Nasarawa CPC chairman threatens court action against Gov. Al-Makura over state funds

Published: October 30,2013

El-Yakub regrets supporting Al-Makura in 2011

The pioneer chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in Nasarawa state, Mohammed El-Yakub, has threatened legal action against the state Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, over the alleged embezzlement of the state’s internally generated revenue, IGR.

Mr. El-Yakub spoke on Sunday at his country home in Eggon Local Government Area.

He challenged Mr. Al-Makura to make public the amount realised as internally generated revenue in the last two years of his administration or be dragged before a court.

He called on the state government to publish the IGR and the projects it was spent on. He also alleged a violation of due process in the award of contracts as the contracts were often not advertised for bidding.

Mr.El-Yakub also regretted supporting Mr. Al-Makura during the 2011 general elections. He said he and others who voted for the Governor were blinded by their quest for change hence the reason Mr. Al-Makura won their hearts.

“It is regrettable that our quest for change became a bad alternative,” he said.

According to him, the current administration appeared to be worse than the preceding PDP one.

He advised Mr. Al-Makura to forget about contesting in 2015 and revealed that he was mobilising two thousand youths from each of the local government areas, and some notable politicians, to join the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM,

“I advise Al-Makura not to waste his time to re-contest but to begin to pack his belongings from the government house because, certainly, we will defeat him in 2015.”

Investigation reveals Enugu pro-Oduah protesters got N4,000 each

Three days after some youths staged protest at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu in solidarity with the embattled minister of aviation, Stella Oduah, fresh indications have emerged that the protest was allegedly sponsored by the ministry.

Contrary to the claims that the protesters were Igbo Youths, a source told DailyPost that they were students of the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu.

According to the source, trouble started when the organizers refused to pay the students the agreed amount.

One of the protesters who spoke under anonymity told our correspondent that they were initially promised N10, 000 each, adding that “after the protest, they took us to the Enugu Press Centre, where we were given only N4,000.

“This was quite against the earlier agreement we reached. They shortchanged us so much and we are not happy about that”.

Further investigations by DailyPost showed that a particular non-governmental organization based in Enugu was earlier allegedly approached by one of the minister’s aide to organize the protest with the sum of N1.5 million but the director declined.

It was gathered that a prominent media worker based in the South-East later accepted to organize the “fake protest.

“He went to the IMT, got some students and had a deal with them. The students didn’t even know why they were at the airport, neither could their supposed leader say the platform under which they were protesting.

“Somebody had to whisper Igbo Youths from behind”, the source added

DJ apprehended with 52 wraps of cocaine

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

Iwunze Magnus

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, have apprehended a 36-year-old Disc Jockey with powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine weighing 855 grammes.

In a statement on Tuesday by the NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the suspect, Iwunze Magnus, with a South African passport number 460709224, was said to have boarded an Iberia flight from Costa Rica enroute Madrid.

He was found to have ingested 52 wraps of cocaine at the arrival hall of the airport, three of which he had excreted on the plane during the flight.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar confirmed the arrest.

He said, “Three wraps of substances weighing 190 grammes that tested positive for cocaine, were, during a routine search, found in Magnus’s pockets. He had excreted them during the flight from Costa Rica.

“He also tested positive for drug ingestion and while under observation, Magnus excreted 49 wraps that also tested positive for cocaine. In all, he had 52 wraps weighing 855 grammes of cocaine.”

Magnus said, “I am a disc jockey and I have my music studio in Johannesburg, where I have lived with my wife and kid since 1997.

“I had wanted to settle the debts I incurred during the burial of my late brother. In an attempt to pay the balance of N300,000, I fell into the hands of drug traffickers who lured me into the trade. They were to pay me $2,500, if I had succeeded.” Magnus is a native of Ibitolu in Imo State.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade,  said, “I understand the suspect had a South African passport. I have ordered a thorough investigation into the case. I also wish to appeal to members of the public to resist any attempt to smuggle and abuse drugs. Magnus will be charged to court at the conclusion of our investigation.”

Ronaldo accuses Blatter of Messi bias

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Sepp Blatter of institutional favouritism after the FIFA President revealed he preferred Lionel Messi over the Portuguese, Goal reports.

In a debate at the Oxford Union, the 77-year-old claimed “one spends more time at the hairdressers than the other” in reference to Ronaldo, before saying he preferred Messi, as well as describing him as a “kind man and a good boy”.

The comments have resulted in Real Madrid writing to FIFA  to call for Blatter to apologise over the remarks.  Ronaldo giving his own personal reaction via his personal Twitter account, alongside a video of the Swiss making fun of him.

The 28-year-old tweeted, “This video shows the respect and consideration that Fifa has for me, my club and my country. Much is explained now.

