Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Anxiety increases over Governor Imoke’s health


The alarming rate of health issues of state governors has become a source of worry to many civil analysts and Nigerians.
Apart from the attendant political crisis which the situation triggers, governance and development in such states are usually affected, most times coming to a halt.
With anxiety trailing the health status of Governors Danbaba Suntai of Taraba and Sullivan Chime of Enugu, there are reports that Cross Rivers State’s Governor, Liyel Imoke, who has been in the United States, is receiving regular dialysis for a renal disease.
A source who spoke to DailyPost described Imoke’s condition as “a bad state”. He further said, “It has indeed gotten worse but as you are aware, those positions of authority in Nigeria never reveals the ailment they are suffering from until it leaks to the media.”
At the moment, the news in certain quarters is that the governor underwent surgery for a kidney transplant. Expectedly, the information has sparked mild tension in the state government circles as well as the ruling People’s Democratic Party. Imoke, a former minister during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, had travelled out of the country several weeks ago, stating that he needed time to rest, a common excuse high-office holders give before embarking on medical trips.
However, after about a month of his absence, those in the know had then disclosed that the one-time presidential committee chairman on power, indeed jetted out ostensibly to attend to his deteriorating condition – a problem he refused to reveal.
But on his possible return to the country to resume his constitutional duties, the source said, “If his present state is anything to evaluate, I’m afraid he may not come back any time soon.
DailyPost

Kidnappers quizzed my mum on subsidy payments –Okonjo-Iweala

 by Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja 
Prof. Kamene Okonjo and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday said those who abducted her mother, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, told the matriarch that she (the minister) withheld fuel subsidy funds meant for oil marketers.
The octogenarian, who was kidnapped on December 9 regained her freedom last Friday after spending five days in the kidnappers’ den.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Okonjo-Iweala said the period was a difficult one for the family, adding that her mother stayed for five days without food and water.
She said, “I can’t give all the details because we don’t want to compromise ongoing investigations. But I can tell you one thing: my mother suffered a great deal during this ordeal.
“It was only the Almighty that rescued her from a situation that could very easily have ended tragically.  Apart from the emotional trauma of being violently taken away from her family and kept incommunicado for five days in a strange environment, a woman of 83 years was left without food for five days.
“While she was in their custody, the kidnappers spent much of the time harassing her. They told her that I must get on the radio and television and announce my resignation.  When she asked why, they told her it was because I did not pay oil subsidy money.
“They also said I had blocked payment of money to certain components of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.”
The finance minister said these statements were untrue, adding that genuine marketers whose claims had been verified have been paid.
She said, “These statements are, of course, not true. In the case of subsidy payments, we have been paying all marketers whose claims have been verified by the Aig-Imoukhuede Committee after going through the necessary processes.
“For marketers whose transactions are proven to be fraudulent, the position of the Goodluck Jonathan government is also clear: we cannot and we will not pay. We will not back down on this. We will continue to stand firm.”
She added, “In the case of SURE-P, there is a totally different process that I have no control over. This is the right thing to do. And this, I believe is what the Nigerian people want.”
The minister said the experience had rekindled her resolve to discharge her duties effectively to the country.
She added, “This experience has strengthened my faith in the country. The outpouring of love from all over the country has been simply overwhelming.”
ThePunch

