brooms, sweeping front of the government house with the spiritual inward sign of sweeping away what they described as poverty and snail pace of development in the state since its creation on October 1, 1996.
These angry protesters according to our investigation turned out to be over 2000 members of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Abakaliki led by one Evangelist Ephraim Ononye.
Irked by the slow pace of development and attendant suffering of the people of the state under the administration of Chief Martin Elechi, the Christian faithful led by Evangelist Ononye said they decided to stage the peaceful protest to call for a change in the state.
According to him, “Ebonyi is backward, among other states in the eastern region. Ebonyi State is the most backward state. In this state nothing is moving and people are complaining, people are crying, people are suffering; there is darkness in this state and we need light to shine.
“I demand that the government and the governed should embrace change. We want change that’s why we are going round this roundabout and I know that there is power in what we are doing; let the government govern the people with its heart”. He said.
Evangelist Ononye however decried what he called high level occultism in the state, adding that as a result of occultic manipulations in the state, the entire state had remained in darkness especially during the present administration.
As they marched through strategic locations in Abakaliki metropolis, traffic was obstructed as vehicles were seen driving slowly to allow the protesters the liberty of exercising their fundamental human rights. They also chanted choruses and brandished their brooms which they said symbolized spiritual cleansing of the state. The leader also stated that the church decided to stage a peaceful protest so as to let the government know that it was no longer happy with the condition of the citizens of the state who are suffering under excruciating pains of poverty. The Evangelist stated that the clergies in the state had commenced prayers for the liberation of the state from what he described as the forces of darkness and expressed hope that the exercise would produce positive results.
However, the protest took a dangerous dimension when the National President of Ebonyi Youth Assembly, Comrade Chinedu Ogar tried to stop the protesters from marching along the major roads in the state capital when he was resisted by the angry mob.
Daily Sun gathered that when the man arrived the scene of the protest and tried to disperse the over 2,000 protesters, they resisted it even as they were raining ‘Holy Ghost fire on him”
Probably over powered by the numeric power of the protesters and their prayers, Comrade Ogar quietly left the scene and ran for his dear life to avoid being lynched by the angry protesters.
He had earlier accused the people of obstructing the free flow of traffic in the state capital but was asked whether he had turned to a traffic warden which left him with no other option than to escape from the scene.
Comrade Ogar said “blocking the road is against the regulation… no, no, no that is not the way,” the politician contended but no one listened to him.
Daily Sun reported that in a swift reaction, the Ebonyi state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Chike Onwe said the state government had been doing its best to ameliorate the sufferings of the people of the state.
Mr. Onwe explained that the task of taking the state to its desired destination was the collective responsibility and called on the Church and other organizations as well as wealthy individuals to complement government efforts.
“The “Giant of West Africa” has much of which to be proud. But the time has now come for Nigeria to take the next step to achieve its potential by embracing democracy fully and cementing in place the institutions, practices, and values of democratic governance. Free, fair, and credible elections are an important part of that process.” – stated the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence P. McCulley on April 7, 2011 in Abuja during the Nigerian general elections.
This is as 247ureports.com has gathered information through an exclusive and highly credible source from New York indicating the attention of the US Ambassador has been drawn to the internal wranglings within the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in Bayelsa State, the home state of the President of the federation, over the upcoming electoral exercise [gubernatorial elections] in 2012. The source indicates the Ambassador, in a private phone call to the President raised a concern over the internal wrangling in the State while highlighting the sensitivity/volatility of the area, as per the stability of the business interests of the United States in the Bayelsa environs.
Information available to 247ureports.com indicates the US Ambassador impressed on President Jonathan on the need to sustain the relative stability in the area, and on the need to allow the democratic development to continue its growth undetard. A source within the US Ambassy in Abuja in confirming the information further reveals that the office has followed the development in the tussle for the PDP gubernatorial ticket with keen interest, and has come to suspect that the interference in the democratic process may ignite new instability in the area.
