April 02, 2008

Kogi Chief Judge sacked

Written by Hassan A Karofi & Yusha’u Adamu Ibrahim, Kano
Wednesday, 02 April 2008

Chief Judge of Kogi State Justice Umaru Eri was removed from office yesterday by a resolution of the State House of Assembly, and acting governor Chief Clarence Olafemi immediately appointed Justice Sam Otah as the acting Chief Judge.

The acting governor announced the appointment soon after the state executive council meeting in Lokoja yesterday.

Justice Eri’s removal followed a resolution of the state House of Assembly directing the acting governor to remove him from office for alleged misconduct.

Eighteen members present on the floor of the House signed the resolution to remove the chief judge.

The house resolved that, "We the undersigned hereby resolve that an address be presented to His Excellency, the Governor of Kogi State, that the Chief Judge of Kogi State RT Hon. Umaru Eri be removed from office for misconduct under section 292 [1] [11] of 1999 constitution".

Those who signed the resolution include Osiyi Godwin Ojo, Akaba Musa, Atule Christopher Okoche, Yakubu Yunusa, Emmanuel Omobije, Ohiemi Z. Shaibu, Abdulahi I. Ali, Abdulahi Zakari and Adamu Mohammed.

Other signatories were Mustafa A. Alladey, Ismaila Inah Husseini, Idakwoji R Ilemona, Philip Orebiyi, Adams Kayode Olorunmo,

Mohammed Nwaha Abdulsalam, Jato Idis Adonu, Isah Ogirima Amoka, and Momojimoh Andas.

Soon after the resolution was adopted, the House went on a recess, to resume sitting on April 29.

This followed a motion by the minority leader, Tako Ndakwo Abduraman, seconded by the member representing Ogori/Magongo, Osiyi Godwin.

According to Section 292 (1) of the constitution: "A judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumcise –

In the case of –

Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital territory, Abuja and President, Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.

Chief Judges of a State, Grand Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal or President of a Customary Court of Appeal of a State, by the Governor acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly of the State praying that he be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct;

In any case, other than those to which paragraph (a) of this subsection applies, by the President or, as the case may be, the Governor acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council that the judicial officer be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct."

Posted by Publisher at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)

March 29, 2008

Why we banned ‘Hafsah’ - DG

Written by Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Kano
Saturday, 29 March 2008

Alhaji Abubakar Rabo Abdulkareem is the Director-General of the Kano state Censors Board, the body which was recently agged to court by the National President of the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sani Mu’azu over the ban of his film called ‘Hafsah’.

In this interview with Weekly Trust, Rabo speaks on why the movie was banned, and other issues raised by the MOPPAN President. Excerpts:

Weekly Trust: Why did you ban the movie ‘Hafsah’?

Abdulkareem Rabo: The Kano State Censors Board instituted a complaint to the mobile court assigned into its activities and responsibilities against various films produced outside Kano and marketed, circulated for the consumption of Kano people such films that were not brought before this board for licensing. The law establishing the board has given the board powers to equally censor and license films produced outside Kano, but intended for, or presently marketed in the state. Therefore such kinds of films were taken before the court of law for necessary action and of course ‘Hafsah’ was part of those films, which we complained to the court that were in circulation in the market while were not licensed by this board as request or provided by the law.

WT: But the producer said you did not contact him before the issuance of the ban…

Rabo: Obviously, there’s nothing bad for a constituted authority like ours to be contacting the individuals, but rather, the individuals should contact us. In other words it is a duty bound upon them to contact a constituted authority like Kano State Censors Board.

So I am expecting an individual stakeholder in the film industry to be wise enough by not only articulating himself with the law establishing his business but also to make sure that he is conducting or transacting is a very legal business. Obviously we don’t have to contact anybody because we assume and we believe particularly the MOPPAN President knows the power of the board that all films intended be marketed in the state must be licensed by this board because that’s the provision of the law. So, even if he is ignorant, I want to tell him that ignorance is never an excuse.

WT: But Mu’azu alleged that you publicly commended the film, only to turn around and ban it. Why this contradiction?

Rabo: I can have my opinion, my views about the content of a film but that does not in anyway negate the provision of law that ought to be respected by any film item intended to be marketed in the state. Therefore whether the content of the film is okay, whether the content of the film is obscene, the issue we charged ‘Hafsah’ with is purely the issue of non-licensing. That’s all.

I could have my personal opinion. But my personal opinion about a film does not make it above the law.

If, really, I made any commendation about ‘Hafsah,’ I am sure it is on one of the songs which were in the film, because it was a kind of song which I like, mostly because it portrays an element of my culture. That notwithstanding, there are other parts of the film which are more damaging compared to what I have earlier on highlighted because there are lots of songs that are unbecoming. Also various dancing scenes which cannot be allowed for public consumption not only in Kano, but in any responsible state where government is serious about the morality of its people.

WT: Are you saying that there are certain portions contained in ‘Hafsah’ that contravene the rules and regulations governing filmmaking in Kano?

Rabo: Obviously, the first relationship that should be strictly considered by both the producer and or the marketer is to bring the film for licensing and for censoring. It was from there that the board will start scrutinizing the content of the film in order to filter all unnecessary portions from the film. But if the film was not brought to the board, there are lots of segments particularly the immoral singing and dancing contained in the film that go out for public consumption. It is a duty put upon the board to have clear understanding about a film before licensing it. This cannot be achieved without censoring the film. So, licensing and censoring a film before circulation and or marketing in Kano is our legal mandate.

WT: But the producer said there is no need for the film to be censored because the contents of the film are not restricted to Kano people alone. What can you say about this?

Rabo: I am sad to hear one of the foremost elements of filmmaking in Nigeria say that. Being the president of MOPPAN, I expect him to not only be responsible, but to be enlightened enough to respect a constituted authority like our board. However, his statement is a clear testimony to the level of ignorance in the film industry. If, to say, the National President of MOPPAN could say that, then obviously I am sorry for the film industry.

WT: The producer accused members of the board for being sycophants in the discharge of their primary assignments, which he also described as deceptive…

Rabo: I will like to use this opportunity to warn, because to libel or to defame an officer of the Censors Board, or any government-related body, cannot be condoned. We are bound to impose our rights; we are bound to impose our rights as citizens of this country.

On the issue of rendering deceptive services, I also see this allegation as ridiculous. I want the National President of MOPPAN to face reality and address issues.

If by our saying that professionalism must be respected in the film industry or if by saying that certain immoral obscenities ought to be removed from films are assumed to be deceptive, then obviously we will remain deceptive because that’s our job.

WT: The producer of ‘Hafsah’ recently dragged the Censors Board to court over what he called ‘unnecessary ban’ of his film. What are the charges he leveled against you?

Rabo: The board has been served with summons and we are very happy to be before the constituted authority — I mean the court of justice, which will make it vividly clear to each and every person that the board has a constituted power to execute or carry out its responsibilities. I am expecting the court of justice will make vividly clear that this is a concurrent legislation from which the board has the power like that of the federal agency to censor, license and filter films intended to be produced or marketed in the state.

For the National President of MOPPAN to say that the law that established the board is unconstitutional, it portrays a level of ignorance among the stakeholders of film industry, particularly those who claim to be executives of the industry.

Posted by Publisher at 10:41 AM | Comments (0)

August 02, 2007

FG stops Hajj subsidy: Pilgrims to pay more

Pilgrims will no longer be granted concessionary currency exchange rate from next year, the Federal Government announced yesterday.

Written by AbdulFattah Olajide
Thursday, 02 August 2007

The Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. John Odey made the announcement while briefing State House correspondents after the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

He said the subsidised exchange rate being enjoyed by Muslim and Christian pilgrims will end with the 2007 pilgrimage for which the FEC has approved an exchange rate of N120 to $1. Even with this year’s concessionary exchange rate, the Hajj fares announced...

by the govern-ment range between N353,000 and N443,000 for pilgrims from the North, while their Southern counterparts will pay between N359,000 and N449,000.

The minister also announced government’s decision to return the Bureau of Public Service Reforms to the office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), from where ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo had earlier removed it to the Presidency.

The planned withdrawal of exchange rate subsidy would ostensibly hike next year’s Hajj fares and probably put Hajj beyond the reach of many intending pilgrims.

Odey explained that government’s decision to cancel the exchange rate subsidy for pilgrims was informed by the need to ensure

that only those who can afford the pilgrimage embark on it,since it’s a purely religious affair.

Said he: "the decision of government in doing this is in line with the religious doctrine. For you to go on Hajj, it is if you can afford it. It is not even compulsory.

The decision is also for effective and efficient mana-gement of the scarce resour-ces now".

The minister however stated that government would continue to facilitate pilgrimages through other means. "The government is funding the structure and other opportunities that will facilitate safe and easy arrangement for this pilgrimage, so the issue of subsidy is not the only area where government is obviou-sly giving considerations. The issue of subsidy as it pertains to travel is becoming a great issue of concern because government is recei-ving requests for concessio-nary exchange rates in so many areas that government cannot afford", he explained.

He added that relevant government agencies have been directed to give govern-ment’s decision to cancel the concessionary exchange rate adequate publicity.

On the reversal of the Obasanjo administration’s transfer of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms to the Presidency, the minister said a seven-man committee has been established to examine the proper status of the bureau and report to government within one week. The committee is expected to advice the government on whether the bureau should be autonomous or domiciled in the HOS’ office.

The committee which is headed by the Attorney general of the Federation and minister of Justice, has as members the Ministers of Information and Communication, Defence, Science and Technology, National Planning, Federal Capital territory and the HOS.

Posted by Publisher at 08:24 AM | Comments (0)

IMF questions Nigeria’s $200m satellite loan

A $200million foreign loan secured by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo to finance the launching of a communications satellite has been questioned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Written by Anas A. Galadima
Thursday, 02 August 2007

A $200million foreign loan secured by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo to finance the launching of a communications satellite has been questioned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The loan was secured on non-concessionary terms in January 2006 and was not reported to the Fund, a move that goes contrary to the agreement the government reached with the IMF under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) programme.

These revelations were made yesterday by the IMF in its latest report of its review on Nigeria.

According to the fund, the federal government secured the loans as early as 2006 and failed to report it to the IMF in its first two reviews of Nigeria under the PSI.

"A nonconcessional loan of $200 million was contracted in January 2006 to finance a communication satellite. This loan (0.2 percent of GDP) represents a small deviation from the program and does not substantially weaken Nigeria’s debt sustainability. The supplier’s contract was signed in 2004 and the satellite was launched in May 2007," the IMF report which was obtained by Daily Trust revealed.

