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October 31, 2006

Nigerian crash airline grounded

Nigeria has suspended the licence of the airline involved in Sunday's crash, in which 96 people were killed.

The plane reportedly burst into flames just after take-off

ADC's Boeing 737 passenger jet came down almost immediately after take-off from the capital, Abuja, on a flight to the northern city of Sokoto.

Among the dead was the spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims, the Sultan of Sokoto. Nine people are reported to have survived the crash.

This is Nigeria's third major civilian air disaster in less than a year.

ADC is one of Nigeria's most popular private airlines.

Three days of national mourning have been announced for the victims and an inquiry has begun.

President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday visited Sokoto to pay his respects at the sultan's palace.

"I have come with so much sadness and sorrow to condole the people and government of Sokoto and all Nigerians over this tragedy," he said.

"The sultan was a man of peace who lived and died for peace.

'Twisted remnants'

Most shops and businesses are closed in Sokoto and the city's motorbike-taxi riders have parked their bikes out of respect for the deceased sultan.

Residents are gathering at mosques and the sultan's palace to pray.

The BBC's Alex Last in Nigeria says there is a lot of anger over the latest crash, as well as grief.

"Nigeria's aviation industry needs urgent overhaul. This is one crash too many," said Ishaq Akintola, director of civil society group Muslim Rights Concern.

Nigeria's aviation minister has said the pilot ignored advice to wait for better weather before taking off.

"The pilot of the unfortunate accident refused to take advantage of the weather advice and the opinion of the [control] tower to exercise patience and allow the weather to clear for a safe take off," Aviation Minister Babalola Borishade said at a news conference.

The jet came down just after take-off, ploughing into a cornfield about two kilometres from Abuja airport.

Our correspondent says the plane broke up on impact, scattering debris and passengers' belongings across an area the size of a football pitch.

The body of the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammadu Maccido - the spiritual leader of the country's estimated 70 million Muslims - was buried in Sokoto within hours of the crash.

Several other leading Nigerian politicians, including one of the sultan's sons, were also killed in the crash. The survivors are being treated in a hospital in Abuja.

Corruption and corner-cutting

After visiting the crash site, Federal Territory Minister Mallam Nasir el-Rufai told the BBC that the condition of the plane was "deplorable", with "bald tyres".

The government had already announced a plan to overhaul the aviation industry and improve safety following last year's disasters, in which more than 200 people died.

Last month 10 senior army commanders were killed when their military plane crashed.

Several airlines were grounded while safety checks were carried out. ADC planes were not involved in the crashes.

President Obasanjo blamed corruption and corner-cutting for poor safety standards.

Our correspondent says that air travel in Nigeria has boomed in recent years, but this crash will raise further questions as to how these safety reforms are being implemented.

Posted by Publisher at 09:24 AM | Comments (0)

Sultan: Succession Battle Begins; Obasanjo eulogises Maccido; Atiku visits survivors

As the Sokoto Caliphate and the Muslim Ummah continued to mourn the death of the departed Sultan Mohammed Maccido, whose life was cut short by the ADC plane crash of Sunday, covert scrabble may, however, have commenced for the succession to the stool.

From George Oji, Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto and Josephine Lohor in Abuja, 10.31.2006

President Olusegun Obas-anjo also yesterday visited the Sultanate where he eulogises the late Maccido saying his demise would be deeply felt while his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, visited survivors of the crash at the National Hospital, Abuja.

In Sokoto, palace sources unofficially told THISDAY yesterday that Maccido's successor is expected to be named before the end of next week because, tradition and religion demands that you do not delay the filling of the office of the Sultan by leaving the people without a leader.・BR>Traditionally, every descendant of the Alhaji Uthman Dan Fodio lineage has a right to aspire to the office of the Sultan. However, the decision as to who finally emerges as the Sultan would be taken by the Sokoto State Governor, acting on the recommendations of the 10-man King Makers of the palace.

Though palace officials denied moves to commence the selection process of the next Sultan, since the Sultanate is still in mourning mood, THISDAY however gathered that some of the likely successors have begun to reach out to members of the King Makers.

According to information, those already reaching out are said to include those who missed the opportunity of clinching the coveted office when the late Maccido emerged ten years ago.

They are said to have again began to reach out to some of the king makers asking for their support ahead of their crucial meeting expected to take place this week after the official three day mourning period ends tomorrow.

Over the years, a few of the ruling houses in the Uthman Dan Fodio lineage have dominated the succession to the throne. These include the Mohammed Bello, Mohammed Buhari, Abubakar Atiku and Ahmadu Rufai Ruling Houses.

In deed, some of the current front runners for the office, THISDAY gathered, are drawn from the same four influential lineages, and they include Ambassador Shehu Malami, Alhaji Alhaji (former Finance Minister), Engineer Bello Suleiman (former Minister of Power and Steel and former Managing Director of NEPA), Alhaji Shehu Suleiman (Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Pensions, Office of the Head of Service) and Alhaji Aliyu Abdulrahaman.

Others include former ADC to former military President Ibrahim Baba-ngida, Col. Samo Dasuki, Col. Saad Abubakar 111, Baraden Sokoto, Moha-mmed Maccido, Muazu Abubakar and Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, ( Sokoto state Finance Commissi-oner).

Palace sources disclosed to THISDAY that because the office of the Sultan is both spiritual and religious, whose influence cuts across the entire nation and the sub-continent, extra care has always been taken in choosing who emerges as the Sultan, adding this was why the King Makers and government were often urged to respect the wish of Allah and that of the people in choosing any new Sultan.・

In the past, considerations such as the aspirants・national and international clout, impeccable character, religious piousness and intellectual sagacity are some of the issues that have been brought to bear in the final decisions.

Unfortunately, one of the King Makers, Magajin Rafi was also involved in the Sunday's plane crash and would not be involved in this selection exercise.

The other King Makers who would be participating in the screening of the aspirants included the Waziri Sokoto, Magajin Gari, Galadima Gari, Sarkin Adar Dundaye and Baradin Wamakko. Others are Sarkin Yakin Binji, Ardo Dingyadi, Ardo Shuni and Sarkin Kabi Yabo.

The process for the selection of a new Sultan requires all the interested applicants to the office (who must be descendants of the Uthman Dan Fodio lineage) to indicate their interest by filing formal application to the King Makers.

The King Makers, sitting in council, then considers all the applications and makes recommendations to the State Governor, who then makes the final choice.

Meanwhile, President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday visited the Sultanate where he eulogises the late Maccido, saying his demise would be deeply felt, not only by the Sokoto people but the whole of Nigeria and the Nigerian muslim community.

The President also paid a condolence visit to the former President Shehu Shagari over the death of his son Abdurahman Shehu Shagari in the ill fated crash.
He said, 哲o human being can prevent what the Almighty God has destined. God has given and he has taken, we must continue to trust and believe in him, no matter the situation. God has a purpose for everything though we are human and may not comprehend things.・

BR>Similarly, former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also described the late Sultan as a dedicated leader who has contributed in fostering unity among Nigerians.

He hailed the late Maccido for his tireless effort in service to humanity and stated that he is a humble person with a simplistic attitude to life and would be remembered for his great service to the Muslim Ummah.

In a related development, Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined Nigerians to commiserate over the death of the Sultan and others who died in the ill-fated plane crash. He also yesterday visited survivors of the crash at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after personally seeing the survivors on their hospital beds, he said more needed to be done about rescue missions in the country.

The Vice President, who visited and spoke with each of the survivors at the National Hospital, had while praising the hospital for rising to the occasion, also advised the committee charged with finding out the cause of the plane crash to do a thorough and immediate job・

He expressed his believes that a lot needs to be done on the rescue situation because many lives would have been saved from the accounts received・ adding that there is need for us to go further. Even if it means daily checks on planes to ensure better safety.・

While condoling families and friends of all those who lost their lives in the crash, he said I am personally grieved because I have so many friends on the plane.・BR>The Vice President who stated that he is shocked over the incident, described the death of the Sultan as unfortunate, shocking and a calamity to the people of Sokoto State and to Nigerians at large.

He however, prayed Allah for the repose of the souls that perished, adding that Allah, in His infinite mercy, will grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

Posted by Publisher at 09:20 AM | Comments (0)

London police may present Williams' murder report this week

FORENSIC experts from the London Metropolitan Police are expected this week to submit their final report to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, on their investigations into the murder of Lagos politician, Chief Anthony Olufunso Williams.

By Alex Olise

Williams, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, was assassinated on July 21, 2006 at his home, 184B Corporation Road, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi.

A senior police officer at the Forensic Unit of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon Lagos Annex told The Guardian yesterday that their London counterpart had informed the Police hierarchy on their readiness to present their findings to the authorities.

The source confirmed that the suspected killers of Williams were still in detention.

On arrival, the London Police team are to fly to Abuja where they would submit the report to the IG, which is the outcome of three months of intense forensic screening abroad.

They had also recently presented to the IG the final report on the killers of another PDP governorship aspirant, Dr. Ayo Daramola. The politician was murdered at his Ekiti home on August 14, 2006.

Shortly after the London Police submitted their report, Ehindero paraded five of the suspects who claimed they received N25,000 each to assassinate Daramola.

This week may put paid to public anxiety over the police silence on the murder of Williams as the IG is expected to name the suspects.

The police source confirmed that 13 suspects were being held over Williams' death.

"They (suspects) were 35 before but after a thorough forensic screening, the number dropped to 13. These are the people we found wanting over his death."

After the murder, the police arrested 15 PDP governorship aspirants, who were later released.

Posted by Publisher at 09:20 AM | Comments (0)

Police confirm death of DCP Lawal

LAGOS—It was yesterday confirmed that former Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba, Mr Musiliu Lawal was among victims of Sunday plane crash at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

By Evelyn Usman and Kingsley Umoh
Posted to the Web: Tuesday, October 31, 2006

It was also revealed that the deceased who headed SCID between year 2002 and 2005 could have aborted the trip, following a scramble for the last ticket between his son and another passenger.