“I wish Mr.Blatter health and a long life, with the certainty that he’ll continue to witness the successes of his favourite teams and players.”

Ronaldo and Messi were both named on a 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or on Tuesday.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti  described  Blatter’s comments  about Ronaldo as showing a “lack of respect”.

Ancelotti was asked about Blatter’s comments at his press conference ahead of Wednesday’s match with Sevilla, and was quoted as having said on Madrid’s official website, “I’m aware our president (Florentino Perez) has sent a letter to FIFA asking to retract what I consider to be a lack of respect to a very serious, very professional player.

“I’m completely in agreement with our president. I haven’t spoken with Cristiano about this. He’s trained very well today, as always. He’s shown every day that he’s a great player, serious and professional, respectful to everyone and he has to continue like that.”

Etim predicts tough Uruguay clash for Nigeria

OCTOBER 30, 2013

Golden Eaglets captain, Chidera Eze

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Etim Esin, says Uruguay pose the first real threat to the Golden Eaglets’ bid to win  the FIFA U-17 World Cup for a record fourth time in the United Arab Emirates.

The Eaglets defeated Iran 4-1 in Al Ain City  on Tuesday to book a Saturday quarterfinal date with the South Americans, who defeated Slovakia 4-2 to qualify.

The match promises to be explosive with both sides flaunting same statistics at the tournament: three wins and a draw.

 “For me, this is the first test for the Eaglets in the competition. The team has been playing the likes of Iraq, Iran and Sweden and they have scored 18 goals, conceding just five,” the former Flash Flamingoes player told our correspondent on the telephone after the game.

“But we will be able to assess their chances of winning the competition with the Uruguayan game. We’ve never had it easy playing against South American teams, so let’s see how it goes. And I think the match will bring the best out of the boys.

“South America always present highly technical teams, who are very difficult to beat. Let us not forget that Uruguay like the Eaglets, have not lost a game so far. The Eaglets shouldn’t allow their success go to  their heads.

“I am proud of our boys; they have shown the zeal to succeed. They’ve been winning, and winning brings confidence. It will help them on Saturday.”

 The Chile ’87 U-20 World Cup Flying Eagles star said he was impressed with the individual  players in the UAE 2013 squad, saying they had a future.

He described the use of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a blessing for Nigeria, saying it helped  coach Manu Garba  in picking players with the right age for the team.

He said, “Before, we used to have players, who retired after playing the U-17 World Cup. But I think we have a relatively young squad now and it is evident; the boys are doing very well. My priority is not about winning the cup but about the way the boys are playing.

“From what I see of this team, they can grow gradually to become future Super Eagles players and world stars. But monitoring these players is another area we should look at, if we hope to build stars for the future.

Kidnap kingpin, Kelvin, trained over 300 abductors – Suspect

OCTOBER 30, 2013

Richard (left) and other suspects. Inset: The arms and ammunition

Akpevwe Richard (a.k.a 2 Mark), a self-confessed member of the gang of the kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Onyiara, on Tuesday said Onyiara had over 300 trained abductors spread across several cells in the country.

Onyiara, who was arrested by security forces last month, is said to be responsible for the abduction of human rights lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, (SAN).

Richard, 22, was paraded alongside other suspected criminals by men of the 4 Brigade/Sector 1 Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in Benin, Edo State.

Also a native of Kokori, in Delta State, where Onyiara hails from and from where he operated freely until his arrest, Richard told PUNCH Metro that the group’s “operations” had not stopped since Kelvin’s arrest.

He confessed  to the abduction of a prominent security expert, Ona Ekhomu, and his wife, Victoria, and to being part of a cell that abducted Edo State High Court Judge, Daniel Okungbowa. Richard also said he was recruited into the gang by one Rufus.

At the time of his arrest, the suspect was said to be in possession of a cache of arms, ammunition, a Prado Sports Utility Vehicle, which was allegedly identified by Okungbowa as his, a BMW car, marked Lagos GC 484 EKY, charms and other items.

The 4 Brigade Public Relations Officer, Capt Roselyn Managbe, said, “As part of our efforts to combat crime, 19 Battalion troops deployed in Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, on October 18, 2013, following a tip-off on the kidnap of Ekhomu and his wife, on the Benin-Auchi road, arrested Richard after a gun duel.

“During the course of investigation, the suspect, who is from Okweiraka Village, Kokori, Delta State, confessed to the abduction of Ekhomu and his wife, who were rescued unhurt by the JTF.

“Richard said he was an Okada rider before going into illegal bunkering. He eventually, graduated as a kidnapper under the tutelage of Onyiara, who was arrested sometime in September 2013 by the Joint Army and Directorate of Security Service in Port-Harcourt.”

Also paraded were three suspected arms dealers, Ernest Egbenayaloben, Osagie Igiemwin and Mathew Iyekepelor, for alleged gun-running and one Kefas Warili, for parading himself as a military personnel.

