State police and effective policing in Nigeria (1)

THE first official recommendation for state police came up in the Constitutional/Law Review Report of the National Think-Tank early in 2009. The next recommendation following that came from the National Vision 20:2020 Report handed the Federal Government of Nigeria 2009-2010. In both cases, the thinking being that the first essential requirement of policing is knowledge of the community, the local environment. Local policing has firm roots in Nigeria and never a new idea. In the colonial times, alongside the Nigeria Police Force, were the Native Authority Police. Despite cases of abuse, the NA Police were very effective in the regions, particularly the Northern and Western regions responsible for local and community policing combating crimes and criminals up until the early seventies. It was just after the civil war that General Gowon peremptorily integrated the Native Authority rank and file into the Nigeria Police Force and thus began existence of a single police force in Nigeria. There are many problems associated with full scale centralised policing in the last three or four decades in Nigeria. There has been complaints of uneven distribution of policemen and material, with some states getting more than their fair share while others are left unmanned open to unchecked criminal activities; second, many states are also frustrated after committing huge state resources into a federal police force yet having no real or legal control over their use and utility; third, countless cases of men without knowledge of the local environment deployed to man or take charge of places, violating several local sensitivities leading to ineffective policing; fourth, cases of stunted careers of generations of officers not favoured by the political control of the police forces which led to lack or loss of morale and reduces professional output. To be sure, section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides: ‘’There shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force and subject to the provisions of this section no other police force shall be established for the federation or any part thereof’’. Those are the words in the Constitution. What the Constitution has done is to limit the potential of effectively policing the Nigerian state by rigidly prescribing one single federal police force. Truth however, is, as Nigeria continues to consolidate and evolve on its federal structure, certain anomalous governance institutions must begin to give way for the federating units to take proper care of their local and state challenges. One of such is the police force and by extension the correctional centres, i.e the Prison services. As a federal republic, the imperative of state police and state prison service is obvious and a contradiction of the federal arrangement if otherwise and that is why this heady disagreement within the governors ranks only shows how frightful we often are to take first steps in solving obvious national problems. A new framework for effective policing is needed now. There is the legal absurdity of a federal police enforcing state laws, prosecuting state laws in state courts, and incarcerating state offenders in federal prisons. That kind of arrangement does not allow effecting governance in a federal arrangement or even in a modern democratic state. No state government can budget properly for security and crime control and criminal management. The state governments cannot invest in more men to man the streets because they are federally provided; the prisons are congested because states cannot bring state offenders into their budgeting lines. This is a fundamental problem in addition to the chain of command which is directed elsewhere to the higher federal authority. Now, only a few days ago, the Lagos State government signed into law a radical traffic regulation with stiff monetary penalties for offenders. This then is the issue: How can a federal police buy into the states traffic or policing agenda when the state may see huge revenue potential in the law and the matters thereto are peculiarly a state’s local challenge? It is natural for some conflict and passivity to follow the enforcement of the law as both the legislative initiative and policing possibilities are of divergent sources. This is not to say that the said Lagos traffic law, as it stands, has or may enjoy popular acclaim knowing for example that infrastructure deficiencies- bad roads, limited access ways, insecurity on the highways, lack of street lights, etc, in part,are often responsible for limited or outright non-compliance with several road regulations. In all the comparative studies done on federal states across the globe, nowhere else do you have this large amount of police and correctional forces under one, single command. This write up was written by Mr. Tony Odiadi, a Lawyer from Lagos and was originally published by the Vanguard Newspaper

Jonathan sends condolence message to Ghanaians over death of Atta Mills

Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan has joined other world leaders to send a message of condolence to the government and people of Ghana on the death of their President, John Atta Mills. President Attah Mills who was elected as president of Ghana in 2009 died yesterday in Accra, over a brief illness at age 68. In a statement released in Abuja, Jonathan’s spokesperson Rueben Abati said the President has condoled with the family of the late Ghanaian president. Jonathan said the news of the sudden death of President Attah Mills was shocking and brought immense sadness. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Senate has described the death as a colossal loss that will shake the African continent as a whole. According to the spokesman of the senate, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe in a statement made yesterday described Mills as a simple and a quintessential African statesman who would be missed. Also former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo who is currently in Ghana for an official engagement described Mills death as shock to the people of Ghana and all those who knew him.

PHOTO NEWS: PHCN WORKERS PROTEST IN ABUJA

BURMA BOYS

“I am standing under a pagoda, deep in the jungles of Burma. The monsoon rains are relentless and water comes cascading down through the trees. A troop of monkeys huddles for shelter above me. I am waiting for a family I have never met to arrive.

This is the culmination of a journey that has taken me across three continents, eight decades and into the horrors of an almost-forgotten chapter of the Second World War. It is a story about the collapse of the British Empire, but also about heroism and courage I could never have imagined. Now I need to repay a debt of gratitude, still strong after 67 years.”

When Al Jazeera correspondent Barnaby Phillips first started researching the story of West Africans who fought in the war in aid of the British, he meant to document it all in a book – until Al Jazeera commissioned his findings for a documentary.

The Burma Boy is a documentary that sees Phillips travelling to Nigeria to meet up with Isaac Fadoyebo, who formed part of the British troops who fought against imperial Japan and survived the jungles of Burma to tell his story.

Not to be confused with the novel (Burma Boy is based on a true story of a child soldier who fought in the same war), “The title The Burma Boys is really one I used due to its generic reference to the troops that went to fight in the war. It is a name that was given to these troops on their return,” says Phillips.

“I was always very interested to learn more about the Burma Boys story. I spent some time in the Imperial War Museum and looked at many memoirs preserved by British troops. I eventually found the whole process frustrating, because the information was pretty much one-sided – I wasn’t finding anything from the Africans’ perspective. I only really got lucky when I came across Isaac Fadoyebo’s memoir.”

Isaac’s account grabbed Phillips for a number of reasons. It was the first well-written African perspective on and account of the war. Isaac also happened to be one of the few living troops who had survived – and the way in which he survived in the jungle was extra-special.

“Isaac was barely 16 when he signed up to join the war. It wasn’t a must that they join, but the war really was a way in which Britain got a chance to exercise its imperial power.”

In the documentary, we find out some of the reasons these Africans would have joined the fight.

“I needed to ask someone other than troops why the Africans would have fought a war so far removed from their reality. Many of them, just like Isaac, were young when they joined and couldn’t possibly have comprehended the reasons behind the war to begin with. They also wouldn’t have been able to give me that informed breakdown in the documentary, which is why I had to find the officials who supervised them.”

British officials who appear in the documentary reveal that Africans would have signed up because of a sense of adventure and the need to travel outside their little villages, rather than any sense of patriotism.

“Britain’s imperialist power was undermined after the war, when the very troops they had shipped out to fight for them returned with a more informed sense of worldliness – they had seen during the war that there’s no real difference between black and white, that we are all the same,” says Phillips.

