Rescuing 9geria is not simply a choice but the only choice we must make as 9gerians and friends of 9geria
if this largest black nation on earth will not sink under the yoke of ignorance, waste, corruption, and poverty.
What you must know:
DID YOU KNOW…
1. that over N6.5 trillion was spent to pay salaries and allowances of 9geria’s 18,000 [s]elected
public officials between 1999 and 2009 while 9gerian workers receive peanuts as salaries?
2. that about half of 9geria’s annual revenue is spent to maintain the lifestyle of 9geria’s 18,000
[s]elected public officials while national minimum wage remains at N7, 500?
3. that in section 16 (2) (d) of 9geria’s Constitution it is stated as follows: “The state shall direct
its policy towards ensuring that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food,
reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick
benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens”?
4. that because of the outrageous salaries and allowances paid 9geria’s public officials and their
corrupt lifestyle 9gerians have been deprived of the benefits accorded them by section 16 (2)
(d) of the Constitution?
5. that the 150 million 9gerians, of whom you are an important family member, are expected by
the fortunate 18,000 officials to do nothing about this?
6. that our public schools will continue to deteriorate if you do nothing?
7. that the children of the 18,000 officials don’t attend the public schools you or your children
attend?
8. that the children of the 18,000 officials shall come back to rule over your less and under
educated children if you do nothing?
9. that graduates of public schools stand little chance of getting good jobs in 9geria compared to
those of better funded private schools both within and outside 9geria which neither you nor
your children can afford except family members of the 18,000 officials?
10. that 9geria’s bad roads, poor electricity, collapsed health system, neglected agriculture and
industrial sectors like her public education will not improve if you do nothing?
11. that “vision 2020” shall go the way of “vision 2000” and “vision 2010” if you do nothing?
12. that those [s]elected public officials who may have employed you as a thug send their children
to expensive private schools both within and outside 9geria, and your children shall become
thugs to their children in the future should you do nothing?
13. that in section 17 (2) (d) it is stated that: “In furtherance of the state social order, exploitation
of human or natural resources in any form whatsoever for reasons other than the good of the
community shall be prevented”, yet the government of 9geria has allowed oil companies to
destroy our environment, destroy our water resources and thus the livelihood of many
9gerians?
14. that 9geria’s Constitution requires in section 17 (3) (d) that: “The state shall direct its policy
towards ensuring that there are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons”, yet
even our public officials have to seek health care overseas at great national cost?
15. that the option of doing nothing is too costly and not a good option for you to even consider?
What you can do:
1. Make a copy or copies of this message according to your ability and give to other 9gerians
and friends of 9geria.
2. Get copies of this message and help distribute at mosques, churches, market places, and at
other public places, and also through e-mails to 9gerians and friends of 9geria.
3. Organize 9gerian students in schools, colleges, and Universities to form 9geria Rally
Movements.
4. Arrange and invite us to give talks to those groups you have helped form.
5. Study and discuss in groups the second chapter of the 9gerian Constitution entitled,
FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES AND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY.
6. Write, sign, and send letters of protest to the National Assembly, State Assemblies, the
President, Governors, Local government Chairmen, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and
Fiscal Commission demanding urgent constitutional (including appropriate review of section
84 (3) and section 124 (3) of 9geria’s Constitution) downward review of salaries of 9geria’s
public officials.
7. Demand for the scrapping of the Senate and putting of the House of Representatives and State
Houses of Assembly on per diem (part time) basis.
8. Demand for the collapse of the 9gerian federation into 6 states according to the six geopolitical
regions.
9. Demand for a constitutional requirement of at most 13 federal Ministers and at most 8 state
Commissioners, respectively and pegging of Advisers at both national and state levels to the
number of federal Ministers and Commissioners, accordingly in order to free resources for
investment in the people and avoidance of unnecessary duplication of responsibilities.
10. Organize peaceful processions at public places such as Aso Rock, National and State
Assemblies, Local government council offices, offices of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation
and Fiscal Commission, and at offices of popular contractors in 9geria who collaborate with
government officials to loot our commonwealth through inflated contract sums, and yet do
poor jobs or at worst abandon the project without any consequences.
11. Refuse to give up even if you don’t see immediate results.
12. Refuse to quit even if you encounter persecution, whether from government or neighbors.
The desired change we seek can only happen through organized revolutionary action. But for too long,
9geria’s rulers have urged them to “pray” while they prey on the hapless masses. Yes, we believe in divine
intervention; but faith without works is dead. God has always worked with and through men and women
who match their faith with necessary action. God will pull down our walls of Jericho, but He MUST have
us walk round them 13 times. Are we ready for the WALK-LONG WALK TO FREEDOM?
http://www.9jabook.com/page/nigeria-rally-movement
Contact: quote http://www.9jabook.com as the source
E-mail: shilgba@nigeriarally.org, cliffedo@nigeriarally.org,
natapir@nigeriarally.org , nigeriarallyeurope@gmail.com
TEL: 08055024356
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Saturday, May 30, 2009
Nature rode rough shod over the Lagos Bar Beach yesterday, when the elements defied the multi-billion naira shoreline protection barriers constructed last year by the Lagos State government, in the process, flooding almost the entire stretch of Ahmadu Bello Way, in Victoria Island.
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The flooding resulting from the surging Atlantic Ocean, followed a slight rainfall at about midday on the Lagos Island.
Hundreds of motorists who use Ahmadu Bello Way, had to battle through the flood and resultant traffic jam to get to their various destinations.
The traffic crisis was compounded by the huge quantity of sharp sand deposited on the road after the flood waters receded into the ocean.
The sand left behind practically covered all the rock boulders constructed to protect the shoreline, including the walkway on Ahmadu Bello Way and the road itself.
“This caught us unawares. We thought it would never happen again after the government completed the shoreline protection work. We are really disappointed,” remarked a taxi driver caught in the traffic jam.
