Presidency moves against Tambuwal, his picture deleted web site

ABUJA—BARELY 48 hours after the Speaker of the 

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,

House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, the acting Inspector General of Police, Sulaiman Abba, yesterday, withdrew all his security aides.

The Federal Government also deleted Tambuwal’s picture and name from the official website of the National Assembly:http://www.nassng.org/nass, leaving his space blank for now.

With the deletion of his details from the web page, only the data and photographs of nine principal officers of the House of Representatives are running, with Emeka Ihedioha, the deputy speaker, being the highest-ranking officer on the page.


Vanguard reliably gathered that the Aide-de-Camp, ADC, to the Speaker got a directive from IGP Abba, at about 1.30am yesterday that all security operatives attached to the number 4 citizen be withdrawn immediately.

One of the sources, who was privy to what happened in the dead of the night when the order was given said: ”Our Oga ADC immediately started demobilising all the security operatives attached to Tambuwal, including men from the Department of State Service, DSS and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

”As a result of the IGP’s order, the ADC, who was billed for an official assignment in Makurdi yesterday morning had to cancel all his appointments as everything including dogs were demobilised from here. We were left bare as early as 1.30am to all manner of dangers but God is our Oga’s best security and his life is in His hands, not that of men”.

Why we withdrew Tambuwal police aides –Police IG

The IGP’s order, according to a statement by the Force Spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police, was because of Tambuwal’s defection from the PDP to APC and “having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

Meanwhile, the IG said the force had committed adequate resources to the provision of logistics to effectively police the 2015 generation elections.

Ojukwu, in another statement, said Abba gave the assurance when the “ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact Finding Head of Mission to Nigeria’’ headed by former Ghananian President, John Kufuor paid him a courtesy visit to appraise the police readiness for a violent-free poll in 2015.

Your order, action are wrong, Tambuwal tells IGP

Reacting to the issue, Speaker Tambuwal told the acting IGP, Sulaiman Abba that he breached the law by ordering that his security details be withdrawn from his residence.

In a statement by his media aide, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said he received with shock and amazement the statement issued by the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters justifying the withdrawal of police security personnel attached to him.

His words: “In the said statement, the Force has stated to the effect that by his defection from the PDP to the APC, the Hon Speaker is in breach of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution and is consequently no longer entitled to police security. Nothing can be further from the truth.

”The implication of the Inspector General of Police’s statement is that as sanction for this alleged constitutional breach, he has removed Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from office of Speaker House of Representatives.

”For the avoidance of doubt the question of whether or not there is a division or faction in the PDP has been resolved by Lord Justice Faji of the Ilorin Division of Federal High Court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/605/2013 in which the court held that indeed there were factions in the PDP.

”Again in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/ 605/2013, the Sokoto Division of the Federal High Court per Justice Aikawaa, the judgement of the court was that there was not only Division but faction in the PDP which later merged with the APC.

“As the number four citizen in the hierarchy of protocol in the country, the Speaker is entitled to security protection by the security agencies, therefore we see the action of the Acting Inspector General of Police as not only contempt of the courts but a ploy to bring harm to the person of Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

”In any case even Section 215 of the 1999 Constitution does not contemplate the issuing of or compliance with unlawful orders by the President and or the Inspector General of Police respectively.

“What the Acting Inspector General of Police has done therefore has no basis in law including the 1999 Constitution which he has cited. It is a brazen act of crass impunity, gross constitutional breach and contempt of court. The Inspector General should desist from assuming or usurping the constitutional functions of the Judiciary.

“For the avoidance of doubt the Speaker of the House is elected by members from among themselves under Section 50(1) (b) of the constitution and vacates office under Section 50 (2) (a) (b) &(c), in the case of (c) by two-thirds majority of members of the House.

“The Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution which refers to a member vacating his seat on grounds of defection, which the Inspector General of Police refers to, has a proviso which has been and still is a matter for judicial and not police interpretation.”

Eminent Nigerians flay IGP’s action
The police action elicited criticisms from a host of eminent Nigerians and APC members of the House of Representatives, who described it as undemocratic and feared for Tambuwal’s safety.

We’re playing Third World immature politics —Sagay

Constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), described the development as immature politics.

“It is not legal at all because he is still speaker till it is determined by law. All we are seeing is just Third World immature politics. People don’t know the difference between the law and what they have the right to do. Reactions to everything is always physical and with power rather than in accordance with the law. It is a pure third world reaction,” he said.

Tambuwal is entitled to security details—Afenifere
On its part, the Pan-Yoruba socio-economic and political organisation, Afenifere, argued that Tambuwal should be allowed to have security details as long as he remains the speaker of the House.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: “I do not know the reasons it was done but I believe that if there are things he is still entitled to, for as long as he is still the Speaker, he should be allowed to have them. If he is entitled to security details for as long as he is still the speaker. I think he should be allowed to have them until he leaves the office.”

It’s unfortunate —Arewa Youths
National President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shetima expressed displeasure over the withdrawal of the speaker’s security aides.

Shetima said: “This is bound to happen because one man is made to be a tin god against the collective wish of Nigerians. I am against it because Tambuwal remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives until the House decides his fate. The President has no right do such a thing because the Speaker changed party”.

It is incredulous— Gbajabiamila

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), warned that nothing should happen to the life of the Speaker.

“If you know the Speaker very well, you will know he cares very little about the perquisites of office. However this is beyond the Speaker. It’s about the institution of the legislature. I am yet to confirm the authenticity of the story because it seems incredulous. However, if it is true, then even the most sympathetic supporter of this government of which there are just a miserable misguided few, must realise that it is time to come together as a nation to save our country from a desperate cabal and a government that has unleashed terror on another separate but equal arm of government while allowing insurgents to run amok in the country without a clue as to what to do.

“The Nigerian Police Force does not belong to the PDP. More importantly, the executive cannot determine for the legislature, an independent institution and an arm of government, who should head it or who its speaker should be. This is the height of impunity,” he said.

It’s an act of desperation—Osagie

in like manner, the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Samson Osagie (APC, Edo), described the action as an act of desperation and despondency.

He said: “It’s surprising that the Nigerian Police Force has admitted that the Speaker’s security details were withdrawn on account of his defection to APC. It smacks of crass ignorance of the Constitution and parliamentary convention on the part of the Nigerian Police to declare that our own Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal the Peoples Speaker has ceased to be Speaker.

“It is an act of desperation and despondency for the ruling party.”

A Day After Defection, Nigerian House Speaker Tambuwal Stripped Of Security Detail

A day after Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, formally announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), his security aides have been withdrawn reportedly on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan, SaharaReporters has learned. 

 

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal

Mr. Tambuwal was excitedly welcomed on Wednesday after the conclusion of the APC's extraordinary national convention in Abuja. But a source close to the speaker alleged that the Presidency was so rattled by the reception accorded to Mr. Tambuwal that a decision was made to remove the speaker’s police and intelligence security.

