VANGUARD
LAGOS PDP: Dancing on the ceiling
On November 16, 2011 · In Politics
BY DAPO AKINREFON
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Lagos State has for long sought to upstage the dominance of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the politics of Lagos. At a time PDP was about getting its acts right, trouble has broken out in the fold. Is it a conspiracy or what?
It is an irony that at a time when it should have been building on the perceived foibles of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in Lagos State that the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is now thrusting into another major crisis.
Following its dismal performance during the April general elections, the PDP had sought to reinvent itself by building on the alleged infractions of many local government councils in the state by winning control of many councils.
However, the prospects of the party were dashed in the controversy that followed the delayed results of last October council elections. Many PDP chieftains alleged that the party was cheated of its victories in many chairmanship and councilor positions by the ACN government in cahoots with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC.
The outcome and the controversy that followed the polls for some time tended to denigrate the image of the ACN which has in its different configurations controlled the State since 1999. First as the Alliance for Democracy, AD and then Action Congress, AC and presently ACN, the ruling party has been wholly dominant in the politics of the state giving the PDP no breathing space.
Not surprisingly, many leading PDP stakeholders have deserted the party for greener pastures in the ACN.
Remarkably, many of those remaining in the PDP for one reason or the other including what some allege to be the improbability of cohabiting with the ACN leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have in seeming frustration turned the gauntlet on one another.
Two of the later are erstwhile Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe who resigned from the AD as it was in 2002 for the PDP on whose platform he sought to become the Governor of Lagos in 2007; and erstwhile Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Chief Bode George.
Division in fold
The feud, by the party chieftains, has undoubtedly further polarised the party with the two major combatants set in their different positions attracting sympathizers and fellow aggrieved stakeholders to their different folds.
The Elders Council of the party which has joined the fray on the side of Ogunlewe has lampooned George, flaying him for his recent repeated denunciation of party elders in the Southwest zone.
Chairman of the Elders Council, Dr Abayomi Finnih, noted with displeasure the aspersions cast on the leadership of the party in the South- West by the former NPA chairman in some of his published interviews in some national dailies.
The council also alleged that he (George) had put together some members of the party in the South-West to destabilize the party in the zone and, therefore, warned such members to keep off affairs of the party in the zone and to rather focus on the problems confronting their state chapters of the party.
But rising in defence of George, the chairmen of the party at the local governments told Ogunlewe to shut up.
Ogunlewe had accused George of allegedly diverting an estimated N50 million meant for the party to organize the recent local government elections in the state.
In a reaction to Ogunlewe’s allegation, the local government party Chairmen’s Forum described the allegation as a tissue of lies.
Speaker of the Forum, Abayomi Kuye, in a statement, accused “Ogunlewe of not having any moral right to meet “George on issues bordering on party activities.”
According to the forum, “this statement by Ogunlewe therefore is a ruse and figment of his imagination, designed to rubbish and embarrass George and bring down the party from its current rising profile arising from the just concluded local government elections in the state.
Is oppostion the cause?
“We challenge Ogunlewe to tell the entire members of this party in Lagos State whether he took part at all in the elections and what he knows about the N50 million and how it came to Lagos. As a matter of clarity, the N50 million in question was personally sourced from Abuja by Gorge and on arrival in Lagos he handed over the money to the Chairman and Secretary of the party and the same money was consequently shared on the eve of the election in the presence of the local government chairmen and the chairmanship candidates without George touching a kobo.
Chairmanship tussle
There have been concerted efforts by the South-west leadership of the party to douse the tension already being generated by the rift.
Aside this, Ogunlewe, in an interview, had accused George of allegedly being responsible for the dwindling fortunes of the party, especially its loss at the last governorship election in the state.
He argued that “He (George) wants to drive everybody out of the party, so that he can remain there. He drove Demola Seriki and ten other prominent members of the party. It is a distraction. He is not in a position to determine who is a member of the party. He is a sinking man.”
But in a swift reaction, Chief George alleged that Senator Ogunlewe was not a member of the PDP but the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) adding “I accepted him into the party and all his followers then were either commissioners or special advisers in the ACN government in the state.”
Nevertheless, pundits are of the view that the crisis goes beyond this as it is alleged that Ogunlewe and George are involved in a game of political intrigues around the future of the party in the state.
Ogunlewe has already indicated interest in becoming the next state chairman of the party in the state a bid that George is believed to be seriously opposed to. George is known to be in total control of the state executive, a mould Ogunlewe would probably not fit into.
While calling for restraint, a former gubernatorial aspirant, Chief Sunbo Onitiri expressed displeasure over rift.
