All Posts (7175)
Sort by
Also, SEC disclosed that as at December 2010, the unclaimed dividends figure from quoted companies was N33.92 billion. “The inspection report from the Lagos zonal office on the position of the unclaimed dividend fund was reviewed and the findings would be verified further to determine the true position,” SEC states.
In another development, the Managing Director, First Registrars Limited, a subsidiary of First Bank of Nigeria Plc., Mr Bayo Olugbemi, disclosed that less than 30 per cent of investors in the Nigerian capital market have embraced the electronic dividend payment option.
According to him, this is in spite of the numerous efforts made by the market regulators and the Federal Government towards ensuring that the amount of unclaimed dividends in the country was reduced to the barest minimum.
Olugbemi said, “It would be surprising to note that since e-dividend was introduced into the Nigerian market a few years ago, less than 30 per cent of investors in the market have keyed-into the platform. “And this is why the problem of huge unclaimed dividends still persists in our market. Two years ago, the amount was put at about N19bn and it is still on the rise due to the reluctance of investors to embrace the platform.”
He said it was important for more investors to embrace the platform, adding that it had a lot of benefits for investors and also reduced the stress attached to the previous system of dividend payments, including missing warrants and late cheques.
According to him, the proposed setting up of an Unclaimed Dividend Trust Fund is not the answer to the problems, because the proposal is not done in the interest of the shareholders.
“That is why registrars and some other stakeholders opposed the bill because we are aware that such a trust fund was not done in the shareholders’ interest, it may have been proposed to make some people rich; the fact is that this money belongs to the shareholders, and they should be the ones to enjoy it,” he stated
WORSE THAN THE DEVIL ?
These men robbed, raped 3 sisters … They then forced an axe into their victims’ private parts From NGOZI UWUJARE, Ibadan Monday, April 4, 2011 For three sisters in Bariga area of Lagos, January 14, 2011 would remain a terrible date in their minds till they breathe their last. On the fateful day, three armed young men allegedly invaded their home, causing unmitigated misery and sorrow.
The men reportedly robbed the three ladies of cash and other valuables. They then took turns to rape their victims. Ogba and Adibe That wasn’t all. The men then abused and humiliated the sisters by using the handle of their axe to ravage their private parts. One of the ladies, who was pregnant at the time, allegedly lost her pregnancy. And by the time the monsters in human skin left, the entire room was like a slaughter house with small pools of blood everywhere. The incident happened at Lawal Street, Bariga. Nemesis has, however, caught up with two of the suspected robbers. Amaechi Ogba and Ikenna Adibe, both 25, have been arrested in connection with the incident and are both telling the police what they know about the dastardly act. Ugo Nweze, the third suspect, is still on the run. The robbers were said to have climbed the fence around 2.30 am, broke the door with an axe and forced their way into the room.
They robbed the three girls of money and other valuables and later gang-raped them. One of the ladies, who was two months pregnant at the time, lost her baby in the process. She, like the others, almost bled to death. Among the items stolen from the ladies was a Blackberry, which was allegedly sold to one Isa Muhammed for N13,000. Ironically, it was through the phone that the men of the State Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja traced and arrested the buyer. Muhammed subsequently took the detectives to the two suspects. On March 6, Adibe and Ogba were arrested. They have since been cooling their heels in police custody. The victims have also identified both suspects as among the trio that robbed and raped them. Adibe, in a chat, told our reporter that his gang members and their victims were all neighbours in the Ilaje area of Bariga, admitting that they had robbed the area on two occasions. He said after forcing their way into the victims’ room, they robbed and raped the ladies. “They cooperated with us and we collected their wedding rings, their money and their ATM cards. We later raped them. We raped the three girls in their rooms and we later inserted the handle of the axe in their private parts. One of them even begged us that she was pregnant, but we didn’t budge.” Adibe, who said he hails from Ebonyi State, said one of the victims attended the same secondary school with him in Bariga. He said they spent only one hour in the house of their victims. The other suspect, Ogba, said they used clothes to cover the victims’ faces so that they would not be identified. “Immediately we took the ATM card, I quickly went to a bank and withdrew N5, 000. Ugo Nweze, who is now at large, was the one who said we should not pity our victims. Immediately we were arrested, the victims were able to identify us because we were all neighbours. We are pleading that we should be forgiven. It was the devil that used us,” he pleaded. Officer-in-charge of SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari, a superintendent of police (SP), said it was the information on the Blackberry that served as a guide for the policemen. Through the information, the detectives swung into action and arrested the receiver and eventually, the suspects, he said. Abba said the two suspects had confessed that they had been terrorising the Bariga area of Lagos for some time. One of the victims, who wouldn’t want her name mentioned, said the experience was bitter and pathetic. Her words: “We never knew such an incident could happen in