Buhari At 70: A Life In The Service Of Allah And Humanity


Writing about Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is about the most difficult, and confusingly the easiest task to do. It is difficult because of the numerous angles one can explore about the man Buhari, each enough to be an independent subject with rich intellectual and moral benefits. On the other hand, it is easy because there is nothing one can say about Buhari that has not being said before with even better clarity. No word can add value to the person of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Equally, no word can reduce an ounce out of the tons of respect, belief and sincere goodwill he enjoys from majority Nigerians built overtime through hard work, selflessness and impeccable quality of character. Still, that would not stop me, like many of his well wishers to chip in a word about this epitome of honesty; especially at this time when he is celebrating his 70th birthday.
70 is no doubt a wonderful age, the attainment of which is akin to achieving the pinnacle of wisdom. To Buhari, 70 is just like any other age. His wisdom and quality of character have since reached their peak long before he reached the age of 30. There is no evidence that Buhari of today is any different from Buhari of 1972. It has always been the same humility, the same selflessness and the same seriousness that keeps the flame of a burning desire to see a good country built out of Nigeria. Unlike the different “visions” some of which are so confusing to even be understood both in meaning and context, Buhari’s vision for Nigeria was clear and simple --- a solid nation built on a foundation of sincerity, purposefulness and equality. 
Without a doubt, Gen. Buhari put to question majority belief that life is about taking advantages not making sacrifices. He had the opportunity to own the most lucrative oil blocks when he was Petroleum minister but chose to remain an “ordinary petrol station queueing Nigerian” oblivious of his record of building and operating at optimum capacity the only existing four  refineries in Nigeria; which subsequent maintenance have turned many into dollar billionaires without result.
He had the opportunity to own the choicest plots in Nigerian mega cities; including Abuja but chose to remain the only former Head of state without a sprawling mansion in Abuja or any city in Nigeria. His humble home in Daura deserves a place in the Guinness Book of Records for being the only building housing a Nigerian leader without security cameras, heavily fortified security fences etc. This house doesn’t even have the ordinary barbed wire that identify the haves from the haves not.
It was not by accident that security around Buhari is lighter than what obtained among people of his class. He needs not to be imprisoned from his people. People love him for always standing with them and for them. He remains the only Nigerian with the capacity to pull Nigeria in one direction with a flicker of a finger. His capacity to pull crowd and stand cities still is a reward from Allah (swt) for his exceptional fairness and sincerity of purpose. His magnetic personality is the type that can only be supported by impeccable honesty, brute sincerity and an uncompromising selflessness. It is not for nothing that millions believed and continue to believe in his ability to bring out the best out of Nigeria. He worked hard for that. It is this quality that turned the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) into the nightmare of subsequent regimes. Dead and buried for over a decade, still PTF roads compete better than all roads built by subsequent regimes. The impact of PTF intervention in all sectors of the Nigerian economy remain the supportive pillar on which the economy is hanging on precariously for over a decade. To achieve this without a single fleck of dirt is a topic for another day.
As you attain this wonderful age, I pray Allah (swt) should shower more of His blessing and favours on you.
Congratulation and Happy birthday Sir.
 Leadership

Renowned Primate Predicts Presidential Jet Will Develop Man Made Mechanical Fault

Do you believe in prophecies or future predictions by religious leaders most of which have been fulfilled? As the year comes to an end, a chilling revelation has been made by the founder of INRI Evangelical Church World Wide, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele.
Photo Courtesy Olufamous.com) Primate Ayodele Inset (Bottom Left Corner) One Of The Jets In The Presidential Air Fleet & President Jonathan (Inset Top Left)
Photo Courtesy Olufamous.com: Primate Ayodele Inset (Bottom Left Corner) One Of The Jets In The Presidential Air Fleet & President Jonathan (Inset Top Left)
Primate Ayodele who correctly predicted another air disaster after earlier predicting the one involving governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state, has warned President Goodluck Jonathan to sanctify his Presidential Fleet to avert an air disaster that would throw the nation into deep sorrow.
He said: “We are going into another year, again. Help me to tell President Goodluck Jonathan to sanctify his jet. Evil will not befall the nation. I could see the presidential jet developing human made mechanical fault.”
Primate Ayodele, while speaking in Lagos, said he saw in a vision that a presidential jet would develop a human initiated mechanical fault.
Calling on Nigerians to pray fervently, he said: “The Almighty will protect the president and may he overcome his enemies. I am neither an aviation expert nor a scientist, but God asked me to warn this nation and its leaders beforehand”.
InformationNigeria.org

Photos: Late Yakowa, Aide Honoured In Bayelsa State

Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna state and his aide, Dauda Tsoho, were today honoured by the Bayelsa state government as their remains were airlifted to Kaduna state following the announcement of burial arrangements for the late governor.
Their coffins, draped in the national colors of green and white, was carried by men of the Nigerian Army in a solemn match to a waiting Nigerian Airforce helicopter. Present at the brief ceremony were Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa state along with members of his cabinet.
yakowa1InformationNigeria.org