As at press time, officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Water Front Development were not available for comments.
But the director general of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Dr Anthony Anuforo said yesterday’s flooding might have been due to global warming.
“Ice has been melting in the seas and causing a general rise in sea level. Nigeria’s coastline is predominantly low level and because of rising sea levels, more and more areas are getting flooded and submerged.
“Another factor is the waves that are getting more violent due to the Green House Gas effect,” Anuforo said.
On how it can be curbed, he said reducing Green House Gas emissions is an important factor, adding that planting trees should be encouraged, “since they absorb carbon dioxide thus reducing the volume of green house gases emitted into the atmosphere.”
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Fashola invites Nigerians abroad homeGov. Babatunde Fashola last Friday in Lagos said it was time for Nigerians in the Diaspora to return home and contribute their quota to national development.advertisementFashola made the plea at a news conference in commemoration of his second year in office.``We are creating a new set of international refugees with their continued stay abroad under the erroneous thinking that things do not work here at home,’’ he said.The governor urged them to return home and join in creating a new order.He observed that many parents who toiled to send their children abroad were now anxious to have them back, saying that things had started picking up in the country.He appealed to the Federal Government to take urgent steps to improve the nation’s electricity supply situation so as to attract foreign investors as well as to revive ailing industries.The governor said that the state government was generating 277 megawatts from its Independent Power Project, being contributed to the national grid.He said that the urban renewal challenges in Obalende area of Lagos would soon be addressed.``What happened at Oshodi will be replicated in Obalende which has become another sad story of urban decay in Lagos,’’ he said.The governor said that other identified challenges in Ijora-Badiya, Bariga and Shomolu would similarly be addressed.Fashola also appealed to the Federal Government to accord Lagos a special status.``If Lagos is hosting the nation’s major air and sea ports, many industries and the banks, it should certainly be accorded a special status,’’ he said.
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A weak currency and a steady decline in foreign reserves are hitting international students from Nigeria. Parents are finding it increasingly difficult to remit money to their children studying abroad, some students are considering continuing their studies at home, and many parents are shelving plans to send their offspring to foreign universities. But universities in Nigeria will be hard-pressed to accommodate those who do return.
Commercial banks have received fewer applications from parents to process tuition fees for students abroad. An official at the Central Bank of Nigeria who did not wish to be named, said that last year more fee applications had been processed by the central bank on behalf of commercial banks.
For the past eight months there has been a close correlation between the drop in the number of tuition fee applications for Nigerian students abroad and the weak local currency - the Naira - along with a gradual decline in the country's foreign currency holdings.
Nkiru Okechukwu, an international economics expert, said the central bank had to prudently manage foreign reserves in its possession. "There are competing demands for these scare resources. Industries must import machines and raw materials. Refined petroleum products must be imported," Okechukwu said. Paying the tuition fees of students abroad was a relatively low priority.
The value of the Naira has declined because of lower international demand for crude oil, Nigeria's economic mainstay, Okechukwu explained. A year ago the country exported about two million barrels of crude oil a day and the barrel was selling for around US$147.
At that time Nigerian's foreign reserve was $67 billion. The story is different today: outgoing central bank governor, Chuwukuma Soludo, recently admitted that foreign reserves had dwindled from $48 billion to $ 45 billion in the last two months.
These factors, along with job insecurity, have made remitting money for students abroad more and more difficult. Traditionally, Nigerian middle class parents have sent their children to study abroad and those who could afford it preferred to send them to Britain, North America or other Commonwealth countries. This is no longer the case.
Apart from the weak local currency and shortfall in foreign reserves, closure of factories and businesses have led to retrenchment of managers - members of the middle class - as well as ordinary workers. Many parents who dreamed of sending their children to study overseas have changed their minds.
Bayo Akin, an engineer in a manufacturing company in Lagos, said he simply could not afford to send his children abroad - and was not even sure he would keep his job. "The company I work for has informed my colleagues and myself that our parent company may fold because of the current international financial and economic crisis. Consumers are not buying our products," Akin said.
Even a special scheme to assist Nigerian students in the UK is faltering. A Nigerian financial institution, Bank PHB, established a loan scheme to assist Nigerian students in Britain, called the UK Education Scheme.
The scheme takes care of fees, accommodation and living costs for the duration of the beneficiary's course. But to benefit from the scheme, each student must open what the bank calls an education account with an initial deposit of about 50% of the fees stipulated by student's chosen university.
Nduneche Ezurike, an official at the bank, said: "It is a product targeted at a particular market as a solution to a particular need." The problem is that the market is no longer there.
A bank official, who did not want to be named, said the scheme had not attracted enough customers. "When we conceived of the loan scheme, some few years ago, we targeted professionals whose earning power was a source of envy. We felt that these professionals, who were in favour of a British university education, could afford to send their kids to UK. Then came the recession. And our potential customers fizzled out."
A source close to the National University Commission revealed that an (undisclosed) number of Nigerian students in the UK had been making frantic enquiries whether they could apply for inter-university transfer to Nigerian universities so they could continue their studies at home.
Two main categories of students were involved, the source said: students whose parents had lost their jobs and wanted to relocate with their families back in Nigeria, and parents who were no longer able to remit money to children abroad because they had been retrenched or because of the depreciation of the Naira.
Like camels marooned in a desert and squabbling for water at an oasis, returning students will have to compete hard with other Nigerians for limited spaces in Nigerian universities. A few weeks ago, some 1.5 million Nigerians sat for common entrance tests into 95 universities whose carrying capacity, according to the NUC, is about 170,000 students.
The battle for admission into the next academic session promises to be stiff for returning and home-based candidates.