The deceased son, Onyema Lawal disclosed that he personally went to the airport on Saturday to purchase the ticket for his father, only to be informed by one of the attendants that just one remained.

According to him, “another passenger who equally came to buy ticket wanted to outsmart me but at the end I succeeded in getting the ticket, while he left without one. Had I known it would cost the life of my father I would have allowed the other man to buy it”, he regretted.

Mr Lawal who until his death was Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Police Command, reportedly visited his Oba Ogunjobi residence, Ikeja on Tuesday last week and was on his way back to his station when the unexpected happened.

Tears flowed freely as relations and sympathizers throng the deceased residence. The visibly shaken widow who was yet to come to terms with her husband’s sudden death , sat speechless and stared into space.

Posted by Publisher at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)

Sultan Maccido’s last public outing

The late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido was in Abuja to honour invitation extended to him to be part of the Presidential Forum on Education which held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Saturday.

From LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja
Tuesday, October 31, 2006

He arrived the venue of the event well ahead of the commencement of the programme and sat on the front row where he exchanged pleasantries with an array of personalities, while awaiting the arrival of President Olusegun Obasanjo for the take-off of the event.

As he entered the large hall, the president was quite pleased with the presence of the sultan and said: “this is an important occasion with the sultan around.”

In further recognition of his presence, President Obasanjo requested the royal father to kick-start the programme with an opening prayer in the Islamic mode which Maccido promptly responded to.

He sat all through the event and listened attentively to all presentations and arguments on how best to carry out the reforms in the education sector and applauded the president’s assurance that unity schools would remain government’s property.

All through the occasion, it was apparent that Sultan Maccido, who was also the president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs was in deep reflection as he kept performing ‘Al-Dhikr’ (remembrance of Allah), counting on his Tasbhi.

At the end of the occasion, as he acknowledged greetings from several distinguished guests, and there was no inkling whatsoever that only a few hours lay between him and death.

Posted by Publisher at 09:14 AM | Comments (0)

Crashes: Masari seeks release of previous probe reports

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, on Monday asked the Federal Government to immediately release reports of four air disasters, which occurred in the last 12 months.

By Chiawo Nwankwo, Abuja
Published: Tuesday, 31 Oct 2006

Besides, he called for a thorough investigation of the ADC plane crash in Abuja, in which 96 passengers perished.

The reports are on the tragedy involving planes belonging to Bellview Airline, Sosoliso Airline, a Nigeria Air Force Dornier military jet, and a private jet. The accidents happened between October 2005 and October 2006.

Masari, who expressed shock over Sunday air crash, said findings of how and why previous mishaps happened, would help the country to stem a recurrence.

He described last Sunday‘s crash as ”a monumental disaster to the entire country, the people of Sokoto State and the Muslim Ummah in general.”

His reaction was contained in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Adamu Marshal.

According to Masari, only government‘s strict enforcement of aviation safety regulation will curb further disasters in the aviation sector.

Other lawmakers that spoke on the incident demanded government‘s implementation of reports of Air Vice Marshal Paul Dike led-ad-hoc committee, which investigated the Sosoliso crash in Port-Harcourt last year and general safety in the aviation industry.

A member of the House, Mr. Frank Ineke, said aviation laws must compel pilots to obey safety instructions from control towers and weather experts.

Ineke‘s comment came against the backdrop of a statement credited to the Minister of Aviation, Dr. Babalola Borisade, that the pilot of the ill-fated ADC plane, ignored cautions from the control towers.

”We need to insist that we have fundamental rules that must be obeyed. That is the responsibility of government. I don‘t see how we should continue to lose souls in air accident too often,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, on Monday said the Federal Government was targeting a “safest skies” initiative in the aviation sector.

Posted by Publisher at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)

NASS delegation visits Sokoto

The National Assemby has sent a condolence message to the government and people of Sokoto state on the death of Sultan Muhammad Maccido and some prominent indigenes of the state.

Maccido, the state deputy governor, Alhaji Garba Muhammad, two Senators and some members of their families as well as some top government officials died in Sunday’s ADC plane crash near Abuja.

The condolence message was delivered yesterday in Sokoto to Governor Attahiru Bafarawa by a seven-man delegation led by the Senate Leader, Sen. Dalhatu Sarki-Tafida.

Other members of the delegation were Muhammad Ibrahim, Abba Aji, Jalo Zarunmi, Umaru Tambuwal, Muhammad Dansadau and Hon. Kabir Umar.

Sarki-Tafida told the governor that NASS received the news of the crash and the deaths with shock.
“The crash is a tragedy which affected all
Nigerians and not only Sokoto state,” he said.
He informed the governor that another delegation from the Senate would also pay a condolence visit to the state.

Bafarawa later led the delegation in a special prayer for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
Governor Ibrahim Shekarau also led another delegation to commiserate with Bafarawa.

Posted by Publisher at 09:07 AM | Comments (0)

Anambra lawmakers relocate family members

FOLLOWING alleged threat on their lives, some members of the Anambra State House of Assembly have relocated their families to neighbouring states.

ALPHONSUS AGBORH, Asaba - 31.10.2006

Nigerian Tribune gathered that some of the legislators are now taking refuge in Asaba, the Delta state capital.

The chairman, House committee on information, Honourable Echezona Okechi, however denied the allegation at the weekend when he addressed the press in Asaba.

But in a save-our-soul letter addressed to the police in Awka, copies of which were distributed in Asaba, 17 of the 30 lawmakers said Governor Obi had threatened them and alleged that they intended to perpetrate arson.

The legislators added that Governor Obi was inciting Anambra citizens to burn their properties.

They also alleged that the governor had been instigating traditional rulers to ostracise them.

Earlier, the lawmakers had denied that there was a parallel House of Assembly in the state.

Honourable Okechi told reporters that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, should arrest those who constituted themselves as principal officers of the House illegally.

Posted by Publisher at 09:06 AM | Comments (0)

Ohanaeze election: Irukwu alleges pact violation

PRESIDENT General of Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Joe Irukwu yesterday raised alarm that the pact brokered by South East governors to bring peace to the body is being violated.

IHEANACHO NWOSU

Ohanaeze, it would be recalled has been enmeshed in leadership crisis, following the controversy over the years prescribed by the organization’s constitution for the elapse of the tenure of Irukwu’s leadership.

While Prof. Irukwu’s executive insists that the constitution provides for four years, a group led by Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) contends that they have only two years legally provided for them.

Several prominent Igbo leaders including bishops and church clerics intervened and made efforts to resolve the crisis.

However, on August 12, five South East governors in Enugu, Enugu State met with the two parties and resolved among other things, that a new election that would produce the leadership of the body be held.

To that effect, an electoral committee headed by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien and composed of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Senator F. J. Ellah and Admiral Kanu was inaugurated.

Accusing Kanu and his group of violating the peace agreement, Irukwu who was flanked by state chairman of the organisation said the plans by the group to hold election on November 4 was a clear violation of the resolution.

While he expressed readiness to hand over to a new leadership of the organisation, he insisted that due process must be followed in line with the recommendation of the governors.

He argued that Prof. Edozien, currently in the United States of America was not aware of the planned election by the Kanu led group wondering how such election could take place without the knowledge of the chairman of the electoral committee.

The Ohnaeze President recalled that state chairmen of the organisation had raised alarm over the inclusion of Admiral Kanu in the electoral committee, fears, he said he allayed because of the calibre of personalities in the committee:

According to him "when the South East governors announced the membership of the committee, our members were generally pleased with the choice of HRM, Prof. Edozien..."

He continued: "However, most members at the state and national levels, familiar with the role played by Admiral Kanu in this crisis situation expressed serious reservations concerning his membership of the Electoral Committee."

Irukwu submitted that Senator Ellah had to resign from the electoral committee because of his observation of some indecent steps, wondering that this petition sent to the Electoral Committee over the resignation by seven state chairmen of the organisation was not responded to.

Appealing to South East governors and notable individuals from the zone to call Admiral Kanu and his group to order, he said the unity of Ndigbo should be paramount.

Posted by Publisher at 09:01 AM | Comments (0)

Anambra CJ Swears In Panel Members

Impeachment roller coaster got to the South East and the North Central on Monday at different speed levels, but with glaring implications Washington is not comfortable with.

31st October
By Okey Maduforo (Awka),Chukwujekwu Ilozue (Onitsha),Onojo Audu (Jos) and Chinedu Offor (Washington DC

Anambra State Chief Judge, Chuka Okoli, swore in the panel charged with probing the allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Peter Obi, in the hope of getting him fired.

Deputy Governor Virgy Etiaba is also under investigation.

In Jos, the committee investigating Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State began sitting.

Panel Chairman, John Nark Samchi, declared that no body is on trial, that the assignment is just a probe which will be conducted in public as long as those who attend the proceedings do not cause distraction.

He urged the people to pray for Dariye, the legislators, and members of the panel for God’s guidance.

That provided the man in the eye of the storm little assurance against human bias.

Dariye gave a "notice of appearance in protest" even though he repeated through his counsel, Pius Akubo, that setting up the panel violates the Constitution.

The allegations in Anambra are being levelled by a faction in the state Assembly, led by Speaker Mike Balonwu, whom another faction reportedly replaced with Ben Chuks Nwosu last week.

Nwosu and his camp have asked Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, to arrest Balonwu for parading himself as the Speaker.

Okoli reiterated at the swearing in ceremony on Thursday that he had just concluded his function "in line with the Constitution, and that of the learning process of our democracy, and we will continue to work until we develop it.

"If the panel finds the allegations true or false it will look into the Constitution and take the necessary legal action. The office of the chief judge is to appoint the (panel members) and administer the oath and see that what they do is done faithfully and impartially.

"The Constitution will grow if these processes can be allowed to continue so that we will know that it is this Constitution that is the grund norm that governs our land, and, so, there is nothing peculiar or particular about it."

The panelists are Chinedu Oranuba (Chairman), Ifeanyi Udenze, Ijemma Okwu, Irene Okonkwo, Ehimezie Mbaonu, Brawn Ofeme, Emma Chuka Ifeadike and Ralph Okey Onunkwo (Secretary).

