It is no more an idle guess: President Goodluck Jonathan will pitch with his good luck in the 2011 election. Take my word for it, this president will run. Anyone too distressed about that prospect might as well eat out his own heart now. He is constitutionally eligible, strategically positioned and evidently interested. Forget the familiar orchestration of fighting shy, and playing reluctant catch-up on whether to have a go at it. Actually, it isn’t that Jonathan is still undecided and is being pressured by some allied interests to take his chance; rather, he already has his eyes firmly set on the sprint and is building up, subtly but steadily, for it. Nothing underscored this prospect better – at the last count, that is – than the ascension last week of former Kaduna State Governor Namadi Sambo as the Vice-President. Sambo was a first term governor, who had kicked-off the ground work for a possible second term as provided for by the Constitution, before the call up to the vice-presidency. Commonsense teaches that for a politician with legitimate chance for term renewal, even the attraction of that higher office couldn’t be strong enough if it would all be packed up in just about a year – unless, that is, there was tacit assurance of the prospect of term renewal in the new office.
And why, anyway, shouldn’t Jonathan have his day at the poll? His political ‘family’, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), isn’t exactly unanimous on the purported zoning convention that has willed the presidency to the North until 2015. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who explicitly serviced that convention in 2007 by installing the late Umaru Yar’Adua to succeed him in a do-or-die electoral contest, over and above more engaging contenders from other parts of this country, recently told the Voice of America that nothing of the sort existed in the party’s books. Conservatives and regionalists in the party like Obasanjo’s one-time ally, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, cried foul; insisting that the formula was inviolably congenital with the PDP. But they could well be pushing a narrow view of history. PDP’s pioneer national chair, Solomon Lar, said the formula was nothing near as sacrosanct. He told journalists on Tuesday, last week, that "the much talked-about zoning formula in the party is, after all, not a permanent issue as the party leadership is at liberty to consider President Jonathan’s 2011 ambition should he declare interest." Besides, he spooned in some icing, saying: "No zoning formula anywhere in the PDP constitution bars the president from contesting if he so wishes. The party will give him all the opportunity as a full-time party member to contest."
There are hawks in the party ranks calling time on the Jonathan presidency, ostensibly in deference to the purported zoning formula. But as Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff once sang: the harder they come, so they fall. Some in the party hierarchy like the immediate past national chair, Vincent Ogbulafor, have been muscled out of reckoning in circumstances that reek of intolerance and an ‘ethnic cleansing’ of conventionists. Strictly, Ogbulafor stepped down to face trial for sleaze he allegedly plied some decade ago; though cynics would wonder what on God’s earth the accuser-agency, ICPC, had been about all this while until the party hack voiced his preference for retaining the presidential ticket in the North in line with convention. Also, there is the deputy national chair Bello Haliru Mohammed who presently has his neck hanging in the graft noose; and that is against the backdrop of his being forthright in canvassing the sanctity of the purported formula. Still, there are others in the party ranks prophesying doom over the prospects of Jonathan’s candidacy in the 2011 poll. One of such is an ‘elder’ Bode Mustapha, reported by the Nigerian Tribune last week to have said Nigeria risked breaking up at the mere eventuality of Jonathan contesting, far less winning the presidential election. Meanwhile, there is the growing chorus of anti-conventionists within and outside the PDP urging the president to run and accusing him of bad faith should he decline.
But the real issue, if you asked me, isn’t whether or not Jonathan should run, but how he runs. Ever since fate threw him up at the helm, he has made the pledge of credible elections in 2011 his most strident mantra. Theoretically, the best chance he has in the world to walk that talk is to be a dispassionate non-participant umpire; such that he would ascetically set the ground rules for contenders and follow through on keeping these rules with Catholic rigidity. In other words, he has the self-sacrificing but history-reckoning option of laying the strong foundation of a positive society by dispassionately installing the most credible – and hopefully, competent – leadership that Nigeria ever had. Notice that I said ‘theoretically’. The records of history show that Obasanjo, as military ruler, had that same chance in 1979; yet he blew it in the desperation to pre-empt what he feared could be seen as a nepotistic precedent of allowing his ethnic kin, the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, into power. Another military ruler, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, had a similar chance in 1999 and blew it in the generally perceived quest to cover up the military’s tracks in power. So, it is not a matter-of-course for Jonathan to seize the chance unless he is historically minded and strongly resolved to.
Current indications, however, strongly suggest the likelihood of Jonathan throwing his hat in the ring for the 2011 sprint for the presidency; and there is really no prior reason why he shouldn’t, since the Constitution allows him. The catch is: how fair can this president be as a participant-umpire? There are, of course, some countries where that wouldn’t even be an issue because of the strong ethical base of their electoral systems. Only two weeks ago, Gordon Brown presided over the British general elections in which his Labour party was trounced, and he has since quit the prime ministership for the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition of David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Former United States President George Bush umpired the 2008 election in which his Republican Party was ousted to pave the way for incumbent President Barack Obama from the Democratic Party. Even within the shores of Africa, ex-Ghanaian President John Kufour watched over the poll that his New Patriotic Party lost to usher in incumbent President John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress. So, it is not in itself an anathema to be a participant-umpire.
Yet, the signs are overly inauspicious for a fair weather contest in this country next year, with a Jonathan candidature on the ballot. Already, on-goings in the PDP suggest designs to root out opposition on the path of re-writing the zoning formula to accommodate the president. And that isn’t good news for the prospects of a level field when the various parties test strength at the poll. That is why the proposed electoral reform can no longer be held up as a dream deferred – not, indeed, with time increasingly in short supply. Specifically, that is why the counsel last week by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) that the president should avoid appointing the next chair of INEC is more than the rant of opposition. It is wise counsel, deriving from the wisdom of the Uwais panel that made the recommendation in the first place.
Monday, May 24, 2010
PDP fails to name chair as BOT meeting is postponed
The search for a chairman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues following the postponement of yesterday’s meetingof its Board of Trustees (BOT) led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The BOT was expected to pick one of the leading contenders for the post following the South East caucus inability to choose a consensus candidate.
A source told us that the parley was deferred to allow for "wider consultations".
The former party chair, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor stepped aside to clear himself of a N104million corruption charges in court.
The former secretary of the BOT, Abdullahi Adamu, had also resigned. He too is facing corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) .
Also, the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr Mohammed Haliru Bello, sources say may also have to "toe the path of honour" if ongoing investigations by the EFCC of the Siemens bribery scam establish that he has questions to answer.
The EFCC is interrogating four former ministers including Bello over an alleged 17.5million euro bribery scam.
Others invited by the EFCC include former Ministers of Communications, Cornelius Adebayo and Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olarenwaju(rtd) and the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Senator Jibril Aminu.
Bello was still being interrogated by the EFCC as of the time of filing this report.
The National Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, in a statement in Abuja said the BOT meeting had been postponed.
Baraje, however, did not give reasons for the postponement.
Two former meetings scheduled for Owerri and Abuja to pick the next chairman of the party were suspended. No reasons were given.
Baraje said: "This is to inform all concerned that the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier scheduled for Monday, 24th May 2010 has been postponed. A new date shall be communicated to all members in due course.
"The PDP regrets the inconvenience caused to members of the BOT by this postponement and look forward to welcoming them as soon as the new date is announced."
Chief Obasanjo was at the Presidential Villa yesterday to confer with President Goodluck Jonathan.
The BOT was expected to pick one of the leading contenders for the post following the South East caucus inability to choose a consensus candidate.
A source told us that the parley was deferred to allow for "wider consultations".
The former party chair, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor stepped aside to clear himself of a N104million corruption charges in court.
The former secretary of the BOT, Abdullahi Adamu, had also resigned. He too is facing corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) .
Also, the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr Mohammed Haliru Bello, sources say may also have to "toe the path of honour" if ongoing investigations by the EFCC of the Siemens bribery scam establish that he has questions to answer.
The EFCC is interrogating four former ministers including Bello over an alleged 17.5million euro bribery scam.
Others invited by the EFCC include former Ministers of Communications, Cornelius Adebayo and Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olarenwaju(rtd) and the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Senator Jibril Aminu.
Bello was still being interrogated by the EFCC as of the time of filing this report.
The National Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, in a statement in Abuja said the BOT meeting had been postponed.
Baraje, however, did not give reasons for the postponement.
Two former meetings scheduled for Owerri and Abuja to pick the next chairman of the party were suspended. No reasons were given.
Baraje said: "This is to inform all concerned that the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier scheduled for Monday, 24th May 2010 has been postponed. A new date shall be communicated to all members in due course.
"The PDP regrets the inconvenience caused to members of the BOT by this postponement and look forward to welcoming them as soon as the new date is announced."
Chief Obasanjo was at the Presidential Villa yesterday to confer with President Goodluck Jonathan.
IBB and his 2011 ambition
“What is with this IBB of a man? Why is he fighting tooth and nail to get back to Aso Rock?” asked Tony this Monday evening as the commuter bus moved slowly along the Ogba – Ikeja road. He was reacting to a statement by a commuter, Mr Laz who said that IBB will be the next president if we are not careful.
“Don’t mind him. He is acting as if it is his birthright. Are there no other people in this great nation of ours? Must we continue to recycle the same set of people? He was even reported to have said that if none of the existing political parties adopted him as their candidate, he would run as an independent candidate. Can you beat that! That goes to show his level of desperation,” said Kanayo.
“Is he not tired? Let him just go and rest and leave us alone to recover from the injuries he inflicted on the nation for eight years,” stated Femi.
“What do you mean tired? asked Comfort. “Is anyone ever tired of power and its trappings? The man is missing all the goodies he enjoyed while in power so he wants to get back in there. After all, he told us he was stepping aside and if I understand my English grammar well, it means he was not bidding goodbye to power finally but only for a while and now, he is ready to go back to power. I guess his money is running out and it’s not easy maintaining his 50-room mansion.”
IBB
“Why are we getting all bent out of shape because of IBB? The truth is that the man has a right to contest. The Constitution does not stop him; so instead of working ourselves up for nothing, let us work towards mobilising people to vote for the right candidate and making sure that our votes count,” counselled Iyke.
“Hmm, you speak as if you are in another country. Has your vote ever counted? We have never really had a true democratic election in this nation. All we have had were selections. The only exception was the 1993 presidential election which was adjudged the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria, all because Option A4 was used,” noted Mr. Uzo.
“I don’t think we should be talking about qualification now, but credibility. The man has got so many questions to answer. Somebody who institutionalised corruption? Let him first tell Nigerians how he came about his stupendous wealth, what happened to Dele Giwa, why he annulled June 12, 1993 elections, why he refused to appear before the Oputa Panel, etc,” stated Femi.
“But some people are rooting for him. Their reason being that he is liberal, especially to cronies. They call him ‘I chop, you chop,’ unlike Obasanjo who they call chop alone and die alone,” Comfort said, to which Tony replied: “We still have a very long way to go if people still think that way. Is the wealth he is distributing to cronies his personal wealth?
Is it not our commonwealth meant for infrastructure and human development? Why must a few people hold us to ransom and some harebrained, selfish and misguided individuals are fighting for them to get back to power? They want to satisfy their today at the expense of their tomorrow because if instead of investing our money in infrastructure and human development, they share with cronies, then we should forget about job creation, power supply, potable water, affordable housing etc., and like we say, NYSC ‘now your suffering continues.’”
“As for making sure our votes count, the only way we could do that is to use Option A4 (open ballot) system but unfortunately, majority of our lawmakers kicked against it. We all know the reason. Many of them did not win election; so if Option A4 is chosen, most of them would not return. So to avoid that, they fervently rejected that option, preferring instead the secret ballot system which aids rigging.”
“I read somewhere that one pastor said we should vote for him with stones,” said Uzo. “Oh no! That would be going to the extreme. We should all wake up and stop being passive,” said Tony.
“Don’t mind him. He is acting as if it is his birthright. Are there no other people in this great nation of ours? Must we continue to recycle the same set of people? He was even reported to have said that if none of the existing political parties adopted him as their candidate, he would run as an independent candidate. Can you beat that! That goes to show his level of desperation,” said Kanayo.
“Is he not tired? Let him just go and rest and leave us alone to recover from the injuries he inflicted on the nation for eight years,” stated Femi.
“What do you mean tired? asked Comfort. “Is anyone ever tired of power and its trappings? The man is missing all the goodies he enjoyed while in power so he wants to get back in there. After all, he told us he was stepping aside and if I understand my English grammar well, it means he was not bidding goodbye to power finally but only for a while and now, he is ready to go back to power. I guess his money is running out and it’s not easy maintaining his 50-room mansion.”
IBB
“Why are we getting all bent out of shape because of IBB? The truth is that the man has a right to contest. The Constitution does not stop him; so instead of working ourselves up for nothing, let us work towards mobilising people to vote for the right candidate and making sure that our votes count,” counselled Iyke.
“Hmm, you speak as if you are in another country. Has your vote ever counted? We have never really had a true democratic election in this nation. All we have had were selections. The only exception was the 1993 presidential election which was adjudged the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria, all because Option A4 was used,” noted Mr. Uzo.
“I don’t think we should be talking about qualification now, but credibility. The man has got so many questions to answer. Somebody who institutionalised corruption? Let him first tell Nigerians how he came about his stupendous wealth, what happened to Dele Giwa, why he annulled June 12, 1993 elections, why he refused to appear before the Oputa Panel, etc,” stated Femi.
“But some people are rooting for him. Their reason being that he is liberal, especially to cronies. They call him ‘I chop, you chop,’ unlike Obasanjo who they call chop alone and die alone,” Comfort said, to which Tony replied: “We still have a very long way to go if people still think that way. Is the wealth he is distributing to cronies his personal wealth?
Is it not our commonwealth meant for infrastructure and human development? Why must a few people hold us to ransom and some harebrained, selfish and misguided individuals are fighting for them to get back to power? They want to satisfy their today at the expense of their tomorrow because if instead of investing our money in infrastructure and human development, they share with cronies, then we should forget about job creation, power supply, potable water, affordable housing etc., and like we say, NYSC ‘now your suffering continues.’”
“As for making sure our votes count, the only way we could do that is to use Option A4 (open ballot) system but unfortunately, majority of our lawmakers kicked against it. We all know the reason. Many of them did not win election; so if Option A4 is chosen, most of them would not return. So to avoid that, they fervently rejected that option, preferring instead the secret ballot system which aids rigging.”
“I read somewhere that one pastor said we should vote for him with stones,” said Uzo. “Oh no! That would be going to the extreme. We should all wake up and stop being passive,” said Tony.
Akpabio blasts lawmakers, dumps sacked speaker
UYO—AKWA Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who berated members of the State House of Assembly for their decision to impeach the former Speaker, Hon. Ignatius Edet, has finally dumped the sacked speaker.
After a meeting that lasted about eight hours, and ended about 4.00 a.m. Sunday morning, the Governor who could no longer appease the lawmakers was stunned when it became obvious that they were determined to wield the big stick against their former Speaker.
The sacked Speaker who was said to have shed tears, when the Governor who was unable to save him with the carrots he allegedly dangled to the members, announced that the ex-speaker be given a soft landing by way of resignation for the image of his family and political career not to be dragged to public odium.
Backing for sacked speaker
Hon. Edet was said to have had the backing of Hon Nsikak Ekong, representing Ikot Ekpene State constituency, at the voting conducted before the Governor, at the Government lodge.
Unlike the situation on 18 August, 2008, when the members got the nod of their colleagues to remove the Speaker, till the last minute when Jerome Isangedighi, the Majority Leader defected, the worst case scenario finally played out.
Although a lawmaker who preferred not to be named had denied taking any money to change the earlier impeachment to resignation, Vanguard learnt from impeccable sources that the State government might have coughed out N1.7 billion to get the members to soft pedal and that each of the lawmakers smiled home with N60 million each.
The crisis that caused the State Government sleepless nights had its roots in the way and manner the sacked Speaker had been running the House in the last eight months. He was alleged to have abandoned his legislative businesses to pursue a personal agenda of seeking to represent his constituency for the third time.
Vanguard gathered that the former speaker engaged the Finance Commissioner, Mr. Bassey Albert in a fierce battle of who takes the political soul of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area come 2011, a battle that had reportedly engulfed even some royal fathers of the area.
Intense politicking has heightened as to who becomes the new Speaker, as persons perceived to be on the opposition and interested in taking advantage of the situation have brought pressure on some members of the House with the aim of getting the political pendulum swing in favour of their camps.
The premises of the State House Of Assembly, despite the seeming truce was still under lock and key at about 9.00 a.m., yesterday, when visited despite the earlier press statement the Acting Speaker issued, directing workers to return to work.
After a meeting that lasted about eight hours, and ended about 4.00 a.m. Sunday morning, the Governor who could no longer appease the lawmakers was stunned when it became obvious that they were determined to wield the big stick against their former Speaker.
The sacked Speaker who was said to have shed tears, when the Governor who was unable to save him with the carrots he allegedly dangled to the members, announced that the ex-speaker be given a soft landing by way of resignation for the image of his family and political career not to be dragged to public odium.
Backing for sacked speaker
Hon. Edet was said to have had the backing of Hon Nsikak Ekong, representing Ikot Ekpene State constituency, at the voting conducted before the Governor, at the Government lodge.