"The authorities failed to ensure the accuracy of information provided to the Board on nonconcessional borrowing in the context of the completion of previous reviews under the PSI. The borrowing did not significantly undermine Nigeria’s debt sustainability. In light of this, and the authorities’ ongoing efforts to strengthen debt management, the Board decided to maintain a positive assessment of Nigeria’s past program performance under the PSI," said the IMF.

When officials of the Fund

raised the question with the government early this year when its officials visited the country for the third review of Nigeria’s PSI implementation in February this year, Nigerian officials admitted and said it was an omission.

IMF Executive Director for Nigeria, Peter Gakunu who reacted on behalf of the country said "The (Nigerian) authorities agree with the concern raised by the Fund. They have, therefore responded to Management’s letter on the subject and provided relevant documentation to assist clarify matters relating to the loan."

"As indicated in the authorities’ letter to Management and in the staff report, the loan

arrangement was part of a supplier’s contract agreement executed on December 15, 2004 when the PSI had not come into effect and was subjected to protracted negotiations which carried through 2005 to improve its terms."

He said "The authorities have regretted the oversight in not providing information on the loan during the first and second reviews of the PSI, which was also attributable to changes in key personnel in the Ministry of Finance, poor debt database and weak debt management capacity at the time. Given this experience, the authorities have now strengthened their debt management practices."

Based on the explanations, the IMF however decided to waive Nigeria’s non compliance in that regard and went ahead to do the review in February.

In the same report however, the IMF commended some of the reforms in the country.

"The Nigerian authorities are to be commended for implementing their reform program in recent years. The improved policy framework, strengthened institutions and macroeconomic policies, and major progress with wide-ranging structural reforms led to impressive macroeconomic outcomes—notably robust growth and low inflation—as well as improved investor confidence," the report said.

It added that: "Maintaining the reform momentum and safeguarding economic gains of recent years will be necessary to realize Nigeria’s growth potential, which is important for Nigeria’s fight against poverty."

Posted by Publisher at 08:22 AM | Comments (0)

Gunmen bomb Abuja factory, kill 2

A factory worker who watched armed men shoot dead two of his colleagues before they turned the gun on him yesterday told Daily Trust of his terrifying ordeal. Speaking from his hospital bed, the man who did not want to be named for ..

Written by Shehu Abubakar
Thursday, 02 August 2007

fear of attacks said the Dutse-Alhaji factory where he worked was attacked as he and colleagues locked up on Saturday night.

After shooting his colleagues dead, the four armed men blew up part of the BEOFA table water and yoghurt factory where they worked, he said.

The man said: "As they entered the company, they opened the bag and brought out guns. One of them asked us of the owner of the company and his wife. We told them that they don’t live around. We do not know where they live. One of them started pouring the contents of the jerry can all over the place. That was when we knew it was petrol because we perceived the odour of petrol.

"The other brought out many bombs from the bag and put them at strategic places in the factory. I am sure they must be more than ten. Meanwhile, two of the attackers had placed us at gun point. When those ones finished, they started calling us one after the other shooting us with their gun. I was the last to be shot."

He gave the names of two of his colleagues that were killed by the attackers as Benjamin and Monday whose corpses have been deposited at a hospital in the FCT.

A police anti-bomb squad from the FCT command has recovered five expended dynamites and six yet-to-expended dynamites each weighting 2 kilogrammes from the scene of the explosion at plot M465, Cadestral Zone 07-05, Kubwa extension III Layout.

An eye-witness, Miss Funke Fabiye said four people in a car visited the factory. She said: "One of them alighted, went into the factory, came back to the car and was joined by three other people in the car that carried a heavy bag and a jerry can into the factory. After a while, we heard three gun shots followed by a very loud explosion."

The only survivor of the attack said they parked their vehicle outside and one of them went into the factory and said he wanted to buy pure water.

He said: "We were only 3 then in the factory. Two staff and a watchman. The man said he has forgotten something in the car. He went outside and came back with three other people. Two of them were carrying a heavy bag, one was carrying a jerry-can and the forth person was leading in front.

Miss Funke Fabiyi who was not far from the scene of the attack and the explosion when it took place said shortly after the loud explosion that shoot all the buildings around the area, she heard the sound of a vehicle that sped off.

"One of the corpses of the two guards killed by the gun men was buried by the collapsed building. It was the next day, Sunday when policemen and neighbours that gathered around the building saw the corpse buried by blocks," she said.

When Daily Trust visited the scene of the explosion, the building of the factory was destroyed and several other adjoining buildings cracked.

Policemen drafted from the FCT police command and led by Mr. Ade Shinaba a deputy commissioner of police in charge of operation cordoned the area preventing people from going near the building.

Mr. Shinaba confirmed the incident to Daily Trust and said the command has started investigations. He however refused to give further details.

Posted by Publisher at 08:20 AM | Comments (0)

Nnamani, others know fate today

Dr Chimaroke Nnamani The former governor of Enugu state has asked a high court to release him from jail until his trial on corruption charges because he is suffering from gout.

Written by Mohammed Shosanya, Lagos
Thursday, 02 August 2007

The Federal High Court in Lagos will today rule on Dr.Chimaroke Nnamani's bail application and two others associates facing a 105 count fraud charge.

Gout, known as the "Victorian gentleman’s disease" is caused by having a high fat diet.

The embattled former Governor alongside Sunday An-yaogu and Sylvia Onwu-buemeli, are accused of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N5.6billion.

Counsel to the accused persons, led by Mr Ricky Tarfa (SAN) and Chief Chris Uche (SAN) yesterday said: "On July 13 due to a sharp deterioration of his health, he was admitted into the National Hospital, Abuja and he is being treated for hyperuricemia. The ailment causes him chest pain, palpitation, dizziness, and difficulty in sleeping and he also suffers from High Blood Pressure," Hyperu-ricemia, otherwise known as gout, is caused by a lifetime of eating rich foods.

His counsel said: "In view of the fact that the hospital, could no longer manage effectively his health situation, he was advised to urgently travel abroad and continue his medical treatments. He thereafter, applied to the EFCC for the release of his international travelling passport to enable him treats himself outside the country in a hospital that could treat his conditions but the EFCC is yet to grant the request".

The EFCC stormed the National Hospital, Abuja, July 14 and cordoned off his room in the hospital on the excuse that he was under arrest.

But lead prosecuting counsel, Mr Kevin Uzozie disclosed to the court that the accused persons may not make themselves available for trial if given bail.

He said: ‘’The man is not a man of integrity. In one affidavit, he claimed that he was going for his son’s graduation in the United States. In another affidavit, he claimed he was going for medical treatment abroad. Such an inconsistent person will not make himself available for trial if granted bail’’.

Posted by Publisher at 08:19 AM | Comments (0)

Rescuing the NYSC programme

The years of the 1970s, especially the period after the Nigerian civil war, were the years of great patriotic thought and action in Nigeria. The ambience was a most creative one, in the sense that for those who lived through those years, given the backdrop of the...

Written by Is’haq Modibbo Kawu; kawumodibbo@yahoo.com
Wednesday, 01 August 2007

killings and destruction of the war and the survival of the country as one, there did not seem to be any set objective which could not be achieved.

The Second National Development Plan, 1975-1980, encapsulated that broadness of vision, the spirit of daring and a very infectious optimism which shot through a lot of the steps taken and achievements recorded.

One of the greatest ideas of the post-war period was the National Youth Service Corps. It came, as a lot of the ideas of the period, as a platform to unify the youths of Nigeria, in a programme that was conceived in the NATIONAL spirit, which had components of socially useful labour that would be jointly carried out by Nigerian youth, of all creeds and from different confessional and ethnic or states background. Our youth were expected to use the platform of national service to help in constructing our country through both the primary assignment and community programmes, but above all else, they would know themselves, understand themselves and help to break down barriers of prejudice and in that process, help to unify our country.

It was a very solid, patriotic and progressive idea, which fitted the frames of optimism, which seemed to underline the thoughts and ideas as well as the events of the epoch. And who can deny that the NYSC scheme has become one of the truly enduring programs of the Nigerian nation? We almost take certain things for granted today, thanks to the fact that we have a scheme such as the NYSC. In 1995, I joined a band of Nigerian pilgrims who were undertaking to perform the annual pilgrimage to the Holy places of Islam, the HAJJ, by road through Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, the Sudan and to Saudi Arabia.

I was making a programme about the pilgrimage for the BBC’s AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE programme. After travelling from Kano through to Maiduguri, we did an all-night journey to the border town of Gamboru Ngala; the following morning was a market day, and as the pilgrims were attempting to complete their border formalities, I saw two young Nigerian youth corps members from the eastern part of the country. I had reflected that day, that without the national service scheme, what on earth would have brought those young men so far away from their homesteads.

I am sure as many readers as possible would or could draw similar lessons from their experience from the NYSC idea. Long-lasting friendship have been cultivated, thanks to the scheme, just as cross-ethnic, cross-religious marriages and friendships have been consummated, as a result of what has turned out to be a wonderful national project. Of course, like most of our national institutions, the NYSC idea has been devalued over the decades.

In the first place, the scheme suffered terribly in the hands of some of its functionaries; the most notorious cases were related to a Colonel Obasa and Chief Kila, who used their position to massively enrich themselves to a point where they ended up being prosecuted and jailed, so many years ago. The scheme was a cash cow that unscrupulous officials milked and helped to devalue its original patriotic intentions. Then there was the refusal of children of the rich to accept postings to certain parts of the country, preferring to stay in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and such places. Then there was the disdain for rural postings, while there were the absurd examples of graduates of education who would intensify lobbying to be posted to serve in banks or oil companies. These inconstancies and patent acts of corruption, contributed to the devaluation of the national service idea.

There was also the fact that the nation has moved on, and this does not mean in any significantly progressive manner. The completion of national service often meant years in the wilderness of unemployment and despair for many of these young men and women. The debasement of the scheme led to the acronym of NYSC being translated to mean NOW YOUR SUFFERING CONTINUES, which directly links national service to the problems encountered in the universities with the transition to a life of unemployment. The corps year remuneration in real terms has not moved up significantly to take cognisance of the inflationary pressures in society.

But in a fundamental sense, the national idea has suffered a major reversal since the mid-1980s, with the emergence of structural adjustment and its successor neo-liberal capitalism. There has been a gradual withdrawal of the state from the lives of the Nigerian people in many areas of national endeavours, and this has also affected national service. A direct consequences of this general pattern of the removal of the state, is the emergence and strengthening of non-state actors in virtually every aspect of our national life, including the NYSC.