Others arrested by the troops included suspected illegal bunkerers, who were allegedly intercepted with a tanker loaded with 15,000 litres of substance suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gasoline Oil.

Managbe said the alleged oil bunkerers, Barry Adiotonme and Saturday Ukpebor, were apprehended while trying to bribe troops with N200, 000 to secure the release of the tanker.

She also said the suspected arms dealers had been operating under the cover of dealing in building materials from their stores in Benin City.

Managbe said, “On October 18, 2013, a patrol team of Operation Thunder Storm, acting on a tip-off, arrested Egbenayaloben (a.k.a Ebo), Igiemwin and Iyekepelor. These men had earlier escaped arrest on April 9, 2013, when troops of Operation Thunder Storm raided stores at No. 4, Jegede Lane, off Lagos Street, Benin City, Edo State.

“It was established that the suspects used the sales of building materials as cover to perpetrate their illicit business of arms selling. They have confessed to the crime.”

Egbenayaloben told PUNCH Metro that he sold weapons and cartridges to people in Benin City, adding that he normally got his supplies from one Abiola, at Onitsha market, in Anambra State.

Igiemwin, in his confessional statement, also admitted to being in the business of arms dealing for years. He also said he was being supplied by one Eugene, at Onitsha Market.  Also known as External Oga Na Master, Iyekepelor is said to be the alleged kingpin of arms and ammunition dealers in Benin City.

Other items recovered from the suspected criminals included one AK 47 riffle, three AK 47 magazines, one long barrel gun, one pistol, 6, 965 live cartridges, 266 rounds of 5.65mm ammunition, 14 empty cases of 7.62mm (special), nine FN magazines, one police fragmented jacket, 16 GSM phones, five extra GSM phone batteries/one GLO SIM card and two handbags.

APC demands expulsion of Tony Nyiam from confab committee over altercation with Oshiomhole

Published: October 30,2013

Demands apology from Presidential Advisory Committee on Dialogue.  

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned the disruption of the South-South zonal public sitting of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue in Benin during the presentation of the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
Th party said that the incident vindicated its refusal to be part of the proposed conference.

Describing the incident as despicable, the opposition party said it was sponsored by some persons, but failed to name the persons.

A member of the committee, Tony Nyiam, had shouted down Mr. Oshiomhole while the governor was making his presentation at the sitting.

Some thugs at the venue then took advantage of the altercation to cause chaos, forcing attendees to scamper for safety.

In a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday, APC said the committee should be thoroughly ashamed of itself as one of its members led the show of shame that was put up in Benin.

The party demanded an unreserved apology from the committee to Mr. Oshiomhole, and a public caution or outright ejection of the member who acted so unruly and irresponsibly.

”The truth is that in proposing the conference, the government has no sincerity of purpose, does not believe in engaging in any dialogue with anyone but itself, and has only used it to distract the attention of Nigerians from the total absence of governance and sense of direction by the Jonathan Administration.

”This is why we refused to participate in what is nothing but a sheer deceit. We have already been vindicated even before the start of the conference,” the party said.

APC pointed out that since the essence of democratic discourse was for all sides to be allowed to have their say, it was wrong for anyone to be shouted down because their stand did not tally with that of the committee or the organisers of the meeting.

“What a contradiction that a member of a panel set up to help forge national discourse does not even believe in the plurality of opinions. Does anyone need any further evidence that the committee has already made up its mind on the direction their so-called assignment will take?

“How can you sincerely hope to midwife a dialogue with Nigerians when you cannot even oversee a dialogue in a town hall meeting?” it asked.

The opposition party expressed total shock and disgust that the Governor of the state that was hosting the advisory committee was treated so primitively by hired thugs.

”Even if they have no respect for the person of Governor Oshiomhole, couldn’t they have at least shown respect for the office he is occupying? If a person in the calibre of the Governor, with his antecedents and prominent role in the national political discourse, cannot be allowed to air his opinion on any issue, what then will happen to ordinary citizens?” the party asked.

It commended Mr. Oshiomhole for his maturity and decency, which showed through in his handling of the whole situation despite the indignity meted out to him.

”By his comportment, from which his security and other aides apparently took a cue, Governor Oshiomhole averted what could have been a violent confrontation and left no one in doubt that he is a true democrat. In the end, those who conspired to humiliate him have unwittingly played up his tolerance, his decency and his democratic credentials.”

Nigeria not broke but cash-strapped –DG Budget, AGF

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu

The Director-General of Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu, and  the Accountant- General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, told a National Assembly Committee on Tuesday that Nigeria was not broke but was currently cash-strapped.

