Buhari Rebuffs Emirs
• Says it’s not a ‘Northern affair’ • May boycott ANPP NEC meeting today
By Ali M.Ali in Lagos, George Oji in Kaduna and Oke Epia in Abuja, 07.04.2007


The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate in the April elections, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Buhari (rtd), will pursue his election petition to the end, irrespective of efforts by Northern emirs and Islamic clerics to stave off the legal action.
This is even as signals emerged that the crisis of confidence in the party over the decision of its leadership to participate in the proposed Government of National Unity may have taken a further dimension. There were indications last night that Buhari may not attend today's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Buhari, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday through his Special Assistant, Ya’u Darazo, was reacting to reports that the Northern religious leaders and traditional rulers had resolved to dissuade Buhari and the Action Congress (AC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, from pursuing their election petitions at the tribunal.

[b]According to Darazo, the former military head of state said he did not run for the presidential election as a Northern candidate and, therefore, has no reason to bow to Northern leaders.
“The General is very emphatic that it is not a regional issue,” Darazo said. “It is a question of election irregularities and legitimacy. He will not bow to any pressure.”
He wondered why it would now be reduced to a Northern affair. “In 2003 when Gen. Buhari filed a petition against the then president after the presidential election, he did so because he believed that was the right thing to do. It did not matter to him that Obasanjo was a Southerner. No Northern elder tried to dissuade him then. Why now?” he asked.
Northern emirs and Islamic clerics had on Monday intensified moves for rapprochement between President Yar’adua and his political rivals from the North in an attempt to dissuade them from pursuing their election petitions. They were worried that peace had remained elusive to the region even after political power had shifted to it because of the outcome of the last presidential election.
Darazo quoted Buhari as saying: “The issue is not about me. Many Nigerians toiled for the elections. So many people lost their lives. Some were brutalised and maimed because of their convictions. How can I now abandon them because of Northern leaders? This is not a regional issue.”[/b]Buhari’s stand may also affect his decision whether or not to attend today’s NEC meeting of the party. Although the letter of invitation to the meeting was said not to have any agenda listed, an official of the ANPP informed that the meeting will deliberate and possibly take a position on its participation in the proposed government of national unity. [/b]

While the party has already reached an understanding with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the government of national unity, Buhari has consistently rejected the idea of any talks with the ruling party, vowing to pursue his election petition at the tribunal. His running mate and national chairman of the party, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, has since welcomed the carrot from the PDP.
Speaking with THISDAY on telephone last night, Osita Okechukwu, vice chairman of the publicity committee of the Buhari presidential campaign organisation, said Buhari will not attend today's NEC meeting so as not to "legitimise an illegality."
He said the meeting which ought to have been called before ANPP entered into the government of national unity talks was now being summoned after a communiqué had been signed with the PDP, saying "they are closing the stables after the horse has left."
According to him, Buhari will not attend the meeting because the letter to the Director-General of the campaign organisation did not bear any agenda and that attending it would amount to legitimising the agreements already entered with PDP.
But the ANPP has explained that the major reason for the party's participation in the proposed government of national unity was to assist in bringing about progress for the country and Nigerians. Speaking in the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Service (BBC) monitored in Kaduna yesterday, National Secretary of ANPP, Senator Saidu Umar Kumo, dismissed Buhari's allegation that he was not consulted before the talks as baseless.
Buhari had at the weekend in an interview with the Hausa Service of Radio Deutchewelle in Bonn, Germany kicked against the participation of the party in the proposed Government of National Unity, accusing some members of the party of pursing selfish interest and personal aggrandisement.
But speaking yesterday, Kumo said, “We laid down our conditions for the interest of the country; a situation where all of us will join hands to help in the government of Yar’Adua and the entire people of Nigeria, where they have found themselves”.
Kumo further explained that withdrawing the court cases instituted by Buhari against President Yar’Adua was not one of the conditions tabled before the government before their participation in the proposed government of national unity.
Asked if the court case was likely to be withdrawn by the ANPP, Kumo said the issue of withdrawal never came up in any of their meetings with the government. Responding to another question as to whether his answer implied that the court case against the president will continue, the ANPP National Secretary’s reply was in the positive.
“We will continue with the case until when it is decided that the case should be withdrawn. It is also left for the individual candidates to pursue their cases in court. But the party has a stand in relation to moving the country forward,” he said.
Contrary to Gen. Buhari’s accusation of unconstitutional moves before the participation of the ANPP in the proposed government of national unity, Kumo explained that what transpired before the decision to participate was arrived at, saying all their moves were constitutional.
For instance, he said, “we met with all the elders of the party, including our governors. All those who are supposed to be in the caucus, according to the party’s constitution attended the meeting.
“We met and discussed extensively and the resolution reached was that we were satisfied with what the leaders of the party did by accepting the invitation by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to form a Government of National Unity for the progress of our people according to the conditions we laid down”, the national secretary of ANPP said.
Kumo submitted that the acceptance of ministerial portfolio by members of the party was with the proviso that only credible members of the party should be considered, adding “we have given the leaders the permission to accept the posts given to them”.
On whether Buhari attended the meeting where the decision was taken to participate in the government of National Unity, he said Buhari was absent.
“He did not attend the meeting. We got a letter of excuse that he would be absent from the leader of his campaign, Alhaji Sule Hamma, that he and Gen. Buhari would not be able to attend the meeting because they have pressing problems that coincide with the time of the meeting. Therefore, they wished us well”, Kumo pointed out. The National Secretary however said the NEC of the party will meet today and that the issues would be tabled before arriving at the final decision

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=82720

More trouble for Ehindero
…As investigators unearth fresh shady deals in police
Monday, July 2, 2007


The noose appears to be tightening round the neck of the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, as anti-fraud detectives at the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja unearth fresh clues in the ongoing probe into the recent N21million scam for which three of his close aides were held.

In fact, the investigators have recommended that Ehindero be asked to refund N37million which the erstwhile Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget, Mr. John Obaniyi, was said to have withdrawn on his orders.

Daily Sun checks revealed that the embattled CP Obaniyi and the ex-IGP have already given conflicting accounts on the purpose for which the money was withdrawn, prompting the recommendation for refund of the money.

It was further gathered that the investigators’ conviction of a foul play with regard to the N37million was strengthened by the fact that while Ehindero claimed that the money was withdrawn for contingency, Obaniyi told his interrogators that he withdrew the money on the orders of Ehindero for the purpose of Public Relations (PR).

Ehindero’s claim is reportedly contained in a scanty type-written statement which he volunteered to the investigators by proxy, in which he was said to have denied knowledge of N157million which was allegedly carted away from the budget office at the Police Force headquarters annex Lagos, on May 26, 2007, in nine Ecolac boxes.

Sources said the money was part of a huge sum left behind by Ehindero’s predecessor, Tafa Balogun in 2004, but had been instalmentally withdrawn until the fund depleted to N157million, which was carted away three days to Ehindero’s exit from office.