I was alarmed but not surprised when the NYSC camp that was expected to foster national unity, now has within it divisive tendencies such as "Associations of Muslim/Christian corpers" and so on. These reactionary and backward groups are merely a reflection of the realities of a society in deep-seated structural crisis such as Nigeria is today. The forces of divisiveness are so strong that we now have Christian and Muslim medical associations in Nigeria, as if the science of medicine can be learnt or applied on the basis of the confession either of the doctor or his patient!

This is the context within which the crisis of the NYSC programme has reached the height of the recent years. Of course, it could be argued that at the onset, the number of graduates was manageable, while there has been an explosion today in the number of young graduates waiting for their call up. But the underlining problem is a national inability to continuously plan its existence in a holistic manner, and in recent years, surrenderi-ng the capacity to plan, to develop and to be a nation; to the whims of so-called market forces.

This is the source of national confusion and a philosophical journey to crisis which must manifest not only in the NYSC programme but also in every endeavour that is related to national development. The bottom line is that the NYSC scheme must be rescued as a patriotic endeavour, whose continuity must be guaranteed by the Nigerian political elite, because it has become an important national institution. The nation wastes so much money and resources on programmes and projects that could have been saved for far more serious projects like the NYSC. It is just unacceptable that any form of excuse for that matter would be posited by the government which would tend to state that the NYSC was unsustainable as a result of a lack of fund.

THE PUNCH newspaper of July 31, 2007, had quoted a June 2007 letter written by the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusuf Bomoi, to the effect that the NYSC would not be able to mobilise all the 174,000 prospective corps members for the 2007 service year, due to a short fall in its budgetary allocation. The letter said further, that the money made available to the NYSC could only take care of 120,000 prospective corps members. Therefore, it meant that the remaining 54,000 would have to wait till 2008 before they could participate in the scheme. It was therefore not a surprise, that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), amongst many others, have expressed anger at a systematic effort at the emasculation of this national scheme. Thankfully, in response, the new Minister of Youth Development, Akinlabi Olasankanmi, has assured, according to a report in DAILY TRUST of Tuesday, July 31, 2007 that "there will be no selective service and Nigerians should be rest assured that all eligible graduates will be mobilised for this all important national scheme".

That is how it should be. The Nigerian people should demand that in the spirit of democratic development, the NYSC scheme should be given a new lease of life, through a very patriotic reorganisation which will re-emphasise the original vision for the scheme in the context of today’s reality; the scheme must be run in a very transparent and responsible manner, which does not give the children of the rich and powerful, the opportunity to manipulate the placement/deployment process; it should be better funded so that the infrastructure can take care of the ever-increasing population of prospective corps members and should pay them a decent wage or allowance, whatever it is called.

The NYSC programme is a national idea that came during a period of genuine patriotic thought and practices in our national life. It reflected a belief in the ability of Nigerians to build their own independent, self-reliant and democratic country; it was constructed in the context of a world wide phase of triumph against colonial rule and when imperialism had suffered major reverses around the world. Its crisis today is part of the reversal of all patriotic ideas, when the ruling mantra is that unless we submit to global capitalism, the diktats of Washington and the imperialist financial institutions of IMF or the World Bank, we cannot become ‘developed’. Let us insist on the restitution of the NYSC scheme because it is such a vital project of national development, which we must not allow to waste.

The rumbling monster of chauvinism

The first salvo of chauvinism was fired so early at beginning of the Yar’Adua administration, by the ethnic chauvinist groups, the Yoruba Council of Elders and the leaders of the O’odua People’s Congress, the

OPC, Doctor Fredrick Faseun. They saw the re-emergence of "northern domination" in the first appointments made by the Yar’Adua administration, even refusing to see the fact that they were appointments made by the outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo, their son. I have always known that these bodies went on sabbatical, simply because Obasanjo was one of theirs, and they would get back to their old ways, once a new president emerges, especially if that president happened to be from Northern Nigeria. Two eminent commentators, Malam Bala Muhammad writing in WEEKLY TRUST and Louis Odion in THE SUN on Sunday, exposed the hollowness of the standpoint of these ethnic chauvinists, and could have put the issue to rest.

However, THE GUARDIAN on Sunday of July 29, 2007 became a platform to stoke negative feelings all around the country, as a result of a rather tendentious analysis by the longstanding Abuja Bureau chief of THE GUARDIAN, Martins Onoja. He presented the rejection of the "renowned rating expert, Olabode Augusto" by the Senate two weeks ago, as a ploy by those he called "greedy politicians who would like to have total control over the national treasury". These politicians in the words of the eminent Martins Onoja, are "from a section of the country" and "he was virulently rejected" and that was "orchestrated by a section of the country’s set of Senators".

Unfortunately, mister Onoja did not tell us which section of the country that was, even when he left little to the imagination in his presentation. It is surprising that he talked of those who wanted to have "total control over the national treasury" as if that is really possible, or as if Obasanjo did or did not have such a control. When a conspiracy theory is being woven to reach a definite agenda, even the most bizarre points fit a most implausible concoction. Bode Augusto, according to Martins’ thesis had been presented by Obasanjo to president-elect Yar’Adua for his "brilliance, technical expertise and diligence" and "he was literally recommended as Finance Minister…All the reform activists then were said to have endorsed the move."

Unfortunately for this man, about whom "no one complained about…regarding ‘money changing hand’," in the words of the longstanding Abuja watcher, "it was at this juncture that the young Northern Turks (at long last we now know who these faceless enemies of ‘reform; are!!!), who reportedly held Obasanjo hostage in 1999 (so they have been at their game for a long time, even when they don’t seem to have names or faces?!). So after being held up for "brilliance, technical expertise and diligence", and he was literally going to be sworn-in as Finance Minister even before the new president came into office, according to Mister Onoja, "then something happened: Augusto’s nomination was leaked to some powerful irredentists (they never have names but ‘irredentists’ can only be northerners just like ‘PROGRESSIVES" can only belong to the Yoruba ‘race!!!), who felt (and

Martins can measure feelings!) that, that Finance portfolio must this time not go to the south, Obasanjo’s endorsement not withstanding". Nobody knew what was going on behind the scenes, not even the veteran Abuja watcher, until a "provocative ‘scoop’ in the Abuja-based LEADERSHIP…(a) newspaper that has always taken whatever Obasanjo stands for to the gutters"; that ‘scoop’ was a front page story in late June 2007, "under the headline: OBASANJO IMPOSES BODE AUGUSTO ON YAR’ADUA AS FINANCE MINISTER. The story then did not register to anyone, as something of political significance until…when Senators from the North unanimously rejected one of the best financial rating experts in the developing world (c’mon Martins blow that trumpet!), without a whimper from their Southern counterparts in the Senate".

Now the intention is unfurled: to play one section of the country against the other. Northern senators unanimously rejected "WITHOUT A WHIMPER FROM THEIR SOURTHERN COUNTERPARTS"!!! Was that what transpired? Was the Finance Minister made for "one of the best financial rating experts in the developing world"? Well, when he did not get it, didn’t Martins also confess that the so-called "young Northern Turks" "quietly met and fished out Shamsuddeen who HAS VERY SOLID AND INTIMIDATING CREDENTIALS, TOO?" The Chinese say that it doesn’t matter that a cat was black or white, for as long as it catches mice. If the "financial ratings expert" lost out to a man of "solid and intimidating credentials", wasn’t the important thing the overall interest of Nigeria? Or the first consideration must remain the part of the country where such individuals come from?

Not to be outdone in this exercise in hysteria, the paper’s Deputy Political Editor, Abraham Ogbodo, wrote a piece in the same edition of THE GUARDIAN of Sunday, July 29, 2007, titled "Reforms: Interrogating Obasanjo’s legacies". While he accepted that "in trying to correct one wrong thing, so many things went wrong under Obasanjo, mister Ogbodo nevertheless cannot let go the opportunity to throw pebbles. He stated that the pervading sentiments today is such that nobody was willing to even "establish areas where (Obasanjo) scored high or at least above average (in his reforms)". Then the clincher: "Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Secretary to the Federal Government, was reported as saying that the reforms would end. His purported declaration betrayed A SECTIONAL ANGER (hear! hear!!) And he MIGHT have spoken on behalf of groups, which saw the Obasanjo reforms as not favourable. (The so-called ‘reforms’ which were unpopular from North to South have been reduced in the hands of the journalist, as a reflection of "sectional anger"). For Mister Ogbodo, a Political Editor, the "sectional" detachment that Ambassador Kingibe "MIGHT HAVE SPOKEN" on their behalf "prefers to see public utilities "as FREEBIES, TO BE PLUNDERED SO WASTEFULLY". (Capitals are mine).

These are not examples of good journalism really, because they were targeted at stoking base emotions, to achieve a pre-meditated end of setting one section of the country against another. The important thing is to be alert that there will be a lot more of this type of ‘journalism’ in the years ahead; but what is important is not to be intimidated by it, and not to allow such mobilisation of a crudely chauvinistic platform to become a substitute for the building of national platforms of relationship to build the blocks of democratic politics and to defeat the anti-people "reforms" of the Obasanjo period; those were reforms which impoverished the Nigerian people, either in the North, the West or the East. They led to the offloading of our national asset into the hands of a few cronies of Obasanjo and some foreign capitalist institutions.

The Bode Augusto that they described as "one of the best financial rating experts in the developing world" worked to facilitate the monstrous "reforms" of the Obasanjo regime. His "brilliance, technical expertise and diligence" served interests that were not for the advancement of the majority of the Nigerian people, whether they were Northerners or they were Yoruba or Southerners. It was also the same experience with Shamsudeen and his "very solid and intimidating credentials", to borrow Martins Onoja’s words. Those are the facts which the stoking of the embers of chauvinism cannot mask from the public space. What is most important is to build patriotic platforms that can work for all of the Nigerian people, wherever they come from.

Posted by Publisher at 08:15 AM | Comments (0)

July 30, 2007

Ex-govs live cosy lives in prison

A relaxed life of social visits, reading of books and news-papers, prayer sessions, conversations under leafy trees and receiving streams of visitors is the lot of four former governors now....

Written by Abubakar Yakubu & Rakiya.AMuhammad, Jos
Monday, 30 July 2007

cooling their heels at Abuja’s Kuje Prison, Daily Trust learnt yesterday. Former governors Ibrahim Saminu Turaki of Jigawa, Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia, Jolly Nyame of Taraba and Chief Joshua Dariye of Plateau were all being held in the prison following their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] over various charges of fraud, theft and money laundering. Though they secured bail late last week, they were still in prison at the weekend, trying to meet the stiff bail conditions.