Phillips also travels to Tokyo, Japan, to try to get the opposition’s perspective.

“It was really difficult to get hold of anyone to speak on behalf of the Japanese troops, because they really lost many men in that war. I managed to find a few through a really good Japanese researcher whose own father was a veteran.”

This is a well-documented journey that makes one respect researchers such as Phillips for taking an unbiased stance.

“I have always loved history. I think it’s very important for us to understand the way the world is today. To a large extent, the war has been written from a British and American point of view and that makes way for negligence of pivotal information and accounts.

“It’s important to tell these stories so we can understand why Africa and Britain are the way they are today.”

zintlem@thenewage.co.za

The Burma Boys airs on Al Jazeera (DStv channel 406) at 8pm

PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S THOUGHT ON SINGLE TENURE IS UNFORTUNATE - PROF. ELAIGWU

Professor Isawa Eliagwu has branded President Goodluck Jonathan’s talks on the proposed six years single tenure for all political Chief Executive Officers in the country as an unfortunate one. Eliagwu made this known today at the Senate review of the constitution amendment retreat in Asaba, Delta State. He stated that the Obasanjo and Yar’Adua’s administration made it impossible for Nigerians to believe in Jonathan’s proposal. “Unfortunately President Obasanjo and President Yar’Adua have made the office of the Chief Executives so politicize that people don’t want to hear anything about it” “It’s a pity that Jonathan came in and immediately started talking about a six or seven year’s single tenure, I think it’s unfortunate” The Professor of law while delivering his memorandum suggested a five year single tenure for all political CEO in the country. “Any leader who cannot deliver his promises made in five years is inept, six or seven years tenure for many Nigerians is too long” “I also suggest that any office holder currently serving as a chief executive shall benefit from the single tenure” He also mentioned that the electoral process should be of paramount consideration to the Nigerian government. “We should as a country ensures that people are sworn in only when their cases have been vacated, which means elections must finish in good time so that when they resume to the office they know they are there for real”. On immunity clause he stated that political office holders should be allowed immunity only on civil cases. “Public officers should have immunity but only on civil cases and not on criminal cases because it will waste their time” “Criminal matters may amount to gross misconduct” The former Vice Chancellor worried about the future of the Judiciary in the country as he complained about the employability of Law graduates the country is producing.

ARUNMA OTEH FACES QUERY OVER HOSTILITIES IN SEC

The dramatic scene continues at the on-going house committee probe on the near collapse of the Nigeria capital market as it enters day three, more revelations emerged as direct accusation were made to the management of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As expected the Director General of SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh who was yesterday summoned by the El-Sudi led probe committee appeared before it and tender an apology for absenting herself from yesterday proceedings. She however fed questions from the panel members on issues relating to appointments of contract staff, 50th anniversary of SEC, commercial banks merger and acquisition, 0.3% transactional charges on traded shares, AMCON and bonds and so on. On Contract Staff Appointment The Head of Human Resource department of the commission, Mr. Oseni Dauda who responded to questions over the inappropriate appointments some staff in the commission said though there were needs for some departments to get additional manpower for proper discharge of duties but that the appointment of some 10 contract staff who directly report to the DG was not desirable. Mr. Oseni said a one year partial appointment was given to about 27 NYSC corps members who as at that time were carrying out their national duties with SEC but were later made to sit for examination in other to be recommended for proper employment. He further said that the internal control department of the Securities and Exchange Commission has stopped the salaries and all other allowances of all contract staff that their appointment did not go through due process. In her response, Ms Oteh said all she did had followed due process and that the fact that someone describe the practice of the commission as illegal should not put the competency of the SEC human resource personnel in question, and should not be used as an assessment as well. She said the issue about the contract staff is that of ratification and not of illegal or undue appointment. She posited that prior to 2011 that the commission had received a letter from the federal character commission that following the manpower audit carried out at the SEC, they identified that the appointment of some staff of the commission had yet gone through board ratification since 2008 till date and had advised SEC to put up a letter in other to get the board to ratify them as required. The DG said that since she arrived as the head of the commission everything has gone through due process because it will be difficult for her to enter an institution she is not familiar with and do things in awry. When asked about her action of renewing the appointment of the contract staff as against what the commissions audit department advised, the DG dodge the question and instead responded to the reasons why the need for human capital development of young professionals was addressed and employed by the commission. Defending the appointment of the two Access bank employees as a project adviser on facilities management and the other as the brand communication support officer, she said she only appreciated what these people have done in the area of commercial banks transformation in Nigeria and hope to bring such transformations on brand and structures of the capital market. On Project 50 When asked by Hon. Alliyu Buba about the apposition of the 50th anniversary of the capital marketin 2011 as against the foundation of the capital market in 1973 then know as the capital issue commission, the DG explained that though it is true but that the SEC actually started in 1962 as a capital market regulation within CBN which later became SEC through the 1979 act. The question on who funded the commemoration and in which account it was donated brought some denial drama as Ms Arunma denied ever receiving any direct donations into the commissions account. The executive commissioner for finance said there were no records of money donated into the commissions account and that he is not also aware of any donation for the Project 50 anniversary but that instead the sum of 42.5million was approved by the tender board of the commission. Oteh refuted the claim that there were cash donations to SEC and that what they did rather was to partner with related institutions like CBN, finance ministry, training and development ministry and other financial bodies to fund and provide materials needed for the commemoration. Meanwhile the panel reminded her of her earlier statement 2days ago to bring to the house list of the donors. In her statement, “We did not receive money as SEC for the project 50 ceremony, I am the interim chairman of the project 50 committee and that was as a result of the retirement of the chairman before me as a matter of urgency”. She said other decisions making members of the committee includes all executive management members a statement the commissioners deny of being aware of. The case was later put to rest and the DG was told to provide the list of all co-partners in the project 50 commemoration. On Banks Merger/Acquisition and 0.3% share charges Meanwhile, the Director General of SEC said the deduction of 0.3% transaction charges is not abnormal because it is an admin fee on every share traded on the floor of the stock exchange market in other to regulate the market. She was however accused of being aware of the financial issues between Finbank and FCMB before the acquisition and merger and still went ahead to write to the Central Bank of Nigeria to consent to the acquisition. This Hon. Rose Oko regarded as unethical and against investors protection act. The DG said financial issues among FinBank and FCMB was around 30 to 34 cases but as at the time of merger approval the cases had been reduced to 6 left. On Bureau of Public Procurement Honorable Bimbo Daramola brought the DG’s attention to the letter written to her office complaining of her not following due process in securing the goods and services used for the project 50 commemoration from the BPP as accorded by the law. The DG’s response that Hon. Daramola to refer the question to the BPP angered the panel chairman and warn her never to refer any question put forward to her that if she doesn’t have an answer to questions ask she should better say. Oteh who once again apologize to the panel for her action explained the commission’s reason for using the Hilton hotel as the venue of the project 50 anniversary with a short notice to the management. The probe panel adjourned the hearing to next week Tuesday 15thh of May, 2012.