Unlike the situation on 18 August, 2008, when the members got the nod of their colleagues to remove the Speaker, till the last minute when Jerome Isangedighi, the Majority Leader defected, the worst case scenario finally played out.
Although a lawmaker who preferred not to be named had denied taking any money to change the earlier impeachment to resignation, Vanguard learnt from impeccable sources that the State government might have coughed out N1.7 billion to get the members to soft pedal and that each of the lawmakers smiled home with N60 million each.
The crisis that caused the State Government sleepless nights had its roots in the way and manner the sacked Speaker had been running the House in the last eight months. He was alleged to have abandoned his legislative businesses to pursue a personal agenda of seeking to represent his constituency for the third time.
Vanguard gathered that the former speaker engaged the Finance Commissioner, Mr. Bassey Albert in a fierce battle of who takes the political soul of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area come 2011, a battle that had reportedly engulfed even some royal fathers of the area.
Intense politicking has heightened as to who becomes the new Speaker, as persons perceived to be on the opposition and interested in taking advantage of the situation have brought pressure on some members of the House with the aim of getting the political pendulum swing in favour of their camps.
The premises of the State House Of Assembly, despite the seeming truce was still under lock and key at about 9.00 a.m., yesterday, when visited despite the earlier press statement the Acting Speaker issued, directing workers to return to work.
Qua Iboe oil spill: Fishermen count losses
Fishermen in Akwa Ibom, who operate near Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) oil fields are now counting losses they incurred because of the May 1 oil spill from the company”s facilities.
A statement signed by MPN”S Executive Director, Mrs Gloria Essien-Danner, had confirmed that a pipeline leak from one of its offshore platforms discharged an undisclosed volume of crude into the Atlantic ocean.
It said that Mobil Producing Nigeria, an affiliate of U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil, had identified the source of the crude leakage, adding that the MPN and the community had started a joint investigation into the incident. Mr Samuel Ayadi, Akwa Chapter Chairman, Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket in Akwa Ibom on Friday that more than 6,000 of its members were affected by the oil spill.
“We are still computing our claims and it will take some time because more than 6,000 of our members spread across fishing settlements in Akwa Ibom were affected. We traced the oil spillage up to Cross Rivers estuary. Reports from our members in various settlements show that the impact of the spill was very much.
That is why we doubt the volume of 150 barrels declared by the oil company because if the volume is not massive it cannot be so visible at the shoreline and the creeks like we saw,” Ayadi said. He said that the association was working with a firm of valuers to determine the cost of the losses incurred by its members before they could make claims for compensation.
A statement signed by MPN”S Executive Director, Mrs Gloria Essien-Danner, had confirmed that a pipeline leak from one of its offshore platforms discharged an undisclosed volume of crude into the Atlantic ocean.
It said that Mobil Producing Nigeria, an affiliate of U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil, had identified the source of the crude leakage, adding that the MPN and the community had started a joint investigation into the incident. Mr Samuel Ayadi, Akwa Chapter Chairman, Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket in Akwa Ibom on Friday that more than 6,000 of its members were affected by the oil spill.
“We are still computing our claims and it will take some time because more than 6,000 of our members spread across fishing settlements in Akwa Ibom were affected. We traced the oil spillage up to Cross Rivers estuary. Reports from our members in various settlements show that the impact of the spill was very much.
That is why we doubt the volume of 150 barrels declared by the oil company because if the volume is not massive it cannot be so visible at the shoreline and the creeks like we saw,” Ayadi said. He said that the association was working with a firm of valuers to determine the cost of the losses incurred by its members before they could make claims for compensation.
Is sex starvation best protest against your spouse?
Sex is like a lubricant in every marriage. Statistics have shown that most marriages break up because they lack good sex. The figure also shows that most marriages would have weathered other storms if their sex lives were okay. Even with all the satisfaction and joy we assume to achieve in marriage through sex, some couples still find it worthy to deny their partners this precious gift as a sign of protest for reasons which many people have described as unjustifiable. Is it right in any way for couples to starve their partners of sex? Find out the answers as they’re here already.
Sex is an act of settlement — Adaora Ukoh, Actress
I don’t think it’s right to starve one’s partner of sex because anybody can get tempted to commit sin when starved of sex. There are a lot more ways of protest than starving our partners of sex because sex is a thing of the mind, and once the mind is tuned to the fact that it doesn’t want to have it, nothing can be done to enjoy it.
Adaora
One of the partners can decide to do a little shakara which can be allowed but it shouldn’t last longer than necessary.
Outright denial is serious molestation. In fact, sex should be used as an act of settlement and not otherwise. God has given us that to tie the bond and companionship in our marriages. When we deny our partners the opportunity to feel at home with us, then we’re sending a negative signal that they can go and make do with whatever they can get out there, which may not be to our credit in anyway. We must try to get all the satisfactions at home to avoid getting involved in sex scandals outside .
Apart from those who outrightly deny their partners sex, there are other cases where men and women alike fail to clean up. They appear so dirty and disgusting that their partners find it difficult to have sexual intercourse with them. This group of people is not only starving its partners but has failed in its duties. Married people, especially, women should always look smarter than they were before they got married. There are lots of ways a woman in the age of child bearing can look attractive. I mean funky, so much that her neighbours will prefer to call her ‘funky mama’ instead of the usual ‘mama/Iya this or that’.
A woman once said that her husband stopped having sex with her for about three years now and I wondered how that is possible. My conclusion was that something must have gone wrong somewhere along the line. Maybe, they have some unsettled grudges, don’t find themselves attractive anymore or they’re both having extra-marital affairs. Three years’ gap is just too much for any marriage to survive. Sex should serve as a bond and companionship.
Absolutely wrong — Segun Arinze, Actor
It is totally and absolutely wrong for either of the couples to do a thing like that. Why are they man and wife if they just cannot understand themselves and settle their differences amicably? Must the protest come in the form of starvation? There are other ways one can show that he or she is not happy with a partner, except it’s a health condition, which is understandable such that nobody can question. Sex is not something that should be lacking in a marriage for any funny reason because it can lead to so many other atrocities, or even a complete collapse of the union if not properly handled.
Segun Arinze
Islam forbids such act — Suleiman Kazeem
Ah! It’s not allowed at all in Islam. In fact, the law says that my wife should be my wrapper to cover me from cold. So, when she denies me sex for any reason, she has failed that obligation, likewise myself.
Both the court, Islam or Church forbids such things because it is the same ‘I do’ that’s being said when two people are joined together in any of these places. And ‘I do’ means I’m willing. In fact, it’s a sin in the Islamic law for either party to deny each other sex. Some people could engage in it for protest while others do it because they must have been engaged in several other affairs before getting home (men especially) which is wrong. That is why the Islamic law allows one to take more than one wife instead of having several concubines outside. I know that every other religion will equally forbid the act because it is like denying yourself the fruit of life.
Wrong school of thought— Ijeoma Imoh, Actress
I don’t agree with that school of thought. There are other ways one can pin his/her spouse down to get whatever one wants depending on who is involved. Sex is one thing that people who’re really crazy about it can go to anywhere to get, if they can’t get it from the right source. Both men and women should be careful with issues such as sex. If a woman subjects her husband to this kind of protest, he could look for a girlfriend for a substitute or at worse, go to a prostitute, which can result in the transmission of some sexual diseases. What happens when a man subjects his wife to this life style? She could also be pushed to the wall, which may equally result into some form of infidelity. So, let’s seek better ways to dialogue and iron out issues apart from using sex, for it’ll not be to our advantage.
Sex, not a medium of protest — Naomi Kayode
Why use something that God has used to bless your home as a medium of protest? I don’t think it’s wise. What if you have a partner who does not really care whether he gets it at home or not, I mean a promiscuous partner? While you’re busy hoarding it in protest, your spouse is having great fun outside.
So, you’re losing out. No matter how bad things may appear, it’s better to talk them over and move on with life. Your partner may get used to this style of protest and ignore you. What if this continues till he/she finds another partner? Then you stand to lose.
Sex is an act of settlement — Adaora Ukoh, Actress
I don’t think it’s right to starve one’s partner of sex because anybody can get tempted to commit sin when starved of sex. There are a lot more ways of protest than starving our partners of sex because sex is a thing of the mind, and once the mind is tuned to the fact that it doesn’t want to have it, nothing can be done to enjoy it.
Adaora
One of the partners can decide to do a little shakara which can be allowed but it shouldn’t last longer than necessary.
Outright denial is serious molestation. In fact, sex should be used as an act of settlement and not otherwise. God has given us that to tie the bond and companionship in our marriages. When we deny our partners the opportunity to feel at home with us, then we’re sending a negative signal that they can go and make do with whatever they can get out there, which may not be to our credit in anyway. We must try to get all the satisfactions at home to avoid getting involved in sex scandals outside .
Apart from those who outrightly deny their partners sex, there are other cases where men and women alike fail to clean up. They appear so dirty and disgusting that their partners find it difficult to have sexual intercourse with them. This group of people is not only starving its partners but has failed in its duties. Married people, especially, women should always look smarter than they were before they got married. There are lots of ways a woman in the age of child bearing can look attractive. I mean funky, so much that her neighbours will prefer to call her ‘funky mama’ instead of the usual ‘mama/Iya this or that’.
A woman once said that her husband stopped having sex with her for about three years now and I wondered how that is possible. My conclusion was that something must have gone wrong somewhere along the line. Maybe, they have some unsettled grudges, don’t find themselves attractive anymore or they’re both having extra-marital affairs. Three years’ gap is just too much for any marriage to survive. Sex should serve as a bond and companionship.
Absolutely wrong — Segun Arinze, Actor
It is totally and absolutely wrong for either of the couples to do a thing like that. Why are they man and wife if they just cannot understand themselves and settle their differences amicably? Must the protest come in the form of starvation? There are other ways one can show that he or she is not happy with a partner, except it’s a health condition, which is understandable such that nobody can question. Sex is not something that should be lacking in a marriage for any funny reason because it can lead to so many other atrocities, or even a complete collapse of the union if not properly handled.
Segun Arinze
Islam forbids such act — Suleiman Kazeem
Ah! It’s not allowed at all in Islam. In fact, the law says that my wife should be my wrapper to cover me from cold. So, when she denies me sex for any reason, she has failed that obligation, likewise myself.
Both the court, Islam or Church forbids such things because it is the same ‘I do’ that’s being said when two people are joined together in any of these places. And ‘I do’ means I’m willing. In fact, it’s a sin in the Islamic law for either party to deny each other sex. Some people could engage in it for protest while others do it because they must have been engaged in several other affairs before getting home (men especially) which is wrong. That is why the Islamic law allows one to take more than one wife instead of having several concubines outside. I know that every other religion will equally forbid the act because it is like denying yourself the fruit of life.
Wrong school of thought— Ijeoma Imoh, Actress
I don’t agree with that school of thought. There are other ways one can pin his/her spouse down to get whatever one wants depending on who is involved. Sex is one thing that people who’re really crazy about it can go to anywhere to get, if they can’t get it from the right source. Both men and women should be careful with issues such as sex. If a woman subjects her husband to this kind of protest, he could look for a girlfriend for a substitute or at worse, go to a prostitute, which can result in the transmission of some sexual diseases. What happens when a man subjects his wife to this life style? She could also be pushed to the wall, which may equally result into some form of infidelity. So, let’s seek better ways to dialogue and iron out issues apart from using sex, for it’ll not be to our advantage.
Sex, not a medium of protest — Naomi Kayode
Why use something that God has used to bless your home as a medium of protest? I don’t think it’s wise. What if you have a partner who does not really care whether he gets it at home or not, I mean a promiscuous partner? While you’re busy hoarding it in protest, your spouse is having great fun outside.
So, you’re losing out. No matter how bad things may appear, it’s better to talk them over and move on with life. Your partner may get used to this style of protest and ignore you. What if this continues till he/she finds another partner? Then you stand to lose.
NIGERIAN 'EYEING ARSENAL STAKE'
A billionaire Nigerian tycoon is planning to enter the race to snap up a 16% stake in Arsenal, according to a report.
Aliko Dangote - one of Africa's richest men - is said to have registered his interest in the shareholding being sold by the club's fourth largest investor Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, according to The Sunday Times.
The move could spark a takeover battle for the Gunners, with other contenders including its two biggest current investors - who would be forced to launch a full takeover bid for the club if they secured the stake.
Mr Dangote is reportedly a passionate football fan and has the wealth to go head-to-head with the two big Arsenal investors, American sports entrepreneur Stan Kroenke and Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov.
The Nigerian industrialist has stood for the role of president of the Nigerian football association and is believed to have donated cash to the Nigerian national football team.
Mr Dangote founded manufacturing empire Dangote Group and was formerly head of the Nigerian stock exchange.
Finance house Blackstone is now thought to have placed him on the shortlist to buy the Arsenal stake.
Lady Bracewell-Smith is said to be seeking £160 million for her stake after putting it on the sale block earlier this year.
Aliko Dangote - one of Africa's richest men - is said to have registered his interest in the shareholding being sold by the club's fourth largest investor Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, according to The Sunday Times.
The move could spark a takeover battle for the Gunners, with other contenders including its two biggest current investors - who would be forced to launch a full takeover bid for the club if they secured the stake.
Mr Dangote is reportedly a passionate football fan and has the wealth to go head-to-head with the two big Arsenal investors, American sports entrepreneur Stan Kroenke and Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov.
The Nigerian industrialist has stood for the role of president of the Nigerian football association and is believed to have donated cash to the Nigerian national football team.
Mr Dangote founded manufacturing empire Dangote Group and was formerly head of the Nigerian stock exchange.
Finance house Blackstone is now thought to have placed him on the shortlist to buy the Arsenal stake.
Lady Bracewell-Smith is said to be seeking £160 million for her stake after putting it on the sale block earlier this year.
MELO AWARE OF GUNNERS INTEREST
Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo is aware of Arsenal's continued interest, but remains determined to be a success at his current club.
Melo has been a long-term target for the Gunners and was linked with a move to Emirates Stadium last summer before opting to join Juventus from Fiorentina.
He has endured a difficult debut season with Juve and speculation has again claimed that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is planning a £15million swoop for the Brazil international.
Wenger revealed earlier this year that he is still an admirer of the 26-year-old and may now step up his interest following doubts about Cesc Fabregas' future at the club.
Melo, who is preparing for Brazil's World Cup campaign, accepts his first year at Juventus has not been ideal, but he insists he is not looking to secure a move away from the Serie A side.
"Juventus' season was negative and didn't go as well as expected, but my performances were good," Melo told tuttojuve.com.
"I have heard about the interest of Arsenal, once again, but there is nothing concrete.
"The only certainty is that I still have a four-year contract with Juventus and Juventus fans have a great affection for me, so I want to win a title for them."
Melo has been a long-term target for the Gunners and was linked with a move to Emirates Stadium last summer before opting to join Juventus from Fiorentina.
He has endured a difficult debut season with Juve and speculation has again claimed that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is planning a £15million swoop for the Brazil international.
Wenger revealed earlier this year that he is still an admirer of the 26-year-old and may now step up his interest following doubts about Cesc Fabregas' future at the club.
Melo, who is preparing for Brazil's World Cup campaign, accepts his first year at Juventus has not been ideal, but he insists he is not looking to secure a move away from the Serie A side.
"Juventus' season was negative and didn't go as well as expected, but my performances were good," Melo told tuttojuve.com.
"I have heard about the interest of Arsenal, once again, but there is nothing concrete.
"The only certainty is that I still have a four-year contract with Juventus and Juventus fans have a great affection for me, so I want to win a title for them."
We have mere promises, no action from Jonathan —Bakare
The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos and Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has expressed the fear that the current administration of President Goodluck Jonathan may not be different from the past. Bakare, who spoke in Lagos on Sunday, said the President had been reeling out promises more instead of taking necessary action.
Delivering a sermon in his church, Bakare accused the President of rolling out promises without facilitating necessary legislation or setting up the structures to actualise the plans.
The cleric said, “It seems we are back to the same stage where people just talk without action. We have been receiving more promises than action from this administration. As the Acting President, the President, in an interview on CNN, during his visit to America said he would work seriously on electoral reform.
“Since then, the President does not feel it is important to facilitate any legislation to enforce it, not a single legislation. Is that the way to bring about a change?”
Bakare said it was important for Jonathan to ensure credible elections in 2011.
He added that he had begun to see reasons with those who had described Jonathan’s presidency as the third term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying the hand of the former president had been identified in most of the decisions taken by Jonathan.
The SNG convener said, “From the time that President Jonathan became Acting President and dissolved the cabinet, while reconstituting another, the signature of Obasanjo has become visible. Some of the ministers were picked as a form of political patronage or to settle political scores. We cannot continue that way and that is why the SNG will not keep quiet.
“That is why the SNG will be having a one-day campaign on how to ensure free and fair elections in the country at the International Conference Centre on May 31. Our votes must begin to count. “Nothing significant will happen if we all fold our arms and do nothing. On May 6, we presented to the people a contract to save and transform Nigeria, a paper that outlines the irreducible minimum standard that Nigerians must begin to demand from their leaders. That is the only way the leaders will become accountable to the people.”
Bakare explained that the SNG would soon take the campaign to different localities in the country to ensure the success of the initiative.
Delivering a sermon in his church, Bakare accused the President of rolling out promises without facilitating necessary legislation or setting up the structures to actualise the plans.
