Thursday, 1 November 2012
Shell, NLNG owes Nigeria $30bn- Ribadu Reports
Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Report finally Out.
Ribadu Committee Report Says Government Officials Colluded With Oil Companies To Cheat Nigeria Of Tens of Billions Of Dollars.
A confidential report issued by the
set up last February by Dieziani Alison-Madueke, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, has found that Nigeria lost $29 billion dollars in the last decade to deals struck between corrupt government officials and the oil companies.
Chaired by Nuhu Ribadu, the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the 17-person committee produced the 146-page confidential report, which was seen by Reuters.
Some of the highlights of the report, according to Reuters, include:
• Nigeria loses out on $29 bln on cut-price gas deals
• State-oil company sells itself cheap oil and gas
• Oil ministers hand out discretionary oil licences
• Hundreds of millions in missing bonuses, royalties
• Traders buy crude oil "without formal contracts"
Although Mrs. Alison-Madueke admitted receiving the report last month, she told Reuters yesterday it was only a draft. Reuters said the one it saw was marked “Final Report.”
The Reuters story, as reported by Reuters Joe Brock:
ABUJA, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Nigeria lost out on tens of billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues over the last decade from cut price deals struck between multinational oil companies and government officials, a confidential report seen by Reuters says.
A team headed by the former head of the anti-corruption agency Nuhu Ribadu produced the 146-page study on an oil ministry request. It covers the year 2002 to the present.
Faulty Aircraft Forces Aero Contractors To Abort Flight
The airline spokesperson says the fault was a minor technical fault. Aero Contractors, one of the few airlines still flying the local routes in Nigeria, might have had an accident save for a passenger’s prompt intervention.
At about 2:30 pm Monday, the Aero aircraft was set to leave the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja Lagos, when one of the passengers who sat close to the left wing of the craft spotted gas leaking from one of the valves conveying gas to the part called ‘ailerons’ which connects the wings of the aircraft to ensure stability during take-off and landing.
The passenger alerted the members of the airplane’s crew, consequently all passengers were asked to evacuate the plane.
The passengers in the flight – AJ 171 scheduled for Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar by 2.30 p.m. had to return to departure lounge.
“All boarding formalities were completed and the aircraft door shut ready for take-off. The aircraft had actually been taxied through the run-way to the take-off point when, after about ten minutes, the pilot taxied it back to the hanger,” one of the passengers aboard the flight, wishing to remain anonymous told PREMIUM TIMES.
“The flight crew was later to report to the passengers that the flight had to be delayed and aircraft taxied back to the hanger for minor repairs as safety precaution following reports of fuel leakage spotted from its left wing,” the source said.
Disrupted plans
The incident botched the flight by
from Lagos to Calabar that was scheduled after 2:30 pm on Monday.
Most of the affected passengers – families, workers and business people were returning from Lagos to Calabar after the long holiday declared by the Federal Government last week to commemorate the Muslim Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
After all passengers were evacuated from the aircraft, they returned to the departure hall to wait for alternative arrangements by the airline’s management.
The passengers waited in despair for several hours till about 6 pm before the finally departed Lagos for their destination.
This is the second time in seven days that Aero Contractors has had to disrupt its operations over what it termed ‘minor technical faults’
On Wednesday, October 24, at about 11: 30, flight number AJ125 from to Abuja 12:15 was disrupted after a crew member announced that there was a minor technical issue with the aircraft’s engine.
Subsequently all passengers alighted the flight for “safety precaution”. It took about one hour for a replacement to convey the passengers.
The Airline’s response
The airlines’ consultant, Simon Tumba, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, tried to allay apprehensions. He attributed the delay to a minor technical fault which he said has to be fixed as a safety precaution.
“As I am talking to you, the flight is already airborne. It was a minor technical fault that had to be taken care of as a safety precaution in line with our company’s standard routine practice to ensure the safety of our passengers,” Mr. Tumba said.
Monday, 1 October 2012
Naija @ 52 *Journey so far!
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Nnaji Panel Uncovers N546m PHCN pension stashed in London bank since 1970
Nnaji Panel Uncovers N546m PHCN pension
stashed in London bank since 1970.
**it was to settle the salaries and pension of
expatriate workers then.
**PHCN workers lied about Govt deducting
25% of their salaries.
**our High Commissioner in UK can help in
retrieving the money.”
A panel set up by the federal government to
investigate pension fund of the Power
Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has
unearthed £2.2million (N546 million) lying in
an account at the Barclays Bank of London,
United Kingdom.
The account was opened in the 1960s or 70s,
the committee chairman, Mr. Joseph Ajiboye
told Daily Trust.
Former minister of Power Prof Barth Nnaji
had on July 18, 2012 inaugurated an eight-
member probe panel to investigate the status
of pension in the power sector vis-à-vis the
Pension Laws since 1979.
Ajiboye said effort to retrieve the money was
met with “bottleneck” and brick wall but
assured that “the Nigerian High
Commissioner in London can help in
retrieving the money.”
He said today’s PHCN started as Niger Dam
Authority to Electricity Company of Nigeria
(ECN). The account was meant to settle the
salaries and pension of expatriate workers
then but that the committee learnt the last
expatriate has died and “there was no longer
reason to keep the account.”
On the controversial 25 percent allegedly
deducted from PHCN workers salary, Ajiboye
explained that findings from meetings held
with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and
pay slips of up to April 2012 presented by
PHCN workers revealed that there was no
evidence of deduction from any workers
salary.
In his remarks, minister of state for power
Darius Ishaku expressed the hope that the
report will aid in finding a lasting solution to
the lingering feud between PHCN workers
and government saying the “only issue left
with labour has now been transferred to
office of the Secretary to the Federal
Government (SGF).” - daily trust.
stashed in London bank since 1970.
**it was to settle the salaries and pension of
expatriate workers then.
**PHCN workers lied about Govt deducting
25% of their salaries.
**our High Commissioner in UK can help in
retrieving the money.”
A panel set up by the federal government to
investigate pension fund of the Power
Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has
unearthed £2.2million (N546 million) lying in
an account at the Barclays Bank of London,
United Kingdom.
The account was opened in the 1960s or 70s,
the committee chairman, Mr. Joseph Ajiboye
told Daily Trust.
Former minister of Power Prof Barth Nnaji
had on July 18, 2012 inaugurated an eight-
member probe panel to investigate the status
of pension in the power sector vis-à-vis the
Pension Laws since 1979.
Ajiboye said effort to retrieve the money was
met with “bottleneck” and brick wall but
assured that “the Nigerian High
Commissioner in London can help in
retrieving the money.”
He said today’s PHCN started as Niger Dam
Authority to Electricity Company of Nigeria
(ECN). The account was meant to settle the
salaries and pension of expatriate workers
then but that the committee learnt the last
expatriate has died and “there was no longer
reason to keep the account.”
On the controversial 25 percent allegedly
deducted from PHCN workers salary, Ajiboye
explained that findings from meetings held
with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and
pay slips of up to April 2012 presented by
PHCN workers revealed that there was no
evidence of deduction from any workers
salary.
In his remarks, minister of state for power
Darius Ishaku expressed the hope that the
report will aid in finding a lasting solution to
the lingering feud between PHCN workers
and government saying the “only issue left
with labour has now been transferred to
office of the Secretary to the Federal
Government (SGF).” - daily trust.
Is Oil Discovery in Lake Chad, good news or bad news.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC announced the discovery of crude oil in about 3350 square metres in the Lake Chad Basin, that links the Northern Part of Nigeria.