As Nigeria’s 4th citizen in the hierarchy of protocol, the Speaker is entitled to high-level security protection usually made up of officers from the police, civil defense corps, and the Department of State Security (SSS). The security agents jointly provide around-the-clock security to the Speaker and his immediate family.

According to our source, “Early this morning, a few minutes after midnight to be precise, a top-level security report informed the Speaker that orders had been given for the withdrawal of his security details. He was also told that a court in Abuja would enter a verdict against him on Wednesday or Thursday. The ironic thing here is, why not wait for the verdict before any action is taken?”

Efforts to get the speaker’s direct reaction have so far failed. Calls and text messages sent to his spokesperson, Imam Imam, remained unanswered.

Tambuwal Asks Court To Stop PDP From Removing Him As Speaker

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal and his party, the All Progresives Congress, APC, on Friday dragged his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Inspector General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, before a federal high court in Abuja. Speaker of the House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal

The Speaker who recently defected from the ruling party to the opposition wants the court to stop moves being made by the PDP to declare his seat vacant.

Tambuwal insists that he remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives until the expiration of his current term which is 5 June, 2015.

He wants the court to make an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from taking any steps whatsoever to abrogate, diminish or infringe on his rights and privileges as the Speaker of the House of Representatives before the expiration of his current tenure.

Further more, the embattled Speaker wants the court to restrain INEC from accepting any nomination of candidates or otherwise organizing or conducting a ‘bye election for the purpose of replacing him or taking over his seat as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He also asked the court to make an order of mandatory injunction compelling the defendants to restore his security details all rights, benefits and privileges appurtenant to members of and the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He averred that he was not elected Speaker of the House of Representatives by reason of his membership of the PDP and that his defection from the party was due to crisis in the party which led to the emergence of two factions.

Adamawa on fire: Boko Haram sacks police station, prison

Fighting between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents escalated in Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba in Adamawa State on Wednesday.

Casualty figures could not be obtained as of 8pm but the development forced the state government to impose 24-hour curfew on the affected communities.

Our correspondents gathered that Mubi, the second largest town in the state and host of two high institutions, was the worst hit.

A parent, Ahmad Sajoh, whose daughter is studying at the Adamawa State University, said that as of 2pm on Wednesday, the police barracks in the Government Reservation Area was overrun by the insurgents while the prison in the town was blown open.

He added that fighting which was ongoing at the army barracks caused confusion at the IDP camp in the Lamorde area of the town.

However, an online newspaper, SaharaReporters reported that Boko Haram insurgents took over the headquarters of the 234 battalion in the town.

Our correspondents gathered that the development made banks to move their cash to Yola, the state capital.

Sources told The PUNCH that insurgents launched an attack on Uba in the Michika-Madagali area of the state in response to sustained aerial bombardment of their hideouts by security forces.

Residents said they saw a large number of insurgents at Mararaba, a town about seven kilometres from Mubi.

Sajoh told one of our correspondents that his daughter called to inform him about the development in Mubi.

He said, “This morning, I got a call from my daughter who is a 200-level student. She was hysterical. I was in Abuja for a meeting, but her information forced me to head back to Yola immediately.

“I ordered her to leave the hostel and join her cousins to escape the town. I called my father who confirmed the story. By the time I arrived at Yola airport, the town had fallen to the insurgents.

“My parents are trapped while my daughter and her cousins are missing. We have lost contact for six hours.”

Sajoh, who is the director of Press and Public Affairs to the former Governor Murtala Nyako, added, “Mallam Iliyasu of the Bursary Department of the state university, who is trapped in the town said by 2pm, the Police Barracks in the GRA was overrun by the insurgents, the prison was blown open while fighting was going on at the army barracks. The IDP camp at Lamorde area was thrown into confusion.

“The new rulers of the town had issued a decree banning entry and exit to the town. Students who trooped to the motor park were stranded with most taking refuge in any house that could welcome them.

“The barracks are the least safe locations in the town. So far, there are no reported cases of killings or abductions. But fear and apprehension have taken over.”

Another source said that Mubi was currently deserted by residents after the incident, the second in three months.

The higher institutions in the town were forced to close down again.

There are fears of humanitarian crisis should the town fall into the hands of the insurgents.

A fleeing resident, Joshua Gajere, said several people might have been killed during the shootings that lasted for almost two hours in Uba and other villages.

He said, ‘‘We are in serious trouble as these boys (Boko Haram) have taken over our towns, splitting into groups and advancing towards Mararaba, Mubi and Vintim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh. They made the Nigerian troops to retreat to Mubi’’.

Gajere added, “As I am talking to you now, residents are scampering for safety.

‘‘Mubi has now become a ghost of itself as people in their hundreds are fleeing for their lives.

‘‘Even here in Maiha, we saw military vehicles zooming off towards Yola, the state capital.’’

However, a resident from Michika, Mr. Siva Zira, told one of our correspondents that the military was having an upper hand as they were able to dislodge the insurgents in Michika and Uba.

Meanwhile, Governor James Ngillari has asked the people of the state, particularly those in the affected areas to remain calm as security agents were on the top of the situation.

His Director of Press and Public Affairs, P.P. Elisha, said the governor met with security heads in the state to assess the situation.

He said, “It’s unfortunate with this development, His Excellency, has met with security chiefs in the state on Wednesday to assess the situation.

“People should remain calm, security agents are on the top of situation.’’

It was further gathered banks in Mubi have taken the pre-emptive steps to move out large volume of cash to the Central Bank of Nigeria in Yola.

Our correspondents could not get the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, to comment on the hostilities as the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.

The government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Andrew Weyle, who announced this, advised the people to stay away from the roads and other public places.

He said,“Following the escalation of violence by the insurgents, his Excellency the Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala James Ngillari, has approved the imposition of 24 hours curfew on Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba, with immediate effect.

“People are advised to stay off the roads and public places except those on essential services.”

It was further gathered that the insurgents killed the son of a prominent traditional ruler in the area.

A resident, who identified himself as Kwahir Sani, said, “We fled to a village called Wuro Gude near Mubi when the violence erupted and I have lost contact with some of my children.

“As I am talking to you now, we are hearing gunshots by military in Mubi.”

It was gathered that the insurgents also attacked Askira Uba and Kukawa in Borno State for over six hours.

A fleeing resident said the terrorists killed many people, burnt many houses and carted away food stuffs.

Agence France Presse reported that the heavily armed terrorists, on arrival in Kukawa, opened fire on a police station and market, sending many fleeing.

The Punch

Uduaghan submits forms for Delta senatorial seat

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the Delta South Senatorial district were submitted at the Peoples Democratic Party State Headquarters, Asaba, on Thursday.

Uduaghan, who obtained the form on October 17 courtesy of some of his political associates at the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja, expressed appreciation to all PDP faithful and Deltans for their love and support.

He said, “History is in the making and I have to heed the calls of my people, who have urged me to go to the Senate after my tenure as Governor of Delta State. I will not disappoint them. I will, by the grace of God, give my senatorial zone quality representation.

“I also want to appreciate President Goodluck Jonathan and assure him that I will put all my national and international reach at his disposal.

