By Jide Ajani
The proposed merger of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and
two other political parties is brewing tension in the camp of the former
and is threatening to stall activities pursuant to accomplishing the
merger objective – the two other parties in the merger talks are the All
Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
This is because a section of the leadership of CPC is not happy with
the choice of the former deputy governor of Bauchi State, Garuba Ghadi,
as Chairman of the CPC Negotiating Team to the Joint Negotiating
Committee on the merger.
Indeed, Ghadi’s choice by General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), national
leader and presidential candidate of the party, is not going down well
with the likes of Alhaji Buba Galadima, Secretary General of the party;
Mustapha Saliu Bello, Deputy National Chairman; Sule Yahaya Hamma (Dr),
General Buhari’s Advisor; and Murtala Usman Aliyu.
The quartet, Sunday Vanguard learnt, held a meeting on Wednesday in Abuja where their concerns were tabled.
At the meeting, each lamented the developments in the party regarding
the proposed merger with the consensus that the choice of Ghadi would
not do the CPC any good because he was not particularly suitable.
Interestingly, it was also observed that “of all those who started on
this political journey with Buhari since 2002, only Hamma and Galadima”
remain in the leadership cadre of the presidential candidate’s
associates.
In fact, Galadima, who is one of the hardliners in the CPC, lamented
that the Bola Tinubu-led ACN that have since hijacked the proposed
merger succeeded in blackmailing Buhari into believing that without a
merger, he can not become president of Nigeria.
At some point during the meeting, Galadima himself was blamed for the current turn of events in the CPC.
One of the participants insisted that Galadima’s fishing expenditure for
membership brought in all manner of characters “who have now turned
their backs on him”.
On the merger talks, it was disclosed at the meeting that “the
planned political merger has rather and, unfortunately, brought them
more crisis in the party and that the CPC is consequently divided”.
Sunday Vanguard discovered that whereas Buhari and Prince Tony Momoh are
on one side of the divide, the likes of Galadima, Bello, and Hamma are
on the other side.
Galadima reportedly told the gathering that the planned Joint
Negotiating Committee meetings of the three concerned opposition
political parties would not immediately be on the issue of political
merger as is being envisaged in some quarters.
According to him, the three parties would rather be discussing and concerned with the underlisted issues:
*Political power structure and sharing;
*Harmonization of the constitution and the manifesto of the parties involved; and
*Programmes and development plans while the concerned political parties would be in power.
While these preliminary arrangements are on, a new political party
would be registered, after which CPC, ACN and the ANPP would eventually
abandon their respective parties to join the newly registered party that
would emerge, after which leaders and followers would align.
Vanguard
Sunday 30 December 2012
Yet Another Ritual of Wishes and Prayers
Best wishess
In the spirit of the season, everyone is wishing Nigeria well,
but how many people are truly concerned about turning those wishes to
reality by doing things right? Vincent Obia writes
Nigeria is reeling and celebrating. In the wee small hour of Tuesday,
as the world readied to mark the birth of Jesus Christ, whose coming
Christians celebrate as a turning point from wickedness to love and
humility, a terror gang opened fire on worshippers at a Christmas Eve
service at Jiri, in Yobe State. They killed the pastor of the church and
five others among the congregation. It wasn’t a one-off incident. It
has been a common tragedy for Christians and other innocent Nigerians.
On the day before Christmas, pirates kidnapped four crew members on an
Italian vessel off Nigeria’s coast, about 40 nautical miles from Bayelsa
State. Piracy and kidnapping in oil-producing Delta is said to be
second only to the waters off Somali.
Atop the crisis of insecurity, there is the misery of abject poverty in
the midst of plenty. Infrastructure decay and lack have almost become
synonymous with Nigeria. Youth unemployment across the country is on an
alarming rise while corruption has become the most popular religion of
the elite.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, recently said corruption in the
country was being elevated to a “national lifestyle” and “a status
symbol… instead of treating the cankerworm with total disgust.”
He said, “Corruption does not have tribal, ethnic or religious
differences. It is a language understood by everyone in Nigeria today.”
Yet at the Christmas season, everyone is preaching hope, wishing the country well, and emphasising the lessons of Yuletide. Those on whose shoulders blame for the bulk of the country’s woes rests are among the most vocal preachers.
Yet at the Christmas season, everyone is preaching hope, wishing the country well, and emphasising the lessons of Yuletide. Those on whose shoulders blame for the bulk of the country’s woes rests are among the most vocal preachers.
“Christmas and the lessons of Jesus Christ’s mission on earth have
great significance for us as a people and there can be no doubt that we
all, irrespective of our religious beliefs, can draw immense strength
and inspiration from the Messiah’s enduring personification of
selflessness, dedication to duty, and commitment to the well-being of
others,” President Goodluck Jonathan stated in his Christmas message to
the country.
He preached the virtues of peace, tolerance, faithfulness, honesty,
justice, fairness, wisdom, knowledge and understanding, which Christ
taught and exemplified. But these are virtues that have remained the
rarest features of leadership in Nigeria since the last Yuletide, when a
similar festival of sermons was marked at the various power centres
across the country.
As a usual ritual each time an event of religious significance is being
celebrated, leaders from the political, religious, and traditional
institutions fall over themselves to issue statements of hope. They pray
the best for the country, yet make little effort to ensure the
realisation of their wishes and prayers.
This Christmas time has seen a lot of good wishes and prayers for
Nigeria. The Pope, too, has prayed for the country, just like he did
during last year’s Christmas.
Every Nigerian leader is telling the citizens to keep faith with
Nigeria, but the same leaders are hardly doing anything to make the
country a place that the citizens can be proud of.
Senate President David Mark, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, urged Nigerians to embrace peace, love and harmony.
Senate President David Mark, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, urged Nigerians to embrace peace, love and harmony.
Mark said, “Christmas is a season to give and expect little in return.
It’s a time to preach peace and exemplify it in line with the coming of
Christ.”
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, in a goodwill message signed by
its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metu, said, “The lesson, Christ,
though the Messiah, was born humble and humbly served and saved mankind
should guide and further fire our zeal to place the people first.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal called for
renewed faith in Nigeria, commitment and hard work, saying, “The
Christmas period is a time for deep reflection on the teachings of
Christianity and what Jesus Christ stood for.”
Despite the lofty prayers, the leaders have maintained a system that
encourages indolence, poverty, and the growth of a lazy and weak
bourgeoisie whose survival is almost entirely predicated on a
patron/client relationship with the government. The system favours the
elite, who enjoy a politics of sharing. The worst hit is the masses,
those without access to the treasury or effortless wealth.
But the masses remain the most gullible in a fraudulent power game that
reinforces economic rent from crude oil and discourages production.
This is unlikely to change any time soon. But change is possible if only
the country’s leaders can pause and reflect deeply on their own
messages.ThisDay
Orkar coup pranks that deceived us — Turner Ogboru
by Anna Okon
ThePunch
If
you remember the Colonel Gideon Orkar coup, then the name Turner Ogboru
should ring a bell to you. Turner would not forget April 22, 1990 in a
hurry. That was the day everything about him took a dramatic change.
“Turner Ogboru’s life was well ordered,” he begins
his story. Recalling his walk to wealth, he says fortune smiled on him
through his brother, Great Ogboru.
“My elder brother was a faithful salesman and at a
point in our lives, his salesmanship paid off. An Israeli who wanted to
transact stockfish business, was referred to Great, who was then, a
salesman at Exchange Fisheries. My brother told him that the fish could
be sold as frozen fish and the profit would be more. My brother sold the
whole fish, made more profit than he had envisaged and returned all the
profit, including the excess to the white man.
“Impressed by his transparency, the white man handed
over the entire business to him. In the process, we had the Bulgarian,
Russian and the United Kingdom connections and the empire became bigger!
Then, we registered the company at the Corporate Affairs Commission for
N5m. Then, we signed a joint venture with the Russian government to
fish in the whole African waters when Perestroika started.”
However, suddenly, the joy of good fortune took a
back seat. It came as a nightmare in the wake of the Gideon Orkar coup
of 1990, against the General Ibrahim Babangida regime.
Ogboru narrates that unfortunate incident. “The day
the coup happened, April 22, 1990, was a Sunday and we went to minister
in songs at a church in Surulere. By the time we finished, we heard that
there was a coup but it failed. I arrived home to learn that the coup
plotters had used our company facilities. Then, I knew that we were in
deep trouble! I remembered that they had deceived us into believing that
they wanted to host a party, requesting our facilities to stock cold
drinks. Normally, we refrigerated drinks in our cold rooms for people
who had parties— birthdays, funerals and marriages. My staff and even
others they had invited for the gathering were all in the dark about
their intention.