our area. We were suddenly woken up in the night and we saw people jumping in through the fence. They broke our door and forcefully entered our room. They demanded for money and we gave them what we had. They demanded for our ATM cards and we gave them. They demanded for our wedding rings, we also gave them. When they demanded for sex, we pleaded with them, using the name of Jesus Christ. They refused and raped the three of us. As if that was not enough, they started using the handle of the axe with which they broke our door to penetrate our private parts. They didn’t stop until they saw blood coming out.” The lady said they went to the Bariga Police Station to report the ugly incident and later went to the hospital to have themselves examined. “A doctor said we had contacted some Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and we were treated. One of the policemen later informed us that they had arrested the suspects and when we got to the police custody we realized that the two suspects were our neighbours. They also confessed and begged us to forgive them for the evil they did to us.” Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Yakubu Alkali, said he was baffled with the acts of the robbers, who not only rob their victims, but also raped them. He said the young men had confessed to their sin. Alkali also said the police recovered an axe and a cutlass used during the operation from the suspects. When our reporter visited the scene of the robbery, fear was still written on the faces of many people. A resident, Mr. Akin Agbaje, said they had been living in fear of armed robbers since last year. He said many people have fallen victims in the area and appealed to the police to be more vigilant even as he commended them for apprehending the suspects. According to Alkali, the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE
29 months after the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin humbled him out of office, Prof. Osunbor broke his silence in an interview with Vanguard that covers a range of issues from the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Peoples, PDP, rumours of his alleged plans for another gubernatorial run among other issues. Excerpts:
Since you left Edo State Government House over two years ago you have not granted any interview to any media house. What could be your reason for this?
You are quite correct and this was deliberate. I remained silent principally for two reasons. First, I needed to reflect on why I was removed from office by Justices Umar Abdullahi, Isa Salami and their "trusted judges". It was only after I was removed that I came to the full realisation that I had been a victim of a grand conspiracy involving people at the highest level of society, some of them top political office holders and some leaders of traditional and religious institutions.
Their arrowhead was a notoriously dubious politician from Lagos acting in connivance with some elements in the Judiciary who hatched the plot to remove me and other targeted Governors from office. They removed me in order to please man but by so doing they displeased God and incurred His wrath and vengeance. Nevertheless, it is my prayer everyday that God should have compassion on them. I am comforted by the fact that more and more people are now becoming aware of the truth behind my removal.
The other reason for my silence is that, I had been wrongly portrayed by some people as the problem of PDP in Edo State. My offence was that on my assumption of office as Governor, I decided to carry along all members of the PDP in Edo State in the belief that I must not single out any particular person or group as the only ones that voted me into office. Some people were not happy with me for this.
Again, with time and while I kept my peace, the public has become better informed about the origin, nature and source of the problem of PDP in Edo State. I can now say with confidence that I have become a rallying point for peace and reconciliation in Edo State PDP.
In my reflections about my removal, I came to the sobering realisation and confirmation of the popular saying that in Nigeria anything is possible. Black can become white and the loser can be declared a winner. It is now over two years and I have striven to put the past behind me. God is vindicating me.
How did you feel leaving office at the time you left? Were there projects you initiated that you feared for?
It is really very sad because we had set out with all sincerity to end the reign of government insensitivity to the plight of the ordinary man in Edo State. From my first day in office I set out to fulfil my campaign promise that by the December of 2007 every part of Edo State will have begun to witness development in one form or another.
Within my first 100 days in office, we had achieved so much and these were documented in a publication to mark the first 100 days. In one year we completed many road and water projects across the State which were at various stages of completion. Other social development and youth empowerment programmes were also in the pipeline. It is sad that these laudable projects have now been abandoned.
What is your take on the current crises in Edo State PDP?
The crises in Edo State PDP dates back almost to the very beginning in 1999 when, in breach of an understanding that Hon. Matthew Egbadon would occupy the position of Speaker of the House of Assembly, some leaders in a clandestine move conspired to make Hon. Thomas Okosun the Speaker. This exacerbated the mutual suspicions that was already there and set in motion a chain of impeachments of PDP leadership in the House of Assembly, the latest being in February 2010 after I left office. In my opinion, the underlying incompatibility among the top leaders of the PDP at the time sowed the seed of instability which the Party has not fully recovered from till today.