In a continent where natural resources are often plundered to the detriment of ordinary people, impoverished Chad the new oil frontier could become a model of fairness.
Sequel to this outstanding discovery, reports busted that Vice President Namadi Sambo of Nigeria is leading the commencement of steps towards engaging “Willing and ready investors that will facilitate speedy and timely exploration in the second phase of the exercise”
During a meeting with experts within the NNPC and other public sectors at the state House, Abuja, the Vice President said at the federal government is happy that surveys have indicated the presence of Oil in the Chad Basin.
More information coming soon.................
In a continent where natural resources are often plundered to the detriment of ordinary people, impoverished Chad the new oil frontier could become a model of fairness.
Sequel to this outstanding discovery, reports busted that Vice President Namadi Sambo of Nigeria is leading the commencement of steps towards engaging “Willing and ready investors that will facilitate speedy and timely exploration in the second phase of the exercise”
During a meeting with experts within the NNPC and other public sectors at the state House, Abuja, the Vice President said at the federal government is happy that surveys have indicated the presence of Oil in the Chad Basin.
More information coming soon.................
Friday, 7 September 2012
WARNING for Girls, Ladies and Women
A MUST READ FOR ALL LADIES
I read a touching, pathetic experience on one a blog, so i thought i should share it with you guys, it's about the horrifying experience of 8 girls in the hand of 8 devilish men, its a must read for all ladies out there.
"Hi, I am Tonia (not real name), a girl who has fears, beliefs, reservations and just your regular typical Nigerian girl. This past few weeks has been one hell of a game for me. I have really been unsettled and I thought I share this story with you.
"When Cynthia (the lady killed in the hotel room in Festac, Lagos) surfaced on the internet and various news media, I was scared and it brought back a whole lot of memories to me and also served as and eye opener. Many people castigated and criticised Cynthia (may her
gentle soul rest in peace), but my point is, it could have been anybody, anybody at all.
"We have met people through various social media. Some have ended up well, some have not but with painful memories. To cut the long story short, let me kindly share with you my encounter with social media especially the very popular Blackberry Messenger (BBM).
"I am a graduate and currently serving in Kaduna. I could have crunched
it, but I needed somewhere to clear my head and forget about my ugly encounter. Here is my story.
"I happened to have a married man as a contact on my BBM. He had been asking me out for over six months and I refused to date him. As time went on, he invited me clubbing with him when his wife was outside the country, and I went with him all night. We spent most of the night at Swe bar, Lagos.
"I also met his clique of friends, married as well with their various mistresses. We had 'mad' fun. After all the clubbing and drinking, he lodged me in a hotel somewhere in Obalende. I felt sort of safe with him. We did not have sex, but he made sweet love to me and touched me in places I had never ever imagined.
"He kissed me passionately but guess what? He did not have sex with me. We did all sorts but there was no penetration. So, to an extent, I trusted he was a good person to be around with. I did not know that it was all part of the plan.
"He gave me N10,000 and put me in a cab to go home the next morning. We kept talking and chatting and sending naked pictures to each other and he told me naughty things of how he wanted to whisper things in my ear, I blushed. We didn't see for two weeks and that was because his wife just came back from Turkey.
"One faithful evening, he pinged me that he was organizing a beach party/boat cruise and that he would love for me to be his date and that he wanted to open a BBM chat, as a medium for his friends and my friends to interact. I was excited about it, I just wanted to have fun. I was able to get five of my very hot friends.
"The BBM group opened and we got chatting. I also realize that majority of them were married and working in reputable firms. It was fun and we didn't mind if they were married, we just wanted to have fun, as well as some other girls apart from my friends in the group.
"We chatted exclusively, sent pictures to the BBM group to introduce ourselves, and we had opened group conversations pending the beach party. And as excited as we were, we went shoping for nice sexy beach wears.
"The D-day finally came, we all assembled at the Lagos Island Boat Club. I was wowed because it was a high class party. We were cruising in a boat loaded with goodies drinks and hot babes, and as well 'MARRIED MEN'. I did not care, I just said in my mind that I would not roll with married men anymore after this, that for now, all I wanted to do was to catch some fun. After all, I wasn't paying bills.
"We got there, it was a private beach resort. Most of the beach facilities I got to see there were owned by multinational companies. We got out of the boat, and went to where we were partying. It was a duplex made with wood. It was a very nice setting.
"I felt comfortable because it even had a fence around it separating it from other beach houses around. So, there was privacy and of course bouncers (heavy looking guys) guarding the place. I said to myself, this must be heaven, I must be dreaming.
"Anyways, we felt free with each other because we had been chatting. It was 5:30pm and the party just started. We had drinks flowing from the private bar tender which happens to be owned by one of the men in the group. Reality struck when I realized that I was feeling dizzy and feeling really funny and light headed. Not only me, but other girls around me too noticed there was something strange about it.
"I was also feeling HORNY as hell! I had been drugged. They monitored us and when they knew the drug had really gone deep into our system, they moved us up into the main beach house. I could still see faces, but was too weak and horny to react.
"Mr B, the man who took me clubbing, carried me in his hands like a sacrifice and put me down on the floor just as other men also did with their girls. We were eight in numbers; 8 girls, 8 guys, and they all stripped us down and had sex with us.
"I enjoyed it a bit because I was horny. It was a mixed feeling because I cried, I moaned, but I did not know how many times he came into me. He pounded me hard. I was dizzy, but he grabbed me with force. All I could notice was the wedding ring on his finger. I thought of how wicked and miserable some married can be. How inhuman and heartless they could be.
"All of them took turns in switching partners and slept with all of us. I passed out. That was the last thing I could remember. I felt water poured on me. I noticed all the other girls around me too were half naked and some stark naked.
"We spent the night at the beach, but the men were no where to be found. I looked round me and all I could see was packs of used condoms. I ran to pick my cloths and possibly raise an alarm. I got dressed, found my phone with an envelope. It contained N16,000 and a note asking us to take N2000 each for transport. Tears of anger and rage filled my eyes and the girls around me as well.
"We were drugged and used like tissue paper. I grabbed my phone and noticed a ping came in. I checked my phone and I noticed the BBM group had been deleted, and a message via BBM from MR B came in. He threatened me that if I say a word to anyone, I would regret it.
"I told him he was a bastard, and he said try it. A picture came in, several pictures. In fact, they were pictures of us being naked on the floor. Pictures of the humiliating us but they blurred the faces of the men. In total, I got 20 pictures. I was not myself for a month.
"I went back to school, I had no one to talk to. The rest of the semester was hell for me. My CGPA dropped drastically. It was the worst out of the worst result I ever had.
"Till today, my friends and I have not discussed this with anyone, but all I could do when I heard of Cynthia's story was to narrate my own ordeal anonymously and spread the news, the word, and pray they see it and changed their ways.
"I am now born again. I have given my life to Christ. I fear men so much that I cannot even move close to them. I still have nightmares, but with time, God will strengthen me and I will move on. My advice to single ladies out there is, do not be desperate for fun. Pray to God to open your eyes of understanding, and pray hard. He who kneels before God will stand before kings and queens.
"To all married women, pray hard to God to intervene in your marriages and turn your husbands from bad habits to and bad friends. As for me, I do not think I ever want to get married or date a man again. That chapter has been closed for good in my life.
Please, do not ignore my mail. Please post it. There are a lot of things we ladies need to learn including you. Please post it on your blog and save a soul. It could be your friend, sister, cousin, neighbor.