“Israeli Death Squads Involved in Sandy Hook Bloodbath: US Intelligence Analyst”

sandy hook us Dec 18, 2012
PressTv- Days later, the Sandy Hook Massacre, the iconic slaughter of twenty small children, is now looking like a terrorist attack, not a “murder suicide.” Was “lone gunman” Adam Lanza a “patsy,” the same word Lee Harvey Oswald used to describe himself before being “silenced” in November 1963?
Today, Michael Harris, former Republican candidate for governor of Arizona and GOP campaign finance chairman, in an internationally televised news broadcast, cited “Israeli revenge” in, what he called, “the terrorist attack in Connecticut.”
Harris cited Israeli “rage” against the US and against President Barack Obama. By “Israel,” we mean “Netanyahu.”
The mission was to teach America a lesson, knowing that “America would take the punishment, keep “quiet,” and let a ‘fall guy’ take the blame.”
A “fall guy” is another word for “patsy.”
Harris, citing the flood of inconsistencies in the “cover story,” pointed out the following, “The facts are now becoming obvious. This is another case where Israel has chosen violence and terrorism where their bullying in Washington has failed. Israel believes the US “threw them under the bus,” particularly after the recent Gaza war, allowing Israel to be humiliated in the United Nations. Their response was to stage a terror attack, targeting America in the most hideous and brutal way possible, in fact, an Israeli “signature attack,” one that butchers children, one reminiscent of the attacks that killed so many children in Gaza?”
Washington is terrified of Israel, their powerful lobby and its relationship with organized crime. Now, a key former Senator, Chuck Hagel, who has helped expose this fact, is likely to be nominated as the secretary of defense, despite vocal protests from Israel.
Today, Israeli news gave further credence to Harris’ analysis when they issued the following statements regarding the probable nomination of Hegel:
“Chuck Hagel’s statements and actions regarding Israel have raised serious concerns for many Americans who care about Israel,” said the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director, Matt Brooks. “The Jewish community and every American who supports a strong US-Israel relationship have cause for alarm if the president taps Hagel for such an important post.”
“The appointment of Chuck Hagel would be a slap in the face for every American who is concerned about the safety of Israel,” he asserted
Citing a 2006 interview with Hegel, the news continued, “The political reality is…that the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here. I have always argued against some of the dumb things they do because I don’t think it’s in the interest of Israel. I just don’t think it’s smart for Israel.”
Hagel also said he didn’t think he had ever signed one of the letters the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) regularly circulates to demonstrate support for Israel or tough stands against parties such as Iran.
“I didn’t sign the letter because it was a stupid letter…I’m not an Israeli senator, I’m a United States senator.”
During his interview today, Mike Harris explained his rationale for looking to Israel as responsible for Sandy Hook, saying “This is exactly what Israel did in Norway; the political party that voted sanctions against Israel was retaliated against by a “lone gunman” who killed 77 children. This is what Israel always does, they go after the children. It is what they do in Gaza every day. It is what was done in Norway. It is what happened at Sandy Hook. Nobody buys the “lone gunman” story anymore, not with the Gabby Giffords’ shooting, not with the Aurora “Batman” shooting, certainly not with Breveik, and certainly not in Connecticut.”
After Harris’ broadcast, key members of the military and law enforcement community contacted Veterans Today in full support of Harris’ analysis.