Oranuba announced the invitation on Tuesday of Obi and Etiaba; as well as the police commissioner; Assembly clerk; permanent secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing; permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance; Tenders Board chairman, and the accountant general.

He said "we have a constitutional duty to perform, and by the grace of God, and with your support, we will do it."

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Onitsha branch Chairman, Onyechi Ikepazu, told reporters that "according to (Okoli), the panel mambers are people of proven integrity, and they are, and I urge Nigerians to find out what they are made of and if it can be justified by their actions."

However, the Nwosu faction of the Assembly passed a resolution which requested the "erring legislators (led by Balonwu) and (Okoli) to retrace their steps and stop the violation of the Constitution."

They urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sanction their colleagues for refusing to heed advice to stop the impeachment move.

"Those people you see in Asaba have no interest of Anambra people at heart but a selfish interest. You can’t be elected into Anambra Assembly by your people and you go to Asaba to stay," Nwosu stressed.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) expressed regret that Okoli inaugurated the committee despite two court orders restraining him and the lawmakers pending the determination of the substantive suit.

State CLO Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, said the organisation was not entirely surprised, given the manner Okoli has shown that he does not obey court orders.

He added: "Now that members of the Assembly are bent on impeaching Obi, Anambra indigenes and others who reside in the state should brace up for the worst."

The stage could be set for emergency rule in Anambra, as Abuja may have persuaded Washington and the international community that it has to remove the elected leaders as the last measure to prevent "the entire area from drifting into lawlessness."

A letter from Aso Rock to the American State Department claimed that all efforts, including intervention by President Olusegun Obasanjo, and the top hierarchy of the PDP, have failed to stop the "descent into anarchy."

The letter cited the burning of Government Lodge in Onitsha, rising tension between factions and the re-emergence of members of the separatist Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and road transport touts as evidence the situation in Anambra is dire.

Abuja’s reach out to Washington arose from the international outrage and American displeasure with the appointment of an administrator for Ekiti State.

Sources said Washington argued the criteria for a state of emergency should be a "clear and present danger" and the Ekiti crisis did not amount to that.

The pressure from the United States informed Obasanjo's decision to brief lawmakers on his decision to declare an emergency rule in Ekiti.

Top officials in Washington said Abuja is seeking the support of the U.S. by arguing that the Anambra case is capable of "precipitating a crisis of the entire eastern region."

Sources in Aso Rock disclosed that some lawmakers from the South East have been briefed about Obasanjo's intentions and that Abuja is awaiting the outcome of "a last ditch" mediation by Igbo personalities.

A former military administrator of Anambra and the head of an important health agency are being considered for the post of an administrator if peace moves fail.

Posted by Publisher at 08:48 AM | Comments (0)

NITEL Sacks 7,140, Pays N72b

Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) disengaged 7,140 of its 11,200 workers on Monday with a hefty N72 billion pay out.

31st October
By Aaron Ukodie,IT.Telecom Editor, Lagos

The pruning, carried out by the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE), will smoothen the way for Transcorp to take over the first national carrier (FNC).

NITEL shed 7020 employees, 120 were sacked from its subsidiary, M-tel, which has fewer than 500.

Territorial and general managers of NITEL got the order last Friday to distribute the redundancy letters to the workers, whose union does not oppose the action.

The union on Monday only asked its members to confirm that the payments have been lodged in their accounts with United Bank For Africa (UBA).

"That is the agreement we reached with government officials and we directed the workers that they should not collect any letter except they confirmed that the payments were in their accounts", said Joseph Ajayi, acting General Secretary of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Workers (NUPTE).

BPE Spokesman, Joe Anichebe, stressed that the workers do not have any reason to complain because the action "was not forced on them. It was a negotiation. Everybody agreed on the way to go."

A source confirmed that those in the Lagos zone have started receiving their letters and that their severance packages have been lodged in their bank accounts.

According to Ajayi, only the three months’ arrears of salary are being paid for now, as well as furniture and housing allowances and three months’ salary in lieu of notice.

Gratuity of about N72 billion would be paid in 30 days’ time once what is due the workers is correctly computed.

Regardless, Ajayi said the union would not rest on its oars until everyone’s due is paid.

The salary arrears, severance pay and gratuity come from the $500 million paid by Transcorp for a 51 per cent stake in NITEL.

Transcorp is expected to pay the balance $250 million to control 75 per cent of NITEL and M-tel.

Officials declined to disclose when the hand over of NITEL to Transcorp would take place.

There are, however, signs that this could be in the next few days.

Posted by Publisher at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)

Nigerians demand Borishade's sack; ANPP, AC, CPP demand review of aviation sector

Broad spectrum of public opinion has called for immediate sack of the Minister of Aviation, Prof. Babalola Borisade over last Sunday's mishap of an ADC airliner that killed 100 Nigerians including many illustrious citizens like the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido.

By ADEMOLA BABALOLA, Ibadan, TONY AKOWE, Kaduna, STELLA EZE, UMAR AFEGBUA, Abuja

Noted politician, Chief Olapade Agoro who spoke with newsmen in Ibadan said President Olusegun Obasanjo should do a surgical operation of the aviation industry.

Dr. Agoro said "if the truth must be told, I think God of heaven is no more with Prof. Borisade in that Ministry. Therefore Borisade must be eased out immediately.

"The angels are against him because since he assumed that position, Nigeria has recorded worst ever mishaps and it is going on unabated,・he added. While calling on the Federal Government to step in immediately and ground all aircrafts that have been in operation for the past 20 years, Agoro also called for consolidation in the aviation sector.

The Citizens Political Party (CPP) also has called for the immediate resignation of the Aviation Minister, Prof. Babalola Borishade.

The party's national chairman, Maxi Okwu said in a statement made available to NewAge that, Nigerians must cultivate a culture of holding public office holders accountable for any failure in discharge of duty.

Okwu said the crash was one too many and as such, federal government must hasten to do a radical review of the ailing Aviation industry, so as to stop putting the lives of innocent Nigerians in jeopardy.

展e are firmly of the view that this is one air crash too many and we call for a radical review of the ailing aviation sector. CPP calls for the immediate resignation or sack of the aviation minister. The time has come when Nigerians must cultivate a culture of holding political office holders accountable and responsible for failure on their watch.・

The Action Congress has called for a total overhaul of the nation's aviation industry through a thorough independent investigation of airport facilities by international experts to restore public confidence in our air space.

The party pointed out that the spate of air crashes in Nigeria in the last one year has a debilitating effect on whatever gains the federal government might have recorded in its foreign investment quest.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party called into question the integrity of the various agencies charged with the responsibility of monitoring the standard and health of airlines operating in the country.

It declared that Nigerians can no longer continue to live in perpetual fear of insecurity in their homes, on the roads and in the air.

The AC said that no nation that aspires to greatness can afford to continually toy with the lives and safety of its citizens and foreigners in their midst. "Nigeria has had enough of wastage of its prime and quality human resources through avoidable air mishaps," the AC concluded.

Meanwhile, former Military Governor of Kaduna State and chairman of the Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), Colonel Abubakar Umar (rtd) yesterday blamed the Federal Government for the incessant air crashes recorded in the country, just as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) wants the government to ban aircraft above five years from operating in the country.

Umar said that with the level of concern shown by the Government to the aviation industry after series of plane crashes in the country, "the end of such unfortunate incidences in which we lose prominent and other Nigerians may not be in sight."

"The Federal Government should consider this development in the country as a failure on its part. The economy is crashing, the social infrastructure are crashing and other infrastructure, including the political structures are collapsing. For goodness sake the government should see all these as a total failure on its part.

"When some of us try to draw their attention to these national problems, they call us all sort of names. The government also term us as noise makers or pessimist. But some of the things that are happening in the country today confirmed the fears we have been nursing about governance and lack of attention to development in the country.

"We should be prepared for the worst if the government refuses to pay attention to simple aviation policy and maintain air-worthiness of our aircraft. The airlines are cutting corners in order to survive. The government cannot put them in check in order to maintain sanity in the aviation sector.・

CAN Secretary General in the 19 Northern States and the FCT, Elder Saidu Dogo, lamented "it is worrisome that in spite of series of investigations carried out in the past after similar plane crashes, the reports were never implemented by the authorities concerned.

"We have this bad syndrome in Nigeria that investigation and the outcome of it is not implemented. This is our system in the country and it is very unfortunate. And the non-implementation of aviation reports on crashes has continued to worsen the situation by the day and that is why we continue to live in fear."

Lamenting the death of Sultan Maccido and other Nigerians in the crash, Dogo said "Now look at the prominent people that we have lost in plane crashes," adding "the government should really check some people in the aviation industry who are not doing

their jobs before further incident of another plane crash takes place in future." "The Federal Government should do some concrete thing and insist that any plane that is older than five years should not be allowed to operate in Nigeria. The government just has to make a make law and enforce it so that there will be a stop to all these unfortunate incidence that is taking place in the country.

"There is no country when you have this serious air disaster within a year where prominent people died and nothing is done to forestall future occurrence. This is not a good omen for our country. When Bellview plane had this mishap, we expected that all these older airplanes that are being used in Nigeria would have been put away. Also, the Sosoliso incident took place and nothing was done and then now the ADC. I think it is too much. Let us see what the government does next."

Posted by Publisher at 08:38 AM | Comments (0)

2007: The president’s candidate…

“In 2007, there will be no problem. President Obasanjo has told me who will be the next president and vice president and these people are going to occupy the positions” — Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006
By Muhammad Al-Ghazali

The name Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu provokes different views and emotions among a wide spectrum of Nigerians.

There are many who believe he is the doyen of political thugs, or, at best, a loafer and political mercenary of the meanest hue, whose services are always available to the highest bidder. But love or hate him, there are a few things which seem beyond dispute about the man: He is the undisputed strongman of Ibadan politics and any presidential wannabe can only ignore him at great peril. If anything, his words are always backed by actions often at the expense of anyone foolish enough to contest his tenacious hold on his territory.