"God bless you as you pass it on. To all readers, I do not care if you insult me or rain abuses at me. My job is to share this encounter with you and save you from any mishap. God bless you all. Amen."
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Kogi, Enugu and Anambra Quarrel over Oil Wells within their respective States..
As President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the first oil refinery in Anambra State, the Kogi State government stepped forward
to stake a claim to the oil wells that will serve the refinery.
President Jonathan opened the refinery being built by Orient Petroleum at Aguleri Otu in Anambra East local government area and declared Anambra an oil producing state.
But moments later across the border in Kogi State, Governor Idris Wada said in a statement: “Kogi will be a major stake holder in the refinery, considering the fact the oil wells that will service the refinery are in Odeke Community in Ibaji Local Government Area of the state.”
Wada made the claim in a statement issued from the office of his deputy Yomi Awoniyi, a day after a community group issued a public notice saying that the oil deposits claimed by Anambra State are within the Odeke community of Kogi State.
Governor Wada said in the statement yesterday that the state “is doing everything humanly possible to resolve the issues surrounding the location of the oil wells with the contending states.”
The statement ended on a note of optimism: “Kogi State will soon join the league of oil producing states in the country.”
But speaking yesterday at the ceremony to kick-start his company’s oil refinery in Anambra State, Orient Petroleum chairman Chief Emeka Anyaoku said the controversy over ownership of the oil deposits has been resolved and that the ‘bulk’ of the deposits are within Anambra territory.
He however added that any state where oil was found and drilled by Orient Petroleum would be accorded due recognition.
“There was misconception that the oil well was not entirely in Anambra, that has been resolved through the map of Nigeria. Let me quickly state that the two oil blocks encompassed parts of Enugu, Kogi, Delta and Edo states but bulk of it is in Anambra,” Anyaoku said.
He said in addition to the private shareholders, other bodies that have shares in the company include Anambra, Rivers, Kogi and the 21 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the commissioning of the refinery, President Jonathan said the Federal Government was committed to oil exploration in all the sedimentary basins and commended the oil company for pioneering the inland crude oil production in the country.
“The good news is not Orient Oil and Anambra basin alone, the good news is for all our sedimentary basins all over the country,” Jonathan said. He said it would give confidence to other investors to invest in other inland sedimentary basins.
Jonathan urged operators in the oil industry, especially those at the upstream sector, not to think only about exporting crude oil but should also add value to it and export refined products.
“We have a lot of gas resources in Anambra Basin from meteorological records,” he said.
“Orient Petroleum has helped us not just in producing the crude oil but adding value to the crude oil. As a nation, we should not continue to think that we will be exporting crude oil materials abroad.
“The vision of Orient to diversify into refining and power generation, among others is the way to go. People who refine crude oil make more money than us who export the crude commodity,” he added.
Anyaoku said crude refining by the company would commence by next year, and that when the refining facility was completed about 20,000 litres of crude would be refined daily.
In his remarks, Governor Peter Obi, assured that he would continue to partner with the company to develop the oil sector of the state.
‘The oil belongs to Kogi’
Meanwhile, a group called Ibaji Development Association (IDA) warned that the oil wells OPL 915 and 916 are located in Kogi and not Anambra State as claimed by Orient Petroleum which is carrying out exploration in the area.
In a message to President Jonathan ahead of his visit to the area yesterday, IDA said “the area where the current productive oil well is located is in Odeke community in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi state and not in Anambra State.”
“Oil exploration activities leading to the successful access to crude oil were carried out in Kogi state within Odeke, Echeno, Ehile, Anocha and Omabo communities by Orient Petroleum Plc. Workers of this company actually rented houses in these communities as quarters for their staff for the final phase 1 of oil well production testing of these wells. Phase 2 is due at the end of September 2012 in Uchuchu, Ikah, Iregwu and Ujeh also within Ibaji local government area of Kogi state,” the group said.
IDA said Ibaji area was in conflict with the people of Agulere and Otuocha in Anambra State over ownership of the oil wells since 1994 which led to loss of lives and property.
The association called on President Jonathan to officially declare Kogi as an oil producing state saying “our non-resistant stance should not be misconstrued to mean cowardice, even in the face of glaring provocation from Anambra state, whose communities are already head over heels over the benefits of the oil wells that do not belong to them.”
Friday, 31 August 2012
Presidency exposes oil marketers
~*~ WHAT a WICKED Country ???
*** Presidency exposes oil marketers
.
* Lists 6 ways they defraud NIGERIA:
*** MORE facts have emerged from the report of the Presidential Task Force on Fuel Subsidy Fund management as a top presidency official has disclosed six ways the marketers defrauded the country as discovered by the Aig Imoukhuede review committee.
Speaking in confidence to the Nigerian Tribune, the official stated that the marketers operated a sophisticated ring, which was only uncovered by forensic experts engaged by the Federal Ministry of Finance, adding we were all shocked with the depth of the scam and the tricks adopted by the perpetrators.
Admitting that he was not authorized to release the details, the official, however, affirmed that disclosing the full details would allow Nigerians to appreciate the level of rot within the society and what he called the passionate struggle of Mr President and the coordinating minister for the economy to sanitize the economy.
# According to the official, the first approach in the defrauding process involved the importation of products to fulfill supply contracts to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and after presentation of documents to NNPC as evidence of supply, the products were then diverted to another vessel by ship to ship transfer.
Fresh Bill of Lading is generated, new Form M established and the same product is supplied to Nigeria a second time under the petroleum subsidy scheme. The products which have already been paid for by NNPC are then used to claim subsidy from the Federal Government. Effectively double dipping into the nation's pocket, he narrated.
# The second, which he called fake or false vessels declaration involved the identification of a dead or decommissioned vessel or using the name of live vessel which was not in Nigerian waters.
This, according to him, would be followed by the creation of Form M containing the fake or false vessel information while a Bill of Lading containing this false information, would also be generated, adding that no product is imported into Nigeria but fake vessel documentation is used to claim subsidy from the Federal Government.
# The third one the official called On-Shore Tank Back-Loading involved a genuine importation and discharge of products into On Shore Tanks in Nigeria while another vessel would berth at the jetty and the products would then be loaded back onto the vessel and exported out of Nigeria with the importer selling the product to recoup their initial funds outlay.
The original documents are then presented to Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and subsidy is claimed for products that were never sold in Nigeria, he said.
# The fourth approach is called the Land Border Smuggling through which a genuine importation of products would take place and the products trucked across a land border for sale outside Nigeria at near international market price while the shipping documents are then used to claim subsidy from Nigeria for products that were never sold in Nigeria.
# The Fifth approach also listed Bills for Collection Round Tripping as a common method adopted by the marketers, which involved the importer claiming that they had access to foreign credit facilities to finance their importation but would proceed to declare the fake vessel on the Form M alongside Bill of Lading containing false vessel information.
The documents are presented to PPPRA and subsidy is collected for products that were never imported into Nigeria.
The subsidy profit is then used to remit scarce foreign exchange out of Nigeria, he stated.
# The last method according to the official is the Rice and Beans method, which is perpetrated using the kerosene subsidy scam.
Because of the excessive profit made on kerosene imports, importers of kerosene illegally mix the kerosene with diesel (what is called Rice and Beans) to create adulterated diesel at a much lower cost than the landed cost of unadulterated diesel.
The adulterated diesel is then sold at slightly below diesel market price, the official narrated.
*** On what is being done to stop a re-occurrence of this scam, the top presidency official noted that President Jonathan had ordered water-tight procedure for verification of subsidy payments and the Finance Minister had got a marching order to scrutinise and closely vet claims.