The party chieftain also argued that the crisis, if unresolved, will further affect the fortunes of the party.
Onitiri, who spoke with Vanguard, urged party stalwarts to sheathe their swords in the interest of the party.
He said, “this is very bad and sad. The two leaders should think more of moving the party forward rather than destroying what remains of the party. In the interest of the party and our numerous followers, the two leaders should sheathe their swords.
The fight has further damaged the little chance to salvage what remains to win some seats in the local government election. The national party should intervene and save Lagos PDP from total collapse.”
BOKO HARAM: Senators in angry brawl over Jonathan
On November 16, 2011 · In Headlines
By InALEGWU SHaiBU
ABUJA — SENATORS returning from the Eid-el-Kabir holidays were, yesterday, in angry mood with President Goodluck Jonathan over the security situation in the country lamenting what they described as his inability to protect lives and property.
A bid by some senators to instigate a vote of no confidence on the President was, however, forced down by the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, who with the assistance of the Senate leadership mollified the angry senators.
Senator Mark was pushed to promise a face to face meeting with the President on the issue as a way of mollifying the anger of the senators. Senators who spoke during the closed door session to address the insecurity caused by activities of the Boko Haram group flayed what was described as the incompetence of government officials to arrest the situation.
The senators observed what they described as the extended time it was taking the government to decisively stop the killings and destruction of property through terrorist activities.
A source told Vanguard that Senate President, David Mark who presided over the close door session had to calm the senators down and assured that the best way out of the insecurity situation is for the Senate to have a face to face meeting with Jonathan to get first hand information on the activities of government towards tackling terrorism.
Beside the two hour closed session, Senate Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, Navy, Air Force, National Security and Intelligence and Interior also held another special meeting after the close of plenary session with focus on engaging the security chiefs on the ways to address the problem of terrorism.
Security situation
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who spoke to journalists at the end of yesterday’s sitting said the session offered the Senate time to review security situation in the country and efforts made by government to address the problems.
He said: “The executive session was mainly concerned with matters of national security. All of us are aware of the situation of things today in Nigeria and we want to also let you know that the National Assembly will continue to engage with the executives with regards to national security.
“I think the discussion is on-going to ensure that each and every one of us lives in Nigeria that is free from the current problem that we are undergoing and we hope that every Nigerian will be more concerned about our security and that is exactly what we are doing.”
Senator Abaribe added that the meeting also involved reappraisal of methods used by the security operatives and issues of equipment for dealing with the new trend of terrorism.
He noted that the Senate also discussed the need to change the format of security machinery in the country and to replace them with highly sophisticated ones.
Abaribe said: “This discussion has been on-going and part of what we did today at the executive session was a review of all these measures that are being taken. I do not think that any measure that is being taken is taken very lightly. I think that the security agencies are doing good jobs. I don’t think they only look under the cars, they also look at the booth, sometimes asking you to step out and they open the bonnet and check everything.
“I think also that there is an ongoing review which means that the measures will continue to be upgraded and improved with time. We are asking for a little patience and we know that things will get better. This is a new phenomenon that has just come to Nigeria and I am sure that the security agencies will handle the situation with time,” he noted.
He confirmed that the various committees of the Senate would engage the security agencies for further discussions and report back to the Senate.
“The fact that we had an executive session and spent all this time is better than a motion because at a public debate, everything comes out. We wanted to have a full and quiet discussion on security matters and that you cannot do in front of cameras.”
Lay down your arms, we’ll be merciful, Jonathan tells Boko Haram
On November 16, 2011 · In News
…vows to crush criminal elements
BY DANIEL IDONOR
ABUJA — IN apparent response to calls for amnesty for the deadly Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, stated that government was prepared to reintegrate and rehabilitate those who took arms against the state provided they lay down their arms.
The President who renewed earlier calls on those who chose to live on the fringes of the law to retrace their steps as government is prepared to work with them to facilitate their reintegration and rehabilitation, however, warned that they should also be prepared to face the wrath of the state should they fail to lay down their arms.
Jonathan spoke while inaugurating the re-constituted Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, PACPM, chaired by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, who was represented by a member of the committee, Mr Tunji Abayomi
Said he: “W e intend to always provide a window of opportunity for those who have seen the folly in anti social behaviours to retrace their steps. I wish to renew my calls to those that chose to live on the fringes of the law to retrace their steps and we are prepared to work with you to facilitate your reintegration and rehabilitation. If you undermine the state, be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.