A source inside the prison said the VIP inmates are very popular with the prison staff

and inmates because for the first time in years, the prison’s standby power generator is running, thanks to diesel supplied by Alhaji Saminu Turaki.

A source also said many high profile visitors, including former vice-president Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Governor T.O. Orji of Abia State and Alhaji Sule Yahaya Hamma, were at the prison to visit the VIP inmates. Another source said he saw former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida sneak into the jail house to see his friend Dr. Kalu.

Last Saturday, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki was seen observing a special prayer close to the prison’s mosque. He had spread a large mat beside the mosque and he did several raka’ats, even though the time was 11.25am, outside the time of the regular Muslim daily prayers. A large pillow was placed at the end of the mat, while several bottles of Swan water were placed by the side of the mat. A prison warder told our reporter that Alhaji Saminu spends most of his time in prayer.

Soon after he finished praying, Turaki was led into the prison’s waiting room by an official of the State Security Services (SSS) to receive his visitors. The visitors, most of whom were women, believed to be his relatives, spent time discussing with the ex-governor. The former Jigawa governor looked pale in a white native dress, while the former Abia State governor was cheerful in a black tee-shirt on a blue jeans trouser. He was seen waving to other inmates who greeted him from inside their cells.

Kalu was not lucky to have a chair, and he stood to receive his visitors. He was seen resting his back and foot on the wall as he chatted away with his guests in the prison’s front office. Ex-governor of Plateau State Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye sat on a bench to attend to his visitors that consisted of a lady and three men.

Another ex-governor seen by our reporters at Kuje Prison on Saturday was Reverend Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, who had been granted bail last Thursday. He met with a senator and a former minister of commerce inside the prison’s waiting room. Before seeing the ex-governor, the former minister, Idris Waziri, who led a delegation of three persons, had to go through the process of writing an application to the officer in-charge of the Kuje Maximum Security Prisons at the first post. After waiting for almost an hour, he was allowed to see an SSS official stationed near the prison’s main entrance, who inquired about the ex-minister’s identity and mission. After listening to his explanation, he told Waziri that Nyame was yet to come out, and he told them to go back to the first post to wait. "Leave here, go back and wait for me," the official comman-ded. The SSS official also said that his boss inside the prisons would have to scru-tinize the list of the ex-gover-nors’ visitors before any one can see them. Alhaji Idris Waziri was later called by the SSS and was allowed to see Nyame.

An inmate told our reporter that the ex-governors do not eat or drink water from the prisons. Our reporter observed a man carrying food meant for Nyame into the prison. A warder in the front office asked the man to place the cooler of food on the ground close to his table until it was properly checked by an SSS official. An official said upon their arrival at the prison, the ex-governors applied to be allowed to bring in food and water from outside, and their request was granted. The persons bringing in their food are made to taste it first before the meal is observed by SSS officials and later passed over to the ex-governors.

Daily Trust also learnt that when the former governors were brought into prison, they were first briefed by the officer in charge of Kuje prisons before they were taken to the ‘Sarkin Gida’ (the self-appointed head of the "prisoners’ government") to pay homage. All of them were made to pay some money to the leader of the prisoners. They are kept in a self contained cubicle of 6x10 feet with a double bunk bed and toilet. The ex-governors were also assigned a prisoner each to assist them in their domestic work. This is believed to include the job of "slopping out" their toilet. An inmate told our reporter that one of the ex-governors replaced the tyre of the prison’s van, otherwise his colleagues and himself would have been conveyed to the court in a Black Maria. The source also disclosed that the governors fuel the van anytime they are to appear in court. Kalu bought a table tennis board in order to while away the time, an inmate said.

Daily Trust also learnt that detained former governors of Abia and Jigawa states who were granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja Friday were yet to be released as at yesterday because both men had not fulfilled their bail conditions. The two former governors were granted bail on Friday in the sum of N100m bank bond with sureties in like sum who must have landed property in Abuja.

Mr. Rickey Tarfa, lawyer to Saminu Turaki told Daily Trust that his client was yet to fulfil the bail conditions. Mr. Tarfa said the former governor is still in detention but added that the bail conditions may be fulfilled by Tuesday. He said, "It was just Friday afternoon that he was released on bail with such conditions. So it takes time to confirm your tax certificate and also get a traditional ruler to stand for you. He is yet to be released. This is normal, you have to fulfil the condi-tions before you are released. So we are still working on it."

A source close to the former Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu also told Daily Trust that his boss was yet to fulfil the bail conditions. The presiding Judge Binta Murtala Nyako also barred Kalu from travelling out of the country without the leave of the court while Saminu was ordered to surrender his certificate of return.

Former Chief of Staff to Chief Joshua Dariye, Chief Alexander Molwus has explained why Dariye is still in detention despite the fact that he has been granted bail. According to Molwus, EFCC charged Dariye to two different courts, adding that though one of the courts had granted him bail ,he had to remain in detention for the other case which comes up today (Monday). The first case was on the 700 miilion state funds allegedly stolen by the former governor, while the second case concerns alleged money laundering.

Chief Molwus said it was not true that Dariye was still being detained because he could not meet the bail terms, adding, "we have finished with the conditions".

Detained ex-governors Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, Reverend Jolly Nyame and Chief Joshua Dariye, have all been granted bail by various courts but they are still battling to satisfy their bail conditions. It is believed that some of the governors are having prob-lems finding traditional rulers to act as their sureties.

Posted by Publisher at 08:43 AM | Comments (0)

PDP may appoint caretaker

There are strong indications that the Ahmadu Ali-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] may be replaced by interim executive officers, who will....

Written by Tashikalmah Hallah
Monday, 30 July 2007

lead the party to the December 8 convention. A party source said the decision to replace the Ahmadu Ali-led executive was hinged on the grounds that many prominent mem-bers of the working committee have either been elected into political office or have taken up political appointments with various governments.

Key officers of the party including Chief Ojo Maduekwe, the national secretary and Mr. John Odey, the national publicity secre-tary have been appointed as Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Information and Commu-nications respectively. Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Gusau,

political adviser to the national chairman, has also been appointed a minister.

Earlier, PDP’s deputy national chairman [North] Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, was elected Governor of Katsina state. Although Messrs Ojo Maduekwe and John Odey have not resigned their positions, the source said that the duo couldn’t hold the two positions simultaneously, adding "their deputies cannot hold on until December. It would be against the party’s zoning formula".

The interim leadership to be constituted today would be affirmed in December during the party’s national convention, said an impeccable source, who also said some hawks within the PDP are bent on pushing out former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the PDP Board of Trustees chairman.

Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim and Dr Sam Egwu, the former Governor of Ebonyi state are being considered to replace Dr. Ahmadu Ali as national chairman, pending the convention.

The PDP national executive committee had met earlier this month and resolved to conduct the National Convention in December this year, with the ward congresses to start early in November. As part of the preparation for the national convention, the party constituted a reconciliation committee, chaired by former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme.

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

Industrialists petition Kupolokun over black oil

Manufacturers and industrialists from across the country particularly in the northern part of the country, have cried foul over the delay in delivering the low pour fuel oil (LPFO) by officials....

Written by Austine Odo
Monday, 30 July 2007

of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), long after they have paid for the product.

In a petition addressed to Mr. Funso Kupolokun, Managing Director of the NNPC yesterday, the manufacturers numbering about 40, stated that after making payments for tons of black oil, they have not been able to take delivery of the products because of the delay tactics of the NNPC officials and their agents, WABECO.

Black oil is used in large industrial concerns to power heavy machineries and boilers in their production lines. Industry leaders therefore appealed to Kupolokun to intervene and ensure that justice is done.

The petition signed by their solicitors, Olayemi Abogun and Co, stated: "In compliance with the payment directives and fully satisfied that WABECO indeed had stock of LPFO in its tank depot, our clients paid huge sums of money running into hundreds of millions of naira into designated account of WABECO.

"Fortified with evidence of payment, our clients moved to WABECO depot to load their respective tankers with the product, but were denied delivery of same".

He stated that most of the tankers brought to convey the products have been lying idle at the Apapa Tank farm of WABECO in the last three weeks with all the overhead costs and the traffic menace on the expressway.

"Some of our clients’ industrial premises have been shut while several of their workers have either been retrenched for redundancy and factories shut down for inability to procure the black oil which is a valuable and indispensable product in their manufacturing and industrial production processes", Abogun stated further.

Some of the stranded officials from the industries spoken to at WABECO Tank Farm in Ibafon, Apapa at the weekend claimed that they were directed by officials of the Petroleum and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC) in Abuja to proceed to Lagos and take delivery of the products, only to be told by WABECO that they had no instruction to load them.

They wondered why NNPC that sent their staff to Lagos could change their mind overnight after a carefully drawn loading schedule had been approved and issued to the buyers without consideration to the plight of the industries and the workers.

"We don’t understand the delay, is it the NNPC or WABECO that is behind this wicked act? There is something fishy and we want EFCC to come to our rescue and investigate this day-light robbery", they said.

Some of the affected industries include, Ashaka Cement Company, United Nigeria Textiles Limited, Kaduna, Gaskiya Textiles, Kano, Jos Breweries, NASCO Group, Jos, Funtua Textiles, Katsina, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, Sokoto, among several others.

According to the solicitors, "Should NNPC persist in its uncanny breach to divert our clients product to any third party or further withhold delivery to them, within the next seven days, we shall have no hesitation in filing a law suit to enforce our clients’ right in the circumstances".

Posted by Publisher at 08:40 AM | Comments (0)

Armed robbers shoot ex-Kaduna gov

Former military governor of Kaduna State Group Captain Usman Jibrin was shot and wounded in Kaduna yesterday by a group of armed men who said they were on "a vengeance mission".

Written by Sani Babadoko, Kaduna
Monday, 30 July 2007

Jibrin, who spoke to our reporter on his hospital bed at Al-Mansour Hospital in Kaduna last night, said the robbers had first attacked his house at about 6.30pm on Saturday. He said they went to the children’s wing just behind the house, and his children shot one of the robbers, who died. The gang then returned to the house at 9, Coronation Crescent, Kaduna yesterday and announced that they came to seek revenge for their fallen comrade. They also said they must kill Jibrin because his

children killed one of their members. The heavily armed gang then entered the house and accosted the retired Airforce officer in his sitting room.