“The following day, they caught some members of my
staff and said they should come and fetch their boss. So, I went to meet
them at Ikeja Cantonment, where Ishaya Bamaiyi was the Brigade
commander. I told him that I was not a coup plotter but that our
facilities were dubiously used for the plot. He took me to see the then
Lagos State governor, Raji Rasaki, who ordered them to take me to Aliu
Tongo, the man in charge of security at the time. Tongo took a decision
to keep me in protective custody. I was there when one immigration
officer came to inform them that I escorted my brother, Great, to the
border when he was travelling out of the country.
“It was then argued that the borders were opened when
my brother travelled and there was no crime in a man escorting his
brother to the border. Then they further reasoned that, given my
educational background, I ought to have known that my brother was
involved in the coup. I was sentenced to life imprisonment.”
Wondering what happened during his incarceration which lasted eight and a half years?
“I met Vivienne, a qualified marriage counsellor, who was a prison nurse at the time,” he begins his romantic odyssey.
Though he married her, he recalls his attraction to
her: “She was extremely generous and nice while caring for the inmates.
She spent her salary buying drugs for inmates. A lot of people die in
prison because of lack of care.”
After eight years in jail, help came through Chief
Ernest Shonekan, who was then, Head, Interim National Government. There
was amnesty for all political prisoners. Turner was released from
prison.
Back to his prison memoirs. He recounts: “When I was
eventually released, she was not there and had been transferred to
another place. I invited Vivienne to my place. At that time, the family
of the girl I was engaged to marry had been in touch with Gen.
Babangida, so they stopped her from continuing the engagement.”
What effects did incarceration have on his life and business?
He responds, “The entire business was shut down. The
military decreed that all our things should be sold and all the fish in
our cold rooms were carted away. Property that were taken away at that
time were in excess of $42.7m. Great was 32 years old and I was just 30
at the time.”
For the Delta State-born, a process of recovery took
place. A graduate of Law from the University of Benin says amidst
smiles, “It was God’s grace. The business bounced back because the king
of Glory was the chairman of the Group. Great went abroad, started
buying ships (he bought five vessels) and employed Europeans to work. We
were then fishing in European waters, and he had over 300 Europeans
working for the company. It was when we came to African waters that the
African problems started affecting the business.
“I give God the glory. With hindsight, God made me go
through that imprisonment so that He can reveal Himself to me like He
did throughout the period. He was teaching me about the Holy Ghost and
the evidence of speaking in tongues, which I did not know about before
the incident. I never believed God could speak to people face to face as
I am speaking to you now. I experienced it in prison. Before then, even
as a full time Christian worshipping with the Household of God Church,
my business was moving well, I did not see any need to get involved in
ministry, I preferred to bring out money to support the work. But
sometimes in November, 2012, while I was driving down from the Third
Mainland Bridge, the Lord spoke to me to start my ministry on December,
24, 2012.”
Now heading for a full time ministry (it kicked off
December 24, 2012), does that stop him from being a businessman? “No,”
comes his response. “The business goes on. In the Bible, Apostle Paul
continued in his tent-making business. In my business now, I have more
than enough boys to work for me. The work of the ministry requires a lot
of funding and most of it would be self-financed.”
Fashion? Well, he retorts, “All my life I have been a
modest man. I am from a very humble beginnings. I ate rice with my
hands before I even started eating with spoon and the spoon was not even
silver spoon! The ministry that we are called into does not recommend
flamboyant dressing; I am brother Turner, a modest dresser.”
For him, there is no going back, even in the face of frustration. “I am living a borrowed life,” he says.
“The old Turner is dead; the Turner that I am now cannot be
frustrated and intimidated. God will always equip the people he has
called.”ThePunch
No Vacancies For Defence, Power Ministers – Presidency
BAYO OLADEJI, GEORGE AGBA, OLAOLU OLADIPO, and MIKE UBANI
The Presidency has dashed the hope of the people of Enugu and Kebbi
states to have representatives in the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
soon. Until June this year, Kebbi State was represented on the federal
cabinet by Dr. Haliru Mohammed Bello as defence minister while Enugu
State was represented by Prof. Barth Nnaji, who resigned in
controversial circumstance as minister of power in August 2012. Bello
was dropped alongside the late former National Security Adviser (NSA),
Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi, who died in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State
with Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State on December 15, 2012.
In an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said President Jonathan was not in a hurry to make replacements for Bello and Nnaji because the two ministers of state for power and defence were performing. Abati added that the absence of the substantive ministers had not created any vacuum in the running of the affairs of the two critical ministries.
Prior to Abati’s clarifications, there were growing speculations in both official and unofficial quarters that President Jonathan might carry out a major cabinet shake-up in January next year because of the persistent misgivings of Nigerians over the performance of most of his ministers.
These speculations were fuelled by an emergency FEC meeting, which the President summoned penultimate Tuesday, but later cancelled. It was alleged that Jonathan’s action caused panic among the ministers.
While Dr. Abati agreed that some clarifications needed to be done so that Nigerians would not be misinformed and misled, he however said “there was no reason for any minister to panic about the emergency FEC that you referred to. I just told you that the last few meetings in the end of the year were devoted to a performance review.
As at two weeks ago, some ministers had already done their own presentations: The ministers of agriculture, aviation, communication technology and a roster was drawn up, all the way till January for different ministries and their ministers to make presentation based on what I defined earlier: to tell us what they were able to do, how much they got and what challenges they faced. During that presentation, it will be discussed by the entire cabinet. Other ministers will give suggestions.
“President Jonathan made it clear when he said that performance assessment was necessary for two reasons: one, to carry out an audit-a clear review if you like - of what each ministry has been doing; and two, to make government open, to create a necessary pool of knowledge within government about how government is operating in different departments and agencies.
In other words, if you are minister in charge of portfolio D, whatever you are doing is not hidden from the minister in charge of portfolio F because on a regular basis, Council (FEC) will meet and give you an opportunity to report what you are doing. So, there is no room for anybody trying to run a one man show. It is team work and I think that that strategic approach to governance is very important.”
Abati continued: “So, all the ministers who were to come to that emergency meeting knew that that it was called so that those who could not make their presentation at the last Wednesday meeting and who had been scheduled on the roster could then do so. But then you know as it turned out there was a case of serendipity.
There was the helicopter accident and there were several developments in the country; the whole country was in a very sad mood and even the Wednesday meeting that followed that particular Tuesday was devoted to the praying and mourning of the six that died in that helicopter crash. And after the tribute session and the statements, the president asked Council to adjourn to January 9.So, that is that.”
On the appointment of ministers of defence and power, Abati said it was erroneous to think that because of the absence of substantive ministers, there was a vacuum in the affected ministries.
According to him, President Jonathan was taking his time on the appointment of the ministers because it goes beyond filling the quota of certain states.
Abati said: “The thing to note is that when people ask that question, they give the impression that maybe because those two ministries do not have substantive ministers yet, there is a vacuum. But the truth is that there is no vacuum in the real sense because the ministers of state that are there are running those ministries well.
If there is any vacuum that people are looking for, they are probably saying certain states are to get those positions or the quota and they want it filled so that those states can benefit. All of that is coming out of our federal character approach to appointments. But in terms of the functioning of these ministries, nothing has been lost and nothing has been sacrificed.
But I can assure you that the president in his own time will fill those positions because it is not just that you fill positions. A lot goes into it. I have not had the opportunity to appoint anybody, but from watching the president at work, I know that you don’t just wake up and appoint people into offices.
There is a lot that goes into it and once the time is ripe, you can be assured that the president will do it. So, people should stop putting him under pressure.
“Those ministries are functioning. If you look at power, since the minister of state for power took over, that ministry has been functioning. In fact, progress has even been made. If you look at defence, the woman who is there has been running the ministry very well. So, it is not as if because two slots have not been filled that anything has happened and in any case, people must also realise that ministerial positions are delegated positions.
Under a presidential system, all authorities draw from the top, at least within the executive branch. So, the president delegates authority to ministers and he can delegate authority to whoever he so wishes for the smooth running of government because he is both head of state and head of government.”