“Our review of processes and institutional reforms are indeed designed to strengthen and realign all the instruments and agencies of crime prevention and punishment. My administration will not rest on its oars until the spirit of the law runs across the land. I promise to deliver sudden justice for criminal elements.”
He warned that “today our character or reputation as caring and forgiving people are under severe test by frequent acts of mindless brigandage fanaticism which has resulted in the killing and maiming of hundreds of our citizens including those engaged in the noble acts of serving their fatherland.
“We now confront evil of nation that is unacceptable to all religions and our culture and our sense of humanity but I know that this nation is resilient and the people are strong and refuse to buy into acts of destruction which agents of violence are promoting. We shall fight and defeat the evil.”
He, therefore, tasked the committee in making recommendation to assess every case strictly on its own merit, stressing: “We will not exercise the prerogative of mercy on a quota basis or in defence to the consideration of religion, geography, ethnicity or politics.”
“Let me seize this opportunity to therefore reassure the nation that I have initiated a very rapid and robust process to enhance the capacity of our security forces to protect life and property. Even as I mentioned security scare, I am confident in the ability of our security agencies to overcome the present one. we are resolute in our charge to security agencies to go after all promoters of terror and other anti social activities and bring them to book”, he said.
The President noted that “although our justice administration process is adversarial and doesn’t provide for parole or suspended sentences as in some other jurisdictions, I strongly believe that the cycle of justice should include forgiveness and relief for those that are manifestly repentant”.
“The pervasive assumption is that the Nigerian penal system is punitive and that every encounter with the law may be permanent exit from decent society. We need to place emphasis on our penal system being more correctional, we need to create opportunities for convicted persons either after completing their terms or before they do so considering the circumstances to be reintegrated back into the society and be rehabilitated. Perhaps we can achieve a lot more by making the justice system a bit more redemptive. In doing this, we also need to pay particular attention to human rights especially where there is ample evidence of abuse”.
He explained that “the prerogative of mercy which is enshrined in our constitution, allows the president and the state governors to grant re-convicted person state pardon. This pardon
can be either conditional or otherwise but it could be in the form of respite from the execution or punishment imposed to a less severe sanction. This is a very serious responsibility that need to be carried out with due diligence and solemnity”.
Besides, he said “at times, this decision involves matters of life or death of citizens, it calls for the highest level of decorum and ethics and utmost fidelity to good consciences and public good. It is perhaps for this reason that the constitution provides for this very important Presidential Advisory Committee to assist the president for the exercise of prerogative of
mercy”.
The role of the committee, Jonathan pointed out “most assume a significance now that our nation is in transformation and as we tackle new security challenges in accordance with due process and the rule of law. Your work must go beyond the routine decongestion of prisons and redressing the miscarriage of justice. I need you to be at the front-line of cultural transformation and value reorientation. I need to point out, however, for the avoidance of doubt that our emphasis is mainly prerogative.
This will not in any way detract us from our duty to protect the life and property of all citizens and safeguard the Nigerian state against any form of violation”.
According to him, “I also want to reassure those out people who have lost their relatives to these crimes that we shall bring the perpetrators to book. We share in your pain, we stand united as we confront the actions of misguided few who seems determined to violate the core values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence”, he said.
While congratulating those who have been appointed in this committee with a charge to quickly settle down to work to clear the backlog of cases in the interest of justice and above all, our determination to be fair to all within the ambit of the law, Jonathan disclosed that the former committee was constituted in 2005 and its four years tenure ended in 2009. The new one had not been constituted since then.
Uche brothers hand Keshi first win
On November 15, 2011 · In Sports
Nigeria’s Super Eagles faced a stern examination from Africa Cup of Nations finalists Zambia, but came through with a 2-0 victory.
Goals from the Uche brothers Kalu and Ike sealed a resolute win for Stephen Keshi, on a day when captain Joseph Yobo equalled Nigeria’s appearance record.
Yobo exhibited a commanding Man of the Match performance on the day.
The first goal was all about Ahmed Musa’s pace. In the ninth minute, Taye Taiwo’s free-kick came off the wall, he found Fegor Ogude, who slipped Musa through.
Musa’s pace got him in behind, and his cutback found Kalu Uche, and it was in.
Chipolopolo finished the half stronger, especially in midfield.
On 74 minutes NPL top scorer Jude Aneke came on for Emmanuel Emenike for his first cap.
Ike Uche scored the second with a screamer on 90 minutes, and completed a nervy but resolute win from the Super Eagles.
Premature deaths unacceptable, says Chukwu
On November 16, 2011 · In News , By Victoria Ojeme
ABUJA-Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has declared that the high trend of burden of disease and premature deaths in the country was unacceptable.