Okogwu and Otunla said this when they appeared before the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance  during consideration of the 2012-2014 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

The MTEF was forwarded to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan preparatory to the 2014 budget presentation in November. The committee  is headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Responding to a question  from a member of the committee,  Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, on the insinuations that the country was broke, Otunla said, “Nigeria is not broke but it’s currently having cash flow problems.”

Also Okogwu said though, “the nation is currently experiencing cash flow problems from time to time; it does not suggest that it is broke.

“Nigeria is not broke. We may have cash flow problem. But countries like Greek and Spain are broke. They are now approaching their international neighbours for bail out, but Nigeria has not done that and are nowhere near that situation.”

The Central Bank Deputy Governor, Mrs. Maria Alade, who represented the CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, at the joint sitting was, however, evasive when she was asked the same question.

She said, “Since the AGF and the DG Budget, have answered that Nigeria is not broke, that was also the position of the CBN.

“As bankers of the Federal Government, it is not our duty to tell the nation whether it is broke or not, but we can tell her the amount it has in accounts at anytime. But since the AGF and the DG, Budget have clearly declared that Nigeria is not broke, we in CBN also believe so.”

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has written the Senate, requesting permission to present the 2014 Budget.

The President, in a two-paragraph letter dated October 23, 2013, to the Senate President, David Mark, said he was seeking permission to address the “Joint Session of the National Assembly on the 2014 Budget.”

The letter to the Senate President, made available to newsmen read,” I write to crave your kind indulgence to grant me the slot of 12:00 noon on Tuesday, 12th November 2013, to address a Joint Session of the National Assembly.”

Senate Hears How Nigeria's Aviation Minister Used Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria To Buy Four Other Bullet-Proof Cars

Posted: October 30, 2013

A Senate committee holding hearings into the aviation sector in Nigeria today shockingly heard   how the Aviation Minister Stella Oduah spent $1.6 million on the purchase of two armored cars today, also the committee received further confirmation that the minister received several other cars from another agency under her control.
George Uresi, the chief executive officer of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), admitted before the Senate’s aviation committee, led by Hope Uzodinma, that FAAN bought four bullet proof cars for Ms. Oduah at N70 million each. SaharaReporters, which broke the news of how the minister forced the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to buy her two bullet-proof BMWs at the inflated cost of $800,000 each, had also subsequently reported that other agencies under Ms. Oduah had also bought her extremely expensive, overpriced cars.
Mr. Uresi’s testimony today confirmed our earlier reports that the minister hauled in at least six armored cars from a variety of aviation agencies.
Our correspondent reported that Mr. Uresi, the CEO of FAAN, sweated profusely as he told Senator Uzodinma’s committee that FAAN bought four bullet-proof cars for Ms. Oduah. “He was sweating bullets even though the committee room was heavily air-conditioned,” said our citizen reporter.
The FAAN boss’s testimony revealed that the transaction resembled how the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) bought two BMW armored cars for the minister at inflated price.
According to Mr. Uresi, FAAN bought two armored Lexus limousine cars and two Prado armored sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for Ms. Oduah.
Contacted later this evening, a member of the Senate’s aviation committee told SaharaReporters that he had heard rumors that the leadership of the committee was looking for ways to cover up Ms. Oduah’s car-buying scandal. “Some of us will not allow anybody to cover up anything,” said the senator.
Senator Uzodinma gave Mr. Uresi till Monday to provide the paperwork for the purchase of the four cars his agency procured for the minister’s use.
Meanwhile, a source who works at FAAN told SaharaReporters that the deal for the purchase of the cars was done through a company linked to Ms. Oduah. “The finance department of FAAN was not in the know of the purchase as the deal was done at the minister’s office with Uresi signing off on the deal.”
Although Mr. Uresi admitted to the purchase, he refused to provide the Senate committee members with details of how the deal was finalized with a bank. He also refused to disclose if Coscharis Motors Limited was involved in the latest scandal. Coscharis Motors, which is owned by Cosmas Maduka, was involved in the shady deal for the supply of the two BMWs paid for by the NCAA for the personal use of the minister. SaharaReporters reported earlier that Ms. Oduah received more than N100 million as kickback after she arm-twisted NCAA officials to sign papers certifying delivery of the two cars. No officials of the agency ever saw the vehicles before signing the delivery documents.
SaharaReporters had also reported that another agency, National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), also bought four Toyota Tundras for the minister. After our revelation, NAMA authorities went on a desperate search for companies to claim ownership of four limousines parked at the aviation agency’s TRACON site in Abuja. Today, the Senate asked NAMA officials to bring over the supposed owners of the vehicles along with proof of their ownership.
In the end, NAMA claimed that the vehicles belong to a local airline, Overland Airways. But in a clear indication of fishiness, some other company had called SaharaReporters to claim ownership of the limousines.
Ms. Oduah is expected to appear before the House of Representative tomorrow (Wednesday) to answer questions on the scandal of the $1.6 million she squandered on the purchase of two armored BMW cars.
In the wake of our revelations of the minister’s car-buying spree, she traveled to Israel as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s official delegation to religious sites in that country.  Mrs. Oduah returned to Nigeria on Monday night  a few minutes after she attended a ceremony where a Bilateral Services Agreement was signed with Israel.