The Ministry of Defence is manned by Mrs. Olusola Obada while that of power is under the supervision of Hajia Zainab Kuchi. Nnaji’s former minister of state, Mr. Gauis Dickson acted in his stead but a minor cabinet reshuffle by President Jonathan saw Dickson and Kuchi, who was the minister of state in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
There are, however, claims in government quarters that the apparent failure of the president to appoint a defence minister might have been a strategy to bring the security ball gazer directly under his watch. Other sources alleged that President Jonathan wants to appoint a defence minister outside Kebbi State and the North West zone where Bello hails from.
In fact, the sources averred that the president whenever he is ready might name a retired senior military officer from the South East as defence minister and pick the minister of power from the North West.
But some opposition political parties have said the president’s reluctance to fill the vacant ministerial posts “is symptomatic of an administration not willing to move the country towards progress.”
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the action of the presidency was its usual way of addressing serious issues with levity, adding that there was no reason for any Nigerian to lose sleep because the present ministers were not working.
The National Publicity Secretary of CPC, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, stated that the seeming reluctance is symptomatic of the current government’s “knee jack” approach to governance, which he noted had permeated all facets of the country’s life since the Jonathan administration came on board.
ACN’s National Publicity, Alhaji LaI Mohammed, could not be reached, but a key leader of the party said though the party was not disposed to getting involved in the controversy arising from the issues relating to the vacuum, he however counselled that the government should make a recourse to the country’s constitution to guide it on the matter.
The ACN chief also stated that the absence of these ministers had not been noticeable, those that have been in office had not even made their presence felt through quality service delivery to the people.
On the people of Enugu State’s endless wait for the president to appoint a minister from the state, a top official of the state government told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that “we are awaiting the Federal Government to appoint a representative from the state in FEC following the resignation of Prof. Nnaji as minister of power.”
The official, who sought anonymity said that the “state government had since recommended a replacement to President Jonathan,” adding that “the president may be waiting for an appropriate time to send the nominee to the National Assembly for confirmation.”
In the case of Kebbi State, the state government may have missed the window of opportunity presented it by the president when the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the nomination of Gen. Bitrus Ushe as defence minister. Since then, the presidency has kept mute on the matter.
In the heat of the opposition to Ushe’s nomination, Alhaji Mansur Shehu Dangaladima, the PDP chairman in Kebbi State, had told journalists that the nominee was rejected by the party because he is not a native of the state and a member of the PDP.
According to him, “we don’t know him (Ushe) in the state and in the party. It was shocking to us when we discovered that Gen. Ushe is from Niger State. His colleagues in the military have affirmed that he hails from Niger State not Kebbi State.”
Leadership
In an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said President Jonathan was not in a hurry to make replacements for Bello and Nnaji because the two ministers of state for power and defence were performing. Abati added that the absence of the substantive ministers had not created any vacuum in the running of the affairs of the two critical ministries.
Prior to Abati’s clarifications, there were growing speculations in both official and unofficial quarters that President Jonathan might carry out a major cabinet shake-up in January next year because of the persistent misgivings of Nigerians over the performance of most of his ministers.
These speculations were fuelled by an emergency FEC meeting, which the President summoned penultimate Tuesday, but later cancelled. It was alleged that Jonathan’s action caused panic among the ministers.
While Dr. Abati agreed that some clarifications needed to be done so that Nigerians would not be misinformed and misled, he however said “there was no reason for any minister to panic about the emergency FEC that you referred to. I just told you that the last few meetings in the end of the year were devoted to a performance review.
As at two weeks ago, some ministers had already done their own presentations: The ministers of agriculture, aviation, communication technology and a roster was drawn up, all the way till January for different ministries and their ministers to make presentation based on what I defined earlier: to tell us what they were able to do, how much they got and what challenges they faced. During that presentation, it will be discussed by the entire cabinet. Other ministers will give suggestions.
“President Jonathan made it clear when he said that performance assessment was necessary for two reasons: one, to carry out an audit-a clear review if you like - of what each ministry has been doing; and two, to make government open, to create a necessary pool of knowledge within government about how government is operating in different departments and agencies.
In other words, if you are minister in charge of portfolio D, whatever you are doing is not hidden from the minister in charge of portfolio F because on a regular basis, Council (FEC) will meet and give you an opportunity to report what you are doing. So, there is no room for anybody trying to run a one man show. It is team work and I think that that strategic approach to governance is very important.”
Abati continued: “So, all the ministers who were to come to that emergency meeting knew that that it was called so that those who could not make their presentation at the last Wednesday meeting and who had been scheduled on the roster could then do so. But then you know as it turned out there was a case of serendipity.
There was the helicopter accident and there were several developments in the country; the whole country was in a very sad mood and even the Wednesday meeting that followed that particular Tuesday was devoted to the praying and mourning of the six that died in that helicopter crash. And after the tribute session and the statements, the president asked Council to adjourn to January 9.So, that is that.”
On the appointment of ministers of defence and power, Abati said it was erroneous to think that because of the absence of substantive ministers, there was a vacuum in the affected ministries.
According to him, President Jonathan was taking his time on the appointment of the ministers because it goes beyond filling the quota of certain states.
Abati said: “The thing to note is that when people ask that question, they give the impression that maybe because those two ministries do not have substantive ministers yet, there is a vacuum. But the truth is that there is no vacuum in the real sense because the ministers of state that are there are running those ministries well.
If there is any vacuum that people are looking for, they are probably saying certain states are to get those positions or the quota and they want it filled so that those states can benefit. All of that is coming out of our federal character approach to appointments. But in terms of the functioning of these ministries, nothing has been lost and nothing has been sacrificed.
But I can assure you that the president in his own time will fill those positions because it is not just that you fill positions. A lot goes into it. I have not had the opportunity to appoint anybody, but from watching the president at work, I know that you don’t just wake up and appoint people into offices.
There is a lot that goes into it and once the time is ripe, you can be assured that the president will do it. So, people should stop putting him under pressure.
“Those ministries are functioning. If you look at power, since the minister of state for power took over, that ministry has been functioning. In fact, progress has even been made. If you look at defence, the woman who is there has been running the ministry very well. So, it is not as if because two slots have not been filled that anything has happened and in any case, people must also realise that ministerial positions are delegated positions.
Under a presidential system, all authorities draw from the top, at least within the executive branch. So, the president delegates authority to ministers and he can delegate authority to whoever he so wishes for the smooth running of government because he is both head of state and head of government.”
The Ministry of Defence is manned by Mrs. Olusola Obada while that of power is under the supervision of Hajia Zainab Kuchi. Nnaji’s former minister of state, Mr. Gauis Dickson acted in his stead but a minor cabinet reshuffle by President Jonathan saw Dickson and Kuchi, who was the minister of state in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
There are, however, claims in government quarters that the apparent failure of the president to appoint a defence minister might have been a strategy to bring the security ball gazer directly under his watch. Other sources alleged that President Jonathan wants to appoint a defence minister outside Kebbi State and the North West zone where Bello hails from.
In fact, the sources averred that the president whenever he is ready might name a retired senior military officer from the South East as defence minister and pick the minister of power from the North West.
But some opposition political parties have said the president’s reluctance to fill the vacant ministerial posts “is symptomatic of an administration not willing to move the country towards progress.”
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the action of the presidency was its usual way of addressing serious issues with levity, adding that there was no reason for any Nigerian to lose sleep because the present ministers were not working.
The National Publicity Secretary of CPC, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, stated that the seeming reluctance is symptomatic of the current government’s “knee jack” approach to governance, which he noted had permeated all facets of the country’s life since the Jonathan administration came on board.
ACN’s National Publicity, Alhaji LaI Mohammed, could not be reached, but a key leader of the party said though the party was not disposed to getting involved in the controversy arising from the issues relating to the vacuum, he however counselled that the government should make a recourse to the country’s constitution to guide it on the matter.
The ACN chief also stated that the absence of these ministers had not been noticeable, those that have been in office had not even made their presence felt through quality service delivery to the people.
On the people of Enugu State’s endless wait for the president to appoint a minister from the state, a top official of the state government told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that “we are awaiting the Federal Government to appoint a representative from the state in FEC following the resignation of Prof. Nnaji as minister of power.”
The official, who sought anonymity said that the “state government had since recommended a replacement to President Jonathan,” adding that “the president may be waiting for an appropriate time to send the nominee to the National Assembly for confirmation.”
In the case of Kebbi State, the state government may have missed the window of opportunity presented it by the president when the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the nomination of Gen. Bitrus Ushe as defence minister. Since then, the presidency has kept mute on the matter.
In the heat of the opposition to Ushe’s nomination, Alhaji Mansur Shehu Dangaladima, the PDP chairman in Kebbi State, had told journalists that the nominee was rejected by the party because he is not a native of the state and a member of the PDP.
