Lagos robbery gangs regroup

Following police assault on ‘One million boys’ robbery gang that made life unbearable for residents of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Ifelodun and Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Areas in Lagos, there are indications that the criminals have gone underground.
Investigations revealed that they hibernate in some high-profile hotels in the affected areas with their female partners and engage in Internet browsing.
Sunday Sun had reported the terrorizing activities of the gang last week and days later, the Police swooped on their suspected hideouts and arrested 130 suspects.
However, residents of the affected area still keep vigil for fear of the bad boys who some times rape women after robbing their victims.
It was gathered that each street has vigilante team that are on patrol at night.
Each house volunteers one or two persons.
It was also gathered that as a precautionary measure, some streets have placed embargo on night parties and where allowed, it must end at 11pm and the organisers must obtain permission from the residents’ associations.
Meanwhile, Mile 2 Oke has become a dangerous place for motorists from 5pm, especially when there is traffic jam.
The robbers, who are armed with dangerous weapons ranging from knives to short guns, capitalise on the gridlock to rob motorists.
Their strategy is that they pretend to be beggars and target mostly occupants of posh cars and dispossess them of their valuable items such as laptops, phones and money.
Checks revealed that the robbers have been a pain in the necks of road users for months.
A victim, Mr. Lucky Onosebhagbe, told Sunday Sun that he had been attacked several times.
According to him, ordinary passersby hardly notice the robberies because the hoodlums are usually too fast to arouse suspicion.
He said they usually demand for money, blackberry and where a victim fails, they would remove the side mirror of the vehicle and run away.
Onoseghagbe said: “Now I don’t pass there until I am very sure the traffic is free. Those boys are deadly and they rob everyday. I was a victim several times.
“If you don’t give them good phone or money and your glass is down, they will take off your side mirror, give you a punch on your face and run to the other vehicle behind you for the same operation.”
He said that he was attacked on September 6 at about 6:20 m and on Monday, September 10 at 7:43pm.
Another victim, Jonah Aihbholoria, said that he suffered same fate in the area.
It was also gathered that a man identified simply as Mr. Felix had to do thanksgiving in his church after he survived an attack in the same place.
He was said to have lost N15,000 and a blackberry phone to the criminals who robbed him at about 7.30pm at gunpoint.
Investigations by Sunday Sun revealed that the criminals operate from Otto Wharf up to Mile 2, on both sides of the expressway.
In most cases, they would merely open their shirts to victims to show their guns as hint of possible danger if they failed to cooperate.
Other motorists who spoke to our correspondent appealed to the state Commissioner of Police to save them from the ugly experiences by deploying policemen including armed detectives to the area.

… As Police arrest 26 of them at Amukoko
Twenty-six suspected robbers belonging to the dreaded ‘one million boys’ gang have been arrested by police from Area ‘B’ command in Lagos State.
The suspects, according to a police source, were arrested on Saturday morning at around 1.30a.m at Amukoko in Ifelodun Local Council Development Area.
They were said to have converged in a beer parlour in the area for more than three hours ostensibly to perfect their plan when police got a tip-off from some good Samaritans and moved in to arrest them.
In the operation, which was said to have been led personally by the Area Commander, Muhammed A, Ali (ACP), 10 cutlasses were recovered from the suspected criminals.
It was gathered that before the major operation, the police sent some detectives to the area after the tip-off and they mingled with the suspects for some minutes and discovered that they were up to a sinister action.
It was learnt that when they suspected that those strange faces in their midst could be policemen, they lowered their voices and changed their discussion but before then the detectives had already got reasonable information from them.
Later patrol teams swooped on them and arrested them.
The police source disclosed that after their arrest, the police inquired from the members of Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and the vigilante group who were securing the area to confirm whether the suspects lived in the area but none of them could be identified as a resident.
They were later moved to Area ‘B’ where they are currently undergoing interrogation.
It was gathered that a day earlier, 160 suspects were arrested by the command in operations aimed at sweeping the ‘boys’ out of the state.
 DailyPost

Parents of the 20-year-old girl killed by policemen storms Abuja to demand justice

