Condemn Boko Haram, Clark dares IBB, Buhari (Vanguard)

ABUJA— Elder statesman and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, yesterday, declared that some highly placed individuals from the Northern part of the country were behind the increasing spate of violence in Nigeria to actualize their vow of “making the nation ungovernable for President Jonathan.” Speaking as a guest lecturer at the “2nd State of the Federation Lecture” organized by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, Clark therefore challenged two former heads of state, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari, to establish their innocence by publicly condemning activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.
The lecture was chaired by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana.

Former heads of state, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari

His word: “Our type of terrorism is home grown, unlike in Israel and the US, where terrorism was imported from the Middle-East. Here our Nigerians are the Boko Harams. Boko Haram which was religious has now become a political tool. Those who said they would make Nigeria ungovernable are those behind Boko Haram. It is our proverb that if in the night a mother sleeps with the child and owl cries, if in the morning that child dies, it is the owl that killed the baby. Federal Government should pick up courage and the political will to take up these people, if that is done I believe the problem of Boko Haram will be solved.
“If the Federal Government should dialogue with them, the government of those states should be able to galvanize their people. What are their grievances?  Like in the Niger Delta, our own agitation was for the implementation of the 50% derivation formula, today, what is their grievance?
“They are killing everybody, security forces, burning churches, burning human beings. I appeal to governors, instead of devoting themselves to holding governorship meetings in Abuja every month; they should go home and work.  They should be made to know that if they don’t perform, state of emergency will be declared in their states for six months.
“Two former heads of state recently made this kind of appeal against the growing level of insecurity in the country, as if they were not part of the system when Boko Haram was formed.
“Boko Haram preceded Jonathan. It started in 2002 when Obasanjo was President. It was there when Yar’Adua was also ruling. It is not synonymous with Jonathan. I had expected that somebody like Babangida should have spoken since. I thought he would have spoken with his friend Buhari. Two of them have been meeting. So why is he now with Obasanjo?
“At 72, Babangida said he will wear uniform and fight for the unity of Nigeria, he should therefore stand up now and condemn Boko Haram from the bottom of his heart, not with Obasanjo.
“Obasanjo has gone to Maiduguri to meet the people, why has Babangida not gone?” he asked.
Besides arguing that President Jonathan has the legal right to seek re-election in 2015, Clark, yesterday, condemned the height of corruption in the judiciary, calling for the immediate prosecution of past political office holders, some of whom he said were granted frivolous ex-parte injunctions.
Recalling that he earlier wrote a petition to the erstwhile Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, on the role and failure of the Judiciary to eradicate corruption in Nigeria, Clark lamented that “some very high profile cases of corruption against some former governors and ministers have been lying fallow in various courts for five years and above.”

Those that must be prosecuted

Those he said should be prosecuted immediately were, Senator Saminu Turaki for allegedly embezzling over N36billion from the Jigawa State treasury, Ayo Fayose for alleged money laundering and misappropriation of about N1.2 billion, Senator Joshua Dariye, whose female associate he said was also arrested and sentenced in London for money laundering; Chimaroke Nnamani, for alleged N5.5billion theft, Dr Peter Odili, for money laundering and looting of about N100billion from Rivers State only to subsequently secure a perpetual injunction stopping his trial.
“Today Dr Peter Odili is one of the freest and recognized political leaders to the extent of his being honoured by the Nigerian Army to decorate their officers at a ceremony; what a shame! In other words, the former Governor has secured a permanent injunction against his arrest and prosecution.”
Others he said should be expeditiously tried were former governor of Adamawa, Boni Haruna, ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo State, Reverend Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, James Onanefe Ibori of Delta State, former Acting Governor of Plateau State, Michael Botmang, Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State, Adamu Abdullahi of Nasarawa State, former Ministers of Aviation, Prof. Babalola Borishade and Femi Fani-Kayode who he said “is parading himself today as a moral icon in the society.”
Regretting that President Jonathan “has been abused, called all sorts of names such as drunken fisherman and a weakling unfit to govern,” by those he said were bereft of good family upbringing, Clark said, “for instance, Pastor Tunde Bakare has turned his pulpit to a political theatre where he preaches against President Jonathan and his administration to the extent of saying that the President will not last up to 2015, adding that Nigerians should be ready for fresh elections any time before 2015.
Chief Clark also implored President Goodluck Jonathan to promptly convoke a national conference with a view to creating a veritable platform for the discussion of contemporary issues threatening the continued existence of Nigeria as a federation.
The Minister of Information in the First Republic, who condemned the over centralization of the nation’s revenue in the hands of the Federal Government decried what he termed “unfair execution of the 1999 constitution,” saying the country was far from practising either true federalism or fiscal federation and emphasized the need for an urgent amendment of the 1999 constitution.
Lamenting the near absence of transparency and equity in the way the nation’s resources were being managed, the  Ijaw leader, urged Federal Government to start appointing two Accountants General, “one to take charge of the finances of the Federal Government, while the other will take charge of the finances of the federating units.”
He said: “The Federal Government does not own the resources. It belongs to the Nigerian Federation and the owner communities. The assignment of the responsibility to collect revenue should not be taken as making the collecting agent the exclusive owner of such resources. It is for this reason that I am recommending that the Federal Government should start appointing two Accountants General.
“By collecting the revenue into the national coffers, the resource producing communities are denied the wherewithal to carry out the development of their communities which are devastated as a result of the exploration of these resources. The revenue allocation formula in the country shows a fiscal dominance of the Federal Government. This is not in line with best global practices in federalism. It therefore poses a major challenge in our political evolution,” he added.

Need for National confab

Highlighting need for the national conference, Clark, warned members of the National Assembly to stop arrogating to themselves the powers to speak for Nigerians on every occasion, saying, “the National Assembly itself is also an aspect to be discussed at the conference.
“Some of them are facing investigation and trial in court. Most of them emerged through corruption, name any panel of inquiry that they successfully concluded, especially the House of Representatives, without element of corruption, is there any? My answer is no. Why then should they arrogate the powers of amending the constitution to themselves alone,” he queried.
Concluding his lecture, Chief Clark appealed to the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives to take it easy on their impeachment threats on the President, if he fails to implement the budget 100%.
According to him, “I do not think it is really possible anywhere in the world to implement a nation’s budget fully and completely between July and September, except there are other motives or reasons which have not been made known to the public. I agree with them that they have every right to impeach the President if he violates any section of the Nigerian Constitution.
This of course is not the first time such attempts are being made to impeach the President. The threat by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and other members of the House in which the scandal of “Ghana must go” bags were found on the floor of the House has not been forgotten.”

How Edo people will vote today (Vanguard)

After several months of painstaken campaigns by the different political parties, the die is cast as  the people of Edo will today through  the ballot box  decide who their governor will be. Gabriel Enogholase writes that one factor that cannot be ignored is that of ethnic politics which  has become a corner stone in Edo politics.


BARRING last minute hitches, Edo people go to the poll today to elect the governor of their choice who will pilot the affairs of the state for another four years. The race to the Chief Denis Osadebe Avenue, seat of the Edo state Government House is expected to be a three-horse affair.
The candidates for the election are the incumbent governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (A C N) ,  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candiate, Major – General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd)  and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Solomon Edebiri.