And thinking in that sense, if Ibadan is comparable to a territory occupied by a pride of lions, Adedibu has certainly done enough in the past several decades to suggest that he is the only male in the pack. There is even the suggestion that the president, an unrepentant bully that he may seem to many, is also in awe of Adedibu for his ruthless efficiency in political debauchery.

A little over a year ago, Alhaji Lam Adesina, former governor of Oyo State and Adedibu’s erstwhile political godchild, thought he could play games with his mentor when he reneged on a pre-arranged deal to share the state’s security votes and was quickly shown the door from the Government House. Yet, it was not as if Adedibu, who will be 78 this week, was shamed by the shocking revelations about the genesis of their disagreement.

In fact, he was the first to go public with the details of the deal and how he felt betrayed by Adesina. And as it later transpired in this ever perplexing nation of ours, by the time Adedibu was through with him, it was Adesina who had the greater compulsion to hide his face in shame. Ordinarily, such brazen indiscretion would have qualified any transgressor for a choice space in Ribadu’s dungeons, but it is Adedibu and Nigeria we are talking about here for, God’s sake!

In a tragedy that may well be replayed in Plateau State this very week, Adesina discovered that neither the laws of the land nor the constitution were sufficient to retain him in his plum job. But the profound lesson was that Adesina’s humiliation was at the instance of a man many have dismissed as a stark illiterate!

So what makes him tick? What gives him such awesome longevity in a ‘profession’ in which only he appears to be the ultimate master? Why has his home in the Molete district of Ibadan become such a Mecca for presidential hopefuls since the days of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua? Why is his ego being massaged by every politician alive today including the president?
The posers are many, but for answers, we need only to look further than ourselves in the mirror. Adedibu may be a master of his profession, but his politics is completely devoid of principles or even ideology.

In their place, he has substituted fear, intimidation and insatiable greed. His crude methods are fuelled by our collective hunger, insecurity and rabid underdevelopment in a land where violence, ignorance and mediocrity interface with uncommon venom and velocity. With such a background, it is obvious that even if Adedibu did not exist, the megalomaniacs in power today, and those angling to succeed them, would have found a way to create someone in his image, because without people like Adedibu, they would be out of business.

After all, were our politics to be defined by issues, competence and ability, his type would pale into irrelevance as could be expected in any society founded on justice and the rule of law. Sadly, in that context, Adedibu is every inch the victim as much as the villain.

These are why the 2007 elections have become ever so important. The statement quoted at the beginning of this piece may appear like a huge joke to those who don’t know Lamidi Adedibu, but he actually made them on a state-owned television programme in Ibadan last week. And, unless we indulge in self-denial, they cannot be dismissed with casual indifference.

Adedibu may be a terror to his adversaries, but even he could not have succeeded in removing a sitting governor without the trust and close collaboration of today’s occupants of Aso Rock. And so informed is the man that over the weekend, he even dared to ‘reveal’ what many consider to be the worst kept secret in the land by ‘exposing’ the identity of our next president.

Addressing supporters of the Rivers State governor, Peter Odili and party faithful at his home in Ibadan after a visit by the presidential aspirant, Adedibu declared that “Odili must be the president of this nation in 2007 because there is a clear indication that Obasanjo loves him, just as he loves Obasanjo.”

If we forgive Adedibu for reducing the very important matter of our presidential elections to the level of the love affair between two mere mortals, his antecedents suggest that we cannot ignore his intricate knowledge of the ‘system’ or the garrison brand of democracy we have in place presently. As we approach crunch time, and with the PDP primaries only a few weeks away, Peter Odili may not be the last presidential contender to solicit the ‘support’ of Adedibu either, but he is the only one with more than a fistful of naira, which he could afford to spray like confetti.

Again, unless we ignore the lessons of our recent experience, that factor should be music to the ears of not only Adedibu but disciples of ‘Amala’ politics across the country. In openly endorsing his candidacy, not only did Adedibu raise Odili’s hand in the fashion of a referee at the conclusion of a boxing bout, he even pledged the support of the entire South-West pointing at the presence of Osun and Oyo states governors at the event as indication of Odili’s acceptability in the South-West.

The posers are: given what we already know of our democracy, and the likes of Adedibu, how many candidates in the race can possibly match Peter Odili in ‘resources’ and how do we avert or even minimise the preponderance of moneyed politics in the next elections?

When the PTDF scandal first broke, I wrote against the unnecessary haste to crucify the Vice President without getting at the root causes of the sordid affair. I saw an excellent opportunity for a post-mortem to cleanse the system along with our electoral laws, because in any civilised democracy, there are several ways to run a political campaign and operating a slush fund is not one of them. Now, going by the reaction of Akin Osuntokun, the Special Adviser to the president on Political Affairs who was the Director of Media and Publicity for the Obasanjo/Atiku campaign in 2003, the warning has never been more urgent.

Responding to claims by the Atiku camp that he benefited from the controversial PTDF account, he responded: “Was it proper and legitimate for me to receive support for campaign activities I was directing? How was I to know that a particular donor was donating or contributing proceeds of corruption (as attested to by the Atiku Abubakar campaign organisation)?”

I am almost ashamed to add that if the Director of Media and Publicity in the presidential campaign of the biggest political party in Africa was ignorant of the sources of funding for a campaign in which he was the chief spokesman, then we must be in serious trouble. If we accept his perplexing naivety, the funding may well have come from the American Mafia, a cartel of fake drug manufacturers run out of business by Dora Akunyili’s NAFDAC or even the association of 419 kingpins ravaged by Ribadu’s EFCC.

What about the union of residents displaced by el-Rufai’s bulldozers? Those are the risks we run when laws regulating campaign funding in the country are primitive, archaic or even non-existent. The National Assembly is yet to conclude its sittings on the PTDF affair, of course, but even while we await judgement from the law courts on the several suits filed in the wake of the scandal, we already know enough to believe that in 2003 at least, ‘unknown’ donors conspired to hijack the government from the Nigerian people.

Such a development is a luxury we can ill-afford and should be a call to arms to all genuine democrats.
In America, from where we copied our system of government, funding presidential elections is a serious affair. Strict regulations exist on campaign funding from the primaries to the elections proper.

Candidates must meet special conditions to qualify for state funding. A clear distinction also exists between soft money (corporate contributions) and hard money (individual contributions), which must not exceed two thousand dollars per individual. That is not to suggest, however, going by the series of litigation their own system has experienced over the years that their system is flawless. In 1996 and 1997, for instance, there were stories of Lincoln bedroom sleepovers and Chinese funding which drew wide criticism in the American media.

These prompted the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) or the McCain-Feingold law after its chief sponsors. Some loopholes still exist, of course, but by and large, the system has been sanitised to an appreciable level.

But my problem with campaign funding in Nigeria — and I have gone through the relevant sections of our constitution and INEC regulations — is that the vital aspect of funding presidential campaigns has not been accorded the prominence it deserves. Candidates can spend obscene amounts in self-glorification without disclosing their sources of funding.

The law requires INEC to publish audited reports of the books of political parties, but I can’t ever recall coming across any. But if they even exist at all, they have certainly not been given the wide circulation they deserve. The risk we run for our alarming lethargy and the near total paucity of regulation of the entire process is that for a developing nation such as ours, the tragedy is that vital funds required for urgent social services could be diverted to fund the campaigns of individuals who have done little to uplift the masses from the squalor of poverty and disease.

It is hard to ignore the determination of Nuhu Ribadu in the fight against corruption, but if he is serious about preventing Nigeria from becoming a ‘tokunbo’ country like he claimed, he needs to change his strategy by beaming the searchlight of the EFCC on the vital aspect of campaign funding to prevent crooks from hijacking government at all levels. What is the source of funding for the extravagant campaigns of all the PDP governors who have declared interest in the presidency? How did they come about the money? The National Assembly must also re-examine our laws to halt the proliferation of political godfathers like Chris Uba and Lamidi Adedibu who may be tempted to believe that the noble act of public service is not more than the primitive exchange of commodities.

el-Rufai for president?
Last week, the grapevine was alive with stories that FCT Minister Nasir el-Rufai was high on the list of candidates being tapped up to replace OBJ next year and I actually belly-ached with laughter. The sheer arrogance of the suggestion aside, a man who could not deliver on a promise he made to staff of government agencies whose lands were revoked only to be shared out with brazen impunity cannot be trusted with power. But that is even the beginning of his problems.

If he dares leave the relative safety of his present job, he would discover, if he is not already aware, that demolition, especially of the image variety, is equally a fair and useful tool in politics, and not necessarily restricted to the restoration of any master plan!

In the meantime, let us pray for the repose of the soul of the late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido and all victims of the ACD plane crash last Sunday. The sad news of the tragedy reached me just as I was concluding this piece.

Posted by Publisher at 08:33 AM | Comments (0)

Police confirm death of DCP Lawal

LAGOS—It was yesterday confirmed that former Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba, Mr Musiliu Lawal was among victims of Sunday plane crash at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

By Evelyn Usman and Kingsley Umoh
Posted to the Web: Tuesday, October 31, 2006

It was also revealed that the deceased who headed SCID between year 2002 and 2005 could have aborted the trip, following a scramble for the last ticket between his son and another passenger.

The deceased son, Onyema Lawal disclosed that he personally went to the airport on Saturday to purchase the ticket for his father, only to be informed by one of the attendants that just one remained.
According to him, “another passenger who equally came to buy ticket wanted to outsmart me but at the end I succeeded in getting the ticket, while he left without one. Had I known it would cost the life of my father I would have allowed the other man to buy it”, he regretted.

Mr Lawal who until his death was Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Police Command, reportedly visited his Oba Ogunjobi residence, Ikeja on Tuesday last week and was on his way back to his station when the unexpected happened.

Tears flowed freely as relations and sympathizers throng the deceased residence. The visibly shaken widow who was yet to come to terms with her husband’s sudden death , sat speechless and stared into space.