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Kola Oyelere, Kano - 29.05.2009NO fewer than 22 people lost their lives in an auto accident which occurred on Kwanar-Kof road, about 62 kilometres from Kano, on Wednesday as a result of burst tyre .The accident occurred a week after the state was thrown into mourning following the death of 22 members of a family in another road accident on Gwarzo road, Kano State.The victims were said to have travelled to visit a sick relation but had the accident on their return journey.An eyewitness said that the accident occurred around 1.00 a.m. as a result of a tyre burst.The source added that the 18-seater bus heading for Kano from Ilorin had 28 passengers on board, including the driver and conductor, out of which 19 people died on the spot while nine survivors, who sustained injuries, were taken to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, for treatment.It was learnt that three of them later died in the hospital. The driver of the vehicle, who survived the crash, was said to have been taken to his hometown for local medication.
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By Richard Akinjide
I will score the Yar'Adua administration with a pass. I will not say it has done extra-ordinarily well, nor would I say it has failed.
He has just done half of his first term, halving regards to what he met on the ground you cannot say he has not tried his best. The President has started to make some efforts. The electoral reform by the panel chaired by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, has produced a very important document. What is left is for the Federal Government to implement. I will therefore waste no time in urging President Yar'Adua to commence its immediate implementation without any further delay.
The report is no doubt commendable, but it would have even gone further to make some far reaching recommendations. For instance he recommended that election petition should be completed within six months, before swearing-in, I would have recommended that it should be completed within three months. We did that when we were in government, why can't they do that now. If there is need to amend the Electoral Act, why not. There is no justification for this in-ordinate delay of election petition. You would recall that election petition was not concluded until the eve of former President Olusegun Obasanjpo'' departure from office. I am talking about Alhaji M. D. Ysusuf's presidential election petition. This is un-acceptable we should find a way out. The United States has 50 states, yet all their elections are concluded before winners are sworn-in. You would recall the Bush-Al-Gore case over the problem in Florida, it went to the Supreme Court three times, within 33 days and it was resolved before the swearing-in date. So what is the problem here that could not be tackled, if there is the need to reform our judiciary, why not reform it, if there is need to amend the electoral Act, amend it, and make things quicker and simpler and not make a mockery of democracy.
Our judiciary has displayed excellent courage, internationally, our judiciary has repution. Our courts enjoy a very good reputation, abroad, and we should be very careful the way we are running our judiciary down. I accept that even the legal profession needs reform, I accept that the judiciary also needs a lot of reform. My view is that both for the legal profession and the judiciary there should be two powerful commissions of enquiry to look into the legal profession and the judiciary in this country. It over due, all the two are over due. The quality of lawyers, our universities are turning out demands that we reform our legal system including legal education.
The Nigerian Constitution is very unique. We call it a Federal Constitution, but that is a gross abuse of words. What we are operating is a unitary constitution, masquerading as a federal constitution. You see what is critical in any constitution is the way you allocate powers between the centre and the units, not the name you call it. Up till the time the military seized power in 1966, what was operating was a Confederal system. Each region had its own judiciary, its own flag, its own Civil Service, each region also had its own office in London. They could have had their own office in Washington if they wanted. But since the military intervention, we have been operating a unitary system masquerading as a federal constitution. The reason it has been difficult to return to this pre-1966 arrangement is that some people still have the fear that another secessionist could emerge tomorrow.
The dominance of the centre is total and burdensome in legislative powers, financial matters and I don't see any state government or any local government in this country which can operate without financial support from the centre. That is not a federal system of government. I won't give name, but I would advocate that we should reform and get something that is suitable for us, not copying the U.S., France or Germany. The fault lies with the Nigerian elites. Nigerian elites, avoid going into politics, they avoid conducting elections. You could be a university teacher and still be a good councillor in your area, you can go to the National Assembly, could contest for the office of the governor. It is only in a few states that you see responsible people coming out to contest for the office of the government. If you take a census of the governors we have in this country, you would be horrified, if you look at their history and their qualifications. Take a look at the few states that are doing well, you will notice that they have governors with very good qualifications and sound track record.
Niger Delta
We must assume that the Federal Government has the right intelligence report, otherwise, it won't be doing what it is doing. We must be very careful in making comments on matters we don't have adequate information or sufficient facts. We must realise that the Niger Delta harbours the oil and gas in the country, we must also realise that the oil and gas of Niger Delta is of public interest it is no global interest. Although the oil is in Nigeria, all the nations of the world have interest in that oil, that is the nature of oil and gas. No government will accept or condone lawlessness. I am not saying that the people of Niger Delta don't have legitimate complainants or grievances, but you cannot do the right thing in a wrong way or do the right thing in a lawless way. Let them make their complaints, let them express their grievances within the law and I am a lot of people in Nigeria would have sympathy for them that their complaints be remedied. But when you take up arms, if what we see in the television is correct then there is virtually insurrection, these militants are carrying arms, which at times is more sophisticated than that of security agencies, that is a step to anarchy, the government therefore has a duty and responsibility to put an end to that state of affairs. Also it is my view that governors in those states that make up the Niger Delta, would accept the existence of other states within their states, or another counter-force with their jurisdiction competing with the Nigerian Police or the Nigerian Army.
Therefore we have a duty to support the Federal government to make sure that the rule of law prevails and that lawlessness does not succeed. If lawlessness succeeds, it becomes infectious and others too might take that route to achieve their grievances. You know that a minister has been appointed for the Niger Delta. Isn't it sensible to give that minister a chance to operate and find a solution for the problem of the area, in co-operation with the government in that region. Never before was there a minister for the Niger Delta, this is the first time and there is precedence for that. When Lagos was Federal Territory, there was a minister for Lagos Affairs, who incidentally was the father of the present President.
He must have learnt some lessons from his late father in solving the problem of the Niger Delta and appointing a minister for the area. We should at least allow the minister to operate for some years and see how far he could go in solving the problem. When Musa Yar'Adua was the minister of Lagos affairs, the people of Lagos, did not take up arms to start to fight the Federal Government. And because the people of Lagos were law abiding, they got a lot of benefits. It was during that time the Victoria Island was created that Eko bridge was built, it was at that time that South-West, Ikoyi was developed. It was during that time that the Independence Building in Tafawa Balewa Square was built. So lagos made its complainants within the rule of law and Lagos benefited immensely.