The minister, who spoke during the national flag-off ceremony of the November Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, in Abuja, noted that thousands of women, children and newborns die from preventable causes.
Noting that the burden of disease and premature death was high in the country, he said several factors were responsible for the increase, including low coverage of the eligible population with quality health services and human resource shortage at primary healthcare level.
He said: “The Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health strategy deals with the operational and technical impediments to deliver quality health care to mothers and children using the right strategies and interventions through formalized arrangements to more than 80% of those who need the services in a cost-effective manner.”
“The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is a welcomed intervention that would facilitate rapid reduction in maternal and child deaths and contribute sustainability to the achievement of improved health indices for Nigeria.” He added
Speaking at the occasion, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who was represented by the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon.Micah Jiba, said that the FCT recently embarked on programmes that will positively impact on the lives of women and children.
According to him, the FCT gave out free Antenatal Care Programme, distributed long lasting insecticide treated nets to households and building capacities of community members for identification and prompt referral for common childhood illnesses.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad noted that the problem of delivering quality health care to women and children is both technical and operational.
“It is also more challenging in a situation where the Primary Health Care system is weak, with insufficient basic equipment, materials and manpower to ensure effective functioning.” He stated.
National Awards c’ttee incompetent- Recipient
On November 16, 2011 · In News
BY CALEB AYANSINA
ABUJA – MIXED reactions, Tuesday, trailed the national awards to 365 Nigerians as some of the recipients said the entire process was a clear manifestation of incompetence on the part of the committee saddled with that responsibility.
Deputy Inspector- General of Police (rtd), Udom U. Ekpoudom, who received the award of Order of the Niger, OON, in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, noted that the committee did not only make the government a laughing stock but painted a show of ineffectiveness.
He said: “National award is very important and it was televised live, but the arrangement was very poor and I asked myself, if those that were in charge of the programme are for the government or not for the government.
“When I was in the Police Force and I give you a job to do, if you don’t do it well, I will ask you if you want me to succeed or fail.
“To start with, do you believe it that some of us did not get the programme? Do you believe that we are asked to bring two guests and our guests did not have programme?
“Can you believe that some of us could neither get the medal nor certificate? In fact, they make the government a laughing stock and it is not the government to blame, it is the person who was in charge.
“There was a very serious problem, this year. In future, I will advise the government to put it in the hands of those that are very meticulous, to those who are committed, to those who love this country.”
Udom acknowledged that some recipients were not supposed to attend the programme, let alone receive a gold medal, while urging the government to make the names of nominees public for screening, aside from checks by security agents.
He said: “I am in support of the review of the process as said by the Mr. President, before they will give anybody award they should publish it apart from the security agents for people to comment.”
you will see that like somebody say that they give national honour to some people that have not done anything for this country, it is a fact!
“Some do not even know where their villages are not even talk of affecting people’s life, they based in Abuja.
“For me, I will say the political appointees should be given award after they might have served and left, you appoint a minister or somebody and you are giving such person an award, what are you giving?
“Do the job, when you finished and retired, they put your performance on the table and assess it, if you do well, then you are qualified and if you do otherwise, then they drop you.”
Court orders FG to pay el-Rufai N1m for passport seizure
On November 16, 2011 · In News
BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI
ABUJA-A Federal High Court in Abuja, Tuesday, ordered the Federal Government to pay the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, N1 million for deliberately refusing to renew his international passport in 2009.
Delivering judgment on a suit filed before the court by the ex-minister, with a view to enforcing his fundamental rights, Justice Abdul Kafarati said the government was unable to show any verifiable reason the plaintiff’s international passport was not renewed as he had requested via an application.
Consequently, Justice Kafarati awarded N1 million as general damages against the government, stressing that the action meted against the plaintiff was purely discriminatory.
el-Rufai had listed the Minister of Interior, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Director-General of National Intelligence Agency and Attorney- General of the Federation as defendants in the suit.
He specifically asked the court via an ex-parte application, to make an order granting him leave to apply for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination guaranteed under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution.
In the ex-parte application filed by Mr. A. U. Mustapha, el-Rufai sought for seven principal reliefs’, which were challenged by the respondents, who pleaded the court to dismiss the case for being incompetent.
The respondents equally argued that the suit constituted an abuse of court process, contending that it ought to have been brought by way of motion on notice.
However, Justice Kafarati, in his judgment yesterday, noted that the AGF, being the chief law officer of the country was joined in the matter, as a necessary party, even as he certified the suit as competent.