Posted by Publisher at 08:27 AM | Comments (0)

October 30, 2006

2007: North-West ANPP goes to court over election

THE North-West Forum of Chairmen and National Officers of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has resolved to take legal action to see that 2007 election was conducted as schedule, despite apparent moves and moveuovres of the ruling PDP to elongate their tenure by not supplying INEC with necessary materials to conduct voters’ registration.

By SANI AHMAD BICHI

This was disclosed by the chairman of the forum who is also the national vice chairman North-West of the party in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Kaduna last Saturday.

The forum also resolved to establish a zonal secretariat which will coordinate offices within the zone.

They also condemned the way and manner INEC is conducting the voters’ registration as it is not in line with the assurance given by the chairman.
The communiqué further called on INEC to take judicial action on all elected officers who defected from the party by declaring their posts vacant as in the case of Plateau state.

The communiqué however, extended the appreciation of the national secretariat to all the party’s teeming supporters for their unflinching loyalty.

Earlier in his opening speech, the chairman had expressed the objective of the committee to ensure resounding victory of the party at all levels through ensuring unity and internal cohesion, conflict resolution, justice, faith and equitable treatment of party members.

As the biggest opposition party, ANPP should capitalize on the happenings and weaknesses of the ruling party, it added.

Answering questions from reporters after the meeting, Kano state ANPP chairman, Hon. Sani Hashim Hotoro urged the people of the zone to cherish the virtues of honesty, resourcefulness, respect, enormous leadership quality bestowed on them. He also stressed that as Muslims, who believe that it is God who gives power to whosoever he so wishes, so the A mai-maita slogan is a wish.

Posted by Publisher at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)

Corruption: Errant police men will be procecuted –Ehindero

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, has stressed that any police officer that engage in corrupt practices will be prosecuted.

By Akin Oyedele, Ibadan
Published: Monday, 30 Oct 2006

He also warned that the new police force now had zero tolerance for corruption and its attendant ramifications.

Ehindero spoke in Ibadan on Friday while delivering the 26th annual alumni lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association.

The lecture was entitled: ”The Nigeria police in the emerging democratic culture.”

He added that the force was committed to the enthronement of transparency, accountability and due process to gain the confidence of the civil populace.

He said, ”A corrupt police force is an ineffective, inefficient and disrespected police force. Any member of the force, no matter how highly or lowly placed , who dishonours his uniform by engaging in these despicable acts, will not only face dismissal, but will also be prosecuted.”

The police boss said the phenomenon of corruption in the force was a moral question, that required attitudinal change to reverse.

Ehindero said the challenges he faced before unravelling the identity of the suspected killers of Sa‘adatu, wife of the former Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, was remarkable.

He said his entire career as a police officer he had never been confronted with such daunting challenge, where the bereaved already passed a vote-of-no-confidence on the police even before the commencement of investigation.

He also said that many people criticised him when he took over investigations into the murder of a Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Dr. Ayo Daramola.

He said with the inroad made so far in the investigation, he had been vindicated, adding that high profile killings required high profile investigation.

The police boss said the major challenge facing the police was lack of necessary equipment and logistics.

Like in Rimi‘s wife‘s murder case, he said the public did not give the police any chance to get to the root of Daramola‘s murder.

He said the people became anxious, especially when he requested for forensic back up to assist the police in fingerprint investigation.

Posted by Publisher at 10:18 AM | Comments (0)

Masari’s camp alleges plot to manipulate PDP primaries

Front runner in the 2007 gubernatorial polls in Katsina State and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, has alleged plans by Governor Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to manipulate the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in Katsina in favour of his 'anointed' candidate, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, the party's deputy national chairman (North), and a former commisioner in Yar'Adua's cabinet.

By ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Abuja
Monday, October 30, 2006

In a statement weekend, Mustapha Aliyu, an aide to the Speaker, said part of the plot was to deny delegates and candidates at the ward elections scheduled to hold this week, accreditation papers, except handpicked candidates and those sympathetic to the government's preferred candidate.

He warned that if that was allowed to happen, the hitherto tranquil political atmosphere in Katsina could be ruptured.

His words: "Some disturbing reports recently emerged from Katsina to the effect that the governor has finalised arrangements to foist Alhaji Ibrahim Shema as the People's Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate on the state. Shema is currently the party's deputy chairman (North). This attempt at imposition has already left a sour taste in the mouth of the teeming populace and the political repercussion may be too grave for the PDP itself to contemplate.

The party must therefore rise up, act fast and retrieve itself from the dangerous precipice which the governor appears to be driving it."

The statement urged the party leadership at the state and national levels "to ensure compliance with the party's electoral guidelines for gubernatorial and other offices, which the Yar'Adua group are bent on subverting for their selfish ends."

Only recently, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Alhaji Iro Abubakar Dan Musa, raised alarm that the whole process for the state's gubernatorial primaries had been hijacked by the governor and forces loyal to the government who, he said, are hellbent on foisting their preferred candidate as the party's flagbearer.

Speaking at a press conference in Katsina on behalf of three leading gubernatorial hopefuls: Speaker Masari, former Internal Affairs minister, Magaji Mohammed and Ibrahim Safana, the party stalwart feared that even though "the state special ward congress is only a few days away, nobody, except aspirants presumably favoured by Governor Yar'Adua, are aware of the congress or where to obtain forms for it."

He alleged plot by the government to fill elective positions in the forthcoming elections in 2007 by appointment. He alleged that "nomination forms have been printed and secretly distributed to those slated to be appointed."

Posted by Publisher at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2006

Plateau CJ: Dariye Has Received Impeachment Notice

Plateau State Chief judge, Justice Lazarus Dakyen has confirmed that the state Governor, Chief Joshua Dariye has been served with the impeachment notice by eight legislators of the state House of Assembly.

10.21.2006

The chief judge, however, explained to newsmen on Thursday that he was not delaying action on the matter, having only been served with the notice on Monday, even though the letter was dated October 13.

Dakyen said he was still within the seven working days time frame allowed him by law to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations against Dariye.

The chief judge is, under Section 188 of the 1999 constitution, required to within seven working days of the receipt of a notice of impeachment, name a panel to investigate the allegations against the governor with a view to determining his guilt or otherwise.

Dakyen, who also confirmed he had started work on constituting the panel, said his work would not be impeded by the suit filed by some members of the House of Assembly challenging the legality of the sitting of the Dapialong group.

Before now, Dariye has said that he's yet to receive the impeachment notice. But the chief judge's claim is hereby put an end to Dariye's assertion.

The battle to get Dariye impeached has been a long drawn one. After he jumped bail in London over charges of money laundering, the EFCC has since established that the governor has corruptly used the state funds to enrich himself.

While the kite of allegations was flying in different direction against the governor, he came out to defend himself, saying he did not spend the ecological funds alone. He said part of it was donated to the presidential campaign of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003. The presidency, of course, refuted such brazen allegation.

The quest to impeach Dariye pitched him against the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu. But the EFCC intervened and arrested the leadersahip of the state House of Assembly on the ground that they were also beneficiaries of the governor's loot. When the EFCC released some of the state lawmakers, the first assignment was to get Dariye impeached.

But this came with resistance from Dariye group. In fact, Mantu's house and other properties were torched by Dariye's group last weekend. Only eight members out of the 24 lawmakers volunteered to carry out the impeachment exercise.

That's the basis of the cat and mouse game between the lawmakers and the executive arm of the state government. The eight lawmakers have been sitting under tight security with Dariye claim ing non-receipt of the impeachment notice from the chief judge.

Meanwhile, the scheduled sitting of the eight legislators could not hold on Thursday as the members failed to turn up in spite of the overwhelming presence of security agents.

The security operatives, who cordoned off the assembly complex area early in the morning, gradually withdrew when it became clear that the legislators were not coming.

Posted by Publisher at 02:46 PM | Comments (0)

Olurin Woos Ekiti, Dangles Carrots

In line with his promise of enthroning peace and stability in Ekiti State, Sole Administrator Brig-adier General Adetunji Olurin yesterday dangled carrots including an upw-ard review of salaries to the state痴 civil servants.

By Our Reporters, 10.21.2006

Olurin was Thursday appointed Sole Admini-strator of crisis-ridden Ekiti State following a declaration of a state of emergency in the state by the Federal Government.

The Sole Administrator told top civil servants in the state at an interactive session in Ado Ekiti that he would soon set up a committee to examine the upward review of salaries of workers in the state.

Olurin assured that all on-going projects in the state would be completed by his administration.
Olurin, who claimed that he had no track record of abandoning projects, maintained that he would not embark on any frivolous projects.

While charging civil servants to be loyal and rededicate themselves to duty, Olurin further warned that he would not tolerate indolence and other vices.
He stated that his administration would follow the laid down channels of communication in getting things done in the state.

He said following the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government in the state, he would rely on permanent secretaries and by extension, the civil servants for the day-to-day running of government.
He therefore directed all the permanent secretaries in the state civil service to take up the responsibilities of commissioners in their various ministries.

Speaking earlier, the Head of Service, Elder Segun Bankole described the last few weeks as the testiest period in the history of Ekiti State.

Bankole pledged the loyalty and cooperation of the entire workforce of the state to the new administrator.
Meanwhile, Presidential aspirant Professor Pat Utomi yesterday canvassed for the immediate return of constitutional rule in Ekiti State. Utomi in a press release signed by his campaign organisation viewed with grave concern the political and constitutional crisis in Ekiti state, which ultimately culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency.

He described the development in Ekiti state as a serious set back to the evolution of a true democratic culture in Nigeria. While also condemning all acts of fraudulent malpractice allegededly perpetuated by state Governors and indeed all elected political actors, he submmited that the process of correcting and indeed removing any erring Governor must follow the constitutional due process.

It is important to identify the fundamental and root cause of the problem in Ekiti state with a view to avoiding a repeat of this kind of situation in the future, one the flaw in the selection process of candidates adopted by the PDP ultimately resulting in the allegation raised against the Governor as not of worthy character.