At the moment you have about 13 per cent from the Federation Account going into the pocket of the Niger Delta. You also have a lot of money from the oil firms going into the various local and state governments, apart from this 13 per cent. If all these funds are properly used and that is very critical. The people of Niger Delta cannot also claim not to know how the oil and gas money is spent because their sons and daughters are at the upper-most echelon of all firms and government institutions that engage in oil and gas business, including the NNPC and the Ministry of Petroleum.
The issue of what percentage that goes to this region has always been contentions. In your view is the 13 per cent enough? The issue of whether it is well spent is a different one. In my view what has been allocated to them is enormous I know as a fact that the oil companies vote a lot of money from their revenue for the development of the area. The oil firms give money to the local government regularly. I also know as a fact that the oil companies give money to the state government in the oil producing area. All these are apart from the 13 per cent. The question is, how have this enormous money that runs into several billions, been used.
Why couldn't the notion of derivation as it applied in the First Republic not allowed now? This would have solved this problem.
That argument as canvassed is utter nonsense. It has no juridical basis, it has no basis in fact, it has no basis in constitutional law. People are just throwing this emotion, where there should be none. First of all, you talk of derivation and the history of this country. Yes it is true before oil, the doctrine of derivation applied. The cocoa from the West, the rubber from the Delta, the groundnut from north, the palm oil and palm kernel from the various parts of the South, yes it was true doctrine of derivation applied to them. But don't forget that those agricultural products were planted and produced by the people of the various region. The ground nut from the north for instance was not as a result of the investment of the Federal Government, it was from the investment of the people of the north, the farmers same goes for other farm produce, it was the sweat of the farmers and the various marketing boards established by the governments on those regious.
I challenge anybody in Nigeria to tell me that the oil has arisen as a result of the sweat of their people or the investment of their people, it has not. The oil was created there by nature and by God.
Furthermore, what many people don't know is that oil has been discovered in Nigeria, since 1896, don't believe anybody who tells you oil was discovered in 1956, it is not true. In fact that was one of the reasons why the British government revoked the Royal Niger Company Charter.
The moment Britain discovered there was oil, although it hide it from us, it revoked the charter and assume full responsibility for the running of the country, because with oil it was too important to be left in the land of private capital. After the 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria, the first ordinance (law) to be enacted by the British Colonialist in Nigeria was the mineral ordinance, which rested all the oil in the central government in Lagos. Never in the history of this country, has the oil and gas being vested in any region or any state.
It has always been the property of the Federal Government. As the British government enacted the mineral ordinance it followed it up by enacting the arbitration ordinance the same year to settle whatever dispute may arise from the oil ordinance. That ordinance of 1914 was not amended until 1958, with that amendment all the mineral in Nigeria were now vested in the Federal government. That has be the basis till today. There is no way you can vest the oil and gas in the state, it is not possible. I know that people are quick to point to the United State, where states control the oil and gas.
The history of the United States is quite different from the evolution of Nigeria. The evolution of the United States is the exact opposite of how Nigeria evolved. Nigeria was a unitary country broken into various units where as the US is made up of autonomous States, starting with the 13 American than later on after driven away Britain in a bloody war, they decided to form the United States of America. Yes people do say that in the US oil belongs to the states, they are right, but what they fail to add, which is very crucial is that, it is in the history and evolution of the United States. It is un-thinkable that the Federal Governmental would rest the oil and gas in any area in either the state or the local government or in the individuals in that area. By so doing, you are asking for anarchy, you are asking for the collapse of the country.
Already, with their oil and gas money by people fighting in the Niger Delta, this money is what is being used now to acquire sophisticated arms and have almost established a Republic, with on the Nigerian Republic.
There is no question of middle way, there is only one way and that is the way of law and order. No self-respected government would tolerate a government within a government or would allow a parallel force, which is what we have now in the Niger Delta.
But former President Olusegun Obasanjo managed the crisis without this resort to outright declaration of war. Why should it take Yar'Adua, a supposedly harmless man to declare war on the people? I don't have access to the intelligence report, you must know that Yar'Adua as the President of Nigeria, has primary responsibility for law and order, also he would have access to intelligence report. I was a former Attorney General of this country and by virtue of that office I was a member of Council of State, also by virtue of that office. I was in the Security Council. From that experience, I am 100 per cent certain that what Yar'Adua is doing now is warranted and is in best interest of all.
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THE death toll on the tragedy that befell Port Harcourt when a Manchester United fan, Daniel Chibuzor, rammed into celebrating Barcelona fans after the Spanish club's 2-0 victory in the UEFA Champions League has risen to six.
Four of the fans died instantly in the incident that occurred in Ogbo, a Port Harcourt suburb, on Wednesday. The Guardian learnt yesterday that two more of the fans, who were receiving treatment as a result of the injuries they sustained from the incident, died yesterday afternoon, while others were still receiving treatment.
Though Police Spokeswoman, Rita Abbey, refused to disclose the extent of investigations into the incident, sources close to the force disclosed that the man would soon be charged to court as "it is a clear case of premeditated murder." A source said: "We have concluded investigations into the matter and the next thing is to charge the suspect to court.
"He has confessed committing the offence, citing the devil as the force behind the crime but all those ones would be sorted out in court."
Another source, a medical doctor at the Ahoada General Hospital, where the victims were rushed to after the incident, told The Guardian that four of the victims were still at the hospital getting medical attention, while some more serious cases have been transferred to Port Harcourt for specialist attention. The source revealed that four of the victims died before they were brought to the hospital, but declined comments on the actual number of deaths recorded in the incident.