Our source maintained that the United States of America [USA] had welcomed the Presidency of Goodluck Jonathan largely owing to his roots in the violence prone Niger Delta area, and the likelihood of the Niger Delta militants/freedom fighters embracing his presidency – and laying down their arms. The source continues that Nigeria still has work to do to achieve true democracy. In her words, “unfortunately for Nigeria, the government has a tight control on the eletoral apparatus and as long as Timipre Sylva is in PDP and he wants to continue, so to speak, he has to cotton up to the powers that be, simple“.
Interestingly, the setiments shared by the source echoes recent statement credited to the leadership of the PDP stating that “what we are trying to do is to instil discipline in the party, so that you will not think that just because you are a governor, you will automatically get the ticket to re-contest and then do whatever you like”.
Impartial observers knowledgeable of the happenings in the Bayelsa gubernatorial politics discounts the statement of the PDP as veiled truth, pointing to the historic tension between the Governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva and the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan as responsible for the drawn-out screening process.
Governor Timipre Sylva, during the period when the Late Yar’Adua was ill threw his weight of support to the family of the Late President, and may have rebuffed the then Vice President’s attempt at conscripting his ‘clandenstine’ support for the push to be named the substansive president, while Yar’Adua was hospitalized. Goodluck Jonathan is said to have not forgiven him – eventhough Gov Sylva later supported Jonathan’s presidential bid during the primaries and general elections – following threats by the presidency of raining EFCC agents at the government house in Bayelsa.
Interestingly, a former aide to the President caught in a loose guarded chat with an associate served a stunting revelation. The aide was overheard saying that “Jonathan will use the formula used on Alamco [Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha] to rubbish Timi [Gov Timipre Sylva] and jail him”. This, the aide stated while explaining that the President had already set a trap for the Bayelsa State Governor at the other end of the aisle should he decamp to another party [likely the Action Congress of Nigeria] to contest the elections.
The governor of Bayelsa, on his part, has reportedly been seeking the face of the President. And as gathered, the President has repeatedly given him assurances that he is not and will not interfer with the PDP clearing process.
Perhaps as the threat of instability percolates towards the eve of what may result a volatile election, the concerns raised by the US Embassador to President will find a natural solution.
[Terence P. McCulley had served in – Mali, Chad, Niger, South Africa, and Central Africa. He played a prominent role in the re-construction of Iraq.]
The savage treatment of Col. Gahafi while injured but alive and the cannibalistic treatment of his lifeless body do not allow for easy closure of Gadhafi’s death in the hands NATO and its Rebel allies.
It is reported that his “mutilated body was laid out in a commercial freezer as a trophy for public view flanked by his slain son Mautossim and former defense chief Abu Bakr Younis.
One Rebel fighter is seen pulling his hair and others beating his limp body. Some struck his head with a gun butt. There is gun shot wound to his forehead and abdomen. The body looked like half naked. Excited Rebel fighters hovered around his lifeless body like maggots toying with his body and yanking his head up and down as they flashed the victory sign.” “Gadhafi who is alleged to have been dragged out of a drainage ditch alive was executed according to forensic pathologist.” The Rebel behaviors were gory, gruesome, despicable and brutal by any civilized standards.
The Western powers’ whose daily air strikes -26, 000 sorties including 9, 600 strike on 5, 900 military targets assisted by rag tag Rebel forces cut down Qaddafi, were equally jubilant. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hoped that “Gadhafi is captured or killed so that the Libyans will have their freedom.” Precedent Obama said “we can definitely say that the Gadhafi ‘s regime has come to an end.” Nothing was said about the gruesome images which in no way reflect the culture, practices and values we in this country share.
Sirte, Qaddafi’s birth place is reported “to be a ghost town. There is hardly a building without a bullet hole. The stench of putrefying bodies waft through the air combined with fetid smell from standing water in the main streets. There is no place for Siterans to lay their heads, cook or eat.” I thought the no fly zone and the NATO military intervention were intended to protect the civilian population? What happened?