Still aggrieved over the sudden death of their daughter, Lucy Ukpong, who was hit by police stray bullet in Abuja, the parents of the 20-year old girl set to visit the Federal Capital Territory Police Command today to seek for justice over the death of Lucy.
The Ukpongs trip from their abode in Akwa-Ibom State to Abuja was to demand proper justice and ascertain what the police authorities are doing to bring their daughter’s killers to book.
It was gathered that Lucy, a salesgirl at a photography shop in Apo area, was reportedly hit in the chest, while three others sustained injuries by bullets allegedly fired by some policemen from the FCT Special Anti-robbery Squad.
The policemen fired the confrontation and sporadic gunshots in a bid to scare Apo residents who had resisted moves by the officials of the FCT development control department to demolish their structures.
Unfortunately, the 20-year girl who had just spent one year in the capital territory was said to be inside the shop when she was hit on her chest by a stray bullet.
According to her employer, Emeka Ani, he is patiently awaiting the arrival of Lucy’s parents in Abuja who are coming to find out what happened and also to make arrangements for the release of her body for burial.
“We are expecting Lucy’s parents in Abuja today(Sunday); they are already on their way and we believe they will get here before
nightfall. My boy who was injured in the hand by gunshot is recovering,” Ani said.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Doris England, assured that while the Criminal Investigation Department had commenced investigation into the tragic incident, the policemen on duty at the demolition site would be interrogated to know what transpired that led to the gunshots.
“By Monday or Tuesday, the CID would have interrogated the policemen and the development control officials to know what happened on that day. I cannot give any update until the investigation is concluded,”
she said.

DailyPost

Northern youths endorse David Mark for 2015 presidency

Coming on the heels of his endorsement by the League of Idoma Professors (LIP), Senate President, David Mark  has again being endorsed by the youth wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum as its candidate for the 2015 Presidential election.
The group under the aegis of the  Arewa Youth Alliance for Democracy said Mark’s endorsement is unconnected to his leadership quality in the Senate.
National Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed,  during a media chat in Kaduna on Sunday said that Mark had brought stability and respect to the Senate “through his leadership dexterity, political sagacity and maturity”.
He said, “It thus behoves on us to jointly complement and inspire our renewed match towards greatness thus deepening democracy, instituting good governance, credible leadership which is almost becoming extinct.
“While many may prepare or aspire in the spirit of Nigerianess, we thus crave for the imposition of values such as integrity, vision and patriotism. Here in lies the relevance and appropriateness of David Mark.
He  was  a minister and former military governor of Niger State.
He had served Nigeria in different capacities at both local and international level and he is still serving tirelessly. As a governor and minister, he performed creditably well and left an indelible and enviable foot print in the annals of national leadership “As President of Senate, he brought stability, and respect to the senate. Through his leadership dexterity, political sagacity and maturity,he earned respect for Nigeria as a result of the smooth and commendable relationship between the Senate and the executive.
It would be recalled that the middle belt youth recently in Lagos endorsed the Okpokpowulu of Idomaland for the number one seat in 2015
DailyPost

2013 budget: Nigeria should expect more Boko Haram insurgency – Former Yobe governor warns FG

Apparently unhappy over the paltry funds appropriated to the North-East in the 2013 budget Former Yobe State governor, Senator Buka Ibrahim, has warned the Federal Government against what would be worse than that of the Boko Haram if president Jonathan fails to redress the issue raised relating to the funds.
He claimed that the Federal Government’s allocation to the region was alarming, stressing that it was another form of injustice.
He said: “Boko Haram is a product of poverty. It is a product of unhappiness. We are unhappy with Nigeria. Unless something is done to address it, Nigeria should expect bigger Boko Haram insurgency, Insha Allah.
“Other geo-political zones got N79 billion or N80 billion. But the North-East has only N50 billion; a difference of N30 billion. Go and check the budget figures or ask the Director-General Budget Office.”
“Look, injustice is the basis of all crises in the world. All insecurity comes from injustice. If injustice continues, there will
never be peace.
“The panacea is for the government to be conscious of the fact that this part of the country that is totally being neglected; this area called an area without security, is also an area to which injustice has been meted out for decades.”
“Unless concerted effort is made to balance it up, there is no hope.”
When told that the President’s 2013 budget was just a proposal and that the National Assembly is yet to pass it, irate Abba said: “You see, when the difference is so huge from the Executive, it’s difficult for the National Assembly to really do much to completely change it.
The Senator maintained that only 20 percent of members of the National Assembly hails from the North-East, saying that the remaining 80 percent will also want to work for the betterment of their zones.
“More so, the members of the National Assembly are not all from the North-East.” He added