Meanwhile, a political group in the senatorial district, the G3, has expressed its support for the governor’s senatorial bid.

Secretary of the group, Solomon Funkekeme, said Uduaghan was the best the district could present at its representative at the the National Assembly, adding that “his wealth of experience and leadership qualities stand him out.”

Police arrest five bandits, recover vehicles in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday said it arrested five suspected armed robbers and recovered 15 stolen vehicles from them.

Briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, said the suspected robbers were arrested by the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

“Through the deployment of cutting edge technology, intensive surveillance and aggressive patrol, the suspects, who specialised in snatching and selling of cars, were arrested.

“Fifteen vehicles stolen by the syndicate were recovered in different locations including Abuja, Port Harcourt and Benin City,” he said.

Aderanti said one of the suspects was notorious for changing engine and chassis numbers of stolen vehicles.

He said the suspects had all confessed to committing crime, and were helping the police in their investigations.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that an instrument used for changing engine and chassis numbers of stolen vehicles was also recovered from the suspects.

The police boss assured residents of Lagos State that the command was doing its possible best to reduce crime to its barest minimum.

Aderanti urged the residents to be vigilant and security conscious as well as providing the command with useful information to curb criminal activities.

Ameobi makes EPL history

Sammy Ameobi

Sammy Ameobi’s goal eight seconds after coming on as a substitute in Newcastle United 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspurs made history as the fastest scored by a substitute in the league history from open play.

Ameobi was introduced before the start of the second half and scored straight from the kick-off for the half. He ran behind the Tottenham Hotspurs defence to finish off a delightful through ball from Jack Colback to draw his team level after Emmanuel Adebayor had given Spurs the lead. Debutant Ayoze Perez completed Newcastle United’s amazing comeback by scoring their second and winning goal in the 58th minute.

The goal was also a personal milestone for the lanky, pacy winger as it was his first ever goal in the English Premier League since his debut for the magpies in 2010. Prior to his goal against Spurs Ameobi has only previously scored for Newcastle in the football league cup, a winning goal against Scunthorpe on 25 August 2011.

Ameobi is in the last eight months of his deal and with no offer yet from Newcastle his performances in their last two games means he won’t be short of suitors if they fail to offer him fresh terms. In January he will be free to discuss with interested parties in his services in view of a transfer in the summer as a free agent if Newcastle United fail to sanction a winter move. So far he has made five appearances for them in the Premier league from a possible nine games this season.

Nigeria to import petroleum products for 20 years

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

Nigeria and other African countries will continue to be net importers of petroleum products despite the availability of functional and quasi-functional refineries, and plans to build more refineries on the continent, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said.

According to her, plans to build more refineries in Angola, Uganda, Mozambique and Nigeria cannot change the situation.

Alison-Madueke spoke at the eight edition of the Oil, Trading and Logistics (African Downstream) Expo held in Lagos on Tuesday.

“Notwithstanding the possibility of building new refineries in Africa, including new projects in Angola (Sonaref refinery); Uganda (Uganda oil refinery); Mozambique (Nacala refinery); and Nigeria, among others, Africa will remain a net importer of petroleum products for at least 20 years to come,” she said.

The minister, however, pointed out that Nigeria was already on the path to adding more capacity by 2020 through the proposed private refineries by the Dangote Group and Orient, and Bayelsa, Kogi, and Lagos states, among others.

Alison-Madueke, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Gas, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Oliver Okparaojiakor, said sub-Saharan Africa was the least sophisticated refining centre in the world.

She said, “In fact, there are only 24fuels refineries within the region, with a total refining capacity of 1.6 million barrels per day for a population that is close to a billion. Population growth means more energy consumption.

“However, the uncompetitive and inefficient nature of many of these refineries, combined with the difficulty in funding major upgrades, or new capacity, seem likely to keep the average utilisation at a low level in the short term.

Billions in flame as locals cook oil in Bayelsa

Alison-Madueke

SIMON UTEBOR encounters some oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta. Additional report by GEOFF IYATSE

The Nigerian government is still grappling with oil theft and related crimes in the oil-rich Bayelsa State as activities of oil criminals still persist there.

Bayelsa is one of the nine states in the Niger Delta that produce the oil and gas that account for about 90 per cent of the Nigeria’s revenue and approximately 95 per cent of its foreign revenue.

Nigeria’s economy revolves around oil and gas and it will be prostrate without them. Yet, past efforts to placate the former Niger Delta militants and aggrieved youths have yet to fully achieve the desired results.

Though the majority of former agitators have been integrated in the amnesty programme of the Federal Government, some ex-agitators, who felt excluded from the package have pitched their tent with an army of unemployed youths to go back to the creeks – to steal oil, burst pipelines and commit other crimes.

At present, many cartels have been formed to perpetrate the criminal activities. As a result, the government’s special security outfit – the Joint Military Task Force – is daily battling with oil criminals in the state and other Niger Delta states.

Some of the suspected oil thieves said they engaged in the nefarious activities because of lack of jobs; poverty, neglect, environmental degradation and insensitivity on the part of the government and oil multinationals.

They boasted that until the alleged injustices in the region were addressed, even the combined operations of the Nigerian security forces would not deter them.

Once upon an oil thief

Mr. Tubokeyie Dauyeibo, an indigene of Peretorugbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, told our correspondent in an interview that he was compelled to relocate to the creeks after he searched for jobs unsuccessfully for years.

He said he would not have contemplated taking to the crime if he had what to do to earn a decent living.

Dauyeibo said his business was to locate, break pipelines and steal petroleum products from them.

He also said he was a part of the brains behind many illegal refineries that now dot the creeks, adding that he was an expert in the crude cooking business.

Dauyeibo, who claimed to have quit the illegal venture, said he had formed an organisation, the Movement for Eradication of Local Refineries and Pipeline Vandalism, to join forces with the relevant authorities to fight the menace.

‘I made N5m monthly’

Dauyeibo described the business as the quickest way of becoming overnight millionaires. He recalled that he used to make over N5m monthly from the business.

He said, “I was making a lot of money when I was doing the business. In a month I could make up to N5m. I had some workers. My first operation was in Mbiama, Ahoada East, Rivers State.

“I was both in the business of taking the crude oil and refining it. Through the business, I acquired some parcels of land, built a house and bought a car. I had refineries. But now l have closed down all of them because I don’t want to do the business again. We have all the ideas and techniques of breaking pipelines to take the crude oil, build the refineries and refine the oil.”

How we buy and sell

Miss Josephine Okosisi (not real name) is a dealer in buying and selling of illegally-refined product, particularly Automated Gas Oil.

Okosisi told our correspondent that perpetrators usually bought their products from local refiners and sold to vessels from Calabar, Cross River State and Lagos State.

She said, “We supply the products we buy from illegal refiners to vessels from Lagos and Calabar. We sell the products in drums and each drum is about 30 litres.

“I buy a drum for N5,000 and sell it for N10,000. The business is lucrative. At times, I buy 500 drums, which is N5m and sell it for N10m. After all the expenses, including ‘settling’ the security men, I make close to N350,000 per deal.