GADHAFI THE MAN:
As human, our work is not measured by taking the sum of our good deeds and the sum of our bad deeds and averaging them out. The measure is our heart and for this, Gadhafi stands tall in the world stage.
When Col. Qaddafi came to power 42 years ago, Libya under Idris monarchy was divided among three loosely confederate provinces and dozens of insular tribes. He forged Libya into a single nation and unified the people under a democratic principle –people’s democracy where every one is a ruler.
Qaddafi had wide support from his people. He loved them and they in turn loved him. “Life under Qaddafi was good says Zidane standing on the roof top. Now he is dead. God give him mercy.”
Libya is clearly an African country. But under Idris the late Monarch, it was identified as one of Arab States. It was Qaddafi that returned Libya to where it belongs-Africa.
In Africa, Gadhafi unquestionable has a place in history of the Continent’s long struggle against colonialism and the exploitation by western powers. If Qaddafi is missed and mourned any where beside Libya, it will be in Africa.
Across Africa, the King of Kings is widely admired. His tone is fighting but he symbolizes civil and religious liberty and a caring heart. He had a wide range of friends. In Bamako, the Capital of Mali, Gadhafi stands tall larger than life. A new campus building bears Gadhafi’s name.
Gadhafi had a deep pride in Pan Africanism. He was the driving force -the pillar of an emerging United States of Africa. Across African continent, his murder has brought home a growing awareness of the rebirth of NATO colonialism with oil as a predominant factor.
Gadhafi supported several African liberation movements. He offered substantial financial support to Black South Africans in their years of struggle against white South African Apathy regime. He generously contributed for the liberation struggles around the globe.
Gadhafi offered Louis Farakan millions of dollars to assist African Americans in their struggles against poverty. The offer was allegedly blocked by the Bush’s Administration.
His faith is deeply rooted in our founding principles- the sacred right of the people to govern themselves and hated colonial exploitation of third world nations by the West with a passion. He promoted the cause of the Palestinian people and empathized with their plight.
Libya
a small North African country was held as a republic of the masses, intellectual and commercial hub and extremely rich in oil. Libya under Gadhafi got back its dignity in the community of Nations except the West and some Arab States.
GADHAFFI’S THAWS WITH SOME ARAB STATES:
Gadhafi hated some Middle Eastern leaders with a passion. He saw them as puppets of the West and traitors. Some Arab leaders also hated Gadhafi. The late Egyptian President Sadat thought “he was a mad man.”
LIBYAN’S REBELLIOUS PATH:
Benghazi gave birth to the internal armed insurrection whose sole purpose appears to have been to topple Gadhafi’s regime. Gadhafi like any government tried to put down the insurrection by force after the rebel forces refused to disarm. Qatar, Arab Emirates, Jordan and Sweden joined NATO war efforts against Gadhafi.
It is important to note that United Nations Security Council authorized the no fly zone and military action if necessary to protect civilian population in response to an Arab League’s request to try to halt Gadhafi’s military advancement against the Rebels and their civilian supporters. The question is, why did Arab League request protection of Rebels that rose against a sovereign state? This raises a case of Arab states’ complicity in the Rebel uprising in Libya and as co-conspirators with NATO to topple Gahafi’s regime and kill him.
Compare:
SAUDI ARABIA:
Arab League did not seek United Nations Security Council resolution to protect civilian population when Saudi Arabia mounted a pre-meditated military assault on rebels in the Kingdom years ago. The Kingdom is still ruled by autocratic and despotic leadership and we are right in the middle of it and are doing nothing about it, why?
JORDAN UNDER KING HUSSIEN:
Arab league did not seek military intervention when Jordanian Palestinians protested against inhumane treatment by the late king Hussien of Jordan. Several Palestinians were killed in that uprising by Jordanian troops. NATO did not intervene, why?
BAHRAIN:
King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of Bahrain mowed down protesters against his regime in March 2011. The Saudi sent in troops and fighter jets to quell the insurrection. Why did NATO not intervene to save civilian lives and property?