However, with the withdrawal of the candidate of the CPC, Mr. Roland Izevbuwa from the race, six political parties will contest the election for the most coveted seat in the state.
Judging from events in the state since the famous Court of Appeal judgment which restored Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s mandate coupled with his performance in office and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeing itself as a party merely on leave from absence from the Government House, which it had occupied for over 10 years, a titanic battle is certainly underway as pundits see it as a straight battle between Oshiomhole and the PDP candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere.

It is the believe of some observers of political events in Edo state that since the creation of the defunct Mid-West and Bendel state and now Edo state, no governor has been able to make any meaningful impact in the governance of the state than the incumbent governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, except the era of Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, a retired Brigadier – General and Prof. Ambrose Alli of blessed memory during the Second Republic.   .

Therefore, there is no doubt that the non-performance of the PDP government during its ten years at the helm of affairs in the state and the performance of the Oshiomhole in his three and half years in office has become the campaign issue ahead of today’s election.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party believes that the Comrade Governor’s performance could at best be described as cosmetic and a scratch on the surface and had accused him of financial recklessness and inflicting pains on the people of the state through the imposition of levies and taxation and the destruction of their houses.

Comrade Oshiomhole on the other hand, has continued to thumb up his chest like the proverbial lizard who praises himself after falling from an iroko tree. He has continued to tell the citizens of the state and the world at large that he met Edo state in a sorry state when he took over in 2008 and has since turned the fortunes of the state around.
He has cited the construction of roads across the state, hospitals and health centres, construction and renovation of schools, water, and employment of over 11,000 youths under its Youth Employment Scheme (YES), transportation and human capacity buildings as some of his greatest achievements in office.
Against this backdrop, who carries the day in today’s election? Will the pendulum swing once again in Oshiomhole’s favour or the PDP candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere or will the dark horse in the race, Chief Solomon Edebiri of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) spring a surprise?
However, going into memory lane, the first acid test between the opposition PDP and the incumbent governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in the Akoko-Edo state constituency 1 re-run election in which the A C N defeated the PDP to increase its strength in the State House of Assembly.
This was followed by various court verdicts which diminished the solid majority of the PDP with 16 memberships until both parties were put at par with 12 members each until the defection of Hon, Bright Omokhodion of the PDP to the A C N. This happened in 2010.

During the 2011 general elections in the state, the A C N won overwhelmingly in the State House of Assembly garnering 19 of the 24 seats. The party also won two of the senate seats and seven of the Federal House of Representatives seats allocated to the state.
In that election, A C N won overwhelmingly in Edo North and Edo South Senatorial zones while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won five of the State House of Assembly seats, the Senatorial seat and the two House of Representatives seats, obviously due to the towering influence of the Iyasele of Esanland and former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP.
The lost of the Edo Central Senatorial zone cost Esanland the position of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly now occupied by Mr. Uyi Igbe who comes from zone with the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, Edo South.

One of thing to expect in today’s election is the role of ethnicity in the contest. Vanguard investigation showed that the politics of ethnicity has been let loose, as some tribal demagogues believe that the Bini, with their numerical strength in population and land mass should produce the next governor of the state.
Their claim is that while the PDP years of Chief Lucky should be forgotten as the new PDP will re-produce the magic of Dr. Sam Ogbemudia (Bini) and Prof. Ambrose Alli (Esan) during the Second Republic.
They also recalled that despite the acclaimed performance of Prof. Alli. He was defeated by Dr. Ogbemudia of the NPN in 1983 Governorship election. While both the Chief Priest to the Benin Monarch and Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin have noted that performance in office do not have to depend on tribe of tongue, saying that Oshiomhole has done far more for the Bini people through his giant developmental strides compared to other Bini people that have occupied positions of authorities in the state.
On the other hand, the PDP has accused Oshiomhole of fanning the ember of tribalism when in one of , his political rallies, he listed some key political positions which his kinsmen have denied of in the past and would be redressed if re-elected.

The party also took exception to the remark by the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Hailru Momoh, Ikelebe 111 remark that Edo North will not accept anything short of the governorship position in the state. To them, that marks the introduction of ethnicity in Edo politics.
It is being envisioned that with the emergence of  Bini governorship candidate in the camp of the PDP, what ordinarily looks as a comfortable ride for Governor Oshiomhole is now on the edge because of the voting strength of Edo South which stood at about 58 percent against 32 percent from the North and 16 percent from the Edo Central Senatorial zone,just as pundits say that with the Central zone being a strong PDP strong hold, a sway of votes from Edo South in favour of the PDP candicdate may spell trouble for Oshiomhole.
But others quickly pointed out that Benin- City which holds the population is a cosmopolitan city with no ethnic tribe dominating and would vote according to their conscience.
Another candidate who many said was the acclaimed winner of the governorship debate is Chief Solomon Edebiri, the ANPP governorship candidate. Although, he was the candidate of the PPP, he became the adopted candidate of the Coalition of political Parties in the state comprising the ANPP, CPC, CPP, LP,PPP and CPP.
Edebiri who ran for the governorship race in 2007 under the banner of PPP,  said that he decided to join the race because of his passion to serve and would revive all the moribund industries in the state as well as tuning its fortune around if voted into office.
However, many observers are on the opinion that Edebiri is a future governorship material for Edo state and that his effort at winning the race may just be a flash in the pan. They reasoned that the coalitions are just feather weight with most of having no structures on ground across the state.
On the overall, Analysts posited that the incumbency factor may play a major role in the outcome of today’s election. They argued that the incumbent governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole with enormous political will, influence, reach and financial resources will carry the day.
They also look at the antecedent of the performance of the previous administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vis-a-vis the performance of the Oshiomhole administration within its three and half years in office. Those who spoke with Vanguard said that the governor should be given a second chance to complete on-going projects that he has initiated.

According to Mr.Ehimehen Amhande, a Political analyst and public commentator, “one of the greatest problem facing governance in Nigeria, is the attitude of a succeeding government to complete projects initiated by its predecessor in office.
This is what is responsible for the numbers of white elephant projects scattered through the length and breadth of the country. I therefore advised that the Edo people should vote in Oshimhole to enable him complete the numerous projects that he has initiated”.
Again, there are those who say that it will be too early to access the character of the true Oshiomhole and what becomes of the A C N until the outcome of the July 14, election. According to Mr. Charles Oghuza, “the issue of who succeeds Oshiomhole should be left for now until after the governorship election. We may be putting the cart before the horse for now. That discourse can only come up if he is ere-elected for a second tenure in office”.
However, there are those who believe that the PDP should be overlooked as it also has the federal might and a huge financial chest to do battle with the A C N in the election.

$3 million bribery: Otedola refuses to speak to Reps, insists hearing on allegations must be public (Channels)

The Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi Otedola, on Tuesday honoured the invitation of the House of Representatives Ethics and Privileges Committee probing his alleged $620,000 bribe to the suspended Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Farouk Lawan which probed the management of the fuel subsidy fund.

The committee then went into a closed door session. However, Mr Otedola requested the hearing should be conducted in public.

“I strongly believe that the interest of the public will not be best served if this investigation is held in-camera,” he said.
The committee had invited the billionaire businessman to explain allegations that he gave $620,000 bribe to Mr Lawan, and the erstwhile secretary, Boniface Emenalo, to get his companies off the list of firms indicted for the alleged mismanagement of oil subsidy funds.

I didn’t shun Jonathan – Oba of Benin (Punch)

Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa, has dismissed reports that suggested that he shunned President Goodluck Jonathan and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party during their visit to the palace on Saturday.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo, governors Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Idris Wada (Kogi); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); and the PDP Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, were among top party officials who accompanied Jonathan on the visit to the palace before proceeding to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, for a rally ahead of the July 14 Edo State governorship election.