What do you think will lead to an enduring peaceful reconciliation of all the factions?
Briefly speaking, two things:- Internal democracy and sincerity especially at the various leadership levels.
As a former Governor, what are you doing to resolve the lingering crises?
I wish to place on record that without any prodding, I started off the process of reconciliation two weeks after my removal in November 2008 when I met with Dr. Ogbemudia here in Abuja. There were further discussions in an expanded group with Admiral Okhai Akhigbe, Senator Uzamere, Deacon Domingo, Barr. Alimikhena and others in attendance, after which, it was agreed that we should meet with the other group.
This led to our meeting with Chief Anenih at his residence on December 4, 2008 and follow-up meetings in Dr. Ogbemudia's residence in Benin in January and February 2009. I also sponsored a fuller meeting of members of both groups in Rockview Hotel Abuja in July 2009 where the terms of harmonisation and reconciliation were agreed. Other efforts followed after this.
Although, the process was not 100% successful, I am happy that the process is continuing and many people who felt aggrieved by what happened to me and left the PDP in protest or were at the verge of leaving, have now seen the need to remain especially since, myself who ought to be the most aggrieved has remained in PDP and working for its victory in elections.
You governed the State for 18 months, what were your major challenges?
Actually, it was two weeks short of 18 months but within that period we achieved quite a lot. To start with, we patched up the craters that littered the major roads in Benin City and across the State; Upper Mission road, Ikpoba slope and many other roads became passable again through desilting of the drains; we cleared a backlog of years of pension and gratuity arrears totaling about N4 billion. I inherited a debt of N20 billion left by my predecessor but I only made this known to the media six months into my administration when we had collated the facts.
I did not make it an issue to be shouting from the roof top and lamenting that I met an empty treasury. To me that is unhelpful and sheer waste of valuable time by a Governor. The challenge before me was to overcome the debt burden and funding limitations that I inherited and focus on fast - tracking the development of the State. To me a State's debt burden is a challenge to be overcome. It must not be an excuse for failure. See how Chief Obasanjo tackled the problem of Nigeria's hitherto debilitating foreign debts that other administrations before him could not handle.
Apart from the inherited debt burden, other challenges I faced were the crisis in my party – the PDP; distractions arising from Election Petitions and insufficient commitment on the part of some government officials to my policy of putting the interest of the people before narrow personal interest or personal gain.
There are allegations that you left a debt profile of N10 billion while your predecessor left N4 billion. Can you explain how much your administration left behind?
As I just explained to you my predecessor left behind about N20 billion debt. In fairness to him some components of this consisted of debts, such as foreign loan, which he inherited from the previous military administrations. By the time I left I had paid off a substantial part of this debt such as pension and gratuities arrears and counterpart funding.
My administration took a bank facility of N10 billion for roads construction which we were liquidating through monthly deductions of N400 million from the State's Statutory allocations from the Federation account. At the time I left, the balance remaining on this loan was N4.5 billion and this was verified and reported to the House of Assembly by the Commissioner of Finance under the present administration.
To the best of my knowledge this, together with unliquidated inherited debts from my predecessor, stood at N9.5 billion when I left. It would be interesting to know the current level of the State's indebtedness. It is believed now to between N40 billion to N50 billion.
What have you been doing since you left office as Governor?
One of the things I missed most when I was in office as Governor, even as a Senator, was devoting enough time to studying the Holy Bible and being close to God. I always looked forward to when I retire from active service so that I can study the Bible more. I did not realise that this would happen sooner than I thought through my removal from office. I am happy that I now have time for devotion and understanding the word of God and through this I was able to quickly overcome the shock and worry about my removal from office and I now understand life better. People often tell me that I now look younger and fresher. I think the secret is that I have learnt more to cast stress and worry away and put my trust in God.
That apart, I am still active in politics and have been mostly involved in the campaign for the election of President Goodluck Jonathan/Sambo in the forthcoming general election as a member of his Presidential Campaign Council. As Chancellor of my Diocese, I get involved in Church work. I also do some legal research and writing.
Do you think that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan can take us to the Promised Land?