SYRIA:
How about Syria where the crack down on protest has allegedly “led to the death of 3000 people and scores injured” Why is the Arab League not seeking military intervention to save civilian lives? Sheik Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jabr Al THani is heading a committee of Arab States to find a peaceful solution to Syrian conflict. “What is important to us” he says, “is that there are no victims from any side in Syria” The fighting should stop and the dialogue should begin between Syrian brothers. …”
ISREALI –PALESTINIAN CONFLICT:
Sharon was a brutal dictator and killed so many Palestinians in their protest against Israeli occupation of West Bank and Gaza. Why did NATO not sent in troops to defend the Palestinians?
YEMEN:
Is an example of government gone awry, the country’s brutal crack down of the uprising has killed thousands of citizens and yet neither Arab League nor NATO has sought military intervention, why?
The entire Arab world is ruled by autocratic or despotic leaders whose bizarre and eccentric behaviors over decades define the woes and plights of their people. Why is there no military intervention by NATO?
NIGERIA:
Nigeria, a country whose wealth is being squandered by various military dictatorships determined to snuff off any opposition despite costs in social and sectarian tension. Several freedom fighters and Delta people were killed during Abacha and Obasanjo’s administration projecting the distance between power and the powerless. Where was NATO if I may ask? The shoot on site order of Jonathan Good luck against Akwa Ibom State people did not draw even warning from NATO, why? GADHAFI’S THAW WITH THE WEST:
Gadhafi undoubtedly posed a formidable challenge to the West. He saw the West as exploiters and their brand of democracy as a disguised form of colonialism. He blamed the West for Arab woes mostly ruled by autocratic or despotic leaderships sustained by Western power. He was accused of sponsoring attacks against Western Nations such as the bombing of Berlin Night Club in 1986 and the downing of Pan Am airline over Lockerbie Scotland in 1988. The Regan administration retaliated after the Berlin bombing by U.S. air strike on his residence. His family members were killed in the attack.
CLOSING THE CHAPTER OF A PAINFUL EPISODE:
But over the years, everything had changed. The countries sense of hatred for Gadhafi had been replaced with forgiveness we thought. Mistrust had been replaced with trust and Gadhafi had reinvented himself. Children who lost their parents in Panam bombing had grown into young adults. Gadhafi “had paid millions of dollars of monetary compensation to victims of Panam bombing.”
The republican leadership had sent Condoleezza Rice, Bush’s Secretary of State to Libya. She so impressed Gadhafi he had an odd fixation on her, created a photo album of her and commissioned a song titled “Black Power in the White House” when she visited Libya in 2008. His government became an ally of George Bush in his fight against terrorism. He surrendered Libya’s weapons of mass destruction in 2003. The odd couples were now back together. So what went wrong again under Obama administration to warrant NATO proxy war against Libya? What caused the political fall out.
“The Arab Spring they call it.” But you all know what is going on in the Arab world. But let’s call it “Arab Spring.”
However, the suggestion that “Gadhafi loyalist were either going or were going to go from house to house to kill civilians and rebel supporters” seems a pile of rubbish – a pretext to go to war against Libya and take out Gadhafi.
Recall that eight years ago we attacked Sadam Hussein’s government. The stated causes of the attack was the need to secure Hussein’s stock piles of weapons of mass destruction and to retaliate for his part in the September 11, terrorist attack against United States. We all now know how that turned out. There was no weapon of mass destruction. Sadam Hussein had no connection to the September 11, attack. And Iraqis did not strew roses in the path of American Soldiers as Vice President Dick Cheney represented to the American people. All turned out to be false.
There are thousand fold cases involving citizens all over the globe under repressive governments but NATO does not worry over them. I cannot but ask myself why there is so much disdain for Gadhafi by the West and greater interests in taking down Qaddafi. The answer is simply oil war and colonialism.
Was the United Nations resolution authorizing NATO bombing to protect civilians, a pretext for regime change? The answer is categorical yes.
