Anarchy looms in Rivers, APC warns

Governor Rotimi Amaechi

The party asked President Goodluck Jonathan to take action on Rivers crisis

The All Progressives Congress, APC has warned of impending anarchy in Rivers that may have far-reaching consequences beyond the state, unless President Goodluck Jonathan urgently reins in his supporters who, it claims, have resorted to bringing in ex-militants from neighbouring states to attack Rivers indigenes.

”Having lost confidence in the ability of the police to protect them and keenly aware of the President’s deliberate refusal to allow peace to reign in their state, the patience of the people of Rivers is wearing thin, and there is an increasing possibility that they may resort to self help, which can only result in a blood bath,” the party warned in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.

The APC was reacting to attack on some members of the Save Rivers Movement, in Bori, on Sunday by suspected militants. Two persons were reportedly shot in the attack.

The party called on Mr. Jonathan to act quickly to stop looming anarchy in Rivers State. It warned that the decision of the pro-Jonathan politicians and their supporters in Rivers to resort to ‘ferrying in ex-militants from Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom’ to cause mayhem in Rivers and make it ungovernable for Governor Rotimi Amaechi will have far-reaching consequences in the months ahead; most serious of which is that it would revive militancy not only in Rivers but in the entire South-South.

”The ex-militants, who are being hired daily by the anarchists in Rivers today, will turn against them and the people tomorrow when, one way or the other, the present situation in the state is resolved. The outcome will be a resurgence of insecurity, including hostage taking and attacks on oil and other infrastructure, in the entire region. This is why we are warning those who believe they are having a free rein today to tarry a while and retrace their steps,” the party said.

The APC said it was shocked that President Jonathan, who has been widely quoted as saying his political ambition is not worth the blood of any citizen, is allowing the violence continue.

”This President has deliberately refused to listen to the calls by numerous individuals and organisations, including the opposition parties, labour unions and the National Assembly for peace to be allowed to reign in Rivers. He has tacitly egged on the police to champion the worsening impunity in the state and even thumbed his nose at the Constitution, while the Police Service Commission has suddenly lost its steam and is even defending the arrowhead of the anarchy in Rivers.

”It is instructive that while the police have stood by and allowed hired ex-militants to attack innocent citizens whose only offence is that they are exercising their constitutional rights of freedom of association, movement and speech, the same police have provided protection for pro-Jonathan and anti-Amaechi elements who have turned the state into a battle ground.

”Twice in eight days, peaceful rallies organized by the Save Rivers Movement have been brutally broken up by police-backed hoodlums, who shot at innocent citizens including women and children; a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been shot and is now being treated in a foreign hospital and, as we write this press release, hoodlums brought in from Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom have gathered at different points in Port Harcourt to protest any attempt to remove Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu, the man who is now using the police against the same people they are paid to protect,” APC said.

Sins of CP Mbu

The party also chronicled, what it referred to as the series of impunity that has helped prepared the ground for the looming anarchy in Rivers:

- Mbu practically provided the needed backing for a group of hired thugs and ex-militants with dangerous weapons to unlawfully and forcefully invade the Rivers State House of Assembly to terrorize its members, sack them and other management staff members from the complex and prevent the lawful exercise of legislative functions.
- A caretaker committee lawfully set up for Obi/Akpor Local Government Area was prevented from delivering governance to the people due to the sealing of the LGA secretariat by police operatives acting under Mr. Mbu’s directive.
- Security details were withdrawn from the principal members of the state government, including but not limited to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Attorney-General and principal judicial officers of the state
- Mbu again provided cover for a sponsored protest by over 5,000 ex-militants and other criminal elements brandishing dangerous weapons to completely take over and parade the streets of Port Harcourt, thereby creating fear and an atmosphere reminiscent of pre-amnesty siege in the minds of right-thinking residents.
- Mbu almost engineered an unnecessary but deadly riot by directing his men to restrain over 500 people – including traditional rulers – from the Orashi communities of Rivers State from paying a scheduled and legitimate courtesy and solidarity visit to the State Governor at Government House, Port Harcourt.
- A potential bloodbath at the Island Community of Bonny was averted only by the maturity exhibited by the young members of the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation in the face of serial provocation by members of the Rivers State Police Command
- When five colleagues of Governor Amaechi – who felt they were exercising their constitutional  rights of free movement and association – had the temerity to pay him a solidarity visit in Port Harcourt, they were molested and humiliated at the Port Harcourt Airport by hired thugs under the protection of Mr Mbu
- Police operatives used tear gas to cause a potentially-deadly stampede through the forceful dispersal of 13,201 newly-recruited and trained teachers who had gathered at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt for the final round of their training, orientation, mobilization and deployment to primary and secondary schools.
- The Rivers State Command, acting on the orders of Mbu, blockaded a road leading to the Government House in Port Harcourt, forcing the Governor’s convoy to turn back and take another route to his official residence.
- Police prevented a plane chartered by the Governor from taking off ostensibly because it was carrying a lawmaker said to be wanted by the police. When the lawmaker was not found on the plane, no apology was issued to the Governor.