The cleric said, “It seems we are back to the same stage where people just talk without action. We have been receiving more promises than action from this administration. As the Acting President, the President, in an interview on CNN, during his visit to America said he would work seriously on electoral reform.
“Since then, the President does not feel it is important to facilitate any legislation to enforce it, not a single legislation. Is that the way to bring about a change?”
Bakare said it was important for Jonathan to ensure credible elections in 2011.
He added that he had begun to see reasons with those who had described Jonathan’s presidency as the third term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying the hand of the former president had been identified in most of the decisions taken by Jonathan.
The SNG convener said, “From the time that President Jonathan became Acting President and dissolved the cabinet, while reconstituting another, the signature of Obasanjo has become visible. Some of the ministers were picked as a form of political patronage or to settle political scores. We cannot continue that way and that is why the SNG will not keep quiet.
“That is why the SNG will be having a one-day campaign on how to ensure free and fair elections in the country at the International Conference Centre on May 31. Our votes must begin to count. “Nothing significant will happen if we all fold our arms and do nothing. On May 6, we presented to the people a contract to save and transform Nigeria, a paper that outlines the irreducible minimum standard that Nigerians must begin to demand from their leaders. That is the only way the leaders will become accountable to the people.”
Bakare explained that the SNG would soon take the campaign to different localities in the country to ensure the success of the initiative.
A’Ibom Assembly to decide fate of sacked speaker, deputy today
THE Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has said it would reconvene on Monday (today) to decide the fate of the impeached speaker, Obong Ignatius Edet, and his deputy, Chief Okon Uwah, over allegations of financial impropriety levelled against them.
The Speaker and his deputy were impeached by 22 out of the 26 lawmakers on Wednesday and a speaker protemporee was elected to run the affairs of the House in the interim.
The assembly, however, elected Obong Jack Udota, to replace Edet. Udota is a two-time member of the House representing Eket Constituency.
A source told our correspondent that all efforts made by the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, to reinstate the speaker and his deputy proved abortive as the lawmakers insisted on their removal.
The source pointed out that the lawmakers were successful this time because the governor was not in the state when the impeachment notice was served on the speaker and his deputy.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Usoro Usoro dismissed claim that the governor was trying to influence the choice of a new speaker.
Usoro noted that the House was an independent body with lawmakers from different constituencies, adding that it was their responsibility to elect the new speaker and the deputy and not the state governor.
Usoro said, “The governor has not begun any search for the new speaker and the deputy. It is not true, since the house is an independent body, the lawmakers will do that themselves.
“They are the one that impeached the former speaker and the deputy, they should be the one to elect new ones and not the governor.”
The Speaker and his deputy were impeached by 22 out of the 26 lawmakers on Wednesday and a speaker protemporee was elected to run the affairs of the House in the interim.
The assembly, however, elected Obong Jack Udota, to replace Edet. Udota is a two-time member of the House representing Eket Constituency.
A source told our correspondent that all efforts made by the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, to reinstate the speaker and his deputy proved abortive as the lawmakers insisted on their removal.
The source pointed out that the lawmakers were successful this time because the governor was not in the state when the impeachment notice was served on the speaker and his deputy.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Usoro Usoro dismissed claim that the governor was trying to influence the choice of a new speaker.
Usoro noted that the House was an independent body with lawmakers from different constituencies, adding that it was their responsibility to elect the new speaker and the deputy and not the state governor.
Usoro said, “The governor has not begun any search for the new speaker and the deputy. It is not true, since the house is an independent body, the lawmakers will do that themselves.
“They are the one that impeached the former speaker and the deputy, they should be the one to elect new ones and not the governor.”
‘Why South-South must support Jonathan
The success of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency is a collective responsibility particularly for us, the people of the Niger Delta the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan said.
A release by the Delta State Government House quoted Uduaghan, while addressing an enlarged meeting of the Executive of the Delta State Elders Council in Warri at the weekend, as saying the success or failure of Jonathan’s Presidency will not be attributed to the President alone.
According to him, as indigenes of the Niger Delta region, states of the South-South geo-political zone have a moral responsibility to support the administration of President Jonathan.
“It is our collective responsibility, not one person’s responsibility, but our collective responsibility as a people of the Niger Delta to give him (President) the maximum support”, he stated.
Uduaghan affirmed that the state administration enjoyed cordial relations with President Jonathan.
He said that contrary to the impressions being created by some persons, the state through the active participation of himself and the National Assembly members from the State, were involved in the emergence of the then Vice President as acting President and President, adding that he remained unruffled by the actions of those painting negative pictures about how the President emerged.
Said he: “I have refused to be pushed away, Mr. President needs the Governor of Delta State and the Governor of Delta State needs Mr. President … I have easy access to Mr. President because Mr. President recognises that I am the Governor of a critical State in Nigeria.”
A release by the Delta State Government House quoted Uduaghan, while addressing an enlarged meeting of the Executive of the Delta State Elders Council in Warri at the weekend, as saying the success or failure of Jonathan’s Presidency will not be attributed to the President alone.
According to him, as indigenes of the Niger Delta region, states of the South-South geo-political zone have a moral responsibility to support the administration of President Jonathan.
“It is our collective responsibility, not one person’s responsibility, but our collective responsibility as a people of the Niger Delta to give him (President) the maximum support”, he stated.
Uduaghan affirmed that the state administration enjoyed cordial relations with President Jonathan.
He said that contrary to the impressions being created by some persons, the state through the active participation of himself and the National Assembly members from the State, were involved in the emergence of the then Vice President as acting President and President, adding that he remained unruffled by the actions of those painting negative pictures about how the President emerged.
Said he: “I have refused to be pushed away, Mr. President needs the Governor of Delta State and the Governor of Delta State needs Mr. President … I have easy access to Mr. President because Mr. President recognises that I am the Governor of a critical State in Nigeria.”
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Namadi Sambo is Sworn in Today as VP
Governor of Kaduna State Namadi Sambo will be sworn in this morning as vice-president at the Executive Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following his confirmation by the National Assembly yesterday.
This comes as Sambo's deputy Patrick Yakowa is expected to be sworn in as governor in Kaduna Thursday.
Also, the Arewa Consul-tative Forum (ACF) has sent text messages asking Muslims not to foment trouble because of the emergence of Yakowa who is a Christian, saying Islam is a religion of peace.
The swearing-in ceremony of the vice-president will be presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
It will also precede the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) of which Sambo will now be vice-chairman.
Sambo's approval at the Senate yesterday lasted for about five minutes. The speed and ease at which the approval was given was because of the resolution reached in the prolonged closed session before yesterday’s plenary session.
The Senate had agreed to read the letter conveying Sambo’s nomination to it, consider same and approve it yesterday ahead of today’s EXCOF meeting. But in the House of Representatives, high drama, intrigues and suspense filled the process, which at the end produced the same result.
The approval by both chambers, as prescribed in Section 146(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has thus ended the rash of speculations and anxieties on the issue.
The stage for the consideration of Sambo’s nomination in the Senate was set by the Senate Leader Teslim Folarin moments after the executive communication from Jonathan was read by the Senate President David Mark, under announcement.
Folarin, who led the business of the Senate in plenary, moved in line with Order 40 subsection 2 of the Senate Standing Rules (2007 as amended) that the executive communication be immediately considered and the requested approval given.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who was the sole contributor in the Committee of the Whole (Senate) where the nomination was considered, described the assignment as historic.
According to him, “We have before us a very important and historic assignment and this is the first time we are doing this under the 1999 Constitution........Today, we have been called upon to perform such historic assignment pursuant to Section 146 (3) of our Constitution.”
Ekweremadu said that the nominee was well known to all members of the Upper House, having been commissioner and governor in Kaduna State. He said: “We believe that he is capable; he has temperament; he has experience to become the vice-president of Nigeria."
He called on his colleagues to support Sambo’s nomination. The Senate president put the question and approval was unanimously given by the Senate in the Committee of the Whole.
Swiftly, the Senate moved back into plenary session where progress was reported and his nomination was approved and made a part of the session that would be captured in today’s votes and proceedings.
Mark congratulated Sambo, on behalf of the Senate, on his nomination as vice-president by Jonathan.
In the House, the processes leading to Sambo’s confirmation began quite early in the course of the plenary session when the Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankole read Jonathan’s letter on the issue and the accompanying profile of the vice-president-designate then.
But as soon as Bankole commenced the reading of the letter, the entire chamber became enveloped in a wave of loud murmurings and movements. The speaker was forced to remind members that what he was reading was a communication from the president and deserved some reverence.
As he continued to read the letter, there was anxiety in the air, as some lawmakers wanted to derail the process uss using various antics to interrupt the free flow of the presidential communication. However, the rather long citation on Sambo ended with a loud applause from a cross section of lawmakers but quite a handful of them appeared unsettled by the reality of the situation.
There were snippets of information that some lawmakers from Kaduna State were opposed to the nomination and were mobilising others to kick against it because of some primordial sentiments, bordering on the succession battle that was likely to ensue when he leaves his home state.
The only bold attempt to halt the process came through Ubale Jakada Kiru (ANPP, Kano ) who raised a point of order, urging the House to defer the consideration and approval of the nomination till a later day.
Ubale, who derived his point of objection from Order 8, Rule 2(2) of the House Rules, argued that since the House was embarking on the confirmation of a nominee for such a high profile position for the first time, it was imperative to allow the lawmakers sometime to ponder over the nomination before granting its approval.
His motion was however greeted with shouts of disapproval from his colleagues who insisted that the matter be considered right there and then. The final blow on the bid to halt the process came when Bankole read the same rules cited by Ubale and explained that the rule did not make any express provision for deferment of the confirmation of the nominee.
With the coast clear, House Leader Tunde Akogun (PDP Edo) formally led the debate on the motion for the consideration and approval of the nomination.
According to Akogun, the motion seeking the confirmation of the nominee was a constitutional responsibility which the House must perform in order to be part of history. He appealed to lawmakers to play their roles by approving the nomination without further delay.
Bankole’s move to have the Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada (PDP Gombe) contribute further to the debate did not go down well with the lawmakers. There was commotion and the process was stalled for about 20 minutes.
When Bankole insisted on yielding the floor to Nafada after the noisy interlude, there was another loud uproar of disapproval just as the lawmakers broke into a solidarity song: “All we are saying, put the question. All we are saying give us Sambo.”
Eventually, Nafada and Minority Leader of the House Mohammed Ndume (ANPP Borno) had the floor for a few minutes each during which they tried to justify the nomination of Sambo. But their presentations were drowned by the noise of the lawmakers who were eager to have the matter closed through voting.
A voice vote gave the day to those who wanted Sambo confirmed as vice-president.
In Kaduna, Muslim groups have warned all Muslims not to allow the name of Islam to be dragged in mud by allowing themselves to be used in causing crisis.
The warning which are currently being sent through text messages to people within and outside the state insisted that Islam is a religion of peace that abhours violence in whatever guise.
The text also appealed to people to support Sambo as the new vice-president
One of such text messages which emanated from Arewa Forum, said: “Islam is peace, why allow its name to be dragged in mud? Islam is justice for all, why allow the unjust to mislead us? Support the new vice-president for peace and justice to reign.”
A religious leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, on the reported tension in Kaduna regarding a Christian governor, said: “God created us in this state and in Nigeria; Christians and Muslims and it is not always that one religion will be ruling continuously without the other tasting it.
Also, the Commissioner for Information in the state Saidu Adamu has said that a reception committee has already been formed for the swearing-in of the new governor. The commissioner appealed for co-operation and support from everybody in the state so that the new administration of Yakowa succeeds.
Yakowa, THISDAY learnt, has moved to the state Government House. He was there for more than three hours yesterday, receiving congratulatory visits from political groups, members of the state cabinet, legislators and others. He later left for Abuja to witness the swearing-in of the new vice-president.
This comes as Sambo's deputy Patrick Yakowa is expected to be sworn in as governor in Kaduna Thursday.
Also, the Arewa Consul-tative Forum (ACF) has sent text messages asking Muslims not to foment trouble because of the emergence of Yakowa who is a Christian, saying Islam is a religion of peace.
The swearing-in ceremony of the vice-president will be presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
It will also precede the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) of which Sambo will now be vice-chairman.
Sambo's approval at the Senate yesterday lasted for about five minutes. The speed and ease at which the approval was given was because of the resolution reached in the prolonged closed session before yesterday’s plenary session.
The Senate had agreed to read the letter conveying Sambo’s nomination to it, consider same and approve it yesterday ahead of today’s EXCOF meeting. But in the House of Representatives, high drama, intrigues and suspense filled the process, which at the end produced the same result.
The approval by both chambers, as prescribed in Section 146(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has thus ended the rash of speculations and anxieties on the issue.
The stage for the consideration of Sambo’s nomination in the Senate was set by the Senate Leader Teslim Folarin moments after the executive communication from Jonathan was read by the Senate President David Mark, under announcement.
Folarin, who led the business of the Senate in plenary, moved in line with Order 40 subsection 2 of the Senate Standing Rules (2007 as amended) that the executive communication be immediately considered and the requested approval given.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who was the sole contributor in the Committee of the Whole (Senate) where the nomination was considered, described the assignment as historic.
According to him, “We have before us a very important and historic assignment and this is the first time we are doing this under the 1999 Constitution........Today, we have been called upon to perform such historic assignment pursuant to Section 146 (3) of our Constitution.”
Ekweremadu said that the nominee was well known to all members of the Upper House, having been commissioner and governor in Kaduna State. He said: “We believe that he is capable; he has temperament; he has experience to become the vice-president of Nigeria."
He called on his colleagues to support Sambo’s nomination. The Senate president put the question and approval was unanimously given by the Senate in the Committee of the Whole.
Swiftly, the Senate moved back into plenary session where progress was reported and his nomination was approved and made a part of the session that would be captured in today’s votes and proceedings.
Mark congratulated Sambo, on behalf of the Senate, on his nomination as vice-president by Jonathan.
In the House, the processes leading to Sambo’s confirmation began quite early in the course of the plenary session when the Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankole read Jonathan’s letter on the issue and the accompanying profile of the vice-president-designate then.
But as soon as Bankole commenced the reading of the letter, the entire chamber became enveloped in a wave of loud murmurings and movements. The speaker was forced to remind members that what he was reading was a communication from the president and deserved some reverence.
As he continued to read the letter, there was anxiety in the air, as some lawmakers wanted to derail the process uss using various antics to interrupt the free flow of the presidential communication. However, the rather long citation on Sambo ended with a loud applause from a cross section of lawmakers but quite a handful of them appeared unsettled by the reality of the situation.
There were snippets of information that some lawmakers from Kaduna State were opposed to the nomination and were mobilising others to kick against it because of some primordial sentiments, bordering on the succession battle that was likely to ensue when he leaves his home state.
The only bold attempt to halt the process came through Ubale Jakada Kiru (ANPP, Kano ) who raised a point of order, urging the House to defer the consideration and approval of the nomination till a later day.
Ubale, who derived his point of objection from Order 8, Rule 2(2) of the House Rules, argued that since the House was embarking on the confirmation of a nominee for such a high profile position for the first time, it was imperative to allow the lawmakers sometime to ponder over the nomination before granting its approval.
His motion was however greeted with shouts of disapproval from his colleagues who insisted that the matter be considered right there and then. The final blow on the bid to halt the process came when Bankole read the same rules cited by Ubale and explained that the rule did not make any express provision for deferment of the confirmation of the nominee.
With the coast clear, House Leader Tunde Akogun (PDP Edo) formally led the debate on the motion for the consideration and approval of the nomination.
According to Akogun, the motion seeking the confirmation of the nominee was a constitutional responsibility which the House must perform in order to be part of history. He appealed to lawmakers to play their roles by approving the nomination without further delay.
Bankole’s move to have the Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada (PDP Gombe) contribute further to the debate did not go down well with the lawmakers. There was commotion and the process was stalled for about 20 minutes.
When Bankole insisted on yielding the floor to Nafada after the noisy interlude, there was another loud uproar of disapproval just as the lawmakers broke into a solidarity song: “All we are saying, put the question. All we are saying give us Sambo.”
Eventually, Nafada and Minority Leader of the House Mohammed Ndume (ANPP Borno) had the floor for a few minutes each during which they tried to justify the nomination of Sambo. But their presentations were drowned by the noise of the lawmakers who were eager to have the matter closed through voting.
A voice vote gave the day to those who wanted Sambo confirmed as vice-president.
In Kaduna, Muslim groups have warned all Muslims not to allow the name of Islam to be dragged in mud by allowing themselves to be used in causing crisis.
The warning which are currently being sent through text messages to people within and outside the state insisted that Islam is a religion of peace that abhours violence in whatever guise.
The text also appealed to people to support Sambo as the new vice-president
One of such text messages which emanated from Arewa Forum, said: “Islam is peace, why allow its name to be dragged in mud? Islam is justice for all, why allow the unjust to mislead us? Support the new vice-president for peace and justice to reign.”
A religious leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, on the reported tension in Kaduna regarding a Christian governor, said: “God created us in this state and in Nigeria; Christians and Muslims and it is not always that one religion will be ruling continuously without the other tasting it.
Also, the Commissioner for Information in the state Saidu Adamu has said that a reception committee has already been formed for the swearing-in of the new governor. The commissioner appealed for co-operation and support from everybody in the state so that the new administration of Yakowa succeeds.