EDO GUBER ELECTIONS: OSHIOMHOLE TACKLES PDP IN CAMPAIGN, WELCOMES NEW DECAMPEES.

The reelection bid of the Edo state Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when he flagged-off his 2012 campaign in Esan senatorial district of Edo state home of the acclaimed Edo state political god-father and National leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih. It will be recall that Esan is the only area in the state where Governor Oshiomhole’s Action Congress of Nigeria recorded the lowest votes in the last elections so the visitation was indeed a significant one to the ruling party in the state. Oshiomhole while delivering his first term report card stated that despite given the necessary support by the Esan people, his administration did not tribal politics by denying them what is popularly called democracy dividend in Nigeria with the provision of notable infrastructural development such as roads, construction of bore-hole water, building of blocks of classrooms etc all in Esan senatorial district. The comrade governor challenged the oppositions People Democratic Party to publicly point out their developmental achievements both in Esan senatorial district and state entirely in their nearly one decade of rule in the state then compare it to what he has achieved so far. “The PDP rule the great people of Edo for close to ten years, between 1999 and 2008 yet could not account for a singular project that is still up and running today. It is a shame and this is due to their so call overbearing political god-father”. Meanwhile, part of the highlights of the campaign saw some of the state's big wig among the PDP publicly decamping to the ACN and declaring their total support for the ruling party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. Some of them include the younger brother of the former governor of Edo state Professor Osumbor. While welcoming the Comrade Oshiomhole said he is happy for them for realizing the truth on time and breaking the yoke of slavery in their life for freedom “The fight against god-father-ism is fight against oppression, in other to get our development right then our politics must be moving”, say no god-father-ism say no to PDP. Eminent Nigerians present at the campaign includes, former foreign affairs minister and ACN National leader Tom Ikimi, two time former house of representative member honorable Patrick Obaiagbon, Chief Oduma, director general of the Oshiomhole campaign organization Barrister Ize Iyamu, incumbent deputy governor of the state and a host of others. The governor who took time to enumerate his first term achievements which includes, construction of roads in all the local government area in the state, building of classrooms in numerous and different local governments in the state both Junior and Senior Secondary schools, installation of bore-hole water in communities, on-going Ambrose Alli University central administrative Block which was abandoned for years, power project at Ilushin etc He however promise to do more if voted in for the second time.

OKEREKE ACCUSED CBN OF CRASHING NIGERIA CAPITAL MARKET *As Oteh refuses to show up at probe panel*

Following yesterdays allegations and accusations of financial imprudence made by the Director-General of the Securities and Exchanges Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh on the removed Director General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange Prof. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke at the on-going house probe on near collapse of the Nigeria capital market, the former DG of NSE appeared before the panel today to defend herself of some of the allegation and also provided some way forward to the present administrators of the SEC and NSE. In her earlier statement the Prof. Okereke accused the CBN merger loans of being the main reasons why the capital market is in the state of comatose, “The merger loans given to most of the commercial banks has cost the present mess faced by the capital market”. She further said that many of the fictitious private companies registered by CAC saw the capital market as a money making avenues for themselves and try to exploit individual and innocent investors in the market. However, she highlighted some major points on how the market can get back to its glory days of market booming. “I wish to state that some of the ways which the market can get its confidence back in the mind of investors are as follows: appointment of the market makers which must include a public enlightenment because the stock market is the barometer of the economy of any country. Secondly, Merger of stock broking firms as this will make them stronger because most of them are too weak to stand alone, thirdly, the E-dividend and E-certificates should be encouraged so that it can be properly kept and protected. She further said that the setting up of another government agency to monitor unclaimed dividends and certificates should be discourage as this would bring over-lapping of duties. Prof. Onyiuke also said that the SEC should have a developmental functions and not just police offenders but should enlighten them while the SEC should be adequately funded by the federal government. She concluded by adding that Value added Tax placed on shareholders should be abolished. Meanwhile the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission Ms Arunma Oteh failed to appear before the panel today giving a writing excuse which ask for the permission of the house probing panel to allow her attend an economic summit being chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan but in swift response the chairman of the probe panel Hon. Ibrahim El-Sudi order her to appear before the panel unfailingly by 10am on Wednesday or the law will be used against her.

I WAS NEVER SACKED- FORMER NSE DG REPLIES ARUNMA OTEH

The on-going house probe on near collapse of the capital market witnessed some bragging rights from the former Director General of the Nigeria stock exchange Prof. Ndi Okereke Onyuike as she refuted the many of claims of the present administrators of Securities and Exchange Commission relating to her being sacked from the office in 2010 due to her sensational lifestyle and financial recklessness. It will be recalled that on day one of the resumption of the capital market probe panel led by Hon. Ibrahim El-Sudi, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s DG stated emphatically that Prof. Onyuike was sacked from the office following her overbearing attitude, while responding to questions from the house committee Prof. Onyuike said she was never sacked from the NSE instead she was forcefully and illegally removed from the office with the use of unauthorized policemen who bump into her office during unofficial hours and took away most of her documents including her marriage and birth certificates. According to her, four different high courts had nullified her removal from the office and one had ordered the SEC to pay a compensation of 500million as damages, a legal action yet to be obeyed by the management of the SEC. She expressed her dissatisfaction on the present crop of people saddling the canoe of the capital market and accused them of not competent enough to lead the stock exchange, ”For the first time in the history of this country, the Nigeria capital market is facing a crash. The people that have taken over the Stock Exchange have done nothing new other than what our administration wrote and recommended in the document pass on to them”. While lauding herself on what she achieved during her tenure as NSE DG, the financial expert cum Harvard University lecturer said she was a broker on the trading floor of the popular New York Stock Exchange in the early 80’s before she was invited by the Nigeria government to come and develop the Nigeria stock exchange, she however said her tenure as the Director-General of the NSE brought back the middle class in the capital market that seems to have diminished long before she assumed office in year 2000. She further alleged that all SEC is presently doing is just to cover their illegal burglary into the NSE building with armed thugs and despite all allegations against her no courts in Nigeria has find her guilty of any financial misappropriation not even her invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission could nail her as a culprit. She said though she is not an angel but that stealing is not in her dictionary. On the Abuja sstock exchange and commodity market she offered to help for free and promise to get it back to running in 6months she also denied the Obama campaign fund raising saying she had known President Obama long before he became the president of the United States of America whe he was only 8months old as a senator in the U.S. “The 100million naira dinner for Obama was simply to create awareness for his presidential bid and not to be given to him”.

HOW NIGERIA PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN IS WASTING NATIONAL RESOURCES

How President Goodluck Jonathan is wasting resources through unnecessary appointments.