But the President was reportedly told after waiting for minutes that he could not meet with the monarch for “circumstances beyond his control”.

The Oba, in a statement by the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, on Monday said the Oba later met with Jonathan in a private chamber in the palace, despite a “complicated situation on that day”.

The statement read, “The Palace would like to make it clear that the Omo N‘Oba did not shun Mr. President and the Peoples Democratic Party members that came with him.

“Three weeks ago, the Omo N‘Oba waited for over two hours in his open office where he received Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the PDP chiefs that were in Benin for their political rally.”

Meanwhile, the Oba has pleaded with politicians to shun violence during the election, saying seeking government offices should not be regarded as a do-or-die affair.

Meanwhile, two groups, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change and the African Renaissance Party, have warned youths and politicians in the state against violence during the poll.

In a statement by its President, Nelly Emma, and Secretary, John Sailor, NDIMRC urged candidates for the election to caution their followers against engaging in violent acts.

The group said, “We appeal to those in the Edo State governorship race to play the game by the rule.Politicians must not see the governorship election in the state as a do-or-die affair or turn the state into a battlefield as we will not accept this.”

Also, the acting National Chairman of the ARP, Chief Jackson Omenazu, warned that electoral malpractice could set the state backward.

Omenazu said though the state had experienced some level of transformation under Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the electorate should be allowed to decide who would govern them in the next four years.

Omenazu, who spoke in Port Harcourt on Monday, also cautioned stakeholders not to manipulate the poll.

He said, “Youths in Edo State should not allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians. They must reject any form of gratification from them (politicians). We don’t want the election to be rigged so that the future of the youths will be protected.

“We also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a credible election for the people of the state. The commission should know that the forthcoming election in Edo State is another integrity test, which they must pass.”

PDP faction heads for S’Court against Obasanjo’s group (Punch)

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State on Monday said it had dragged the Chief Ireti Oniyide Caretaker Committee before the Supreme Court over the crisis in the party regarding the state local government election.

Oniyide’s committee is said to be made up of loyalists of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The Chief Adebayo Dayo-led faction of the Ogun PDP said in a statement by its Organising Secretary, Segun Sowunmi, that the group decided to approach the Supreme Court to secure an order for the stay of execution of the recent order of the Court of Appeal.

The Appeal Court had ordered a stay of execution of the judgments of the lower court in the cases involving the two factions of the Ogun PDP.

The party, however, said it had taken its case to the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/259/2012, with a view to getting “an order staying the execution/operation of the order the Court of Appeal made in CA/L/38m/2012 on the strength of which some of these characters are said to be representing the state PDP”.

The PDP faction backed by businessman and party financier, Buruji Kashamu, stressed in the statement that it was not aware of the existence of any caretaker committee.

It added, “Even if one existed in their small minds, it is a clear contempt of even the Court of Appeal order of stay of execution which they flaunt with so much gusto, and three other judgments of the State High Court and the Federal High Court. At the appropriate time and forum, this will be sufficiently addressed.”

The party said it was committed to “dismantling the house built on the quicksand of illegality by the State Independent Electoral Commission and some estranged members of the party.”

The Ogun PDP added that it would not allow itself to be distracted by the antics of some “small minds who specialise in writing frivolous petitions.”

The faction also described Kashamu, as “a man of peace who towers above the petitioners in conduct and character.”

It added, “It is public knowledge that Prince Kashamu prosecutes his battles in the court of public opinion and the court of law.”

The faction urged the security agencies to invite the petitioners to provide them with the details of the alleged plot (of threat of lives by Kashamu) “since their so-called petition is hollow.”

Police, SSS close ranks on Lawan’s $3m bribery scandal (Punchng)

The Police and State Security Service have closed ranks in the former’s bid to crack the $3m bribery case that involves a former chairman, House of Representatives Ad hoc committee on subsidy, Mr. Farouk Lawan, it was authoritatively gathered on Friday.

Lawan and the Clerk to his committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, had collected a total of $620,000 from oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola, to remove his firm, Zenon Oil from the House list of companies that purportedly collected FOREX for fuel importation, but did not do so.

Earlier requests from the Police Special Task Force headed by Ali Ahmodu, to the Director-General, SSS, Mr. Ekpeyong Ita, for assistance in providing the video that captured how the bribe was collected, and telephone call records were rebuffed.

But an impeccable police source familiar with the investigation told SUNDAY PUNCH in Abuja, that the two security agencies had resolved their differences.

He said, “We are working together now to crack the case.

“We are sister security agencies, and we need their assistance just as they need ours. Though the SSS didn’t send us the evidence on time, we didn’t want to report to higher authorities (the presidency), so that we would not be seen to be against them.”

Otedola had earlier claimed that the SSS was involved in what he called “a sting operation” in getting the bribe across to the suspects.

Meanwhile, the Police have declared Thursday’s quizzing of Lawan by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, as illegal, adding that the House had no constitutional right to investigate a criminal matter.

A top police officer said a member of the Committee, Mr. Jagaba, was a suspect, adding that it was not proper for a “suspect to interrogate a suspect.”

The House Ethics committee headed by Gambo Musa had grilled Lawan, who reportedly told its members that what he collected was “money” and not “bribe.”

Lawan’s interrogation was held behind closed doors, contrary to an earlier promise by the House to make it public.

A senior police detective with the Special Task Force told one of our correspondents that the committee was

muddling up their work by quizzing Lawan, and summoning other members of his committee and Otedola.

Otedola is to appear before the committee on Tuesday.

The source advised the House to adhere to its decision during its emergency plenary where it resolved to detach itself from the investigation and wait for the outcome of police investigations.

He said, “The House is going beyond its brief by asking its committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the bribery scandal which the police are already working on.

“They have no legal right to investigate a criminal case that police investigators are probing. Besides, some members of the committee (on ethics and privileges) are suspects in the bribery scandal because Lawan in his statement claimed he gave the bribe to Adams Jagaba.

“We don’t want to take issues with the House, but at the appropriate time, we will move against all of them; we are just bidding our time and following the rule of law,” the officer stated.

The House had during a session on June 15, 2012 directed its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the $620,000 bribery allegation and report back to the House within two weeks.

It was gathered that the STF was trying to establish if other members of the committee benefited from the $620,000 bribe, including house members.

Where the money is kept remains a puzzle for the police as Lawan has failed to surrender it, just as Jagaba denied Lawan’s claim that he gave the cash to him for safe-keeping.

On the saga, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Rueben Abati, said the president was interested in ensuring that all corruption cases related to the subsidy were investigated and culprits brought to book.

He said, “When the President spoke in January on the complete deregulation of the downstream sector, he said it was an attempt to sanitise the sector, rid it of corruption and eliminate waste.

“It was the president’s effort that triggered the House of Representatives probe of the subsidy regime and the revelations that followed.

“That was why immediately he got a copy of the report of the House of Representatives probe, he handed it over to the Attorney-General with a clear directive to send it to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for thorough investigation and prosecution.”

Abati also said the report of the Aig-Imhokuede committee set up by the Ministry of Finance on the same issue had been formally presented to the President.

He said like he did with the report of the House of Representatives, Jonathan would send the report to appropriate agencies for actions.