According to his own account, the robbers first asked him for money and pushed him at gunpoint into his bedroom. Once there, he said the robbers saw his own guns and they panicked, shot him in the left thigh and ran away without taking any-thing. Other members of the household said the robbers returned in the same grey Honda Accord 1989 model in which they came on Saturday.

At the Al-Mansur Hospital, the chief medical officer, Dr. Musliu Kolawole Odulola told Daily Trust that the former governor was in stable condition. Dozens of people flocked to the hospital last night when they heard of the shooting. Among those at the scene were Professor Musa Yakubu and Alhaji Muftau Baba-Ahmed.

Group Captain Usman Jibrin, a native of Nasarawa town in Nasarawa State, was appointed military governor of old Kaduna State by General Murtala Mohamed in 1975. Two years later, he was embroiled in a public dispute against the then Federal Commissioner for Informa-tion, Chief Ayo Ogunlade, over the government’s moves to stop the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria [FRCN], Kaduna from broadcasting on shortwave. As a result of that dispute, then military Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo removed Jibrin as military governor and retired him from the Airforce. Ogunlade was also sacked from the cabinet. In the last two decades, Jibrin has become an important religious and community leader in Kaduna, and heads finance committees of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam. He also promotes an NGO that caters for the disabled.

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

Twelve tasks of Hercules

Now that the Federal cabinet is in place, the Yar’adua Administration should be expected to improve its pace, however slightly. Many Nigerians have already concluded that this regime is...

Written by Mahmud Jega, mmjega@dailytrust.com
Sunday, 29 July 2007

a go-slow affair. Not quite like the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at sunset, but a bit like Abuja’s AYA junction at the close of work.

Many Nigerians do not mind a government with the fury of a hurricane, which is why many old timers still speak wistfully of General Murtala Muhammed. However, within the eye of this hurricane, people also expect to see the Wisdom of Solomon and the compassion of Mother Teresa.

With lack of ministers no more an excuse, the tasks that now confront the president can be likened to the Twelve Tasks of Hercules in the old Greek mythology. Hercules had killed his wife and children in a fit of madness and, as penance, was ordered to undertake the 12 labours. The man who arranged the coming of the Yar’adua administration had killed free election, African dignity, democracy’s spirit and the peoples’ aspiration in one fit of, well, near madness, so someone must undertake a penance in order to purify the place.

The first task assigned to Hercules by King Eurystheus was to kill the Nemean Lion, a vicious monster with a skin so thick that it was impregn-able to most weapons, and which had been terrorising the people. The first task of penance assigned to Yar’adua is to change the face of government from one that is haughty, abrasive, aggressive, walkabout, know-all, with a severe mien, a scowling face and a skin impervious to reason. In short, he must kill the governmental Nemean Lion which has been terrorising the people of Nigeria.

Hercules’ second task was to slay the Lernaean Hydra, a serpent-like water beast with numerous heads and a poisonous breath. Yar’adua’s second task is to slay the monster of fuel price and VAT increases in Nigeria. From 1999 to 2007, wages rose only twice but fuel prices moved 12 times, mostly upwards. He has already promised to hold down the current prices for another year, but who knows what will happen thereafter?

Hercules’ third task was to capture the Ceryneian Hind, with its golden antlers, bronze hooves and which could run faster that an arrow in flight. Hercules had to chase it up and down Greece for a whole year. Yar’adua’s third task is to curb the excesses of government, such as running down public corporations in order to sell them off to cronies at a pittance. He has already recovered the oil refineries that were sold in May in less than transparent circumstances, but who knows what will happen next year, since the "preferred bidders" said they are still waiting?

Hercules’ fourth task was to capture the Erymanthian Boar, a dangerous animal that lived on Mount Erymanthos. Yar’adua’s fourth task, then, is to capture the fleeing soul of Nigerian universities, personified by decaying facilities, striking lecturers and dispirited students, and return it to the campuses. He has already sweet-talked ASUU into calling off its three-month long strike, but whether the collision with resume at later date, remains to be seen.

Hercules’ fifth task was to clean the Augean Stables. King Augeas had the largest cattle herd in Greece and had never cleaned the stables, so Hercules had to divert two rivers in order to flush them. Yar’adua’s fifth task is to clean the Nigerian Augean Stable of corruption, and it is doubtful if the waters of the Niger, Benue, Cross River, Osun, Anambra, Imo, Kaduna, Rima, Komadugu-Yobe and Gongola rivers combined could wash Nigeria clean of corruption. But he must try.

Hercules’ sixth task was to capture the Stymphalian Birds, man-eating birds that had claws of brass, metallic wings and highly toxic droppings. This is akin to assigning Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua to rescue the rule of law in Nigeria from governmental arbitrariness, abuse of power and crude partisanship. He started well, by ordering the Solicitor General to quickly give effect to the Supreme Court order removing Chief Andy Ubah and by returning Lagos local governments’ illegally seized funds. Yet, there are many more Stymphalian Birds of arbitrariness out there that he must catch.

Hercules’ seventh task was to capture the Cretan Bull. This is much like sending Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua to capture the Federal battering ram against state autonomy in the last eight years. Federal agencies such as the police, Federation Account Allocation Committee, Central Bank and EFCC have severely eroded state autonomy over the years, and the president must be sent to recapture it as his seventh task.

The eighth task of Hercules was to steal the Mares of Diomedes, four wild, man-eating horses belonging to the giant Diomedes. No one is asking President Yar’adua to steal anything, but his next task is to go and rescue the soul of PDP, hidden somewhere in a pigsty at Ottah Farm. At the last count, 28 of the original Group of 34 men that founded PDP a scant nine years ago have been hounded out of the party. The reconciliation committee headed by Dr. Alex Ekwueme would do its best, but if President Yar’adua would continue to follow someone at short notice to attend an illegal meeting of the party Board of Trustees, then he may never accomplish this task.

Hercules’ ninth task was to retrieve the girdle of Hippolyta, a magical girdle given to the Amazonian queen by her father Ares, the Greek god of warfare. Now, President Yar’adua has set for himself the task of amending the Constitution, ostensibly to give a role to traditional rulers. All the roles in the world have already been shared out by the 1999 Constitution to the three tiers of government. If Yar’adua knows any roles that have not been assigned, he should feel free to mention them, before Nigerians would listen to this idea.

The tenth task of Hercules was to go and snatch the Cattle of Geron, a fearsome titan with three heads, three bodies and six arms who lived on Erytheia Island. This task is akin to sending the President to retrieve NEPA’s generating stations, transmission lines, transformers and distribution wires, not to mention its prepaid meters, from the three-headed, three-bodied, six-handed monster of inefficiency, power failure and outrageous bills that has custody of them. Certainly Mr. President is set to try, because he accepted the very poor advice to make himself Minister of Energy, with three small ministers in charge of power, petroleum and gas. That way, he has denied himself what American politicians call "plausible deniability". He should give the ministry to someone else, so that when PHCN again fails next year, as it well might, he would score a political point with the gullible public by sacking the minister!

The eleventh task of Hercules was to retrieve apples from the Garden of Hesperides. He managed to get this done by enlisting the help of Atlas the Giant, and Hercules had to hold the heavens on his shoulders while Atlas went to retrieve the apples. The president’s eleventh task is to retrieve the Abuja Master Plan without defying court orders, substituting one illegality for another, replacing one governmental racket with a private-sector racket, and without causing too much misery to the people who obeyed the earlier calls of government and came to Abuja. It is an artful task, but the new FCT Minister, who is tall and strong, should be able to carry the heavens on his shoulders while the President retrieves the Abuja apples.

The final task of Hercules was to capture Cerberus, a hellhound dog with 50 heads that guards the gate of Hell, allowing people to enter, but not allowing anyone to come out. This makes a good comparison with Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua’s last task, which is to capture the hellhound of election rigging, malpractice, ballot-box stuffing, declaration of results where no elections took place, and "compiling" results before the returning officers bring them. Right now, guarding the gates to the Election Hell are some people at INEC, the equivalent of Cerberus. The President may be very grateful to them for ensuring that he is now sitting atop the pile, but if he does not capture this Cerberus, then his whole mission in the State House is in jeopardy.

Posted by Publisher at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)

July 23, 2007

Cleric’s killing: Shi’ite leader, 90 others appear in court today

Leader of Sokoto’s Shi’ite community Malam Kasimu Umaru, who was detained by the police last Friday will be charged to court today along with 90 of his followers,

Written by Aminu Mohammed & Abdulfatai Abdulsalami, Sokoto
Monday, 23 July 2007

the police said in Sokoto yesterday. The Shi’ite leader and his men were detained in the aftermath of last Wednesday’s killing of prominent Sunni Muslim preacher Sheikh Umaru Hamza Dan Maishi’a, who was shot inside the Shehu Danfodiyo Mosque in Sokoto and who later died in hospital. The Sheikh was a well-known critic of the city’s Shi’ite community.

Sokoto State Police Commissioner Alhaji Shehu Othman, who spoke to reporters in his office, said all those arrested in connection with the killing of the cleric would be charged to court. He said the suspects would be variously arraigned for attempted murder, murder and arson, among other charges.

The police boss said that the arrest of the Shiite leader and many of his followers was however not to say that they were responsible for the

cleric’s killing. What the police did, he said, was to invite them for questioning, but they resisted this and it led to a bloody fracas between law enforcement agents and the Shiites at their stronghold known as Marakas in Sokoto metropolis.

Speaking on security measures taken so far to avert further escalation of the looting and public disturbances that followed the Sheikh’s killing, Alhaji Othman said joint military-police patrol teams deployed in major areas all around Sokoto greatly helped to bring the situation under control. More patrol teams would be deployed all around the town until normalcy is restored, he said.

It would be recalled that an unknown gunman shot and killed Sheikh Umar Dan Maishi’a last Wednesday, while a mob lynched the suspected killer. So far, police has confirmed the death of three people in the crisis. Apart from the cleric and his alleged attacker, an 18-year-old boy, Malam Abdullahi Buhari was shot dead last Friday, allegedly by a Shiite sect member. The Shiite member who allegedly killed Buhari is among those to appear in court today to face murder charges, the police boss said.

Meanwhile, Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has warned perpetrators of religious crises to pack their bags and leave the state because "freedom has limits, and if they think they can forment trouble, we are prepared to deal with them squarely".

In a radio and television broadcast to the people yesterday, he said what happened last Wednesday should be seen as the first and the last episode of its kind. "For as long as we are in government it will never happen again," he said. The governor said some disgruntled elements in the society want to test the government’s might "and we are fully ready to bring every available arsenal in our armoury to crush them".