Yakowa, THISDAY learnt, has moved to the state Government House. He was there for more than three hours yesterday, receiving congratulatory visits from political groups, members of the state cabinet, legislators and others. He later left for Abuja to witness the swearing-in of the new vice-president.
World Cup: Super Eagles to earn N700m
The Super Eagles will earn as much as N700 million in allowances, bonuses and appearance fees at the World Cup in South Africa if the Eagles reach the final on July 11.
This will be outside the 25 percent of the $8 million (N1.18 billion) qualification fees Nigeria will receive if the Eagles survive the group stage. Nigeria could not go beyond the first round at the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup and the football federation believes the Eagles have the quality to get to the knockout stage inspite of being in the same group with Argentina, South Korea and Greece.
The N700 million is more than 70 per cent of the total budget (N700 million) the Federal Government approved for the NFF, an amount the National Sports Commission (NSC) has insisted on being entrusted with the responsibility of managing.
According to an official of the federation, each player will be entitled to a daily allowance of $200 (about N30,000) meaning that one month stay in South Africa each will be paid $6000, and for 23 of them it would amount to $138,000.
The players will also be entitled to appearance fees as well as match bonuses which graduate upwards as the Eagles progress at the World Cup. The bonuses and allowances exclude what will accrue to the technical crew.
However, coach Lars Lagerback will not receive any bonus in the first round of the World Cup. He would only receive a bonus when the Eagles reach the knockout stage of the championship.
At the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year in Angola, each squad member received about $80,000 in combined payments as the Eagles placed third in the competition. Nigeria play Argentina on June 12 at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
This will be outside the 25 percent of the $8 million (N1.18 billion) qualification fees Nigeria will receive if the Eagles survive the group stage. Nigeria could not go beyond the first round at the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup and the football federation believes the Eagles have the quality to get to the knockout stage inspite of being in the same group with Argentina, South Korea and Greece.
The N700 million is more than 70 per cent of the total budget (N700 million) the Federal Government approved for the NFF, an amount the National Sports Commission (NSC) has insisted on being entrusted with the responsibility of managing.
According to an official of the federation, each player will be entitled to a daily allowance of $200 (about N30,000) meaning that one month stay in South Africa each will be paid $6000, and for 23 of them it would amount to $138,000.
The players will also be entitled to appearance fees as well as match bonuses which graduate upwards as the Eagles progress at the World Cup. The bonuses and allowances exclude what will accrue to the technical crew.
However, coach Lars Lagerback will not receive any bonus in the first round of the World Cup. He would only receive a bonus when the Eagles reach the knockout stage of the championship.
At the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year in Angola, each squad member received about $80,000 in combined payments as the Eagles placed third in the competition. Nigeria play Argentina on June 12 at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
Going to Nigeria In Search of a Wife?
Until recent times, eminently marriageable women were not difficult to come by. And one could suppose that it was also the case in terms of finding eminently marriageable men. It was a time when marriage was considered a union between two self-respecting families. Today, more so in the last two decades, things have changed. But of course, things have been changing since the dawn of time.
The Nigerian society, as with societies elsewhere, is not socially and culturally stagnant. We see the effects of westernization and globalization and other internal and external factors that pull and push at the larger African society. And no where are these factors more pronounced than in Nigeria. In the next couple of weeks, one may make submissions on such cause-effects; but for now, the focus is on the idea, and the futility, of going to Nigeria to find a wife.
Today, finding a wife -- not just a lover, a mistress, a concubine or a booty call -- can be a difficult task. This has been true especially in the last ten or so years with the deepening poverty, pervasive hopelessness, scarce political goods and services, cultural and social desperation, and the widening gulf between the rich and the poor. And all these, in so many ways, have contributed to the desperate need to go into exile or to find a mate who lives abroad.
In spite of the current putrid and abysmal conditions, Nigeria is still home to some of the most disciplined, well-behaved, well-schooled and well-brought up women. To find, to meet or be introduced to such women can be challenging. In order words, how to find them or be found is not as easy as it used to be -- at least not in any of the big cities or medium sized towns and villages. Therefore, in places like Lagos, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Zaria, Enugu and Aba, we find that more men are postponing marriage.
Some men are postponing marriage because, amongst other reasons, they do not have the financial wherewithal. Although financial stability is not the sole reason for marriage, it is a major factor most men, and women, consider before they agree to a marital union. In today’s Nigeria (1999-2010), five groups of men have all the money they need, or at least enough money to spoil a woman five times over: the politicians; traders; 419ers and the dream merchants; bankers and investors; and the continental hustlers.
A typical Nigerian senator, governor, banker, 419er or hustler will not hesitate throwing 10, 15 or 25 thousand dollars at the feet of his lover. As part of the package she may also be entitled to a car, a house or apartment, two or three foreign trips a year, clothing allowance and whatever else that needs to be done to keep her happy and wishful. She may or may not be in college, she may or may not have a job, she may or may not be older than 20. This sort of pact has gone beyond sugardaddism; it is now a way of life.
It is to this pool of women Nigerians living overseas are likely to go home to when searching for a wife: women who have a sense of entitlement; women who are used to being showered with hundreds and thousands of dollars at an instant; women who control men with the allure of sex; women who wears some of the finest clothes the best boutiques in Dubai, London, Paris, Tokyo, New York and Berlin can offer; and women who drive some of the best cars in Nigeria.
These are women who are used to a life of freedom, risks and opulence. What does a typical Nigerian living anywhere in the West have to offer such women? Mind you, the typical Nigerian living overseas (like me) is a struggling man: living from paycheck-to- paycheck. Some of us work 40-80 hours a week; we work on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and on holidays and even the graveyard shifts. We have nothing to offer these Sisi Eko, yet, we desire them.
Depending on where you live in the United States, if you make less than $80,000 per annum, do not waste your time chasing after these Sisi Eko. You are not man enough to man these women. And when it comes to sex, you will have nothing to teach them. First, most of them no longer have a sense of wonder; second, they have been poked every which way; and third, you may be dealing with a blackhole.
There are no reliable data that points to the frequency of divorce within the Nigerian enclaves in the US, Canada, UK and elsewhere in the west. What is however clear, is that, the numbers are significant. For instance, casual conversations with friends and friends of friends in the United States show that 4 out of every10 marriages folds within 3 years, 6 in 5 years, and 9 in 7 years. The wahala starts within 9 months of arriving in the US; and it reaches its boiling point once the Alien Registration (Green) Card is received.
Not minding what I have submitted, some men area able to find true love with these Sisi Eko. Nonetheless, I would rather you find a wife wherever you may be living in the west. If you are currently dating a Nigerian, an African, African-American, Indian, German or Korean, please marry her. If you would rather marry someone from same or similar background, then, by all means stay away from the Sisi Eko. Something else: don’t go to Church looking for a Church-girl; the odds favor you in the Vegas strip joint.
And now the men. My female friends have also allowed that finding a man, a real Nigerian man for a husband is a problem the womenfolk have also been dealing with for ages. Vera Ezimora, that fine and free-spirited writer it was who summarized it this way:
“Marrying a Nigerian man is like buying a car from an auction. What you see is NOT what you get. What you see is a fine man who promises to give you the world and beyond; what you see is an honest and mature man who is secure in you and what you both share. What you get is a man who cannot control his sexual urges and wants sex on demand; what you get is an insecure man who panics at the mere mention of another man’s name. What you want is for him to change, and what you do not get is change.”
Vera went on to say that “Investing in marriage is like buying a computer out of the auction; it is not guaranteed to work, there is no warranty, a return policy is non existent, a refund is most definitely out of the question, you are guaranteed that tons of viruses would be visiting you and crashing your system, the price you pay for it has nothing to do with its quality or the services it would render, hackers would definitely be accessing your computer, no company would want to insure it because they see it as a definite “liability”, and it will come with missing parts that cannot be replaced because they are off the market.”
As for me, well, I am still at my game: going to art and music festivals; feasting my eyes at women on the dance floor; reading and catching up with movies. Every so often, however, I cook for friends and family members. But mostly, I talk intermestic politics over a glass of wine and a bowl of pounded yam and egusi soup with assorted meats…still single and available and looking for a wife for down the road. No Sisi Eko for me, though. Oh no…just the neighborhood girl.
The Nigerian society, as with societies elsewhere, is not socially and culturally stagnant. We see the effects of westernization and globalization and other internal and external factors that pull and push at the larger African society. And no where are these factors more pronounced than in Nigeria. In the next couple of weeks, one may make submissions on such cause-effects; but for now, the focus is on the idea, and the futility, of going to Nigeria to find a wife.
Today, finding a wife -- not just a lover, a mistress, a concubine or a booty call -- can be a difficult task. This has been true especially in the last ten or so years with the deepening poverty, pervasive hopelessness, scarce political goods and services, cultural and social desperation, and the widening gulf between the rich and the poor. And all these, in so many ways, have contributed to the desperate need to go into exile or to find a mate who lives abroad.
In spite of the current putrid and abysmal conditions, Nigeria is still home to some of the most disciplined, well-behaved, well-schooled and well-brought up women. To find, to meet or be introduced to such women can be challenging. In order words, how to find them or be found is not as easy as it used to be -- at least not in any of the big cities or medium sized towns and villages. Therefore, in places like Lagos, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Zaria, Enugu and Aba, we find that more men are postponing marriage.
Some men are postponing marriage because, amongst other reasons, they do not have the financial wherewithal. Although financial stability is not the sole reason for marriage, it is a major factor most men, and women, consider before they agree to a marital union. In today’s Nigeria (1999-2010), five groups of men have all the money they need, or at least enough money to spoil a woman five times over: the politicians; traders; 419ers and the dream merchants; bankers and investors; and the continental hustlers.
A typical Nigerian senator, governor, banker, 419er or hustler will not hesitate throwing 10, 15 or 25 thousand dollars at the feet of his lover. As part of the package she may also be entitled to a car, a house or apartment, two or three foreign trips a year, clothing allowance and whatever else that needs to be done to keep her happy and wishful. She may or may not be in college, she may or may not have a job, she may or may not be older than 20. This sort of pact has gone beyond sugardaddism; it is now a way of life.
It is to this pool of women Nigerians living overseas are likely to go home to when searching for a wife: women who have a sense of entitlement; women who are used to being showered with hundreds and thousands of dollars at an instant; women who control men with the allure of sex; women who wears some of the finest clothes the best boutiques in Dubai, London, Paris, Tokyo, New York and Berlin can offer; and women who drive some of the best cars in Nigeria.
These are women who are used to a life of freedom, risks and opulence. What does a typical Nigerian living anywhere in the West have to offer such women? Mind you, the typical Nigerian living overseas (like me) is a struggling man: living from paycheck-to- paycheck. Some of us work 40-80 hours a week; we work on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and on holidays and even the graveyard shifts. We have nothing to offer these Sisi Eko, yet, we desire them.
Depending on where you live in the United States, if you make less than $80,000 per annum, do not waste your time chasing after these Sisi Eko. You are not man enough to man these women. And when it comes to sex, you will have nothing to teach them. First, most of them no longer have a sense of wonder; second, they have been poked every which way; and third, you may be dealing with a blackhole.
There are no reliable data that points to the frequency of divorce within the Nigerian enclaves in the US, Canada, UK and elsewhere in the west. What is however clear, is that, the numbers are significant. For instance, casual conversations with friends and friends of friends in the United States show that 4 out of every10 marriages folds within 3 years, 6 in 5 years, and 9 in 7 years. The wahala starts within 9 months of arriving in the US; and it reaches its boiling point once the Alien Registration (Green) Card is received.
Not minding what I have submitted, some men area able to find true love with these Sisi Eko. Nonetheless, I would rather you find a wife wherever you may be living in the west. If you are currently dating a Nigerian, an African, African-American, Indian, German or Korean, please marry her. If you would rather marry someone from same or similar background, then, by all means stay away from the Sisi Eko. Something else: don’t go to Church looking for a Church-girl; the odds favor you in the Vegas strip joint.
And now the men. My female friends have also allowed that finding a man, a real Nigerian man for a husband is a problem the womenfolk have also been dealing with for ages. Vera Ezimora, that fine and free-spirited writer it was who summarized it this way:
“Marrying a Nigerian man is like buying a car from an auction. What you see is NOT what you get. What you see is a fine man who promises to give you the world and beyond; what you see is an honest and mature man who is secure in you and what you both share. What you get is a man who cannot control his sexual urges and wants sex on demand; what you get is an insecure man who panics at the mere mention of another man’s name. What you want is for him to change, and what you do not get is change.”
Vera went on to say that “Investing in marriage is like buying a computer out of the auction; it is not guaranteed to work, there is no warranty, a return policy is non existent, a refund is most definitely out of the question, you are guaranteed that tons of viruses would be visiting you and crashing your system, the price you pay for it has nothing to do with its quality or the services it would render, hackers would definitely be accessing your computer, no company would want to insure it because they see it as a definite “liability”, and it will come with missing parts that cannot be replaced because they are off the market.”
As for me, well, I am still at my game: going to art and music festivals; feasting my eyes at women on the dance floor; reading and catching up with movies. Every so often, however, I cook for friends and family members. But mostly, I talk intermestic politics over a glass of wine and a bowl of pounded yam and egusi soup with assorted meats…still single and available and looking for a wife for down the road. No Sisi Eko for me, though. Oh no…just the neighborhood girl.
AKWA IBOM UNDER SIEGE
Dr. Julius Kpaduwa is a successful Obstetrician & Gynecologist (OBGYN) whose operational base is Los Angeles , California . His wife is also a successful OBGYN. In 2003, like Engr. Iniekong Udonwa, Dr. Kpaduwa decided to become a gubernatorial candidate in Imo State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Before now, Dr. Kpaduwa was associated with those who relentlessly campaigned against the military dictatorships in Nigeria . I ran into him during the protest he organized in Los Angeles area against IBB’s June 12 imbroglio, just he also led series of protests against Shell Oil Company in their role in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa in Nov. 1995.
On July 11, 2003, Dr. Kpaduwa narrowly escaped death when armed bandits traced him to his country home in Mbaino in Imo state and shot him several times and abandoned him presumably as dead. Narrating his ordeal at the hands of his assailants, Kpaduwa said "I arrived the country from the USA on July 4, 2003 after attending to some official engagements regarding my free medical schemes in my area, I proceeded home on July 11, 2003. While there, I decided to stay the night even though some members of my team advised against the idea because of safety, I insisted on staying the night. At about 3 am, we were aroused by a large bang when the bandits broke into the house and held my 70-year old mother hostage. Others were busy searching for me, when they saw me, they threatened to kill me to end my ambition".
Dr. Kpaduwa reported that they shot him on the left fibula shattering his bones and abandoned him thinking he was death. He said he was later rescued by the villagers who took him to Owerri, then Lagos , from where he was flown back to United States for medical attention. A year later, on Sunday July 4, 2004, a well attended Thanksgiving Service was organized for him in Los Angeles .
Like most other members of our forum, I recall receiving membership request from Ini Ekong Udonwa.in September 2009 during which time his ambition to run for the highest office in Akwa Ibom State was revealed first in our forum. In his first posting Mr. Udonwa informed us that he was born on 20 October 1968 into the family of Knight & Knightess Nicholas & Philomena Udonwa of Ikot Esen Oku, Etinan Local Government Area and is happily married to Kama Udonwa and both are blessed with three (3) lively, loudly and lovely children, 2 boys and a girl.
Udonwa added that he is a First Class Marine Engineer currently working as the Executive Director of INKUS Offshore Marine Pte Ltd and the Senior Technical Superintendent in a ship management conglomerate in Singapore . And that he was pursuing Masters degree in Maritime Studies at Nanyang Technological University , Singapore . He added that he worked in senior management positions with various MNCs in Singapore, such as Keppel FELS, Keppel Singmarine and Swire Pacific Offshore; and was presently serving as President of the Nigerian Business Association (Singapore).
In what played out like the attack on Dr. Kpaduwa in 2003, on Thursday, May 13, 2010 we were informed of the attack of Engr. Ini Ekong Udonwa and the kidnapping of his 70-year old mother. Apparently, kidnapping has now become a lucrative business. Back in those days, especially in South western Nigeria , kidnapping was associated trafficking in human parts which were used for money-making rituals or acquire spiritual power.
But the modern day kidnapping in Nigeria has its root in the Niger Delta where it started with agitation for justice and fairness. When in 1990 MOSOP led by Ken Saro_Wiwa presented a set of demands to the then Nigerian strong man, IBB, instead of addressing those concerns, IBB sent Ken Saro-Wiwa on a wild goose chase around the world. Primary reason he chose to finally ignore Ogoni demand was to discourage other Niger Delta groups from toeing the same line. By November 1995, another strong man, Gen. Abacha opted to simply annihilate MOSOP with the hope of stamping out agitations in the Niger Delta once and for all.
How wrong were they! By 2003, with increased agitation in the Niger Delta, militant groups in the area (MEND and others) began to kidnap foreign oil workers in order to press home their points about a re-negotiation of Nigeria and the Niger Delta stake in it. Gradually, this degenerated into large-scale criminal activities involving hostage taking and ransom-collection. What was adopted initially as a tool of ideological struggle has since been transformed into a major source of livelihood. As the saying goes, never you sow the wind for you’ll surely reap the whirlwind. It’s a Cosmic Law!