The APC said it decided to remind Nigerians how the situation in Rivers got to the present level, even as calls by the nation’s lawmakers, labour unions and other well-meaning Nigerians for his redeployment have fallen on deaf ears.

”Our party has also intervened numerous times to warn the nation that President Jonathan is using Rivers as a testing ground for fascism, especially ahead of the 2015 general elections, all seemingly to no avail as the crisis has worsened instead of abating.

”It is in this light that we reiterate our fears of a looming anarchy, which is the outcome of months of impunity, as the man who swore to an oath to ensure the welfare and security of all citizens – the raison d’etre for any government – has now become the quiet sponsor of violence against the same citizens. It is time to stop the madness in Rivers!,”’ APC said.

Jonathan Appoints Bamanga Tukur As Nigeria Railway Corporation Chairman - PREMIUM TIMES

By Premium Times

President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed the immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
Mr. Tukur last week resigned his position as National Chairman of the PDP. He has since been replaced with ex-Bauchi governor, Adamu Muazu.
Mr. Tukur’s appointment as Railway Corporation, NRC, chairman was announced in a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sam Nwaobasi.
The position of NRC chairman was formerly held by Kawu Baraje, the former factional chairman of the PDP who has since led his faction to fuse into the All Progressives Congress. Mr. Baraje resigned in the height of the PDP crisis in late 2013.
Mr. Jonathan, according to the statement, has also approved the appointment of Ghaji Ismaila Bello as Director-General of the National Population Commission with effect from January 8, 2014.
According to its enabling law, the Nigeria Railway Corporation is charged with facilitating effective “carriage of passengers and goods in a manner that will offer full value for money; meet cost of operation; improve market share and quality of services; ensure safety of operations and maximum efficiency; meet social responsibility in a manner that will meet the requirements of rail users, trade, commerce, industry and general public”.
President Jonathan had after announcing Mr. Tukur’s resignation as PDP chairman at the National Executive Committee meeting of the party, on January 16, hinted that he would reward the former party chief with another appointment.
“He (Mr. Tukur) is not guilty of any offence and I am going to give him an assignment that is tougher than PDP chairman,” the president said at that event.
President Jonathan is currently away in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

Mu’azu vows to reconcile warring PDP factions

As formers aspirant hails emergence of the new PDP boss

The newly-inaugurated National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, on Tuesday pledged to reconcile the warring factions of the ruling party.

At his maiden session with journalists in Abuja, the chairman lamented the intra-party crisis, but assured that it would be brought to an end soon.

The ruling party has been engulfed in crisis which led to the exit of five of its governors and some of its members in the National Assembly.

The governors who left for the All Progressives Congress, APC, are Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Rabi’u Kwankwaso (Kano).

Mr. Mu’azu, a former governor of Bauchi State, was sworn in on Monday to replace Bamanga Tukur, who resigned the position last Thursday at the emergency meeting of the PDP National Executive Committee, NEC. Mr. Mu’azu said PDP was the only party in the country that had continuous life.
He said the PDP remained the most detribalized party that had the capacity to work for Nigerians and generations yet unborn.

Mr. Mu’azu charged the media to adhere to the ethics of the profession. Noting that 2014 was critical because it would precede the election year, he pleaded with journalists to be fair in their reportage of events in order to enhance meaningful development in the country

He regretted that though the party could have its own internal problem, it would not necessarily translate to its weakness.

The PDP national chairman pledged to partner with the media, saying “we are all one Nigeria, working for this generation.”

Meanwhile, a former PDP chairmanship aspirant, Abba Aji, has described Mr. Mu’azu as a team player and insightful personality.

He said the new party chair was a natural choice for the job.

Mr. Aji, who is a former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Affairs, said with Mr. Mu’azu in charge of the party, it would witness a phenomenal turnaround from its dwindling fortunes.

He said a good number of party chieftains who defected to the opposition would be glad to come back.

“With Mu’azu in charge, there is going to be a significant turnaround in the electoral fortunes of the PDP because his emergence will witness genuine reconciliation with estranged members,” he said.
“I foresee some chieftains of PDP who defected to the opposition party reuniting with the PDP political family as a result of the change in the leadership.

“For this reason, it is certain that our party can now go into the governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti States, and indeed the 2015 general elections united and fully prepared for victory.”