Drama at Oba’s palace, as Jonathan visits Benin (Vanguard)

AHEAD of the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo State, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, vowed to ensure security, free and fair election in the state, just as he urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to mobilize properly in order to ensure victory.
The President, who arrived the Benin Airport at about 11:45am, proceeded to the palace of the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, with his entourage, including the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur; Chief Tony Anenih, the governorship candidate of the PDP, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere, and the state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih.
However, there was a drama when the Oba requested to see only Jonathan, in his inner chambers when the PDP team came topay a courtesy  call and they spoke for about five minutes. while the Iyasei of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, received other members of the delegation. No reason was given why the Oba could not in the open,  receive the high powered PDP delegation including its governorship candidate Airiavbere.
Contrary to insinuations, the PDP, yesterday, said its team was not shunned by the Oba of Benin.
The Iyasei, after  said, “Our son,  the President came on a courtesy visit and, after his visit, he should have a safe journey home.”
While speaking at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, venue of the state PDP governorship rally, Jonathan thanked the people of Edo State for voting massively for him during the last presidential election and recalled that it was in the state that started the campaign for one man one vote, adding that the forthcoming election will not be an exception.
“So, this time around, no stuffing of ballot paper. No thuggery, no thuggery, no thuggery. It must be one man one vote. I came here to promise the people of Edo State that they should keep faith with that promise, Edo State is going to be one state that will show that example.
“And I have been hearing so much stories on Edo State. Let me assure you that even this morning, before I came, I called the Inspector General of Police, are you ready for Edo State? He said yes. I called the Chief of Defense Staff, are you ready for Edo State?  He said yes. I guarantee hundred per cent security for your election and there will be no manipulation, election results will be entered at the various units and no body will change figures. PDP is the dominant party, as long as you mobilize and vote, the PDP will win”, he declared.
Anenih, who spoke earlier, said the visit of the President had ended what he described as the rumour being peddled that Jonathan may not show up for the campaign in the state.
He said the party was fully prepared for the election.  His words: “We want to put in place a government that will be responsive to the yearnings of the people. Mr President, your presence here has raised our hope. You have energized us. We need a free and fair election. We want to make sure that on election day, all the candidates will be given equal opportunity to vote and go home”.
The national chairman of PDP, Tukur who described the rally as a sea of heads, called on Edo State not to be left out in the PDP train in the South South as the PDP is providing a new agenda in transformation. He presented the PDP governorship candidate,  Airhiavbare, to the rally. Airhiavbare was also handed over the flag of PDP as the gubernatorial candidate.
The candidate promised a humane administration and an accountable government. He said the first thing is to address insecurity.  According to him, there will be peace through enhanced security, improved health programme and education.

Another plane may crash – PROPHECY (Sunnews)

Date: 

Sat, 06/30/2012 - 22:28

Nigerians may witness another plane crash this year if they don’t seek the face of God. A cleric, Bishop John Obiokeke revealed this recently while bemoaning the neglect and disdain with which the government treated victims of Dana plane crash.

He regretted that the crash happened even after he had revealed the mind of God concerning an imminent plane crash on December 31, 2011.

Obiokeke noted that God has led him to prophesy in the 256 Major Global Prophecies on the eve of the New Year that “some Nigerian private planes will have problems this year, some will crash into homes and kill people.


This he recorded in the book on page 17, number 205. Also on number 48, Obiokeke emphasized that ‘an aeroplane painted red, blue and white will crash this year. Pray that this doesn’t come to pass’ According to the Bishop, every year God reveals to him major global events, adding that Nigerians have continued to suffer this fate as a result of the negligence and disdain with which successive governments and those in authority treat the things of God.


He reasoned that since government lacks the necessary equipment to undertake meaningful search and rescue operation it behooves on the authority to seek the face of God to avert such ugly incidents.

Jonanthan/Sambo’s assets: Our hands are tied – CCB ( Punchng)

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr. Sam Saba, has said the constitution bars the bureau from making public the asset declaration forms of President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

He said this in an interview in Abuja, on Friday.

He said the National Assembly had yet to provide the required guidelines to enable individuals or corporate entities to have access to such documents.

Saba explained that the provision of the Freedom of Information Act was in conflict with Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (As amended).

“If you check the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 3 (c), it did not say it (asset declaration forms) should be made available to anybody.

“It says the National Assembly shall have that responsibility to draw up guidelines that will enable members of the public to have access to such declarations.

“The guidelines for that have not been done till today. So long as it has not been done till today, you cannot have access to it. And that is just the key.”

Paragraph 3, Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, provides, “The Code of Conduct Bureau shall have power to: (a) receive declarations by public officers made under paragraph 12 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution; (b) examine the declarations in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct or any law; (c) retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.”

Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution provides that: (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every public officer shall within three months after the coming into force of this Code of Conduct or immediately after taking office and thereafter — (a) at the end of every four years; and (b) at the end of his term of office, submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all his properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his unmarried children under the age of 18 years.”

However, Section 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, states, “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, Law or Regulation, the right of any person to access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is hereby established.”

The media is basing its request for access to President Jonathan and Vice-President Sambo’s asset declaration forms on the FOI Act.

But the CCB boss disagrees with the position of the media, arguing that the bureau’s understanding of the provisions of the FOI Act in itself prevented it from making such forms public.

He said, “The CCB believes that it (the FOI Act) prevents us, because it is at variance with what the constitution says.

“The law is at variance with what the constitution says; there is a case in court to test it.”

 He said the bureau was in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Comission when cases required referral to an agency best suited to handle certain cases.

How Oshiomhole’s convoy was attacked – Police ( Vanguard )

THE Edo State Police Command said yesterday that it has commenced investigation into the attack on the convoy of Governor Adams Oshiomhole Thursday night and the burning of the Police post by youths alleged to be students of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Usen.
However, the State Government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Louis Odion, alleged thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state opened fire on the Governor’s convoy at about 6pm, shortly after he paid a visit to the Onogie of Usen,  His Royal Highness Oluogbe 11,at his palace.
It stated however that “the brave security details attached to the governor, supported by an additional contingent of regular policemen deployed to maintain law and order, rose to the occasion. They were able to shield the governor, key government functionaries and ACN leaders.  But several official vehicles including Toyota Land cruisers, Hilux pick up van and Toyota Corrola Saloon car were either badly damaged or riddled with bullet”.
The attack is coming barely two months after the Governor escaped death following the accident involving his convoy at Auchi, where three journalists in his convoy lost their lives.
However, the Police Command in a statement signed by its spokesman in the state, DSP Anthony Airhuoyo, narrated that “the governor went on campaign tour to Usen town in Ovia South West Council of Edo state, the governor while on his way to the campaign venue met the students and promised to address them on his way back.
After the campaign at about 6: 15pm, the governor decided to address them on a later date as it is already getting late.
But the students barricaded the high way at the outskirt of the town and were compelling the governor to visit their institution. When there demands could not be met, it became riotous. Throwing stones and missile at the governors convoy.
“In the process of dispersing the riotous students, two of them were injured and are currently receiving treatment.
No body was killed in the process. The students later regrouped and went to Usen Police out post and vandalized the place. However, investigation has commenced as the area is closely being monitored by the police” it stated.

Obasanjo faults FG’s GDP figure of 9.7% ( Sunnews)

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday differed with the Federal Government on the claims of the country attaining 7.5 per cent in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), maintaining that the continual rise in poverty rate does not in any way match economic growth rate, and calls for further clarification and questions. 