The administration is putting in place measures that will never allow such practices to occur again.
The Minister of Finance is effecting presidential directive in that direction, the official stated.
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
SECURITY UPDATE
We will soon put insecurity behind us - IGP
In what look like rebirth of the Nigeria Police, Monday, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar assured Nigerians that the security situation in the country is heading for improvement, just as he charged 41 newly promoted senior officers to
halt the criminals plaguing the country.
Abubakar said In his congratulatory message shortly after he decorated the newly promoted officers with their new ranks at Force Headquarters, Abuja, that they must see their promotion as additional responsibility and impetus to bring the security situation under their control.
The IGP said that they are expected to justifiably account for their new positions, as a mark of appreciation to the Police authority, the government and people of Nigeria. He enjoined them to impart to their subordinates, the qualities of leadership that saw them merit their elevation.
Abubakar challenged the officers to key into the reformatory spirit of the present Police administration in the fight against corruption in all ramifications, the battle against terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and criminality in all spheres and definitions.
The Nigeria police had suffered several defeats in hands of Boko Haram sect who over ran their stations and killed their personnel including everybody on site. The activities of the rampaging sect led to the removal of the former IGP Hafiz Rigim and the appointment of Abubakar.
Abubakar said that he is optimistic that Nigerians are about to witness “the emergence of a well-motivated and proactive Police Force, with capacity to adequately handle the security challenges of the nation; and that not long from now, the security situation in the country will improve substantially”.
The IGP used the opportunity to thank Nigerians for their cooperation with the Police in recent times, as evidenced in successes recorded in the fight against crime and criminality in different parts of the country. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the Federal and some State governments, for various supports given to spur the Force in the discharge of its responsibility. He assured Nigerians of the willingness of Force to perform even better, its duty of providing security for all, notwithstanding current challenges
The decoration followed the elevation of 41 police officers announced by the Police Service Commission on August 1,including one hundred and thirty-two (132) Senior Officers, ninety-one (91) Assistant Commissioners of Police who were elevated to the rank of Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs).
In addition to the newly promoted DCPs, is a list of 41 other newly promoted senior Police officers. A break-drown of the list showed that 1 Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), while 8 Commissioners of Police are elevated to the rank of Assistant-Inspectors General of Police (AIGs). Also promoted are 32 Deputy Commissioners of Police, to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police.
The newly promoted DIG, Philemon I. Leha, MILR, psc+ was born on 14th January, 1954 at Numan, Adamawa State. He began the pursuit of his education at Bille Primary School in 1959 and thereafter proceeded to Bronnum Secondary School, Numan, in 1967. At the end of his Secondary School career in 1971, he gained admission into Bauchi Teachers’ College, Bauchi and obtained his Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1973. Philemon I. Leha proceeded to Federal School of Arts and Science, Mubi in 1975, where he obtained his Higher School certificate (HSC) in 1977 and went to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, to bag his B.A. (Hons) in History. Young Philemon Leha did his National Youth Service at Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti Community Secondary School in 1980/81. After a break, he returned to the academia in 1991 to obtain a Masters Degree in Industrial and Labour Relations from the University of Ibadan.
In pursuit of his strong desire to serve his fatherland, DIG Philemon I. Leha enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on 1st December, 1981 and has continued in the service of the Force, in different parts of the country, in various capacities and responsibilities, till this memorable day of his decoration as a DIG. He ran through the ranks to attain his present rank. He was promoted to Commissioner of Police while serving in acting capacity in the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Police Mobile Force (PMF) in Force Headquarters, Abuja and was shortly after, deployed as CP to the Anambra State Police Command. Leha was redeployed to the Office of Commissioner of Police in-charge PMF, in FHQ-Abuja, where fortune smiled on him with promotion to the rank of AIG. This resulted in his redeployment to Kano as the AIG in-charge of Zone 1 of the Nigeria Police Force (comprising Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States), where he served until his present elevation to the exalted rank of DIG.
DIG Philemon I. Leha has attended several professional Courses in various Institutions, including the prestigious Police Staff College, Jos where he had his Cadet ASP Course and several other courses, including Senior Command Course, in 2001. His commitment to duties, diligence, dedication and hard-work earned him several Awards and Commendation in the Force, including Peace Ambassador by World Peace Federation, among others. His promotion to DIG, it needs be said, is a product of divine destiny.
Among the eight newly promoted and decorated AIGs, are two specialists. The first is AIG Alex E. Okeke, a pharmacist who currently heads the Police Medical Services. He is first Police Pharmacist to rise to the rank of AIG. He is also the first Police Pharmacist to head the Police Medical Services. The second officer is AIG Julius A. Ishola, a Veterinary Doctor who heads the Police Animal Section. The remaining six AIGs are General Duty officers who before now were Commissioners of Police in-charge of various Police Commands across the federation.
In what look like rebirth of the Nigeria Police, Monday, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar assured Nigerians that the security situation in the country is heading for improvement, just as he charged 41 newly promoted senior officers to
halt the criminals plaguing the country.
Abubakar said In his congratulatory message shortly after he decorated the newly promoted officers with their new ranks at Force Headquarters, Abuja, that they must see their promotion as additional responsibility and impetus to bring the security situation under their control.
The IGP said that they are expected to justifiably account for their new positions, as a mark of appreciation to the Police authority, the government and people of Nigeria. He enjoined them to impart to their subordinates, the qualities of leadership that saw them merit their elevation.
Abubakar challenged the officers to key into the reformatory spirit of the present Police administration in the fight against corruption in all ramifications, the battle against terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and criminality in all spheres and definitions.
The Nigeria police had suffered several defeats in hands of Boko Haram sect who over ran their stations and killed their personnel including everybody on site. The activities of the rampaging sect led to the removal of the former IGP Hafiz Rigim and the appointment of Abubakar.
Abubakar said that he is optimistic that Nigerians are about to witness “the emergence of a well-motivated and proactive Police Force, with capacity to adequately handle the security challenges of the nation; and that not long from now, the security situation in the country will improve substantially”.
The IGP used the opportunity to thank Nigerians for their cooperation with the Police in recent times, as evidenced in successes recorded in the fight against crime and criminality in different parts of the country. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the Federal and some State governments, for various supports given to spur the Force in the discharge of its responsibility. He assured Nigerians of the willingness of Force to perform even better, its duty of providing security for all, notwithstanding current challenges
The decoration followed the elevation of 41 police officers announced by the Police Service Commission on August 1,including one hundred and thirty-two (132) Senior Officers, ninety-one (91) Assistant Commissioners of Police who were elevated to the rank of Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs).
In addition to the newly promoted DCPs, is a list of 41 other newly promoted senior Police officers. A break-drown of the list showed that 1 Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), while 8 Commissioners of Police are elevated to the rank of Assistant-Inspectors General of Police (AIGs). Also promoted are 32 Deputy Commissioners of Police, to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police.
The newly promoted DIG, Philemon I. Leha, MILR, psc+ was born on 14th January, 1954 at Numan, Adamawa State. He began the pursuit of his education at Bille Primary School in 1959 and thereafter proceeded to Bronnum Secondary School, Numan, in 1967. At the end of his Secondary School career in 1971, he gained admission into Bauchi Teachers’ College, Bauchi and obtained his Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1973. Philemon I. Leha proceeded to Federal School of Arts and Science, Mubi in 1975, where he obtained his Higher School certificate (HSC) in 1977 and went to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, to bag his B.A. (Hons) in History. Young Philemon Leha did his National Youth Service at Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti Community Secondary School in 1980/81. After a break, he returned to the academia in 1991 to obtain a Masters Degree in Industrial and Labour Relations from the University of Ibadan.