Chibuzor, who was said to be going home after his team's disappointing loss to Barcelona, rammed his vehicle into the jubilating Barca fans late on Wednesday night, killing four people on the spot and injuring several others. Abbey earlier explained that the "driver had passed the crowd then made a U-turn and ran into them.
"The man confessed to doing it on purpose, but he now says he doesn't know why he did it, but it was an intentional act."
Nigerian football fans, just like their mates from across Africa, idolise clubs in the European leagues, with that adoration often turning to confrontations between opposing fans. In 2007, an Arsenal supporter was stabbed in Lagos by an irate Bolton fan following the Gunners' defeat of the Manchurian team in the English Premiership.
Earlier this month, a Kenyan Arsenal fan hanged himself after Manchester United beat the London club in the semifinal of the UEFA Champions League.
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A group of armed supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Techiman, a town in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana on May 28, 2009 besieged the premises of privately-owned Classic FM physically attacked three persons and vandalised the station.A group of armed supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Techiman, a town in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana on May 28, 2009besieged the premises of privately-owned Classic FM physically attackedthree persons and vandalised the station.Kofi Doe Lawson, a producer, Michael Amankwah, marketing manager of the station and a food vendor were violently attacked by the angry supporters wielding machetes. Amankwah was hospitalised, treated and later discharged.Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent reported that theattack was as a result of an alleged voice recording of Simon Addai, a member of parliament (MP) of Techiman South constituency, who during a meeting with NDC members allegedly threatened to 'deal' with some members of the opposition, including prosecuting his immediate predecessor, for an acts of corruption.The correspondent said but for the vigilance of the station security, the youth, who destroyed the entrance of the station would have also vandalised the studio. It took the intervention of the patrol team of military and police to bring the situation under control.When MFWA contacted the MP, he denied making the statements attributed to him by the station. He accused the station of bias and unprofessionalism. The MP said the attack had not been officially reported to him.
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She may not have made it to the semi-finals of the 2009 National Spelling Bee at the Grand Hyatt Washington, but with a total score of nineteen (19) points, Ghana’s Nana Adjoa Baiden-Amissah was among the best performers on the night of the preliminary rounds.13-year old Kavya Shivashankar, sponsored by ‘The Olathe News’ and from the California Trail Junior High School emerged the 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion, spelling the championship word ‘laodicean’ which means "lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics."The spelling competition began Tuesday with 293 competitors who qualified to compete in the Bee by winning locally sponsored bees in their home communities and countries. The 2009 competition marked the largest field of competitors in the history of the event.After an initial round one of computer based spelling tests, the two hundred and ninety-three (293) spellers from across the world gathered for two rounds of spelling on stage. 13 year old 8th grader, Nana Adjoa from the Crown Prince Academy in Accra correctly spelt both words.With the cut-off point for the semi-finals fixed at a minimum 28 points and only fifty (50) spellers targeted, Nana Adjoa and two hundred and forty-nine (249) others were eliminated.“Well, I did very well... with my six maximum points from main preliminary round I could easily have made it if my score from the round one test was higher” Nana Adjoa said with a shy smile, adding very quickly “I don’t have any reason to be disappointed. I spelt both words correctly and not everybody did on the day... and oh they couldn’t even get the fifty (50) people for the semi-finals.”While organisers were expecting fifty (50) semi-finalists, only forty-two (42) made the qualifying pass mark, and according to the Country Manager of Spelling Bee Ghana, Eugenia Appiah, Nana Adjoa’s performance was a good one and an improvement on their representative of last year.Ghana is the only African country represented at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, making its second consecutive appearance at the finals. The country made history in 2008 when Maria Isabel Kubabom joined others spellers for a fun-filled one week.Nana Adjoa who was coached by Evangeline Bortey, an English Teacher from the SOS Herman Gmeiner School, was the toast of many spellers and parents here, mainly because she was holding high the flag of Africa and also because of her dressing and bags which were all adorned with the colours of the Ghanaian flag.Though disappointed she did not make it to the semis, Nana, who represented the dailyEXPRESS Newspaper in Accra, was excited about the opportunity the participation offered- the fun, the joy of meeting other children to share experiences, learning many more new words and the fact that she scored 19 points far ahead of over a hundred other spellers.Finishing second in this year's competition was Tim Ruiter, a 12-year-old seventh grader representing Times Community Newspapers of Reston, Va. 13-year old Aishwarya Pastapur, representing the State Journal-Register of Springfield, Illinois was third.Cash prizes for competitors ranged from $100 to the National Champion’s $30,000 in addition to an engraved loving cup; a $5,000 scholarship from Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation; a $2,500 U.S. Savings Bond and complete reference library from Merriam-Webster; and reference materials valued at more than $2,800 and the Britannica Test Prep Precocious Package valued at $799 from Encyclopaedia Britannica.All the finalists received the 51-volume "Britannica Discover America" and the 2008 "Encyclopaedia Britannica Student Edition" DVD-ROM.All spellers receive a commemorative watch; the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award, which consists of a $100 EE U.S. Savings bond; and Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, on CD-ROM from Merriam-Webster.About the Scripps National Spelling BeeThe Scripps National Spelling Bee is America’s largest and longest-running educational promotion, administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company and 287 local spelling bee sponsors in the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Department of Defense Schools in Europe; also, the Bahamas, Canada, China, Ghana, Jamaica, New Zealand, and South Korea. The purpose of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is to help students improve spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all of their lives.The local newspaper sponsor of the Spelling Bee in Ghana is the dailyEXPRESS, Ghana’s first and only FREE newspaper and the competition managed by Essence Communications.The 2009 Spelling Bee Ghana Competition headline sponsored by Indomie Instant Noodles and supported by Cowbell. The media partners for the competition were JoyFM, Junior Graphic, Radio Universe and Tv3.