He appealed to other contenders who lost to Mr. Mu’azu to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and give the new chairman their maximum support in the task of rebuilding the party.

After 86 days in detention, court frees Bayelsa man accused of defaming Governor Dickson on facebook

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa

Mr. Okio was imprisoned for criticizing the Bayelsa State governor on facebook

A business man, Tonye Okio, who was imprisoned for allegedly criticizing the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, on his
Facebook account, has finally been released.

Mr. Okio, a former Abuja liason officer for Bayelsa State, was arrested on October 26 for what the police described as an “offence of seditious publications”.

His lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, numerous Nigerians, and civil rights activists described the charge as spurious and a show of the
high-handedness of the governor of Bayelsa State.

Mr. Okio was detained without trial for 10 days and after a human rights abuse suit instituted by his lawyer, he was hastily charged to a Magistrate Court for defamatory publication against the Bayelsa governor.

The magistrate granted him bail on conditions described by a civil society activist as ‘ridiculous.’ Mr. Okio’s bail conditions included N5 million with one surety in like sum. The surety, the judge said, must be a permanent secretary in the state and resident within the court’s jurisdiction.  Human rights lawyer and the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Aturu, said the condition was “like granting bail with one hand and taking it away with another.
“Given the subservience of our public officers today, unless a member of his family or acquaintance was a permanent secretary, it was clear that the conditions could not be met. And precisely that was what happened”.

Mr. Aturu said the defendant’s family searched in vain for a permanent secretary that would risk his position by offending Governor Dickson and standing as Mr. Okio’s surety.

Sources close to the Bayelsa State government had also told PREMIUM TIMES that no permanent secretary under the state’s employ dares stand as surety for Mr. Okio out of fear of the governor.

Mr. Okio’s legal team filed an application at the Nembe Division of the Bayelsa High Court to demand a variation in the bail conditions.

The court reportedly fixed three consecutive days for hearing and was unable sit on any of those days in what was seen as a deliberate attempt to delay justice for Mr. Okio.

But on January 21, after 86 days, numerous adjournments and several interventions by the civil society, Justice Buofini of the Bayelsa High Court quashed the bail conditions, rendering Mr. Okio a free man.

Mr. Aturu praised the Mr. Buofini’s decision, even as he expressed his initial disappointment with delay of the court’s decision.

“I commend the High Court judge for privileging citizens right over petty schemings of politicians, although we were initially
disappointed that the case was not expeditiously treated, given that the liberty of a citizen was involved,” Mr. Aturu said.

He said he hopes the case would show public officers that they can no longer use their positions to intimidate Nigerians.

Mr. Aturu spoke about the importance of social media and online journalism in a democratic society.

“…the social media and Internet journalism has come to stay. It is technology’s contribution to democracy, openness and justice in our epoch. There is nothing anyone can do about that,” he said.

Civil Defense Operative Shoots Policeman To Death At Armed Robbery Scene In Bayelsa

By SaharaReporters, New York

A member of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)  shot and killed a mobile policeman during a shoot-out with armed robbers in Yenegoa.
The NSCDC personnel and the deceased mobile policeman were both attached  to the State Security outfit, ‘Operation Door Akpor.’
Police sources said that the security patrol team had engaged armed robbers in a shoot-out at Edepie axis of the state capital after it received a distress call that robbers have attacked a petrol station in the area.
Police public relations officer in the state, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, who confirmed the incident, described the death of the policeman as an unfortunate mishap.
“Last Monday night, the police received a distress call that armed robbers had attacked a  petrol station at Edepie roundabout in the state capital.
“When the patrol team got there, the robbers opened fire on sighting the police van, so there was a shoot-out, and in the process, the civil defense personnel mistakenly shot his patrol team colleague,” Akhigbe said.

Recuperating Senator Abe writes Senate from sick bed, accuses govt of plot to kill him

Magnus Abe on hospital bed

Rivers state Senator and chieftain of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Magnus Abe, has written to his colleagues in the Senate, recounting how the police shot him and wounded several others at the venue of a botched January 12 rally in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. 

In the letter, Mr. Abe pointedly accused unnamed officials of the Nigerian federal government of plotting to kill him. He accused the government officials of having instructed the Rivers State Police Command to eliminate him.

Mr. Abe, who represents Rivers East Senatorial District, gave a blow-by-blow account of the ill-fated rally in the January 17 letter he wrote from a London hospital.

The senator also  said he had already petitioned the Metropolitan Police and human rights organisations in London on the circumstances of his presence in that country and what happened back home in Nigeria.

Mr. Abe was shot at a rally planned by the Save Rivers Movement, SRM, on January 12.

He was treated briefly in a Port Harcourt Hospital before being flown to London where he is currently recuperating.