Secondly failure of INEC to conduct free, transparent and fair elections, which resulted in the disconnect of the citizenry from the state, this makes for poor accountability as people feel powerless relative to office holders because of such flawed electoral processes. Thirdly, a sad political culture in which the states are seen and run as if they were private estates of the elected Governors, widely abusing public trust and the common wealth,・Utomi said.

He said that solving the problem by perpetuating military rule through other means is to ensure that true democracy never really emerges in Nigeria thereby subjecting the Nigeria people to perpetual servitude and prolonged economic under-performance in our country.
According to him the only guarantee of the progress our people deserve is in the ensuring of the sanctity of the rule of law and the deliberate nurturing and development of a true Democratic culture.

He urged the Federal Government to immediately return Ekiti State to constitutional rule and use constitutional means to punish erring officers.
But former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, has accused President Olusegun Obasanjo of nursing an agenda to perpetuate himself in office with the state of emergency declared on Ekiti State on Thursday.

However, factional Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa differed expressing support for the action, which he said was constitutional.

Adeshina, who spoke with newsmen in his Ibadan residence, remarked that developments in the country pointed to the direction that Obasanjo was plotting to perpetuate himself in office.

According to the former governor, it is a tragedy that we should have another state of emergency at this point in time and the whole thing is leading to political catastrophe. I felt very sad when I heard that a state of emergency has been declared.

Adeshina pointed out that the federal government has made up its mind on the Ekiti issue, arguing that the government only played along with the lawmakers to drive away Fayose. Was it not with the knowledge of the federal government that the honourable members of the House of Assembly went to Lagos to hide somewhere and sent the impeachment notice to Fayose. I am not pleading for Fayose, he has done very bad as a governor. He has not only spoilt the name of Ekiti people but the Yoruba people of Nigeria,・he said.

Also, National Chairman of the National Action Council (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro, has condemned the appointment of an ex-military man, Olurin as sole administrator of Ekiti State, saying it is an assault on the sensibilities of Nigerians.

It is an insult on the psyche of Nigerians. It is a slap on the face of civilians...It is regrettable and could be said to mean that Mr. President does not have confidence in the ability of a civilian. That means that this country is still under military structure. We want this reversed,・he said.

Posted by Publisher at 02:44 PM | Comments (0)

I’ve Nothing Against IBB, Says Oshiomhole

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that he has nothing against former military President, Ibrahim Babangida.

By Paul Mumeh,Assistant Editor, Abuja
21st October

Oshiomhole was reported as saying "IBB’s stolen wealth surpasses Nigeria’s debt" at this year’s edition of Sanyaolu Memorial Lecture in Kaduna.

He was said to have been represented by former Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Dr Festus Iyayi.

Babangida, had fired back, saying Oshiomole lives above his earnings.

Babangida’s Media Assistant, Kazeem Afegbua, had said on Thursday: "Our initial inclination was to ignore Oshiomhole since we know that he is a political hireling but for his choice of speaking through a no mean personality than Festus Iyayi, who holds the exalted position of President of ASUU.

"We owe Nigerians a moral duty to respond to this allegation in order to correct this obvious misconception and blatant falsehood.

"One thing that baffles us is the level of ignorance being exhibited by people who, ordinarily, should, by their training and background, know the simple indices of developmental economics and the challenges of a developing nation like ours.

"It is our considered view that rather than advertise falsehood and unverifiable statistics to give … Babangida a bad name, … Oshiomhole should concern himself with his new challenge of trying to present himself for election as a governorship aspirant in Edo State".

He said much as they did not have any problem with Oshiomhole’s qualification to seek election, "it will also interest the electorate to know how (he) came about his stupendous riches, particularly as a labour leader, to warrant his rather ostentatious life-style, much of which is done in pretence at the expense of the masses.

"Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Beyond the characteristic austere look of Oshiomhole lies his acquisitive demeanour to the extent that he owns choice houses in Kaduna, Abuja and Edo, yet portraying a pro-masses labour leader on the one hand, while exploiting them on the other hand as an agent of the ruling elite.

"The masses have become more alert to the pranks of those who profess to be doing their bidding under pretence, and will be more than prepared to demand accountability when the time comes."

Insisting that it was not in Babangida’s character to join issues with his subordinates, Afegbua: "We owe the electorate a duty to present facts that are verifiable for the sake of history, rather than making careless, libellous, bogus and outrightly unsubstantiated remarks in the name of academic scholarship.

"It is rather unfortunate that those who are supposed to be informed have also been carried away by sheer sentiments and sensationalism in the name of seeking public relevance.

"Iyayi should take time out to question the source of wealth of Oshiomhole instead of making bogus claims that apparently undermine his intellectuality".

But the NLC boss denied making the statement yesterday in Abuja.

The statement, he stressed, could at best be properly credited to the author, Iyayi, who represented him at the lecture.

Oshiomhole, who spoke through his Special Assistant, Olaitan Oyerinde, stated that he did not hold such views nor had any evidence to prove that Babangida’s alleged stolen wealth was more than the nation’s debt.

Posted by Publisher at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)

Our Leaders Should Undergo Psychiatric Test - Ribadu

THE chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Thursday in Lagos declared that those intending to become the leaders of the country should be mandated to undergo psychiatric test to check the growing rate of public looting.

By Dapo Falade and Dele Ayeleso - 21.10.2006

Ribadu gave the charge while speaking at a public lecture tagged “Social Renewal and the Opportunity for Retroopectives” organised to mark the 60th birthday anniversaryof Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd) at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

According to Ribadu, who was represented at the event by Mr. Ibrahim Ramon, the rate of looting of public funds was becoming alarming and, as such, those coming in to assume leadership responsibilities must be made to undergo thorough medical examinations.

Alleging that more than N43 trillion naira has so far been looted from the national treasury. the EFCC boss said Nigeria has more than enough resources to make it grow at par with most of the western countries but for the alarming rate of public corruption which, he said, was retarding national growth and development.

Stating that corruption has long been established in the country before the advent of the late General Sani Abacha in power, he noted, however, that the late maximum ruler had made a name for himself and his family as the greatest looter Nigeria had ever produced.

“As you are all aware in this hall, there has never been any other president in this country that was as corrupt as the late General Abacha,” he said.

Various speakers at the event eulogised the virtues of the celebrant, Admiral Akhighe, whom many of them saw as being in a good stead to become the nation’s next president.

Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme said he was proud of the celebration, adding that he was proud of the determination of General Abdulsalam Abubakar and Akhigbe to hand over the reigns of governance to a civilian government in 1999, noting that it had never been easy giving up a position of power voluntarily.

For the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akolu, the birthday lecture signified two things namely, hope for Nigeria and that the efficiency and capability of the Nigerian Police to make positive changes in the country was not in doubt.

“Nuhu Ribadu and his team has achieved what Napoleon could not do. But they should not do what they should not do. They should act within the ambit of the law and they should not fear anybody, even if Akiolu is involved. And they should not allow themselves to be used as personal instrument,” he noted.

Posted by Publisher at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

Fayose Goes To S' Court

Impeached Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose yesterday dragged the Federal Government to the Supreme Court over the declaration of emergency rule in the state.

From Ifedayo Sayo, Yinka Aderibigbe (Ado-Ekiti) and Lemmy Ughegbe (Abuja)

The suit, initiated on his behalf by the sacked Ekiti Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice, Awosein Ajayi against the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) seeks to invalidate the emergency regime

His action came as the suspended Acting Governor, Chief Friday Aderemi and Fayose's deputy, Mrs Biodun Olujimi refuted reports that they were under house arrest.

Fayose in the suit seeks the withdrawal of the conferment of recognition to the administrator of the state, Brig. Gen. Tunji Olurin (rtd), appointed by President Obasanjo, following his declaration of emergency rule in the state.

In an originating summons filed by Dr Alex Iziyon (SAN), the plaintiff prayed the apex court for the following reliefs:

* a declaration that the imposition of the state of emergency in Ekiti State by the President was unconstitutional.

* a declaration that the President Republic of Nigeria wrongly exercised his powers pursuant to the provision of Section 305 and therefore the said action was unconstitutional, and

* a declaration that the Sole Administrator cannot take over or administer Ekiti State from October 19, 2006 or any date thereof as his appointment was illegal.

Ajayi in the suite admitted that there were some allegations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Fayose and Olujimi. He also recounted the impeachment processes in the House

Fayose maintained that there was no breach of law and order, actual of threatened or apparent in Ekiti State before the state of Emergency was declared by Obasanjo.

In separate interviews with The Guardian, Aderemi and Olujimi said media reports about their house arrest were not true and did not reflect the happenings in the state.

Olujimi and Aderemi were at the centre of the political crisis that led to the Federal Government's imposition of emergency rule in Ekiti on Wednesday.

But Olujimi, who welcomed the action of the Federal Government said there was no basis for the government to restrict her movement.

She said there was no violence and at no time was she a security threat.

The impeached deputy governor maintained that she would remain a law-abiding citizen, adding that her disagreement with Aderemi bothered on keeping to the rule of law as against jungle justice.

Aderemi who spoke through his special assistant, Mr Charles Adenitan, said he was in government house throughout Thursday to receive the sole Administrator so as to hand over to him.

He said his movement was never restricted and there was no basis for him to go out to jubilate saying the situation called for sober reflection on how the state got to its present situation.

Olurin met with top civil servants in the state yesterday and asked them to brace up for a better service delivery.

At the meeting attended by Head of Service, Mr Segun Bankole and permanent secretaries, Olurin urged the workers to be punctual at work and warned them against acts that could affect their optimal productivity.

He asked the permanent secretaries to take charge of their ministries, saying all commissioners and special advisers had been directed to hand over government property in their possession to the most senior civil servants in their ministries.

Posted by Publisher at 02:18 PM | Comments (0)

12 feared dead in Lagos boat mishap

Twelve persons were feared dead in Lagos on Thursday when a passenger boat capsized.