The deception practiced by NATO to get into Libya to take out Gahafi demeans us and shows that we do not play by the rules. More importantly, that NATO cannot be trusted.
Mapp v. Ohio, teaches us that nothing can destroy a government more quickly than its failure to observe its own laws or worse, its disregard for the charter of its own existence. We cannot continue to operate as if we are a lawless nation or as if we are policemen of the world.
Also, the summary execution of Gadhafi after he was caught alive by Rebels and NATO offend laws of nations, Geneva Convention, justice and reason.
I find it highly unlikely that the field commanders were not instructed
what to do if Gahafi was caught alive. Therefore, I am persuaded to believe that Gadhafi was intentionally executed in violation of the rules of war by NATO and its rebel allies and should be called to account.
Chambers v. Baltimore, instructs that the right to use and defend in court is an alternative of force. In an organized society, it is a right conservative of all rights and lies at the foundation of orderly governments. “All criminals are entitled to their days in court.”
Moreover, the deception practiced on the world body defeats Obama administration’s notion of collectivism. Consent of the world body obtained by fraud is not a valid consent.
Also, the summary execution of Mommar Gadhafi by NATO proxy warriors, and the savage and brutal attack on the lifeless body of Mommar Gadhafi soils NATO and United States image around the globe.
Russia, China and all African Governments that voted to authorize the use of force to protect civilians and the no fly zone have been made to look like idiots by the WEST.
NATO and United State’s role in the world is now going to be viewed with more suspicion -a new form of military adventurism -to topple sovereign governments by fighting proxy wars? The credibility of United States and NATO is now questioned around the globe.
There is no greater injustice done to Qaddafi’s memories than for African Heads of Sates to remain muted over Qaddafi’s gritty end.
Mohammed el Kheshen- a professor of law at Cairo University has argued that “Gadhafi’s history is so dark that it is very difficult to give him any honorable connotation because of his death.” The argument is unpersuasive. He was a true Moslem and not a sellout like most other Arab leaders and died defending the faith and Libyan sovereignty. For that he stands alone and died a martyr.
True Kings do not die. We beseech the good Lord to bless his soul as he enters the sleep from which there is no waking, wearing what he loved most -Africa and pouring his heart to the people he loved so much as his own children “my son don’t kill me” to his eternal rest. Oduok is an Eket son based in Atlanta, Georgia.
The actions of the Governor of Imo State,Owelle Rochas Okorocha have attracted so much criticism from members of the press. Thisday Newspaper editorial once mentioned that the Governor’s most notable achievement to date has been to make headline news for all sorts of gaffes. The paper went ahead to say that the Governor is giving Nigerians something to really laugh about. It is obvious that Okorocha is making mockery of himself but the sad thing is that he does not seem to care what people think or say.
At a Stakeholders forum in Owerri recently, Owelle was asked about the issue of the sale of the State owned Adapalm Plc. After laughing and making reference to “certain” press boys (he did not mention them by names) this is what Okorocha said :“I detest the press boys. I don’t want them to come around me. They go out of their way against even their professional ethics and tell lies about me and my administration. They allow themselves to be influenced by politicians to spread falsehood against me. Because of this I do not want to have anything to do with the press boys.”
He said he picks up a Nigerian Newspaper only when he wants to look for something to laugh about. What Okorocha said about his hatred of the press isn’t new. But it’s new and interesting that he said it in public.We all know that Journalists are the whipping boys of the Governor. He has advised his Aides and Cabinet to ignore all that are appearing in the press about his activities. To him, members of the press are persona non grata.
Governor Okorocha is behaving like the traditional’ Eze onye agwalam’. Eze onye agwalam is a Village Chief that shuns advice. He should blacklist the press at his own peril. This is democracy. He should amend his ways .The bible in Romans 6 v 1 said ‘What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!’I believe it will not be in the best interest of the Governor for the press to hide the truth from him. The press is there to watch the excesses of any government anywhere in the world. The press is the guardian of the people as the fourth estate of the realm.