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A policeman in uniform and wielding an AK47 rifle was caught in the web of ’sakawa’ last Wednesday, when he and two civilians were arrested for allegedly defrauding a Namibian of $7,900.The policeman and his civilian accomplices were in the process of collecting another $29,000 from the victim to be used to pay taxes on a so-called $30-million facility which they claimed he could access after the payment of the “taxes”, when the police arrested them.The three suspects managed to lure their victim to Ghana with the intention of defrauding him in a ’sakawa’ scam that has become notorious in the country.The victim possessed documents, including letterheads bearing the Ghana Coat of Arms, indicating correspondence between him and the suspects through the Internet.After the victim had arrived in the country, the suspects collected his passport from him but he declined a hotel accommodation offered by his hosts and arranged for an alternative accommodation.Later at a meeting with the Namibian, the suspects succeeded in collecting $7,900 from him as part of the tax obligation needed to redeem the $30-million facility.Subsequently, they attempted to relocate the victim to another hotel, while trying to collect another $29,000 from him, but he became worried when they refused to give his passport back to him.The Namibian then discussed the issue with the hotel manager who, smelling something fraudulent, asked the victim to feign interest, while they contacted the police.Following the discussion with the hotel manager the Namibian informed his hosts that he needed his passport to enable him to check out of the hotel.So on Wednesday, while the suspects had gone to the hotel to evacuate their guest, police officers in plain clothes swooped on them and effected their arrest.At the time of their arrest, the policeman involved was waiting in a vehicle they had brought to convey the victim and according to sources, there was a struggle between the plain clothed policemen and the police suspect as he attempted to resist arrest.Sources at the Criminal Investigation Department of the police have confirmed the arrest of the three suspects but would not give further details, particularly their identities.
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Yar’Adua supporters attack Barack Obama for planned meeting coup plotters in Ghana
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the United States government and its embassy in 9geria of conspiracy and plotting with opposition groups to destabilise the country.
Specifically, the party said that part of the plot is for the US Embassy to organise a meeting between the pro-democracy groups in 9geria and President Barack Obama in Ghana, where the groups would seek to persuade the US President that the administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua is “illegitimate“.
President Obama is expected in Ghana on July 11.
The statement also said the masterminds of the “conspiracy and plot” include a “failed” presidential candidate, two former Speakers, a former Senate President and “a sprinkling of political hangers-on”.
In a statement signed by the Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Bello Harilu Mohammed, the party said: “Incontrovertible information available to us also revealed that after their meeting in Kaduna, they approached the American Embassy to facilitate their plans to meet with President Obama in Ghana but they were advised to include civil society organisations in their proposed diabolical delegation as a way of portraying themselves as credible elder statesmen.”
PDP also said the aim of the visit to see Obama is to disrupt the existing trade relations between the United States and 9geria, thereby worsening the already precarious state of the economy in the face of dwindling oil revenue and the global financial meltdown.
PDP urged the US “not to, by any acts of omission or commission, promote the evil plans of these unpatriotic politicians against a democratically elected government :D as such would raise questions about its respect for the sovereignty of other countries and the international doctrine of non-interference in the internal affairs of other sovereign nations.”
The party said President Obama knows that due process and the rule of law are cardinal tenets of democracy and acceptable political behaviour anywhere in the world.
“President Obama is a product of an electoral process that evolved over time just as our President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has kick-started enduring electoral reforms in 9geria, a process which his Administration is fully committed to fulfil (fulifilling) in the shortest possible time. The advent of the Obama era is therefore a necessary tonic to our on-going electoral reforms and the development of strong democracies in 9geria, Africa and other developing countries,” PDP said.
The party also said the attempt by 9geria’s political leaders to cause “incalculable damage” to the 9gerian economy and its peace-loving people at this critical time is “a disservice” to a country from which most of them who have held one political office or another in the immediate past and have immensely benefited.
“It is indeed shameful that these dishonourable politicians did not realise that the advice given to them by the American Embassy to include civil society organisations in their team was actually exposing their irrelevance to the political process as such views are only worthy of consideration if expressed through a respectable forum as a civil society organisation,” the statement stated.
PDP described as disturbing that “the American Embassy in 9geria has chosen to lend itself to such a high-level political conspiracy against the Government and people of 9geria while at the same time enjoying the hospitality of its host.
“This, to us, is hair-raising and we urge the relevant authorities in the United States to commence investigations although we are mindful that the Embassy may have been misguided by the calibre of the people involved in this plot. But we hasten to note that we do not expect the Embassy to be involved willy-nilly in such an organised conspiracy against the political and economic well-being of the 9gerian nation.”
PDP also appealed to organisers of the meeting with President Obama to shun acts capable of undermining the nation’s democracy which could endanger the collective destiny of 9gerians.
According to the statement, “this time in our history calls for total dedication to the growth and development of our nation. All divisive tendencies should be discouraged. Promoters of chaos and violence should be taken from our midst and handed over to security agencies. This is the only way to go.”
PDP called on security agencies in the country to wade in immediately and commence necessary investigation into the matter and several others “which we have exposed in the past”.
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Armed policemen and men of the Kick Against Indiscipline squad, under the auspices of Lagos State Special Task Force (Environmental Unit) on Wednesday raided the Computer Village, Ikeja, and arrested traders selling on the streets.The task force also impounded the traders' goods and took them to their office at Alausa.Our correspondent learnt that as at 3p.m. on Wednesday, the task force members were still patrolling every part of the market to ensure compliance.A shop owner, Mr. Chinonso Valentine, said that the cost of acquiring shops in the market was very expensive, as landlords had allegedly given their shops to developers who charged them exorbitantly.According to him, a shop at the computer village costs nothing less than N2.5m to acquire, stressing that the amount is for only two years.He said because of the high cost of procuring shops at the market, many people who could not do so resorted to selling on the street.He also said that it was not easy to get land space on the street as miscreants, landlords and council officials cashed in on their predicament to exploit them.He said that each trader paid about N80,000 to mount a show-glass.Another trader, who did not want his name in print, appealed to the government to provide a place for them, saying that displacing them without rehabilitating them would do more harm than good.He asked, "Now that they don't want us to sell here, what else do they want us to do? Does the government want us to steal? How do they want us to survive? The earlier they address our problem, the better."The Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Environmental Task Force, Tayo Afagba, confirmed the raid, saying that the traders had been warned many times to stop selling on the streets.Afagba said that in December 2008, the market was shut down because of the same incident, yet the traders had refused to learn.The PRO, who said that the raiding started on Tuesday, stressed that government was against street trading in Lagos, as it obstructed vehicular and human traffic as well as engendering social vices.