DailyPost

Airhiavbere challenges ruling on Oshiomhole’s qualification

 Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu

THE Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Charles Airhiavbere, has challenged the governorship election tribunal’s ruling that his contest of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s academic qualification is a pre-election matter, which he should have come ups at the regular court instead of the tribunal.
Counsel to Airhiavbere, Efe Akpofure (SAN), in the appeal before the Court of Appeal said this is the second prayer of his client who is dissatisfied with the tribunal’s ruling and has appealed on 17 grounds with particulars detailing where the tribunal erred in law.
He wants the higher court to set aside the ruling of the tribunal “except the part stating that
ground of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 201 (as amended) contained in paragraph 8 of the petition, is competent having been in substantial compliance with Section 138 (1) (b) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the decision refusing to strike out the 4th and 5th respondents from the petition.”
Airhiavbere, who seemed to have been abandoned by his PDP, which has long said it was not interested in challenging the re-election of Oshiomhole, also wanted the appellate court to remit his petition “to a tribunal differently constituted for hearing and determination.”
The tribunal had ruled on September 27, 2012, that it lacked relevant jurisdiction to adjudicate on the academic qualification of Oshiomhole, which qualified him to contest the election.
 TheGuardian

OF ELECTIONS AND DEBATES

 by Eddy Ogunbor.

-"If you do not have a record to run on, you paint the other person as someone to run from"

-"We will not re-write our (US) economic principle, we will re-apply it" -Paul Ryan, Republican Vice Presidential Candidate U.S.A.

When I decided on hosting a blogsite, my promise and concept were to post on my blog, news items, commentaries, opinions etc on mainly issues on Nigeria and Nigerians.This I have adhered to.
However, with the forthcoming American presidential election fast approaching and the debates so far involving the Democrat and Republican candidates - President and V.President - and the opinions of supporters of the candidates, I could not resist a write up,which is simply a personal opinion. I promise to be as objective as could be.
I reside in Nigeria and am neither a democrat nor republican.However, electing the American President is the business of the world, for obvious reasons.

Let me quickly point out that, this is not a campaign for any candidate inspite of Ryan's quotes above. The reason for the quotes will be known in the course of this write up.
I do have political discussions with friends and political associates, including a very good cousin of mine who is a renowned Cardiologist. Somehow, they seem "right" in our discussions, not with any superior arguements but, on the basis of "that is the way it is and cannot be changed".
Gradually however, my positions will always be vindicated in the long run. The Nigerian presidential election of April 2011, is one issue we discussed. My position on the candidates then and now has not changed. My friends are gradually conceeding to the superiority of my position as things are unfolding.
I look at antecedents of individuals presenting themselves for elective positions. My friends look at the usual political calculations. This is where we differ.

During the last American presidential election that produced Obama as the President of the United States of America, I was a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton, as the best suitable Democratic candidate. On sentiments however, I secretly wished Obama will make history for the black race. When he got the Democratic ticket, instead of Hillary Clinton, I wished Obama well in the election.
I am not in a position to assess Obama's performance as theUnited States President in the last three years plus but, I always admire Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her performance in her position.

Come November 6th, 2012, Americans will go to the polls to elect a President for the next four years.I did not want to be drawn into what goes on and on issues leading to the U.S Presidential elections. What with our political issues and other issues seeking attention in Nigeria. And the Ondo State governorship election coming up on October 20, 2012 especially.
Coincidentally, debates were organised for candidates for the governorship election in Ondo State and the U.S presidential and vice presidential candidates in USA. I decided to watch the debates.
On the Ondo debates, I saw three candidates from Labour Party, PDP and ACN coming to the debate fully prepared and the incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko was put on the spot, challenged by Olusola Oke of the PDP and Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of ACN. The three candidates did not disappoint viewers.Mimiko , a medical Doctor against two legal practitioners - Akeredolu (SAN) and Oke, a former legal adviser of the PDP.

At the end of the debate, opinion differed as to who won the debate. Mimiko was harrassed. He fought back and marshalled his points to debunk points by his co-debaters. My verdict: the three candidates performed and made me proud. But Mimiko pointed to concrete achievements and not promises. Other States should emulate Ondo State on the quality of candidates presented for elections. The quality of most politicians and candidates in elections in this country is laughable.