He said: “I found no merit in their objections and, therefore, strike them out. I have gone through the applicant’s application and concluded that he deserved to be granted this application.”
CJN abolishes plea bargain
On November 16, 2011 · In News
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — CHIEF Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, yesterday, abolished the plea bargain procedure hitherto employed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in settling high profile cases of corruption out of court.
The CJN who described the plea-bargain system as “a novel concept of dubious origin,” insisted that “it was invented to provide soft landing to high profile criminals who loot the treasury entrusted to them.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the fifth annual general conference of the section on legal practice of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, the CJN whose speech was read by Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, said the system “has no place in our law- substantive or procedural. It is an obstacle to our fight against corruption, it should never again be mentioned in our jurisprudence.”
While pinpointing other aspects of criminal justice system administration in the country that needed to be overhauled, the CJN bemoaned that the judiciary had in the past assisted corrupt former political office holders in tying the hands of anti-graft agencies by granting frivolous injunctions that immune them from prosecution.
Practice of filing holding charges
He equally condemned the practice of filing holding charges against accused persons and what he termed, “trial by public parade of suspects on pages of newspapers and on the television.”
Musdapher said: “The guilty are afraid and when a man who has abused the public trust reposed in him feels the heat of the approaching long arm of the law he rushes to a judge with flexible conscience who makes him untouchable to the law enforcement agents. It is another obstacle to the struggle to uproot corruption in this country.
“Every legal practitioner is familiar with this term (holding charge) by which citizens are dumped in prison by a court which lacks jurisdiction to try them.
It is largely responsible for the congestion in prisons across the country. The state cannot incarcerate its citizen while scrambling for evidence to build a case against him, and if it has a case it should take the accused to a court of competent jurisdiction.
“As often in the case when he is set free because he has no case he goes home in shame, a damaged man, without apology, without compensation. Trial by public of a suspect even when he is not an accused person on pages of newspapers and on television is equally bad. It is difficult to convince an average person that one who has been so paraded has not committed any offence.
“To whom much is given, much is expected in return, and I think your choice of theme for this conference-‘legal practice in Nigeria: Venturing beyond usual borders’, was chosen as a means of expanding the scope of your service to humanity through the practice of law.
“Gentlemen, regard it as part of your inestimable service to your fatherland to take a position on the above issues which constitute a blot on our criminal process. Your voice will be heard and change will be made for the better.
“May I also draw your attention to our prisons where fellow human beings are reduced to the barest level of humanity. I think time is ripe to include a provision for suspended sentence in the criminal procedure code and the criminal procedure law, after all, as Roscoe Pound said in his introduction to the philosophy of Law (1922): “the law must be stable but it must not stand still.”
Spirited efforts to justify rationale
Meanwhile, the AGF who was equally a special guest at the event, made spirited efforts to justify the rationale behind the plea bargain system, stressing that, “there is need for a robust approach to public interest litigation.”
The AGF who was represented by Chief Deji Adekunle, SAN, said: “The intricate patterns of high-level criminal conspiracy and Internet fraud seem to have confounded even our best investigators. Are we really prepared to combat delays and case trappings in the judicial system?”
While lauding the Freedom of Information Act, the minister said it has engendered growing policy of open access for all complainants. He noted: “It is our responsibility as custodians of the law to uphold such policies.”
Nevertheless, accentuating the points raised by the CJN, the NBA National President, Chief J.B Daudu, SAN, warned that “the world will pass us by if we do not stop embracing any kind of legal practice that comes our way. We cannot continue to criticise the judiciary that it is under performing when we have individually failed to do those things that are expected of us.”
It will be recalled that among those that had benefitted from the plea bargain procedure included the former Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank International Nigeria PLC, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Governor of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion and the former Inspector- General of Police, Tafa Balogun.
It was equally embraced by the present AGF in allowing multi-national companies like Halliburton and Siemens, which were indicted of abetting bribery and corruption among public officers in the country, off the hook of criminal prosecution.
BOKO HARAM: Senators in angry brawl over Jonathan
On November 16, 2011 · In Headlines
By InALEGWU SHaiBU
ABUJA — SENATORS returning from the Eid-el-Kabir holidays were, yesterday, in angry mood with President Goodluck Jonathan over the security situation in the country lamenting what they described as his inability to protect lives and property.
A bid by some senators to instigate a vote of no confidence on the President was, however, forced down by the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, who with the assistance of the Senate leadership mollified the angry senators.
Senator Mark was pushed to promise a face to face meeting with the President on the issue as a way of mollifying the anger of the senators. Senators who spoke during the closed door session to address the insecurity caused by activities of the Boko Haram group flayed what was described as the incompetence of government officials to arrest the situation.