Meeting with Jonathan ’ll decide our next move – Rebel govs

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu

Chairman Northern States Governors Forum, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has said the outcome of discussions between aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors and President Goodluck Jonathan; hold the key to the group’s next move.

Aliyu, who is also the Governor of Niger State, said this while hosting leaders of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, in his office in Minna, on Tuesday.

The governor also used the occasion to debunk media reports (not The PUNCH) that he had pulled out of the group of seven aggrieved PDP governors.

He described the media report as the handiwork of his detractors who would stop at nothing to break the ranks of the rebel governors.

He said the report which claimed that he had withdrawn from the group because he did not attend the last meeting was an act of mischief.

Aliyu said, “This is not the time for anyone to pull out of the party when out of respect for the office of the President, and the President himself, we are discussing.

“There is no way you can wake up and say you are pulling out when you are already negotiating. You cannot pull out at this moment. The time for decision to be taken will be when we have concluded discussion with the President.”

He explained that he was shocked to read in the papers that he had pulled out of the group in which he remains a leading figure.

The NSGF Chairman said in spite of the news report, “The truth of the matter is that Babangida Aliyu is still a member and in fact, I am the leader of G7.”

He added, “I regard that write-up as an enemy action. It was planted by people who are interested in breaking our ranks and who try to input motives where there are none.

“I see the hands of some people I can identify to have sponsored this article. I urge people not to make policies relating to all they read in the papers as some of these articles are sponsored.”

Aliyu explained that his absence from the last meeting of the group held in Abuja last Sunday was due to the change in time and ill health adding that he informed his colleagues accordingly.

“So, I sent an apology because there was no way I could meet up with them since I was still in Minna by 2pm. I spoke to three of my colleagues and asked them to help me tender my apologies especially as I was not feeling too well but I had intended to travel.”

Aliyu further explained that he had attended several similar meetings when some of his colleagues were indisposed but no such story was concocted against them.

FRSC warns against merriment

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

FRSC Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka

The Federal Road Safety Corps has warned Nigerians to be wary of “merriments” as the last two “ember” months of the year approach. The lead agency on road safety administration in the country wrote on its Facebook page that alcohol taking and illicit use of drugs, which some members of the motoring public  describe as merriment, do more harm than good on the highways.

It therefore urged road users not to deliberately overlook traffic rules and regulations saying, “A driver is someone who reaches where he planned to go and returns home safely.”

The FRSC further wrote, “November and December are months’ a number of people call months of merriment. Merriment to some people is the number of alcoholic drinks and drugs they can take in a day and the numbers of beer parlous they can visit in a day.

“But here is information for this group of people: Never drive after consuming alcoholic drinks or while under the influence of drugs. Alcohol affects your vision and judgment. It reduces coordination and slows down reaction.

“It reduces driving stability even when taken below the legal limit,  so do not drink and drive. Besides, the best protection inside the vehicle is the use of seat belt which, if properly used, reduces the severity of injuries by at 50 per cent in the event of accidents.”

OJB Finally Discharged from Hospital!

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

After a successful heart surgery in far away India, OJB Jezreel has been finally discharged.

The ace producer sent out a release stating that he's well, has been discharged and will soon return to the country.                                                        

Read below:                                                      

Dear fellow Nigerians. Greetings from far away India !I am sure this note from me will catch you with a little surprise. I have been reading a lot of news about ME being published on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and different Blogs by my good friends. I thought I must take out a quick moment and let you know that I am officially discharged today from the hospital, after a successful Kidney Transplantation Surgery, by God’s Grace. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Nigerians for your prayers & good wishes, without which all this would not have been possible. I also take this opportunity to thank my friends, fans and family for all the love, prayers and good wishes for a Speedy Recovery!! Be home with you soon …….Thank you once again sincerely, Your very own OJB Jezreel.