But in a seven-page letter to the Senate President, David Mark, which he requested should be read to all senators; Mr. Abe insisted that the police abused its powers.

As at January 11, when he got the reminder for the rally which was billed for the next day at the College of Arts and Science, CAS, Port Harcourt, he said the organisers had fully notified the police.

However, he said members of the rival Grassroots Democratic Initiative, GDI, were openly boasting that the rally would not hold in CAS which is located close to the home of its grand patron.

“It was clear to me that using the police to stop a gathering that had been extensively advertised and was to be aired on live television would be an unfair blow to Rivers people and a clear abuse of police power,” Mr. Abe said.

“I decided to reach out to the State commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu and share my concerns with him. The CP refused to pick my calls. I also tried to call the Inspector General of Police to bring the facts to his attention.”

The senator explained that when he could not reach the IG, he called the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to help him reach him (IGP) and Mr. Ekweremadu in turn asked him (Abe) to try and reach Mr. Mark.

After several unsuccessful attempts to reach the Senate President,Mr.  Abe said he called the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Paulinus Igwe, and briefed him on the situation.

Continuing, he wrote, “Senator Paulinus Igwe promised to reach the IGP and get back to me. I also spoke with my Chairman, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Security and National Intelligence, Senator Mohammed Magoro and briefed him.

“My Chairman called back to say that he could not reach the IG but that I should call the Director General of the Department of the State Security service (DGSS). The DGSS is one security official in Nigeria who maintains open lines of communication with all Nigerians irrespective of their political lineage.

“I spoke with the DGSS who promised to call the state command to verify the situation. All this occurred on Saturday, the day before the fateful event.”

Mr. Abe said at about 9.30 a.m on the day of the event, he got a report that the police had invaded and destroyed everything at the rally venue and were firing teargas indiscriminately.

He said he was also informed that men, women and children were running out of churches because the entire area was saturated with teargas.

The lawmaker said he called the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Tony Okocha, and he corroborated the report, noting that Mr. Okocha was holed-up in one Chidi Wihoka’s house within the CAS premises with children, who could barely breathe.

The letter continued, “At this stage I felt it was necessary to go over to CAS to appeal to the police, and try to establish what was going on, and why such extreme force was needed even before the planned time of the event.

“When I arrived at the gate of CAS, I saw the Nigerian Police in full battle formation with armoured personnel carriers and scores of mobile policemen armed to the teeth.”

He listed some of the police officers he met at the venue of the rally to include Mike Uche Chukwuma, one Marcus, ASP Pere, Supol Sani and DPO Esther Effiong, among others.

Mr. Abe noted that he reminded the officers of the contributions of the Rivers State Government to the police and also told them that whatever the situation, it was wrong to fire teargas near churches on Sunday.

“The officers informed me that they were acting on ‘orders from above’ and that I should call the Commissioner of Police or the Inspector General of Police. I was busy trying to call the CP and the IG, when one of the policemen walked close to me and whispered, ‘Oga, leave now, leave now, they said we should take you down.’”

“At this stage, I became apprehensive and reminded the officers that I am a serving senator in Nigeria. In fact, I went close to the senior officer and said, ‘I am following you and if anything happens to me, it will be in your presence and before God.’”

“It was when I was standing with him that the attack began and a teargas canister was shot directly at my feet. He quickly moved away while more teargas canisters were fired directly at me in quick succession. It was at this stage that I was hit by something in my chest. I screamed, ‘I have been shot’ Friends and staff who were with me, realizing what had occurred, rushed me to my vehicle.”

Noticing that he had difficulty breathing as a result of the teargas he inhaled, Mr. Abe said his rescuers stopped at the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) on Eligbam road.

Inside the church, Mr. Abe noted that some members of the congregation offered him handkerchiefs soaked in kerosene to clean his face to reduce the effect of teargas.

“However the left side of my chest where I was hit was very painful and inflamed. My staff decided that we should rush to the nearest doctor. We were able to reach my doctor, Dr. Mackay Anyanwu, who stabilised me at his clinic and transferred me to the Kesley Harrison Hospital, from where a decision was taken that I proceed to London immediately for further cardiology evaluation.”

Mr. Abe explained that on arrival in London, he was taken to Princess Grace Hospital, where tests were carried out on his heart.

According to him, “My heart repeatedly fluctuated so much so that it triggered the alarms in the hospital and they decided that I should be moved to the Cardiology Unit at the London Bridge Hospital.

“The consultant cardiologist at the London Bridge Hospital determined that the site of impact on the left side of my chest was directly in line of my heart and there was a risk related to the distribution of kinetic energy from the high velocity impact to my chest.”