Although Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jelili, who was then at the helm of affairs at the Lagos budget office has reportedly admitted that the money was actually carted away, he denied knowledge of where the money was taken, and for what purpose.

Jelili, according to sources, has further stated that the total sum of money which he knew was a left-over of the Tafa Balogun administration at the Lagos budget office was about N360 million, although it is suspected that the money was over N600 million.

Interestingly, Ehindero is said to have denied knowledge of the entire sum of money, even as authoritative sources confided in Daily Sun that there are documentary evidence linking him to the withdrawals. He has equally washed his hands off the N21 million which was being ferreted away from the force headquarters before the bubble burst, saying the money was supposed to be handed over by Obaniyi to the new CP budget.

The investigators have also beamed their searchlight on a N70 million and N20million which were separately withdrawn from the N1billion given to the police for the last general elections for the purchase of vehicle spare-parts and fuel respectively, besides the N60 million which Ehindero allegedly allocated to himself as election duty allowances.

So far, the investigators have established the supply of some vehicle spare-parts to the police works department even though the exact amount used is yet to be verified as being up to N70 million, but the N20 million worth of fuel bought for the use during the elections had allegedly not been delivered as at last week.

In the meantime, investigators have intensified efforts to establish the whereabouts of the N157 million carted away from the budget office, indicating that the last may not have not been heard about the N21 million saga.

“Yes, the investigators are working seriously to unravel all that actually happened. Right now, they want CP Obaniyi to come and give further clarifications on the N157million, but he is nowhere to be found. He hasn’t shown up. We hope he will come and answer the questions.

“Again, it is true that the investigators have recommended that Ehindero be asked to refund the sum of N37million which Obaniyi claimed was withdrawn for PR on his orders. Since Obaniyi said he acted on his orders, it means both of them will have to refund the money”, said a source close to the office of the Ag. Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro.

However, Ehindero has denied knowledge of the N37 million PR money and other issues in a telephone interview with Daily Sun at about 5.15pm on Sunday.

Excerpts:

Daily Sun: There is this N37million you are being asked to refund. Are you aware of it?

Ehindero: Ah, I don’t know about that.

Daily Sun: But they said the investigators made the recommendation?

Ehindero: Ah, I have not heard about that.

Daily Sun: But they said you’ve sent a type-written statement to them?

Ehindero: Ah, I don’t know about that. I don’t know about it.

Daily Sun: Which means they have not asked you anything since this investigation started?

Ehindero: No, no, no. I don’t want to talk about it. Please don’t lead me into talking about it, I have nothing to say.[b][/b]
http://odili.net/news/source/2007/jul/2/812.html

Ministerial Nominees: Madueke, Yayale Face Stiff Opposition

All sorts of permutations plus the dispute between Aso Rock and legislators over Ministerial nominees may prolong the delay in the submission of the list to the Senate.

Opposition is being mounted by some Governors and others in the political class against nominations they do not approve of.

Names picked from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been forwarded to the security agencies for screening, but some face threats of rejection by Senators.

Mostly affected by the protests are nominees from Bayelsa, Bauchi, and Akwa Ibom.

A federal lawmaker from Bayelsa, who did not want to be named, said the insistence by Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, that Suziana Alison Madueke remains the nominee from the state is not acceptable to many.

The nomination, he argued, has created the impression that "just because Jonathan is now the Vice President, he can no longer consult his elected colleagues and political leaders before taking such a vital decision".

Suziana, the first Nigerian female director of Shell, is the wife of former Chief of Naval Staff, Alison Madueke.

The protesters from Bayelsa say although she is an indigene of the state, she would owe allegiance to her husband’s state.

One argued: "Her father is from Bayelsa, no doubt; her mother is from Delta, and she is married to an Igbo man. So, she is completely distanced from her home state politics.

"Is Jonathan saying that we do not have reasonable and qualified indigenes of Bayelsa who can be appointed to that position? I am not opposed to the VP, but on this alone, I will not agree".

He said he has been seeking an opportunity to make the minds of federal legislators and home-based politicians known to Jonathan before agreement to accept or oppose the confirmation of Madueke.

Another nomination up against tough jibes is that of federal Head of Civil Service, Ahmed Yayale, who is from Bauchi.

A former Senator from the state confirmed that his nomination has generated division among the political elite in the state.

"We cannot feign ignorance of the fact that most of the politicians are aggrieved, because in the last election, some of us either contested and lost or were told by the party to stand down for some people.

"At the end, we still stood up to support the party to victory. What is our gain if a serving civil servant, who has reached the height of his career, has to be converted to a politician overnight as if there are no other qualified persons from the state?", one of them wondered.

Although he could not say who made the nomination, he stressed that President Umaru Yar’Adua could be embarrassed as "we have already mobilised our Senators to oppose it when it goes to the Senate" where a Ministerial nominee has to be endorsed by at least two of the three Senators from his or her state.

Without such an endorsement, the nominee will be rejected since Senators are regarded as the direct representatives of the people whose views tally with those of their constituencies.

Also, the nomination of John Akpanudoedehe from Akwa Ibom may not be an easy sail unless the gathering tempest against him is calmed before the screening in the Upper House.

His nomination is seen by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as compensation for the loyalty he received from him when he was a Senator.

Akpanudoedehe was the only Senator and prominent politician from the state who did not abandon Obasanjo when the Supreme Court ruled against the payment of oil revenue derived from onshore-offshore operations to the states involved.

One grouse against him is that he has had his own share of political exposure and largesse as a Senator at a relatively young age.

By last weekend, most of the politicians, especially from the minorities in Oron and Ikot Abasi whose candidates were dropped from the list, were mounting pressure on Senators from Akwa Ibom not to endorse him.

Three names were submitted from the state for one Ministerial slot. They included Akpanudoedehe, a former Governorship aspirant, Nsima Ekere, and another nominee from Oron.

Ekere was the running-mate to Godswill Akpabio, the state governor, after the primaries, but he was prevailed upon to step-down when it was obvious that the then state governor, Obong Victor Attah, was not happy with what was going on. Fearing that Attah may throw in spanners into the works, the party decided that since it has passed the stage of allowing Attah the liberty of contributing to who succeeds him, he should at least be allowed the privilege of picking the running-mate. Thus Ekere was prevailed upon to relinguish his position for Ekpotu, a supposed Attah nominee, with a promise that he would be compensated with a federal appointment. Ekere’s supporters are insisting that the party should live up to its promise.

But supporters of Akpanudoedehe are also insisting that Eket and Annang produced a Minister each in the last dispensation while Oron produced the Assembly Speaker and one Ambassador.

They added that Ekere was dropped because his kinsman is the Deputy Governor while the man from Oron could not be favoured since the PDP Chairman is also from there. Akpanudoedehe was the leader of the Akpabio campaign team in the state and his nomination is seen as compensation for his effort.