Let's start by looking at the list and designations of aides in the Presidency and see if they are necessary at all. President Goodluck Jonathan in June 2011 sought and obtained the approval of Senate to appoint 20 advisers to assist him in running his government. However, the President has, in apparent breach of the number of aides approved for him, gone ahead to appoint at least 24 advisers as at the last count.

Mr. Oronto Douglas, Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategy. Sentiments aside, what exactly is the role of this office and couldn’t it have been carried out by a permanent employee in the Presidency?

Prof. Abubakar Sambo, Special Adviser to the President on Energy. Really? What distinctive ‘special advice’ is the President expecting from the incumbent here that the ministers for petroleum, energy and power cannot give?

Mrs. Sarah Akuben Pane, Special Adviser to the President on Social Development. One is too stumped to even comment on this.

Mrs. Sarah Jibril (remember her? If you cannot beat them, you join them!). She's the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values. What a joke! Who even monitors what, if any, work some of these appointees have been carrying out?

Kingsley Kuku, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs. What would the minister and the minister of state for the Niger Delta ministry be doing and what about the head of the Niger Delta Development Commission?

Prof. Dan Adebiyi, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties and Senator Isaiah Ballat, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties (Office of the Vice-President). Could someone please unpack this designation for me? Same request suffices for Nze Sullivan Akachukwu Nwakpo, Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters and for Mrs. Asma’u Abdulkadir, Special Adviser to the President on Gender Issues. What on earth amounts to ‘technical matters’?
And there are also Yakubu Abdullahi, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters (Office of the Vice President);

Mr. Bashir Sufyan, Special Adviser to the President on Legal Matters (Office of the Vice-President).

Professor Nwanze Okidegbe, Economic Adviser to the President. What economic advice would this officer give the President that the National Economic Management Team members including the Minister of Finance and the Minister of National Planning cannot?

Senator Ben Obi, Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs. There is absolutely no reason to appoint a special adviser for just this function, when there is Ahmed Gulak, Political Adviser to the President just as the designation of Dr Mariam Ali, Special Adviser to the President on Inter-governmental Affairs.

Perhaps the most curious is the Special Adviser (New Media), Reno Omokri. In clear terms, he is special adviser on Twitter and Facebook matters! This is aside the fact that there is a Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

Strangely, the ‘Twitter and Facebook special adviser’ is not attached to the office of the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity but to the Special Adviser, Research and Strategy.

By the way, these special advisers would ordinarily have their own personal assistants and other aides.
Total waste of funds that could have been channeled into productive and progressive uses.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ON FUEL SUBSIDY STRIKE IN NIGERIA.

Presidential Address On The Implementation Of The Deregulation Policy In The Downstream Sector Of The Petroleum Industry, Sunday, January 15, 2012
________________________________________________
Dear Compatriots,
1. This is the second time in two weeks I will address you on the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. In the last seven days, the nation has witnessed a disruption of economic activities. Although, the economic imperatives for the policy have been well articulated by government, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) went ahead to declare a nationwide strike.

2. There was also near-breakdown of law and order in certain parts of the country as a result of the activities of some persons or groups of persons who took advantage of the situation to further their narrow interests by engaging in acts of intimidation, harassment and outright subversion of the Nigerian state. I express my sympathy to those who were adversely affected by the protests.
3. At the inception of the deregulation policy, Government had set up the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee to liaise with Labour and other stakeholders to address likely grey areas in the policy, but despite all our efforts, Labour refused the option of dialogue and also disobeyed a restraining order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

4. However, following the intervention of the Leadership of the National Assembly, and other well-meaning Nigerians, Labour accepted to meet with government, but this yielded no tangible result.


5. It has become clear to government and all well-meaning Nigerians that other interests beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy have hijacked the protest. This has prevented an objective assessment and consideration of all the contending issues for which dialogue was initiated by government. These same interests seek to promote discord, anarchy, and insecurity to the detriment of public peace.

6. Government appreciates that the implementation of the deregulation policy would cause initial hardships and commends Nigerians who have put forth suggestions and credible alternatives in this regard. Government also salutes Nigerians who by and large, conducted themselves peacefully while expressing their grievances. Let me assure you that government will continue to respect the people's right to express themselves within the confines of the law and in accordance with the dictates of our democratic space.

7. Government will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. However, given the hardships being suffered by Nigerians, and after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has been directed to ensure compliance with this new pump price.

8. Government is working hard to reduce recurrent expenditure in line with current realities and to cut down on the cost of governance. In the meantime, government has commenced the implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment projects: including the Federal Government- assisted mass transit programme which is already in place, and job creation for the youth.

9.Furthermore, the legal and regulatory regime for the petroleum industry will be reviewed to address accountability issues and current lapses in the Industry. In this regard, the Petroleum Industry Bill will be given accelerated attention. The report of the forensic audit carried out on the NNPC is being studied with a view to implementing the recommendations and sanctioning proven acts of corruption in the industry.

10. Let me assure Nigerians that this administration is irrevocably committed to tackling corruption in the petroleum industry as well as other sectors of the economy. Consequently, all those found to have contributed one way or the other to the economic adversity of the country will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

11. My dear compatriots, I urge you to show understanding for the imperatives of the adjustment in the pump price of petrol and give government your full support to ensure its successful implementation. I further appeal to Nigerians to go back to work and go about their normal duties as government has made adequate arrangements for the protection of life and property throughout the federation.

12. Government will not condone brazen acts of criminality and subversion. As President, I have sworn to uphold the unity, peace and order of the Nigerian State and by the grace of God, I intend to fully and effectively discharge that responsibility. Let me add that we are desirous of further engagements with Labour. I urge our Labour leaders to call off their strike, and go back to work.

13. Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must collectively safeguard its unity

Thank you. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Oshiomhole sacks Task Force boss amidst controversy

Edo indigenes in Nigeria on Tuesday applauded Gov. Adams Oshiomhole for ordering the arrest of the sacked Chairman of the Task Force on Demolition of Illegal Property, retired Major Lawrence Loye.

Oshiomhole on Monday relieved Loye of his appointment after accusing him of gross negligence in the performance of his duties.

The governor was irked by the illegal demolition of a building belonging to Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, on Siluko road and other unauthorised demolition of bbuildings in the state.

Ogbemudia was at different times, governor of defunct Bendel and Edo Oshiomhole said the purpose of Loye's action ``is to bring confusion to the community and confuse the people about the genuineness of our intention,''

The governor made the remark while on an inspection tour of one of the illegally demolished buildings.

“As you have seen, this building that he has been destroyed does not in any way affect the moat. There is enough space between the property and the moat.
“The fact that you work for government does not give you licence to visit harm and destruction on innocent people. I am convinced that he acted in bad faith, he acted in mischief,'' he said.

Meanwhile many of the residents whose houses are marked for demolition have decided to take their cases to the government house for review.
Madam Comfort Aguebor, whose house was marked for demolition commended Oshiomhole for the public confession that the Loye never acted in good faith in the course of his assigned duties.