Mr. Abe appealed to Nigerians to reject the propaganda of the Federal Government’s spin-doctors, who he said were rationalising the attempt on his life as being part of the drama of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“It is the Federal Government that deployed the Police and gave them orders that I should be taken down. I have heard that the Rivers State CP has alleged that the police were chasing criminals on that day and that I was running from the scene and that I ran into the church to evade arrest,” the lawmaker said.

He insisted that it was only in Nigeria that a serving senator who had not been declared wanted on allegation of any crime could be said to run from the police.

Mr. Abe said he considered Mr. Mbu’s statement that he (Abe) was running away from the police as an insult not only on him but also on the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He wrote, “I have also heard that Mr. Mbu said they have no rubber bullets in the state command. It is clear that Mr. Mbu is talking with the confidence of a Governor General; who knows that nothing will happen, and nothing would have happened even if I were killed.

He referred to pictures of spent cartridges at the scene of the crisis which were captured by Channels Television crew and wondered who shot them since the police claimed they did not use bullets.

 “The decision to take my life comes from the highest levels of the Federal Government and nobody will be questioned or punished even if I am killed because I am one of those that have stated and I want to repeat here, that I will cross over to APC on the floor of the Senate,” Mr. Abe said.

He pleaded with the Senate to defend the country’s democracy and protect the lives of Nigerians against gross impunity of the Federal Government.

“It is Senator Abe today. It may be Senator Mark tomorrow,” he wrote.

Jonathan confirms Tukur’s resignation, says new PDP Chairman to be announced Monday

The president said he will give Mr. Tukur a better appointment.

President Goodluck Jonathan has announced that Bamanga Tukur has resigned his position as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The president handed over Mr. Tukur’s resignation letter to the National Secretary of the party, Wale Oladipo, at the ongoing National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in Abuja.

“He (Mr. Tukur) is not guilty of any offence and I am going to give him an assignment that is tougher than PDP chairman,” the president said.

Mr. Jonathan also said the PDP will hold another NEC meeting next week Monday to announce a new chairman.

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River moved the motion to accept Mr. Tukur’s resignation. The motion was seconded by the Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, and was accepted by the NEC.

Jonathan sacks Nigeria’s military chiefs, appoints replacements

Nigeria Service Chiefs

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked Nigeria’s service chiefs and appointed new ones.

This was disclosed by presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, in a message on his twitter handle  @abati1990.

“President Jonathan has appointed new Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs. Air Marshal Alex Badeh now CDS. Details shortly..” he tweeted.

Mr. Abati said the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, has been appointed the Chief of Defence Staff. He replaces Admiral Ola Ibrahim.

Mr. Abati was to later issue a statement announcing the remaining appointments.

Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff;

Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.

There had been speculation the service chiefs would be replaced following their inability to curtail the deadly activities of the extremist Boko Haram sect.

Read full statement by Mr. Abati below.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE 

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPROVES CHANGES IN MILITARY HIGH COMMAND

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved the following changes in the nation’s Military High Command:

Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff;

Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff;

Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.

All the changes are with immediate effect.

The new Chief of Defence Staff and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Badeh was born on January 10, 1957 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s  21 Regular Course while the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Minimah was born on July 27, 1959 and joined the Army as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s  25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Major-General Minimah was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, Jaji.

The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin was born on September 16, 1959 and joined the Navy as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 24 Regular Course. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.

The new Chief of Air Staff and immediate past Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was born on August 1, 1958 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.

President Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the appointment of the new service chiefs and will, in keeping with the provisions of the law, request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

January 16, 2014

Governor Obi inaugurates newly elected council chairmen

Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi

APGA won 20 chairmanship seats out of 21.

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra on Monday inaugurated the 20 newly elected chairmen of local government councils in the state.

Mr. Obi congratulated them for emerging victorious in the elections and urged them to provide quality service to the people. He described their election as a “call to service’’.

He said his administration respected the Nigerian Constitution that local government system should be democratised every two years, but many obstacles delayed it in the state until now.

The governor said the state government worked tirelessly to ensure that the local government system in the state was democratised.

“Some reactionaries did everything to stop it and we fought hard to conduct the elections. We have done everything to make local government work.

“And today, the dream of the third tier of government is on the right path of progress with the completion of many new projects,’’ he said.

Mr. Obi said the chairmen “are expected to be servants of the people’’.

“The mandate you have today is from the people, everything available in your council belong to them, including the resources.

“You must be answerable to them at all time,’’ he told the chairmen.

He urged them to work with the newly elected governor, Willie Obiano, and his Deputy, Nkem Okeke, who would both be sworn-in on March 17.

“They are the people we chose; you must cordially work with them and also learn your lessons from them. All of you will work to build a better Anambra,” he said.