In pursuit of his strong desire to serve his fatherland, DIG Philemon I. Leha enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on 1st December, 1981 and has continued in the service of the Force, in different parts of the country, in various capacities and responsibilities, till this memorable day of his decoration as a DIG. He ran through the ranks to attain his present rank. He was promoted to Commissioner of Police while serving in acting capacity in the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Police Mobile Force (PMF) in Force Headquarters, Abuja and was shortly after, deployed as CP to the Anambra State Police Command. Leha was redeployed to the Office of Commissioner of Police in-charge PMF, in FHQ-Abuja, where fortune smiled on him with promotion to the rank of AIG. This resulted in his redeployment to Kano as the AIG in-charge of Zone 1 of the Nigeria Police Force (comprising Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States), where he served until his present elevation to the exalted rank of DIG.
DIG Philemon I. Leha has attended several professional Courses in various Institutions, including the prestigious Police Staff College, Jos where he had his Cadet ASP Course and several other courses, including Senior Command Course, in 2001. His commitment to duties, diligence, dedication and hard-work earned him several Awards and Commendation in the Force, including Peace Ambassador by World Peace Federation, among others. His promotion to DIG, it needs be said, is a product of divine destiny.
Among the eight newly promoted and decorated AIGs, are two specialists. The first is AIG Alex E. Okeke, a pharmacist who currently heads the Police Medical Services. He is first Police Pharmacist to rise to the rank of AIG. He is also the first Police Pharmacist to head the Police Medical Services. The second officer is AIG Julius A. Ishola, a Veterinary Doctor who heads the Police Animal Section. The remaining six AIGs are General Duty officers who before now were Commissioners of Police in-charge of various Police Commands across the federation.
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
NIGERIA ETHNIC GROUPS
NIGERIA ETHNIC GROUPS
The ethnicity of Nigeria is so varied that there is no definition of a Nigerian beyond that of someone who lives within the borders of the country.
The boundaries of the formerly English colony were drawn to serve commercial interests, largely without regard for the territorial claims of the indigenous peoples. As a result, about three hundred ethnic groups comprise the population of Nigeria, and the country's unity has been consistently under siege: eight attempts at secession threatened national unity between 1914 and 1977. The Biafran War was the last of the secessionist movements within this period.
The concept of ethnicity requires definition. Ukpo calls an "ethnic group" a "group of people having a common language and cultural values". These common factors are emphasized by frequent interaction between the people in the group. In Nigeria, the ethnic groups are occasionally fusions created by intermarriage, intermingling and/or assimilation. In such fusions, the groups of which they are composed maintain a limited individual identity. The groups are thus composed of smaller groups, but there is as much difference between even the small groups; as Chief Obafemi Awolowo put it, as much "as there is between Germans, English, Russians and Turks".
The count of three hundred ethnic groups cited above overwhelmingly enumerates ethnic minority groups, those which do not comprise a majority in the region in which they live. These groups usually do not have a political voice, nor do they have access to resources or the technology needed to develop and modernize economically. They therefore often consider themselves discriminated against, neglected, or oppressed. There are only three ethnic groups which have attained "ethnic majority" status in their respective regions: the Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Ibo in the southeast, and the Yoruba (Soyinka's group) in the southwest.
We must be very careful to avoid the use of the term "tribe" to describe these ethnic groups. "Tribe," Ukpo points out, is largely a racist term. The Ibo and Hausa-Fulani of Nigeria are each made up of five to ten million people, a figure comparable to the number of, say, Scots, Welsh, Armenians, Serbs or Croats. Yet we do not refer to the latter groups as "tribes." The term "tribe" is almost exclusively, and very indifferently, applied to peoples of Native American or African origin. It is a label which emerged with imperialism in its application to those who were non-European and lived in a "colonial or semi-colonial dependency...in Asia, Africa and Latin America". As we are attempting to discard the prejudices of imperialism it is in our best interests to discard the use of the term "tribe" when referring to the ethnic groups of Nigeria.
With that in mind, we should dabble in brief definitions of the major ethnic groups of Nigeria. The majority groups, as stated above, are the Hausa-Fulani, Ibo and Yoruba.
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Ghanaian President, John Atta Mills died at 68
Ghana's president, John Evans Atta-Mills, has died suddenly, aged 68.
Mills, who was only months away from completing his first term in office, cancelled meetings and was taken to hospital at midday on Tuesday suffering from an unspecified illness.
A statement from the president's office, signed by the chief of staff, confirmed his death several hours later, after growing speculation and a near communications blackout in the capital city, Accra.
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely
According to media reports, Mr. Mills, 68, suffered from throat cancer and died in a hospital in Accra, Ghana’s capital.
He had ruled the West African country since 2009.
President Mills will be remembered for his statesmanship and years of dedicated service to his country.
MPs were summoned to Ghana's parliament house to swear in John Dramani Mahama, the former vice president, and given reassurances that the death of Mills would not spark a constitutional crisis. No president has ever died in office in the history of Ghana, which gained independence from Britain in 1957.
Mahama, who made an emotional speech describing Mills as a "father, friend, mentor and … senior comrade", said that the country was "deeply saddened and distraught" and declared one week of mourning in Ghana.
News of the president's death follows weeks of rumours about his health, prompted by a decline in public appearances and a medical trip to the US, which he insisted was for a routine check-up.
When Mills was elected in 2009, questions were raised about his fitness to lead the country. At least two false reports announcing his death have previously circulated in Ghana.
Mills was preparing to seek a second term in elections due in December.
Mills, a professor of tax law for 25 years, who studied at the University of London, was expected to lead a close contest for the ruling party, the National Democratic Congress.
The news has shocked other African countries, where there have been a number of deaths in office in recent years. Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan, who succeeded president Umaru Yar'Adua after he died in office in 2010, expressed his condolences.
A statement from the Nigerian presidency said: "On behalf of himself, the government and people of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to late President Mills' family as well as the government and people of Ghana.
"The president assures the people of Ghana of the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Nigeria as they mourn late President Mills who did his best during his tenure to carry forward the process of democratic consolidation and socio-economic development in Ghana."
Ghanaian commentators praised the relative speed with which Mills' death was announced, two hours after doctors at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra failed to resuscitate him.
Mills, who was only months away from completing his first term in office, cancelled meetings and was taken to hospital at midday on Tuesday suffering from an unspecified illness.
A statement from the president's office, signed by the chief of staff, confirmed his death several hours later, after growing speculation and a near communications blackout in the capital city, Accra.
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely
According to media reports, Mr. Mills, 68, suffered from throat cancer and died in a hospital in Accra, Ghana’s capital.
He had ruled the West African country since 2009.
President Mills will be remembered for his statesmanship and years of dedicated service to his country.
MPs were summoned to Ghana's parliament house to swear in John Dramani Mahama, the former vice president, and given reassurances that the death of Mills would not spark a constitutional crisis. No president has ever died in office in the history of Ghana, which gained independence from Britain in 1957.
Mahama, who made an emotional speech describing Mills as a "father, friend, mentor and … senior comrade", said that the country was "deeply saddened and distraught" and declared one week of mourning in Ghana.
News of the president's death follows weeks of rumours about his health, prompted by a decline in public appearances and a medical trip to the US, which he insisted was for a routine check-up.