She told journalists that ``I have not been sleeping at all even though my children have assured me that my approval was genuine and that the committee wrongly marked my house.
`` I have been feeling very bad until yesterday when the governor sacked the chairman''.

Mr Johnbull Okoro, a landlord told the press that ``we had concluded before yesterday that government was selective in its demolition of structures.
``Because we have seen the members of the committee leaving houses that are right on the moat alone while they mark, harass and demolish houses erected several years ago with government approval.
`` So we have thought that it was selective justice on the part of government until Oshiomohole told the world that the chairman was acting alone,'' he said.

But the residents urged the governor to extend the same treatment to other committees whose leadership was becoming too officious in their assignments.

In his statement, Loye said he his not a criminal and cannot be intimidated by anybody. He also said he will not give a damn about anybody's position as the demolished houses which angered the governor belongs to powerful people in the Edo state.

Some quarters have also criticize the governors action as a maltreatment to the retired soldier who was only carrying out his duties and that if the governor knows he was not fit enough for the job, why did he appoint him in the first instant.

SIM CARD REGISTRATION: BEFORE THE EVENING RUSH

At the inauguration of the registration of Subscriber Identity Module cards in the country on March 28, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah, advised subscribers to avoid last minute rush.

Juwah said, no person was exempted from the registration, adding that any SIM card not registered within the period for the exercise would be cut off from the telecommunications networks.

Juwah said the exercise would help to reduce the number of crimes facilitated by telecommunications as well as gather data that were essential for the planning and implementation of government programmes.

He said, “This event is very significant in many ways. First, this nation has been waiting for the day when all the SIM cards in use in the country are registered, and the identity of the owner of every line is known.

“Another significance of this is the achievement of a central data base for all mobile phone users in Nigeria.

“Today, therefore, marks a major step taken by the NCC to bequeath to the nation an important tool, a pool of data that will assist other government agencies, especially the security agencies and the National Identity Management Commission, in carrying out their jobs in the national interest.”

Juwah also said, “The registration exercise will last for a period of six months and registration centres will be deployed all over the country and all subscribers will find a centre close to their abode to register their SIM cards.

“No Nigerian or visitor to Nigeria using mobile phones is exempt from this exercise. At the end of six months of this registration, all unregistered SIM cards will be disconnected from the various networks.”

But his advice that subscribers should avoid last minute rush could not be helped by the fact that there were few registration centres at the beginning of the exercise, which were not known to many people.

To complement the efforts of operators, NCC had on February 7 signed contracts with seven firms to help in the registration of SIM cards across the country.

The contractors are SW Global for the South-East region – Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo states; PNN for the North-Central region – Abuja, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Kwara and Nassarawa states; Chams for Lagos; and JKK for the South-West region – Oyo Osun, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo states.

Others are DATAGROUPIT for the North-East region – Yobe, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Taraba states; Eagle/CBC for the North West region – Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa; and E-Kenneth/SageMetrics for the South-South – Cross River, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Gradually, however, the rollout of more registration centres has enhanced of the exercise. The usual intense competition among operators of Global System for Mobile Communications has also helped.

Today, subscribers are being offered some rewards by network operators in order to encourage them to register their SIM cards within the window provided by the industry regulatory agency.

A particular mobile operator has reportedly been calling its high net worth subscribers to encourage them to present themselves for the registration.

This is understandable, given that many subscribers are known to have several SIM cards and the registration exercise could provide them the opportunity to dump networks they perceive as not performing.

A subscriber based in Abuja, Mr. George Akanbi, confirmed to our reporter that registration centres were now everywhere.

He added that the exercise was going on smoothly without any delay. According to him, those that wait for the last minute may be subjected to long queues in their bid to beat the rush.

He urged the NCC and the operators to emphasise in their campaign that subscribers also needed to register the SIM card of their Internet modems.

He said many subscribers were not aware that the modems required registration.

As the September 28 deadline for the registration exercise draws near, other issues have come to the fore. They are the sale of activated SIM cards as well as the sale of pre-registered SIM cards, which the NCC warned subscribers against last week.

In a statement in Abuja, the NCC’s Head, Media and Public Relations, Mr. Reuben Muoka, said the act of selling preregistered new SIM cards to members of the public by vendors or retailers, and the use of such cards by anybody contravened the regulation on registration of phone subscribers.

Muoka said any persons selling such cards were liable on conviction to a fine, or imprisonment, or both, in line with the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

According to him, the NCC will also hold the network service providers liable when such cards are found to be in use as they are expected to ensure that new SIM cards are not preregistered before they are sold to members of the public through their various channels.

Muoka said the ongoing SIM card registration exercise presupposed that all newly purchased SIM cards could only receive calls while the buyers were expected to go to their network provider to register their own SIM cards.

He said those found to be involved in the illegality would face arrest, detention, investigation, prosecution and sanction in line with the provisions of the Communications Act.

The NCC spokesman warned the public to desist from buying preregistered SIM as they would also be liable if such line was in any way connected to any crime or misuse.

He said, “Members of the public are advised to go to their operators to register their new SIM cards. Do not be tempted to buy preregistered new SIM card when the registration is free.”

He added that the NCC had intensified efforts to educate the public on the need to register their SIM cards before the expiration of the registration exercise on September 28, 2011.

Bode George regains freedom, Aso ebi galore!!!

Imprisoned Peoples Democratic Party,’s chieftain, Chief Olabode George will be released from prison on Saturday February26, 2011 and supporters of the jailed party leader have vowed to paint the city of Lagos “red”.
George and five other board members of the Nigeria Port Authority were on October 26, 2009, jailed by a Lagos High Court for contract fraud. Already, preparations are in top gear in the state as members of the PDP are set to storm the prison to welcome George back to society.
However, the plan by the PDP members to give him a rousing welcome is already causing the police and other security agencies in the state sleepless nights on how to contain the situation.
The Prison Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ope Fayilekun, in an interview with journalists yesterday in Lagos, said he could not confirm exact when the PDP chieftain would be out of prison.
He also declined to confirm or deny whether George was due for release at the weekend.
“It is not in our character to disclose information about our inmates to outsiders. This, we do to protect our inmates and safeguard them,” he explained.
The ‘Boy’ George as he is fondly called was jailed two years ago at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison but even in confinement, he remains a force in PDP politics as until his imprisonment he was vice chairman of South West Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party. He allegedly held meetings regarding the April elections with party colleagues in prison – A loyalist of his, Ade Dosunmu emerged as PDP gubernatorial candidate for Lagos, a testimony of his influence.
Also a thanksgiving service would follow on Sunday and reception at his home in Ikoyi, Lagos – family members are already putting the house in good shape for his release.

Ekiti Central: Who is Who among all?