Perhaps, at present, the only non-controversial nominee is John Odey, PDP National Publicity Secretary from Cross River State.

http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=44&a=29681

Seven students represent Nigeria in South Korea for Physics competition
By Umoru Henry
Posted to the Web: Monday, July 02, 2007



ABUJA—Nigeria will be represented at the 2007 International Young Physicists Tournament at Seoul, South Korea by seven secondary school students to compete with other students from twenty six countries including the United Kingdom, United States of America, South Korea, Germany, among others.
The event, which will begin on Thursday this week, would run for a period of two weeks.

The students drawn from Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, Abuja, Zamani College, Kaduna; Bishop Yisa James Academy, Suleja and Federal Government College, Owerri leave for South Korea today.

The students are Precious Orbunde, Federal Government Girls College, Bwari; Uche Nwokediuko, Zamani College; Stephen Akaeze, Federal Government Academy, Suleja; Oluwabunmi Taiwo, Bishop Yisa James Memorial College, Suleja; Oluchi Maduekwe; Ogechi Amadi and Nnedinma Iwueke, all of Federal Government Girls College, Owerri.
Disclosing this in Abuja weekend at the end of the two weeks training and brainstorming exercises held in Abuja, the Executive Director, still learning, Kingsley Inade the organizers of the programme said the programme was designed to expose Nigeria students to the current trend of Science education in the world, just as he explained that seventeen schools showed interest at the beginning, until these seven students now emerged to represent Nigeria.

Mr. Inade who noted that the programme was organized in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of education, said the 2007 edition forms the fourth in the series, even as he said since the inception of the programme, twelve students had so far represented the country, adding that Nigeria had been winning, but not fortunate to qualify for the final three.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/north/nt302072007.html

Gov Omehia awards N7b contract
,  To non-indigene
By Ogbonna Nwuke



Governor Celestine Omehia has awarded his first contract, from information that is reaching our news desk.
The contract which is huge and mouth-watering is for the construction of a new shopping mall.
The idea of building new shopping malls, insiders tell the Telegraph is to upgrade the level of commerce and the facilities needed for it in a changing and dynamic business environment.
Our sources say that the Omehia government awarded the job for a whooping N7 billion.
Mixed feelings have greeted the award of the contract among insiders and supporters of government.
Surprisingly, the contract which probably signifies the giant steps that Omehia intends to take while in office, would not be executed by any of the multi-national firms or business outfits owned by Rivers people.
Rather, it has been awarded to a non-indigenous business outfit owned by an Igbo from Anambra who in the last eight years has cornered most of the plum jobs at the expense of Rivers businessmen who continue to complain that their own government is not patronizing them.
Apparently, the award of contracts to non-indigenes was one of the complaints that Rivers people had against out-gone Governor Peter Odili.
As things are, Omehia may have either chosen to follow the same path or is being pressured to do so by some powerful interests.
Nowhere was the feeling of resentment more than in pro-govbernment circles.
The contractor is a man whose name was given to us as Pat Sule.
His full name is Patrick Sule Ugboma.
Our sources say who owns big investments very close to Tantalizers.
We have heard that the same man built the Rivers State House of Assembly valued at close to N4.5 billion.
We have been told that he was the one who handled the new Judiciary complex at a cost some say is about N3 billion.
He is the same one handling the renovation of the State Secretariat complex.
Now, Omehia to the consternation of Rivers people including those who are close to him has given him another slice of big business with some asking when Rivers people would have the benefit of doing such jobs in their own state.
Some Rivers people reached said Omehia should think again and place more emphasis on developing Rivers political and economic interests to avert a backlash that could indeed be very costly.
http://www.thephctelegraph.com/stories/040607/2706news_02.html

Between 1999 and 2007, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s assets grew by over N700 million.

In 1999, when he released his declared assets publicly soon after he was sworn in as governor of Kastina State, he was worth less than N100 million.

But now, his assets, according to his public declaration last Thursday are worth over N856 million, an over 800 per cent increase.

His assets as declared on June 16, 1999 include:

Cash
· N420,000
· N4,044,111

· $81,000

· £1,000

Buildings

· Three buildings, two of which were gifts from his elder brother General Shehu Yar’Adua, and located in Kaduna, valued at N15,000,000.

· One in Katsina, inherited from his late father, valued at N2,000,000.

· A personal house, built by him between 1985 and 1988 valued at N8,000,000.

Land

Vacant land, which fetched N5 million between 1994 and 1999, valued at N13 million.

Other four vacant land, one of which valued at N10,000,000.

Farms

Two farms valued at N2.5 million

Vehicles

Five in all. One from his late elder brother valued at N7 million. Another given to him when he resigned from the board of Habib Bank as a director. He bought a Toyota brand for N800,000.

In a paper made available to correspondents in Katsina, on Wednesday 16

thJune, 1999, the then governor had said such decision would not have been necessary, "if we have a society where people and leaders have reformed themselves to become honest, sincere and have the fear of God in their hearts."


"The mere fact that there is such a constitutional provision is a shame and disgrace to the leadership of this country, because it has shown the exact character of leadership we have been having over the past decades", he had said.

Like the 1999 declaration, the one made last week did not include the shares in banks and other institutions. The addition of shares, cash in the banks would have increased his worth to N946 million.

Contrary to the 1999 situation, when only five vehicles were listed, the president now has 31 vehicles, mostly from donation for presidential campaigns.

What is not clear is whether such donations were not made to him during his governorship campaign or he chose to drop them from the 1999 list.

The latest declaration showed that the president’s properties located in Katsina, Kaduna and Abuja is now valued at N577 million.

The value of his two farms has also appreciated to N25 million from the N2.5 million some eight years ago, while his wife’s assets now separated and put at N19 million.

The declaration has since been attracting varied interpretations and reactions faulted by some and commended by others.

Former governor of the old Kaduna state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa felt there was nothing patriotic about the assets declaration.

Balarabe, who was a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) expressed surprise that the president’s assets could have risen "to almost a billion Naira from about N70 million" eight years ago.

"There is nothing exciting about what he has done because he has only fulfilled what is expected of him, although the law does not say he should do it publicly; it only says that he should declare his assets.

"I am surprised that the president who was worth less than N70 million few years ago is now so rich.

"There are some questions that needed to be answered, and I hope the answers are in favour of the president. How did he become so rich within eight years? What made him so courageous to declare so much money publicly? These questions must be sincerely answered without being speculative.

"The amount so declared confirms that Nigeria is clearly a social class. So what do you expect from an imposed president who is that rich? Do you think he would be sensitive to the needs of the people? I doubt," Balarabe said.

The former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide, described the declaration as "a good move," and urged every public office holder to follow suit.

Akinjide noted that only such courage to declare assets on assumption of office and when leaving could give meaning to the people’s clamour for probity and accountability.

"When leaving office they should also declare their assets so we can compare.

"The president has shown good leadership and therefore deserves total support from all of us," the former Justice Minister declared.

To the Ondo State Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Omotayo Dairo, the move was necessary to set the right agenda for probity and good governance.

Dairo explained that a President that could muster such courage to publicly declare his assets would not condone corruption in whatever guise.

"We expect other PDP functionaries to go ahead and do same," he added.

Dairo told The Nation in a telephone interview that such bold stance against corruption was a policy his party had resolved to entrench, "being the largest party in Nigeria."