When Mills was elected in 2009, questions were raised about his fitness to lead the country. At least two false reports announcing his death have previously circulated in Ghana.
Mills was preparing to seek a second term in elections due in December.
Mills, a professor of tax law for 25 years, who studied at the University of London, was expected to lead a close contest for the ruling party, the National Democratic Congress.
The news has shocked other African countries, where there have been a number of deaths in office in recent years. Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan, who succeeded president Umaru Yar'Adua after he died in office in 2010, expressed his condolences.
A statement from the Nigerian presidency said: "On behalf of himself, the government and people of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to late President Mills' family as well as the government and people of Ghana.
"The president assures the people of Ghana of the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Nigeria as they mourn late President Mills who did his best during his tenure to carry forward the process of democratic consolidation and socio-economic development in Ghana."
Ghanaian commentators praised the relative speed with which Mills' death was announced, two hours after doctors at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra failed to resuscitate him.
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice,Alooma Mariam Mukhtar, was sworn in.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said that he is confident that the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alooma Mariam Mukhtar will reform and reposition the judiciary for the effective and efficient discharge of its constitutional mandate.
The president was speaking in the presidential villa after swearing in the CJN in the presidential villa.
He said that Justice Mukhtar is presiding over the judiciary at a time of profound changes that demand united response but that he is confident that the challenges can be confronted head on.
Mr Jonathan pointed at security challenges and the terrorism, and called on the three arms of government to work together to overcome the threats.
He asked the CJN to rise up and provide the necessary support to address corruption pointing out that the complain about lengthy trials especially in cases of corruption, terrorism and other matters of serious public concern should be considered to avoid the delay in justice for all.
Justice Dahiru Musdapher on Sunday bowed out as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) having attained the retirement age of 70 years.
The president was speaking in the presidential villa after swearing in the CJN in the presidential villa.
He said that Justice Mukhtar is presiding over the judiciary at a time of profound changes that demand united response but that he is confident that the challenges can be confronted head on.
Mr Jonathan pointed at security challenges and the terrorism, and called on the three arms of government to work together to overcome the threats.
He asked the CJN to rise up and provide the necessary support to address corruption pointing out that the complain about lengthy trials especially in cases of corruption, terrorism and other matters of serious public concern should be considered to avoid the delay in justice for all.
Justice Dahiru Musdapher on Sunday bowed out as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) having attained the retirement age of 70 years.
Edo State election - Governor Adams Oshiomhole a true Comrade
Senate salutes Oshiomhole, says people’s will remains sacrosanct
SENATE spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has described the re-election of Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as the wish of the people, stating that the Nigerian upper chamber was happy that the election reaffirmed the people’s will.
In a statement, on Sunday, Senator Abaribe said that respect for the will of the people remained the recipe for a sound and enduring democracy in the country.
He further stated that the Senate believed that success of the July 14 poll was a signal of better things to come and evidence that the true tenets of democracy were fast taking roots in Nigeria.
Senator Abaribe stated that the Senate was thrilled by the outcome of the election and its manifest reflection of respect for the sanctity of people’s will and their appreciation of outstanding performance of the governor.
The senator said: “The Senate is particularly happy over the peaceful conduct, massive turnout of the Edo voters, respect for their preference and the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring fairness and transparency during the election.
“The Senate is happy that the victory of Governor Oshiomhole is a true testament that the electorate are ever alert and will ever recognise and reward good work.
“There is no doubt that respect for the will of the people, as exemplified in the Oshiomhole victory, remains the driving force of our country's democratic evolution.”
He, however, enjoined Governor Oshiomhole to be magnanimous in victory and to seek to unite all divergent interests in the state, while also doubling his effort at delivering democracy dividends to the people.
Oshiomhole’s re-election, triumph over evil forces - NLC
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the landslide victory recorded by the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, at the just concluded governorship election in Edo State was not only a triumph of light over evil forces but a victory foretold.
The NLC made the submission in a press statement issued and signed by its president, Abdulwaheed Omar, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday, adding that Oshiomhole, despite all odds, defeated his closest rival by clinching 75 per cent of the valid votes cast with 477,478.
The release, which noted that his closest rival, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), only garnered 144,235 votes, said it was a signal to the money bags and their godfathers and all those who believed in buying their ways into office to loot the public treasury and consign the working people and Nigeria’s poor to eternal poverty and deprivation that the day of reckoning had come.
It added that it was a victory well deserved for the people of the state and a triumph of democracy.
Oshiomhole campaign organisation lauds Edo electorate
THE Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, on Monday, lauded Edo people over re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, saying they had demonstrated very peculiar courage and determination that election was not about money contrary to claim that “money plays significant role in election in this part of the world.”
The campaign organisation also said the voters had shown that integrity and honesty of purpose were essential attributes that money could not buy, even as it declared that the re-election of Oshiomhole had put paid to ethnic and divisive politics in the state and “stamped the moral authority of the people as the authentic deciders of political power.”
The organisation said this in a statement signed by its director of media and publicity, Prince Kassim Afegbua and made available to the Nigerian Tribune.
The campaign organisation, while expressing its appreciation to Edo electorate in general and other stakeholders, particularly the traditional institution led by Omo N’oba Ereduawa, said it was sacrifice made in the face of outright threat and intimidation to ensure that the will of the people was freely expressed at the polls.
According to the body, the poll that witnessed the victory of Oshiomhole “has been such a soul refreshing exercise and the outcome has once again reaffirmed Edo State as the real heartbeat of the nation.
“It has opened new vista in electioneering campaigns and outcome. It has doggedly registered the mantra of one man, one vote as the key symbol of representative democracy.”
Finally, the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation paid tribute to candidates of other parties, including General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their acceptance of the outcome of the election as a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the people.
Gov Orji congratulates Oshiomhole •Mukhtar, M. D. Abubarkar, too
ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has congratulated comrade Adams Oshiomhole
of Edo State on his re-election.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, Chief Orji said Oshiomhole’s re-election was a manifestation of the confidence his people reposed in him. He urged him not to disappoint them.
The governor also congratulated the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Aloma Mukhtar, on her appointment.
Chief Orji said that she deserved it, having proved her worth in the judiciary over the years.
According to Chief Orji being the first female Chief Justice Nigeria of the country, he had no doubt she would do the nation proud.
He urged her to go the extra mile in taking the judiciary to higher heights.
Governor Orji also applauded the confirmation of M. D. Abubarkar as the Inspector General of Police.
He urged the police boss, whom he described as a hard working officer, to continue his fight against insecurity with greater zeal as all Nigerians are praying for him.
Oshiomhole’s victory proves Nigerians can redirect their destiny - Group
A pan-youth organisation in Nigeria, The Youth Arise for Nigeria (YAN), on Monday, stated that the landslide re-election victory of the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for another four years was an evidence that Nigerians could still redirect their destiny in the 2015 polls.
YAN, while commending the people of Edo State for their resolve at the poll last Saturday to usher in another four years of human and infrastructural development and prosperity in the state, hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, the Nigeria police and the army for ensuring that the election was peaceful.
YAN’s national coordinator, Oluwarotimi Macnobleson, in a statement by the group’s national publicity secretary, Liborous Oshoma, said the results of the Edo State governorship poll showed that the sovereignty was still with the people and that Nigerians couldn still change their own destiny come 2015 by kicking out the corrupt ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
Comrade Macnobleson said the Edo State election was a lesson to all public office holders that only the people have the power to reward good service and hard work and also confirm that the people were watching and ready to kick out all corrupt politicians in 2015.