“I must confess, I do not know where the vessels we supply sell their products. Many of us are into the business and we are doing it because there is no job. Even some people who have jobs are under-employed. That is why we brave the odds and go into the illicit business.”

On his part, Dauyeibo said there were many buyers for the illegal products, insisting that local and international markets for illegally refined products had continued to expand.

He said, “We have many buyers that used to patronise us. They come with vessels to load. We also used small boats to load the products and take them to the vessels.

Jonathan receives N100.5m donations to buy PDP form

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he had received a total of N100.5m donations and pledges from persons, groups and communities who offered to assist him to pay for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential nomination fee.

The PDP’s Presidential Nomination Fee is N20m and its Expression of Interest Form is N2m, making a total of N22m.

Jonathan said he would pick the nomination form on Thursday (today).

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President thanked all Nigerians who he said had been urging him to seek re-election based on his administration’s achievement in the last four years.

The statement read in part, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will tomorrow, Thursday, October 30 pick up the PDP nomination form for the 2015 Presidential elections.

Nigeria escapes FIFA ban as court dismisses case against NFF

Nigeria on Thursday escaped the wrath of FIFA as Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High court sitting in Jos, Plateau State on Thursday withdrew the suit filed against the Nigeria Football Federation by the Chris Giwa-led board.

FIFA had given Nigeria Thursday to put its football house in order or be banned, which may not be reviewed until the board meeting in May next year.

Messrs. Obinna Ogba and Yahaya Adamu of the Giwa-led faction had dragged the immediate past President of NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, to court seeking for orders to restrain Maigari (first defendant), the NFF (second defendant) and the 36 Football associations (third defendants) from conducting another election after the faction claimed that their principal was the duly elected president of the association

The judge had fixed Thursday for the ruling on whether he has jurisdiction to hear the case following the preliminary objection raised by the NFF defence counsel, Mr. Damon Dashe, who questioned the eligibility of the court to entertain the matter.

Dashe had on Monday filed a counter affidavit to the originating summons, saying that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter since the plaintiffs hearing was delayed because he was not properly served by the counsel for the plaintiff.

He had told the court that it was incumbent on it to hear the preliminary objection, which would guide it on the proper path to follow, adding that the prayers contained in the preliminary objection is for the court to strike it out “because the plaintiffs have submitted themselves to the NFF statutes.”

However at the sitting of the court on Thursday, the judge announced the dismissal of the suit following the withdrawal of the suit by the plaintiffs.

Allagoa said, “The suit is hereby dismissed as the plaintiffs have announced their intention to withdraw the case from the court.”

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr. Ardzard Habilla, who spoke to our correspondent after the ruling said his client had to withdraw the case in the interest of Nigerian football and the appeal of well-meaning Nigerians for an end to the crisis in the Glass House.

He said, “My client is well aware of the implication of another FIFA ban on Nigeria and has also listened to the appeals from well meaning Nigerians to withdraw the case from court.”

Protesters storm Burkina Faso parliament ahead of constitution vote

Thousands of protesters stormed Burkina Faso’s parliament building on Thursday, witnesses said, ahead of a controversial government vote on revising the constitution to allow the country’s president to stand for re-election.

The protesters had managed to get inside the building in the capital Ouagadougou while police had fled, a witness told Reuters.

Protesters also stormed and ransacked the building of the country’s state television network, which went off air shortly afterwards, Reuters reported.

A handful of soldiers who were guarding the building shot in the air to try to disperse the crowds, but they continued advancing and the soldiers fled, a witness said.

Earlier, police had fired teargas and beat and arrested protesters as they tried to reach parliament, a Reuters photographer said. Hundreds of protesters burned tyres and set up makeshift barricades in response.

Officers in pick-ups pursued opposition supporters and cordoned off the area around the building. It was not immediately clear how protesters had managed to breach the cordon.

The Punch

CP deploys policemen in Ikotun, Igando over robbers’ threat

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, on Thursday said he had deployed policemen and resources in Ikotun-Igando area over the alleged robbers’ threat to the community.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Aderanti was reacting to a media report on a letter purportedly sent to residents around College Bus Stop, Ikotun Road, Igando-Lagos, that they would come and attack them.

The report said that robbers had sent a letter to the community, requesting them to prepare for them (robbers) hefty Christmas gifts.

The police boss, however, told NAN that even though the command believed the letter was a rumour, it had deployed its men in the community for ’round the clock’ surveillance.

“Within the past 24 hours, what we are doing in that area is unprecedented. I have deployed men and resources to that area.

“We have been able to stop that rumour, to me it is a rumour,” Aderanti said.

He assured the residents to stay calm and go about their daily activities, adding that the surveillance in the area would continue.

Aderanti advised criminals to stay away from Lagos State, stressing that the police would not leave any stone unturned to fight crime.

The CP, however, solicited the support of residents in the area for information to enable the command perform its duties more effectively.

NOA warns against campaigning at IDPs camps

The National Orientation Agency in Borno on Thursday warned politicians to stop taking their campaigns to numerous internally displaced persons’ camps in the state.

The State Director, Alhaji Yahya Imam gave this warning in a chat with journalists in Maiduguri. He noted that some politicians have turned the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps to political rally grounds under the cover of donating relief materials for the traumatized people.

He insisted that this is not accepted especially as the ban on political campaign still stands.

Ibrahim said, “The ban on political campaigns were yet to be lifted by INEC and even if it was, it is ungodly to campaign to people who were suffering from physical and psychological pains at this point in time.

“NOA is calling on all displaced persons to remain united, apolitical and show love to one another during these trying moments in the camps.

“IDPs camps should be spared of political activities of all kinds as victims are expected to be united in continuous prayers for peace and unity to reign in the state,” he said.

NDE trains 1,940 Niger youths in farming, crafts

No fewer than 1,940 youths in Niger State have been trained and empowered by National Directorate of .

The State Coordinator, Mr Abdullahi Mohammed, who spoke with newsmen in Minna on Thursday, said the youth were trained and empowered in different skills to be self reliant.

He said the youth were trained in vocational skills development, special public works, rural development and small scale enterprises.

Mohammed explained, “We have trained youths in our various departments such as handcraft, trades, practical training on agriculture and also linked them with some commercial banks for them to be able to access loan to set up a small scale business.

“We have over 50 youths that we trained in modern ways of farming so that they will also train rural farmers in modern rice, maize, yam and beans production to boost agricultural farm produce.

“We also linked job seekers with federal and state ministries, Non Governmental Organisations and they are presently serving in various departments for a period of six months.“After this period of six months, they may get automatic employment based on their performance with the organisations they are attached to.”

The Punch

UPDATE: Tambuwal’s security details withdrawn

Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal

(UPDATED 12:36 pm): The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has redeployed the Police personnel attached to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, hinged the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security aides on Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Statement reads, “In view of the recent defection by the Right Hon. Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal, CFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the People Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress and having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force, has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.”

Ojukwu could not be reached to comment on why the same treatment was not applied to Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who defected from the Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party a few weeks ago.