In the broadcast which was titled "Freedom is not a license for lawlessness", Wamakko said that as democrats, they recognize and respect the freedom of people to belong and practice their chosen religion, but that they are also duty bound to ensure that freedom is not taken as a license to deny other members of the society their own freedom or as a license to kill, maim and destroy others.

He added, "Through historical and contemporary times, Sokoto State has been popular and known as a society of men and women of faith, learning and scholarship". They have always been identified and respected as a peaceful and tranquil community of people who are tolerant, accommodating and law-abiding, he said.

The governor said security agencies have been mobilized and ordered to look out for, and deal with anybody, persons or groups found to be fomenting trouble or disturbing the peace in accordance with the law in Sokoto metropolis and in all parts of the state.

Governor Wamakko also thanked Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad, the deputy governor, AIG Zone 10 and other security agencies for their role in the proper handling of the dangerous situation. He said Islamic leaders, scholars and Imams who did so much to cool tempers and restrained what would have been violent reaction from majority of their followers also needed to be commended.

He promised that adequate compensation would be paid to deserving people, while those who deserve it would justly be dealt with after due judicial process.

Posted by Publisher at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2007

Chile humiliated us - Bassey

Respected sports publisher and analyst, Paul Bassey has taken a critical look at the 4-0 defeat suffered by the under-20 national team, Flying Eagles, against Chile, in the quarter-final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Montreal...

Written by .....
Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Respected sports publisher and analyst, Paul Bassey has taken a critical look at the 4-0 defeat suffered by the under-20 national team, Flying Eagles, against Chile, in the quarter-final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Montreal, Canada and declared that it was a big humiliation for Nigeria, despite initial signs of promise by the team.

The man fondly called Sports Bassey declared in a chat with brilafm.net that he saw a rag tag Nigerian squad, lacking a hatchet man who could make a world of difference for Coach Isah Ladan Bosso’s team in Sunday’s game.

"We were simply brought down to earth. It could have been a case of us trying to save some face, with an appreciable scoreline, but 4-0 is a total humiliation for us," he stated.

The FIFA and CAF media committee member also scored Coach Bosso and his technical crew low for their calls and substitutions during the encounter against Chile, with a view that the Niger State-born gaffer lacked required tact and discipline for the game.

"Bosso was unable to instill the right attitude and frame of mind in his players. He did not show what it takes to coach at youthful team at this level and the extra punch for victory was just not there. He fell short tactically and practically," Bassey adjudged.

He concluded by evaluating the level of Nigerian football, since the advent of Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi as chairman of the football association, and urged for prompt and decisive action to stem the recent downward tide that has hit the round leather game.

"There is an urgent need for surgical operations to save our football from going down into the abyss, and to save the game from complete collapse," Bassey rounded off.

Posted by Publisher at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)

We’ll stop theft of LG funds in Benue – Special adviser

Mr Sam Ode is the Special Adviser on Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs to Governor Gabriel Tor-Suswam of Benue State. A former chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, Mr Ode said the new administration will bring reforms at the local government level in adherence to principles of accountability and transparency.

Written by ....
Tuesday, 17 July 2007

In this interview with Daily Trust’s Hir Joseph in Makurdi, the special adviser spoke on this and other issues. Excerpts:

You have been in office as governor’s special adviser on Local governments and chieftaincy affairs for two weeks now. So far what would you say are the challenges?

Very enormous, you have to first familiarise with the department as in this case the bureau. You have to get to know the people you are working with. Mind you, they are human beings who come from different back-grounds. You have to be able to get them to also under-stand your own perspective of development and so on. I also come from the local government as a former chairman and it is not entirely a new terrain. We have always had cause to come here for our monthly alloca-tion meeting and so I have met with most of the people in the bureau and have developed informal relation-ship with them. It is quite a challenge.

The new administration is talking of restructuring which will bring a reform and a new orientation to governance. To what extent is this policy reflecting on the local government system in the state?

Well, restructuring in this sense is fundamental. We have a vision and aspirations; we have a master document as you know. We call it "Our Benue, Our Future". It encapsulates reforms at every level of the life of this government. We want to make sure that we put square pegs into square holes. We want to also reposition the local government system as it is today for service delivery; and in the course of doing this, you know, the reform must be fundamental. The way people used to do things and the way people used to think, there has to be training and retraining. There has to be a fresh orientation to get people to understand that they must conform to the best practices in government business.

The governor identified the local government councils as a fountain of corruption. What is he doing to check the trend?

Well, corruption as you know has eaten deep into the fibre of the society here. We do not want to make a blanket statement concerning it because as much as you have people who are corrupt in the local government system, you still have some people who are almost saints in the same system. But we set our dragnet and we are sure that the net will be able to fish the corrupt ones out. And once we get them, we will throw them out so that the system can work, get it to work and get people to survive. We are not going to tolerate indis-cipline within this system. This tier of government is the closest to the people; it must impact on them positively. There is an image problem about the local government system. They must gradually try and erode that. People must have confidence in the system for them to cooperate. For us to generate revenue internally, the tax payers must be sure that when they pay the taxes, the resources are not going to be frittered away. To that extent, we will discourage sleaze at very high level, you know, starting from up to down. And the man, who is in the driver’s seat, the governor of the state, is very serious about this matter and is prepared not to spare anybody. So we believe that we will get there.

What is responsible for the ongoing crises over the appointment of the caretaker committees for the local government areas?

Like in all political adven-tures, there must be cries because there are positions where you have a lot of people aspiring to occupy. And so there are choices, and we have asked the communities because we believe in broad consultation system. We have asked the communities where those people have come from. Our party is to go back and nominate people for selec-tion. The emerging lists are not binding on us, when they come, we look at the list, we look at the qualifications, and we look at the antecedents. If you are a security risk, if you have been found to be corrupt in the past, you are never going to make that list.

What then is your reaction over the develop-ment which almost turned into a fracas between some members of the state House of Assembly and some persons chosen for appoint-ment? I am talking of Kwande local government.

Well, I am not aware that we had a fracas situation. But I believe that the struggle for political position should not be reduced to a level that we become members of the animal kingdom. We should go about it in a civilized way and with some level of decorum and decency.

The timetable for next local government election is not out yet, but would you give me an insight into how far the government has gone in preparing for this exercise?

The government wants the election to hold as soon as possible but, you know, the state electoral commi-ssion must be able to provide us with a data that we will need to conduct the election and here I am talking about the voters’ register. Without the voters’ register, we cannot plan for the election. In the state here, our own electoral body, the BSIEC, is in place and I also think that we can quickly put in a supplementary budget for the purpose of conducting election when the need arises. But as a state that is swelled by PDP at the level of stakeholders and caucus, the issue of timetable will be discussed. Every state is allowed to have its own timetable, but for the purpose of harmony and cohesion, I think, it will serve us best if we have the election, at least in the PDP states, running at the same time so that we can plan together.

When the governor asked the most senior civil servants in the 23 local government areas to take over the administration of the councils, he confirmed that almost all councils are heavily indebted. But he insisted on investigation to ascertain the veracity of the debt claims before he will order for the settlements. How far has the government gone on this undertaking?

Well, indebtedness of the local government is not necessarily an allegation of corruption. We have been having a decline in allocation and all that. And this has occasioned some of the debts that have been incurred by the councils. I believe that by the time the whole data comes to our bureau here, we should be able to go out and investigate and authenticate the claims that had been made by these respective directors at the local government level. Mind you, they are not permanent heads in the local government. With the appo-intment of the caretaker committees now, they cease to function as the heads of the councils. And we also feel that we must also be able to bring in technical people, professionals, consultants who will look at our books, you know, to be able to give us authentic result about what the status of this debt profiles are. When we do that, we will make a final statement on it.

Any plan to seek legislation to back the ongoing reforms especially at the local government level?

Most of the reforms that we are going to embark on are already embedded in the system. All that is needed is to do the holistic implemen-tation of the procedure. For instance, you have an inspectorate division, depart-ment in the Bureau here. We need to strengthen it to perform its function and we also have inspectors who are resident in the local govern-ment area. If we empower them to do that job, most of those things would have been addressed. I believe also that we would not do anything that is unconstitu-tional. For whatever we want to do, we must look at it, get the ministry of justice to look at what we are doing and then once it is vetted, we can go ahead and begin to implement. But I promise that the governor of the state who incidentally is a lawyer by training will not pursue any agenda that is uncon-stitutional.

It is not clear as to whether the Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, now has what was before now the ministry of local governments under his office. But at the moment, he seems to be managing the affairs of the local councils. Can you make clarifications on this?

Well, the Bureau for local governments and chieftaincy affairs is under the office of the governor. The deputy governor is also a governor; once the governor is not on seat, he becomes the governor of the state and he is to also carry out functions as may be delegated to him by the governor. So, at any point in time the governor can request that the deputy governor should carry out any official function. I think what he is doing is within the context; it’s not outside the principles of government.

The newly appointed caretaker committees are expected to be in office for only a short time. What will be their goals?

Well, we expect every appointee of this government to share and execute the vision and aspirations of the government. We cannot think outside "Our Benue, Our Future" document. It is the focus on which this government is going to move. For us, it is a real track, you know, until we have a better alternative, we are going to move straight on that track, to make sure we achieve our objectives. Our administration has evolved an agenda for the development of the state. In the implementation of the blueprint, the governor said, we will be guided by the philosophy of selfless service to the people and judicious management of resources to achieve greater results.

Posted by Publisher at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)

My governorship hope in Yobe is still alive, says Albishir

One-time Senate minority leader, Senator Usman Albishir, was the All Nigeria Peoples party (ANPP) governorship candidate in Yobe State, having won the party’s primaries against the present governor of the state, Senator Mamman Ali.

Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Things however changed when Albishir was indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following which he was replaced by the party, resulting in a long-running legal battle that is still going on. Senator Ali contested and won the Yobe governorship seat while the ANPP expelled Senator Albishir for alleged anti-party activities. A Kaduna high court had ordered for his reinstatement prior to the election, but an appeal court has now quashed that judgment. He is appealing against it at the Supreme Court and has long been at the state election tribunal challenging Governor Ali’s election. 1n this interview with our Acting Regional Editor, Northeast, Isa Umar Gusau, Senator Albishir insists that his hope of becoming Yobe State remains alive. Excerpt:

The Court of Appeal in Kaduna has few days ago upturned the judgment you secured at a federal high court that you were the valid governorship candidate of the ANPP in Yobe. The appeal court said the lower court lacks jurisdiction on your case. Don’t you think this has affected your chances?