Education Ministry, FCT Among Several Public Offices Lavishly Funding Funeral of Patience Jonathan’s Mother

Posted: October 30, 2013 - 

Nigeria First Lady, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan

By SaharaReporters, New York

SaharaReporters has learnt that several Federal Government ministries, state governments, and government agencies are throwing large sums of public funds into funding the burial of Charity Fynetaco Kalada Oba, the foster mother of Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan.
Mrs. Oba, who died in a ghastly automobile accident in July, is scheduled for burial this week in Okrika, Rivers State. Her lavish funeral rites, which will last three days, will start on Thursday, October 31.
Several sources, including one at the Presidency, disclosed that numerous federal ministers and state governors had contributed huge amounts of public funds to the First Lady for her mother’s funeral. “It’s because of the funeral that the First Lady did not join Mr. President in his trip to Israel.
Our sources said the First Lady’s associates had been making the rounds of well-funded ministries as well as state governments to persuade ministers and governors to make solid financial donations to support Mrs. Jonathan’s decision to give her mother a massive funeral.
Among the states, Bayelsa has so far topped the list of donors, said one source.
“The First Lady’s people are in effect arm-twisting and extorting money from federal officials in various agencies and parastatals to donate huge funds to the burial,” one of our sources said.
One source revealed that Bala Mohammed, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, assumed the responsibility of using hundreds of millions of naira from his ministry to fix the main highway leading into Okrika.
“The main thing is that it is not the job of the FCT to work on roads in Rivers State,” said one source.
Nyeson Wike, Nigeria’s Education Minister, is another government official who is funneling funds into the funeral. Mr. Wike, who is very close to Mrs. Jonathan, is reportedly using the funeral to launch his campaign for governor of Rivers State. A bureaucrat in the Ministry of Education told SaharaReporters that Mr. Wike had doled out millions from the Education ministry for the burial. Mr. Wike recently announced that he had set up a committee for the burial.
University lecturers in Nigeria have been on strike since July, protesting the Jonathan administration’s failure to implement funding and other negotiated agreements reached between the government and academics. Mr. Wike’s high-profile role in the First Lady’s mother’s funeral led a lecturer at the University of Lagos to question the minister’s suitability for his post.
SaharaReporters learnt that government-owned aircraft as well as helicopters from the navy, air force, and police will be deployed for the burial. In addition, at least 4,000 security agents from the army, navy, State Security Service (SSS) will be on duty to protect the First Lady’s guests during the burial.
SaharaReporters gathered that Mrs. Jonathan and her associates have booked all the hotels in and near Okrika, and have even rented houses from some people in the community to house guests. “Madam [Mrs. Jonathan] has quickly built some houses here since her mama died,” a member of the Okrika community said.
Numerous politicians, businessmen and entertainment stars with ties to the government are expected at the burial.
Mrs. Oba died in a car crash while returning to Okrika after traveling to Bayelsa State. The accident that claimed her life happened on the badly maintained Elele-Isiokpo Road. In addition to Mrs. Oba, who was traveling in a Toyota Corolla car, a 14-year old high school girl and three other persons also perished. 

Enugu Governorship: Chime knows fate November 8

Published: October 30,2013

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu

As Court of Appeal adjourns hearing on suit filed against his nomination by the PDP in 2011.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja has adjourned hearing to November 8, on the appeal filed by Alexander Obiechina challenging the nomination of Governor Sullivan Chime by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as candidate for the 2011 gubernatorial election in Enugu State.

The Court, presided by Justice M.D. Dongban-Mensem, also ordered that Mr. Chime be served the notice of appeal, record of proceedings, applicant brief and other processes through the Enugu State liaison office, Central Area, Abuja.

The counsel to Mr. Obiechina, Oba Maduabuchi, however, withdrew the prayer for accelerated hearing which the court granted.

Mr. Obiechina had, in the suit, complained that the High Court erred when it held that he did not participate in the primaries in which the governor was purportedly nominated, despite all the parties agreeing that he was a candidate.

He, therefore, prayed the Appeal Court to set aside the decision of the lower court.

The decision of the court would determine Mr. Chime’s fate as the Governor of Enugu State.

India Bus Fire Kills at Least 40

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

At least 40 people have died after the luxury bus they were travelling in caught fire in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The bus, carrying more than 50 passengers, was travelling from Bangalore city to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh's capital, when the incident happened early on Wednesday.

Seven people, including the driver, managed to escape the blaze, reports the BBC.

Police say a collision with a culvert ignited the fuel tank of the vehicle.

The incident happened at Kothakota in Mahbubnagar district, 140km (86 miles) from Hyderabad, when the air-conditioned Volvo luxury bus hit a culvert, police said.

"The diesel tank burst and flames erupted. Before the passengers could realise what had happened, the blaze engulfed the entire bus," residents of the village were quoted as saying by The Hindu newspaper.

Most of the passengers were sleeping when the incident took place.

In 2008, more than 60 people died in a bus fire in northern Uttar Pradesh state.

The fire started when part of a faulty axle dropped on to the road and ruptured the bus's fuel tank.

Correspondents say that bus crashes are common in India and often caused by poorly maintained vehicles, overloading and reckless driving.

Obanikoro signs up for Facebook

OCTOBER 30, 2013  

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro

A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party and Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, may have found comfort in the use of social media as a platform for re-strategising his political career.