The FPRO did not respond to calls to his phone and he has yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

10.17am: Security details attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, have been withrawn.

It is not clear who ordered the withdrawal, but The PUNCH learnt that policemen assigned for his personal security and other operatives reportedly did not report for work this morning.

“We came to work this morning and what we found was that all the security men did not report for duty. We are puzzled but that is the situation,” a National Assembly aide informed the PUNCH minutes ago.

The Punch

Afenifere asks Jega to resign over additional polling units

Pan-Yoruba social political group, Afenifere, has kicked against the granting of autonomy to local government administration in the country in the concluded amendments to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.

It also called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to resign over his planned creation of additional 30,000 polling units across in the country.

The group reached these conclusions after its meeting held in Akure on Tuesday at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasaranti.

Briefing journalists, Chairman of Afenifere, Ondo State Chapter, Chief Kurede Duyile, said Afenifere had lost confidence in Jega’s capacity to conduct credible elections in 2015.

“Jega is pursuing a course that will affect the credibility of the next general election if he insists on going ahead with the creation of the additional polling units,” he said.

According to him, the creation of the units was totally adversarial to the interest of the southern part of country, given that over 20,000 of the new units would be located in the north.

“We believe that Jega is acting on this based on uninformed issues. His actions are against the interest of the south of this country,” Duyile said.

On local government autonomy, he said the group had called on the Federal Government to come out clear on the recommendations of the national conference before the report is eroded by actions by the National Assembly.

He noted that the granting of autonomy to local governments was an example, contradicting the position of the confab on local councils.

According to him, the recommendation is for the scrapping of the local government system from the constitution, so that states would be responsible for the creation and administration of local governments.

Deputy gov sends stinker to Amosun

Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his deputy, Segun Adesegun

Ogun State Deputy Governor, Segun Adesegun, has thrown a jab at Governor Ibikunle Amosun through a letter in which he detailed alleged injustices against his person and his office.

The letter dated October 24, 2014 confirmed speculations in the Government House that all is not well with two topmost public office holders in the All Progressives Congress state.

The state government denied knowledge of the letter.

In the 10-paragraph letter obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday, Adesegun accused Amosun, among other things, of starving his office of funds and allocation of old vehicles to his office.

He claimed that the governor had failed to deliver on his promise that he “would enjoy his tenure as the deputy governor while contesting the governorship election in 2011 under the(defunct) Action Congress of Nigeria.”

Adesegun added in the letter he addressed to the governor that even his September and October feeding and out-of-pocket and sundry allowances had yet to be paid.


The letter

The deputy governor said, “My governor, as I am writing to you, the feeding and out-of-pocket allowance of the deputy governor for the months of September and October 2014, as well as the monthly sundry expenses for the months of September and October 2014 are yet to be paid.”

Boko Haram: 30 policemen still missing, says IG

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, on Tuesday said about 30 policemen were still missing following the recent attack carried out by Boko Haram sect on the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, Gwoza Training Camp, Borno State.

Abba spoke with State House correspondents shortly after a meeting President Goodluck Jonathan had with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It will be recalled that Abba had, in September, told journalists that 20 policemen were still missing after the attack.

He, however, said on Tuesday that one of the missing policemen had since been discovered to have reported back at his base.

He said, “Even last week, we were able to identify that one of the missing officers in Gwoza had gone back to his base. So there can still be some that are in their homes, perhaps refusing anyone to report that they are around because of the trauma they went through or they could still be among families in some of the villages there.

“It still remains our hope that they are alive and that they will come back alive. We are still talking about 30 missing officers.”

Abba, however, declined comments on the fate of the Chibok girls.

Abba said the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, was in the best position to speak to the press on the matter.

The CDS had earlier declined comment, saying the Nigerian media had been leaving issues to discuss personalities.

Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN), said the Federal Government’s negotiation with the Boko Haram sect which led to a ceasefire agreement was still ongoing.

He disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

Adoke said the meeting was properly briefed on the latest development as far as the agreement was concerned.

“The negotiation is still ongoing. The council was briefed about it,” he said.

When asked to speak specifically on the fate of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, the minister said the government was “keeping its fingers crossed.”

“We are keeping our fingers crossed,” he said.

Other ministers who attended the meeting included Aliyu Gusau (Defence); Aminu Wali (Foreign Affairs) and Abba Moro (Interior).

Vice President Namadi Sambo was also in attendance.

The heads of security agencies who attended included Badeh; and the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security.

Senate expresses concern over East-West Road

Chairman, Senate Committee on SURE-P, Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi), has expressed concern over the non-completion of the East-West Road in spite of the amount of money invested in the project.

Ningi made the remark at a meeting to verify the implementation level of 2014 Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme budget on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the East-West road had attracted funding for over 10 years without completion.

He added that “the East-West road is a national project and it has been attracting funding for more than 10 years.

“The level of implementation of this road leaves much to be desired.

“I think that those who are saddled with the responsibility of making sure the East West Road is completed must see it as a cardinal objective of this government.”

The chairman said those saddled with the responsibility of carrying out the project were not living up to expectations, adding that the project had been funded from different sources over the years without accountability.

Ningi charged the sector handling the road project to be accountable to the people to ensure proper implementation of the SURE-P intervention fund.

He also said the committee would not rest on its oars in ensuring the completion of road projects in the country, including the Abuja-Lokoja road.

Sen. Ganiyu Solomon (APC-Lagos), who spoke on SURE-P intervention in transportation in the FCT, said the nonchalant attitude of initial beneficiaries to pay back was a major setback to the project.

Ganiyu, who is the Vice Chairman of the committee, said most beneficiaries who drove the SURE-P Mass transit buses were not keeping to the terms of agreement in spite of the fact that such loans had no interest.

He, however, said government should not relent in making sure that Nigerians, particularly FCT residents who reside in satellite towns, have easy access to mass transit buses.

Ganiyu said a situation where FCT residents spent hours waiting for vehicles to convey them to their places of work was unacceptable.

He said, “We’ve taken note of that and we will still make provisions for more transit buses because at the end of the day, government must rise to that responsibility.

“Government cannot come up with excuses because some people are not paying up. We have to make sure we put more buses on the road.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation in its presentation said N43bn was budgeted for the sector from SURE-P.

A Director in the ministry, Mr Eric Onyeiwu, said the total amount of money certified on the sector’s project as at September 30, was N26bn, amounting to about 70 per cent utilisation of the budget.

Onyeiwu expressed optimism that the sector would be able to implement at least 95 per cent of the funds earmarked for the sector at the end of the 2014 fiscal year.

Other sectors, which also presented their financial report to the committee, included Community Services, Women and Youth Empowerment Project, National Planning, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, among others.

We don’t need violence to change Nigeria –Oyegun

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the future of the nation depended on the attitude of Nigerians towards choosing the kind of government that would rule them.

He added that while violence was not necessary to make Nigeria a better nation, Nigerians must realise that they deserved the kind of leaders they elected at the polls.