"So long as we continue to pamper corruption in this country it will be difficult for us to move forward," he argued.

http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=23829

Anything that is done towards ensuring transparency in government will be welcomed. However, some questions arise.
Who authenticated it to know they (the assets) are true? How much tax does he pay on such wealth? What were Yar'Adua's assets before he became governor? And what is the difference between the then assets and the ones he just declared?

How Obasanjo plotted Anenih’s removal from abroad 30/6/2007


Segun Otokiti



FORTY-eight hours before he arrived the country on Tuesday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo plotted the removal of Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih from Jamaica where he spent his vacation.

In fact, the need to remove his former friend now turned sworn enemy expedited his return to the country during the week, The Nation learnt.

It was gathered before party Secretary Chief Ojo Maduekwe sent circular for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which held on Monday, he contacted Obasanjo who was holidaying in the reggae beat country .

Obasanjo was reported to have asked for the agenda which included among others, the formation of a Reconciliation Committee to be headed by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and the scheduled meeting of the party with members of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress (AC).

Satisfied, he was said to have asked for what the meeting would do on the BOT chairmanship.

During the December 16, 2006 national convention of the nine-year old party, its constitution was amended making Obasanjo life leader and paving the way for him to become the next BOT chairman. A source said Maduekwe, who is being tipped as the next national chairman of the self-acclaimed biggest party in Africa, was silent for minutes, following Obasanjo’s enquiries .‘’Don’t worry. I will call Yar’Adua,’’ Obasanjo was reported to have said. When he called President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and asked the same question, the president was reported to have told his predecessor that he (Obasanjo) should wait till he comes back to the country before taking over from Anenih.

But Obasanjo added a condition: the NEC meeting should be silent on the BOT chairmanship.

The source said Obasanjo’s plan was to return to the country yesterday or today, rest for one or two days before heading for Abuja for the BOT meeting.

‘’Obasanjo was shocked when the NEC meeting announced that Anenih should continue as BOT Chairman. In fact, he was furious. He knew Anenih must have manipulated the NEC members and party leadership to include that section in the communiqué."

He immediately called President Yar’Adua and asked him for what led to such announcement and the president told him that his (Obasanjo’s) physical presence would be needed urgently to effect the desired change.

The source said Obasanjo immediately placed calls to Maduekwe, Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Chief Bode George, Senate President David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Olubunmi Etteh; and told them his plans: "I’m coming back to take over fully." He was also reported to have called billionaire tycoon Alhaji Aliko Dangote to make one of his private jets available immediately for his return to the country.

This was done and he returned on Tuesday morning.

On arrival, he called Yar’Adua and his allies in the party telling them that BOT meeting would hold the next day.

Anenih, who was aware of Obasanjo’s arrival, also called the BOT meeting in his Abuja house for Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, Obasanjo flew to Abuja with some of his aides and headed straight to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa which he left less than a month ago.

Yar’Adua already had some scheduled meetings but Obasanjo was reported to have told him to cancel them for the BOT meeting.

When Anenih, who was in Benin, the Edo State capital, learnt of Obasanjo’s move, it was too late.

He made some frantic calls, to no avail. Within hours, Anenih was removed, replaced by Obasanjo who also made one of his loyalists and former Nasarawa State Governor Adamu Abdullahi, the Board Secretary.

According to Maduekwe, Obasanjo has effectively taken over the ruling party.

The crisis between Obasanjo and Anenih started two days after Obasanjo’s exit from Aso Rock.

A few days to his exit, the party leadership met and endorsed Mark and Mrs Etteh as the Senate President and Speaker.

But a few days to the inauguration of the sixth National Assembly on June 5, Anenih moved against Mark, seen as Obasanjo’s choice.

This prompted Obasanjo to call and warn him. But Anenih replied immediately saying as an old man, Obasanjo should not talk to him like that again.

Both are septuagenarians.

Since then, the crisis between the duo has deepened.
http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=23708

FRUIT OF DOOM Woman throws neighbour’s child into well
By Chioma Okezie-Okeh
Saturday, June 30, 2007 

Desperate to have her own baby and the proverbial fruit of the womb, a housewife in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, has finally plucked a seeming fruit of doom. She has landed in police net where she is now responding to posers as to why she tried to drown a neighbours five-year-old son.

The woman who abducted the kid in broad daylight and dumped him in a deep well, claimed that a juju priest (babalawo) advised her to carry out the evil act if she ever wanted to conceive and have her own baby.

In compliance with the directive of the said babalawo, the woman, Adijat Shina,25, abducted little Bashiru Suleman, and threw him into a well in her compound, 18 Ibijoke Street, Oregun, Lagos.
Bashiru would have been history save for a neighbour who saw Adijat throwing him into the well. The neighbour, a housewife, immediately raised an alarm and people came and rescued the half-drowned Bashiru.

Were she not known in the area, Adijat would have been lynched by the angry mob that gathered at the scene. However, civility prevailed and she was taken to Alausa police station alongside another neighbour, Manifa Musa,21, who was alleged to have conspired with her to perfect the act. The case has since been transferred to Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos.

Fruit of the womb
Looking remorseful while speaking to Saturday Sun, Adijat said she had tried everything humanly and spiritually possible to have a baby since her first baby died two years ago. All her efforts, according to her, haven’t given her "fruit of the womb". She now decided to confide in her neighbour, Manifa. According to the Kogi State-born, Adjidat, when she told Manifa of her plight, she told her that another neighbour, simply called Iya Bashiru, was the cause of her childlessness. "Manifa told me that she had consulted a native doctor at Ibadan and that the Baba recommended that I should kill the son of Iya Bashiru and bring him for sacrifice. She told me that the Baba said that 20th of June would be the last day," she said.

Date with Babalawo
To keep the date with the Babalawo, Adijat, now decided on the best way to kill Bashiru and take his corpse to Ibadan. Not having the heart to kill the boy whom she abducted, she put him inside the bucket used in fetching water in the well and dumped him in there to drown. While in the process, a neighbour who was upstairs saw her and raised alarm. The boy was almost dead when he was rescued.

"I knew that I could not kill him with my hands. I confided in Manifa that I would prefer throwing him into the well. She said I should go ahead as time was running out. I now called Bashiru and threw him into the well. I was still waiting for him to get drowned so that I would bring the body out when I heard shouts from people around. I was surrounded and Bashiru was brought out of the well. Thank God that he did not die. I believe that I was under a spell," she narrated.

Asked if her husband was aware of the plot, she said that when the incident happened, her husband abandoned her, as he had warned her severally to stay away from Manifa whom he said is devilish.
When Saturday Sun asked 21-year-old Manifa of her role in the act, she denied having a hand in it, saying that she didn’t advise Adjat to kill anybody. "I am a mother and I know the difficulties in child bearing. She knows where she got that idea. I don’t know why she wants to put me into trouble," she said.