According to him, “we don’t know him (Ushe) in the state and in the party. It was shocking to us when we discovered that Gen. Ushe is from Niger State. His colleagues in the military have affirmed that he hails from Niger State not Kebbi State.”
Leadership
Tears flow as Azazi goes home
*Amaechi names street after him in Port Harcourt
By Samuel Oyadongha and Akponkona Omaifure
Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Saturday stood still as President Goodluck Jonathan led other prominent Nigerians to pay their last respects to the late former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi, at the Heroes Park.
Azazi, who died penultimate Saturday in a helicopter crash at Tombi, some distance away from Okoroba in Nembe local government area of the state alongside five others including the former governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, was buried at the Heroes Park, Yenagoa.
Azazi’s wife and children wept as they performed the dust to dust rites for the former NSA after the funeral oration by the Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate His Lordship, Most Revd Hyacinth Egbeboh.
Among the dignitaries at the funeral ceremony were, wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan; Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson and his wife, Rachael; chairman of the Governors Forum, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and his wife, Judith; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; former Bayesa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; former Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen Alexander Ogomudia (rtd); Rear Admiral John Kpokpogiri (rtd); former governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; former NDDC Managing Director and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Timi Alaibe; former JTF commander in the Niger Delta, Major General Sarkin Yakin Bello (rtd); PFN/CAN President Ayo Oritsejafor; and former transport minister, Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni.
Also present were former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; Speaker of the Bayesa State House of Assembly, Benson Kombowei; Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke; Finance Minister, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,;Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Oduah; Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe; and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
From
Right; Dame Patience Jonathan, President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs Alero
Azazi (Widow), Prof. Tamunopreye Benebo and Azazi’s family members
during the funeral service for Late Gen. Andrew Azazi at Peace Park,
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Saturday.
When the casket was brought out from the olive coloured ambulance, it was carried by officers of the rank of Major General to the podium specifically set up for the purpose of the commendation service while a military helicopter was hovering over the arena ostensibly on reconnaissance mission and in honour of the departed four-star general.
The solemn ceremony commenced shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, and Governor Seriake arrived the venue at about 10.30am.
Azazi was a patriot – Jonathan
In his remarks, Jonathan described Azazi as a patriotic Nigerian. The president, who relived his time with his former National Security Adviser said the late Azazi believed in merit and competence, noting that if only 50 per cent of Nigerians could imbibe his virtue, the country would be better off.
He said, “Satuday, December 15, 2012 was a sad day in the history of Nigeria. Gen Azazi, though we are from Bayelsa State and the Ijaw ethnic nationality, I never met him until 2004 when the then Brigadier Azazi was made the Director of Military Intelligence.
PRESIDENT
GOODLUCK JONATHAN (3RD R) REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, PROF
TAMUNO BENEBO (4TH R); FIRST LADY, DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN (2ND R) GOV
SERIAKE DICKSON
“He was made chief of defence staff in 2007 when I was vice president to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’dua. I also made him the NSA when I became president. I saw him as somebody who meant well for this country. Sometimes, people wonder why good people die, it is quite touching.”
While urging Nigerians to imbibe the qualities of Azazi, the president said, “If we change our attitude to do what is right, the country will change for the best.”
We have lost a hero – Dickson
Lamenting the demise of Azazi in the ill-fated helicopter crash, Dickson said, “Truly, we have lost a visionary leader and statesman and there may be no greater tribute to General Azazi’s illustrious military career than the fact that he was a first class military officer, who rose through the ranks as a professional soldier and duly earned his place in the history of the Nigerian Army as the only decorated four-star general who truly earned his rank”.
The governor assured that the life and times of Azazi would be documented by his administration to serve as inspiration for the youths and generations yet unborn.
Military officers and other guests at the service.
Amaechi described Azazi as his elder brother whom he looked up to for advice whenever he was troubled.
The Rivers governor announced the naming of a street in Port Harcourt in honour of the former NSA and thanked the Bayelsa State government for giving him a state burial.
A big tree has fallen in Ijawland – Diezani Allison-Madueke
“A big tree has fallen in Ijawland and the clay pot that supported the state has fallen,” lamented the petroleum minister as she fought back tears.
A former governor of Bayelsa, Alamieyeseigha, had, on Friday night eulogized Azazi, as a man who lived a life of service to humanity, noting that his demise is an indication that all mortals are on a journey on earth, which will come to an end one day.
In his homily, His Lordship, the Bishop of Bomadi vicariate, Most Revd Hyacinth Egbeboh, described death as a puzzle to man and stressed the need for mankind to exhibit kindness at all times as death can come calling anytime.
He urged Nigerians to imbibe the qualities of Azazi and carry on with his legacies of service to humanity even as he lamented the deplorable state of the East-West Road which has claimed the lives of several road users and called on the authorities to take urgent steps to rehabilitate the road.
Women at the funeral service.
Azazi: Bishop bombs military
“Before, it was the military Nigerians looked up to,
but now they have compromised excellence. Money has taken over. There is
cause for us to worry.”
Stories by MOLLY KILETE and FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa.
Remains of the late National Security Adviser (NSA), General Owoeye Andrew Azazi, was finally laid to rest yesterday amid tears at the Ijaw National Heroes Park, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. His body was interred at exactly 3 p.m. with full military honours witnessed by Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Onyeabor Ihejrika; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice- Admiral Dele Ezeoba; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; accompanied with 21-gun salute.
Shortly before he was buried according to military tradition, the Nigerian flag, a sword, peak cap and a pair of military boots were handed over to one of the deceased’s son, Owoeye Junior, by the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lagos, Major-General K.T. J. Minimah, on behalf of Chief of Defence Staff. Ceremonies preceding the burial started with a service of songs at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, on Friday, where thousands of sympathizers, including President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, members of the National Assembly, some governors, ministers, service chiefs, top military officers, captains of industry, among other dignitaries, had gathered to pay their last respect to the late NSA.
At the requiem mass held at the Isaac Boro Peace Park presided over by the Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese, Archbishop Augustine Akabueze, the Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate, Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo, who delivered the homily, described the death of the former NSA as a great loss, not only to the Ijaw nation, but the entire nation. He prayed God to grant his widow and children the fortitude to bear the great loss.
Pointing out that Azazi’s death was devastating than the flood that swept through Ijaw communities recently and submerged many homes, he took a swipe at the military for compromising excellence, unlike in the past when the military was known for perfection. According to him, if aircraft in Nigeria are airworthy, how come aircraft fall off easily from the Nigerian Airspace, killing prominent people? He declared that if the military cannot guarantee the safety and protection of one of their own, then there is no hope they can protect any other Nigerian.
“Our aircraft are not airworthy enough to ensure we arrive safely at our destinations. This is the third air mishap in less than 12 months. Let’s not pretend we are in America or Europe. We need roads. “Corruption is the only reason we would continue to have air mishaps. If the aircraft are certified to be airworthy, how come they keep falling over? If the military cannot guarantee the protection and safety of one of their own, how can they protect others? Before, it was the military Nigerians looked up to, but now they have compromised excellence, money has taken over.
There is cause for us to worry,” Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo said. Turning to President Goodluck Jonathan, he appealed to the Federal Government to create more access roads to link the rural communities in the country as air travel is no longer safe for anyone. He said if there were good roads in the country, the likes of Azazi, who died in the ill-fated Navy helicopter crash at Okoroba, and indeed several other Nigerians, who have lost their lives in plane crashes, would not have died.
He said: “Mr. President, now that you are here, the East-West road must be completed. Many people have died on that road. Mr. President, please do something. Spare our lives.”
…How military chiefs bade him farewell
Body of the late General Owoeye Andrew Azazi arrived at his home in Opolo and was laid in one of the rooms where sympathizers paid their last respect. The pallbearers comprising Major-Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals from the Army, Navy and Air Force, arrived at the late General’s house as early as 8 a.m. and the body taken straight to where it was laid.
One after the other, they took turns to pay their last respect in full military tradition. About 8:20 a.m. his widow, Mrs. Alero Patricia Azazi, was seated in the sitting room where the pallbearers lined up to sympathize with her. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Onyeabor Ihejirika, arrived with his wife and other top military officers at 9 a.m. and went straight to console the widow before paying his last respect to the late General and took his seat among officers.