Before the restoration of the mandate of Dr Kayode Fayemi as Ekiti State governor by the Court of Appeal, the competition for the senatorial slot in Ekiti Central District was stiff. As power shifted to the progressives in the Fountain of Knowledge, the contest became stiffer. The district is perceived as the stronghold of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), on which platform they hope to represent the five local government areas of the senatorial district in the National Assembly. There is the feeling that whoever emerges as the candidate at the primaries will become the senator representing the zone as from May 29.



Four strong contenders - Opeyemi Bamidele, Bode Ola, Babafemi Ojudu and Dele Alake - are locking horns. All of them are successful and proud sons of Ekitiland. They are men of strong will and principle.

Since they are of Ekiti stock, they are principled and not malleable. Despite sharing similar political ideas, none of them is willing to step down for the other. The four are eminently qualified to occupy the position.

Three of them, Bamidele, a lawyer and two-time commissioner in Lagos State, Alake, journalist and Bamidele’s predecessor as Commissioner for Information and Strategy, and Ojudu, another journalist, are politically and intimately related to the three godfathers- the party leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, former governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and now, Governor Fayemi. They were also soldiers of democracy during the ‘June 12’ struggle.

Ola and Ojudu are from Ado local government. Alake is a native of Ikoro-Ekiti in Ijero local government. Bamidele hails from Irepodun-Ifelodun local government. If delegates vote along ‘ethnic’ lines, then, Efon, the gateway council, and Ekiti West, which have no indigene in the race, may be the deciding factors. Whoever gets the bloc votes from the two councils may emerge winner.

It is a challenging moment for the party elders and leaders who loathe the squabbles and bitterness usually associated with primaries. One of them, who spoke on the condition of anonymity stressed the need to put in place a mechanism for the resolution of post-primary crisis, which progressives have always failed to manage successfully.

A source said one of the aspirants may defect from the party, if he fails at the primaries, adding: "He has been saying it loud and we have cause to believe him.

After the primaries, ACN will brace up for the general election. Its senatorial candidate will slug it out with former Governor Ayo Fayose, who is likely to fly the Labour Party(LP) flag and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ola, a retired diplomat, is the incumbent senator representing the district. Although he won the election in 2007, the loser, Femi Kila, was given the certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was able to reclaim his mandate barely two years later at the Court of Appeal. But his kinsman, Ojudu, has criticised him for poor performance. The senator replied by advertising his activities and poverty alleviation projects in the newspapers. Curiously, no chieftain of the party seems ready to entertain appeals that Ola should be given the ticket because he was previously robbed by the opposition.

Ojudu, who is insisting that Ola should step aside, said the senatorial slot is not a traditional title, adding that any senator who cannot measure up should give way. The votes would be split between them in Ado their home town.

Ojudu’s Ekiti Rebirth Organisation is aggressively canvassing support for his ambition. In his campaign leaflet, he promised to promote Ekiti interest, project its personality and push its agenda in the Senate. But he is also under fire at home for other reasons. A House of Representatives aspirant, Jimoh Ibrahim, has directed his attention to the fact that the mood of the constituents supports the zoning of the slot to Irepodun-Ifelodun Council. It is an open secret that there is a gulf between him and Otunba Adebayo, who allegedly nurses grudges against him for the alleged role he played in the events that culminated in his departure from Government House. Asked whether this ruptured relationship would not affect his chance, Ojudu replied that a tree cannot make a forest.

The oldest in the race is Alake, an associate of Tinubu. He is a media guru and former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy. He has a wealth of experience spanning three decades. A native of Ikoro, he was the last to declare his ambition. Many Nigerians believe that Alake will not go to the Senate to warm the seat. He will be a great debater.

Over two years ago, Bamidele entered the race without a rival. Then, Ola was still fighting Kila in court over the electoral robbery. He toured the five councils and elicited their support for his ambition. These rural dwellers recall that Opeyemi was visible during the battle for the restoration of Fayemi’s victory. The politician has also oiled the party machinery in the district morally, politically and financially and assisted the secretariat with equipment, including vehicles. Bamidele has also toured all the wards soliciting for their endorsement.

The supporters of Bamidele argue that his council has not produced a senator before. Femi Olupona, who is leading one of the groups on his campaign train, said equity, fairness and justice demanded that the commissioner should even be adopted as a consensus candidate.

Ibrahim, who shared their sentiments, said: "We have five local governments. Efon produced Senator Richard Babalola and Kila, although Kila is an impostor. Ekiti West produced Senator Clement Awoyelu. In the Third Republic, Ijero produced Senator O.J. Adewumi. Senator Ola is from Ado. The only local government that has not produced a senator is Irepodun-Ifelodun and the council has a competent candidate in the race". But Ojudu frowned at this. He said Ola became a candidate in 2007 because it was zoned to Ado.

The Iyin-Ekiti-born Bamidele told the constituents when he declared his ambition that he would not take salary as senator. He explained that he wanted to articulate the infrastructure problems of the neglected zone on the floor so that it can attract federal presence.


*** This write up was written by EMMANUEL OLADESU a reporter with The Nation Newspaper.

Jack Bauer's 24hrs Movie in jeopardy

It looks like Jack Bauer's road to the big screen has just hit a major speed bump.

Fox has axed the script from Billy Ray (State of Play) for a big-screen adaptation of 24, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Will 24 end up on the big screen?

"As far as I know,itis in suspended animation,"series executive producer Howard Gordon told the magazine."There is talk about re-approaching it.I understand (director) Tony Scott is meeting with Kiefer [Sutherland] to talk about ideas. People are still talking about it."

The 24 film, announced in March, planned to pick up the story sometime after the Fox drama's series finale. 24 wrapped in May after eight years.

TVGuide.com poll: 62 percent of voters want more 24

Star Kiefer Sutherland expressed his excitement about keeping the franchise alive in the announcement regarding the show's cancelation in March. The film would have taken Jack Bauer to Europe and would revolve more around Bauer than the CTU offices, according to Variety.

Despite the recent setback, Gordon remains optimistic about 24's big-screen ambitions.

"I was disappointed [Fox] passed on the script butI'm certainly hopeful that the movie will get made at some point," Gordon said. "Anecdotally, I've heard from people who arereally missing the show andI do think there is more life in Jack Bauer."

Sack me if I fail- Dora Akunyili

In her bid to represent the voice of her people from Anambra state, former information and communications minister have told the people of her constituency never to recall her back from the senate but to agitate for her resignation if she fails to deliver the peoples mandate when she get to the hallow chamber. And for those who think former NAFDAC gaffer only joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to achieve her senatorial ambition, and would return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) afterwards are wrong, Mrs Akunyili said yesterday in Awka.

After a meeting with traditional rulers to mark the end of her tour of her constituency, the former minister described APGA as a party of the future and one through which her people will realise their potentials.

Because of this, she said, there was no need for her to think of dumping the party especially when one of her purposes of joining it and running for senate was to help the state governor, Peter Obi in the good work he is doing.

“I came into APGA to help the governor. I’ve not discussed with any PDP member about switching over to the party after I’m elected as a senator,” Akunyili said.