One three star general is quoted as saying, “Harris hit the nail right on the head and it is about time someone spoke up.”
As days have passed, key issues involving the Sandy Hook terror attack have been cited as “debunking” the “lone gunman” cover story: From a viral email that is growing every hour with more reasons to doubt the official story: According to the official story, Adam Lanza was found with his older brother’s ID, and it was not stolen. However, older brother Ryan – whom officials say is very cooperative – claims not to have even seen his brother since 2010. Where would Adam get this ID? And why does such use not qualify as a theft?
According to the official story, Adam Lanza was wearing a black outfit with a mask and bulletproof vest. Why would he want to hide his identity, and why would he wear a bulletproof vest if he planned to kill himself?
The medical examiner asserts that all wounds were caused by a rifle or other long weapon, and police/FBI say that the school was littered with 223 (rifle) casings. However, Adam Lanza was found dead at the school with only handguns – a rifle was found in the trunk of his car. Then he could not have possibly been firing the rifle, and could not have committed the murders. Who did then?
According to the official story, the killings was tightly confined to two classrooms. Then why were so many children told to close their eyes while leaving the building?
Joanne Didonato, the principal’s secretary, called in sick on Friday – something she rarely does. So presumably, she must have been awfully ill. Yet she then felt well enough to give an interview. “Of all days,” she said, emphasizing the strange coincidence.
Why were there such persistent reports that Mrs. Lanza was a kindergarten teacher, and that she died at the school when the new official story is that she was not connected to the school and was killed at home?
What happened to the report that Adam Lanza’s girlfriend and another friend were missing in New Jersey?
What happened to the woodsman in a black jacket and camo pants who was arrested and handcuffed outside the school? He actually shouted to parents, “It wasn’t me.” Who was he and what was he doing there?
What happened to the dark van or SUV that the police surrounded in the parking lot or the maroon sedan with a blown-out back window they were on the lookout for?
The official story is that Nancy Lanza was a gun collector, who obeyed the law. But since 20-year-olds are not permitted to buy guns or ammo or carry guns in Connecticut, why would she give her “autistic” son access to both guns and ammo?
A child asserts that he/she heard someone say, “Put your hands up,” followed by the reply, “Don’t shoot.” This indicates that the police took a suspect into custody inside the school. But if that was Adam Lanza, how did he kill himself after that point?
Another child asserts that he/she saw a man pinned down to the ground with handcuffs on. Again, this indicates that the police took a suspect into custody. If that was Adam Lanza, how did he then kill himself?
Is it reasonable for a geeky 20-year-old to carry two pistols and hundreds of rounds of ammunition while wearing a bulletproof vest and a mask?
Did the school have one or more security cameras? What do they show?
Why did a police officer specifically mention on radio that “they’re coming at me through this wood” followed by a fellow officer saying, “This is it”?
One officer at the school said, “We’ve got one suspect down.” Who was that? Down in this situation generally means in custody (on the ground and cuffed) not dead.
Why is Adam Lanza reported to be a loner when a teenager said (oxymoronically), “[Lanza and his friends] always gathered alone in a corner in school”?
Why are Ryan Lanza and his roommates still in custody, and why are the police pretending that it is for their own benefit?
Is it a coincidence that Nancy Lanza’s brother is Kingston Police Officer James Champion, who lives next door to the former Lanza home?