He stayed for sometime before leaving the house for the funeral service venue. The body of the late NSA was conveyed into a waiting Nigerian Army ambulance with registration No. NA 459EO1 at exactly 9:43 a.m. for the funeral service venue; while an Army officer, Colonel Ogbe, and two undertakers from Ebony accompanied the body in the ambulance, which arrived the Isaac Boro Peace Park at exactly 10 a.m., from where the pallbearers carried the body to the tent where it was received by Catholic priests, who sprinkled holy water on it before commencement of the Mass.
President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers states, National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki; Special Adviser to the President on Counter Terrorism, Major-General Sarkin Bello; former Governor Donald Duke, ministers, members of the National Assembly, top government officials, service chiefs, both serving and retired, businessmen, traditional rulers, among others, attended the funeral service. First lesson was taken from the book of Ecclesiastes 4, 7-15, by his daughter, Akpolo-Alade Okoro.
Stories by MOLLY KILETE and FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa.
Remains of the late National Security Adviser (NSA), General Owoeye Andrew Azazi, was finally laid to rest yesterday amid tears at the Ijaw National Heroes Park, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. His body was interred at exactly 3 p.m. with full military honours witnessed by Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Onyeabor Ihejrika; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice- Admiral Dele Ezeoba; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; accompanied with 21-gun salute.
Shortly before he was buried according to military tradition, the Nigerian flag, a sword, peak cap and a pair of military boots were handed over to one of the deceased’s son, Owoeye Junior, by the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lagos, Major-General K.T. J. Minimah, on behalf of Chief of Defence Staff. Ceremonies preceding the burial started with a service of songs at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, on Friday, where thousands of sympathizers, including President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, members of the National Assembly, some governors, ministers, service chiefs, top military officers, captains of industry, among other dignitaries, had gathered to pay their last respect to the late NSA.
At the requiem mass held at the Isaac Boro Peace Park presided over by the Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese, Archbishop Augustine Akabueze, the Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate, Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo, who delivered the homily, described the death of the former NSA as a great loss, not only to the Ijaw nation, but the entire nation. He prayed God to grant his widow and children the fortitude to bear the great loss.
Pointing out that Azazi’s death was devastating than the flood that swept through Ijaw communities recently and submerged many homes, he took a swipe at the military for compromising excellence, unlike in the past when the military was known for perfection. According to him, if aircraft in Nigeria are airworthy, how come aircraft fall off easily from the Nigerian Airspace, killing prominent people? He declared that if the military cannot guarantee the safety and protection of one of their own, then there is no hope they can protect any other Nigerian.
“Our aircraft are not airworthy enough to ensure we arrive safely at our destinations. This is the third air mishap in less than 12 months. Let’s not pretend we are in America or Europe. We need roads. “Corruption is the only reason we would continue to have air mishaps. If the aircraft are certified to be airworthy, how come they keep falling over? If the military cannot guarantee the protection and safety of one of their own, how can they protect others? Before, it was the military Nigerians looked up to, but now they have compromised excellence, money has taken over.
There is cause for us to worry,” Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo said. Turning to President Goodluck Jonathan, he appealed to the Federal Government to create more access roads to link the rural communities in the country as air travel is no longer safe for anyone. He said if there were good roads in the country, the likes of Azazi, who died in the ill-fated Navy helicopter crash at Okoroba, and indeed several other Nigerians, who have lost their lives in plane crashes, would not have died.
He said: “Mr. President, now that you are here, the East-West road must be completed. Many people have died on that road. Mr. President, please do something. Spare our lives.”
…How military chiefs bade him farewell
Body of the late General Owoeye Andrew Azazi arrived at his home in Opolo and was laid in one of the rooms where sympathizers paid their last respect. The pallbearers comprising Major-Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals from the Army, Navy and Air Force, arrived at the late General’s house as early as 8 a.m. and the body taken straight to where it was laid.
One after the other, they took turns to pay their last respect in full military tradition. About 8:20 a.m. his widow, Mrs. Alero Patricia Azazi, was seated in the sitting room where the pallbearers lined up to sympathize with her. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Onyeabor Ihejirika, arrived with his wife and other top military officers at 9 a.m. and went straight to console the widow before paying his last respect to the late General and took his seat among officers.
He stayed for sometime before leaving the house for the funeral service venue. The body of the late NSA was conveyed into a waiting Nigerian Army ambulance with registration No. NA 459EO1 at exactly 9:43 a.m. for the funeral service venue; while an Army officer, Colonel Ogbe, and two undertakers from Ebony accompanied the body in the ambulance, which arrived the Isaac Boro Peace Park at exactly 10 a.m., from where the pallbearers carried the body to the tent where it was received by Catholic priests, who sprinkled holy water on it before commencement of the Mass.
President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers states, National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki; Special Adviser to the President on Counter Terrorism, Major-General Sarkin Bello; former Governor Donald Duke, ministers, members of the National Assembly, top government officials, service chiefs, both serving and retired, businessmen, traditional rulers, among others, attended the funeral service. First lesson was taken from the book of Ecclesiastes 4, 7-15, by his daughter, Akpolo-Alade Okoro.
PDP BOT Chair: Ahmadu Ali, Iwuanyanwu, others refuse to step down for Anenih
The Presidency is one with the party leadership on the issue.
However,the BoT members are pushing for voting to elect their chairman which some chieftains see as an unacceptable departure from the consensus tradition of the party.
Party sources told The Nation in Abuja that no less challenging is deciding which of the geo-political zones will provide the BoT Chairman in a manner that will not distort the zoning formula of the PDP in 2015.
About 20 top ranking members of the party are understood to have already obtained forms to occupy the seat which was vacated in June by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In the race are a former Chairman of the BOT, Chief Tony Anenih; a former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmadu Ali; a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun; ex-President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani; and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Also to contest are a former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP),Chief Don Etiebet, who is a returnee to the party; a former Chairman of the BOT of ANPP, Chief Harry Akande and 13 others.
Some who did not apply but are being pressurized to join the contest are Second Republic Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and a former acting National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.
It was learnt that none of the applicants is willing to step down for another including Anenih whose BOT chairmanship was hijacked in 2007.
A highly-placed source said: “Members and some of the aspirants are pushing for outright election of the next BOT chairman of the PDP in line with Article 12.77 of the constitution of the party.
“They said the election will prove to the party leaders the level of acceptability of such a candidate to the leaders of PDP.
“The fear of the presidency and the leadership of the PDP is that election could create bad blood within the trustees and lead to crisis.
“The Presidency and party leadership believe that consensus, which had guided past choices of BOT chairman, could strengthen the unity of the party. The party thinks that it is ridiculous to ask leaders within the age bracket of between 70 and 80 years to face election.
“That is why the BOT has not been able to fix a date for the election. The party leadership is weighing consensus option. But where it fails, the aspirants may have to go for the ballot.
Another source said: “Ordinarily, some party leaders prefer Anenih to compensate him for the loss of the BOT office in 2007 but some aspirants do not want to step down for him.
“They also said that since Anenih has just been made the Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, he should forget the NPA.
“Also, Article 12.77 ( c ) of the PDP Constitution says the BOT chairman and Secretary shall serve a single term of five years. Some of the aspirants are of the opinion that Anenih had served his term.”
According to findings, if the party succeeds in adopting consensus, it may look within and beyond the 20 aspirants.
The third source said: “This is why some party leaders are pushing for Ekwueme, Baraje and Oyedokun who are rated as highly-experienced in party and conflict management.
“But the main challenge is the zone which should produce the BOT chairman. While the South-East is strongly pushing for it, the North wants it in line with zoning tradition in BOT.”
Article 12.77 of the PDP reads in part: “The BOT shall elect a chairman and secretary from members of the Board. The chairman and secretary shall also be members of the National Executive Committee.
“Without prejudice to the provision of this Constitution, ensure that the person to be elected chairman and secretary respectively are of proven integrity and have contributed immensely to the growth of the party.”
THOSE IN THE RACE
Chief Tony Anenih
Senator Ahmadu Ali
Chief Harry Akande
Chief Ken Nnamani
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
Chief Don Etiebet
Chief Shuaib Oyedokun
UNDER PRESSURE TO ENTER
Chief Alex Ekwueme
Alhaji Kawu Baraje
TheNation
How Google upset Dame Patience Jonathan… in last week’s news with a pinch of salt.