Obasanjo stated this in Lagos yesterday at the 40th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) with the theme: ‘Strategies for Accelerated Development of the Manufacturing Sector: the Way Forward’.  “It remained worrisome if poverty level in the country in 2007 was put at 38 percent and today it is 69 percent and yet government claims that GDP growth is increasing, then definitely, something is wrong somewhere,” he said. 

Again,he said the ease of doing business report recently released by the World Bank ranked Nigeria 133 out of 193 countries where it is most difficult to conduct business, ditto for the Transparency International which stated that 142 countries are better than Nigeria in the area of corruption.  The former President lamented regretted that the vision of the country to attain its Vision 20-2020 objective will be a hopeless and unfulfilled dream without the development of the manufacturing sector. 

Obasanjo, who was the guest speaker disclosed that since independence, the country’s manufacturing policies have not been consistent and are disjointed as a result of lack of vision and sustained vision,as a result of the negative disposition of civil servants towards private sector operators. 

In this regard, he said, government must do all it can to harness and develop the potentials inherent in the Agriculture, Infrastructure, finance, marketing and distribution, exports, tourism and minning sectors ,if the country was to realize the needed development for the growth of the manufacturing sector. 

Ealier in his opening remarks, the President of MAN, Mr. Kola Jamodu, said the association in its efforts aimed at bridging the information gap between the Federal Government and the association as well as making robust case for a more conducive manufacturing environment, said the association articulated a blueprint for the acceleration of manufacturing in Nigeria.

US Department Of Justice Executes Forfeiture On US Assets of Former Bayelsa Gov. DSP Alamieyesigha-WSJ ( Sahara )

The Department of Justice executed a forfeiture order Thursday on $401,931 in a Massachusetts brokerage fund traceable to an allegedly corrupt former Nigerian governor.
The forfeiture was the first victory for a fledgling Justice Department initiative dedicated to seeking out assets in the U.S. linked to high-level foreign corruption.
Prosecutors filed court papers in April 2011 targeting  a $600,000 Maryland home and a Massachusetts brokerage account belonging to Diepreye Peter Solomon Alamieyeseigha, governor of Nigeria’s oil-producing Bayelsa State from 1999 to 2005. According to prosecutors, Alamieyeseigha’s assets were the proceeds of corruption. Alamieyeseigha denied the allegations in court filings.
Earlier this month, a federal district judge in Massachusetts granted a motion for default judgment and civil forfeiture on the brokerage account. Prosecutors executed the forfeiture order Thursday.
“With a declared income of less than $250,000, Mr. Alamieyeseigha accumulated millions of dollars worth of property over a six-year period,” Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said in a news release.  “Today’s announcement – the first forfeiture judgment obtained under our Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative – sends a powerful message about the United States’ commitment to rooting out corruption far and wide.”
A Nigerian court sentenced Alamieyeseigha to two years in prison in 2007 for failing to declare assets in Nigeria, South Africa and the U.S. Prosecutors said he bought more than $8 million in properties with bribes he received from contractors while serving as governor. Alamieyeseigha also pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of two companies he controlled — Solomon & Peters Ltd. and Alamieyeseigha and Santolina Investment Corp.
In 2006, the High Court of Justice in London found that three of Alamieyeseigha’s properties there, as well as accounts held by Santolina, represented bribe money or were traceable to bribes Alamieyeseigha took from contractors in Nigeria. After he was arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2005, police found about $1.6 million in cash in his house.
A lawyer for Alamieyeseigha didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
In civil forfeiture cases, the Justice Department can file complaints in federal court against property, rather than individuals, linked to foreign corruption. The forfeiture against Alamieyeseigha’s Maryland house is pending in federal court in Maryland.
The Justice Department didn’t say where the forfeited funds would be directed. According to the news release, “where appropriate [the Justice Department will] return those proceeds to benefit those harmed.” A Justice Department spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about whether or not the funds would be returned to Nigeria.

Faroukgate: Police uncover fresh $10m bribe ( Vanguard)

ABUJA — Investigations by Police detectives into the $620,000 oil subsidy bribe money collected by  Mr Farouk Lawan from oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola, have unearthed a wider financial scandal.
It was gathered that oil marketers who were indicted in the report recently submitted to the government by the Aigboje Aig-Imoukuede-led panel that probed the fuel subsidy claims allegedly paid about $10 million as bribe to Lawan committee.

Scam: Hon. Farouk Lawal seating before House Committee on Ethics and Privileges over $620 bribe Scam at National Assembly Abuja.

Vanguard gathered that while the Aig-Imoukuede-led panel uncovered fraudulent overpayments to many of the oil marketers to the tune of N422 billion, all the oil marketers involved and indicted were invited and interrogated by the Lawan committee but were given a clean bill of health.

80% bribe money collected abroad
It has now emerged that the oil marketers gave bribes in foreign currency to the tune of about $10 million and that over 80 per cent of the bribes given were done abroad as the oil marketers, acting in partnership, sponsored some of the leaders of the House subsidy probe panel to the UK and the US, lodged them in choice hotels and gave them the bribes which influenced their being cleared of any fraudulent practice by the committee.

Sources told Vanguard yesterday that the decision of the oil marketers to give out such huge bribes to the House committee was to enable them use the clean bill of health report card, given by the House, to counter the report that would be presented by the Finance Committee panel.
According to sources, police detectives were shocked to find out that the amount of bribe money collected by the Lawan subsidy probe panel to over N15 billion while many House members who hitherto pretended to know nothing of the $620, 000 collected by Farouk, and even lambasted him over the $3 million scam, are neck deep in the $10 million scam.

The marketers were said to have settled for the Farouk committee because the Aig-Imoukuede panel was a no go area and bluntly told them they were not interested in taking bribes to influence their finding.
When Vanguard sought to know what the Police would do concerning the new discovery about the $10 million bribe money most of which took place abroad, it was told that the Police has its ways and that those involved would be found out.

Reps summon Otedola to appear on July 3
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges has summoned Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, to appear before it on July 3.
This was disclosed, yesterday, by the chairman of the committee, Gambo Musa, while briefing newsmen on the proceedings of the committee which interrogated Farouk Lawan over Otedola’s allegation that Lawan collected $620,000 as part of the $3 million bribe he had demanded.
Musa said this had become necessary to enable Otedola respond to some of the revelations made by Lawan when he appeared before the committee.
Lawan who arrived the House Meeting room 4.59, venue of the hearing,  at exactly 1.05pm looked relaxed in his white caftan with a white hat to match. However, shortly after saying the prayers and reading his opening speech, Musa ordered journalists out of the venue of the hearing.
In his opening remarks, Musa recalled how the House reconvened early last January, to address the issue of the Federal Government’s withdrawal of fuel subsidy which had sparked off  nation-wide protests. He also recalled how the House had set up the Adhoc Committee led by Lawan  to probe the fuel subsidy regime and its disbursement adding that the Committee’s report  had attracted applause nation-wide after it was submitted.
He further recalled how the activities of the Committee had taken a new twist after Otedola had alleged he gave Lawan $620,000 as bribe for the purpose of delisting Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd. from companies indicted for diverting foreign exchange allocated to them by the CBN for the purpose of importing petroleum products.
Musa further stated that it was the responsibility of the Committee to unravel what actually transpired during its investigations. He had explained that  Lawan had to be interrogated in camera to avoid jeopardizing the Committee’s investigations.