This is only a small percentage of the irregularities noted in what now seems to be more of a cover-up than investigation.
In truth, the public may well just be sick of hearing stories about “lone gunmen.” Of all possible horrors, this one, even more than the Benghazi killings, is loaded with political implication, not just “gun control,” but a clear attack on the security of every American family.
The simplest thing would be to sit back and accept what we are told without examining who gains, who loses and “why now?”
Is Harris right? Would Israel order the deaths of twenty tiny children to make a political point? Have they done this before?
Is Harris right about that too?
Moments ago, Harris phoned me. I asked him if, hours later, he was still willing to back up his statements.
His answer was simple: “You murder children as part of ‘business as usual,’ you shouldn’t be surprised that when children are murdered, people look to you.”
News+Rescue

EFCC investigates Uduaghan’s Multi-Billion Naira Asaba International Airport, Quizzes Govt. Officials



The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reported to have turned its attentions to the multi-billion Asaba International Airport built by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, last week quizzing some Delta State government officials.
EFCC sources who confided in our reporter revealed that, “The state Tender Board chairman for the award of the contract and the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, Mr. Austin Ayemidejor, members of the Board and Airport Director, and other members of the Board excluding Prof Utuama because of immunity had been requested to report at the commission’s headquarters, Abuja. But, they sent a lawyer to plead with the commission to extend the time. On the new date which was on Tuesday, December, 11, 2012, Ayemidejor and other government officials reported and were all quizzed here in the commission where they were later granted bail and told to report on December, 21st with all the necessary documents concerning the award of the airport.”
Investigations by our reporter revealed that the beaming of the commission’s eyes on the most controversial Asaba International Airport might be connected to a petition said to have been written to the commission by a legal practitioner of Delta State origin who is based in Abuja.
Declining to reveal the name of the petitioner, the impeccable EFCC source the letter was entitled ““Suspicious Award of Contracts By Officials of The Delta State Government on The Asaba International Airport and Organization of South-South Summit by The Delta State Government.”
The petition, he said, raised alarm about the rather suspicious manner that certain officials of the Delta State Government awarded the contract as well as subsequent developments concerning the airport among other numerous questionable projects and numerous futile personal attempts by the petitioner to obtain information from the state Government pertaining to the said Airport.
“That the Officials of the Delta State Government have refused to give the information requested by the petitioner and had read on the newspapers sometime in May, 2012, the award of the contract of an additional sum of N7.4 Billion Naira for the evacuation of surrounding hills near the Airport and for the extension of the original runway which has been completed on the excuse that the Government of Delta State needed to extend the said runaway in order to accommodate the Presidential Airport as they were expecting the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a guest at a SOUTH-SOUTH SUMMIT hosted by the Delta State Government besides the original contract sum that the Delta State Government have refused to make public.”
Confiding further, our source disclosed that “The petitioner who is a regular user of the Asaba International Airport and a regular visitor to Asaba knows for a fact that no such hills existed anywhere near the Asaba International Airport. That it was more worrisome and suspicious that the contract for this evacuation of the said hills and extension lasted for only ten days, a time too short for a job of that magnitude if such was really done. That the actual cost of the contract has continually remained a secret except to a few officials of the Delta State Government and the contractor, one ULO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED handling the construction of the said Airport and suspects that certain officials of the Delta State Government used and are still using the construction of the said Airport to defraud the Government and good people of Delta State of huge sums of money running into several hundreds of billions of Naira using the construction of the said Airport as a guise.”
It was further learnt that the petitioner who is unhappy over the fraudulent and corrupt manner the airport is being handled by the state government, noted that the officials of the state government in the know of the contracts include but not limited to MRS ESIEVO OREZI, the Commissioner for Special Duties on Infrastructures in charge of the Ministry of the state government that oversees selected projects termed ‘Special Projects’, including the Asaba International Airport, as well as the Commissioner for Finance, the Director, Finance and Administration and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance as well as the Management of ULO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED and other companies that are involved in the project.
Following independent investigations, our reporter was able to establish a link with the counsel to the petitioner who simply gave his name as Mr. Bello O.W. (Esq).  He confirmed that upon the instructions of a client, a petition was written to the chairman of the EFCC over what he called fraudulent and corrupt award of contracts of the airport.
According to the counsel, “Yes, there are numerous salient issues raised in that petition and we can authoritatively tell you that the commission has already swung into action. Government officials have been quizzed and award of contract documents have also been requested for, so we are progressing. Our Client suspects too that organization of the SOUTH-SOUTH SUMMIT by the Delta State Government was also used as another guise by the Officials of the Delta State Government including but not limited to those named in [the petition] to defraud the Government and good people of Delta State as several Billions of Naira is claimed to have been spent by the Government of Delta State while the Government of Delta State has refused to release any information on the subject matter. So we have appealed to the commission to use its good office to investigate these curious activities of the Delta State Government to save the good people of Delta State. We also assure the commission that our Client shall be physically present whenever required by your Office.”
When contacted, it took the Airport project Director and former commissioner for Education, Mr. Austin Ayemidejor over one week to respond, but he did confirm the story, adding, "The state was actually invited based on some issues raised in the petition. The state has responded for now to all of those things and they are working on that."
When asked about the state reporting back to the commission next Friday, the 21st of December, with relevant documents concerning the project, the Director, who appeared to be in panic, stated that he was not aware of such a thing, but that he would confirm attempt to obtain that information.
Saharareporters