She however said that since politics was dynamic, no one could foretell the future. “If anyone had told members of the defunct NRC and SDP then that the parties would not be in existence today, they would not have believed him, but today where are the parties?” she said.

She said what was paramount is for leaders to serve the people and that any action she would take in her political journey must be in consultation with the governor, the traditional rulers and her constituents.

Answering a traditional ruler who asked why she was contesting for the Senate when she is from the same town as the incumbent governor, the aspirant expressed her disappointment with such sentiments.

Why is mine different?

She said that when Chris Ngige was governor, Mike Ajaegbo (a senator) also came from the same zone as Ngige and nobody talked. After him she said the incumbent senator, Annie Okonkwo also emerged from the same zone as the governor.

“Why then should my own be different?” she said. “I cannot be influenced by such sentiments but will concentrate on delivering service to my people. That is what matters,” she said.

Mrs Akunyili expressed satisfaction with the response she got from her constituents during her maiden tour, which she described as unprecedented. “All the local government people are endorsing me. It’s very encouraging. They showered me with a lot of love and support. It’s actually unprecedented in this part of Nigeria,” she said.

During the two-day tour of her constituency, crowds of enthusiastic party supporters had cheered her at every turn, with the various local government executives pledging their support for her.

Support from chairmen

Indeed, any doubts as to where the loyalty of the party executives lay were set aside when she visited Njikoka local government chapter of the party. There the chairman, Paul Anaekwe, told her plainly that the party was committed to no other candidate but her.

“We in Njikoka believe in the best and you are the best and we shall support you. We are not committed to any other candidate but you.

We are making it categorically clear that it is you we support,” Mr Anaekwe said.

Similar assurances were given in Dunukofia, Anaocha, and Awka North and South, and Idemili North and South local government chapters of the party where she visited.

But Mrs Akunyili told party supporters that her ambition to represent them at the Senate was not a do or die affair. “I’m not aiming to win at all costs. This is why I have come to you to ask your support for me to represent you in the senate,” she said.

“As soon as I get into the Senate I will hit the ground running. I’m touched by the poor quality of life in the villages where I have also lived,” she said.

She said she had always been given appointments, but now wanted her people to send her to serve them.

“I will not go to the Senate unless you agree. I’m not going there for myself. I will make sure you get the type of representation you have never had before and at every turn I will tell the world that you sent me.” She also promised to hold regular town hall meetings to acquaint the people with developments in the Senate.

She said the people can ask for her resignation if within one year in the Senate she fails to bring clear changes. “Don’t recall me because that is a long process; just ask me to resign,” Akunyili told her constituents.

Hon. Dino Melaye fulfils threats

Following this morning threats from the leader of the embattled members of the House of Representatives, Hon.Dino Melaye, that he and the other suspended members of the Assembly will force their way into the hallow chamber or turn the gate of the National assembly complex into their bedroom by bringing their mattresses to pass each night that goes by till the Speaker and his cohorts obey the Abuja high court ruling of reinstating them, today made a dramatic appearance at the House of Representatives beating security operatives at the gates of the National Assembly. The reinstated lawmaker entered the complex of National Assembly amidst drama and confusion.

The security operatives who were caught unawares remained dumbfounded, they later raised an alert to other security personnel at the main entrance of the chamber but Dino had already found his way to the chambers exchanging pleasantries.

Mr. Melaye and his colleagues who were earlier "suspended" by the Dimeji Bankole led leadership were reinstated last week by a federal high court court judge in Abuja. But a lawless and reckless Speaker Bankole refused to accept the ruling of the court, instead resorting to string -arm tactics with the full support of the Nigerian police. The media learnt that Mr. Bankole's lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) promised him they'd win the case on appeal. Reason: They were offered additional N500 million in legal fees.

The National Assembly have become an embarrassing drainpipe in the national economy, the "National Assembly of Robbers" are paid 25 percent of annual budgets in Nigeria for making laws that they routinely break!

NIGERIA: A MISTAKE ON THE WORLD MAP?

“This country is doomed” Said Mr A, “Ah! Ah!! Stop saying that now you don't know when angels are passing by” Mr C replied. Angels? Riposted Mr A, did I hear u say angels? Angels are from God and God has already forsaken Nigerians by banning His sinless angels from entering this country to avoid sins. I mean how can someone rule millions of people for almost 4 years illegally and still go about unchecked despite his atrocities and financial misappropriation? How can a vagabond who ruled us for almost a decade in a military jersey and recently rubbish the potentials of the promising youths of this country still have the effrontery of coming out to govern us for another............. God knows how many years. How can the said anointed President whose wife's impatience led to the unconstitutional imprisonment of an innocent woman who was rushing her dying child to the hospital in her car on the accusation of trying to overtake her convoy keep quiet on all the allegations of financial misappropriation on majority of his political party's Top gun? Where on earth can these happen if not a God-forsaken state like Nigeria.......quizzed Mr A.
Well I share part of your grievances but not all. As much as this country's situation is, we must still give thanks to God almighty. Some countries situation is worse than ours you know Mr B said. God!!! Mr A exclaimed that's one of the pills being used as the masses opium to kill their agitations, look my friend it will get to a stage where the youths will take laws into their hands and the whole country will be in the shackles of evil, a good example is what is going on in Niger/Delta region of the country, and...... “Well guys (interrupted by Mr C who has been quiet for a while) like I’ve always said its true that the whole system of this country is in a messy disorder but despite all this we still need to call on God for resolution, he conclude. I strongly beg to disagree, what we need is revolution not resolution and a bloody one if possible. Well everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion, YES they said in harmony to end their conversation.
The above discussion took place not at a newspaper stand or a football viewing center but in my sitting room among three of my friends on the Eid-ul-Adah/Kabirs’ day. I decided not to involve myself in the conversation because I wanted to know where they will end it.
But the big question is, Is Nigeria a doom country really? Has God totally forsaken us or what? Or is it that we are the architect of our own misfortune? Because how can one explain the situation where a banana tree on an Island cannot feed its roots with water except to travel miles away to get it? What has Nigerians done to deserve the kind of leaders that we have. On that same Eid-ul-Kabirs’ day the Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria Igbogbo, Ikorodu division who led the Eid prayer that morning task and challenge the politicians that were present at the prayer to positively justify the Nigeria electorate mandate given to them. He appealed to the Lagos State government of resolving the crises rocking the health sector and the medical guild.
Personally, the situation of this country is getting out of hand, to corroborate my friend above how on earth can a “Rogue” who was disgrace out of power penultimate Friday still has the got to celebrate his ouster from the stolen mandate in spite of his austere on the masses? The situation of the world at large has gone so bad that countries no longer take arms against each other only but government of each nations now take up arms against the citizenry or how again can we explain the Metaphorical attitude of the Nigerian political class in their voracious consumption of the country's wealth and by implication, the health of the Nigeria masses. A case of one Mr. Folorunsho Adewale who is a pensioner of the federal ministry of information will touch you. The 70 year old former protocol officer served the ministry for 35 years before he was retired in 2001. He has since gone to rack and ruin, mainly because getting his entitlements from the ministry has been quite an assignment. He was heavily in debt before the ministry paid him his initial gratuities four years after he left service. He ran up most of the debt in trips to Abuja with his colleagues in the battle to ensure the gratuities were paid. Besides transport fares that he had to foot, the pensioner was regularly contributing to a pool of bribes used to assuage officials in Abuja to ensure the gratuities were paid. After that, he has been receiving N17, 000 per month as his pension. But the pains continue: It's either his name is not on payroll for the month and consequently, his money has not been forwarded to the bank he uses in Lagos, or he is short-paid, or for up to three months, his name will just disappear altogether.
Pathetic you want to say? Well this is just one out of about hundreds of thousands of aged Nigerians whose sweat our so call politicians are ‘sweeting' on yet the laborers are sweating to get their sweet.
Well, my personal take and opinion on this whole issue is that we need to go back to the grassroots, our immediate environment, and our individual family. Our so call ‘Baba in politics' need to retire and give the promising and energetic youth the opportunity of putting our Nation on the right political track. Imagine a 73 year old Obasanjo skirmishing with his old Ekiti ward at the Osun impostor's thanksgiving. While Obasanjo is 73(Western Nigeria), Ciroma 76 (Northern Nigeria), Olusola Saraki 77 and Babangida 69 (Central Nigeria), Edwin Clark 78 (Niger-Delta) and Odumegwu Ojukwu 78 (Eastern Nigeria), the average age of leaders of most of the world leading countries lies in their active workforce; American Obama is 49, Russian Medvedev is 45, British Cameron is 44, France Sarkozy is 55, Iranian Ahmadinajad is 54 and so on like that. Why is our own case not the same? There need to be a change in our attitude, if we don't change this then there can't be a holistic change or are these “corrupticians” as I love to call them not from our individual families? What we teach our children go a long way to affect their potentials (As it is in the case of every Nigerian northerner, the general teaching; “Born to Rule”). If we make effort to teach our children the right thing to do and they fail to do it then we are not worthy to be called parents and for those parents who do not even care about the attitude of their ward they should stop complaining on the hostilities of the government on the masses because when their offsprings grow older it will be more horrid than this.
Finally, as if I'm a prophet, God has proffered a solution to our (Nigeria) problems in His holy book which reads: “Allah will not change the condition of a society until the society is determined for a change itself”. We must therefore bear it in mind that a bad leadership of any organization or society is the reflection of the follower-ship. Change your attitude and try to change that of your immediate environment and watch as we all transform the state of our country for better. CHANGE WE NEED!!! Else Nigeria will remain a mistake on the global village.