She threw me into the well
When little Bashiru was asked what happened to him by our reporter, he simply pointed an accusing finger at Adijat and said "Na mama junior wey put me for there, ", pointing at the ground to indicate the depth he’d emerged from. Speaking further, he revealed that Adijat who is known in the area as "Mama Junior" lured him with a promise to buy him biscuit.

According to Bashiru: "Mama Junior called me that e want buy biscuit for me".
"When I went to answer her, she said I should get the fetcher (bucket) from the well. I was there when she pushed me into the well," he narrated.

Father of the little boy, Suleman Ibrahim, told Saturday Sun that Adijat’s claim is baseless. He, however, thanked God for saving the life of his son. "My wife is a true Moslem and has nothing to do with anything fetish. I thank God that my child is a safe. It is only Allah who kept him alive that would judge these people," he said.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/crimewatch/2007/june/30/crimewatch-30-06-2007-001.htm

Chilling confessions of an armed robber: I’ve been a robber since I was 11 years old, formed my gang when I was 13
By Evelyn Usman
Posted to the Web: Saturday, June 30, 2007



*Says 25-yr-old Fatai Shokunbi, member of gang that killed a woman in cold blood on Apongbon Bridge


When the gruesome murder of Mrs. Clementina Sadauwa, a manager with Ericson company in Nigeria, was announced in the media four months ago, many concluded that the unknown gunmen would have been those hired assassins that perfect a clean job. She was killed in cold blood in the month of February on the Apongbon bridge, on Lagos Island by a five-man robbery gang at about 8:00 p.m. Her driver with unknown identity who was also injured by the bandits reportedly ran for dear life when the gunmen threatened to kill both of them if they did not surrender the money they were with.

With the deed neatly done and Mrs. Sadauwa who was with her little baby at the back of the car left in the pool of her blood, stone dead, the robbers fled the scene after removing the blood stained jewelries from their dead victim. An unspecified amount of money contained in the deceased’s handbag, three GSM handsets and other valuables were carted away by the assailants.

In spite of the cry of the little baby who still cuddled her dead mother affectionately, other road users undauntedly drove on for fear of being another victim. It was not until moments later that a driver who earlier fled the scene for dear life returned and raised alarm which attracted genuine sympathizers.

The murder of Mrs. Saduwa raised dust and the Police were again accused of incompetence in the area of security and protection of lives and property. The incident, according to the 1985 set of Old Students Association of Federal Government College who petitioned then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, was described as one killing too many, that have proved a hard nut for the police to crack.

They however enjoined the Police to do all within their power to bring the culprits to book if only to prove the public notion about them wrong.

Just when interest was being lost about the possibility of nabbing the perpetrators of the devilish act, four months after the tragic occurrence, the Lagos State Police Command, Tuesday, paraded four robbery suspects that confessed to have indeed taken part in the robbery operation that sent the defenceless engineer to an untimely death, ostensibly for refusing to part with the money they claimed was in her possession. The perpetrators of the dastardly act whose ages are between 23 and 25, revealed that their ring leader and hitman whose name they gave as Nonso, pulled the trigger that sent Mrs. Sadauwa to the great beyond.

Nonso, it was later gathered, met his waterloo two months ago; he was shot dead during a gun battle with the police in one of his operations.

In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, the gang’s second-in-command, Fatai Shokunbi, a 25-year-old indigene of Ogun State, disclosed that he had been robbing since he was 11 years old and gave a startling revelation of how Mrs. Sadauwa was killed. Excerpts:

What is your name?

My name is Fatai Shokunbi, alias Atere. I am 25 years old and an indigene of Ogun State
Are you in school?


I dropped out of school when I was in SS2 because I was naturally stubborn. I never wanted to go to school even when my parents forced me to. I just wanted to go into business and get money to take care of my needs. I finished my primary education from Ebute-Metta Primary School and proceeded to Herbert Macaulay College, also in Ebute-Metta but dropped out in SS2.

How did you join robbery?

I started robbing twelve years ago, then I was 11 years old. I specialise in break and entry. I break into shops and pick whatever I see. Sometimes I sell them and sometimes I keep them for my personal use. I later formed a gang of two when I was 13 years old.

Anytime we got anything from the operation, we would share it equally but sometimes I kept some to myself.

Tell us about the robbery operation at Apongbon bridge where your gang killed one woman who was with her baby.

We were five that went for the operation. Dudu (one of the suspects) brought an okada (motorcycle) that carried Nonso and I from Oyingbo to Apongbon bridge where we met Ismaila and Bashiru (other members of the gang). I was with an iron cutter, Nonso was with a gun while Basiru and Ismaila were with cutlasses.

Then it was about 8:00 p.m., we sighted the vehicle parked and Dudu immediately parked the okada in front of the car. Nonso and I came down from the okada and went straight to the car. I stayed by the driver’s side while Nonso went to where the woman sat behind. I asked the driver to open the door but when he refused, I smashed the glass with the iron cutter and collected two phones from him.

Nonso started dragging with the woman for her bag and at the same time asked her: ‘Where is your money? Where is your jewelry?’ In the process, he shot her and we left the scene. On getting to our hideout in Oko-Baba under Ebute-Meta bridge, we reaslised that the bag contained the sum of N28,000.

Did anyone hire your gang to kill the woman?

I am not a hired killer. We did not know her before. All we planned was to go to Apongbon bridge to operate and we met her vehicle on the spot. Before we left for the operation, we concluded we were not going to kill but I don’t know why Nonso shot the woman. Maybe it was because she was shouting and at the same time struggling for the bag with him. If we were hired assassins we would have killed the driver also.

How much was your share of the loot?

I got the sum of N9,000 and a phone; we gave Dudu who drove the okada N2,000, Asunmo got N1,500; Okele got N6,000 because he knew how much was in the bag. I took more than Nonso because he said he wanted two phones. I gave him two phones and deducted it from the money he ought to have got. After the sharing, we went our different ways and continued stealing until the Police arrested Dudu at Onike while he was operating. His confessional statement led to our arrests. But Nonso that shot the woman is not here. I have not seen him for about two months now,

How did you form a gang of five armed men?

I was doing a solo operation for several years until I met Nonso at Oko-Baba in Ebute Metta at a joint where we smoke Indian hemp. His mother, a firewood seller, lives close to where my shop is. I knew he was a bad boy and he knew what I was into also. After he came back from prison in 2004, he said he met other prisoners who promised to give him a gun after serving his jail term. So he approached me about four years ago and told me he could use a gun, but that all he wanted was a partner. So, anytime I had a deal, I would call him because of the gun. Since then we have done several deals which fetched us money.

Have you been arrested since you started stealing 12 years ago?

I have been arrested twice. This is the third time and I know I may not come out of this alive. I was arrested the first time by policemen at Denton Police station and was taken to court where I was sent to Ikoyi Prison but was later released after spending two months. That was in 2002. Two years after, I was again arrested by policemen from Sabo division and spent more than two months at the Ikoyi prison.

How much have you realised from the operations and what did you do with the money?

I rented a shop where I started selling cassettes when I initially started. I later went into studio business, where I sing at social gatherings. I am still into the business.