Not at all. In every struggle, there is bound to be ups and downs. Naturally, I have always anticipated that that particular case would end at the Supreme Court because even if the ruling was in my favour the other party would have likely gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling because there is room for appeal. Maybe if the case was filed through the elections tribunal it can be argued that the matter ends at the court of appeal. But looking at the close relationship between my case and that of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, it is clear that the case is that of the Supreme Court, and I am very optimistic that justice will be mine, insha – Allah. And remember that an appeal court judgment on former vice president Atiku Abubakar almost on a similar case was upturned by the apex court.

Some observers have argued that there is a distinction between your case and that of Araraume, perhaps due to the EFCC indictment on your case. How would you react?

First of all, let me make a clarification on a mix up. Do not forget that that so called indictment has been invalidated by a court judgment. Now, you see, the EFCC Act as enacted by National Assembly while I was serving in the Senate, only provides that the EFCC can prosecute one in a court of law. The EFCC is like the police, it can only prosecute; only the court can make indictment and even at that level, there is room for appeal except a final verdict by the Supreme Court or where an accused accepts the judgment of a lower court by not appealing at all or failing to appeal within the time frame as provided by the constitution. My case is similar to that of Araraume. Beside that, the Supreme Court pronouncement on Atiku is there, where the court pronounced that INEC can not disqualify any body…

But Atiku was not substituted by his party, the Action Congress...

That answers it. The basis of my unlawful substitution was the so-called indictment. The Electoral Act says that a party must have cogent and verifiable reason to replace a candidate who wins the primaries. I won the primaries with over 80 per cent votes. The basis of my replacement; that is the EFCC so-called "indictment" has been faulted by the court, so it is a clear case.

Shortly after the elections, the ANPP expelled you from the party on the basis of alleged romance with the PDP to work against the ANPP’s chances at the governorship election in the state. Wouldn’t this affect your chance in court?

There was nothing like anti-party. People know very well that I thoroughly campaigned for my party. There was a stakeholders’ meeting in Damaturu which took place few days to the elections, and at that meeting I openly told my teeming supporters to vote the ANPP. I knew I was going to court, so how could I have worked against the party knowing that without the party winning the elections I can not have basis to go to court. But in any case the expulsion issue has been upturned by the court. The court ruled that I am still a member of the ANPP and I think it is both a victory for democracy and rule of law in the country. I have always been a loyal and supportive member of the party right from its inception. I cannot imagine myself involved in anything that will undermine the integrity of the ANPP. The party is like my living partner and I believe it is supreme to any individual or group of individuals. Those people that plotted my purported suspension were not real members of ANPP and I believe it is the reason for the court ruling that I remain a member of the party. I will continue to fight any attempt by any individual or group of individuals to drag the integrity of our great party, ANPP, in the mud.

Given the fact that the ANPP expelled you even though upturned by the court, do you have confidence in the leadership of the party?

Why not? I still very much believe in the leadership of the ANPP. To err, they say, is human and to forgive is divine. We are all humans and fallible with all our imperfection. Perfection belongs to Almighty Allah; we should not expect human beings to be perfect in all their endeavors. It is only Allah that installs leaders and they are for a purpose and the present crops of leadership of the party still remain the leaders until Allah decides otherwise. Ours is to support and respect their authority.

Are you saying this to attract the support of the party leadership?

I have always been a frank person. I do not easily talk, but when I do, I say my mind. Only God is perfect and when you need support as a human being, seek Allah’s guidance and support and you will forever triumph.

Can there be true reconciliation between you and the Yobe ANPP given the fact that the party at the state level initiated your expulsion?

Why not? At the end of any war, there is always time to sit at the round table to discuss and proffer ways to move ahead. The on-going battles are not personal; it is to bring out the truth and when the truth is known and the war is won or lost – but most importantly if justice is seen to be done to all parties – the process of reconciliation will be successful. We have no other party than ANPP.

Some of your supporters were seen jubilating over the recent reinstatement Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State. How do you react to Obi’s case?

To me as a person, this has gone to show that the judiciary is the hope of the defenceless and the masses of the country. It was always said that the court is the last hope of the common man, and it has definitely played the role in the recent times more than ever. They are now serious more than ever before towards the dispensation of justice; they even come alive to the role with the speed justice is dispensed. Honestly, the verdict in favor of Obi has clearly demonstrated that no matter how injustice is painted, justice and fairness can be sought at the court to do a repaint to the satisfaction of all rational thinking masses. In order words, the judiciary in recent times has shown that injustice cannot replace justice and that the constitution is supreme.

Your position seems to be patronising on the judiciary, could this be as a result of the fact that you have cases before the courts, and would you keep this position if the decision were to go against you at the end of the judgments at the courts especially the Election Petition Tribunal?

I need not say much, but I will challenge you to go round the country and feel the pulse of Nigerians concerning the judiciary. You need to see the wild celebration that greeted the verdict on (Governor) Peter Obi within and outside Anambra State to know what the people feel about the judiciary. I am not in isolation, I am also a Nigerian and I feel the same way. And I wouldn’t be in court in the first instance if I don’t believe the court could dispense justice in my case. I don’t believe in defeat; I strongly believe that I have a strong case before the court. Nothing, I promise, will change my opinion about the judiciary. But the beauty of everything is that even where a court verdict does not go in your favor, you appeal in another court and you can not decide to appeal if you have no confidence in the higher court. So, it all goes down to show the integrity of the judiciary as I see it.

There are calls for government of national unity which the ANPP has accepted on one hand while, on the other, there are series of alleged electoral irregularities during the last general election. First of all, do you support the ANPP joining the PD- led federal government; do you envisage the cancellation of some elections in the light of petitions at the tribunal and how do you think the unity government talks may affect the position of the ANPP on election petitions?

I wouldn’t want to comment on the unity government issue for now. Whichever way I talk may be misunderstood. I will however comment at a later time comprehensively. My focus for now is to ensure justice and fair play as it affects the elections. Both local and international media rightly reported cases of election irregularities across the country, and this was further supported by both local and international observers. Some even went ahead to call for the cancellation of the entire exercise. And coming from the backdrop of the recent Supreme Court judgment that Governor Peter Obi should be reinstated and added to the fact that the electoral body flagrantly violated some court judgements pertaining to the elections, I don’t see any reason why some elections will not be cancelled. In some instances, some candidates were wrongly substituted, apart from series of irregularities seen across the country. I believe the election tribunal will surely do something to correct all these. Don’t be surprised to see many elections being cancelled on the State House of Assembly, Governorship and the National Assembly.

What is your relationship with some members of the ANPP especially your age-long friend, former governor of Yobe state, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and also the present governor, Senator Mamman Bello Ali?

I do not want to talk about personal things through the media at this particular moment. Within the political scene, if that is what you mean, I surely do have and maintain good relationship with many associates and friends from within and outside the ANPP. Some of them are from Yobe, others spread across the country. My focus is on having justice done to me, my teeming supporters and indeed all parties, and remaining a committed member of my party, the ANPP, as I have always been since the party was created.

Posted by Publisher at 02:51 PM | Comments (0)

How to get rid of roaches

They’re among nature’s most vile, disgusting creatures, and they can be nearly impossible to kick out of your house. Mothers-in-law? No, cockroaches. Cockroaches live all over the world, but their favorite residence is your house, where they can snack on your food, damage wallpaper and books, and spread germs to your family. Follow these steps to serve these pests an eviction notice and keep them from coming back.

Written by ....
Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Steps

Figure out if you have cockroaches. Cockroaches are generally medium-sized insects, although in some parts of the world they can get quite large. They have spiny legs and long antennae. If you see even one roach, you’ve undoubtedly got a lot more. The problem is they generally hide during the day, so you may need to look for them at night with a flashlight. Even if you can’t find any of the insects, check cupboards and pantries for their droppings — tiny brown slime stains or pellets.

Try to figure out where they’re coming from. If you see cockroaches, try to follow them to figure out where they go. This is easier said than done, however, so you might need to do a little sleuthing. Check all around the house for cracks and holes through which roaches may enter. Roaches often enter through drains or vents, so you can’t seal up everything.

Kill the roaches. There are a variety of do-it-yourself options for killing cockroaches. Some of the more well regarded of these are listed below. Try one at a time, or try them all.

Dust with Boric Acid. This product is not as toxic to humans and pets as many insecticides, and the roaches aren’t repelled by it so they drag it home and feed it to their hatchlings. Dust a fine coat in cupboards, under sinks, around toilets and any cracks, corners or hollow spaces. Avoid breathing the powder; like any acid it can irritate the lungs.

Use an insecticide spray. Get some insecticide that is labeled for use against cockroaches, and spray wherever cockroaches may be hiding or entering the house, including along walls, in cracks, and in vents. Keep pets out of the way when you are spraying, and follow all safety instructions on the product’s label.

Use a cockroach bait. Cockroach bait is either housed in a childproof case or applied as a gel and contains a slow-working poison mixed in with an attractive (for cockroaches) food. The roaches eat the poison and bring it back to the nest, where it eventually kills all the roaches. Place the bait in an area where you know cockroaches will encounter it.

Use cockroach traps. Cockroach traps lure cockroaches in and then trap them with an adhesive. Get several of these, and place them wherever cockroaches are known to frequent.

Apply a liquid concentrate. Liquid concentrates, once the exclusive domain of professional exterminators, are now being made for use by the public. The concentrate is a poison or deterrent chemical that is diluted with water and then sprayed, wiped, or mopped onto just about any surface. Concentrates can be particularly effective providing protection against re-infestation, as they usually deter roaches for 1-2 weeks or more.

Prevent re-infestation. A clean house is key to keeping cockroaches away.

Keep the kitchen clean. Clean up crumbs and spills promptly, and generally keep the area clean. Pay special attention to range tops, as cockroaches love grease.

Put food away. Keep food containers sealed, and don’t leave food out for extended periods — don’t even leave dirty dishes overnight.

Empty trash regularly, and keep trash away from the house.

Fix dripping faucets or leaks. Cockroaches are attracted to water.

Move logs and other debris away from the outside of the house. Cockroaches love piles of wood and other convenient hiding places, and as the weather turns colder, they’ll migrate inside the house to keep warm.

Seal cracks in exterior walls. Keep roaches out of the house by blocking their entrance.

Call a professional. If the above methods don’t work, call a pest-control expert. Exterminators are licensed to use stronger chemicals and to apply chemicals more widely, and they can do so while keeping your family safe.