While commiserating with the people of the state over those who lost their lives in Ologbo boat mishap, during the early hours of the election on Saturday, YAN called on Governor Oshiomhole not to see his second chance as a time of mere consolidation of projects.
SENATE spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has described the re-election of Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as the wish of the people, stating that the Nigerian upper chamber was happy that the election reaffirmed the people’s will.
In a statement, on Sunday, Senator Abaribe said that respect for the will of the people remained the recipe for a sound and enduring democracy in the country.
He further stated that the Senate believed that success of the July 14 poll was a signal of better things to come and evidence that the true tenets of democracy were fast taking roots in Nigeria.
Senator Abaribe stated that the Senate was thrilled by the outcome of the election and its manifest reflection of respect for the sanctity of people’s will and their appreciation of outstanding performance of the governor.
The senator said: “The Senate is particularly happy over the peaceful conduct, massive turnout of the Edo voters, respect for their preference and the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring fairness and transparency during the election.
“The Senate is happy that the victory of Governor Oshiomhole is a true testament that the electorate are ever alert and will ever recognise and reward good work.
“There is no doubt that respect for the will of the people, as exemplified in the Oshiomhole victory, remains the driving force of our country's democratic evolution.”
He, however, enjoined Governor Oshiomhole to be magnanimous in victory and to seek to unite all divergent interests in the state, while also doubling his effort at delivering democracy dividends to the people.
Oshiomhole’s re-election, triumph over evil forces - NLC
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the landslide victory recorded by the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, at the just concluded governorship election in Edo State was not only a triumph of light over evil forces but a victory foretold.
The NLC made the submission in a press statement issued and signed by its president, Abdulwaheed Omar, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday, adding that Oshiomhole, despite all odds, defeated his closest rival by clinching 75 per cent of the valid votes cast with 477,478.
The release, which noted that his closest rival, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), only garnered 144,235 votes, said it was a signal to the money bags and their godfathers and all those who believed in buying their ways into office to loot the public treasury and consign the working people and Nigeria’s poor to eternal poverty and deprivation that the day of reckoning had come.
It added that it was a victory well deserved for the people of the state and a triumph of democracy.
Oshiomhole campaign organisation lauds Edo electorate
THE Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, on Monday, lauded Edo people over re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, saying they had demonstrated very peculiar courage and determination that election was not about money contrary to claim that “money plays significant role in election in this part of the world.”
The campaign organisation also said the voters had shown that integrity and honesty of purpose were essential attributes that money could not buy, even as it declared that the re-election of Oshiomhole had put paid to ethnic and divisive politics in the state and “stamped the moral authority of the people as the authentic deciders of political power.”
The organisation said this in a statement signed by its director of media and publicity, Prince Kassim Afegbua and made available to the Nigerian Tribune.
The campaign organisation, while expressing its appreciation to Edo electorate in general and other stakeholders, particularly the traditional institution led by Omo N’oba Ereduawa, said it was sacrifice made in the face of outright threat and intimidation to ensure that the will of the people was freely expressed at the polls.
According to the body, the poll that witnessed the victory of Oshiomhole “has been such a soul refreshing exercise and the outcome has once again reaffirmed Edo State as the real heartbeat of the nation.
“It has opened new vista in electioneering campaigns and outcome. It has doggedly registered the mantra of one man, one vote as the key symbol of representative democracy.”
Finally, the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation paid tribute to candidates of other parties, including General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their acceptance of the outcome of the election as a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the people.
Gov Orji congratulates Oshiomhole •Mukhtar, M. D. Abubarkar, too
ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has congratulated comrade Adams Oshiomhole
of Edo State on his re-election.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, Chief Orji said Oshiomhole’s re-election was a manifestation of the confidence his people reposed in him. He urged him not to disappoint them.
The governor also congratulated the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Aloma Mukhtar, on her appointment.
Chief Orji said that she deserved it, having proved her worth in the judiciary over the years.
According to Chief Orji being the first female Chief Justice Nigeria of the country, he had no doubt she would do the nation proud.
He urged her to go the extra mile in taking the judiciary to higher heights.
Governor Orji also applauded the confirmation of M. D. Abubarkar as the Inspector General of Police.
He urged the police boss, whom he described as a hard working officer, to continue his fight against insecurity with greater zeal as all Nigerians are praying for him.
Oshiomhole’s victory proves Nigerians can redirect their destiny - Group
A pan-youth organisation in Nigeria, The Youth Arise for Nigeria (YAN), on Monday, stated that the landslide re-election victory of the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for another four years was an evidence that Nigerians could still redirect their destiny in the 2015 polls.
YAN, while commending the people of Edo State for their resolve at the poll last Saturday to usher in another four years of human and infrastructural development and prosperity in the state, hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, the Nigeria police and the army for ensuring that the election was peaceful.
YAN’s national coordinator, Oluwarotimi Macnobleson, in a statement by the group’s national publicity secretary, Liborous Oshoma, said the results of the Edo State governorship poll showed that the sovereignty was still with the people and that Nigerians couldn still change their own destiny come 2015 by kicking out the corrupt ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
Comrade Macnobleson said the Edo State election was a lesson to all public office holders that only the people have the power to reward good service and hard work and also confirm that the people were watching and ready to kick out all corrupt politicians in 2015.
While commiserating with the people of the state over those who lost their lives in Ologbo boat mishap, during the early hours of the election on Saturday, YAN called on Governor Oshiomhole not to see his second chance as a time of mere consolidation of projects.
Monday, 9 July 2012
GMD, Access Bank Plc- Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede appointed as Chairman of the special committee on Fuel Subsidy Probe..
After pocketing a princely N345.3 million and failing to supply petroleum products, Aig-Imoukhede is rewarded with appointments to probe himself and his accomplices.
by President Goodluck Jonathan to verify and reconcile the records of payments on fuel subsidy, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, owns a company that received millions of Naira in subsidy payments for products it allegedly failed to deliver.
Detailed company searches by an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Youth Alliance Against Fuel Subsidy Removal, revealed that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, who is the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, also owns Ice Energy Petroleum Trading Limited, which allegedly received $2,131,166.32 in hard currency (about N345.3 million) in 2011.
It is not clear whether the company delivered the product for which it was paid but the House of Reps Subsidy probe committee said it did not.
The defunct Farouk Lawan-led House of Representative Committee had, in its report, queried the company for receiving payment when no petroleum products were imported and supplied.
Ice Energy was one of the 45 companies invited to appear before the probe committee, but which failed to either honour the invitation or submit documents concerning their involvement in the monumental fraud that attended the subsidy scheme.
Findings by Youth Alliance at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and made available to PREMIUM TIMES, show that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede heads the three-man board of Ice Energy, which has Iroche Chuks, as managing director, and Aikhionbare Sam, as member.
Asking Aig-Imoukhuede to probe self and accomplices
Following the shocking revelation in the report of the House of Representatives Committee that fuel subsidy payment, for which about N245billion was appropriated in the 2011 budget, had suddenly spiraled to over N2.6 trillion (over 2,200 per cent) as at December last year, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, constituted a Technical Committee on review of Fuel Subsidy Payments, and appointed Mr. Aig-Imuokhuede as its head.
by President Goodluck Jonathan to verify and reconcile the records of payments on fuel subsidy, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, owns a company that received millions of Naira in subsidy payments for products it allegedly failed to deliver.
Detailed company searches by an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Youth Alliance Against Fuel Subsidy Removal, revealed that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, who is the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, also owns Ice Energy Petroleum Trading Limited, which allegedly received $2,131,166.32 in hard currency (about N345.3 million) in 2011.