The Chairman, Oyi Local Government, Charles Okafor, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, commended Mr. Obi’s doggedness, leadership style and prudent management of resources.

Mr. Okafor commended the governor for the opportunity given to them to be part of his transformation agenda in the state.

APGA won 20 chairmanship seats out of 21 as well as 304 councillorship seats out of the 327 contested for.

(NAN)

Borno APC Crisis: Youth stone Governor Shettima’s convoy during ex-governor Sheriff’s visit

Governor and his predecessor engaged in cold war

The rising tension in Borno State polity was brought to fore on Saturday when the state governor, Kashim Shettima, was pelted with stones during a visit by Ali Sheriff, his predecessor.

Mr. Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, is a leader of the All Progressives Congress in the North East part of Nigeria.

The stoning incident which happened when Mr. Shettima was on his way to the airport, according to the governor’s spokesperson, Isa Gusau, was orchestrated by politicians who used hired thugs brought in from outside the state to embarrass his boss.

“Some thugs believed to have been hired outside Borno State, were smuggled into Maiduguri for the sole purpose of breaching the emerging peace in the city”, Mr. Gusau said in an email on Sunday to journalists. “Governor Kashim Shettima was on his way to the Maiduguri International airport on Saturday, for the purpose of inspecting facilities brought in from Lagos by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, to speed up the opening of Maiduguri’s airspace for use by air travellers. The visit was meant to be a follow up to the Governor’s meeting with the M.D of NAMA as well as Chairman, CEO of Arik airline in Lagos, two weeks ago, towards the reopening of the airport which had been closed down.”

The attack on Mr. Shettima happened at a time thousands of supporters of Mr. Sheriff were preparing to welcome him to the state after a long time.

Regarded as a foremost politician in the state, the former governor’s visit attracted the presence of many top Borno politicians, including National Assembly members, state assembly members, serving commissioners, and advisers of Governor Shettima’s cabinet, amongst others.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Mr. Sheriff, being the god-father to many politicians in the APC-dominated state, and a known benefactor of the incumbent governor, is engaged in a cold war with the latter. It is also rumoured that the APC leader has already started shopping for Mr. Shettima’s replacement from amongst his loyalists in the ruling party.

It was also learnt that Mr. Shettima in the past used his office as governor to frustrate such visit by Mr. Sheriff.

“Betrayer, betrayer”

According to testimonies from various witnesses who saw the governor being attacked, Mr. Shettima’s convoy was heading towards the Maiduguri International Airport at the time some youth were on their way to welcome one Muhammed Imam, who is touted as a possible challenger of Mr. Shettima for the APC governorship ticket in 2015.

Mr. Shettima’s convoy drove into the crowd of young people who angrily started pelting him with stones and sachet water, while calling him names.

Yahaya Wakili, an automobile mechanic who lives near the airport junction, told journalists that it took the intervention of policemen of the nearby Police Crack Squad to disperse the angry youth by releasing canisters of tear gas at the mob.

“We really don’t know what was happening on Saturday morning but we saw youth, who were obviously political thugs, gathering on the way to the airport. Some said they were expecting the arrival of former Commissioner called Alhaji Muhammed Imam. The youth, who wore various T-Shirts and caps with APC and Imam’s logo printed on them, were at a point chased away from the road leading to the airport by the police of Special Squad Division whose office was located along the airport road. Some of the youth thought it was Governor Shettima that ordered them to be chased. Suddenly at about 10am or so, we heard the siren of the governor blaring past towards the airport and we also heard shouts ‘mai chin amana, mai chin amana’ (betrayer, betrayer) as they continued to haul stones at the governor’s convoy”, Mr. Wakili, whose workshop is along the airport road, said.

Governor unperturbed

Mr. Gusau said the incident did not perturb his boss who urged his security details to be calm and insisted they moved on to carry out their assignment at the airport.

“While the Governor was heading towards the airport, the hired thugs attempted to breach his convoy by exhibiting all manner of behaviour true to the job they were hired to do. If Governor Kashim Shettima were to be violent, he could have directed his security detail to descend on the thugs but instead, he calmed nerves and ensured that there was no breach of peace with no injury. He calmed members of his entourage and security details,” Mr. Gusau said.

He said the police dispersed the youth and the governor went on to complete his inspection at the airport.

“He spoke with NAMA officials and to his credit, Maiduguri’s airspace is now open to all flight operations. After the inspection, Governor Shettima trekked for 2 kilometres from the airport acknowledging cheers from residents who obviously appreciated his effort in gaining peace and progress in Borno State,” Mr. Gusau said.