It is understatement to say that today Nigerians are no longer safe in their own homes. Efforts by patriotic Nigerians abroad to woo investors are constantly being thwarted by gruesome tales of kidnappings now occurring at alarming rates. Simply put, no investors would want to risk his life as Nigeria has become a high risk investment destination. Akwa Ibom is now prominently featured in this losing game.
The truth is that Nigeria will never be able to adjudicate itself out of this mess. Recall that Akwa Ibom House of Assembly passed a law criminalizing kidnapping. Barely a week or two after the passage of that bill, the Speaker’s 80 year-old father was abducted. What else could be more disgraceful! Interestingly, we understand the state and local governments continually negotiate with the kidnappers thereby encouraging other hoodlums.
The state of insecurity in our once peaceful state has now assumed a frightening dimension. To the Nigerian Police and other security agencies, I can boldly say that their best efforts are no more good enough. They have lost the capacity to manage the menace owed to incompetence and culture of impunity foisted on the nation by corrupt and irresponsible political managers. A greater number of people, mostly unemployed have turned to ruthless, desperate criminals who adorn themselves with sophisticated weaponry.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1) Establish Civil-Security Agents:
The ultimate area of intervention must begin with good governance. As I suggested a couple of weeks ago, government must embark on massive job creation. Government must employ all the unemployed graduates, some who had graduated over ten years now and have no jobs. They should all be put on salaries and designated as Civil Security Agents. Their primary role would be to give information to the main security operatives as well as helping to catch the hoodlums.
2) Community Watch:
Every building/compound in Akwa Ibom should have at least two designated security agents. They will all serve in what will be termed “Neighborhood or Community Watch” and will be linked to one another with good communication equipments. They will also collaborate with other security agents.
3) Install Sirens:
Powerful sirens, similar to those used during tsunami or tornadoes, be located around major cities. These sirens will be activated as soon as kidnapping or robbery incidents have occurred or are in progress. It was reported recently how robbers operated in a bank at Uyo for nearly two hours and no security agent was in sight! A siren would have foiled such operation.
4) Officers to Reside Among Residents:
Law enforcement officers should no more be concentrated in barracks rather they should live among the residents where they can respond quickly to any adverse situation. Emergency phone numbers should be run on the television and constantly announced over the radio for citizen’s contact.
5) Deployment of Surveillance Cameras:
Surveillance cameras must be deployed in many strategic locations all over town like Uyo. This can be handled by private security agencies in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
With what has just befallen Iniekong Udonwa, Akwa Ibom people at home and abroad have all but lost confidence in our governments and the security agencies. Above recommendations are confident builders. Our government owes these to the citizens. We must not wait till the emboldened kidnappers start to operate in Armored trucks or helicopters before decisive actions are taken. Akwa ikang oyom akwa ofob. Time for action is now.
On July 11, 2003, Dr. Kpaduwa narrowly escaped death when armed bandits traced him to his country home in Mbaino in Imo state and shot him several times and abandoned him presumably as dead. Narrating his ordeal at the hands of his assailants, Kpaduwa said "I arrived the country from the USA on July 4, 2003 after attending to some official engagements regarding my free medical schemes in my area, I proceeded home on July 11, 2003. While there, I decided to stay the night even though some members of my team advised against the idea because of safety, I insisted on staying the night. At about 3 am, we were aroused by a large bang when the bandits broke into the house and held my 70-year old mother hostage. Others were busy searching for me, when they saw me, they threatened to kill me to end my ambition".
Dr. Kpaduwa reported that they shot him on the left fibula shattering his bones and abandoned him thinking he was death. He said he was later rescued by the villagers who took him to Owerri, then Lagos , from where he was flown back to United States for medical attention. A year later, on Sunday July 4, 2004, a well attended Thanksgiving Service was organized for him in Los Angeles .
Like most other members of our forum, I recall receiving membership request from Ini Ekong Udonwa.in September 2009 during which time his ambition to run for the highest office in Akwa Ibom State was revealed first in our forum. In his first posting Mr. Udonwa informed us that he was born on 20 October 1968 into the family of Knight & Knightess Nicholas & Philomena Udonwa of Ikot Esen Oku, Etinan Local Government Area and is happily married to Kama Udonwa and both are blessed with three (3) lively, loudly and lovely children, 2 boys and a girl.
Udonwa added that he is a First Class Marine Engineer currently working as the Executive Director of INKUS Offshore Marine Pte Ltd and the Senior Technical Superintendent in a ship management conglomerate in Singapore . And that he was pursuing Masters degree in Maritime Studies at Nanyang Technological University , Singapore . He added that he worked in senior management positions with various MNCs in Singapore, such as Keppel FELS, Keppel Singmarine and Swire Pacific Offshore; and was presently serving as President of the Nigerian Business Association (Singapore).
In what played out like the attack on Dr. Kpaduwa in 2003, on Thursday, May 13, 2010 we were informed of the attack of Engr. Ini Ekong Udonwa and the kidnapping of his 70-year old mother. Apparently, kidnapping has now become a lucrative business. Back in those days, especially in South western Nigeria , kidnapping was associated trafficking in human parts which were used for money-making rituals or acquire spiritual power.
But the modern day kidnapping in Nigeria has its root in the Niger Delta where it started with agitation for justice and fairness. When in 1990 MOSOP led by Ken Saro_Wiwa presented a set of demands to the then Nigerian strong man, IBB, instead of addressing those concerns, IBB sent Ken Saro-Wiwa on a wild goose chase around the world. Primary reason he chose to finally ignore Ogoni demand was to discourage other Niger Delta groups from toeing the same line. By November 1995, another strong man, Gen. Abacha opted to simply annihilate MOSOP with the hope of stamping out agitations in the Niger Delta once and for all.
How wrong were they! By 2003, with increased agitation in the Niger Delta, militant groups in the area (MEND and others) began to kidnap foreign oil workers in order to press home their points about a re-negotiation of Nigeria and the Niger Delta stake in it. Gradually, this degenerated into large-scale criminal activities involving hostage taking and ransom-collection. What was adopted initially as a tool of ideological struggle has since been transformed into a major source of livelihood. As the saying goes, never you sow the wind for you’ll surely reap the whirlwind. It’s a Cosmic Law!
It is understatement to say that today Nigerians are no longer safe in their own homes. Efforts by patriotic Nigerians abroad to woo investors are constantly being thwarted by gruesome tales of kidnappings now occurring at alarming rates. Simply put, no investors would want to risk his life as Nigeria has become a high risk investment destination. Akwa Ibom is now prominently featured in this losing game.
The truth is that Nigeria will never be able to adjudicate itself out of this mess. Recall that Akwa Ibom House of Assembly passed a law criminalizing kidnapping. Barely a week or two after the passage of that bill, the Speaker’s 80 year-old father was abducted. What else could be more disgraceful! Interestingly, we understand the state and local governments continually negotiate with the kidnappers thereby encouraging other hoodlums.
The state of insecurity in our once peaceful state has now assumed a frightening dimension. To the Nigerian Police and other security agencies, I can boldly say that their best efforts are no more good enough. They have lost the capacity to manage the menace owed to incompetence and culture of impunity foisted on the nation by corrupt and irresponsible political managers. A greater number of people, mostly unemployed have turned to ruthless, desperate criminals who adorn themselves with sophisticated weaponry.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1) Establish Civil-Security Agents:
The ultimate area of intervention must begin with good governance. As I suggested a couple of weeks ago, government must embark on massive job creation. Government must employ all the unemployed graduates, some who had graduated over ten years now and have no jobs. They should all be put on salaries and designated as Civil Security Agents. Their primary role would be to give information to the main security operatives as well as helping to catch the hoodlums.
2) Community Watch:
Every building/compound in Akwa Ibom should have at least two designated security agents. They will all serve in what will be termed “Neighborhood or Community Watch” and will be linked to one another with good communication equipments. They will also collaborate with other security agents.
3) Install Sirens:
Powerful sirens, similar to those used during tsunami or tornadoes, be located around major cities. These sirens will be activated as soon as kidnapping or robbery incidents have occurred or are in progress. It was reported recently how robbers operated in a bank at Uyo for nearly two hours and no security agent was in sight! A siren would have foiled such operation.
4) Officers to Reside Among Residents:
Law enforcement officers should no more be concentrated in barracks rather they should live among the residents where they can respond quickly to any adverse situation. Emergency phone numbers should be run on the television and constantly announced over the radio for citizen’s contact.
5) Deployment of Surveillance Cameras:
Surveillance cameras must be deployed in many strategic locations all over town like Uyo. This can be handled by private security agencies in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
With what has just befallen Iniekong Udonwa, Akwa Ibom people at home and abroad have all but lost confidence in our governments and the security agencies. Above recommendations are confident builders. Our government owes these to the citizens. We must not wait till the emboldened kidnappers start to operate in Armored trucks or helicopters before decisive actions are taken. Akwa ikang oyom akwa ofob. Time for action is now.
RE-OPEN LETTER TO ACTING PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN- CHIEF OF THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES, DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN (GCON)
POSITIVE CHANGE 2011
(The Governorship Campaign Organization of Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe)
49, UDO OTUNG UBO STREET,
UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA.
RE-OPEN LETTER TO ACTING PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN- CHIEF OF
THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES, DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN (GCON)
ATTENTION:
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER (NSA)
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (IG)
DIRECTOR GENERAL, STATE SECURITY SERVICE (SSS)
DIRECTOR OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE (DMI)
Our attention has been drawn to an open letter at page 55 of The Nation of Wednesday, May 5, 2010, signed by one Cosmas John Ebiye. Though the letter was addressed to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, we suppose it was written to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Acting President and Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces as he was then addressed. We are amazed that the writer, whose surname (Ebiye) suggests is of the Niger Delta ancestry, does not know the correct name of Mr. President and has chosen to display such daftness on the pages of newspapers. And it is likely that he is anything other than an Engineer, which professional title he attached to his name in the said letter.
However, having read the write up, we sincerely share his sentiments on the compelling need by government and the relevant security forces to tame the tide of the growing spate of insecurity in the country. But strongly, we take great exception to his ill-motivated attempt to erroneously accuse distinguished Senator John Akpan Udoedehe of promoting or supporting arms deal or any other act of criminality either in Akwa Ibom State, or any other part of the country.
We are persuaded to think that Mr. Ebiye has ulterior motives other than his veiled concern for the ugly security situation in the country. And we formally invite the Federal Government and relevant Security Agencies to note that beyond Mr. Ebiye’s failed attempt to tarnish the reputation of Senator Udoedehe, his hasty conclusion are a serious indictment on the Federal Government and the Security Agencies. We have every course to believe that no government or security agency worth its salt would close its eyes against reported incident of arms deal. And we hope the relevant security agencies had taken the necessary steps to investigate the recently reported seizure of arms by men of the Nigerian Customs at the seaport. Therefore we view Mr. Ebiye’s conclusion first, as a timely clarion call on the Federal Government and the relevant Security Agencies to make public its findings on the matter. And as a political campaign organization committed to peaceful democratic change in the forthcoming elections, we condemn in its entirety, the barbaric acts in the use of arms, thugs and violence to undermine democratic actions. Consequently, we formally appeal to the government and the relevant security agencies to expose and prosecute those behind the reported arms deal to serve as a deterrent to others with such criminal intentions.
Also, it is our thinking that Mr. Ebiye has a lot more to offer to assist the government and the security agencies get to the root of the purported incident of hiring thugs for the 2011 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State. For Instance, though Mr. Ebiye has admitted in his write up that Senator Udoedehe denied reports that he has engaged the services of thugs to wrest power from Godwill Akpabio in 2011, he holds the view that Senator Udoedehe’s response was not strong enough because distinguished Senator Udoedehe did not sue the publishing outfit for damages. Mr. Ebiye’s interest in the matter cannot be ordinary and his informants cannot be people far from the circle of perpetrators of this crime. It is either he masterminded the report; has a cordial working relationship with the yet-to-be-identifie d thugs or a vested interest in the publishing outfit, or both. While we view his concern for a legal action against the publishing outfit as distracting and unnecessary, we formally request the relevant security agencies to invite him to make further statements that would facilitate conclusive investigation on the matter. Similarly, we ask that the report of such investigation be made public in the interest of our democracy.
On our part, we wish to reiterate our resolve to remain focused and committed to our divine and non-negotiable mandate of effecting the much-needed political change in Akwa Ibom State come 2011 through a peaceful, sensible and merited electoral victory. We view the activities of Mr. Ebiye and those of similar agents employed by the prevailing ebbing political order in the state as a grand strategy to distract our attention. And we wish to reassure our teeming supporters that no amount of intimidation or cheap blackmail shall derail our focus.
We feel a deep sense of duty to inform the public that a palpable tension and deep-seated fear of the imminent defeat at next year’s polls has engulfed the cabal in government. Consequently, the administration regards Senator Udoedehe as the enemy that must be eliminated at all cost. Out of desperation, this network of criminals has marshaled out vicious plans to tarnish the high reputation and overwhelming popularity of Senator Udoedehe, and by extension the massive support enjoyed by Positive Change project.
For instance, it is widely rumored that the criminal agents of the administration have perfected plans to plant bombs and other explosive devices in selected government properties and public offices in the state and systematically blow up such properties on the pretext that this heinous crime is sponsored by Senator John Akpan Udoedehe. Their motive is to later assemble members of their criminal gangs to own up and openly accuse Senator Udoedehe of masterminding these crimes to give this government the grounds it is desperately looking for to get Senator Udoedehe arrested; tried on trump up charges and detained to prevent him from contesting the forthcoming gubernatorial election in 2011.
It is a burning question why the government of Akwa ibom State with all the security apparatus and financial resources at its disposal has not been able to curb the ever-rising wave of crime in the state. Could this not be a clear indication that the present administration has failed to provide the fundamental prerequisite of government namely: security of life and property?
We unequivocally assert that Senator Udoedehe, as a private citizen, does not have the financial resources, criminal network and security apparatus that are used in promoting the prevailing wave and scale of crime in the state. It is those in government that are using the resources in the state to sustain the despicable rate of criminality in the state. Thus we patriotically invite the Federal Government and Security Agencies to act expeditiously to put an end to this hopelessness and salvage our people from criminal acts promoted by agents of government to create fear and colonize our people and their commonwealth.
Contrary to the gospel of calumny spread by opposing political forces, Senator Udoedehe is a committed patriot, a distinguished democrat and an astute politician with robust integrity. He is a God-fearing leader who aims at a higher degree of intellect than what is exhibited by the opposing political order. Senator Udoedehe has no criminal antecedent and is stoutly opposed to the prevailing thuggery, intimidation, violence, kidnapping, killing, ethnicity, recklessness and wastefulness that is in the order of the day in Akwa Ibom State. It is the enveloping atmosphere of hopelessness that Senator Udoedehe’s administration is set to change in 2011.
We have noted that in a desperate attempt to whip up public sentiments for an unmerited second term in office, agents of government have resorted to making harmful speculations and undertaking series of undemocratic political activities and criminal aggression. In the face of the advancing tide of mass resentment over the activities of this corrupt and wasteful government and their commitment for a change, we commiserate with the impotence of their efforts to turn back the rising wave of change.
The Positive Change campaign organization identifies with and shares the frustration, disillusionment, pains, socio-economic alienation and insecurity inflicted on the highly enterprising masses of Akwa Ibom people for voting in the current corrupt political regime. Similarly, we enjoin all to note that nothing endures but change. We urge our people to reposition themselves for the needed change by participating actively in the upcoming electoral process.
We urge you to remember that your vote is your passport to freedom. So be prepared to use it wisely by voting right. The right of voting for representatives of your choice is the primary right by which your other rights are protected. To mortgage this right for whatever reason is to subject your life to slavery. Slavery according to Thomas Paine consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in slavery.
The agenda of prevailing political machination is to exclude you from taking part in the process of electing your true representatives. This is as criminal as the craze by the government to steal and mismanage our commonwealth. This must be democratically resisted.
Stand up and be counted on the side of positive history
Support change. Embrace change. Preach change. Act change.
Signed:
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Positive change 2011
(The Governorship Campaign Organization of Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe)
49, UDO OTUNG UBO STREET,
UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA.
RE-OPEN LETTER TO ACTING PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN- CHIEF OF
THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES, DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN (GCON)
ATTENTION:
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER (NSA)
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (IG)
DIRECTOR GENERAL, STATE SECURITY SERVICE (SSS)
DIRECTOR OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE (DMI)
Our attention has been drawn to an open letter at page 55 of The Nation of Wednesday, May 5, 2010, signed by one Cosmas John Ebiye. Though the letter was addressed to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, we suppose it was written to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Acting President and Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces as he was then addressed. We are amazed that the writer, whose surname (Ebiye) suggests is of the Niger Delta ancestry, does not know the correct name of Mr. President and has chosen to display such daftness on the pages of newspapers. And it is likely that he is anything other than an Engineer, which professional title he attached to his name in the said letter.
However, having read the write up, we sincerely share his sentiments on the compelling need by government and the relevant security forces to tame the tide of the growing spate of insecurity in the country. But strongly, we take great exception to his ill-motivated attempt to erroneously accuse distinguished Senator John Akpan Udoedehe of promoting or supporting arms deal or any other act of criminality either in Akwa Ibom State, or any other part of the country.