The APC chairman and former governor of Edo State spoke at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan while delivering a lecture titled, ‘Nigeria, a Trajectory of Dashed Expectation: Looking into the Future with Hope’, at the 2014 Alumni Lecture organised by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association on Friday night.

He warned that until Nigerians moved away from the era of sycophancy, political irresponsibility, dishonesty, moral turpitude and betrayal of public trust, the nation might not realise its greatness in many years to come.

He said, “I see very bright future for us all, but a lot depends on the Nigerian people, who continue to show docility and not being able to take their destinies in their own hands.

“Without any resort to violence, because that, to me, is defeatist, I do believe that we as a people can achieve so much through the ballot box by easing out that party who has held on to power for a decade and a half and have not made any meaningful impact in our lives.

“We in Nigeria today must begin to put an end to sycophancy and political acts of irresponsibility as is presently the case in Nigeria and begin to think deeply on how to develop our nation. And this is what we do in APC.

“While it remains an obvious truth that Nigeria, 54 years after, is perceived and still behaves like a toddler, there is no doubt that the country has suffered stunted growth as a result of gross leadership failure.

“This is exemplified by our failure, as a people to use our huge human and material resources to galvanise development in our country, this in spite of being a leading oil producing country in the world.”

He called for a balance between present needs and future demands that must be hinged on a well-articulated economic blueprint.

In his contribution, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, called on the executive arm of the government not to misunderstand the legislative arm in its oversight functions of budgeting and appropriation of funds to ensure effective utilisation of the allocation. He also commended the UI management for sustaining quality education in the country.

Tambuwal called on Nigerians not to lose hope for a brighter, better Nigeria.

As Jonathan sermonises in Israel

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said he could not rule out the possibility of committing errors while administering the affairs of the country. He spoke at an interdenominational church service with the theme ‘A day with Jesus for Nigeria in Israel’ held in Israel as part of his two-day pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Comments:

Abiodun Adeniran: Jonathan should please spare us those religious talks and show us performance and results. Our political leaders have for too long manipulated the masses through insincere religious rhetoric. Being religious does not translate into godliness. In fact, if it were to be like the very ancient days, many of the Nigerian leaders in Israel presently on purported holy pilgrimage would have been visited by God on the spot.

Mushin Speaks: It will take a donkey’s years to correct the mistake in your government, Mr. President. Was the missing $20bn, which cannot be traced till date, a mistake? Was the Nigeria Immigration Service job recruitment strategy that claimed the lives of 15 graduates also a mistake? Yet the supervising minister for the NIS, Abba Moro is still the Minister of Interior. These instances are numerous, but posterity will judge you.

Anonymous: Why travel to Isreal (of course, with tax payer’s money) with such a large entourage just to attend an interdenominational service? What happened to the state cathedral in Aso Rock? Only God knows how many millions would have been wasted again on this parade of shame by shameless wolves that call themselves political and religious leaders.

Omo West: No one is infallible. We are born to make mistakes, but acknowledging our mistakes and moving to correct them should be paramount. Jonathan has promised to correct his errors and mistakes if he is re-elected in 2015. So my fellow Nigerians, let’s give him a chance.

Nigeria to import petroleum products for 20 years

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

Nigeria and other African countries will continue to be net importers of petroleum products despite the availability of functional and quasi-functional refineries, and plans to build more refineries on the continent, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said.

According to her, plans to build more refineries in Angola, Uganda, Mozambique and Nigeria cannot change the situation.

Alison-Madueke spoke at the eight edition of the Oil, Trading and Logistics (African Downstream) Expo held in Lagos on Tuesday.

“Notwithstanding the possibility of building new refineries in Africa, including new projects in Angola (Sonaref refinery); Uganda (Uganda oil refinery); Mozambique (Nacala refinery); and Nigeria, among others, Africa will remain a net importer of petroleum products for at least 20 years to come,” she said.

The minister, however, pointed out that Nigeria was already on the path to adding more capacity by 2020 through the proposed private refineries by the Dangote Group and Orient, and Bayelsa, Kogi, and Lagos states, among others.

Alison-Madueke, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Gas, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Oliver Okparaojiakor, said sub-Saharan Africa was the least sophisticated refining centre in the world.

She said, “In fact, there are only 24fuels refineries within the region, with a total refining capacity of 1.6 million barrels per day for a population that is close to a billion. Population growth means more energy consumption.

“However, the uncompetitive and inefficient nature of many of these refineries, combined with the difficulty in funding major upgrades, or new capacity, seem likely to keep the average utilisation at a low level in the short term.

“The implication of population growth for Africa is that demand for petroleum products will continue to be on the rise without commensurate refining capacity addition. There is an urgent need to encourage investors to partner with national oil companies or privately to build more refineries, and for us to be less dependent on imports.”

Refining crude oil in Nigeria’ll help economy -IPMAN

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria on Tuesday said local refining of the nation’s crude remained the only way to stem the effects of declining crude oil prices on the Nigerian economy.

National President, IPMAN, Mr Chinedu Okorokwo, made the assertion during the association’s zonal meeting and inauguration of the new western zonal vice-chairman in Lagos.

Okoronkwo said the decline of price of crude oil at the international marketer should not disturb Nigerians adding that local refining would cushion other expenses and boost Gross Domestic Products.

According to him, more than 243 by-products are associated with crude oil but only three are maximised in Nigeria.

He said, “When we refine our crude locally we harness more products to boost the country’s economy.

“We should not entertain any fear on the current decline in crude oil prices globally.

“IPMAN is working seriously to ensure that the proposed three billion dollars refineries in Kogi and Bayelsa come on stream by 2016 to reduce cost of refining outside the country.”

He said that when the refineries come on stream, the nation would continue to build and maintain a healthy external reserves position.

He added that: “We are proposing to build two refineries in Nigeria, one in Bayelsa and another one in Kogi, to ease scarcity which is part of the present administration’s agenda.

“We are in discussion with our foreign investors.

“We will ensure that the product will get to all nooks and crannies of the country; it will also grow the GDP of the country because capital flight will be reduced drastically.

“Where Nigerians are spending $60bn in importing refined products, the proposed refineries will reduce the cost and stress of exporting crude to bring in refined products.

“It will also create jobs; there will be massive job creation where Nigerian youths will be gainfully employed. It will also stop incessant kidnapping in the country.”

Okoronkwo also said the proposed refineries would go a long way in supporting the socio-economic growth of the country as part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude oil producer, is the biggest importer of refined petroleum products in the continent, creating a lucrative market for refineries particularly in Europe and the U.S.

He expressed confidence that domestic refineries hold enormous economic benefits for Nigerians and Nigeria.

According to him, IPMAN cannot commit more than $3bn without making sure that the refineries will work.

Newly-elected vice chairman, western zone, IPMAN, Alhaji Debo Ahmed, lauded government effort in combating pipeline vandalism and reassured Nigerians of the commitment in ensuring effective monitoring of petroleum distribution.

After collecting their N24m, PDP rejects two presidential aspirants

Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa

A fresh crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party over the insistence of some of its members to contest its presidential primary with President Goodluck Jonathan.

But the national leadership of the party has refused to sell its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms to two other presidential aspirants.