Posted by Publisher at 02:50 PM | Comments (0)

Court sends Saminu, Kalu to prison...Dariye remanded in EFCC custody

With his wives and a brother offering comforting words, former Jigawa State governor Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki shed a tear yesterday when Abuja Federal High Court judge Justice Binta Murtala Nyako...

Written by Ruby Rabiu
Tuesday, 17 July 2007

With his wives and a brother offering comforting words, former Jigawa State governor Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki shed a tear yesterday when Abuja Federal High Court judge Justice Binta Murtala Nyako remanded him in prison custody until Monday next week, when his bail application would be heard. Also remanded in prison custody was former Abia State governor and PPA presidential candidate Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, standing for trial alongside Turaki for alleged money laundering. Former Plateau State governor Mr. Joshua Chibi Dariye, who was separately standing trial on money laundering charges, was also remanded in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission until his case comes up next week.

Turaki, now a senator, was first arraigned before the court on Friday last week, having been arrested by EFCC agents at his Abuja home two days earlier. He is facing a 32-count charge in which he was alleged to have laundered over N36 billion while in office. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Three companies allegedly used by the accused in siphoning state funds were charged along with him. They

are INC Natural Resources Ltd., Arkel Construction Ltd., and World Cat Construction Ltd.

One Ahmed Mohammed, said to be at large, was also charged alongside Turaki.

The former governor’s counsel, Ayodele Olajide (SAN) had in obedience to the judge’s directive of last Friday, filed a bail application on his client’s behalf.

Prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacob however told the court that he would need time to study and file a reply to the motion before it could be heard by the court.

The judge agreed with Jacob and ordered that Turaki be remanded in prison custo-dy. The bail application would now be heard on June 23.

Meanwhile, the charge sheet made available to Daily Trust yesterday alleged that Alhaji Saminu Turaki was involved in seventeen fraudulent bank transactions in which N17bn was allegedly stolen. It further alleged that on July 31, 2006, N91.8 million was diverted from the Jigawa State government account. On August 27, last year, it said N32.5million zwas diverted from Jigawa government accounts, shortly followed by another N3.46 million diversion on September 27, last year. According to the charge sheet, another N417 million was carted away in October last year, while N32.5 million found its way out of Jigawa state accounts on November 1 and another N32.5 million was removed on November 28. EFCC charges that before Turaki left office, N9.2 billion was taken out of the Jigawa state accounts in just three transactions and another N400 million was taken out last April.

The next person to stand trial in the court was Kalu, who stood in the dock for over 2 hours while the registrar read the 107 count charge against him. He was alleged to have laundered over N3 billion while in office as Abia State governor.

Kalu was charged alongside his mother, Mrs. Eunice Kanu and one Emeka Kalu, both said to be at large.

Chief Livy Uzokwu (SAN), who led 14 other senior lawyers in defence of Kalu, also filed a formal application for his bail.

Justice Murtala-Nyako ordered written addresses from Uzokwu and the prosecution counsel, Jacob, on the bail application and adjourned the case till July 25 for adoption of the addresses.

Speaking to journalists after the proceeding, Rotimi Jacobs said, "We must stamp out corruption. Their being sent to prison is a testimony that no one is above the law".

However, Kalu was all smiles even when he exited the court premises. He told journalists that "going to jail is no big deal. A lot of great leaders have been to prison. Obasanjo was there, Mandela spent 27 years in prison. I am healthy. I can withstand the ordeal to prove my innocence".

The two former governors were earlier brought to court by EFCC agents to face charges of concealment and money laundering, which is punishable under Section 14 (1) of the Money Laundering Act.

All was not legal battle at the court as hundreds of Abia State indigenes mounted a protest to show their dis-pleasure over Kalu’s arrest. They were however coun-tered by another group of protesters, who chanted anti – Kalu slogans and were shouting that he must be held accountable for misappro-priation of Abia State’s funds.

Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing of the case against Chief Joshua Dariye before Justice Babs Kuewumi, the sober looking ex- governor, attired in a light green checked suit and a black trouser, entered the dock and pleaded not guilty to all the 14 count charges of money laundering when they were read to him.

But his efforts to regain his freedom were crushed when the trial judge refused his bail application to enable the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Joseph Uzor, to study the document and reply accordingly.

Dariye is standing trial for laundering over N750m, and the judge ordered that he be remanded in the EFCC’s custody.

Earlier, counsel to Dariye, Mr. Conrad Joseph (SAN) had moved his application for bail.

He canvassed that the offences of money laundering draw a jail term of a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 3 years.

He argued that a prima facie case of bail has been established and Dariye could be released on bail except contrary issues were raised by the prosecution.

EFCC counsel Mr. Joseph Uzor opposed the application on the grounds that he was only charged that morning and he needed time to peruse the documents. He said certain depositions were made in the affidavit which he would not be admitting to, adding that based on the principles of fair hearing, he was entitled to time to react.

Justice Babs Kuewumi obliged him, and adjourned the case to July 19 to enable the prosecution reply forma-lly, saying all sides were entitled to fair hearing in the matter.

The court was heavily guarded by EFCC agents, police and security aides who thoroughly searched all litigants going into the court premises.

Posted by Publisher at 02:48 PM | Comments (0)

GNU: ANPP gets more posts

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) yesterday got two more ambassadorial slots, three more Special Advisers to the President, one special presidential assistant and one more board member

Written by Aliyu Machika
Tuesday, 17 July 2007

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) yesterday got two more ambassadorial slots, three more Special Advisers to the President, one special presidential assistant and one more board member, further sweetening its participation in President Umaru Yar’Adua’s proposed unity government. The president approved the additional slots following a request by the five ANPP governors, who held talks with him at the presidential villa in Abuja two weeks ago.

Sources within the party confirmed to Daily Trust that the governors sought for additional ministerial positions but their request was not granted. Also, the two ministerial nominees nominated by the ANPP may face Senate screening this week, according to party officials.

Mr. Emma Enuekwu, ANPP’s national publicity secretary, said names of the party’s two nominees have already been forwarded to the presidency. "We have forwarded names of our nominees for the ministerial position to the presidency. Since it is constitutional right for any nominee to undergo such screening, they too will

go I think by tomorrow or next tomorrow," he said.

He said the ANPP’s nominees were not at the on-going Senate screening session because they were nominated later than their PDP counterparts. He said the party also had to return to the drawing board to accommo-date the president’s request that one of the nominees must be a woman.

Alhaji Dasuki and Hajiya Sa’adatu Bungudu have been nominated from Plateau and Zamfara states as ANPP’s party’s ministerial nominees.

The party’s earlier nomi-nees, Ambassador Ahmed Jidda from Borno state and Senator Yusha’u Anka from Zamfara state had to be replaced.

ANPP’s presidential candidate in the last April’s election, General Muha-mmadu Buhari, has rejected the idea of his party’s participation in Yar’Adua’s proposed unity government. He maintained that no such position should be taken until the cases he and the party filed before the election tribunal are over. But the party’s spokesman, Emma Eneukwu told Daily Trust that the decision of the party to participate in the unity government was taken by the majority of stakeholders, and that their participation will not affect their cases already filed before the election tribunals.

He however said names of the ambassadorial nominees as allocated to geo-political zones were yet to be formally submitted to the party, adding that leaderships in different zones are doing their best to come out with good candidates. He said the four ambassadorial slots were shared between the north and south. He said the North West got two, North East got one, while South West also got one. He said all other slots given to the party were shared based on the six geo-political zones.

Posted by Publisher at 02:47 PM | Comments (0)

Ministerial screening continues today

Screening of ministerial nominees is expected to continue today in the Senate and will cover the remaining 17 nominees outstanding from last week

Written by Abdul-Rahman Abubakar
Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Screening of ministerial nominees is expected to continue today in the Senate and will cover the remaining 17 nominees outstanding from last week as well as eight fresh names to be sent in by President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Already, PDP chapters from states that were left out of the first ministerial list have sent in their nominations to the presidency. The new nominees include Alhaji Adamu Janfala from Kaduna State, Mr. Jerry Agada from Benue State and Alhaji Hassan Haruna Hadejia from Jigawa State. Hajiya Fatima Balaraba Ibrahim, the nominee from Kebbi State who was dropped from the list at the last minute, is believed to have been renominated and may make it into the new list.

The new list is also expected to include two ANPP members.

Last week, seventeen out of the thirty four nominees sent by the presidency appeared before the Senate after they were cleared by security agencies while the remaining seventeen were yet to obtain security clearance. However, Daily Trust gathered that nine more names have been sent to Senate as cleared by the security agencies and are to appear for screening today.

Speaking to Daily Trust on telephone, Senate Deputy Majority leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) confir-med that the Senate has received additional names for screening. Senate President David Mark is expected to read out the names of the nominees expected to appear before the Senate beginning from today.

The screening is expected to end tomorrow to enable Senate confirm those quali-fied to join the cabinet of President Yar’Adua before embarking on a six weeks’ recess next week.

Among those screened so far are PDP national secretary Chief Ojo Maduekwe (Abia), Chief Aderemi Babalola, (Oyo State), outgoing Head of Service Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed (Bauchi), Ambassador Bagudu Hirse (Plateau), Hajia Halima Alao (Kwara) and Architect Gabriel Aduku (Kogi). Also screened last week were Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu (Ebonyi), Major General Godwin Abbe (Edo), Odein Ajumogobiah, (Rivers), Senator James Akpanudo-edehe (Akwa-Ibom) and Senator Akinlabi Olasun-kanmi (Osun).

Posted by Publisher at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)

February 05, 2007

AC, ANPP alliance intact, says Atiku; It has collapsed - Gov Sheriff

Action Congress (AC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has denied speculations that the alliance between the AC and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), may collapse because he refuses to step down as presidential candidate in favour of the ANPP flagbearer, retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru & Yusah’u Adamu Ibrahim

Vice President Atiku in a chat with newsmen in Kano yesterday, said the alliance still exists and played down the issue of who will step down.

However, Governor Ali Modu Sherrif of Borno state rejected Atiku’s position, saying the alliance between the ANPP and the AC is not feasible.

The vice president said: “That is why we are harmonising and supporting candidates so as to beat the ruling party in the next elections and without achieving the objective of a free, fair and credible elections, the two other reasons would not be achieved even with our alliance.

The most important aspect of this year’s election and the alliance is to ensure the survival of democracy because in the last three years, we have witnessed how our nascent democracy and the principal institutions meant to support it  were threatened and abused by the PDP- led government, Atiku said.

Bu