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A female bank manager with a new generation bank in Onitsha (names withheld) has committed suicide following her alleged involvement in the defrauding of her bank of over N30 million.advertisementSources close to the bank told Daily Champion that the lady who was said to be in her late 40s was until her death, the operations manager of the bank in Onitsha. She allegedly removed the money from the bank’s vault about a fortnight ago.But the fraud was discovered when a team of auditors from the bank found out that what was in the paper did not tally with the amount in the vault and started to raise questions on what actually happened.The lady from Abia State was absent from the office when the fraud was discovered.When she came to work the following Friday, she was confronted with the missing money, but the lady was said to have excused herself from the other senior staff around and went up the supper floor of the office.While her colleagues were discussing, the lady had plunged from an air conditioner opening on the third floor and landed on the ground outside the bank.The source said it was the shout and cry of people outside the bank that attracted the bank staff, but by then her two legs had broken and she was unconscious.The lady was immediately rushed to New Hope Hospital, Onitsha where she died.Contacted, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP), confirmed the incident but said they are still investigating the matter.Daily Champion, however, learnt that the marketing manager and the auditor of the bank who were detained by the police after the incident, have been granted bail.Sources said that the lady must have been swindled by some con-men who promised to use the money to invest in the lifting of crude oil, but when the game was up and they were not forthcoming, she could not bear it, especially after putting many years of service to the bank.
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A Manchester United fan in 9geria has allegedly killed four people when he drove into a crowd of Barcelona supporters after his team's Champions League defeat.
Police said the crowd in the town of Ogbo were celebrating Barcelona's victory when the minibus drove into them.
A police spokeswoman said ten people were injured and the driver was arrested.
She said: "The driver had passed the crowd then made a U-turn and ran into them."
Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in what has been hailed as a "dream final" between two of Europe's best clubs.
Both teams have large fan bases in 9geria, Africa's most populous nation.
http://9jakids.ning.com
Naija children now have a social network
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Published on: Friday, 29 May 2009To ensure that a seat is available for you please send an email directly or a text to confirm attendance or participation.nlibertyforum@googlemail.comSTATE OF THE Ni.ge.r.iaN NATIONLondon Metropolitan UniversityStapleton HouseHolloway Road London N7 8HNConfirmed SpeakersProf Wole SoyinkaMallam Nuhru RibaduBarrister Femi FalanaProf Sola AdeyeyeSowore OmoyeleSister Affiong AffiongOkey NdibeKayode OgundamisiThis event is organised by Ni.ge.r.ia Liberty Forum with the support of London Metropolitan UniversityNig.er.ia Liberty ForumMr Kayode Ogundamisi or Dr Abraham Dalang email: nlibertyforum@googlemail.comTel: 07951402986Media Enquiries for NLF Event.E-mail: nlibertyforum@googlemail.com Phone + 447984212553 Media Contact Only.THE STATE OF THE Ni.ge.r.iaN NATION SYMPOSIUMEvent Date: Friday, 29 May 2009 Event Time: 09:00:am - 05:00mEvent Location: London Metropolitan University Stapleton House Holloway Road London N7 8HNPROFILE OF SPEAKERSKey SpeakerProfessor Oluwole "Wole" SoyinkaProfessor Oluwole "Wole" Soyinka is a Ni.ge.r.ian writer, poet and playwright. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, the first African to be so honoured. In 1994, he was designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of African culture, human rights, freedom of expression, media and communication.Mallam Nuhu RibaduMallam Nuhu Ribadu former Executive Chairman of Nig.eria'sEconomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud. Under Ribadu's administration, the EFCC has charged prominent bankers, former ministers, Senate presidents, high-ranking political party members and large-scale 419 gang operators.Sister Affiong L. AffiongSister Affiong L. Affiong is Secretary General of Moyo wa Taifa, a Pan Afrikan Women's Solidarity Network based in the UK and Ghana . Her political life began as a student activist in the Ni.ge.r.ian student union movement in 1983 at the University of Ibadan and at the University of Lagos in 1987. In 1990, she relocated to the UK where she is active within the Black community where she has worked as a political organiser, campaigner and community advocate on race, immigration, employment and other anti discrimination issues in the community.Barrister Femi FalanaBarrister Femi Falana. President of the West African bar Association. Femi Falana is acknowledged as a credible and consistent voice in the ongoing campaign for a just rule of law in Nige.ria. He is highly regarded as a strong and effective pillar against rights abuses and tyrannical rule as well as an advocate of good governance in Ni.ge.r.ia and across Africa.Sowore OmoyeleSowore Omoyele.Omoyele Sowore is a Ni.ge.r.ian who has spent the last years working to promote human rights and democracy in Ni.ge.r.ia, and to stop the militarization and violence that multinational oil companies have brought to his country. He is the publisher of the anti fraud on line magazine Sahara Reporters New York.Okey NdibeOkey Ndibe is a novelist, poet, political activist from Yola, Ni.ge.r.ia. He is the author of Arrows of Rain, a critically reviewed novel published in 2000. Ndibe relocated to the USA in 1988, where he founded African Commentary, an award-winning and widely acclaimed a magazine. He is a published poet, and a former associate professor of English at Bard College at Simon's Rock.Event Moderator:Professor Sola AdeyeyeProfessor Sola Adeyeye former Ni.ge.r.ian law maker, scientist, pro democracy activist, social justice campaigner and renowned for Human Rights Campaigns.Other invited speakers:Representatives of the Ni.ge.r.ian High CommissionLondon Metropolitan University Bussiness SchoolNLF Convenor Kayode Ogundamisi