When asked whether he subscribed to the rumour that the attackers were hired by Mr. Sheriff’s loyalists to ridicule Mr. Shettima, the spokesperson said, “We do not know those behind that attempt. It is the responsibility of security agencies and journalists to identify them. But (what) we do know is that Governor Shettima’s focus is entirely on delivering projects and programmes to better the lives.”

Triumphant entry

Meanwhile, the ex-governor, Mr. Sheriff, made a triumphant entry into the city amidst a choking convoy that halted the city’s traffic for about two hours.

Interestingly, Mr. Shettima was not around to welcome his fellow APC member and predecessor.

The deputy governor, Zannah Mustapha, and five members of the Federal House of Representative accompanied Mr. Sheriff from Gombe State airport to condole the Emir of Shani’s family in Shani Town before they made the 250km trip to Maiduguri on Sunday. At the entry to the city, all members of the state assembly, led by their speaker, Abdulkareem Lawan, turned out to welcome Mr. Sheriff along with hundreds of party loyalists including some serving members of the state executive council.

Mr. Sheriff, who was visibly elated by the tumultuous welcome and reception, said his visit to Maiduguri was unplanned. He said he decided to come to Maiduguri after his visit to Shani to condole the family of the late emir, Muhamnadu Mailafiya, who died recently.

“I have not visited Maiduguri for the past 11 months now, but the demise of our Royal father, the Emir of Shani, actually created an opportunity for me to visit and see my people. I am deeply happy and humbled by this huge welcome you gave me from Damboa up to Maiduguri. I also thank the people of Bayo, Kwayakusar, Biu, and Hawul whose huge turn out to accompany me to Shani and back to Biu yesterday was unprecedented,” he said.

He declined further comments on whether he was planning any major political move ahead of 2015.

Shettima carves new niche for himself

Mr. Sheriff led Borno State as governor between 2003 and 2011, making him the only person to have governed the state for two-terms. After his tenure, he virtually installed Mr. Shettima, a banker with little political pedigree, as his successor. Mr. Shettima became the flagbearer of the then All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Mr. Sheriff’s party, and eventually won the governorship election. The choice of Mr. Shettima as the ANPP flagbearer was opposed by many members of the party. Both men became members of the APC when the ANPP merged with other parties to form the former.

Mr. Sheriff, who was a senator before winning the 2003 governorship election, lost a 2011 senatorial seat to his Peoples Democratic Party challenger.

The current governor has used every opportunity to distance himself from Mr. Sheriff’s government; perhaps to appease many residents who blame Mr. Sheriff for the insecurity in the state.

And at every political forum available, Mr. Sheriff’s years of stint is being used as a metaphor for bad governance, in spite of the fact that both Mr. Shettima and his political benefactor are of the same political party.

Befriending the enemy

The fight for supremacy between the two politicians has split the Borno APC into two factions.

Mr. Shettima’s loyalists want him to form his own political structure, different from the already existing and rooted structure of his boss ahead of 2015; a move the governor appears to be towing.

The governor is becoming increasingly popular among Borno residents for what some describe as his simplicity, humble disposition, and style of development. Also, in the past three months, Mr. Shettima has been receiving defectors from the opposition PDP into the APC. Most of the new entrants were once political rivals of Mr. Sheriff, who challenged him in his two-terms as governor.

“Courting friendship with the enemies of your benefactor could be the worst treachery committed by Governor Shettima”, said a serving adviser in Mr. Shettima’s cabinet, who asked not to be named so as not to be victimized by the governor.

“We all know why Senator Sheriff had to deal with some politicians politically; and we all know how it assisted us to remain in power since 1999. If you now come and try to befriend these people who claim they love you because you are different from Sheriff, then be sure of a venomous bite, because you invited vipers into your home”, said the politician.

During Mr. Sheriff’s grand entry and rally in Maiduguri on Sunday, the posters of Mr. Imam, a former ANPP state chairman, who also served as Commissioner for Water Resources and Education during the eight years tenure of Mr. Sheriff, was seen pasted all over the town, touting him as a possible replacement for Mr. Shettima. Some of the inscription on the posters and billboards read, Muhammed Imam for 2015.

A serving member of the House of Reps for the Chibok, Damboa, Gwoza Federal constituency, Peter Guptha, described the sour relationship between Messrs Shettima and Sheriff as unfortunate.

“The best thing I expect from Governor Shettima is to avoid people who would incite him against his god-father”, he said. “I believe Sheriff meant well when he brought him in and made him a governor. Building one’s political structure is a very difficult task; it takes more than two years or the days of a four years tenure to achieve. That is why we have to rely on existing structure. Shettima is a nice gentleman, but those advising him towards the path of war are the evil ones”.