On the day he was sworn in as President I issued a statement expressing my belief that President Goodluck Jonathan will take us to the Promised Land. The statement was published by the Vanguard. I have not had any reason since then to change my mind. If anything, his performance in the past 8 months, in the areas of availability of fuel supply, modest improvement in power generation, equitable distribution in the siting of Federal Universities and government appointments, increased attention to road rehabilitation and construction, peace, security and efforts towards free, fair and credible elections among others, attest to the fact that the President will take us to the Promised Land.
Rumour has it that you have declared your intention to contest in the 2012 guber election in Edo State. Is it true?
I have heard the rumour too. It is not true that I have declared intention to contest for Governorship in 2012. Quite frankly, I think it is premature to become bogged down with 2012 when the 2011 elections have not yet been conducted or concluded.
If given opportunity will you take a shot at the Governorship in 2012?
To be sincere, I am always very happy when I hear people commending my achievements while in office and looking forward to my return. Such sentiments are encouraging and make me feel fulfilled. If Edo people want me to come back, I will have no choice but to respect their wish. But for the time being my thoughts and preoccupation are about how PDP will win decisively in the April 2011 elections. As for 2012 all I can say is that when we get to the bridge we shall cross it.
What is your expectation from the general elections commencing? In view of reports of violence here and there do you think the elections will be credible?
I believe the elections will be free, fair and credible. Mr. President and the National Assembly have left no stone unturned in their efforts to ensure transparent and credible elections. The President has reconstituted the Independent National Electoral Commission with a Chairman, Prof. Jega, that inspires the confidence of all.
New Resident Electoral Commissioners have been appointed for the States. Whatever funds INEC has requested have been passed by the National Assembly and released to them. People are now expressing confidence that with the new INEC set up, votes will count. But I must warn that it is not INEC or even the President that decides whether or not votes count. It is the Judiciary.
We have seen how "trusted judges" were used to cancel peoples votes, simply because red biro was used by polling clerks for accreditation, instead of blue biro, to cite one example from Ekiti. I am glad that the National Assembly recently passed into law in the Electoral Act, my proposal that Election Tribunals should no longer declare as winner a candidate who lost at the polls. They should go further to amend the Constitution accordingly.
The maximum the court should order is a re-run. I am also glad that another of my proposals that the National Judicial Council (NJC) should be involved in the selection and posting of Judges to the Election Petitions Tribunals has been adopted. But beyond these laudable steps the NJC must also insist that a President of the Court of Appeal should not sit on appeals in all respect of matters where the Court of Appeal is the final Court. Unless these checks are put in place, your votes may still not count, despite the best efforts of Prof. Jega and his team at INEC.
![Oloyo[1].gif?width=227](http://odili.net/news/source/2011/apr/4/sun/Oloyo%5B1%5D.gif?width=227)
stricltly on invitation and appointment berthes in Abuja
Class dichotomy is fast becoming very evident by the day in Abuja, the nation’s capital. This is obvious in the startling and rapid emergence of exclusive shops where only the rich, privileged and the powerful are allowed to patronize strictly on invitation and appointment.
Oloyo
advertisement
These shops, which are separately and discretely sited in exclusive areas too, like Maitama, Asokoro and Wuse II were discovered to be of international standards, very expensive too close to their counterparts overseas.
Daily Sun was in one of such shops at Maitama.
It is a fashion house, dealing specifically on Italian wares and the operators said that the fashion house was a replica of those in Italy. It was actually on a night of “Fashion View”, by Di Constantino Clothing Hall, owners and operators of the exclusive fashion house, and Daily Sun was conducted around the various stores within the clothing hall, which separately house assorted clothes, shoes, jewelries, amongst others.
Mr Eric Oloyo, Manager, Di Constantino Clothing Hall, said all products were imported and that every store had different products, with male stores different from that of the female: “We specialize in Italian products. Whatever is fashion in Italy, we have them in our stores.”
He said that this has provided a market closer to the rich class in the country to save them the costs and trouble of having to travel abroad always to buy, as well as plunging back the money into the nation’s economy. Insisting that decency and quality service delivery were the hallmark of the clothing hall, Oloyo stressed that “it is a must that you make a call, then we’ll now be expecting you to come here to buy something. Anybody cannot just walk in here like that.
“Actually, if we make it a place where anybody can come, you know, some people will just come here check on the types of products that we have here but they cannot meet up to buy the kind of products we’re having. They will be thinking that it is the type of products that other people are having outside that we have here, but when they come here they find it difficult that it is the type of thing they cannot purchase then this place will later become like a general market place, that is why we make it a system that some standard people will call us before they come. We wait for them to come and buy what they want to buy.