Why didn’t you stop after achieving all these?

Ise esu ni (meaning it’s the devil’s handiwork). I proposed in my mind that I was going to stop at the end of this year and I actually would have if not that I was arrested.

How do you break into the shops and how do you know there is money in a particular shop?

Before breaking into any shop at night, I would have gone to such shops in the daytime for survey. I would enter the shop and demand for what they do not have. Before entering, I would ensure there are at least one or two customers. That way, I would monitor where they keep money and come back at night to break into their safe and collect the money. Most times Nonso usually followed me.

Could you mention some of the operations you and Nonso have together been involved in?

We have carried out several operations together that I have lost count of. But most of the robberies have been in Ebute Metta. We have once broken into a GSM handsets shops where I made away with several phones and recharge cards. At the end I gave Nonso just two and hid the rest, saying they fell from me while we were rushing to leave the place. Another operation was that on Borno way, Ebute Metta; it was also a recharge card store.

We stole over 50 cards of different networks. I gave Okele some of the cards to sell. He said he sold them for N28,000. I gave Nonso N15,000 while I pocketed N13,000. But unknown to him, I hid over ten of the recharge cards which I secretly loaded into my phone. Anytime we stole recharge cards, we would sell them at cheaper rates, that way dealers would buy. We once broke into a provision store where we made away with N40,000 . Nonso collected N15,000 while I took the rest because I initiated the deal.

Are your parents aware you are into this?

They are not. My parents are not living together. They have been separated for a long time. My dad lives in Alagbado while my mum stays at Ojuelegba.

Are you married?

I’m married but my wife does not know I’m into this mess.

So, where do you usually tell her you are going whenever you are going for operation?

Like I told you earlier, I have a studio and go out to play for people. So anytime I’m going out for operation, I’ll simply tell her I’m going out for social engagement. When she heard I was arrested and was told about my escapades, she just broke down crying, that she never knew she had been living with a criminal all this while.

Do you have any regrets?

Yes. I pray I come out of this alive. I promise I will never rob again. I initially proposed to end everything about robbery this year and turn a new leaf because I have achieved so many things from it. Maybe God wanted to use this to teach me a lesson.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/cover/june07/30062007/f230062007.html

They were both losers. Nothing for them.

When will the Ijaw fishermen demand for Alams' and Goodluck's probe? Yeye people

DPP:How Bafarawa Rejected Pre-Polls Deal With Obasanjo

FROM MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR, ABUJA
A FRESH allegation came yesterday from the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) that the then President Olusegun Obasanjo led-administrator wooed its presidential candidate Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and get three states allocated to his party at the election.

The party alleged that the DPP was promised Sokoto Kebbi and Zamfara in the election if the former governor agreed to decamp to PDP.

In a statement signed by DPP's Director of Publicity, Ismaila Sani, the party said Bafarawa rejected the offers.

He added that the meeting which was at the instance of Obasanjo had in attendance PDP National Chairman Ahmadu Ali and Bello Haliru Mohammed, PDP's National Vice Chairman Northwest.

He went further: "We refused to be part of the unholy allocation arrangement because we are a responsible party that was ready for the electioneering process as we had structures and even went as far as fielding candidates at all levels. It was our fervent believe that if free and fair elections were allowed to take place. DPP would have won some states.

"That not withstanding, we are currently challenging the governorship elections in some states and we are confident that if the judiciary sustains the credibility and independence it has carved for itself in recent time, then we are on our way to clinching at least eight governorship seats.

"The DPP, therefore, can never sit under any guise to conclude an illegality we refused to be part of from the beginning," the party said.

"If the likes of General Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar who know their onions, reject the offer to participate in any form of unity government, why should our party which was adjudged by majority of Nigerians as the fastest growing political party be part of legitimising an imposition?

"Nigerians should know that there is no sincerity in the so-called on-going discussion on the formation of a unity government as it is a conclusion of the negotiation that took place before the April fraud.

"The DPP would continue to explore every available constitutional means to seek redress in respect of the rape to democracy committed by the PDP and their agents," the party surmised.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article04

Housewife spoils fun for robbers
Friday, June 29, 2007

The stealing spree of a three-man gang of armed robbers came to an end in Ibadan, Oyo State, Wednesday night, when the wife of an army sergeant displayed uncommon bravery in attacking one of the hoodlums.


• Sule Aremu (right) and Remi Ayobami, the arrested robbers while being paraded by the Oyo State Police command on Thursday PHOTO: DADA OSASONA
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The woman, whose identity was being kept secret by the Oyo State Police Command, was said to have inflicted several machete cuts on the body of one of the notorious robbers during their attempt to rob her household.

Parading the wounded armed robber, Sule Aremu, and one of his accomplices, Remi Ayobami, who were arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Oyo State, Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Jonathan Johnson explained that the gang had already raided three houses and dispossessed occupants of their valuables before the sergeant’s wife foiled their operation.

"They had succeeded in robbing three buildings, where they snatched about 10 mobile handsets, 12 wrist watches, about N96, 998 and N45 old notes. They were attempting to enter the fourth house and rob the occupants when the wife of the sergeant boldly used machete and cut Aremu in the chest and on the right hand while he was trying to enter through the window. From there, he pushed the woman and rushed into a toilet.

"The woman raised alarm and by that time, some residents of the area had put up distress calls to the command. The other one (armed robber) was outside mounting security, he had already expended one cartridge. As he was about loading the second one, my men got there and effected their arrest. They claimed that the third member of the gang escaped", the police boss said.

The incident, according to the CP, occurred at Oke Isimi area of Mokola in the capital city of Ibadan.
The wounded robber, Aremu, who was drenched in blood and almost fainting, told newsmen that he and his colleague, now at large, came from Ijebu-Ode to join their accomplice, Ayobami, who resided in Oke-Isimi area, for the operation.

Also paraded yesterday were a fake doctor, Mr. Bola Amoo, and a spiritualist, Mr. Akinsehinwa Famakinwa, who had been illegally operating Kaf Clinic and Maternity Home in the heart of Ibadan for the past 15 years, without any professional training.

http://odili.net/news/source/2007/jun/29/808.html

This is nothing but showmanship. Anybody can declare anything. I am not impressed.

Internet Fruadsters Caught
By: admin

Published: 2007/6/28 - Read 516 times Article Rated: 0.00

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By Lola Abiona

Three young men, Muyideen Yusuf, 22, Muri Yusuf, 26 and Adekunle Dehinsilu, 23, have been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on a four-count charge of internet fraud, bribery and unlawful possession of international passport.

The police alleged that the three men conspired to dupe foreigners on the internet and were caught with money order cheque leaflets with serial numbers 0691690, 0691688, 0691691, 0691689 and 0691687.

Also found in their possession were two Nigerian international passport, obtained by fraudulent representation. They allegedly used these illegal documents for fraudulent activities.

The suspects were also accused of bribing a police officer, Sergeant Bright Igbinola, with N50,000 to pervert justice.