Reports from Aso Rock reveal that its occupants are so pleased with the remarkable job Doyin Okupe is doing as a presidential spokesmen that it is not uncommon these days to hear the president chastising his other spokesman Reuben Abati by saying, “Can’t you emulate smart Okupe for once?”GEJ’s bible defence
Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, has Biblically defended the legendary sluggishness of his administration in a way that must have made God proud. Jonathan said in a church service that his government is “slow by human thinking because Nigeria is full of human beings and not Gods.” Explaining what he meant, the president said, “You know from the Bible that a thousand years is like a day in the sight of God and a snail speed is like a Chinese speed train in his sight. We are nothing but snails, but in the hands of the creator we are Chinese speed trains. Please note my emphasis on Chinese speed trains because I don’t want the media to compare us with the local trains which recently started running from Lagos to Kano. Those ones are confirmed snail speed both in the sight of God and man. God cannot be mocked.”
The smartest presidential spokesman
Reports from Aso Rock reveal that its occupants are so pleased with the remarkable job Doyin Okupe is doing as a presidential spokesmen that it is not uncommon these days to hear the president chastising his other spokesman Reuben Abati by saying, “Can’t you emulate smart Okupe for once?” A question and answer session last week with Okupe shows why he’s so highly rated.
Q: You said Jonathan would fix Nigeria but there’s no sign?
A: Who says there’s no sign? Are you blind? Has the fixer himself, Mr Fix-It Anenih not been given a new government appointment? What else do you want?
Q: The president promised transformation in 2012, we didn’t see it and now he’s shifted the goal post to 2013, why?
A: Well, as you know everyone thought that the world was going to end this year. So the president decided not to bother so that he would not finish developing the country in 2012 and then everything gets destroyed in the apocalypse. But now that the powers-that-be have shifted the goal post, watch out for 2013.
Q: You said the government created 2 million rural area jobs in agriculture alone, how did you measure that sir?
A: This is a government of trance-formation which is defined as forming or formulating things via trance. The president saw it clearly in a trance that he has created two million jobs, and by faith, that’s that. That would be all.
How Google upset Dame Patience Jonathan
Google released its list of most searched terms in Nigeria last week. The list which had JAMB, Mozat and Boko Haram taking the first three spots, came as a shock to Nigeria’s first lady Dame Patience Jonathan. The first lady claimed that she was hurt deeply by the search list and believed it was sabotaged by her detractors. According to her, “How can Google people tell me that I was away from this country for months and Nigerians were not searching for me?” She blasted the inclusion of Mozat on the list saying, “Mo-hits we know, Moet we know, but what is Mozat?” She claimed that the only search item which deserves to be on the list is Boko Haram because she knows that her husband is “seriously searching for them,” and “it will bad for them when he catches them.” She claimed that the correct order of the list should have been Dame Patience Jonathan at number one because everyone was searching for her when she was away; trouble at number two because Nigerians always look for her trouble; and Boko Haram at number three.
CROWNED CLOWN (CeeCee) OF THE WEEK
A Pinch… has observed the manner Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, runs the state’s affairs and has come to two conclusions. First, Okorocha urgently needs to go back to school. The governor runs the state as if he’s managing a local charity. A financially literate person cannot grant civil servants in a poor state like Imo two weeks of vacation to celebrate the Yuletide, as Okorocha has done. That’s hubris. It’s a narcissistic approach to governance. Imagine how much of Imo’s meagre internally generated revenue would be lost to that rash directive. Okorocha, they say, is doing a decent job in championing pro-people policies as governor for which Imolites must be thankful. But it’s worrying to see the rate at which he enters the news for claptrap like punching a protocol officer or appointing special advisers with phony job descriptions or grounding activities in the state civil service for two weeks in the name of celebration. Which brings us to the second conclusion about the governor: Okorocha is a clown, an unsure one, desperately seeking approval. He takes the CeeCee this week.
YNaija.com
FG to beam its searchlight on private jet owners
The recent helicopter crash which happened in Nembe, Bayelsa State, killing six people including the governor of Kaduna Stae, Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser, Andrew Azazi, has again brought the issue of aviation safety to the front burner.
There are indications that the aviation ministry is planning on imposing stringent measures on the operation of private airlines in the country.
Sources say the aviation minister, Stella Oduah met on Wednesday with heads of aviation agencies and relevant stakeholders in the airline sector to deliberate on how to achieve better safety procedure in the industry.
Part of the measures being strongly considered is to impose heavy sanctions on any non-compliance with standard safety procedure.
Consequently, it was learnt that government had decided that the ministry and the NCAA would henceforth pay more attention to the activities of airstrips, heliports, helipads, airports, private jets and chartered aircraft.
The ministry oversees airstrips while the NCAA oversees aircraft.
A source in the aviation industry said, “Most of the people that own private jets in Nigeria are big people who ordinarily may not want to obey rules at times. But the minister said that the recent happening in the military circle was also a wake-up call for the civil aviation as well.
“It now means that the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will be paying more attention to the operators of private and chartered jets/ helicopters in the country.”
The source added that the development could lead to a situation where some aviation facilities would be re-examined or audited.
With the spate of air crashes like the one involving the Taraba State governor, Danbaba Suntai, the government is signalling a determination to look into the operations and activities of lighter aircrafts in order to forestall a repeat occurrence.
But an aviation industry analyst, Olumide Ohunayo, reportedly said the latest development was not expected to retard the recent growth of the aviation sector in the country, rather it would serve to strengthen it.
YNaija.com
Gov Idris Wada Rejects Treatment Abroad
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State may not be flown abroad for the treatment of the injuries he sustained in the accident involving his convoy on Friday, his doctors have disclosed.
Doctors at the hospital where the governor was receiving treatment hinted, yesterday, that Wada rejected the option of flying him abroad for further treatment after undergoing what was described as inter-locking nail surgery on his thigh broken in the crash.
the Governor’s car after the crash
Mr Jacob Edi, the governor’s spokesman said Wada was in stable condition.
“I saw His Excellency after the unfortunate accident. He has been stabilised since last night (Friday). I spoke with him and he shook my hands. It was after he stabilised that he was flown to Abuja,” Edi told newsmen.
The governor was said to have suffered a broken thigh among other injuries when his vehicle ran into a ditch after a tyre busted on Friday afternoon at Emi Woro village, about 12 kilometers to Lokoja, the state capital, on his way back from Kogi State University where he attended a function. His ADC died while his driver reportedly escaped unhurt.
The governor was rushed to the Kogi State Specialist, Lokoja where he was treated before he was taken to Cedar Crest Hospital, Abuja for further treatment.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Felix Ogodengbe, who spoke for the doctors handling the governor’s treatment, confirmed, yesterday, that Wada, suffered a broken thigh among other injuries.
According to Ogedengbe, the governor ruled out the option of being flown abroad for further treatment of his injuries after a two-hour operation on the thigh on Friday night.
“When the governor was brought in at 8pm (on Friday), we were told he was involved in a car accident and we checked him and explained the nature of his injuries to him. We also told him about our ability to manage the injuries. He had a broken thigh and he was taken to the theatre. The governor has since stabilized and he had a nice night; he said he would not be taken abroad for treatment because he has confidence in our capacity to manage him. There is no immediate need to fly him abroad.”
The medical director could, however, not state the possible date when Wada would be discharged, saying he needed time to recuperate.
“The governor is quite happy to take treatment here; the treatment is on-going. He needs some days in the hospital and I can’t give a date of discharge now.”
Meanwhile, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, yesterday, prayed God to grant Wada quick recovery even as he urged Nigerians to also pray for the governor.
Orji, who described the accident as “very sad and shocking”, also commiserated with the family of the Kogi governor’s ADC, who died in the accident.
The Abia governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, lamented the death of the ADC.
Vice President Namadi Sambo; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; and a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali; were among those who visited the Abuja hospital to see the injured Wada yesterday.
InformationNigeria
Blame Corruption For Air Crashes, Bad Roads – Bishop
CATHOLIC
Bishop of Bomadi Archdiocese, Delta State, Dr. Hyacinth Egbebor,
Saturday, declared that aircraft operating in the country are not worthy
to fly passengers, saying that corruption was the major cause of plane
crashes in the country.
The clergy, who presided over the requiem mass, which held in honour of General Azazi, in Yenagoa, said frequent crashes occur in the country’s air space because of corruption, which has left many roads across the country impassable for motorists. Bishop Egbebor used the opportunity to call on state governors and President Jonathan to provide good roads linking communities to reduce deaths and called on leaders not to pretend that there are good roads in the country.
He said; “if the military cannot guarantee safety of their own lives, who will they provide safety or protect? We have compromised excellence because of corruption and because of money, let us not pretend that we are in American air space.”
According to him, “it is my appeal to President Jonathan to fix the East/West road, the potholes there are killing people; tankers are falling almost everyday, killing and maiming people.”