We are persuaded to think that Mr. Ebiye has ulterior motives other than his veiled concern for the ugly security situation in the country. And we formally invite the Federal Government and relevant Security Agencies to note that beyond Mr. Ebiye’s failed attempt to tarnish the reputation of Senator Udoedehe, his hasty conclusion are a serious indictment on the Federal Government and the Security Agencies. We have every course to believe that no government or security agency worth its salt would close its eyes against reported incident of arms deal. And we hope the relevant security agencies had taken the necessary steps to investigate the recently reported seizure of arms by men of the Nigerian Customs at the seaport. Therefore we view Mr. Ebiye’s conclusion first, as a timely clarion call on the Federal Government and the relevant Security Agencies to make public its findings on the matter. And as a political campaign organization committed to peaceful democratic change in the forthcoming elections, we condemn in its entirety, the barbaric acts in the use of arms, thugs and violence to undermine democratic actions. Consequently, we formally appeal to the government and the relevant security agencies to expose and prosecute those behind the reported arms deal to serve as a deterrent to others with such criminal intentions.
Also, it is our thinking that Mr. Ebiye has a lot more to offer to assist the government and the security agencies get to the root of the purported incident of hiring thugs for the 2011 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State. For Instance, though Mr. Ebiye has admitted in his write up that Senator Udoedehe denied reports that he has engaged the services of thugs to wrest power from Godwill Akpabio in 2011, he holds the view that Senator Udoedehe’s response was not strong enough because distinguished Senator Udoedehe did not sue the publishing outfit for damages. Mr. Ebiye’s interest in the matter cannot be ordinary and his informants cannot be people far from the circle of perpetrators of this crime. It is either he masterminded the report; has a cordial working relationship with the yet-to-be-identifie d thugs or a vested interest in the publishing outfit, or both. While we view his concern for a legal action against the publishing outfit as distracting and unnecessary, we formally request the relevant security agencies to invite him to make further statements that would facilitate conclusive investigation on the matter. Similarly, we ask that the report of such investigation be made public in the interest of our democracy.
On our part, we wish to reiterate our resolve to remain focused and committed to our divine and non-negotiable mandate of effecting the much-needed political change in Akwa Ibom State come 2011 through a peaceful, sensible and merited electoral victory. We view the activities of Mr. Ebiye and those of similar agents employed by the prevailing ebbing political order in the state as a grand strategy to distract our attention. And we wish to reassure our teeming supporters that no amount of intimidation or cheap blackmail shall derail our focus.
We feel a deep sense of duty to inform the public that a palpable tension and deep-seated fear of the imminent defeat at next year’s polls has engulfed the cabal in government. Consequently, the administration regards Senator Udoedehe as the enemy that must be eliminated at all cost. Out of desperation, this network of criminals has marshaled out vicious plans to tarnish the high reputation and overwhelming popularity of Senator Udoedehe, and by extension the massive support enjoyed by Positive Change project.
For instance, it is widely rumored that the criminal agents of the administration have perfected plans to plant bombs and other explosive devices in selected government properties and public offices in the state and systematically blow up such properties on the pretext that this heinous crime is sponsored by Senator John Akpan Udoedehe. Their motive is to later assemble members of their criminal gangs to own up and openly accuse Senator Udoedehe of masterminding these crimes to give this government the grounds it is desperately looking for to get Senator Udoedehe arrested; tried on trump up charges and detained to prevent him from contesting the forthcoming gubernatorial election in 2011.
It is a burning question why the government of Akwa ibom State with all the security apparatus and financial resources at its disposal has not been able to curb the ever-rising wave of crime in the state. Could this not be a clear indication that the present administration has failed to provide the fundamental prerequisite of government namely: security of life and property?
We unequivocally assert that Senator Udoedehe, as a private citizen, does not have the financial resources, criminal network and security apparatus that are used in promoting the prevailing wave and scale of crime in the state. It is those in government that are using the resources in the state to sustain the despicable rate of criminality in the state. Thus we patriotically invite the Federal Government and Security Agencies to act expeditiously to put an end to this hopelessness and salvage our people from criminal acts promoted by agents of government to create fear and colonize our people and their commonwealth.
Contrary to the gospel of calumny spread by opposing political forces, Senator Udoedehe is a committed patriot, a distinguished democrat and an astute politician with robust integrity. He is a God-fearing leader who aims at a higher degree of intellect than what is exhibited by the opposing political order. Senator Udoedehe has no criminal antecedent and is stoutly opposed to the prevailing thuggery, intimidation, violence, kidnapping, killing, ethnicity, recklessness and wastefulness that is in the order of the day in Akwa Ibom State. It is the enveloping atmosphere of hopelessness that Senator Udoedehe’s administration is set to change in 2011.
We have noted that in a desperate attempt to whip up public sentiments for an unmerited second term in office, agents of government have resorted to making harmful speculations and undertaking series of undemocratic political activities and criminal aggression. In the face of the advancing tide of mass resentment over the activities of this corrupt and wasteful government and their commitment for a change, we commiserate with the impotence of their efforts to turn back the rising wave of change.
The Positive Change campaign organization identifies with and shares the frustration, disillusionment, pains, socio-economic alienation and insecurity inflicted on the highly enterprising masses of Akwa Ibom people for voting in the current corrupt political regime. Similarly, we enjoin all to note that nothing endures but change. We urge our people to reposition themselves for the needed change by participating actively in the upcoming electoral process.
We urge you to remember that your vote is your passport to freedom. So be prepared to use it wisely by voting right. The right of voting for representatives of your choice is the primary right by which your other rights are protected. To mortgage this right for whatever reason is to subject your life to slavery. Slavery according to Thomas Paine consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in slavery.
The agenda of prevailing political machination is to exclude you from taking part in the process of electing your true representatives. This is as criminal as the craze by the government to steal and mismanage our commonwealth. This must be democratically resisted.
Stand up and be counted on the side of positive history
Support change. Embrace change. Preach change. Act change.
Signed:
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Positive change 2011
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET OVER IT? ...The Akwa Ibom Perspective
1.0 I have only just finished doing justice to the award-winning article
by Andrew M. Manis, the five-star Associate Professor of History at Macon
State College in Georgia. As a Nigerian who's had very little exposure out
of my country, my first reaction was to investigate the skin colour of Dr.
Manis! Is he really white? The affirmative response assures me at once
that there's hope for the United States. It's with that hope in mind that
I have kept my right palm open and ready for a handshake of appreciation
with the History teacher. I prophesy that within weeks, the authorities of
Macon State College or everyone so-responsible shall promote the man to
full-fledged professor! I wish there was something bigger than professor!
2.0 I shall presently voice my sentiments vis-a-vis this newspaper
editorial that is sure to remain on the frontburner of world discourse for
months on end. Meanwhile, permit me to appreciate Eno Adams for enabling
the forum to see this article. Permit me to also challenge more and more
of our Diasporan brethren to emulate Mr. Adams and ensure that more and
more of such soul-lifting, hope-generating and truth-embedded articles are
brought to this online town hall meeting; as against the pugnacious,
fastidious and hateful postings which are currently our pastime. That is
the way to go if we are truly serious of repositioning Akwa Ibom State or
Nigeria and indeed the macro-society.
3.0 Back to the United States; why, how, when? See, I am not an emotional
person. Or so I thought. Why? Oh, I confess that as line after line of the
racial confession of a writing sank in, a tear or two rolled down my
cheeks. Even now the heaviness in my heart won't go away. As I write this,
the battery of questions that ensued as I read on, persists: Why has man
chosen to mess up the free, happy world God gave him gratis, and on a
platter of gold? Why is there so much human inhumanity? Why does the
United States hate the United States so much? And what's worse, the United
States we refer hereto is the same exact United States the rest of the
world has for long deferred to as the Pride numero uno, the Model-in-Chief
of the Universe! But, good news: I won't cry for the U.S., because two
resons assure me doubly that this cup shall, like all the other cups, also
pass over the U.S., this same U.S! One, the U.S. is also peopled by the
like of Andrew M. Manis, who'd rather die than allow the country in the
throes of colour stupidity. And two, even more importantly, the same God
who ensured and enabled a black President for the first time ever, at a
time even Blacks themselves never believed it could happen, is still alive
and working overtime in and for the U.S! The U.S. can; the U.S. shall
outlive this ''Neanderthalness.'' Surely.
4.0 Therefore, what I'd rather we concerned ourselves with is the message
the Associate Professor has embedded, even if unconsciously, for Akwa Ibom
people. You didn't see that angle, did you? It's a crying shame, UKANN
NNYIN, we spend all the time pouting at the U.S. when the indictment
dripping from Matthew 7:3 should have kept us away from casting the first
or any stone at all. Let's rejig the poser in the article for our own
context: WHEN IS AKWA IBOM GOING TO GET OVER IT? When are we going to get
over our ''atomistic-ness?'' Which of our leaders have we not killed and
buried with our mouths? I can rewind, for effects. Obong Akpan Isemin -may
the soul of that great leader rest in peace- ''was a disaster, was he
not?'' Even Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, how long did the standing ovation
we gave him last? Enter Obong Attah; ''Oh we shouldn't even talk about his
eight years as governor, should we?'' I thought we were home and dry when
Chief Godswill Akpabio happened along as the new kid on the block. But
even in this forum, we have shamed me that I heaved my sigh of relief too
early. But why, Akwa Ibom, why? When are we going to get over our
finger-pointing, name-calling second nature? When are we going to get over
disparaging and setting our leaders against each other? When are we going
to cherish and support the leader(s) that God brings - and yes, it's God
that brings all! Say what you would, but for my family and me, this is
that history of ours that the article from the U.S. challenges us to
correct! Can we? Shall we? When will Akwa Ibom get over it?
by Andrew M. Manis, the five-star Associate Professor of History at Macon
State College in Georgia. As a Nigerian who's had very little exposure out
of my country, my first reaction was to investigate the skin colour of Dr.
Manis! Is he really white? The affirmative response assures me at once
that there's hope for the United States. It's with that hope in mind that
I have kept my right palm open and ready for a handshake of appreciation
with the History teacher. I prophesy that within weeks, the authorities of
Macon State College or everyone so-responsible shall promote the man to
full-fledged professor! I wish there was something bigger than professor!
2.0 I shall presently voice my sentiments vis-a-vis this newspaper
editorial that is sure to remain on the frontburner of world discourse for
months on end. Meanwhile, permit me to appreciate Eno Adams for enabling
the forum to see this article. Permit me to also challenge more and more
of our Diasporan brethren to emulate Mr. Adams and ensure that more and
more of such soul-lifting, hope-generating and truth-embedded articles are
brought to this online town hall meeting; as against the pugnacious,
fastidious and hateful postings which are currently our pastime. That is
the way to go if we are truly serious of repositioning Akwa Ibom State or
Nigeria and indeed the macro-society.
3.0 Back to the United States; why, how, when? See, I am not an emotional
person. Or so I thought. Why? Oh, I confess that as line after line of the
racial confession of a writing sank in, a tear or two rolled down my
cheeks. Even now the heaviness in my heart won't go away. As I write this,
the battery of questions that ensued as I read on, persists: Why has man
chosen to mess up the free, happy world God gave him gratis, and on a
platter of gold? Why is there so much human inhumanity? Why does the
United States hate the United States so much? And what's worse, the United
States we refer hereto is the same exact United States the rest of the
world has for long deferred to as the Pride numero uno, the Model-in-Chief
of the Universe! But, good news: I won't cry for the U.S., because two
resons assure me doubly that this cup shall, like all the other cups, also
pass over the U.S., this same U.S! One, the U.S. is also peopled by the
like of Andrew M. Manis, who'd rather die than allow the country in the
throes of colour stupidity. And two, even more importantly, the same God
who ensured and enabled a black President for the first time ever, at a
time even Blacks themselves never believed it could happen, is still alive
and working overtime in and for the U.S! The U.S. can; the U.S. shall
outlive this ''Neanderthalness.'' Surely.
4.0 Therefore, what I'd rather we concerned ourselves with is the message
the Associate Professor has embedded, even if unconsciously, for Akwa Ibom
people. You didn't see that angle, did you? It's a crying shame, UKANN
NNYIN, we spend all the time pouting at the U.S. when the indictment
dripping from Matthew 7:3 should have kept us away from casting the first
or any stone at all. Let's rejig the poser in the article for our own
context: WHEN IS AKWA IBOM GOING TO GET OVER IT? When are we going to get
over our ''atomistic-ness?'' Which of our leaders have we not killed and
buried with our mouths? I can rewind, for effects. Obong Akpan Isemin -may
the soul of that great leader rest in peace- ''was a disaster, was he
not?'' Even Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, how long did the standing ovation
we gave him last? Enter Obong Attah; ''Oh we shouldn't even talk about his
eight years as governor, should we?'' I thought we were home and dry when
Chief Godswill Akpabio happened along as the new kid on the block. But
even in this forum, we have shamed me that I heaved my sigh of relief too
early. But why, Akwa Ibom, why? When are we going to get over our
finger-pointing, name-calling second nature? When are we going to get over
disparaging and setting our leaders against each other? When are we going
to cherish and support the leader(s) that God brings - and yes, it's God
that brings all! Say what you would, but for my family and me, this is
that history of ours that the article from the U.S. challenges us to
correct! Can we? Shall we? When will Akwa Ibom get over it?
Akwa Ibom Assembly suspends speaker, deputy
Eighteen of the 26 members of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly have passed a vote of no confidence on the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ignatius Edet, and his deputy, Hon. Okon Uwah, giving the leadership seven days ultimatum to resign or face impeachment.
The eighteen members who stormed out of the Speaker’s office midway into the Executive Session, had moved to one of the Committee rooms to announce their disappointment in the leadership.
Addressing newsmen, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Asuquo Darby Udoh, said the House members were fed up with what he called the many misdemeanors of the Speaker and that the House could no longer operate under such leadership.
The House had been boiling in the last two weeks, with some aggrieved members calling for the resignation of the Speaker, an event that culminated in the several adjournments that could not allow the House pass certain bills that had been pending since their return from recess.
Before the crisis that finally rocked the boat, Speaker Ignatius Edet had many times escaped impeachment, using influential politicians in the state to save his position.
The Speaker could not be reached at press time for his reaction, but one of his personal aides said he was preparing to address the press later.
Speaking with Vanguard, the House member representing Uruan State Constituency, Usenobong Akpabio, said the face-off between the House leadership and members was not as a result of the fall out of the 2007 battle for who was to be the Speaker, but the constant postponement of sittings that had negatively affected the progress of the business of lawmaking
The eighteen members who stormed out of the Speaker’s office midway into the Executive Session, had moved to one of the Committee rooms to announce their disappointment in the leadership.
Addressing newsmen, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Asuquo Darby Udoh, said the House members were fed up with what he called the many misdemeanors of the Speaker and that the House could no longer operate under such leadership.
The House had been boiling in the last two weeks, with some aggrieved members calling for the resignation of the Speaker, an event that culminated in the several adjournments that could not allow the House pass certain bills that had been pending since their return from recess.
Before the crisis that finally rocked the boat, Speaker Ignatius Edet had many times escaped impeachment, using influential politicians in the state to save his position.
The Speaker could not be reached at press time for his reaction, but one of his personal aides said he was preparing to address the press later.
Speaking with Vanguard, the House member representing Uruan State Constituency, Usenobong Akpabio, said the face-off between the House leadership and members was not as a result of the fall out of the 2007 battle for who was to be the Speaker, but the constant postponement of sittings that had negatively affected the progress of the business of lawmaking
Unhealthy State Of Affairs In Akwa Ibom State: A Clarion Call On The Intrigues Of A Retired SSS Chief
Unknown to most patriotic Akwa Ibomites, the administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio was consummated upon the altar of security lapses and misconceptions. No wonder we have been taken this far in the laxed security situation in the entire citizenry. The reality of the situation is that the state Governor, through a cabal headed by a former SSS director has perfected an arrangement to make the state very volatile in order to create money for his selfish ends.
1 Governor Godswill Akpabio unfortunately surrounds himself with cult boys with the unproductive advice of a one time Director of the State Security Services, Mr. Sadiq Dalhat who after assisting Godswill Akpabio rig his election into office, got him to do what he ever advised.
2 It was Sadiq Dalhat who masterminded the coming to office of cultists Kenneth Okon as chairman of Etinan LGA and Micheal Etim as Chairman, Itu LGA.
3 Sadiq was the one who advised the Governor to balance power between the different cult groups in the course of his appointment of Special/Personal Assistants. That explains why the likes of Emmanuel Ukoette and his peers got into positions of authority. Same for Prince Ukpong Akpabio and others who cared to join in.
4 After getting the Governor where he wanted him, Sadiq got the Governor to engage him on a private consultancy arrangement when the State Security Services booted him out of office. The Governor engaged him and he promised he will provide the normal liaison with the National Security Adviser at the time Alhaji Mukhtar, but rather was in the habit of misdirecting/ misappropriating all the funds he collected from the Governor and claiming he offered the monies to the NSA, thereby undermining security reports on the true situation in the state. This eventually led to the collapse of the security situation in the state and helped to set in motion those incidents that has brought us to this state of kidnappings, killings and others vices we now have to confront.