By Olalekan Adetayo
Published: Saturday, 21 Oct 2006

The ill-fated boat reportedly left Liverpool in Apapa for Igbo-Elejo Village at about 10pm on Thursday with about 18 passengers.

No sooner had the boat taken off than it developed a mechanical fault on the high sea.

Before the fault could be rectified, the boat reportedly capsized with all the passengers on board drowned.

Our correspondent learnt that the owners of the ill-fated boat later mobilised a small speed boat to the scene of the accident on a rescue mission.

As at the time of filing this report, only six of the 18 persons on board the boat had been rescued alive.

The mishap came barely five days after six persons died in another boat accident at Takwa Bay in Lagos.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Mr. Olubode Ojajuni, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the accident to our correspondent on Friday.

Ojajuni said a combined team of regular and marine policemen had already been drafted to the scene to comb the water for other victims.

The Area Commander in charge of Apapa, Mr. Femi Oyeleye, told our correspondent on the telephone that one of the survivors told him at the scene that the three rescue boats were deployed in the scene.

Oyeleye, an assistant commissioner of police, added that the survivor said that although six survivors were moved into one of the boats, he suspected that other survivors were conveyed in the other two.

This, the police boss said, indicated that the survivors might be more than six.

He said he had directed some of the victims’ relatives who approached him at the scene to the divisional police officer in charge of the area.

The police spokesman advised members of the public whose loved ones plied the route on Thursday and had not returned home to report such cases to the nearest police station.

Posted by Publisher at 01:22 PM | Comments (0)

What Olurin should do, by Alli, ex-emergency administrator

FORMER emergency administrator of Plateau State and retired Chief of Army Staff, Major General Chris Alli(rtd), has commended the Federal Government for taking what he described as “urgent step” to avert a constitutional crisis which according to him has the proclivity to derail the 2007 general elections.

By Celestine Okafor Asst. Editor
Posted to the Web: Saturday, October 21, 2006

Gen. Alli also had words of advice to the Ekiti State administrator, Major General Tunji Olurin (rtd).

“The President has taken an urgent and timely step to avert a serious political crisis that would have engulfed the whole country. I think this move is something all of us who are well-meaning in this country should commend the President for. He did not wait for the whole thing there (Ekiti) to degenerate to the level of loss of lives and properties before intervention. The President has acted like a responsible and responsive father of this nation. By this act today (Thursday), he has lived up to his constitutional duty because head or tail, he will take the blame or praises as president of Nigeria as the case may be. I will urge all of us not to see the whole thing from the angle of politics, no. We are now talking about lives and properties and we know the political history regarding this kind of situation.

Something had to be done and early too and I think Mr. President has taken the bull by the horns. I salute him for that. If you recall, we had a near similar situation in Plateau and by providential grace, Mr. President appointed me to tackle the situation and I did my best to restore Plateau to the path of peace and reconciliation. I learnt my own lessons during those six months. Therefore, I commend President Obasanjo for this bold constitutional initiative. On the other hand, I will advise my colleague, General Tunji Olurin who by the grace of God has been appointed to do the same thing I did in Plateau. I will say he should approach his assignment with fear of God. He should be focused on the assignment given to him and that is to ensure peace in Ekiti State. He should be fair to everybody. Sycophants will come in very many guises, but he should seek God’s wisdom and separate the chaff from the wheat.

He should stay within his brief and remain neutral and fair as this serves as pre-condition for successful assignment. He should beware of so-called local power brokers, trouble makers and merchants of mischief. The people of Ekiti must know peace. I have no doubt that General Olurin is equal to the task. I wish him luck and a successful tenure.

Posted by Publisher at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)

I was misled, cries Ekiti Speaker

“I am on my own now. I have not heard from anybody again, and this is supposed to be a collective struggle. “I don’t know where I am going now”

By TUNDE RAHEEM, Ado, Ekiti
Saturday, October 21, 2006

Following the declaration of state of emergency in Ekiti State by President Olusegun Obasanjo and the subsequent arrest of the Acting Governor, Hon. Friday Aderemi, the embattled former Speaker of the House of Assembly has blamed his woes on members of the House whom he said, misled and stampeded him to accept the job of Acting Governor.

Aderemi before he was whisked away by the security operatives to the State Security Service command in the state, had summoned courage in telephone conversation with Saturday Sun Correspondent and lambasted the federal government for imposing emergency rule on the state.

Aderemi in another telephone conversation with Saturday Sun that Thursday evening would later lament that he was fed up with the whole scenario, saying that most of the lawmakers who caused the mess have now gone underground, leaving him to bear the brunt alone.
“I am on my own now. I have not heard from anybody again, and this is supposed to be a collective struggle. Where are they now”, he asked

The man who controversially acted as governor for a little less than two days further stressed that the trouble was becoming unbearable for him. “I don’t know where am going now”.
Aderemi, who was whisked away in a black Toyota car with two Prado jeeps as pilot to SSS office around 11:45 pm further stated that none of his colleagues (lawmakers) had called him to know his whereabouts or find out about the situation of things at his end.

Shortly after the arrival of the Sole Administrator, Major-General Tunji Olurin, Aderemi was moved out of Government House in a black jeep to an unknown destination
When Saturday Sun called him on his mobile phone Aderemi lamented that he had been moved out again, making it the second occasion the security men would take him away.
The conversation was on when the line went off and when the line was redialed for over ten times it had been switched off.

When Saturday Sun called at the official residence of the ex-Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Olujimi who had been placed under house arrest in the early hours of Thursday and later that evening taken to an unknown destination, there was presence of heavy security men. Her mobile phone had also been switched off.

When Saturday Sun sought to know the whereabouts of ‘Madam’ from one of the security men, he said: “don’t quote me, the woman is not inside again, she has been taken away by the SSS guys”.
Meanwhile most of the members of the state House of Assembly remained underground, with their mobile phones equally switched off.

Posted by Publisher at 01:18 PM | Comments (0)

Attah raises alarm of hostage taking

Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Victor Attah has expressed deep concern over the abduction of some expatriate oil workers in Eket recently by the Niger Delta Militants describing it as very unfortunate.

DENNIS UDOMA, Uyo

The reaction came barely two weeks after seven expartriate oil workers working with Exxon-Mobil were taken hostage, throwing the entire city into palpable fear.

Governor Attah, who disclosed this to newsmen on arrival from Abuja said the action by the militants may have been Master-minded or sponsored by people to dent the image of the state noted as one of the most peaceful in the region.

According to him, "There is a strong suspicion that the abduction was sponsored."

Obong Victor Attah, who is also a presidential hopeful on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said while in Abuja he held meetings with relevant agencies with a view to ensuring immediate release of the hostages.

Meanwhile, plans for the funeral of those victims at Essa-Akpan, the residential quarters where the raid by the Niger-Delta Freedom Fighters (NDFF) was carried out were on-going.

A source in the company, Hercules Nigeria Limited, disclosed this to Saturday Champion recently in Eket, describing the development as tragic and mournful.

Posted by Publisher at 01:04 PM | Comments (0)

Obasanjo was to be executed; Abacha not as evil as perceived - Akhigbe

Rear Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd), presidential aspirant and former number two man in the military administration of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has told the nation that President Olusegun Obasanjo was truly to be put to death by late Gen. Sani Abacha.

By NOMA NOMA

Akhigbe, whose government freed Obasanjo from prison, was interviewed on Channels Television on his 60th birthday anniversary and formal declaration to run for presidency.

Answering questions on why he was passive during the Abacha regime and particularly watched as Obasanjo was jailed on trumped up charges, he said the times were difficult for most of them to the point that they were not sleeping at home most nights.

In his words: don't forget that the idea was to execute Obasanjo. We did not only bring him out of jail, we reinstated him: The former naval chief who said he was an ordinary person who is not as rich as people think, also debunked the notion that the late dictator, Gen. Abacha was as evil as he has been painted.

Abacha was not as evil as he has been portrayed and he had the interest of the country at heart,・Akhigbe said.

Posted by Publisher at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

Rice says North Korea seeks to escalate crisis

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cast doubt on Saturday on reports that North Korea had pledged to stop nuclear tests, saying it seemed bent instead on escalating the crisis.

Sat Oct 21, 2006 6:27am ET
By Sue Pleming

News reports had raised hopes that tension was easing on Friday by saying North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had told China's special envoy Tang Jiaxuan this week that he planned no further nuclear tests.

But Rice met Tang in person in Beijing on Friday and then told reporters traveling onwards to Moscow with her that he had given no sign China had achieved such a diplomatic breakthrough.

"Tang did not tell me that Kim Jong-il either apologized for the test or said that he would not ever test again," she said.

Russia is the last stop on Rice's five-day trip, aimed at shoring up support for U.N. economic and weapons sanctions imposed on Pyongyang a week ago to punish it for conducting an underground nuclear test on October 9.

She played down news reports that Kim had told Beijing he "regretted" the test, which was condemned internationally, including by China, the North's closest ally and economic lifeline.

"The Chinese did not, in a fairly thorough briefing to me, say anything about an apology," she said. "The North Koreans, I think, would like to see an escalation of the tension."

She also questioned whether Pyongyang intended to return to six-party talks, which have been stalled for nearly a year.

Kim Kye-gwan, North Korea's top nuclear negotiator, earlier told U.S. television Pyongyang hoped to return to the table.

North Korea boycotts the talks because Washington, accusing it of counterfeiting money, is imposing restrictions on its external financing. Rice said these would remain in force.

FEW COMMITMENTS WON

She said before leaving China that North Korea's tone was still belligerent.

Rice's visits to Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing were overshadowed by speculation that the unpredictable communist state would conduct a second nuclear test.

On Friday, reports that Kim had told Tang no more nuclear tests were planned had raised hopes that the crisis was cooling.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a diplomatic source as saying: "I understand he (Kim) expressed clearly there was no plan to conduct nuclear tests."

Rice won few commitments from China and South Korea on implementing the restrictions on their impoverished neighbor.

China, a traditional ally of North Korea, is seen as having the greatest potential leverage over Pyongyang, but it also fears instability and a potential wave of refugees should sanctions against North Korea prompt its collapse.