Obanikoro, who is the incumbent chairman of the Industrial Training Fund, has begun growing a league of social media following as he shares his thoughts about the Nigerian polity on two popular social networking sites.

Although he joined tweeps on the micro-blogging service on November 4, 2011, the account soon got dormant a month after as he went inactive on the platform.

However, his Twitter account seems to have fallen into his good books since August 7, as he now tweets regularly. His Facebook page, which has some 9, 000 followers, was opened on July 9, 2013.

“I still use it (Twitter account). I am open to suggestions on this platform.  Feel free to connect directly with me here on Twitter or click the link to like my Facebook page,” he wrote on his Twitter page.

The former lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the Senate has also been empathising with Nigerian users on social media asking them to keep having an optimistic view about the future of the country.

“Fellow Nigerians, we must remain optimistic even in the face of what seems to be an endless struggle for a better Nigeria,” he wrote.

FRSC warns against merriment

OCTOBER 30, 2013  

FRSC Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka

The Federal Road Safety Corps has warned Nigerians to be wary of “merriments” as the last two “ember” months of the year approach. The lead agency on road safety administration in the country wrote on its Facebook page that alcohol taking and illicit use of drugs, which some members of the motoring public  describe as merriment, do more harm than good on the highways.

It therefore urged road users not to deliberately overlook traffic rules and regulations saying, “A driver is someone who reaches where he planned to go and returns home safely.”

The FRSC further wrote, “November and December are months’ a number of people call months of merriment. Merriment to some people is the number of alcoholic drinks and drugs they can take in a day and the numbers of beer parlous they can visit in a day.

“But here is information for this group of people: Never drive after consuming alcoholic drinks or while under the influence of drugs. Alcohol affects your vision and judgment. It reduces coordination and slows down reaction.

“It reduces driving stability even when taken below the legal limit,  so do not drink and drive. Besides, the best protection inside the vehicle is the use of seat belt which, if properly used, reduces the severity of injuries by at 50 per cent in the event of accidents.”

Students, social media rants and ASUU strike

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

Dr. Anderson Uvie-Emegbo

This is an open letter from me to all undergraduates of Nigerian public universities and their families – catalysed after reading some comments on a popular social networking site. You are not getting any younger. You would probably be graduating at an older age than your peers in Ghana, Singapore, Kenya and Taiwan.

Fact: Students in Harvard University have not stopped learning because your lecturers are on strike.

Fact: Your future employer(s) may also not understand why you lack certain fundamental skills essential for the workplace.

Fact: Those who have the ability to make your education count have long gone to sleep on the job. It’s your life: You must now make your own way and fast! Great enterprises have always been born out of great adversity. There is no excuse to watch your life fritter away. Now is the time to pause and ask yourself these hard questions:

If there were no certainty that you would get a job after leaving school, would you still go to school?

Is what you are studying at the risk of being taken over by developments in technology? If yes, what’s your response plan? Would what you are studying today still be relevant in 2-3 years after you graduate?

How do you plan to stay relevant in your career over the next 2-3 years? Do you have any vocational (hands on) skills that can earn you money right now or after you graduate even in the absence of a white-collar job?

Are jobs in your profession likely to be lost to non-specialists within your country and/or specialists outside your country? How many transferable skills do you have?

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your organisational, business writing, verbal and non-verbal communication, marketing, selling, customer service, critical thinking, creative thinking and facilitation skills?

In Stephen R.Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” he introduced the concept of an outer, larger Circle of Concern, and an inner, smaller Circle of Influence. In this case, your circle of concern would be what affects all students in public universities – “when would the strike end?

When would I graduate? Would my course be accredited? Would I get a good job as soon as I graduate?” You have no control over your circle of concern.

Your circle of influence involves things that you can do something about. For instance, “how can I ensure that I graduate with a good grade? How can I ensure that I develop the skills that organisations would be willing to pay a premium for?”

Some years ago while leading a transformational project for an organisation, we needed to bring on board some persons with a particular competence and attitude. We identified three of such specialists. However there was a snag.

Fresh out of “public universities”, they had no formal work experience despite undertaking similar roles as undergraduates.

They were also waiting for their call up for the mandatory national youth service.  An extensive search for post youth service candidates with similar skills failed to produce the right fit. Much to my relief, we hired these guys on a contract basis for a couple of months.

During contract negotiations, they held out for a monthly fee of N80,000 (USD 500). However, given the depth of their expertise and their proven record in developing and deploying such solutions even as undergraduates, we eventually paid each N300, 000 (USD 1,875) monthly.

This fee astonished the boys but I strongly believed that these were justifiable, given the expected returns. Barely a year later they had helped achieve a cost savings of several million US dollars. The project became a benchmark in the sector.