Cabinet reshuffle may precede appointment of defence minister (PunchNg)

AS a prelude to the appointment of a new defence minister, the Federal Cabinet will be tinkered with to accommodate the appropriate candidate, The PUNCH learnt in Abuja on Wednesday.

The post was vacated by Haliru Mohammed last Friday when President Goodluck Jonathan dropped two of his top security aides. Also fired by Jonathan was the National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi.

The President said their removal was to give way for a fresh strategy to confront the menace of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

A presidency source, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said, “You know Mohammed is from Kebbi State. His successor may not necessarily be from the same state.

“He may not even come from the North-West or even the North. So when a ministerial nominee is picked for the defence ministry, there will be a cabinet reshuffle. One or two ministers may be dropped.

”The President is consulting with former heads of state and security chiefs. He will consult widely as part of efforts to solve the Boko Haram problem.”

Investigations by our correspondents on Wednesday showed that the President had consulted some former security chiefs.

It was also gathered that he would consult former presidents in the process of picking the next minister.

While the federal character consideration would still be maintained by the government, sources in the Presidency said Jonathan had promised that he would appoint the next defence minister on merit.

The source stated that the security situation in the country did not permit primordial consideration.

“Although the issue of federal character cannot be completely ruled out, emphasis will be on merit because we are in an unusual period,” he said.

The PUNCH had on Monday reported that the far North and the South were competing for the defence portfolio.

Some media reports on Wednesday indicated that a former NSA, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (retd.), and a military intelligence officer and former governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar, were being tipped for the post.

It was also learnt that the President would soon rejig the service chiefs, as the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, would soon retire.

Petirin enlisted in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1974 as a member of Regular Course 16 and was commissioned Pilot Officer on January 3, 1977.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, said her office had not received the nominee for the defence ministry.

In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, Emodi said, “I believe that once the President finds someone who meets his conditions for the ministry, the name would be sent to my office.

“At the moment, no name has been forwarded. Once that happens it will be sent to the Senate.”

She said that the President had not picked any candidate for the position.

“The Senate is required to screen the nominee as soon as the name is communicated by the President,” Emodi said.

Suspects name top NNPC, PDP officials as sponsors (PunchNg)

INVESTIGATORS are currently probing some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party fingered as being the mastermind of 6.5 million barrels crude oil theft, The PUNCH investigation has shown.

Also, two officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and two marketers alleged to be part of the thieving ring are to questioned by investigators.

Already, six new suspects, including four additional Filipinos and two Russians had been arrested for the theft. Six crew members of the French ship, MT Vannessa, used for the theft were arrested on June 21 when the vessel was impounded with the stolen oil.

The arrested suspects were said to have mentioned the names of the NNPC officials and four other ships involved in the theft ring. Two of the vessels were said to be owned by two chieftains of the PDP.

Saturday PUNCH had exclusively reported on June 23 that the French ship was impounded on June 21 for allegedly stealing 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day from June 9 till the day it was impounded.

President Goodluck Jonathan, our correspondents learnt, had asked for the report of the investigation into the theft and had vowed to deal decisively with anybody found culpable as a deterrent to other criminals in the oil sector.

The Saturday PUNCH report had also indicated that that the suspects in their statements indicted some political office holders, fuel marketers, some officials of the NNPC and the Department of Petroleum Resources.

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, had on Friday confirmed the ship was impounded was being anchored at the Port Harcourt anchorage.

On Wednesday, a member of the naval special squad which impounded a ship confirmed that the Presidency had demanded for a report on the matter.

The source said, “The President is interested in the matter because of the increasing theft of crude oil.

“Anytime from now, there will be a meeting involving the Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and top security officials. This matter cannot be swept under the carpet.

“Six more suspects have been arrested and two NNPC and two oil marketers have been declared wanted now.

“We are making progress in our investigation. The suspects had named four other ships that were involved in the illegal bunkering. In fact they said two of the ships are owned by two top politicians in the country.”

Our correspondents gathered that security agents, including naval officers and officials of the National Maritime and Administration and Safety Agency and a private security firm, Global West Vessel Specialist, had taken over the ship as part of the investigation.

Our correspondent however learnt that before the arrival of security agents on Wednesday, an oil cartel, comprising oil marketers and NNPC officials, had made desperate efforts to erase past records of the ship as part of moves to thwart investigations.

It was also gathered that the cartel made efforts to get the statements of two of the arrested crew members.

Other items that the cartel was looking for included the ship log book, noon report, oil record book, last port of call, and tank sample paper, which would indicate the last volume of oil loaded by the ship.

The naval officer, who confided in our correspondents, said, “Investigations would have been hampered if they were able to get those items,” adding that the members of the cartel went into hiding on learning that security agents were on their way to the Port Harcourt anchorage.”

The Federal Government had on several occasions expressed concern about the theft of crude oil.

Alison-Madueke, at a round table on crude oil production and the state of the oil industry in Nigeria on May 18 in Lagos, had said that the country was losing $7bn yearly to crude oil theft.

“The country is losing approximately 180,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily at this time. Of course, to the nation, if you look at the international cost of a barrel, it will be estimated at $7bn yearly,” the minister had said.

When contacted, Aliyu told one of our correspondents that the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ola Ibrahim, would brief the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) today on the impounded ship.

“The Chief of Naval staff will appear before the committee tomorrow (today). It is better you wait and hear from the horse’s mouth,” he said.

The committee had on Tuesday asked the Nigerian Navy to hand over the ship to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The committee said that this would prevent a situation where Nigerians would be told that the ship had disappeared.

Curiously, Aliyu, late on Wednesday said the impounded vessel had no oil in it.

He said, “The Captain of the ship is Doliteanu Danut Laurentiu. It departed from Lome Port and arrived Akassa on the June 5 and 6.”

“MT Vanessa sailed seaward to resist arrest by NNS Zaria. Thereafter, NNS Zaria commenced surveillance towards the bridge of MT Vanessa. Then NNS Thunder was sailed in to reinforce the arrest of MT Vanessa.

“The vessel later complied and was escorted by NNS Zaria to Bonny. NNS Zaria handed it over to the Nigerian Navy Forward operating Base in Bonny.”

He, however, claimed that no crude oil was discovered in the ship. “The various storage tanks of the vessel were sounded to confirm products on board, However, no petroleum product was found on Vannesaa.”

Ibori’s mistress released from UK Prison (punchNG)

Udoamaka Okoronkwo-Onuigbo, the mistress of a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, has been released from a United Kingdom Prison after serving two years.

Okoronkwo-Onuigbo, who was tried alongside Ibori’s sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie, was found guilty of money laundering and mortgage fraud and was sentenced to five years by Judge Christopher Hardy of a Southwark London Crown Court on June 7, 2010.

The two women were accused and subsequently convicted of handling proceeds of criminal transactions on behalf of Ibori while he was governor of Delta State.

The court however ordered that their sentences be served concurrently and Okoronkwo-Onuigbo was released in May.

The ex-convict has since returned to Nigeria and was seen in Abuja recently.

Ibori is presently in a UK prison where he is spending a 13-year jail term.

FG won’t plead for drug convicts abroad –AGF ( Punchng )

Federal Government will no longer plead for clemency for any Nigerian convicted abroad of drug-related offences.

The government also promised to ensure effective enforcement of the anti-money laundering laws of the country and lengthy jail sentences for law breakers.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bello Adoke, stated this at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Abuja on Tuesday. The theme of the event, where Adoke was represented by Mr. Pius Oteh, was ‘Global Action for Healthy Communities Without Drugs’.