They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them while the case was adjourned for further hearing.

http://www.thenewsng.com/modules/zmagazine/article.php?articleid=17016

Is the Niger Delta the worst thing to have happened to Nigeria?

Seun:

Source, please? We need a link to the website you copied this from. Thanks. This is for copyright sake.

The link is the first thing you find in the news. Thanks.

chichi81:

.Anambra state has the highest school drop-out rate in the entire southeast.The mentality of the uneducated has taken over the state. They have the biggest mouth in the SE zone but they are just the epitome of vulgarity, ANAMBRA is the problem with Igbos, they consistently behave like The Bendel Ibo's people, the Onitsha area needs to be sanitized

Chichi,

You come across as a crass ignoramus. After Imo, Anambra is the second state with the most university admittants in Nigeria? Inform yourself with the JAMB data online. Thus, how can they be in such enviable position and still have high drop-out rate? Your assertion is only valid if it is stated that the true population of Anambra is yet to be determined so that a percent comparison (with other Nigerian states) can be made. In Onitsha market, you find traders from all over Nigeria. Of course there are more Igbos from Anambra state there. Bear also in mind that Akunyili who is fighting the fake drug scourge is an Anambrarian.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article04/270607

Armed men kidnap lawmaker's three-year-old son
From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt
ANOTHER dimension has been introduced to the criminal act of hostage taking in Rivers State as a three-year-old son of a state lawmaker was abducted in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Sources told The Guardian that the child, Master St. Michael Steward, was seized from a private nursery school, at Elekahia Housing Estate, Port Harcourt, in the early hours of the day.

The kidnapped child is the son of a new member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mrs. Linda Steward, representing Okrika Local Council.

Eye-witnesses said that three young men in their mid 20's drove to the school in an ash coloured Mazda saloon car and proceeded to the child's class and took him away.

One of the kidnappers wore a white shirt and a blue jeans trousers, while the two others that accompanied him wore coverall suspected to have been used to conceal their weapons in case they encountered any resistance.

It was learnt that the three men who were not resisted by anyone did not shoot during the incident.

After the abduction of the child, the kidnappers drove off towards the Iwofe area, which has remained a major exit to the creeks for hostage-takers.

Attempts by The Guardian to reach the lawmaker proved abortive as her phone was switched off. Another lawmaker who spoke to The Guardian on the condition of anonymity, said Mrs. Steward acted that way because she was traumatised.

The Rivers State Police Command yesterday ordered a stop-and-search of all vehicles in Port Harcourt and its environs as it intensified investigation into the saga.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, who confirmed the abduction to The Guardian, said that the motive had not been ascertained.

He said: "For now, we don't know the motive. There are two possible areas that the police are exploring. One, there might be a political opponent of hers who is trying to embarrass the woman and secondly, we are looking at those who take care of the child."

Yesterday's incident was the second child abduction from a private school in Port Harcourt in the last two months. The first child has since been released to the parents.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article04/270607

Militants demand ransom on kidnapped toddler
From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt

KIDNAPPERS of the toddler, Master St. Michael Steward, have demanded an undisclosed amount as ransom for the release of the child. Michael, the son of a Rivers State legislator, Mrs. Linda Steward, was abducted from a private school, Tantua International School, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

The whereabouts of St. Michael remains unknown.

A source close to the legislature, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed to The Guardian that the kidnappers had called the parents of the child to demand for an unspecified amount of money.

Three armed young men said to be in their early 20's, had on Tuesday morning gone to Tantua International School, Elekahia Housing Estate, Port Harcourt, and kidnapped the three-year-old boy.

The source said the parents of the child are apprehensive over his safety and would want him released to them without further delay. According to him, the kidnappers alleged that the child was safe but declined to declare his whereabouts.

He said: "The guys want money from the parents. They are insisting that they must be paid before the child will be returned to his parents. I am not aware if they have issued any threat yet but I can confirm that they are demanding for ransom."

When contacted yesterday, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, said he was not aware of any group demanding for ransom from the parents of the child. He said Police investigation into the matter was still on.

Eyewitnesses told The Guardian on Tuesday that the three gunmen, after kidnapping the toddler, drove away in a Mazda saloon car towards Iwofe, one of the most notorious routes of kidnappers who often take their victims to the creeks to evade security agents.

Attempts to reach the lawmaker on phone yesterday proved abortive because her mobile phone was switched off since Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Police in the state have continued a stop-and-search of all vehicles in Port Harcourt and its environs.

St. Michael is the second child to be kidnapped from a private school in Port Harcourt. The first child has since been released to the parents.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article05

Ndigbo Ibem,

O di mma ka anyi tugharia uche na ihe Chichi kwuru. Anam eche na obere eziokwu di na ya bu okwu. Unu le state Igbo ndi ozo were ha ma Anambra atu (comparison).

Did anyone see the CNN documentary on MedicAID fraud in Houston aired late last year? All the Nigerian culprits were from Niger Delta (Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa).

While browsing on the net, I came upon this Nigerian guy who wrote something in the past about his Perspective on HND. You an check his brief at

http://imprs.ice.mpg.de/usrpers/chdi3499/web/main_en.htm

62 Nigerians were deported from Netherlands last week for sundry offences. More than 30 were Niger Deltans, the rest were Yoruba, Igbo and  a few northerners (Benue and Kogi)

Let us assume for one fleeting moment that OBJ is Igbo (God forbid though). This means that:

1. Igbos were the president and senate president -1999-2003
2.Obasanjos daughter (now an Igbo) is representing the Yoruba in the senate
3. Obasanjo bought up hectares of Yorubaland in Ota and other places
In all of this confusion, Yorubas are the ultimate losers because following the zonal arrangement, it is the zone (eg south west) that rules not an individual (eg OBJ). So the south west has to wait for their turn again, around 40 years from now. I pity them sha.

Still, Igbos reject him intoto for his wickedness. But, I can consider him if he agrees to relocate his Ota farm, Refinery and Transcorp, amongst other investments to my village in Onitsha

Wait oh! what of Shonekan, is he also an Igbo?

Igbo Kwenu   

Let us assume for one fleeting moment that OBJ is Igbo (God forbid though). This means that:

1. Igbos were the president and senate president -1999-2003
2.Obasanjos daughter (now an Igbo) is representing the Yoruba in the senate
3. Obasanjo bought up hectares of Yorubaland in Ota and other places
In all of this confusion, Yorubas are the ultimate losers because following the zonal arrangement, it is the zone (eg south west) that rules not an individual (eg OBJ). So the south west has to wait for their turn again, around 40 years from now. I pity them sha.