One of the guys had become an orphan just about the time he left secondary school. During strikes like these, he started working in cyber cafes. He taught himself how to write web programmes in an obscure part of the country.

Fast forward to the present, he is now the CEO of a private equity funded digital business turning out some groundbreaking products in Africa. Still under 32 years, he is a shining example of how to turn one’s career around by focusing on one’s circle of influence.

He did not allow adversity to dictate his future. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from him. This can be your story and much more.

Rant on social media if you must, quarrel about the system and lament about the rot in the Nigerian society but remember all of these falls into your circle of concern. What are you going to do right now about the things that you can do something about (your circle of influence)?

Today’s formal educational system may not get you to the Promised Land.  The question is not where you stand right now but in what direction you are headed.

It is time to build your “Circle of Influence”  – What is your plan to transform your skills and create your own opportunities – even through this period of relative inactivity? Someone once said, “When Nigerians students are pushed to the wall, they don’t fight back   – that they break down the wall and keep running.”

 They may take away your years but they cannot take away your choices. In an age of technology, there are thousands of teachers willing to teach you practically anything for free. You have no excuse to fail.

Most people fail for lack of pluck and not lack of luck. There are opportunities to learn from an artisan near you. You can do some quick internship, to finally put to practice some of the things you have learnt. This is the time to brush up on your research skills.

“Life is too fleeting to wait for the next unforgiving minute.”  Someone around you needs some help, an extra hand to support the business they are running. Would you step up to the plate? You must redeem the times for the days are evil.

Anger as Oduah takes credit for BASA

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

Embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, broke her seven-day silence on social media on Tuesday, amidst backlash over the N255m bulletproof cars bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

In a post on Twitter and Facebook, Oduah took credit for the signing of the much-publicised Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Israel.

Oduah, who was a member of the President’s entourage to Israel for this year’s Christian pilgrimage, had been prevented at the last-minute from signing the Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Israel.  In her stead, Minister of State I, Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government.

But Oduah said the BASA signing was ahuge endorsement and product of the reforms which she championed in line with the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s Transformation Agenda.

The message on her Facebook wall read,  “BASA between Nigeria and the State of Israel had been problematic for decades, with several aviation ministers and successive governments failing in attempts at putting pen to paper.

“The signing is a significant feat for the present administration and a huge endorsement of the Transformation Agenda of the present government as represented in the reforms championed by Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, in the sector.”

But the message sparked off some angry reactions from Nigerians who have been calling for her resignation or outright sacking by the President over allegations of corruption, abuse of office and financial recklessness in the N255m car scandal.

Some Nigerians who wrote on her Twitter and Facebook pages on Tuesday asked her to hurriedly return home to answer for the allegations levelled against her, with a view to setting the records straight.

According to them, Oduah was wrong to be frolicking around and taking credit for an agreement in the circumstance where she has yet to clear her name in the car scandal.

Writing on the minister’s Facebook wall, a particular follower of hers, David Letam, described Oduah’s statement as another “frivolous jamboree” and stated that she should have been worried about the accusations against her.

“I want to congratulate the minister on this landmark achievement in signing the BASA with Israel. However, the honourable minister should come home to clear her name in this N255m car scam. The safety of Nigerians on the air is paramount than this frivolous jamboree,” Letam wrote.

An angry Twitter user, Donan Joshua, asked, “Na you sign am? See as she de talk am as if na she sign am! Madam, come back home and tell us about the money and the N255m bulletproof cars bought for you.”

One Sam Aremu said on Facebook that it was disappointing that the minister still had the guts to be commenting on national issues in spite of the facts in the public domain about the scandal rocking her ministry.

Aremu said, “If Aviation workers are protesting against Oduah’s N225m bulletproof cars, surely Nigerians are not happy about the whole thing. On her return, President Jonathan should call Oduah into his office, look straight into her beautiful blue eye and say to her romantically – ‘You are fired.’

Another respondent on her Facebook wall, with the name Tg Ibhaze, described Oduah as a bad example of womanhood and urged her to lead a good life.  Ibhaze stated, “So shameful that Nigeria celebrates people like this madam in the first place. I really love you and the good work you started in reconstructing our airport.

 “But by now you should have overlooked some things and be a good example. But as a princess and the daughter of a traditional ruler, you should know better to be a good example. Madam, please change.”

Also, one Kevin Jephthah-Ibennah  observed that the car scandal amounted to extravagance in office and noted that she should have tendered an apology to Nigerians rather than taking glory for the BASA.

Jephthah-Ibennah  said, “Why did you spend so much money on purchasing such cars? Don’t you know it’s extravagance?  If  I were your son, I would have advised you to return the money or better still sell and return the money with the sales proceeds as well as apologise to Nigerians because what you have done amounts to stealing.”