Two of the aspirants, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa and Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola, were at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday to purchase the forms, but they were turned back.

First to arrive was Tafawa-Balewa, who hails from Bauchi State. He is also the son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, the late Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa.

It will be recalled that all the caucuses of the party, including the National Executive Council had endorsed President Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate.

Tafawa-Balewa had on September 21 condemned the action, which he said was a plot by the leadership of the party to frustrate other presidential aspirants.

He insisted that he would not be intimidated by such a decision and vowed not to be cowed.

2015: Kwankwaso declares, says Jonathan incompetent

L-R: A former Governor of Kogi State, Abukakar Audu; Chief Audu Ogbeh; Kano State Governor, Musa Kwankwaso; and Senator Bukar Abba, during the declaration of Kwankwaso to run for the 2015 presidential election at the old parade ground, in Abuja…on Tuesday

The Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Tuesday formally declared his interest in vying for the Presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress.

At a rally held at the Old Parade Ground, in Abuja, the Presidential aspirant during the occasion, cast aspersions on the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party administration, describing it as incompetent.

He observed that Nigerians were today exposed to unimaginable hardship which, he said, was due to the failure of leadership at the highest levels.

Kwankwaso noted that the looting of public funds had gone on unabated because those saddled with the responsibility of watching over the nation’s wealth were busy stealing it.

He also expressed sadness that the welfare of women and children as well as the most vulnerable in society had not been given its pride of place in the scheme of things.

The aspirant commended Nigerian youths for being angry. He said anger in today’s Nigeria was a virtue because those saddled with the responsibility of providing a conducive atmosphere for citizens to achieve their life’s goals had failed in their responsibilities.

The governor hailed the APC for being the only party which had internal democracy.

Kwankwaso said, “The call to save our dear country has never been louder, clearer and more unambiguous than now. Every facet of our national life is deteriorating. Governance has been reduced to mediocrity, incompetence and impunity. I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult.”

He also said no matter how difficult, the journey was worth embanking on because the nation was in dire need of salvation.

Kwankwaso said should he get the job, he would concentrate on the restoration of peace and security to the country by defeating the Boko Haram sect.

He said, “Lives and properties of our citizens must be protected and secured. Boko Haram and all forms of insurgency must be defeated. As a government, we cannot afford to live in denial. Insecurity is escalating at an alarming rate.

“Little wonder rag-tag insurgents are taking over cities and towns in the North-East. My experiences as Nigeria’s Defence Minister and as a Special Adviser on war-torn Darfur and Somalia have shown me that securing a nation and fighting and defeating armed insurgents is only achievable if the forces are professionally mobilised, properly kitted and equipped, highly spirited and correctly armed with intelligence and ammunition. My experiences have shown me that technology must be deployed in addition to mobilising and cultivating the support of local communities.”

The aspirant said relegating the welfare of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force to the background would only help in compounding the phenomenon.

He maintained that the APC as a party understood all these very well. That was why it was requesting Nigerians to come together and vote for the party.

“Our journey to economic prosperity will always be imperiled if the peace and security of movements of persons and goods cannot be guaranteed. Stopping these menaces does not require rocket science,” he added.

Kwankwaso also promised to give priority to the war against corruption by running a transparent and an all-inclusive government.

He noted that the impunity with which corruption was being perpetrated, promoted, and protected by the present PDP administration left no patriotic Nigerian in doubt that the government was working deliberately and with determination to impoverish Nigerians.

Nigerians, he said, had a duty to stop such people to save our country.

He also promised to build strong institutions which would take on the anti-graft war without minding whose ox is gored. He reeled out his achievements in various public offices he had held and promised to do better if given the chance.

He also promised to restore Nigeria’s global image through the overhaul of the nation’s foreign policy.

When contacted, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, referred our correspondent to the party’s national publicity secretary.

Calls put through to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, were neither picked nor replied.

A response to a text message sent to him was being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

UPDATE: Zambian president ‘King Cobra’ dies in UK

Zambian President Michael Sata, who was nicknamed “King Cobra” for his fiery tongue and larger-than-life personality, has died, the country’s national radio said Wednesday morning.

He was 77.

Officials did not disclose a cause of death. But Sata had traveled to London for unspecified medical treatment last week.

He died in a hospital there Tuesday evening, the government-owned Zambia Daily Mail said.

Sata took office in September 2011 after the incumbent President tearfully conceded in a televised speech, a rare moment in a continent known for volatile elections and leaders fighting their defeat tooth-and-nail.

Analysts hailed his election as an example of an African nation with a vibrant democracy. But not too long after he took office, speculation swirled over his lack of visibility — which especially stood out for a man who loves the spotlight.

Aides said his absence was a result of private international visits, and maintained those trips had nothing to do with medical treatment.

The nation’s bloggers have frequently criticized what they describe as “absence of leadership,” leading him to make a surprise appearance in parliament last month and declare that he was not dead.

Sata was born in the Zambian town of Mpika in 1936, and worked as police officer during the colonial administration. He later trained as a pilot in Russia before returning home and helping develop housing projects in the nation.

During Zambia’s struggle for independence from Britain, he jumped into politics, and later founded the Patriotic Front — then an opposition party. His campaign events electrified crowds drawn to his extroverted nature and fight for the average man.

Sata, who narrowly lost to his predecessor Rupiah Banda in 2008, was a major critic of Chinese investment in the nation’s copper industry. He especially targeted foreign companies that mistreat Zambian workers, making him popular among the nation’s miners who accused the Chinese of deplorable work conditions.

While in office, he warned foreign companies that while their investment is crucial to his nation, they must abide by the labor laws.

The veteran politician has served in other positions, including city council, member of parliament and cabinet minister for local government.

Before his election, the tiny, copper-rich nation in southern Africa had been ruled by the same party for decades.

Since President Goodluck Jonathan assumed Nigeria’s presidency in 2010, many people have criticised him for not doing enough to better the lot of Nigerians.

Among the latest critics of President Jonathan is Toyin Dawodu, a popular social commentator in the country.

According to an opinion piece written by Dawodu and first published by Sahara Reporters, he described Jonathan as someone who seized his opportunity to rule, had his chance, and blew it.

Dawodu also advised Nigerians that if the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, were to nominate President Jonathan, Nigerians should wholeheartedly reject Jonathan’s candidacy for one simple reason: He can’t do the job.

He based his opinion on the fact that after four years of Jonathan’s administration, one thing is very clear: Jonathan is not the leader Nigerian needs.

Dawodu stated that four more years of Jonathan’s presidency will delay progress in the country for another four years or more and ‘we can’t afford to delay our own progress any longer’.

“Americans have a saying: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

That saying is absolutely true. Research teams at both Harvard University and MIT confirm humans automatically make snap judgments about others within three seconds of meeting them. We judge not only their level of danger and friendliness, we also try to determine their level of education, affluence, influence and value to us as connections – all in 2.8 seconds. These conclusions that we reach in under three seconds serve as the foundation on which we base our opinions of others. These are first impressions and try as you will, it’s hard to get someone to change his mind about a first impression.