AN EXTREMIST VIEW @ UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the universe. May His peace and blessings be upon the noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), his faithful companions and dutiful followers till the end of time, Amin.

The Muslim Congress (TMC) condemns in very strong words the disruption of a Jumat service at University of Ibadan by a sponsored Christian extremist in the person of Ms Seun Bunmi Adegunsoye, a 400-level law student of University of Ibadan. On the first Friday in the Blessed month of Ramadan (corresponding to 13th August,2010), she mustered the gut and arrogantly went into the University of Ibadan Muslim community mosque, while Muslim worshipers were engrossed in prayers screaming irresponsibly in the precincts of the mosque, "Jesus is the way, accept him. Jesus will soon come; Allah is not the way! Except you accept Jesus Christ into your life, you are not safe. All of you here, no matter the number of the congregation, accept Jesus Christ. Allah is not God; Jesus is Lord".

The above act of aggressive trespass and monumental intolerance in an enlightened community could have degenerated into deadly beaten and assault on her person, had the angry Muslim congregation been allowed to handle the matter on their own. The commendable and fatherly intervention of the Chief Imam, Professor Abdurrahman Oloyede, as expected of a Muslim leader, saved the day. Worse still, the community could have been engulfed in Christian-Muslim crisis!

We wish to state clearly that the action of Ms Seun Bunmi Adegunsoye is a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the mosque and an orchestrated insult on the collective intelligence of Muslims and Islam, not only in University of Ibadan but in Nigeria at large. Muslims by our glittering antecedents are peace-loving, but our gentility, simplicity and civility should not be taken for stupidity and timidity by peddlers of bigotry, intolerance, hate and Islamaphobia. There is no instance in any campus throughout the federation, where Muslim students or staff violated the sanctity of church by forcing their way into places of worship reserved for Christians, because our religion preaches peace, tolerance, mutual love and respect for the views of other religions. Universally, mosque is a respected place of worship and the young over-zealous Christian lady violated its sanctity, by coming in to win souls for Jesus Christ, yet few newspapers mildly reported this incident and even those that carried it failed to comment on the danger it portends for peaceful coexistence in the campuses and the country.

The Muslim Congress (TMC) wishes to state that the above incident is reminiscent of what is happening in the Northern part of the country, where those who call themselves Evangelists and hate theologians aggressively attempt to force hybrid Christianity on the Muslims and their children in a manner that is far from, and inimical to the provision of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and conscience to all Nigerians. Attempts by Muslims to rebuff these aggressive methods of evangelisation often lead to crisis, and the reactions of helpless Muslims quickly attract the attention of some mischievous and biased media organisations, that are on the payroll of the missionaries or that have soft spot for their cause and agenda.
We therefore humbly call upon the Minister for Education, Professor Rukayyat Rufai, University's Governing Council Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Vice Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, Inspector-General of Police, Ogobonnaya Onovo and Sultan of Sokoto/President National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Saád Abubakar III to beam their search-lights on the various campuses to avert a recurrence of this type of nauseating incident of extremism. Indeed, it is an agenda, which would soon be repeated and replicated in other campuses in Nigeria, if this one is allowed to go without appropriate reprimand and sanction from the University authorities. Planners of this drama are bent on wining souls for Christ by crook and intimidation of students under the aegis of Muslim Student's Society (MSSN). Whereas, the quality of a soup is better experienced in the taste and aroma, not in useless advertisement and dead propaganda by the cook. Islam thrives on truth, goodwill, respect and morals. We do not force our religion down people's throats, nor insult other people's gods and desecrate the sanctity of their temples. The Ivory Towers should not be used as safe havens by fanatical lecturers, bigots and faith supremacists to groom soldiers ready to unleash havoc on the Muslim Communities and MSSN in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

In conclusion, we humbly counsel the Nigeria media outfits to be responsive, objective, unbiased, balanced and patriotic in their reporting of events as it affects Muslims and Islam in Nigeria. After all what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. We advocate a crisis-free society and passionately demand justice!

Long live Nigeria Media and Federal Republic of Nigeria.

SIGNED
Luqman AbdurRaheem, AMNIM, AMIMC, AMIOE
Amir, The Muslim Congress