5 Because of their different roles in the election rigging of the PDP primaries, the trio of Sadiq Dalhat, Mr. Azubuike Udah, the then Commissioner of Police in AKS, now AIG Zone 2, Iboro Idim currently servicing in Kaduna training school and Prince Ikim, a dismissed D2 in the State Security Service, have erroneously assumed an uncomplimentary advisory security role for the AKS state Governor/Government under the guise of a security consultancy outfit called Ultimate World Security LTD. With Rc number 808926, which Sadiq Dalhat and his cohorts have used to siphon on average of N195million every two months and to date almost N2.6 billion has been spent under this cover since the inception of the Akpabio Administration. Iboro idim and Prince Ikim serves as their blackmail agent. A good example of this is in the role they both play in Amb. Sam Edem Saga. All paper and monies relating to Ultimate World Security LTD. are rooted through one Emmanuel Arthur, a
close Personal Assistant to Governor Akpabio.
6 In a characteristic nature of settlement, Mr. Sadiq Dalhat has gotten the Governor to settle him with a mouth watering N500m in three phases of Rural Electrification Project in Nsit Atai under his company cover of Malo Naggee Investment LTD totaling N1.5 billion to accommodate both Iboro Idim and Prince Ikim, for a his rigging role during the primaries. Mr. Azubuike Udah, the CP at the time is also settled with a Rural Electrification job to the tune of N270 million. Then, while Alhaji Tafida, the Chairman of the PDP primaries in Akwa Ibom State is also given a compensatory job to the tune of N250m, which the cunning Sadiq deceived him and bought it over from Tafida. Iboro Idim is benefiting from all these illicit deal far beyond his income as a D2 in Service.
7 Sadiq’s overbearing connection and attitude has made the Governor almost a stooge of this " Crook", in the sense that the Governor has mortgaged the security of the state into the hands of cultists, kidnappers, assassinators and " what have you". Characters like Etetim Anwatim, a PA to the Governor on Project Monitoring, Mr. Don Etim, a Commissioner in this administration, Emmanuel Ukoette, a Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Kenneth Okon Chairman Etinan LGA and others very well known cultists and sons of the gun who go about the state inflicting all manners of discomfort on innocent citizens through their killing, kidnapping, and individual maiming, sometimes under the guise of Local Government Task Force on one frivolous issues or the other. Only to be perfected and covered by the administration on the spurious advice of the security consultant Sadiq who incidentally is the one who
"breeds" these people.
8 To confuse the Governor the more, and make him believe all is well, Sadiq undermines the National Security Adviser and the office of the State Security Services by collecting huge sums of money from the Governor under the pretext that such monies are always sent to the NSA; whereas he misappropriates such funds to his personal use.
9 Through the scheming of Mr. Sadiq Dalhat, Governor Akpabio is made to believe he could arrange a chieftaincy/ traditional title for the present National Security Adviser, Mr. Aliyu Gusau in order to arrange a conduit through which they could be close the same way he did with Mukhtar through Mr. Lily, the present State Director of security in Ekiti State.
10 An issue worthy of note and which the attention of people need be drawn to is the arms deal involvement of Mr. Don Etim, who tried to double cross those militant boys and they decided to attack his residence sometime last year. Don’s retaliation led to his arranging the elimination of those boys in different locations in Port Harcourt under the pretext that those boys should come and take their money using official cover. All the boys were from Eberi-papa group; and Eberipapa still hold a strong grudge against Don Etim and the AKS Governor for maneuvering the security to suppress the case. AS an offshoot to this saga, and with the scheming and intrigue of Sadiq Dalhat, Dr. Chris Ekong was named as the one who organized the job and he unfortunately got roped in after Mr. Azubuike Udah, had been paid the sum of N50m by Don Etim to fix the case as wished by the Government. The deal was meant to checkmate Dr. Ekong who they presumed was getting too
large politically; and may eventually team up with Senator Udoedeghe his kinsman. The said Chris Ekong assisted the SSS in arresting armed robbers which led to the discovery of an Ak47 ammunition and 30 round Browny pistol which Mr. Sadiq did not handover before his departure. The armourer has at then, Mr. Ekpo Bassey Ekpo one of Akpabio’s detail; currently serving as the counter Assault commander carefully deleted this from the inventory report of the SSS.
Don Etim, the man who employed Hero Ezegwogwo and Prince Ikim now in police detention in Port Harcourt is Still roaming around and has not been arrested to confront his boys, why then should Don Etim not be arrested while the innocent Chris Ekong is in detention, which Governor Akpabio has voted N1bn to make sure that Dr. Ekong dies in detention, while making efforts to pull out Prince Ikim and Hero Ezegwogwo the claimed "Boyloaf" of AKS, since they have a lot to confess about the Port Harcourt arms deal of Akpabio and Don Etim. Upon the security situation in Akwa Ibom state, it should be noted that if these characters were not being checked by security agencies before the 2011 elections, there would be a serious blood bath in the state.
11 It is necessary and advisable that any operative taking a brief from the aforementioned persons during investigation needs to know more than what is mentioned here because there are many intrigues to those issues than what meet the eyes.
Etienne Friday
Onna, AKS
1 Governor Godswill Akpabio unfortunately surrounds himself with cult boys with the unproductive advice of a one time Director of the State Security Services, Mr. Sadiq Dalhat who after assisting Godswill Akpabio rig his election into office, got him to do what he ever advised.
2 It was Sadiq Dalhat who masterminded the coming to office of cultists Kenneth Okon as chairman of Etinan LGA and Micheal Etim as Chairman, Itu LGA.
3 Sadiq was the one who advised the Governor to balance power between the different cult groups in the course of his appointment of Special/Personal Assistants. That explains why the likes of Emmanuel Ukoette and his peers got into positions of authority. Same for Prince Ukpong Akpabio and others who cared to join in.
4 After getting the Governor where he wanted him, Sadiq got the Governor to engage him on a private consultancy arrangement when the State Security Services booted him out of office. The Governor engaged him and he promised he will provide the normal liaison with the National Security Adviser at the time Alhaji Mukhtar, but rather was in the habit of misdirecting/ misappropriating all the funds he collected from the Governor and claiming he offered the monies to the NSA, thereby undermining security reports on the true situation in the state. This eventually led to the collapse of the security situation in the state and helped to set in motion those incidents that has brought us to this state of kidnappings, killings and others vices we now have to confront.
5 Because of their different roles in the election rigging of the PDP primaries, the trio of Sadiq Dalhat, Mr. Azubuike Udah, the then Commissioner of Police in AKS, now AIG Zone 2, Iboro Idim currently servicing in Kaduna training school and Prince Ikim, a dismissed D2 in the State Security Service, have erroneously assumed an uncomplimentary advisory security role for the AKS state Governor/Government under the guise of a security consultancy outfit called Ultimate World Security LTD. With Rc number 808926, which Sadiq Dalhat and his cohorts have used to siphon on average of N195million every two months and to date almost N2.6 billion has been spent under this cover since the inception of the Akpabio Administration. Iboro idim and Prince Ikim serves as their blackmail agent. A good example of this is in the role they both play in Amb. Sam Edem Saga. All paper and monies relating to Ultimate World Security LTD. are rooted through one Emmanuel Arthur, a
close Personal Assistant to Governor Akpabio.
6 In a characteristic nature of settlement, Mr. Sadiq Dalhat has gotten the Governor to settle him with a mouth watering N500m in three phases of Rural Electrification Project in Nsit Atai under his company cover of Malo Naggee Investment LTD totaling N1.5 billion to accommodate both Iboro Idim and Prince Ikim, for a his rigging role during the primaries. Mr. Azubuike Udah, the CP at the time is also settled with a Rural Electrification job to the tune of N270 million. Then, while Alhaji Tafida, the Chairman of the PDP primaries in Akwa Ibom State is also given a compensatory job to the tune of N250m, which the cunning Sadiq deceived him and bought it over from Tafida. Iboro Idim is benefiting from all these illicit deal far beyond his income as a D2 in Service.
7 Sadiq’s overbearing connection and attitude has made the Governor almost a stooge of this " Crook", in the sense that the Governor has mortgaged the security of the state into the hands of cultists, kidnappers, assassinators and " what have you". Characters like Etetim Anwatim, a PA to the Governor on Project Monitoring, Mr. Don Etim, a Commissioner in this administration, Emmanuel Ukoette, a Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Kenneth Okon Chairman Etinan LGA and others very well known cultists and sons of the gun who go about the state inflicting all manners of discomfort on innocent citizens through their killing, kidnapping, and individual maiming, sometimes under the guise of Local Government Task Force on one frivolous issues or the other. Only to be perfected and covered by the administration on the spurious advice of the security consultant Sadiq who incidentally is the one who
"breeds" these people.
8 To confuse the Governor the more, and make him believe all is well, Sadiq undermines the National Security Adviser and the office of the State Security Services by collecting huge sums of money from the Governor under the pretext that such monies are always sent to the NSA; whereas he misappropriates such funds to his personal use.
9 Through the scheming of Mr. Sadiq Dalhat, Governor Akpabio is made to believe he could arrange a chieftaincy/ traditional title for the present National Security Adviser, Mr. Aliyu Gusau in order to arrange a conduit through which they could be close the same way he did with Mukhtar through Mr. Lily, the present State Director of security in Ekiti State.
10 An issue worthy of note and which the attention of people need be drawn to is the arms deal involvement of Mr. Don Etim, who tried to double cross those militant boys and they decided to attack his residence sometime last year. Don’s retaliation led to his arranging the elimination of those boys in different locations in Port Harcourt under the pretext that those boys should come and take their money using official cover. All the boys were from Eberi-papa group; and Eberipapa still hold a strong grudge against Don Etim and the AKS Governor for maneuvering the security to suppress the case. AS an offshoot to this saga, and with the scheming and intrigue of Sadiq Dalhat, Dr. Chris Ekong was named as the one who organized the job and he unfortunately got roped in after Mr. Azubuike Udah, had been paid the sum of N50m by Don Etim to fix the case as wished by the Government. The deal was meant to checkmate Dr. Ekong who they presumed was getting too
large politically; and may eventually team up with Senator Udoedeghe his kinsman. The said Chris Ekong assisted the SSS in arresting armed robbers which led to the discovery of an Ak47 ammunition and 30 round Browny pistol which Mr. Sadiq did not handover before his departure. The armourer has at then, Mr. Ekpo Bassey Ekpo one of Akpabio’s detail; currently serving as the counter Assault commander carefully deleted this from the inventory report of the SSS.
Don Etim, the man who employed Hero Ezegwogwo and Prince Ikim now in police detention in Port Harcourt is Still roaming around and has not been arrested to confront his boys, why then should Don Etim not be arrested while the innocent Chris Ekong is in detention, which Governor Akpabio has voted N1bn to make sure that Dr. Ekong dies in detention, while making efforts to pull out Prince Ikim and Hero Ezegwogwo the claimed "Boyloaf" of AKS, since they have a lot to confess about the Port Harcourt arms deal of Akpabio and Don Etim. Upon the security situation in Akwa Ibom state, it should be noted that if these characters were not being checked by security agencies before the 2011 elections, there would be a serious blood bath in the state.
11 It is necessary and advisable that any operative taking a brief from the aforementioned persons during investigation needs to know more than what is mentioned here because there are many intrigues to those issues than what meet the eyes.
Etienne Friday
Onna, AKS
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Help, Bakassi natives are dying, says paramount ruler
Barely two years after the disputed Bakassi peninsula was ceded to Cameroon by United Nations agency, the Bakassi natives been abandoned to faith and have cried out for help, saying that the Federal Government of Nigeria has not fulfilled its own part of the promise concerning their relocation. In August 14, 2008, Nigeria government finally handed over the Peninsula to neigbhouring Cameroon following International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment delivered in October10, 2002 ceding the oil rich Bakassi to them. The judgment was principally based on Anglo-German agreement that soverignty over Bakassi did indeed rest with Cameroon.
Consequent upon the decision, the natives lost their ancestral homes and were relocated to Ikang in the old Akpabuyo local government for proper resettlement.
Since then, the promise by both International Community and Nigeria government to resettle the natives in line with international conventions seem a mirage as the people are said to have not only been resettled, but have been rejected by federal auhtourities.
The Paramount Ruler of the Bakassi, HRH Edet, who decried the plight of his people when PDP leadership, on sensitization tour of Bakassi Council, paid a courtesy call on him at Ikot Effiom palace, said “the situation of Bakassi after the handover is quite pathetic and horrifying because we have lost out completely and have no hope again in the Nigeria Federation.”
Bemoaning the hopeless situation they have found themselves in the last four years, he further said, “Look at my palace, it is an empty house, no furniture, no light and no seriousness of even completing it in the years ahead; look at the council secretariat, uncompleted since 2007 and council still operates from a primary school building.”
“The people of Bakassi have not benefited from the housing scheme meant for them; the real natives have been sidelined in the allocation process as the houses are now occupied by non-natives. The master plan drawn by state for development of Bakassi has been abandoned due to lack of funds. We are just there languishing in abject poverty and neglect.”
“We have re-located but not re-settled; there is nothing we can lay claim to as our benefit for scarifying our ancestral land for peace to reign, we have neither been compensated for all the lives and property lost in the cause of our struggle to retain our natural homes; we have no means of livelihood since our re-location because no provision for empowerment of the people.”
“The Green Tree Agreement has been flouted; nothing is heard about it anymore, the committee has not deemed it fit to find out how the people are faring, we are now the sacrificial lamb, we have been abandoned by international community and the federal government for peace to reign. But look at what we are facing now for what is not our fault.”
“Worst still,” he continued, “the presence of militants within our environment is posing great threat as one of my chiefs was beaten black and blue by the former freedom fighter members. For now we live in total fear.”
Equally pleading for help, the chairman of Bakassi local government area, Saviour Nyong, disclosed that the council secretariat started shortly after their relocation to Ikang has been abandoned by federal government and for now the council is operating from a primary school premises.
According to him, the paramount ruler palace has also been abandoned as the traditional institution has been thrown overboard.
Appealing to the ruling PDP team led by Ntufam Ekpo Okon for urgent intervention to ameliorate their plights, he warned that the Federal Government should not take their calmness as a sign of weakness as there is a limit to what they can endure and wondered why they should be used as a sacrificial lamb.
The State Chairman of PDP, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, however, promised to take their message to appropriate quarters and enjoined the royal fathers to continue to keep peace as Bakassi is very strategic to the country.
Consequent upon the decision, the natives lost their ancestral homes and were relocated to Ikang in the old Akpabuyo local government for proper resettlement.
Since then, the promise by both International Community and Nigeria government to resettle the natives in line with international conventions seem a mirage as the people are said to have not only been resettled, but have been rejected by federal auhtourities.
The Paramount Ruler of the Bakassi, HRH Edet, who decried the plight of his people when PDP leadership, on sensitization tour of Bakassi Council, paid a courtesy call on him at Ikot Effiom palace, said “the situation of Bakassi after the handover is quite pathetic and horrifying because we have lost out completely and have no hope again in the Nigeria Federation.”
Bemoaning the hopeless situation they have found themselves in the last four years, he further said, “Look at my palace, it is an empty house, no furniture, no light and no seriousness of even completing it in the years ahead; look at the council secretariat, uncompleted since 2007 and council still operates from a primary school building.”
“The people of Bakassi have not benefited from the housing scheme meant for them; the real natives have been sidelined in the allocation process as the houses are now occupied by non-natives. The master plan drawn by state for development of Bakassi has been abandoned due to lack of funds. We are just there languishing in abject poverty and neglect.”
“We have re-located but not re-settled; there is nothing we can lay claim to as our benefit for scarifying our ancestral land for peace to reign, we have neither been compensated for all the lives and property lost in the cause of our struggle to retain our natural homes; we have no means of livelihood since our re-location because no provision for empowerment of the people.”
“The Green Tree Agreement has been flouted; nothing is heard about it anymore, the committee has not deemed it fit to find out how the people are faring, we are now the sacrificial lamb, we have been abandoned by international community and the federal government for peace to reign. But look at what we are facing now for what is not our fault.”
“Worst still,” he continued, “the presence of militants within our environment is posing great threat as one of my chiefs was beaten black and blue by the former freedom fighter members. For now we live in total fear.”
Equally pleading for help, the chairman of Bakassi local government area, Saviour Nyong, disclosed that the council secretariat started shortly after their relocation to Ikang has been abandoned by federal government and for now the council is operating from a primary school premises.
According to him, the paramount ruler palace has also been abandoned as the traditional institution has been thrown overboard.
Appealing to the ruling PDP team led by Ntufam Ekpo Okon for urgent intervention to ameliorate their plights, he warned that the Federal Government should not take their calmness as a sign of weakness as there is a limit to what they can endure and wondered why they should be used as a sacrificial lamb.
The State Chairman of PDP, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, however, promised to take their message to appropriate quarters and enjoined the royal fathers to continue to keep peace as Bakassi is very strategic to the country.
Acclamation, knocks trail National Assembly’s affirmation
One of the far reaching resolutions taken by both chambers of the National Assembly, albeit, separately on constitution and Electoral Act amendments was the introduction of independent candidacy into the electoral system. Committees set up by both chambers to look at the report of Justice Mohammed Uwais Committee on electoral reform had earlier adopted its recommendations on the need to introduce independent candidacy into the electoral process.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu, presided over the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, [SCRC] while Honourable Usman Nafada, Deputy Speaker , House of Representatives, was the Chairman of the Special ad hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution set up by lower legislative chamber.