TheGuardian
The clergy, who presided over the requiem mass, which held in honour of General Azazi, in Yenagoa, said frequent crashes occur in the country’s air space because of corruption, which has left many roads across the country impassable for motorists. Bishop Egbebor used the opportunity to call on state governors and President Jonathan to provide good roads linking communities to reduce deaths and called on leaders not to pretend that there are good roads in the country.
He said; “if the military cannot guarantee safety of their own lives, who will they provide safety or protect? We have compromised excellence because of corruption and because of money, let us not pretend that we are in American air space.”
According to him, “it is my appeal to President Jonathan to fix the East/West road, the potholes there are killing people; tankers are falling almost everyday, killing and maiming people.”
TheGuardian
Saturday 29 December 2012
What Christmas in Katsina taught me
Teajay Chunu
I arrived Kano on aero by 8pm on the 24th of December and was welcome
by deep cold. I thought I was 'man' enough to take it but realized am
just a man and quickly rushed for my Jacket. I wondered why these people
still buy air conditioners (*smiles*). My arrival was 4 hours behind
schedule, no thanks to aero but how on earth would I find my way in the
midst of hausa speaking people who we dread cos of the 'boko haram'
syndrome?
I got a cab to the park and was amazed that by 9pm
these people were still very active. Boarded another cab that took me on
a mind freezing, body shivering 2 hours drive to Katsina. The roads
were good and travelling without fear is a concept I desire for southern
Nigeria. Arriving and tracing my way to my host was simple and
stressless.
It was strange not to have seen Christmas lights
nor hear the popular 'feliz navidad' everywhere until reality hit me,
Christmas is more a 'southern affair'. I rushed under the closest
blanket and didn't turn till daybreak for fear of not breaking my frozen
ear.
It was morning...alass Christmas is here! I hit the dry
dusty roads for service, had the pastor preach my message I planned
writing that morning and was simply 'wowed'. I was happy to see amidst
the tight security in an 'unsafe' zone, Christians were irresistibly
joyful. I meet new friends as well as some old one who were hiding &
doing great things here. The day was full, exciting and well-fed.
With my encounter I started pondering... why do we complain about the
north? Are they really the enemy of the south? Are they really born to
rule, are they that heartless? The people I met and those on the streets
I shared with, yes though may have a wrong mind-set were excited to
share with me. At this point I will state that our enemy isn't a people,
tribe, religion, nation or what have you but a mind-set, a constant
pattern of thought that uses aggression & tyranny to suppress us
into bondage.
These people are a reflection of the depth of
their knowledge, sitting unproductively over vast resources &
opportunities but living in 'uncontrolled' wealth. I learnt the
following about them:
1. They are one.
2. They walk loyally with a superior & absolute belief system (for those who lead)
3. They are committed in inculcating their beliefs, values & culture to the next generation.
4. They do what they believe without fear.
5. They will submit to greater influence.
Oh, I won't deny that they are more beggars here too but those with
wealth & power stand as a threat even to the whole nation. This has
led me to a new school of thought; the north is a product of the
negligence of the south. Now minds may be reacting because 'this
statement is baseless, can't you see our history, the bombing...etc?'
Yes, yes but am not your enemy here, just reason along...the south
claims to be smarter, has more Christians & profess God who is a
perfect representation of love, wisdom & power but why...
1. Are we not united?
2. Can't we be loyal, walking with a superior & absolute belief
system? We don't trust God to do what He says, we practically improvise.
3. Have we neglected bringing our children up in the way &
relegated that to the media & morally decayed influence from the
western world?
4. Do we live with fear, protecting life that may be lost without meaning?
5. Oppose greater influence because of personal interest?
While I mourn our brothers martyred in the north, I see the killings as
a tool to empower fear and restrain us from living a superior life of
real power & influence, not selfishly motivated but driven by love
to do Greater Works as Jesus declared. Death will visit us someday but
until then I MUST work the works of Him who called me. Why sit here and
die 4 lepers asked, I dare ask you same...why?
We all analyze
& know the problem of Nigeria but without a deliberate move to
provide individual solutions that corporately benefits the polity. I see
myself as a Nigerian not a southerner, I am a change agent and will do
my bit. If you move out fear you will be amazed what power you have. I
call on all Nigerians to arise to their true call and let's build a
nation where peace & justice shall reign.
Join my crusade for value orientation of teenagers in 2013...StepUp!
Impossible is Nothing!
I arrived Kano on aero by 8pm on the 24th of December and was welcome by deep cold. I thought I was 'man' enough to take it but realized am just a man and quickly rushed for my Jacket. I wondered why these people still buy air conditioners (*smiles*). My arrival was 4 hours behind schedule, no thanks to aero but how on earth would I find my way in the midst of hausa speaking people who we dread cos of the 'boko haram' syndrome?
I got a cab to the park and was amazed that by 9pm these people were still very active. Boarded another cab that took me on a mind freezing, body shivering 2 hours drive to Katsina. The roads were good and travelling without fear is a concept I desire for southern Nigeria. Arriving and tracing my way to my host was simple and stressless.
It was strange not to have seen Christmas lights nor hear the popular 'feliz navidad' everywhere until reality hit me, Christmas is more a 'southern affair'. I rushed under the closest blanket and didn't turn till daybreak for fear of not breaking my frozen ear.
It was morning...alass Christmas is here! I hit the dry dusty roads for service, had the pastor preach my message I planned writing that morning and was simply 'wowed'. I was happy to see amidst the tight security in an 'unsafe' zone, Christians were irresistibly joyful. I meet new friends as well as some old one who were hiding & doing great things here. The day was full, exciting and well-fed.
With my encounter I started pondering... why do we complain about the north? Are they really the enemy of the south? Are they really born to rule, are they that heartless? The people I met and those on the streets I shared with, yes though may have a wrong mind-set were excited to share with me. At this point I will state that our enemy isn't a people, tribe, religion, nation or what have you but a mind-set, a constant pattern of thought that uses aggression & tyranny to suppress us into bondage.
These people are a reflection of the depth of their knowledge, sitting unproductively over vast resources & opportunities but living in 'uncontrolled' wealth. I learnt the following about them:
1. They are one.
2. They walk loyally with a superior & absolute belief system (for those who lead)
3. They are committed in inculcating their beliefs, values & culture to the next generation.
4. They do what they believe without fear.
5. They will submit to greater influence.
Oh, I won't deny that they are more beggars here too but those with wealth & power stand as a threat even to the whole nation. This has led me to a new school of thought; the north is a product of the negligence of the south. Now minds may be reacting because 'this statement is baseless, can't you see our history, the bombing...etc?' Yes, yes but am not your enemy here, just reason along...the south claims to be smarter, has more Christians & profess God who is a perfect representation of love, wisdom & power but why...
1. Are we not united?
2. Can't we be loyal, walking with a superior & absolute belief system? We don't trust God to do what He says, we practically improvise.
3. Have we neglected bringing our children up in the way & relegated that to the media & morally decayed influence from the western world?
4. Do we live with fear, protecting life that may be lost without meaning?
5. Oppose greater influence because of personal interest?
While I mourn our brothers martyred in the north, I see the killings as a tool to empower fear and restrain us from living a superior life of real power & influence, not selfishly motivated but driven by love to do Greater Works as Jesus declared. Death will visit us someday but until then I MUST work the works of Him who called me. Why sit here and die 4 lepers asked, I dare ask you same...why?
We all analyze & know the problem of Nigeria but without a deliberate move to provide individual solutions that corporately benefits the polity. I see myself as a Nigerian not a southerner, I am a change agent and will do my bit. If you move out fear you will be amazed what power you have. I call on all Nigerians to arise to their true call and let's build a nation where peace & justice shall reign.
Join my crusade for value orientation of teenagers in 2013...StepUp!
Impossible is Nothing!
Jonathan will fail Nigerians in 2013 – Groups express fears
Prominent
Nigerian political parties, civil society groups and the Arewa
Consultative Forum have expressed pessimism that President Goodluck
Jonathan’s promise of better performance in 2013 would materialise.They advised the President to focus on security, employment, corruption and power in the coming year.
It would be recalled that His Excellency who recently admitted that his administration was slow, promised to improve in the coming year.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, said Nigerians would hold him responsible if he fails to deliver on his promise.
He said, “Mr. President has a manifesto to work with but has yet to fulfill his campaign promises. Rather than follow his manifesto, he removed subsidy on fuel last January and brought out problems.
“Now that he is aware that he’s slow in performance; let him deliver all his earlier promises first before making other ones.”