President Goodluck Jonathan

So then, I will ask you this: Since assuming his post as president in 2010, what impression has Goodluck Jonathan made on you? I would say he seized his opportunity to rule, had his chance, and blew it. In four years, he has never been able to push his way past being ineffective, so he’s out. I hope Nigerians are smart enough to show him the door out of Aso Rock. And even if PDP were to nominate him, Nigerians should wholeheartedly reject Jonathan’s candidacy for one simple reason: He can’t do the job.

NIGERIA: Enugu West Senatorial Seat and South East Interest

Without a doubt, South East Nigeria is the least politically conscious zone in the country. The atomization and fragmentations evident in the zone’s political life have been so deeply engrained that whoever manages to come to power in the precinct carries on in a manner worse than the Russian Czars of antiquity - a rot earl trashing the way to power and doing even worse things to remain in power.

How else can one explain the raw power being exhibited by the Governor of Enugu State, who has arrogated to himself the power to decide who runs or returns for all the elective positions accruing to the State? What is more, through such politics, the zone has continued to rob the South East and indeed Nigeria so much.

Nigerian politics is ever fully charged and calling for the best of brinkmanship. Other regions in the country all understand this and pushing their best eleven forward, except the South East. To the apolitical region, it really doesn’t matter for as long as some narrow business interests are served.

Enugu State remains a damning example of the demonstrations of how and why the South East is politically backward in Nigeria. Apart from being the headquarters of the zone and its political permutations, Enugu State, since the return to the current civil dispensation in 1999, has remained a hotbed of some kind of political atavism and politics of exclusion.

In a nation where unitary federalism is practiced, every federating unit and its regional grouping, have to carefully aggregate their interests and enter the political struggle from a position of strength. Regrettably, South East is not doing this. It is rather always encouraging divisions and shooting themselves at the foot and busy playing to the gallery, destroying even those who reared their heads both in the States and at the center. Are Igbos meant to kill their own species?

Pull Him Down Syndrome has always been rife in the region. At the verge of the 2011 PDP Presidential Primaries and Election, Chime vs. Nwodo brouhaha consumed Okwesillieze Nwodo and the position of National Chairman of the ruling party zoned to it and occupied by him. Alhaji Ahmed Alkali was put in an acting capacity and soon after, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur assumed the same office in substantive capacity, and Igbos never returned to it till date. No thanks to the politics of attrition in Enugu and South East.

For the avoidance of doubt, media report had it that the so-called aggrieved members of the PDP who then dragged Nwodo to court were allegedly sponsored by Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu state.

It was exactly the same show of shame when the Senate presidency was zoned to the South East. It traveled through all the five South East states between 1999 and 2005. The best of the zone’s political class, including the erudite and charismatic Chuba Okadigbo, were burnt in the furnace of the zone’s destructive politics.

More recently, the desire of the outgoing Governor Chime to muscle his way to the Senate is replaying the same murky politics. Like many other governors who now see the Nigerian Senate as a retiring benefit, where most of them merely warm the seats, Chime sees going to the Red Chamber as more important than sustaining the South East interest. For the avoidance of doubt, the Office of the Deputy Senate President is zoned to the South East and the possibility of the region retaining it or move up the ladder depends on the number of ranking Senators to return from the zone; more importantly, the return of its incumbent in the person of Ike Ekweremadu. This will not be if the Governor who has imposed his will, is allowed to have his way.

The issues at stake are truly beyond Enugu State. The South East ought to examine the matter and begin to articulate its interest ahead of 2015. Those who claim that it is the democratic right of the governor to contest the Senatorial seat are correct. But they should also take another look at the electoral process in the State and see how democratic it is.

The coming of Governor Sullivan Chime to the Senate is bound to set the South East back. To begin with, as a non-ranking senator, it is almost certain that he would not succeed Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President. This is at variance with better and deft calculations regarding Ekweremadu’s counterparts in the other regions. The example of the Idoma people as regards Senator David Mark is instructive. They do not want to gamble away the office of the Senate President by insisting that Mark had been to the Senate for four record times and would be returning for the 5th term. They are aware of the high stakes and strategic position Mark occupies in the nation’s polity due to the office of the Senate President which he occupies.

The South East ought to play the same politics in the case of Ike Ekweremadu by prevailing on Chime to sidetrack the Senate and set his eyes on other positions, which would come to Enugu State, such as ambassadorial or ministerial slots. Such would guarantee that he (Chime) remains relevant in Enugu nay Nigeria’s politics if this is his preoccupation.

Ike Ekweremadu is not just a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Igbos ought to reciprocate his exemplary representation, which has transcended Nigeria, to encompass West Africa sub-region where he (Ekweremadu) is the incumbent Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

In his position as the Deputy President of the Senate, Ekweremadu also became the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review. The nation could not successfully amend the constitution up to 2007. But since he set out on the onerous assignment in that year, he has guided the Senate and indeed the NASS to a record three successful amendments of the 1999 Constitution and is at the verge of completing the 4th.

The 1999 Constitution was contrived by the departing military to retain Nigeria as a unitary system. But Ekweremadu has been pushing for the return of the country to true federal system, where there shall be multilevel policing, Local Government autonomy, independent Judiciary, independent State Assemblies as well as a return to regionalism or creation of a State in the South East to bring the region at par with the rest of the country in the meantime. Not only has he completed his PhD specialising in Constitutional Law, he is very much sought after by many important educational and international organizations in and outside Nigeria. He has spoken on these themes at the Johns Hopkins University, in USA, York University in Canada, Commonwealth organisations, to name but a few.

Ekweremadu, as a representative per excellence, has equally complemented the development efforts of the Enugu State Government and South East by attracting well over 168 projects to the State and zone. Many impassable communities in Enugu State, even outside his senatorial district, now have access roads. Ike Ekweremadu has equally partnered with Senator David Mark, Senate President, to deliver the most stable Senate since the return to democratic dispensation. Mark can sleep with two eyes closed knowing he has a loyal and equally experienced deputy. Their bonding is all too obvious.

Governor Chime’s decree seeking to retire Enugu lawmakers is draconian and self-serving, especially when he too wants to come to the Senate after two terms as governor. He is the Governor of Enugu, not Enugu itself. Let the people decide. Even if it is a benevolent decree as claimed, Ekweremadu’s case ought to be an exception. If Benue says Mark should return, why should Enugu Government try to stop their own?

Ekweremadu has tbeen a great asset to both Enugu State and South East and indeed to the nation and West African sub-region. To permit the ill-advised senatorial ambition of the Governor to terminate such thriving representation of an ebullient and energetic intellectual and grassroots transformer will be a disservice of the highest order.

Therefore, the South East leaders ought to assert themselves on such cases where the interest of the entire race is being compromised and do all they can to compel the belligerent forces acting in reflux to regain perspective. That way, the interest of the region is protected and its place in the nation’s polity guaranteed. To ignore such will mean that atomization and fragmentation of the South East people will continue and leave the region as the weakling of the nation’s politics, as it has always been.