It is not clear whether the company delivered the product for which it was paid but the House of Reps Subsidy probe committee said it did not.
The defunct Farouk Lawan-led House of Representative Committee had, in its report, queried the company for receiving payment when no petroleum products were imported and supplied.
Ice Energy was one of the 45 companies invited to appear before the probe committee, but which failed to either honour the invitation or submit documents concerning their involvement in the monumental fraud that attended the subsidy scheme.
Findings by Youth Alliance at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and made available to PREMIUM TIMES, show that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede heads the three-man board of Ice Energy, which has Iroche Chuks, as managing director, and Aikhionbare Sam, as member.
Asking Aig-Imoukhuede to probe self and accomplices
Following the shocking revelation in the report of the House of Representatives Committee that fuel subsidy payment, for which about N245billion was appropriated in the 2011 budget, had suddenly spiraled to over N2.6 trillion (over 2,200 per cent) as at December last year, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, constituted a Technical Committee on review of Fuel Subsidy Payments, and appointed Mr. Aig-Imuokhuede as its head.
What are you really arguing about?
What are you really arguing about?
Get talking
Talking and listening are probably the most important skills in a relationship. There will always be tensions and disagreements, but if you can communicate well, you can overcome almost any problem.
If you and your partner seem to spend most of your time arguing, perhaps you should take a closer look at the cause of conflict.
Common conflicts
The most common things couples argue about are money, sex, work, children and housework - roughly in that order.
Most rows start because of differences of opinion, but with patience and basic communication skills you should be able to negotiate a compromise.
If there's violence
Violence or threats of violence are never acceptable in a relationship. If arguments are always aggressive, or you avoid conflict because you're scared things may get out of control, you need support.
If you find the same old issues come up over and over again, or as soon as one issue's resolved another crops up, then there's more going on than meets the eye. Below are some common reasons.
Unresolved issues
Sometimes people find they're fighting battles that have far more to do with the past than the present. Feelings of rejection or betrayal in childhood can create hot buttons that partners press without realising.
For example, a partner who's parent left suddenly in childhood may find themselves overreacting to a hastily arranged business trip. Or a partner who was always forced to do gardening as a punishment when a child may become irrationally angry when asked to mow the lawn.
Sensitive subjects
If there are taboo subjects in your relationship that always cause a storm, you need to mention them more often. If you don't, they can become time bombs.
Taboo subjects can include things such as a forgotten birthday or a time when you felt your partner wasn't there for you. Often it's something that represents a serious breach of trust such as an affair or a breaking of confidence. Burying old relationship problems is OK, but you have to make sure they're dead first.
Fighting for your deeper needs
Couples often use topics such as money, sex or housework to fight for their deeper needs within a relationship.
For example, an argument over who should pay for what may really be about where the responsibility lies and who's got the power in this situation. Rows about housework are often about unfilled needs for respect and worth. And arguing about how often to have sex is nearly always about feeling loved and cared for and deeper needs for connection and affection.
Hidden pay-offs
For some couples arguing actually plays a beneficial role, as it may be the only time they get to share their feelings. It can also add excitement to a relationship or be a way of getting attention.
Arguing can be worth the pain because of the joy of making up. And when you make up you get to reaffirm your love for each other.
Just remember: beneath the surface of an argument often lurks a much deeper issue, desperate to be let out and looked at - and you'll keep on arguing until you do.
Further help
If you have concerns about your relationship, try talking it through with your partner or a trusted friend,
Niger Republic to supply gas to Nigeria
EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION
Who asked for the deployment of soldiers in Edo State? Is the BH excuse for the pre-election militarization of some states existing in Edo? Is INEC finally confirmed as a finger of the leprous hand of GEJ?.....read this piece from Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed - EDO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS: BALLOTS AND BULLETS and make up your mind.....
EDO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS: BALLOTS AND BULLETS
“Democracy is too good to share with just anybody.”
H. L. Mencken
If you are voter in Edo State who believes that your vote should and must count, you must be wondering whether it is safe to exercise your right to decide who becomes Governor of the State this coming Saturday. Certainly, it will take the bravest of citizens to venture out either on campaign trails or to vote, given the intimidating mobilization of security personnel, particularly soldiers, reportedly in their thousands for the Saturday elections. It will be safe to say that the bullet will be as important as the ballot in determining who is announced as winner in the elections.
All the indices that the elections of a Governor on the 14th of July in Edo State will be a bitterly-fought affair have been evident for quite some time. Edo State has historically been a major battleground. If forms the core of the Midwest region, carved out with muscle and clout of the northern influence in the first republic. Subsequently, it remained the barometer for judging the balance of power between the West, and political parties with a heavy dose of northern and minority influences such as the NPN and PDP. The loss to either has been seen as a major setback, and the stakes have never been higher than they are. The Action Congress of Nigeria of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the People’s Democratic Party which straddles the nation’s political horizon like a colossus are locked in a bitter battle to show who is the dominant influence in a key state and region. A win by Oshiomhole will weaken the PDP’s stranglehold on the south-south, and may very well signal the political end of some of the most powerful fixers of the PDP. A loss by the ACN will represent a major setback for a party which wants to claim that quality governance can take it beyond narrow ethnic boundaries in Nigeria.
The most visible and obvious indicator that the voting is unlikely to reflect the popular will is the massive deployment of thousands of soldiers and other security personnel days before the elections. In the absence of clear signs that voters and election officials are likely to face serious threats which a deployment on this scale alone can mitigate, the question has to be asked what all this militarization of the voting process seeks to achieve. On the basis of experience, Nigerians know that the visible presence of heavily-armed soldiers scares voters from venturing out to vote. Low turn-outs create opportunities to manipulate ballots and result sheets. Soldiers intimidate voters and observers who want to exercise their rights to keep the entire process in sight.
The militarization of the voting process tends to generate its own image. Interests that cannot mobilize the military in their favour resort to their own use of violence as a political tool. Long before elections, campaigns become violent and dangerous affairs; communities are torn by rival armed gangs; simple folk are warned in advance of the consequences of voting one way or the other; and the whole community arms itself to the teeth using money from politicians. Arms used to intimidate the public will be retained after the elections. They will be turned against the same politicians who bought them, or against the community later.
The electoral process will be severely compromised in this type of atmosphere. Allegations of intimidation, ballot stuffing, results without voting or use of violence at polling stations will be made. Agents will allegedly be chased away, and whole communities or voters will complain that they were prevented from going to polling units or collation centers.
These may very well be the reasons why this type of mobilization of armed security personnel is being made. Whoever is declared winner after the Saturday elections, there will be another loser: the citizens of Edo State who will never be sure that the results genuinely reflect their will, or the will of a few fixers and professional election riggers.
For the rest of Nigeria, the elections in Edo State this weekend are also very important. What happens in this particular election will indicate whether the government and INEC have learnt any lessons from previous elections. It may give a hint on whether President Jonathan and his party, the PDP are willing to test their popularity in open, free and fair elections; or they will continue with the tradition of muscling results out of the system.
Even at this stage, Nigerians should demand that the Edo gubernatorial elections coming up on Saturday must be demilitarized. If there is evidence that some people intend to use violence or some other illegal means to influence the outcome of the elections, the police and other security agents should deal with this threat, not thousands of soldiers. INEC should demand a freer and less intimidating environment, openly and specifically, because it cannot claim to conduct a free and fair election in an environment where voters are having to choose between ballots and bullets.
Saturday, 7 July 2012
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