Igbo Kwenu

I’ve Not Declared Any Assets, Says Uba
By Ndubuisi Ugah, 06.24.2007

Former Governor Andy Uba of Anambra State at the weekend, described as fictitious media reports, which claimed that he has declared his assets worth N1 trillion.
Uba, in a statement he personally signed, said there was no way he could have declared his assets, when the Supreme Court judgment had on June 14, voided his governorship, a day (June 13) after he was given his assets declaration form.
According to him, "the truth is that none of those writing about my assets can produce any evidence of my so-called assets declaration. This is because I was given the asset declaration form on June 13 and on June 14 the Supreme Court ruled against my governorship".
Media reports had last week stated that Uba had declared assets worth N1 trillion, a report, which drew sharp reactions from Nigerians.
But Uba, while recalling that his only ‘mortal sin’ was serving former President Olusegun Obasanjo and my country to the best of my ability," explained that he regarded "all of that fictitious nonsense as clear attempts by my detractors and their hirelings to embarrass me".
He stated that he deemed "it necessary to set the records straight for the benefit of the vast majority of Nigerians who deserve to know the truth".
"In effect, I had not declared any assets. I wonder then where the newspaper figures are coming from," he said.
The politician, who equally pointed out that he was embarrased by the media reports, however, argued that "it sounds idiotic, if not mischievous to suggest that I have assets worth anything near what some newspapers are peddling. I challenge those gullible enough to parrot that lie to produce a copy of the so-called asset declaration by me."
"For the records, I state once more that I had not declared any assets. Nor did I ever tell anyone how much I am worth. Any report saying how much my assets are worth are at best, a speculation, and at worst, a figment of the imagination of my detractors".
While insisting that facts should be cross-checked before they are published, Uba said "emotional outbursts are easy to make. The hard part is writing credible, verifiable columns. For those who are desperate to tarnish my reputation, writing all manner of lies against me has become a lucrative industry sustained by their pay masters. Yet, I take all of that as the price of public service," he said.

News Agency of Nigeria -
Robbers surrender arms in Imo
Owerri, June 16, 2007 (NAN) Ten armed robbers have surrendered their arms and ammunitions to the Imo government in response to its promise to rehabilitate them. The government had recently promised to provide gainful employment to robbers who were willing to abandon their trade. Chief Chris Okewulonu, the Secretary to the State Government, said today that the robbers surrendered their arms to the state security committee, headed by the Commander of the 32 Field Artillery Brigade, Owerri. Robbers - 2 He made the announcement in Owerri while addressing the state executives of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). Okewulonu said the state government had mapped out strategies to deal with robbers who were yet to respond to its call to surrender. He said those who responded and surrendered their weapons would be adequately rewarded and gainfully employed. (NAN) FCO/ABI/AA

http://www.upi.com/AfricaMonitoring/view.php?StoryID=20070616-491833-8930-r
http://www.thenewsng.com/modules/zmagazine/article.php?articleid=16757

How many from the thousands of Ijaw or Yoruba robbers can do that?

How dare you, oil-poluted lazy fisherman?

The links below tells your life story better, fool.

http://www.waado.org/environment/PhotoGallery/PhotoGalleryPage.html
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article1930130.ece

Attention - in the absence of a LEGITIMATE SOURCE this story can be assumed to be a COMPLETE FABRICATION. Thank you (Moderator)

‘TINAPA MD Earned N4m Monthly Wage’

TINAPA, the mega-tourism company owned by the Cross River State government, is enmeshed in a scam over ownership and finances, which has peaked with a hair-raising allegation that the former managing director of the firm, Sam Anani, earned a monthly salary of a whopping N4 million before his removal from office.

A group, Cross River Movement For Justice, in a petition, apart from questioning the scandalous salary paid to the former chief executive of TINAPA, raised issues bordering on alleged graft in the facility.

The group wondered why Anani was suddenly retired from office days to the end of the ex-governor, Donald Duke’s administration, even though his appointment was for five years.

The crux of the group’s anger against the Donald Duke administration on TINAPA was that "huge amounts of money being allocated to the 18 local government councils between 2002 to March 2007 from federation accounts, were diverted by Donald Duke, on the pretext that these local government councils had shares in TINAPA."

"There is nothing to show that these councils had shares in TINAPA. Nobody knows about the value of these shares. The group quoted the Transition Committee constituted by Senator Liyel Imoke, the governor of Cross River State, as saying that the debt burden of N70 billion was left behind by Duke’s administration, and that Duke claimed that these debts were accumulated by his government in order to finance TINAPA.

"Despite the claim that TINAPA was funded by private investors, there is evidence, established by the transition committee constituted by the government of the Cross River State to usher in the new administration, that Cross River has a debt overhang of over N70 billion. Donald Duke claims that these debts were accumulated by his government in order to finance TINAPA. This is mind-boggling, taking into account that TINAPA is supposed to be private sector- driven, "the group stated.

The document addressed to the president, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, dated June 15 2007 and titled, Re: Petition For The Investigation of Mr. Donald Duke, Former Governor of Cross River State of Nigeria for Financial Impropriety And Abuse Of Human Rights, signed by Hon. Omor Egbeji, former speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly and Ubi Okoi Abam, questioned, "Who owns TINAPA? Is TINAPA owned by the government of Cross River State? Is TINAPA owned by the local government councils in Cross River State? Is Tinapa the property of the organised private sector in Nigeria, or foreign interest? Recently, we heard from the rumour mill that Donald Duke issued share certificates to local government councils. However, nobody knows about the value of these shares," the group lamented.

What irked the group the most was the salary of the former managing director, TINAPA, Mr. Sam Anani. The people alleged that the salary of Anani was N4 million monthly and the contract of Mr. Anani was for five years.

"Presently, TINAPA is being managed by a company owned by Donald Duke. It is instructive to note that Mrs. Duke and Gershom Bassey are members of the board of this company known as Southern Gun Limited. Just a day to the inauguration of the new administration, the appointment of the managing director of TINAPA, Mr. Sam Anani, was terminated. The contract of Mr. Anani was for five years. His salary was N4 million monthly. Despite the fact that the appointment of Mr. Anani has been terminated, he is still earning his salary in full."

Reacting to the sack of Anani as the managing director and chief executive of TINAPA Business Resort, the group said it was very necessary because the erstwhile chief executive was in charge during the first phase which involved construction. The new hand was to take over from the second phase which is operational.

However, a press release signed by Frank Inyang for Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, made available to journalists, was silent on the monthly salary of N4 million paid to Anani. It stated, though, that the governor inherited debts from the previous administration and that the debts were manageable ones, because they were tied to visible developmental projects such as TINAPA Business Resort and Obudu Ranch Resort.

Cross River Movement for Justice prayed the president to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to investigate all petitions against Donald Duke, his wife and cohorts, with a view to telling the people of Cross River State the true owners of TINAPA.

Like Them All, Donald Duke May Be A Thief After All?

Most of these unidentified corpses are victims of Yoruba ritualists who kill people for money, power and politics. There are loads of news on the net about these gory culture of the Yoruba.

dayokanu:

Can you please check the picture of Docokwy on his profile and you would see that Obasanjo is a fine man.

Lol. Foolish Yorubaman, Dayo. Ever heard of the word decoy, Amala boy? I know you and your likes are keen on unravelling the man behind the Docokwy mask, so I gave you a false lead with a ''nice'' yoruba man's face. As you can see, the man was eating amala funfun, a yoruba delicacy with some fake Oyinbo. Sorry, but you will have to wait forever for Docokwy's real photo.