Governor Okorocha was advised by well-meaning Imolites not to sale Adapalm Plc but he did not listen. Today the media is filled with the news that Imo State government has sold the multi-million naira Adapalm PLC to Roche Group, an Irish Company .Some say Adapalm is sold for 20 years. Whether for 20years or less, a sale is a sale. Adapalm plantation is located in Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A of Imo State.Introducing the new owners to the people of Ohaji/Egbema LGA,Owelle Rochas Okorocha declared that the new owners have the full rights to hire and fire staff.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the sale of Adapalm under the administration of Owelle Rochas is fraught with all kinds of sharp practices, shady deals and under-the-table-practices. The sale of Adapalm is criminal to say the least. I see this as an act of insensitivity by the Governor to the interests of the poor masses. The sale of Adapalm , especially at a time when thousands of Imo people are needlessly poor and in need of gainful employment, is nothing but an anti-poor, pro-rich policy. Tragically this policy is taking place at a time when statistics released by the Federal Ministry of Finance recently rated Imo State financially strong. Imo State has constantly received jumbo allocations since Governor Okorocha came in. He is yet to show us what he has used the allocation money on, as we have not witnessed any genuine project instituted by his administration.
Okorocha behaves like a maximum ruler who will be in power forever, but he has forgotten that, whatever has a beginning will surely come to an end one day.Political office is for a while, power is ephemeral. His rescue mission has now become the reckless sale of the collective patrimony of Imo people, to his businessmen partners. The due process, rule of law and collective interests of Imo State was not taken into consideration. This Roche Group has taken over all major construction projects in Imo.
At a time when the available institutions of higher learning in Imo turn out thousands of graduates on a yearly basis, most of whom remain perpetually unemployed and only ceaselessly roaming the streets in search of unavailable jobs, Okorocha is preoccupied with the business of selling of publicly owned properties which were built over the years with our collectively owned wealth – a venture which in all aspect is perpetually anti-people. The sale of Adapalm is a pro-rich policy because it puts public wealth into private hands and further increases poverty because it puts more people out of employment as the new management is out to make profit at the expense of human life. According to sources, an estimated 2,000 Adapalm workers are to be sacked.Okorocha is about to make so many people of Ohaji/Egbema the host community to Adapalm jobless.
The sale of Adapalm should be totally condemned by Imolites as it does the toiling masses no good. But will Eze onye agwalam(Okorocha)ever listen to the voice of reason? The truth of the matter today is that the people’s patience are snapping and very fast too despite Okorocha’s threat of dealing with unfriendly Journalists. We worry about how Okorocha is converting Imo State and its funds into a family enterprise while governing the State with impunity and military fiat not minding or giving a hoot how the people felt. Save us o’ God.
DAVID E. GREGORY, age 57, of 7946 South Normal in Chicago, was arrested on Friday, October 28, 2011, without incident, by members of the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF), after being charged with the September 30 robbery of the Chicago Community Bank, located at 52 East Lake Street in Chicago.
According to the complaint, a robber, subsequently identified as GREGORY, entered the bank around 9:30 a.m., handed the teller a note stating he had a gun and a bomb, and demanded money from the teller drawer. After receiving approximately $631.00 in cash, GREGORY left the bank, fleeing the area on foot.
Recovered at the scene was a demand note left behind by the robber. Subsequent investigation by the VCTF, including a forensic examination of the note by the FBI Laboratory, determined that a latent fingerprint on the note belonged to GREGORY.
Though not charged, GREGORY is also a suspect in the robbery of the same bank on three prior occasions, August 12, September 16 and October 12.
GREGORY appeared in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Friday, October 28, 2011, at which time he was formally charged. GREGORY is being held without bond pending his next court appearance which is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, November 4, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.
The FBI VCTF is comprised of FBI special agents, detectives from the Chicago Police Department, and investigators from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.
If convicted, GREGORY faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration.