The event, which was organised by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, also witnessed the public presentation of books written by an official of the NDLEA, Dr. Martin Agwogie.

Adoke appealed to Nigerians involved in drug trafficking to stop denting the image of the country.

He said, “I wish to appeal to Nigerians to respect and abide by the anti-drugs laws not only of Nigeria, but of countries they visit or transit. Nigerians arrested abroad not only bring shame and ridicule upon our country, but also place themselves in the avoidable danger of long jail sentences or even capital punishment, far away from their families, friends and the country.”

The AGF praised the NDLEA for its fight against drug trafficking, promising that the government would continue to improve welfare of the workers.

He added that their efforts would be complemented by “effective enforcement of anti-money laundering laws and lengthy jial sentences for persons who contravene our ant1-trade laws”.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Pius Anyim, represented by his Senior Special Assistance (Research and Documentation), Mr. Ferdinand Agu, said the war against illicit drugs was the responsibility of all Nigerians.

He said, “Report has it that in Brazil alone, over 450 Nigerians are being detained for drug-related offences. In India, over 300 Nigerians are serving various jail terms for drug peddling with 17 of them on the death row.

“These are young individuals that would have been out there contributing their own quota to the social and economic development of our fatherland. This gives cause for worry because the youth, as the saying goes, are the leaders of tomorrow.”

FG sacks NNPC GMD, board (Vanguard)

THE gale of change unleashed by President Goodluck Jonathan last week to rev up his administration which saw the removal of his erstwhile National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, hit top gear, yesterday, sweeping theNigerian National Petroleum Corporation. In one fell swoop he retired the entire management team led by Mr Austen Oniwon.

Mr. Andrew Yakubu, was appointed as the new Group Managing Director.
A statement from the Presidency said the appointments is to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of the nation’s petroleum sector, and to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government.
The statement stated: “The incumbent Group Managing Director, Engr. Austen Oniwon, and Mr. Michael Arokodare, outgoing Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts); Mr. Philip Chukwu, outgoing Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals), and Engr. Billy Agha, outgoing Group Executive Director (Engineering & Technology) are to proceed on retirement.

“The re-composition of the executive management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is as follows:
1.      Engr. Andrew Yakubu   -      Group Managing Director
2.      Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti        -    Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts)
3.      Engr. Abiye Membere      -       Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production)
4.      Dr. Peter S. Nmadu     -           Group Executive Director (Corporate Services)
5.      Engr. Anthony Ogbuigwe        – Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals)
6.      Dr. Attahir B. Yusuf     -           Group Executive Director (Commercial & Investments)
7.     Dr. David Ige               -           Group Executive Director (Gas & Power)
The incoming Group Managing Director, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined the NNPC in 1980. Positions he has held in the corporation include Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company and Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production). Engr. Yakubu is an indigene of Kaduna State and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
President Jonathan also approved the appointment of Engr. Victor Briggs as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC.
Until his appointment as Group Managing Director in May 2010, Austin Oniwon, was the Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals (GED, R&P). Oniwon was born on April 1, 1951, in Okene, Kogi State, North Central Nigeria.

Release your salary details, court orders NASS (Vanguard)

                                            
ABUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, ordered the Clerk of the National Assembly to release to a human rights group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, details of the salary, emolument and allowances collected by legislators between 2007 and 2011.
Trial judge, Justice B. Aliyu, gave the order following the suit by LEDAP against the leadership of National Assembly under the Freedom of Information Act.
The court held that the FoI Act permits the group to demand for any public information such as the details of salaries, emoluments and allowances earned by the legislators.
It noted that these were of public interest since the payments were from public funds.
The suit
LEDAP had, in September 2011, filed the suit to compel the clerk of the National Assembly to furnish it with the requested information. LEDAP argued in the suit that the legislators were overpaid beyond the rate approved by law.
LEDAP had earlier written to the Clerk of the National Assembly for the information on the earnings of the legislators and demanded refund of excess payments. The request was ignored, leading to the suit.
The National Assembly argued through its counsel that the information requested by LEDAP was not permitted to be released under the FoI Act, and that the group lacked the locus standi to make such request.
FoI Act
Overruling the objection, the court said every citizen was entitled to have access to public information under the FoI Act, and ordered the Clerk of National Assembly to release the requested information within 14 days of the judgment.
It will be recalled that at the end of the 6th National Assembly in June 2011, it was widely reported that some legislators collected as much as N100 million per quarter in allowances, excluding official salaries and emoluments, and that principal officers collected even more.
‘We ‘ll not give up’
LEDAP’s lawyer, Mr. Chino Obiagwu, said: “Legislators are those who made the law on how much each public officer should be paid in salary and allowances.
“It is unlawful and irresponsible for them to break the law and collect, for themselves from public coffers, much more than what is permitted by law.
“They are liable to refund any excess money collected beyond approved sum, and we will pursue this issue in the courts until all unlawful over-payments to the legislators of the 6th Assembly are repaid to public coffers.”

Lawan at Force Hqtrs, expresses disappointment with colleagues ( Vanguard )

ABUJA —The embattled erstwhile Chairman of the House probe committee on the fuel subsidy regime, Mr Farouk Lawan, yesterday, reported at the Force Headquarters in conformity with his bail conditions and insisted before the Police investigators that he handed over the $620, 000 bribe money to Adams Jagaba, House Committee Chairman on Narcotics and Financial Crimes.
Farouk, who came to the Force Headquarters at about noon, immediately walked into the office of the detectives, investigating the $620,000 bribery allegation, given to him by Zenon Oil Chairman, Mr Femi Otedola.
Though details of his discussions with the Police were kept secret, Vanguard gathered from sources that Lawan also pleaded for more time to enable him return the money, regretting that his colleagues in the lower chamber particularly Jagaba disappointed him by denying that he received the money from him (Farouk).
Optimistic of returning bribe money

 

The source revealed that Lawan was optimistic that he would be able to retrieve the money and return it to the police.
Regarding the non return of the $120,000 received by the secretary of the committee, Boniface Emenalo, the source said he told the Police that his $120,000 was handed over to his chairman, Lawan, immediately after collecting it from Otedola.
Police invite probe c’ttee members
Meanwhile, in continuation with the investigation, Vanguard gathered that detectives have formally invited all members of the fuel subsidy probe committee to the Force Headquarters to make statements on their financial dealings with petroleum marketers who appeared before the probe panel.
It was gathered that the invitation of the entire members of the probe committee may not be unconnected with new petition and complaints from other oil marketers to the Special Task Force that they were forced to part with other bribe monies in several foreign and local currencies amounting to about N11billion in total.