I watched the first debate between President Obama and Governor Romney and also followed opinions of their supporters as to who won the debate.The essence of debates is to come prepared for and take a stand, for or against any issue and maintain such position how best you can. At the end of the debate between Obama and Romney, opinion polls showed that Romney won the debate and was the more aggressive and better prepared of the two candidates. Obama supporters believed otherwise and pointed out Romney's 'myths' at the debate.
Curiously Obama, if he came prepared for the debate, did not debunk these 'myths' but, left the debunking to his supporters, days after the debate!!
I listened to Robert Gibbs, Obama Campaign Senior Adviser on Candy Crowley programme this Sunday and he admitted that, even Obama knew he lost the debate when he came out of the venue.
President Bill Clinton on a road show after the debate, re-played on same Candy Crowley programme, exclaimed "......I thought waooooo!! .......where have you been boy? I have missed you in the last two years...!!". That is, in response to Romney's performance at the debate.

The good news however, is that President Obama has promised to be more aggressive in the second round of the debate, coming up on Wednesday. He better be and also come out prepared to debunk on the spot, Romney's further 'myths', to gain the required momentum in this race.

Then came the VP candidates debate. For god's sake, was Joe Biden serious? Was he prepared? What was all that smiling and gesticulations about? On Joe Biden, I watched the debate with nothing notable to take from him. As for Paul Ryan, he gave tha sucker punches' in the debate -with or without 'myths' - and i took from him the two  memorable quotes I staretd this write up with.

A debate, even at the primary and secondary school levels, is to take a stand for or against any issue, marshall arguements, harrass and intimidate your opponents with the objective of convincing your audience to buy or support your opinions. This is the game.
The second round of the presidential debate is on Wednesday. President Obama should come out more aggressive against Governor Romney. Governor Romney in my assessment, will not approach the debate leaving his gun in his holster. He is going to comeshooting from the hips" - according to the Americans.
My silent wish is for Obama to win the election for Hillary Clinton's sake. That special woman deserves a second term to take on the unfinished business for America and Americans.

God bless America.

IBB: Jonathan Has Not Declared Second Term Bid

Ibrahim Babangida

Jaiyeola Andrews            
Just one year into his four-year term and without an express wish to seek another term, those imputing a second term intention to President Goodluck Jonathan are being unfair to him, and in fact distracting him, former military president Ibrahim Babangida has said. Babangida said this in an interview with THISDAY at his Minna home.

The issue of whether Jonathan should seek a second term or not has been one of the hottest topics on the national political scene as the country marches towards another general election in 2015. Some groups in the northern parts of the country are opposed to a Jonathan second term and want the presidency to go to the region in 2015. They base their demand on the belief that the north, which produced the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, ought to be compensated for the period he did not serve out before his death in 2010.

Yet, down south, especially in the South-east, many politicians are demanding that the zone should produce Jonathan’s successor. They feel strongly that the zone has been marginalised and should be allowed to produce the next president to give the people a sense of belonging, even though they remain largely noncommittal on whether to contest against the president in 2015.

Jonathan himself has also remained silent on his intentions ahead of 2015, and he has not denied the growing insinuations that he is in fact interested in doing another term, fuelling speculations that he would be contesting the next presidential election.

But Babangida said the rash of activities around Jonathan’s suspected second term bid were unnecessary and diversionary.
According to the former head of state, “You can’t make a view or you can’t make opinion on something Jonathan didn’t say anything about.
“So it will be unfair. I think we should allow him to run the course; he has a job to do now. He has just been elected. I think it’s not up to one year or one year plus.

"So he has got three more years. What he did or what he does will recommend him to the public and to the Nigerians.”
Babangida said the unity of the country and issues that would promote it should be the focus of Nigerians at the moment.

“I think one of the most important things for Nigeria at 52 that each and every one of us should be grateful for, talk to God, talk to ourselves about is that we are able to maintain this country as one despite all the problems that we had in the last 52 years. I look forward and pray that we will continue to remain one.”

He stressed that the current security challenges faced by Nigeria is not a peculiar problem, saying the recent Arab Spring in North Africa has the tendency to awaken pent-up nationalist feelings in other parts of the world.

But Babangida said Nigeria’s security problems “can be tackled by all of us Nigerians, every one of us, irrespective of which part of the country you live, you must be determined to say, now look, enough is enough, this will not happen, you have to find a solution.”
He believed dialogue and fairness remained the best solutions to the nagging problem of insecurity.

ThisDay