Just like the separate committees were unanimous on the need to maintain the status quo on who should appoint the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by retaining it in the Presidency, the two committees whose positions were adopted by the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively affirmed that giving room to independent candidacy would liberalize the nation `s political space.
But it also placed hurdles on the path of the would be independent candidates. In its own recommendations, the House stipulated that for a candidate in a presidential election to qualify for election as an independent candidate, he must be nominated by at least, 50 percent voters in two thirds of all the electoral wards in the country.
In the case of governorship candidates, an independent candidate must be nominated by at least, 100 registered voters and 150 registered for senatorial election; his House of Representatives counterpart needs 200 registered voters, while it stipulates 250 and 300 registered voters for state assembly and council chairman contenders, respectively.
While some see this as a tough hurdle, others see it as a non issue, believing that an average Nigerian politician can always improvise, or find his way around any perceived obstacle.
The latter group also submitted that the Uwai`s recommendation on independent candidacy was adopted by the nation `s federal lawmakers in their enlightened self -interest. .
In the past, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is the dominant party in the national assembly had been at the receiving end of `garrison democracy`. Candidates who won the party primaries had lost their tickets in the past to an overbearing president who instructed the party executives to retrieve such tickets. The incumbent Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi lost his PDP gubernatorial ticket to Celestine Omehia, but got it restored along with his party victory after a rigorous litigations which took him to the nations apex court ,the Supreme Court.
Ifeanyi Ararume would not forget in a hurry the raw deal he had in Imo state . In Taraba, Danladi Baido is still fighting to have his ticket restored, few months to the 2011 election. The former Finance Commissioner under the immediate past governor of Taraba, Jolly Nyame had won the PDP gubernatorial ticket for 2007 election, but was arm twisted to give it to the incumbent ,Governor Suntai by President Obasanjo.
The incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimmiko was discerning enough to know that he would not make it in PDP, given Segun Agagu stranglehold on the part in the state and had to defect to Labor Party to contest the 2007 gubernatorial election, in spite of open threats from the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo that he would set the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC after the Labor Party candidate.
PDP federal lawmakers believe, entrenching independent candidacy in the Electoral Act would afford popular candidates, the opportunity to contest election.
Given the present impasse in PDP and the raging battle to control the party between the PDP governors and the PDP Reform Forum, allegedly backed by the President, Goodluck Jonathan, it would be difficult to dismiss the argument that self preservation played a role in the federal lawmakers decision to adopt Uwai`s recommendation on independent candidacy.
In Oyo State for instance, Governor, Alao-Akala had made a public vow that the senator representing the Oyo central senatorial district, who is the current Senate Majority leader, Teslim Folarin would not get the PDP ticket to return to the Senate.
There are also some of them who have an axe to grind with their respective state governors; there are also those who are kicking against the zoning formula in their states, where aspirants, waiting in the wings are saying the zoning formula should be observed for senatorial and House of Representatives slots.
Sun Summit also observed that some of the federal lawmakers were swayed by the argument that since we have adopted the presidential system of government, it would not be out of place, if we give room to independent candidates, as it is being done in civilized democracy, like the United States.
Sun Summit investigations revealed that some Nigerians have reservations over the adoption, while some lauded the initiative.
The financial hurdle leaves a sour taste in the mouth. For instance, any candidate who is contesting as an independent candidate is expected to pay a refundable cash deposit of 10 percent of his electoral expenses to INEC—- the deposit will only be refunded to such a candidate, if he or she makes one third of the total vote cast during the election.
It also specifies that to contest as an independent candidate, a maximum of N1 billion is recommended as electoral expenses, for the presidential election, a hundred percent rise above the present expenditure level of N500 million.
Otunba Tunde Odanye, a PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Osun State is of the view that the federal lawmakers are trying to take back through the backdoor, what they claimed to have offered through the front door.
He argued that they might have deliberately created the disadvantage because they are wary of the chances of other popular candidates out there smarting to unseat them in the national assembly.
``They have an advantage already as lawmakers, so they want to create obstacles for those who might challenge them in 2011. I think it is a stupid provision and should be removed. We have heard people in this country who didn’t have a dime, but they were loved by their people and they won elections. Remember the late Aminu Kano,`` Odanye noted.
A PDP chieftain in the south west, who does not want his name in print told Sun Summit that such a requirement is scary as it has serious security implication for the nation.
`` Do we have a tidy arrangement that can sieve the source of money for election purpose in this country ? What stops fundamentalists from the Middle East from sponsoring their ilk for election in the northern part of Nigeria? How do you contain a dangerous group like Al-Queda which could eagerly funnel fund to a fundamentalist who parades himself as an independent candidate for our presidential election?. The whole thing looks scary to me,`` the PDP stalwart submitted.
Former gubernatorial candidate of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu is however of the opinion that there is no basis for independent candidacy in the country, considering the number of political parties we already have .
``I have a problem with that, because I think we have enough in terms of political parties. With that, you still give room to independent candidate; that is a bogey. It doesn’t make sense.
We aren’t tackling our major problems. We shouldn’t be looking at that for now . Where our legislators can focus on for now has to do with: how do we face corruption and how do we seek to make public office appears not to be a settlement ?. The moment we get that, every other thing will fall in place. We don’t even need some of the 50 parties we have now.
We should face reality ; legislation for independent candidates is a latter day legislation, not for today . May be 20 years time when the democratic space would have become very relevant and vibrant`` Nwosu submitted.
Odanye however disagrees with Nwosu He told Sun Summit that Nigeria is not new to independent candidacy.
``Remember that the late Afenifere scion, Chief Abraham Adesanya, once contested as an independent candidate, against the Action Group of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 60s` and won, because he was very popular in Ijegbu Igbo, his town. Awolowo had to woo Adesanya to the Action Group. I think, having independent candidates would strengthen our politics.``
Speaking further, the PDP gubernatorial aspirant disclosed further that independent candidacy would save us from the existing mush room parties, who now relish INEC grant.
``It is because the laws to encourage independent candidacy wasn’t there that’s why you have mushroom parties; once the laws are put in place, they would be removed as there would be no more INEC grant. If there is deficiency in party management, I don’t think the remedy is in denying us independent candidates. It saves people from the encumbrances of party rules and imposition,`` Odanye told Sun Summit.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu, presided over the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, [SCRC] while Honourable Usman Nafada, Deputy Speaker , House of Representatives, was the Chairman of the Special ad hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution set up by lower legislative chamber.
Just like the separate committees were unanimous on the need to maintain the status quo on who should appoint the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by retaining it in the Presidency, the two committees whose positions were adopted by the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively affirmed that giving room to independent candidacy would liberalize the nation `s political space.
But it also placed hurdles on the path of the would be independent candidates. In its own recommendations, the House stipulated that for a candidate in a presidential election to qualify for election as an independent candidate, he must be nominated by at least, 50 percent voters in two thirds of all the electoral wards in the country.
In the case of governorship candidates, an independent candidate must be nominated by at least, 100 registered voters and 150 registered for senatorial election; his House of Representatives counterpart needs 200 registered voters, while it stipulates 250 and 300 registered voters for state assembly and council chairman contenders, respectively.
While some see this as a tough hurdle, others see it as a non issue, believing that an average Nigerian politician can always improvise, or find his way around any perceived obstacle.
The latter group also submitted that the Uwai`s recommendation on independent candidacy was adopted by the nation `s federal lawmakers in their enlightened self -interest. .
In the past, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is the dominant party in the national assembly had been at the receiving end of `garrison democracy`. Candidates who won the party primaries had lost their tickets in the past to an overbearing president who instructed the party executives to retrieve such tickets. The incumbent Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi lost his PDP gubernatorial ticket to Celestine Omehia, but got it restored along with his party victory after a rigorous litigations which took him to the nations apex court ,the Supreme Court.
Ifeanyi Ararume would not forget in a hurry the raw deal he had in Imo state . In Taraba, Danladi Baido is still fighting to have his ticket restored, few months to the 2011 election. The former Finance Commissioner under the immediate past governor of Taraba, Jolly Nyame had won the PDP gubernatorial ticket for 2007 election, but was arm twisted to give it to the incumbent ,Governor Suntai by President Obasanjo.
The incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimmiko was discerning enough to know that he would not make it in PDP, given Segun Agagu stranglehold on the part in the state and had to defect to Labor Party to contest the 2007 gubernatorial election, in spite of open threats from the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo that he would set the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC after the Labor Party candidate.
PDP federal lawmakers believe, entrenching independent candidacy in the Electoral Act would afford popular candidates, the opportunity to contest election.
Given the present impasse in PDP and the raging battle to control the party between the PDP governors and the PDP Reform Forum, allegedly backed by the President, Goodluck Jonathan, it would be difficult to dismiss the argument that self preservation played a role in the federal lawmakers decision to adopt Uwai`s recommendation on independent candidacy.
In Oyo State for instance, Governor, Alao-Akala had made a public vow that the senator representing the Oyo central senatorial district, who is the current Senate Majority leader, Teslim Folarin would not get the PDP ticket to return to the Senate.
There are also some of them who have an axe to grind with their respective state governors; there are also those who are kicking against the zoning formula in their states, where aspirants, waiting in the wings are saying the zoning formula should be observed for senatorial and House of Representatives slots.
Sun Summit also observed that some of the federal lawmakers were swayed by the argument that since we have adopted the presidential system of government, it would not be out of place, if we give room to independent candidates, as it is being done in civilized democracy, like the United States.
Sun Summit investigations revealed that some Nigerians have reservations over the adoption, while some lauded the initiative.
The financial hurdle leaves a sour taste in the mouth. For instance, any candidate who is contesting as an independent candidate is expected to pay a refundable cash deposit of 10 percent of his electoral expenses to INEC—- the deposit will only be refunded to such a candidate, if he or she makes one third of the total vote cast during the election.
It also specifies that to contest as an independent candidate, a maximum of N1 billion is recommended as electoral expenses, for the presidential election, a hundred percent rise above the present expenditure level of N500 million.
Otunba Tunde Odanye, a PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Osun State is of the view that the federal lawmakers are trying to take back through the backdoor, what they claimed to have offered through the front door.
He argued that they might have deliberately created the disadvantage because they are wary of the chances of other popular candidates out there smarting to unseat them in the national assembly.
``They have an advantage already as lawmakers, so they want to create obstacles for those who might challenge them in 2011. I think it is a stupid provision and should be removed. We have heard people in this country who didn’t have a dime, but they were loved by their people and they won elections. Remember the late Aminu Kano,`` Odanye noted.
A PDP chieftain in the south west, who does not want his name in print told Sun Summit that such a requirement is scary as it has serious security implication for the nation.
`` Do we have a tidy arrangement that can sieve the source of money for election purpose in this country ? What stops fundamentalists from the Middle East from sponsoring their ilk for election in the northern part of Nigeria? How do you contain a dangerous group like Al-Queda which could eagerly funnel fund to a fundamentalist who parades himself as an independent candidate for our presidential election?. The whole thing looks scary to me,`` the PDP stalwart submitted.
Former gubernatorial candidate of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu is however of the opinion that there is no basis for independent candidacy in the country, considering the number of political parties we already have .
``I have a problem with that, because I think we have enough in terms of political parties. With that, you still give room to independent candidate; that is a bogey. It doesn’t make sense.
We aren’t tackling our major problems. We shouldn’t be looking at that for now . Where our legislators can focus on for now has to do with: how do we face corruption and how do we seek to make public office appears not to be a settlement ?. The moment we get that, every other thing will fall in place. We don’t even need some of the 50 parties we have now.
We should face reality ; legislation for independent candidates is a latter day legislation, not for today . May be 20 years time when the democratic space would have become very relevant and vibrant`` Nwosu submitted.
Odanye however disagrees with Nwosu He told Sun Summit that Nigeria is not new to independent candidacy.
``Remember that the late Afenifere scion, Chief Abraham Adesanya, once contested as an independent candidate, against the Action Group of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 60s` and won, because he was very popular in Ijegbu Igbo, his town. Awolowo had to woo Adesanya to the Action Group. I think, having independent candidates would strengthen our politics.``
Speaking further, the PDP gubernatorial aspirant disclosed further that independent candidacy would save us from the existing mush room parties, who now relish INEC grant.
``It is because the laws to encourage independent candidacy wasn’t there that’s why you have mushroom parties; once the laws are put in place, they would be removed as there would be no more INEC grant. If there is deficiency in party management, I don’t think the remedy is in denying us independent candidates. It saves people from the encumbrances of party rules and imposition,`` Odanye told Sun Summit.
Don’t appoint INEC chairman if ... –Jonathan warned
Opposition parties yesterday rose from an emergency meeting in Abuja, demanding that President Goodluck Jonathan should not appoint the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if he will contest the Presidency poll in 2011.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, National Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa disclosed it was the decision of the opposition that President Jonathan adopts the Justice Mohammed Uwais Panel’s recommendation on the appointment of INEC Chairman, should he make up his mind to contest.
The conference also kicked against the ongoing debate on the need for the country to do-away with the multi-party system and settle for two parties. It, however, canvassed the stoppage of grants to the political parties by INEC.
Musa argued that it would be unfair for President Jonathan to appoint the referee in a game in which he is also a competitor.
According to him, if President Jonathan should go ahead and appoint the new INEC chairman while he is also contesting, then there won’t be any free and fair election in 2011.
Rather, the CNPP boss advised that government should put in place the electoral reform and adopt the Uwaiz panel recommendation which stipulates that the appointment of INEC chairman be removed from the functions of the president.
The panel recommended that the INEC chairman’s position be advertised and representatives of bodies like Nigerian Bar Association, National Judicial Council (NJC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) among others, would screen the candidates and appoint one of them.
The CNPP chairman said; “if Jonathan is going to run, then he will likely tamper with the electoral reform to favour his return, therefore he should not appoint the INEC chairman because he might end up appointing a PDP member. The fear is that, and there won’t be any level playing-ground for contestants in 2011.”
He explained that the electoral reform is germane if the nation is to break away from the shackles of flawed elections adding “we need this electoral reform so that votes can count and it is when the votes count, that you would know the real strength of the political parties.”
Responding to reporters’ questions, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Iwanyanwu said it was deliberate that for the five years Chief Maurice Iwu held sway at the INEC, he couldn’t give us valid voters register. Iwu was a PDP man and there was no way he would not have helped the PDP. But if we have a neutral INEC chairman, we will be able talk about valid voters register and know which party is the biggest, when the votes count.
On the discourse over adoption of two parties system which the House of Representatives will vote on today (Tuesday), Alhaji Musa stated that the people will be denied their freedom of choice if parties are pegged to two.
“Let leave the multi party system, which is what democracy is all about, parties that are not popular will fizzle out, but then, government should stop grants to the parties. Let the parties be independent and find their levels, this is a way of reducing the number not just by pegging the number of parties to two.”
The National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) said the idea of grants to parties encourage everyone to form a party and should be stopped forthwith.
“Government shouldn’t fund parties again, let us go back to the old days when it was difficult for parties to use public fund for political activities,” he maintained.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, National Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa disclosed it was the decision of the opposition that President Jonathan adopts the Justice Mohammed Uwais Panel’s recommendation on the appointment of INEC Chairman, should he make up his mind to contest.
The conference also kicked against the ongoing debate on the need for the country to do-away with the multi-party system and settle for two parties. It, however, canvassed the stoppage of grants to the political parties by INEC.
Musa argued that it would be unfair for President Jonathan to appoint the referee in a game in which he is also a competitor.
According to him, if President Jonathan should go ahead and appoint the new INEC chairman while he is also contesting, then there won’t be any free and fair election in 2011.
Rather, the CNPP boss advised that government should put in place the electoral reform and adopt the Uwaiz panel recommendation which stipulates that the appointment of INEC chairman be removed from the functions of the president.
The panel recommended that the INEC chairman’s position be advertised and representatives of bodies like Nigerian Bar Association, National Judicial Council (NJC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) among others, would screen the candidates and appoint one of them.
The CNPP chairman said; “if Jonathan is going to run, then he will likely tamper with the electoral reform to favour his return, therefore he should not appoint the INEC chairman because he might end up appointing a PDP member. The fear is that, and there won’t be any level playing-ground for contestants in 2011.”
He explained that the electoral reform is germane if the nation is to break away from the shackles of flawed elections adding “we need this electoral reform so that votes can count and it is when the votes count, that you would know the real strength of the political parties.”
Responding to reporters’ questions, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Iwanyanwu said it was deliberate that for the five years Chief Maurice Iwu held sway at the INEC, he couldn’t give us valid voters register. Iwu was a PDP man and there was no way he would not have helped the PDP. But if we have a neutral INEC chairman, we will be able talk about valid voters register and know which party is the biggest, when the votes count.
On the discourse over adoption of two parties system which the House of Representatives will vote on today (Tuesday), Alhaji Musa stated that the people will be denied their freedom of choice if parties are pegged to two.
“Let leave the multi party system, which is what democracy is all about, parties that are not popular will fizzle out, but then, government should stop grants to the parties. Let the parties be independent and find their levels, this is a way of reducing the number not just by pegging the number of parties to two.”
The National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) said the idea of grants to parties encourage everyone to form a party and should be stopped forthwith.
“Government shouldn’t fund parties again, let us go back to the old days when it was difficult for parties to use public fund for political activities,” he maintained.
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