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IN line with the vision to improve the transport system in Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola has commissioned 1,255 modern taxi cabs for the second phase of his administration' s Modern Taxi Scheme.Commissioning the cabs yesterday at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, Fashola noted that the feat, which was in partnership with the private sector, is the actualisation of one of the many campaign promises made by him during his pre-governorship election campaign to boost employment and change the face of the state.He said: "Our strategic partnership with the private sector has yielded yet another positive result. It is evident in our waste management, our security management, road transportation and construction, among other sectors of the economy that the success of the private partnership has recorded."This partnership has brought about 1,255 taxi cabs and by immediate consequence, 1,255 direct jobs. It also confirms that the private sector is the engine of growth and that government policies and actions are the fuel that are necessary to guide this engine of growth."The occasion, the governor said, afforded the state government opportunity to open a new sector of democratic development and dividend, applauding the involvement of I-Trans Logistics and other taxi cab operators as encouraging.Managing Director of I-Trans Logistics, Adebayo Ajakaye, who disclosed that his company was the second to be licensed in the state, took up the challenge to support the state government's development projects "because we see the genuine desire by the governor and his team to move the state forward by laying the beautiful future foundation for Lagosians now and those unborn."The management of the I-Trans Logistics further explained that the feat would boost and repackage taxi operations in the state.Noting that I-Trans' 200 black I-Tec Honda cabs were sponsored by the South African-based GROFIN, the Executive Director, Corporate Service, Segun Omoworare, stated that the 200 cars in the taxi fleet cost about N500 million, adding that "they were duly insured by the state Assurance Company (LASACO)."In another development, Fashola has reiterated the commitment of his administration to making a difference by improving the wellbeing of the largest number of people in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).He spoke at the South-West Zonal Conference on Deepening Women's Understanding and Participation in the Implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)/African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) - National Programme of Action (NPOA) organised by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government in conjunction with Equity Advocates and NEPAD - Nigeria held at Eko FM Hall, LTV 8, Agidingbi.Fashola, whose speech was delivered by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Mr. Rotimi Agunloye, emphasised his desire to ensure eradication of extreme poverty and inequality, empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, as well as other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop the global partnership for development.
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Nollywood actor Segun Arinze on Monday sought leave of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, to dissolve his 13-year-old marriage to Annette Aina-Padonou.Your Advertisement Here !The marriage is blessed with a 12-year-old daughter.Arinze told Justice Sybil Nwaka that the marriage had broken down irreparably and irreconcilably, after the couple had stayed apart for 11 years, since May 29, 1998.He said he was seeking the leave of the court to legally separate them to allow him go on with his life, promising to be responsible for their daughter’s upkeep.Arinze said they both found out after about a year into the marriage that they could not live together as husband and wife.The marriage was contracted at the Ikorodu Local Government Registry on May 10, 1996.Under cross examination by his counsel, Mr Henry Efere, the actor said their marital differences culminated in his wife packing out of their Surulere residence, 11 years ago.Arinze said he was not opposed to Annette taking custody of their daughter, Morenike Padonou, and assured the court that he would continue to be responsible for her upkeep.Nwaka adjourned the case to June 24 for further hearing.
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Tragedy struck Naija football on Tuesday morning when Warri Wolves first-choice goalkeeper, Adun Orobosa, slumped and died during a training session at the Oleh Township Stadium in Delta State.
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Spokesman of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club, Azuka Chiemeka, confirmed the death too our correspondent on Tuesday afternoon in a telephone interview.
Chiemeka disclosed that the goalkeeper was one of the three players that was attacked by soccer hooligans during the fracas that broke out at the Beverly Hills Hotel Mini Stadium in Nnewi, before the kick off of a Premier League match between Wolves and Enugu Rangers last Sunday.
Before Tuesday morning's tragedy, Chiemeka explained that Orobosa was certified okay by doctors at the Oleh Central Hospital on arrival from Nnewi after the botched Premier League encounter with Enugu Rangers.
"The death of our goalkeeper, Adun Orobosa, is a big shock to all of us at the club because he is a very jovial person, who loves to crack jokes. I should just refresh your mind about the whole situation. Orobosa was one of the players that were attacked and injured before the game against Enugu Rangers on Sunday by hooligans. When we returned to Oleh, he was taken to the Oleh Central Hospital, where the doctors certified him okay. Before the team's training session this (Tuesday) morning, he was asked if he was okay and he answered in the affirmative. He didn't complain of any pain. The training in question was just a light workout to condition the players for our next match.
"Unfortunately during the training session, this (Tuesday) morning Orobosa slumped and all attempts by our team doctor and physiotherapist to revive him yielded no fruits. So he was rushed to the Central Hospital in Oleh, where he was confirmed dead later," he said.
As at the time of writing this report, Chiemeka also confirmed that doctors at the Central Hospital in Oleh, who certified Orobosa dead, were carrying out an autopsy on his remains to ascertain the cause of his death.
The Wolves' image-maker said attempts are underway to notify the family of the deceased goalkeeper.
"There is no way we can keep this from his family. As I speak to you, the management is making attempts to reach out to his family to inform them of his death, which is a great loss not only to them but to us and football in general in this country," he remarked.
However, the cause of the player's death may not be unconnected with internal injuries he may have sustained in the wake of the melee that broke out in Nnewi before the Premier League encounter with Enugu Rangers.
In spite of the player being certified fit by the Central Hospital in Oleh, the judgment of the Warri Wolves' management and officials may be called to question for allowing Orobosa to take part in Tuesday's ill-fated training session.
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