Large breasts may be bad for your health

A woman breastfeeding her baby
| credits: blog.timesunion.com

For the average man, voluminous breasts are a turn-on. That men drool over breasts is an open secret; and in these days of half-nude dressing styles that tend to favour the baring of the bosom, things can only get as far as people want.

Some women, too, knowing the wonders that largish breasts can do to men, go all out to put them on display. No wonder that men even lament that they are being sexually frustrated by these unguarded exposures.

But beyond the social implications of possessing killer breasts, there are health downsides that should be of concern to any woman who has ample mammary glands. Without meaning to raise the alarm, experts are warning that there are some breast sizes that you can’t possess and simply carry on as if the whole world could wait.

Cancer risk

Of course, every woman has the responsibility of caring for her breasts, especially after hitting the magical age 40. But much more, those who have sizeable breasts — medically referred to as macromastia — must do more. This is because researchers warn that women with hefty breasts are at an increased risk of advanced breast cancer.

A research presented at the International Seminars in Surgical Oncology note that “It is hypothesised that women with large breasts are more likely to have node positive disease mainly attributable to their breast size.”

The researchers, led by Chaminda Sellahewa of the Department of Surgery, Russells Hall Hospital in the United Kingdom, say a study of 120 women for primary breast cancers in a large Teaching Hospital within a one-year period reveals that “big breasted women (those patients with mastectomy weight greater than 800g) had a significantly greater tumour size than those with smaller breasts.”

The scientists lament that women with large breasts have more advanced stage of disease at presentation, noting that “the larger breasts of obese women may make it difficult to detect early disease by palpation (medical examination by touching).”

They also suggest that “women with large breasts may develop lymph node metastasis at a smaller size of primary breast cancer than those with smaller breast because of altered host responses.”

In simple terms, physicians say, what this translates into is that cancer can start from the lymph nodes and spread to other parts of the body — including the breasts.

Type 2 diabetes risk

In a study entitled ‘Breast size and risk of Type-2 diabetes mellitus’ published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers assessed the prospective risk of developing Type-2 diabetes according to bra cup size among a sample of over 92,000 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study II.

The average age of the women at the start of the study was 38 years. During the 10-year follow up, a total of 1,844 women developed Type-2 diabetes.

After taking into consideration numerous established risk factors such as physical activity, smoking, diet, family history of diabetes, body mass index and waist circumference, among others, it was shown that in a graded fashion, the bigger the bra cup size, the greater the risk of developing diabetes.

Exposure to pollution

The online portal, medicaldaily.com, reports that when a woman has large breasts, she’s at a greater risk of pollution exposure.

It warns, “Bigger breasts also put women at a greater exposure for pollutants because the body stores toxic chemicals in fatty tissue. Therefore, the bigger the cup size, the greater concentration of fatty tissue to store chemicals like mercury and Polychlorinated biphenyls” — an oily, odourless and tasteless industrial chemical used in pesticides and paint.

Worse still, scientists warn that PCBs have been shown to both inhibit and mimic estradiol — the predominant sex hormone present in females; and research has revealed that the imitation of the estrogen compound supports the development of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells, uterine and cervical cancer cells.

Poisoned breast milk

It’s not the large-breasted woman alone that suffers the consequences of chemical deposit; if she’s a nursing mother, her baby will be affected.

The experts at Medical Daily enthuse, “To make matters worse, the more these chemicals are stored in the breast tissue, the more likely they are to be transferred into a woman’s breast milk and passed along to her newborn children.”

To drive home this point, a writer, Florence Williams, in her book entitled, Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History, bemoans, “What happens in our environment is reflected in our breasts. Breast-feeding is a very efficient way to transfer our society’s industrial flotsam to the next generation. Our breasts soak up pollution. Breasts carry the burden of the mistakes we have made.”

In general, the experts express concern that many man-made toxins “will remain in our bodies and in our children’s bodies for long enough, such that today’s baby girls will transmit the toxins to their own children.”

Back pain

Physicians say all women will complain of backaches at some point in their lives. However, for those with big breasts, it is tantamount to hulking a heavy backpack all over the place. At least that’s the testimony of heavily endowed Nollywood actress, Cossy Orjiakor, in an interview with this newspaper.

Experts agree with this confession, saying those who have disproportionately large breasts often experience chronic or long-lasting pain that affects their quality of life. The suspected culprit here is the use of ill-fitting bra.

“Ill-fitting bras do not support breasts properly, leading to shoulder grooves, which in turn leads to neck pain, which can bring on headaches and migraines. It’s a vicious cycle of painful health problems,” online portal, Medline Plus, says.

Skin irritation

Dermatologists say a woman with large, pendulous breasts can experience yeast infection, skin rashes and skin irritation under the breasts because the area is almost always wet. The situation is worse during a warm, humid weather, experts say.