The senators observed what they described as the extended time it was taking the government to decisively stop the killings and destruction of property through terrorist activities.
A source told Vanguard that Senate President, David Mark who presided over the close door session had to calm the senators down and assured that the best way out of the insecurity situation is for the Senate to have a face to face meeting with Jonathan to get first hand information on the activities of government towards tackling terrorism.
Beside the two hour closed session, Senate Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, Navy, Air Force, National Security and Intelligence and Interior also held another special meeting after the close of plenary session with focus on engaging the security chiefs on the ways to address the problem of terrorism.
Security situation
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who spoke to journalists at the end of yesterday’s sitting said the session offered the Senate time to review security situation in the country and efforts made by government to address the problems.
He said: “The executive session was mainly concerned with matters of national security. All of us are aware of the situation of things today in Nigeria and we want to also let you know that the National Assembly will continue to engage with the executives with regards to national security.
“I think the discussion is on-going to ensure that each and every one of us lives in Nigeria that is free from the current problem that we are undergoing and we hope that every Nigerian will be more concerned about our security and that is exactly what we are doing.”
Senator Abaribe added that the meeting also involved reappraisal of methods used by the security operatives and issues of equipment for dealing with the new trend of terrorism.
He noted that the Senate also discussed the need to change the format of security machinery in the country and to replace them with highly sophisticated ones.
Abaribe said: “This discussion has been on-going and part of what we did today at the executive session was a review of all these measures that are being taken. I do not think that any measure that is being taken is taken very lightly. I think that the security agencies are doing good jobs. I don’t think they only look under the cars, they also look at the booth, sometimes asking you to step out and they open the bonnet and check everything.
“I think also that there is an ongoing review which means that the measures will continue to be upgraded and improved with time. We are asking for a little patience and we know that things will get better. This is a new phenomenon that has just come to Nigeria and I am sure that the security agencies will handle the situation with time,” he noted.
He confirmed that the various committees of the Senate would engage the security agencies for further discussions and report back to the Senate.
“The fact that we had an executive session and spent all this time is better than a motion because at a public debate, everything comes out. We wanted to have a full and quiet discussion on security matters and that you cannot do in front of cameras.”
NFF lambasts Odegbami
On November 16, 2011 · In Sports
The Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday carpeted former international winger, Segun Odegbami for his crude attacks and ill-wishes for Nigeria football, assuring him that Nigeria football will rise gradually to its best ever height despite his prophecies of doom and despicable comments.
NFF Executive Committee member and chairman of the Nigeria National League, High Chief Emeka Inyama lambasted Odegbami, saying that the former player has consistently refused to align himself with reality, preferring to operate in the realms of grand illusion.
“ It is a shame that Odegbami has continued to attack the Nigeria Football Federation for no just cause. He chickened out of the election because he saw the handwriting on the wall, knowing he was facing spectacular failure at the poll. He knows virtually nothing about association football and has no sympathy with any Football Association in the country, not even in his Ogun State, where he is a persona non grata. We remember he got only one vote in the last Ogun State FA elections.
“How can someone who cannot even win support in his home State be talking about running football at the centre? What a joke? Odegbami served on the board previously and came out a woeful failure. Let him tell Nigerians one single venture he has undertaken in Nigerian sports that did not end in a colossal failure”, said Chief Inyama.
The NFF Executive Committee member continued: “He started a football academy that now, only exists in his own imagination, several years after. Can anyone compare his academy with the Pepsi Football Academy pioneered by Coach Kashimawo Laloko, which has been churning out talents who have featured for various categories of the National Teams?
“The present NFF is composed of persons of high integrity and achievement in several areas of human endeavour, and despite a few setbacks, no thanks principally to distractions championed by the likes of Odegbami, we are determined to lift the Nigeria game and keep it at the very top.”
“We are happy to have appointed Stephen Keshi and we believe that with total support of the NFF and Nigerians, he will go places. The likes of Odegbami will sulk and sulk and will only stand far away to mourn their poor vision.”
“The NFF is fully aware of the gameplan by some persons to try and instal Odegbami into the NFF through the back door, via a so-called Normalization Committee. This is a pipe dream.
“He claims to have spent so much money in the last NFF elections. He might as well inform Nigerians whom he gave the monies to and for what purpose”, said Inyama.
The chairman of Nigeria National League warned: “From now on, Odegbami should be ready to receive as much as he gives. Or perhaps, even more than he gives. If he was such an extra-ordinary player, how come he could not single-handedly steer Nigeria to the FIFA World Cup finals in his playing days.