Nigerian breaks academic record at John Hopkins University ( PunchNg)

A 22-year-old Nigerian has emerged the best graduating student of John Hopkins University in the United States. He obtained a Grade Point Average of 3.98 out of a possible 4.0 to earn a degree in Neurosciences, SEGUN  OLUGBILE writes.
A 22-year-old Nigerian, Emmanuel Ohuabunwa, has made history at John Hopkins University, United States of America.  Ohuabunwa from Arochukwu, Abia State, has done the nation proud by becoming the first black man to make a Grade Point Average of 3.98 out of 4.0 to bag a degree in Neurosciences in the university. He was also adjudged as having the highest honours during the graduation that was held on May 24 this year.
For his efforts, he has won a scholarship to Yale University to pursue a degree in medicine. Besides, he has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society, a prestigious honour group that features membership of 17 US Presidents, 37 US Supreme Court Justices, and 136 Nobel Prize winners.
According to Wikipedia, The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honour society. Its mission is to “celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences” and induct “the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities.”
 It was founded at The College of William and Mary on December 5, 1776, and thus it is the oldest honour society for the liberal arts and sciences and among the oldest undergraduate societies in the US.
In an online interview with our correspondent, Ohuabunwa, who was born in Okota, Lagos and attended Lilly Fields Primary School, Lagos, said he left Nigeria after his junior secondary school education at Air Force Comprehensive School, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“My parents moved the whole family when I was 13 years old. I was about to begin SS1 at Air Force, Ibadan. When I got to the US, I was enrolled with my age mates, which meant at 13, I was in middle school. I went to Fondren Middle School, which was in the middle of the ghetto. That was one of the darkest years for me because I encountered a lot of peer pressure. Some of the students, ignorant about Africa, bullied me and called me names such as ‘African booty scratcher’ because to them, Africans were dirty and scratched their butts all the time.
“Some asked me if I lived in mud huts and ate faeces for breakfast. I remember one day, when I was walking to the school bus, a boy came from behind and punched me in the face, called me an African and walked away. It took everything in me not to retaliate. I knew that God had put me in the U.S for a purpose and it did not involve fighting or selling drugs or doing the wrong things.
“My experience during that year gave me a thick skin. I learned to stand for what I thought was right even when the opposition seemed insurmountable. I also learned to look at the positive in all situations. Even though these kids were bullying me, I was still gaining an opportunity to school in America and nothing would stop me from making the best of this opportunity.
“The shocker was that the kid that punched me in the face was black. I would have expected the blacks to be nicer to me. Nevertheless, I don’t blame those kids because they were ignorant about Africa. All they knew about us was the stuff they had watched on TV or documentaries, showing primitive African tribes, living in the jungle and making noises like monkeys.
 “In regards to the whites, there might have been some minor episodes but again I don’t blame them for it because it is a problem with stereotypes,” he said.
But in spite of this humiliation and racial prejudice against him, the first in a family of three was not discouraged. He faced his studies and was always coming top in his class. After he completed his middle school education, he passed the entrance examination to DeBakey High School for Health Professions. It was at this school that his interest in neurosciences and medicine started.
“By the second year of high school, we were able to interact with doctors, nurses and other administrators in the hospital. The more I learned about medicine, the more it felt like the thing God was calling me to pursue and by being in the US I got a lot of people to support me to do this. Even though in high school, I got to see first-hand what it meant to be a doctor. We studied advanced anatomy and physiology, learned medical terminology, and learned important skills, such as checking blood pressure, pulse rate, and many more.
“I knew I wanted to go to the best school in the US. I had heard that Johns Hopkins Hospital had been ranked the number one hospital in the US for the past 21 years and I wanted to be in that environment.’’
Worried that his parents might not be able to sponsor him to the university, Ohuabunwa purposed to work very hard. He did and when the result of the PSAT came, he performed so well that he won the National Achievement Scholar.
By virtue of this award, he received certificates of recognition from various organisations including senators from the Congress of both Texas and the US. He also received scholarship from the University of Houston; Rice University, Texas A&M Honors College and many more.
He had also won the Principal’s Award during the annual awards ceremony at DeBakey High School.
“During our graduation ceremony at DeBakey, I also won the Award for the Most Outstanding Senior Young Man and the student volunteer award for my volunteer activities in the State of Texas,” he said.
 But his breakthrough came when he won the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation full scholarship to any university of his choice. He worked hard and gained admission to Johns Hopkins University to study Neurosciences.
But why Neurosciences, Ohuabunwa said, “I studied Neuroscience, because I was fascinated with the brain, its control of our behaviours and how various diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, lead to a decline in its activity. I also minored in Psychology because I wanted to understand disorders in the psyche. What causes bipolar disorders or schizophrenia. I did not just want to label them as crazy but to understand what causes these conditions and how we can treat them,’’ he explained.
 But what does he consider to be the missing links in the education sector of Nigeria when compared with that on offer in US, Ohuabunwa said unpredictable academic calendar, corruption, examination malpractice and inadequate funding were some of the problems confronting his home country’s university sector. These, he said, were absent in the US.
 “There were a few problems with Nigerian higher education that contributed to our emigration in 2003.  The first was the number of strikes that occurred in schools. It took my uncle seven years to graduate with a degree that should have taken him only four years. A second problem was the corruption. We had heard of people going into universities, because they paid someone to look the other way. I also heard of a few cheating scandals, where people would pay someone to take their exams for them or get a copy of the exam a few days before,” he said.
But is he saying that US university system has no such problems at all? Ohuabunwa said, “Although this sometimes occurs in the U.S, it is less common because of the strict security. I remember when taking the Medical College Admissions Test,  test required before one can matriculate into medical school, each student had to get his fingerprints taken every time we entered and left the hall. The whole place was packed with cameras and security staff that monitored everything we were doing. The exam was computerised to make sure that no one saw the test before the actual date.”
Another difference, he said, is that America rewards hard-work while the system also emphasises on a balance between academic life and extracurricular activities.
On how he won the scholarship to Yale, Ohuabunwa said his 3.98 GPA in Neurosciences, and many awards he had won and God’s grace, contributed to his winning the scholarship.
“As at the time of my application for medical school, I had a 3.98 GPA of a 4.0. This made me  the only black student inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa. I was also awarded the Becker Family Scholarship for being the most outstanding student in the Neuroscience major at Johns Hopkins University. Furthermore, by God’s grace, I took the MCAT and scored in the top five percentile.
“That, combined with my hours of volunteer service in different hospitals across the US allowed me to gain acceptance into every medical school I applied to, including Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Cornell. As the time came to make a decision, I had narrowed it down to Harvard and Yale. Both schools, I enjoyed visiting. Nevertheless, while my parents prayed, they asked God to give us a sign of what school to attend. A few days later, I received a letter from Yale Medical School, offering me a full ride scholarship for all four years. That was the sign from God,” he said.
But would he come back to Nigeria after the completion of his programme, he said yes.
“I am absolutely interested in the health care policy decisions in Nigeria. Because there are many changes that need to occur, I will not rule out the possibility of coming back after my studies, in order to join hands with the leaders to make these changes possible.’’
He added that his ambition is to become a medical doctor specialising in brain surgery.
 “Two weeks ago, my grandmother passed away after a long battle with strokes. Even during emergencies, it was difficult for her to get to the hospital, let alone get treatment. This is a common theme not only in the health care system of Nigeria, but in different countries in the world, where the poor get neglected.
“Second, Nigerian hospitals lack the infrastructure required to compete with major hospitals around the world. It would be an honour to one day contribute to this transformation that is necessary for improvements in Nigeria’s health care sector,” he said.
He, however, advised Nigerian youths who have the wherewithal, to go abroad to study. Ohuabunwa also called on  wealthy Nigerians to invest more in the education of the poor rather than in acquisition of material things.
Ohuabunwa, however, said that his parents, who he described as his greatest role models,  contributed a lot  to his academic feat through Godly training, counsel and guidance. He also did not forget the impact  that his short stay at Air Force school had on him.
 “I was definitely not the brightest at Air Force. At that time, I felt like I spent more time running away from seniors than focusing on my studies. Nevertheless, I learned three things at Air Force that have served me well in the US. I learned discipline, adaptability and resilience. These attributes helped me a lot in US,” he said.