It is opposed to North Korean ships being stopped and inspected on the high seas, one measure authorized by the U.N. resolution, believing it could provoke Pyongyang into stronger action.

The Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun reported on Saturday that China had begun restricting some of its exports to North Korea, including oil and home appliances.

But North Korea, underlining its defiance, said more than 100,000 people had rallied in the main square of Pyongyang on Friday to hail the nuclear test.

"The nuclear test was an exercise of the independent and legitimate right of the DPRK (North Korea) as a sovereign state," its official KCNA news agency quoted Choe Thae-bok, a senior member of the Workers' Party of Korea, as saying.

Posted by Publisher at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)

Bush resists major course change in Iraq

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush said on Friday he will resist election-year pressure for a major shift in strategy in Iraq, despite growing doubts among Americans and anxiety over the war among Republican lawmakers.

Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:42am ET
By Steve Holland

"Our goal in Iraq is clear and it's unchanging," Bush told Republican loyalists, denouncing Democrats who want a course correction as supporting a "doubt and defeat" approach.

But less than three weeks before November 7 elections, pressure is growing in the U.S. Congress for a major shift in a war that has cost the lives of at least 73 Americans in October alone.

"I don't believe we can continue based on an open-ended, unconditional presence," Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe was quoted as saying in The Washington Post.

"I don't think there's any question about that, that there will be a change" in the U.S. strategy in Iraq after the November 7 congressional elections, she added.

Addressing election-year concerns about Iraq that have many Republicans panicking about losing control of the U.S. Congress, White House spokesman Tony Snow said, "Political reasons do not win conflicts."

At the same time, Snow said Bush was open to adjusting military tactics in the face of a failed attempt to secure Baghdad.

Bush met for a half hour on Friday with visiting Gen. John Abizaid, who oversees the Iraq war as head of the U.S. Central Command, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

On Saturday, Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and top White House officials will meet U.S. military officials in Iraq for a long-scheduled videoconference. Abizaid will be a key presenter at that meeting, Perino said.

"The president is always listening to his commanders and his senior policy advisers on the tactics that are needed to win in Iraq and Afghanistan," she said.

Many Senate Republicans are awaiting the results of a special panel led by longtime Bush family friend and former Secretary of State James Baker, the Iraq Study Group, which is preparing recommendations for a shift in strategy.

The Baker report will not be issued until after the elections, in which Bush's Republicans risk losing control of the House of Representatives as well as the Senate.

COURSE CORRECTION?

White House officials say the recommendations will be reviewed seriously but have already rejected trial balloons such as a phased troop withdrawal, a dialogue with Iran and Syria, and a partitioning of Iraq.

Rumsfeld declined to say whether he believed a course correction was needed in Iraq.

"I think the way I'll leave it is I prefer to give my advice to the president," he said at the Pentagon. "I'm old-fashioned."

Democratic leaders of the House and Senate wrote a letter to Bush urging him to change course, saying the situation was deteriorating and "there is no effective plan for improvement."

"We've lost the hearts and minds of the people and we've become caught in a civil war," said Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who drew Bush's ire a year ago by calling for a troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Bush, raising $1 million for Republican candidates, invoked President Ronald Reagan, saying Reagan had the strong will to win the Cold War and that it would take similar backbone to win the war against Islamic militants.

"Despite all of the opposition that the president faced from the Democrats, he didn't waiver," he said. "He stood for what he believed."

(Additional reporting by Donna Smith, Deborah Charles and Tabassum Zakaria)

Posted by Publisher at 12:30 PM | Comments (0)

Nigerian leaders 'stole' $380bn

More than $380bn has either been stolen or wasted by Nigerian governments since independence in 1960, the chief corruption fighter has said.

Nigeria's chief corruption fighter Nuhu Ribadu says he will not relent

Nuhu Ribadu told the BBC that Nigeria has "nothing much" to show for the missing money.

He said the worst period for corruption was the 1980s and '90s, but currently two-thirds of governors are being investigated by Mr Ribadu's agency.

Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil exporter but most people are poor.

The country is regularly ranked as one of the most corrupt by graft watchdog Transparency International.

President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Ekiti State on Thursday after the governor was found guilty of siphoning state funds into personal bank accounts and receiving kickbacks.

Political corruption

Mr Ribadu said he had come up with his figure of $380bn stolen or wasted since independence "easily" through records kept by the Nigerian central bank and the ministry of finance.

"Basically, this money has gone to waste, nothing much to show for it," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

WHAT DOES $384.6BN BUY?

225 Space Shuttles
795,115 Rolls Royce Phantoms
400m PC computers
32m primary school rooms
3,800kg rice for each Nigerian

"Of course, probably part of it will have gone to outside stealing."

Mr Obasanjo's critics say the fight against corruption is being used to victimise his opponents ahead of next year's elections.

Mr Obasanjo is not standing after an attempt to let him seek a third term was defeated.

But Mr Ribadu denied he has a political motive in his fight against corruption.

"When you are doing this kind of work, you will always be accused of one thing or another."

Last month, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was indicted on charges of corruption, which could stop him from running for office.

He denies allegations he diverted $125m into personal business interests.

Mr Ribadu has led Nigeria's battle against corruption as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC says in the past two years it has recovered more than $5bn and has successfully prosecuted 82 people.

Money laundering

Mr Ribadu told the BBC that $140m had been recovered from one unnamed former Nigerian leader and that nearly $400m of illegally gained assets had been identified in the possession of a former governor of Bayelsa State.

Vice-President Abubakar denies corruption allegations

Last year, Nigeria recovered $458m found in Swiss bank accounts linked to the country's late military ruler Sani Abacha.

Mr Abacha was in power from 1993 to 1998 and is thought to have embezzled billions of dollars.

Last year his son, Abba Sani Abacha, was charged with money laundering and fraud after being extradited to Switzerland.

Despite the missing money Nigeria has managed to pay off its multi-billion dollar debt to the Paris Club of major lenders, thanks to high oil prices.

About $5bn is still owed to other lenders including the World Bank and the private sector.

Posted by Publisher at 12:21 PM | Comments (0)

Climate water threat to millions

Climate change threatens supplies of water for millions of people in poorer countries, warns a new report from the Christian development agency Tearfund.

By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Drought can devastate human populations and their livestock

Recent research suggests that by 2050, five times as much land is likely to be under "extreme" drought as now.

Tearfund wants richer states to look at helping poorer ones adjust to drought at next month's UN climate summit.

This week the UK's climate minister said he was confident of reaching an deal on adaptation funds at the talks.

There was an "urgent need" for such measures, Ian Pearson told a parliamentary committee.

It's the extremes of water which are going to provide the biggest threat to the developing world from climate change

Sir John Houghton

The Tearfund report, Feeling the Heat, urges donors to ramp up assistance quickly. Other charities are likely to make similar pleas in the run-up to the Nairobi summit, which begins on 6 November.

Citing research by the Oxford academic Norman Myers, Tearfund suggests there will be as many as 200 million climate refugees by 2050.

Areas where people are already on the move to avoid climate excesses include, the report says:

Brazil, where one in five people born in the arid northeast region relocates to avoid drought
China, where three provinces are seeing the spread of the Gobi desert
Nigeria, where about 2,000 sq km is becoming desert each year

Attributing the movement of people to climate impacts is, however, a difficult issue, with many other factors including economic opportunity behind decisions to relocate.

Level of rhetoric

One of Britain's leading climate scientists, Sir John Houghton, said the severity of climate change was getting through to world leaders "at a level of rhetoric", but not yet at a level of action.

"There were promises made at the G8 summit and at the last UN meeting in Montreal about money for adaptation," he told the BBC News website, "but I understand that very little of that has come through."

Sir John, who contributed a foreword to the Tearfund report, said water shortages would be the biggest climate threat to developing countries.

Enlarge Image

"It's the extremes of water which are going to provide the biggest threat to the developing world from climate change," he said.

"Without being able to be too specific about exactly where, droughts will tend to be longer, and that's very bad news. Extreme droughts currently cover about 2% of the world's land area, and that is going to spread to about 10% by 2050."

Overall, he said, climate models show a drying out of sub-Saharan Africa, while some other areas of the world will see more severe flooding.

Sir John is a former head of the UK Meteorological Office, former chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, and co-chaired one of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) working groups.

He is now chairman of the John Ray Initiative, whose mission is to "connect environment, science and Christianity".

The positive side of the Tearfund report is that simple measures to "climate-proof" water problems, both drought and flood, have proven to be very effective in some areas.

In Niger, the charity says that building low, stone dykes across contours has helped prevent runoff and get more water into the soil; while in Bihar, northern India, embankments have been built to connect villages during floods, with culverts allowing drainage.

Posted by Publisher at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)

Fears over Nigeria emergency rule

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo's declaration of a state of emergency in troubled Ekiti State has heightened fears ahead of landmark elections due next April.

By Senan Murray
BBC News website, Abuja

Mr Fayose's sacking means he can now be prosecuted

Local MPs voted to impeach governor Ayo Fayose on Monday after finding him guilty of siphoning state funds into personal bank accounts and receiving kickbacks.

But several senior politicians and legal figures complained that his removal was unlawful.

Analysts say Mr Fayose's sacking and the declaration of emergency rule in Ekiti were part of complex political scheming ahead of the general elections.

But the proclamation has also achieved the objective of the impeachment exercise by removing Governor Fayose from office and therefore leaving him liable for prosecution.

'Ominous sign'

Opposition politicians say it is an "ominous sign of things to come" in an election where Mr Obasanjo seems determined to influence the choice of his successor.

President Obasanjo told national television that he was taking action to prevent Ekiti descending into chaos.

For a solution, President Obasanjo, himself a retired army general, has appointed another retired general to run Ekiti State for the next six months.

While Maj Gen Tunji Olurin remains sole administrator in Ekiti, all democratic institutions in the state, including the local legislature, which impeached Mr Fayose, will remain suspended.

But the ruling party could well benefit from the move as the new governor is als