“The NFF sees the likes of Odegbami as mere irritants that do not deserve any attention, which is why we have ignored him all this while. But it is now ample time to put him in his place.
“He continues to write about ‘illegality’ every week after failing miserably to get anything done about a legally-composed Federation, which won a proper election and has court orders validating its existence. We are aware of Odegbami’s dastard moves but we will meet him fire-for-fire from now on”.
National Awards c’ttee incompetent- Recipient
On November 16, 2011 · In News
BY CALEB AYANSINA
ABUJA – MIXED reactions, Tuesday, trailed the national awards to 365 Nigerians as some of the recipients said the entire process was a clear manifestation of incompetence on the part of the committee saddled with that responsibility.
Deputy Inspector- General of Police (rtd), Udom U. Ekpoudom, who received the award of Order of the Niger, OON, in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, noted that the committee did not only make the government a laughing stock but painted a show of ineffectiveness.
He said: “National award is very important and it was televised live, but the arrangement was very poor and I asked myself, if those that were in charge of the programme are for the government or not for the government.
“When I was in the Police Force and I give you a job to do, if you don’t do it well, I will ask you if you want me to succeed or fail.
“To start with, do you believe it that some of us did not get the programme? Do you believe that we are asked to bring two guests and our guests did not have programme?
“Can you believe that some of us could neither get the medal nor certificate? In fact, they make the government a laughing stock and it is not the government to blame, it is the person who was in charge.
“There was a very serious problem, this year. In future, I will advise the government to put it in the hands of those that are very meticulous, to those who are committed, to those who love this country.”
Udom acknowledged that some recipients were not supposed to attend the programme, let alone receive a gold medal, while urging the government to make the names of nominees public for screening, aside from checks by security agents.
He said: “I am in support of the review of the process as said by the Mr. President, before they will give anybody award they should publish it apart from the security agents for people to comment.”
you will see that like somebody say that they give national honour to some people that have not done anything for this country, it is a fact!
“Some do not even know where their villages are not even talk of affecting people’s life, they based in Abuja.
“For me, I will say the political appointees should be given award after they might have served and left, you appoint a minister or somebody and you are giving such person an award, what are you giving?
“Do the job, when you finished and retired, they put your performance on the table and assess it, if you do well, then you are qualified and if you do otherwise, then they drop you.”
Premature deaths unacceptable, says Chukwu
On November 16, 2011 · In News
By Victoria Ojeme
ABUJA-Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has declared that the high trend of burden of disease and premature deaths in the country was unacceptable.
The minister, who spoke during the national flag-off ceremony of the November Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, in Abuja, noted that thousands of women, children and newborns die from preventable causes.
Noting that the burden of disease and premature death was high in the country, he said several factors were responsible for the increase, including low coverage of the eligible population with quality health services and human resource shortage at primary healthcare level.
He said: “The Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health strategy deals with the operational and technical impediments to deliver quality health care to mothers and children using the right strategies and interventions through formalized arrangements to more than 80% of those who need the services in a cost-effective manner.”
“The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is a welcomed intervention that would facilitate rapid reduction in maternal and child deaths and contribute sustainability to the achievement of improved health indices for Nigeria.” He added
Speaking at the occasion, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who was represented by the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon.Micah Jiba, said that the FCT recently embarked on programmes that will positively impact on the lives of women and children.
According to him, the FCT gave out free Antenatal Care Programme, distributed long lasting insecticide treated nets to households and building capacities of community members for identification and prompt referral for common childhood illnesses.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad noted that the problem of delivering quality health care to women and children is both technical and operational.
“It is also more challenging in a situation where the Primary Health Care system is weak, with insufficient basic equipment, materials and manpower to ensure effective functioning.” He stated.
Returnee-pilgrims shut Kano airport
On November 16, 2011 · In News
BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD
KANO— Flight operations were Tuesday morning disrupted at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, when some stranded Muslims from Adamawa State, who were returning from Hajj, blocked the runway.
The action came barely 24 hours after the aircraft conveying them to Yola, Adamawa State, crash- landed during an emergency in Kano on Monday morning.
Eyewitness told Vanguard that the protest lasted for two and half hours as scheduled flights in and out of the airport were temporarily suspended.
Vanguard learnt that the protest was triggered by the inability of the management of the local airline which brought them from Saudi Arabia to fly them to their destination, following the incident in which the crash-landed aircraft lost four tyres.
Aviation sources told Vanguard that the management of the airport, at a point considered using ‘’minimal force’’ to disperse the pilgrims from the runaway before a compromise deal was struck.