Also, the convener of Concerned Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, expressed worries that Jonathan would fail the nation again.
According to him: “The first thing for him to do is to be honest with Nigerians. If you want to assess a politician, it is by his delivery and service to his people. Look at the promises he made during his campaign, tell me which one he has fulfilled – none.
“A President must be surrounded with technocrats who share in his vision and have passion for the country. Unfortunately, Jonathan has the worst possible members of cabinet. The people have formed a cabal and do not have any value to add to governance.”
Adding his voice, ace human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) urged President Jonathan to declare his plans for the year 2013.
Falana said: “Now that the President has promised a new lease of life in 2013, he should tell us the areas he wants to focus on. Already, the 2013 budget is almost like that of 2012. The government still has to service our national and questionable debt and run the expensive bureaucratic government structure. He should tell us how he wants to perform the miracle.”
Also, leading opposition party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has advised the government to focus on security, employment and power in 2013.
ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed said: “We will be more than happy, if he performs better next year. That will reduce the hardship being experienced by the masses and improve their standard of living. We will encourage and assist him to perform better.
“But the question is: Is there anything on ground for him to work with? If you want to commission a house next year, you must have acquired a piece of land by now. A better performance by him will be a pleasant surprise and we will welcome it.”
Similarly, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) said Nigerians should not put hope on Jonathan in the New Year.
The founder, Oodu’a Peoples Congress, Frederick Fasehun, also stated that Nigerians should give the President benefit of the doubt.
He said: “The quality of any leadership is a reflection of the quality of the followership. If the followership will not rise up to criticise the leadership for its substandard delivery, then the followership should settle with what it has.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan’s Party, the PDP has called asked him to tackle corruption and insecurity in the coming year.
The National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said, “Our expectation, as a political party, is for the President to focus on corruption and insecurity. The insecurity includes the violence in the North and the kidnappings in the South.
“Corruption is not peculiar to public office holders. It is found in all sectors of the society. If we get the war against corruption right, there will be betterment in all areas of our lives.”
DailyPost
Pentagon Announces Troop Deployment in 35 African Nations
Following a decision last week by the United Nations Security Council to send thousands of soldiers into Mali to combat “Islamist” and “Qaeda” extremists, the Pentagon has announced it will dispatch “small teams” to more than 35 African nations next year.
“The teams will be limited to training and equipping efforts, and will not be permitted to conduct military operations without specific, additional approvals from the secretary of defense,” reports the Associated Press.
The U.S. military presence in Vietnam began when the United States Military Assistance Advisory Group established a presence in Saigon to assist French legionnaires battling Viet Minh forces. Over the next decade, the Pentagon turned this modest advisory role into a full-blown war that claimed the lives of nearly 60,000 Americans and more than 3 million Southeast Asians.
According to the political establishment in Washington and its military counterpart at the Pentagon, North Africa is threatened by al-Qaeda affiliated groups, particularly with the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria. The West African nation is vitally important due to its vast oil reserves.
The Pentagon insists the Salafist group Boko Haram is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Boko Haram is widely condemned by numerous Muslim groups that say its campaign of terror and murder of Christians is contrary to the teaching of Islam.
In addition to countries such as Libya, Sudan, Algeria and Niger where the U.S. says there is an al-Qaeda presence, the brigade assignment will assist Kenya and Uganda in fighting against al-Shabab militants. The group was formed in war-torn Somalia by Abu Mansoor al-Amriki, described as an ex-U.S. soldier who fought in Bosnia in the early 1990s. The CIA’s role in perpetuating war in the Balkans and funding the Bosnian Muslim mujahideen is well documented.
Gen. David Rodriguez, the head of U.S. Army Forces Command, told the Associated Press that if the African nations involved in the operation want the Pentagon to participate in military operations against al-Qaeda, they will have to petition Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. “If they want them for (military) operations, the brigade is our first sourcing solution because they’re prepared,” Rodriguez said.
The Pentagon currently has plans for over 100 military and training exercises across Africa as part of its touted Africom effort.
The “carefully calibrated” plan to move into Africa was announced in 2007 despite “misgivings across the continent that it could spawn American bases or create the perception of an undue U.S. military influence there,” according to the AP.
“AFRICOM’s goal is to eliminate China and other countries influence in the region,” writes Timothy Alexander Guzman. “Africa’s natural resources is another important element to consider because it includes oil, diamonds, copper, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, bauxite, silver, petroleum, certain woods and tropical fruits.”
The Tuareg Rebellion in Mali and the participation of Ansar Dine have provided the latest pretext for the United States and the United Nations to intervene in Africa. The Islamists group Ansar Dine aligned with AQIM and eventually displaced the Tuareg and imposed Sharia law in the northern part of Mali.
Last week’s United Nations resolution states that “military intervention will not happen until Mali’s own dysfunctional army is adequately trained and a framework for political stability and elections is restored in the country,” according to the New York Times.
Military intervention in Mali is being pushed by France, the former colonial occupier of the country, and the United Nations resolution calls for a 3,300-soldier force to be sent next year.
For now, the United States and France will work on getting the Malian military, described as “vital to ensure Mali’s long-term security and stability,” adequately trained to fight al-Qaeda, the vexatious militant force that appears like clockwork in strategically important areas of the world prior to the involvement of the United States, its European partners, and the United Nations.
WorldReport.com
Fiscal Cliff Debate Will Lead To More Battles, New Problems
WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Whether or not the U.S. "fiscal cliff" impasse is broken before the New Year's Eve deadline, there will be no post-cliff peace in Washington.
With the political climate toxic in Congress as the cliff's steep tax hikes and spending cuts approach, other partisan fights loom, all over the issue that has paralyzed the capital for the past two years: federal spending.
The first will come in late February when the Treasury Department runs out of borrowing authority and has to come to Congress to get the debt ceiling raised.
The next is likely in late March, when a temporary bill to fund the government runs out, confronting Congress with a deadline to act or face a government shutdown. The third will possibly be whenever the temporary bill replacing the temporary bill expires.
While Congress is supposed to pass annual spending bills before the start of each fiscal year, it has failed to complete that process since 1996, resorting to stopgap funding ever since.
Influential anti-tax activist Grover Norquist predicted in an interview with Reuters that conservatives would wage repeated battles with President Barack Obama to demand budget savings every time the government needs a temporary funding bill or more borrowing capacity.
The so-called "continuing resolutions" to which a divided Congress has increasingly resorted to keep the government operating, provide a "very powerful tool" to pry out spending cuts, said Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.
Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee said he will not be satisfied until there are substantial cuts to federal retirement and healthcare benefits known as entitlements, producing savings in the $4.5 trillion to $5 trillion range.
"Unfortunately for America," said Corker, "the next line in the sand will be the debt ceiling."
Most observers see the $16.4 trillion debt limit as the true fiscal cliff in the new year because if not increased, it would eventually lead to a default on U.S. Treasury debt, an event that could prove cataclysmic for financial markets.
The Treasury Department said on Wednesday it would start taking extraordinary measures by Dec. 31 to extend its borrowing capacity for about two more months.
'POISONOUS CLIMATE'
It was a deadlock over raising the debt ceiling in August 2011 that prompted a deficit reduction deal that led to a key fiscal cliff component, the $109 billion in automatic spending cuts on military and domestic programs.
If the fiscal cliff's spending cuts or tax increases are left even partly unresolved on Dec. 31, the political combat over them will carry over into the new Congress, possibly simultaneously with the debt ceiling debate.
"We would be pessimistic of a quick fix" if the deadline is missed, Sean West, head U.S. analyst at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, said in a note to clients. "The political climate will be poisoned. The new Congress will need time to settle in."
"We are concluding one of the most unsuccessful Congresses in history," Democratic Representative John Dingell of Michigan declared in a statement on Saturday, "noteworthy not only for its failure to accomplish anything of importance, but also for the poisonous climate of the institution."
Dingell, 86, is the longest serving member of the House, elected first in 1955.
Historically, bitter struggles in Congress like that over the fiscal cliff lead to further resentment and strife in a cycle of cumulative grudges that now spans nearly 30 years.
Many analysts and lobbyists in Washington believe the strife could get even worse because the new Congress convening on Jan. 3 will include fewer members from moderate or swing districts and more from districts tilted heavily to the left or the right.
Republicans in particular are likely to face their most serious re-election challenges in 2014 not from Democrats but from conservative Republicans challenging them in primary elections.
"Ironically," said a post-election analysis published by the law firm Patton Boggs, "the voters have elected a 113th Congress that may be even more partisan than the 112th."
HuffingtonPost
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