The management of Max Air, which was the airline that brought them to the airport later, diverted one of its jumbo jets from Sokoto airport to restore nomalcy at the Kano Airport.
The stranded passengers were checked in at about 11 am and their aircraft took off 15 minutes later to Yola, its final destination.
In the meantime, National Civil Aviation Authority NCAA has grounded the crash-landed aircraft, insisting that the aircraft must undergo fresh safety checks.
Aviation engineers had successfully fixed new tyres to the jet, now parked at the tarmac as at the time of this report.
Shell completes sale of two Nigerian oil blocks – NNPC
On November 16, 2011 · In Energy
NNPC has said that two local firms had completed the purchase of 45 per cent stakes in two onshore oil blocks, previously owned by Shell, Total and Eni .
First Hydrocarbon Nigeria (FHN), owned by Afren, bought a 45 pct stake in OML 26 owned jointly by Shell, Total and Eni, NNPC said. The block has target production of 50,000 barrels of oil per day by 2015. No details on the purchase value of the oil block were provided in the statement by NNPC.
NNPC said the foreign oil majors sold 45 per cent of OML 42 to Neconde Energy. Neconde at the bidding stages was a consortium including Nigerian firms Nestoil, Aries and VP Global and Poland’s Kulczk Oil Ventures.
These blocks are among several put up for sale this year by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), a joint venture between Shell (30 percent), Total (10 percent), Eni (5 percent) and NNPC (55 percent).
NNPC is transferring its stake in the former SPDC blocks to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the exploration and production arm. NPDC and FHN will jointly operate production from OML 26.
“NPDC has the necessary resources (capital and human) and working closely with FHN is poised to give quality services to the venture in the interest of both partners,” Austen Oniwon, NNPC managing director, said at a signing ceremony attended by Shell, NPDC and FHN officials, the statement said.
“With the assignment of NNPC’s 55 per cent interest in the block to NPDC, the company is on track to achieve its target of production of 250,000 barrels per day by 2015.” Deals for three other SPDC owned blocks, OML 30, 34 and 40 are still unresolved.
Some buyers have expressed doubts about NPDC’s capability to operate production and this has held up agreements.
Sharing operator rights between NPDC and the buyers could be an acceptable compromise. Shell has said that despite these sales it views Nigeria as a key part of its business and this is not the beginning of a wider departure from Africa’s most populous nation.
The wonderful health benefits of paw paw
On November 16, 2011 · In Health
By Funke Oshifuye
I personally prefer to eat pawpaw when it is fairly ripe and crunchy, though its antioxidant content is higher when fully ripened and soft. Pawpaw, also known as papaya may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease due to the fact that they are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A, through its concentration of pro-vitamin A carotenoid phytonutrients.
These vitamins are very powerful antioxidants that help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. Oxidation of cholesterol can lead to formation of dangerous plaques in blood vessel walls that can eventually cause heart attacks or strokes.
This effect can be explained by the fact that vitamin E and vitamin C is closely related to a compound called paraoxonase, which is an enzyme that inhibits LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol oxidation. Pawpaw has also been shown to lower high cholesterol levels simply because they are high in folate.
The folic acid found in papayas is needed for the conversion of a substance called homocysteine into benign amino acids such as cysteine or methionine. When homocysteine levels are too high because they have not been converted, it can directly damage blood vessel walls leading to a heart attack or stroke.
Unique to pawpaw are protein-digesting enzymes like papain and chymopapain. These enzymes in addition to the antioxidant nutrients have been shown to help lower inflammation and to improve healing from burns.
In terms of immune support, pawpaw is not left out due to its high content of vitamin C and vitamin A which is made from the beta carotene found in its skin. You can therefore prevent recurrent ear infections, colds and flu by simply enjoying your papaya.
Smokers may have an ally in papaya because of its rich content of vitamin A. Studies have shown that diets high in vitamin A greatly helps to reduce complications associated with cancer and emphysema. So, if you smoke, or you are frequently exposed to second-hand smoke, it is wise to increase your intake of pawpaw and other vitamin A rich foods.
The nutrients in pawpaw have also been shown to be helpful in the prevention of colon cancer.
Papaya’s fiber, apart from aiding digestion by increasing our bowel movement, is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and keep them away from the healthy colon cells. In addition, papaya’s folate, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E have each been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer.
When these nutrients work together, they provide protection for colon cells from free radical damage to their DNA. If you want to reduce your risk of colon cancer, where else can you get these synergistic protection if not from pawpaw?
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