“Our MD is based outside the country. It’s a type of business that he has been into for quite sometime. That’s why he came to this place and established according to his experience in Italy. The same system is what he is operating here. That’s why the system is different from what other people are operating outside here.”
Asked if there are no rooms for the poor to partake: “Yes, we can actually put it in that way for the fact that the products we are having here are authentic. They are not the types you buy outside that you will be expecting that you will get in this place. You can come to this place then you will be expecting that what you’ve been buying outside is the same thing you’ll buy here. When you get to this place you find out that the products we’re having are quite different from what you are having outside.
“There are people who travel out because of wares. That’s why we provide the market here for them to make it easy for them. When you are coming you just call that you are coming to buy something and you will be invited if you have been coming, you may not need to call.”
Proprietor of the clothing hall, who is simply known as Di Constantino, said he was happy with his clothing business which has become a career, having started from okrika as a little child. He said when others left for school he was going to Okrika to buy clothes for sale:
“That was how I started. I would be going to places to sell clothes. That was where I had the concept of making Di Constantino Clothing Hall today. This is my career. I travelled to Italy in June 3, 1989. I am based in Italy and Nigeria. I am doing both Nigerian and Italian fashion and it is an exclusive market, for the rich and middle class.”
Remember YNOT ? the notorious prostitute stock exchange in victoria island lagos in the early 2000s ? If Ynot was the sodom of Nigeria. Then Timeout is the latest Gomorrah in Edo state. Sad to say that there is a fast food joint just by the entrance and kids and mothers will be surprised to find out that their husbands,dads and brothers return there at night for a different type of fast food .
As the live band, known as the Zion Band, dished out different tunes at Time Out Fun Paradise in Benin City, capital of Edo State,located on Airport Road and very close tothe Airport itself in the GRA.
We watch as two female dancers were serenading the guests with their suggestive dance steps. Indeed, their general stage mannerisms were erotic.
The dancers paraded contrasting features: One was very tall and slim. The other was not so tall but blessed with more flesh, especially in the right places. The atmosphere was lively. There was hardly an empty seat or standing space, as men and women squeezed their way in. The number kept increasing and fun seekers spilled outside. Those who couldn’t bear the choking ambience simply frolicked outside. In fact, there were more people outside than inside. Most of them were women and on business. They were commercial sex workers strutting their stuff and soliciting for patronage from men.
Time Out Fun Paradise could be described as world’s biggest sex market. It is a prostitutes’ paradise, a haven of sinful lust. There, women of various ages, shapes and sizes compete for attention. Indeed, the number of scarlet women on parade is simply amazing. It is usually a crowd, like political rally. And because of the stiff competition in the ‘market,’ the women adopt aggressive marketing strategies. They are desperate, throwing decorum to the wind.
The provocative dressing and weird make-up the women wear show the stuff they are made of. Most of them wear bum shorts and revealing tops. Some wear micro-mini skirts that barely cover their pants. Their breasts spill from the half-cup bra, which they throw into the faces of men. And, in their desperation, they woo men openly.
The more daring among them pull out their breasts for their prospective client to see and feel while bargaining, saying in Pidgin English: “Touch correct breasts, breasts wey stand well, breasts wey never fall.” The aim is to convince the customer to play ball.
Saturday Sun had a time out at the fun paradise penultimate weekend and witnessed scenes of debauchery. From about 8pm, the commercial sex workers begin to amass. Thursday nights are special nights: ladies nights. Heavy smoking and drinking goes on there, even as hawkers of recharge cards, water, cigarettes, condoms and sundry items also ply their trade. Business comes into full swing from 10pm.
Sex is not exactly cheap at the centre. Most of the practitioners peg their asking price at between N6, 000 and N10, 000 for an all night dalliances, while a quickie (short time or kpa kpa kpa) goes for about N2, 000.
However, it depends on the customer’s purse and bargaining power as well as the girls’ marketing ability. Time is also a factor in the sex trade. As the night winds down, price crash.
One of the scarlet ladies, who gave her name as Destiny, told the reporter that it was not her destiny to engage in the business. After some haggling and a bottle of Smirnoff Ice, she said: “If you give me N4, 000, I will go with you. I just need some money to take care of some things.”
Asked why she was bartering her womanhood for cash, she quipped: “Na condition bend crayfish.”
Although many of the commercial sex workers claimed to be students, investigations revealed that some actually engage in legitimate business in the afternoon but practice prostitution at night to augument their earning. Some of them work as waitresses in eateries and hotels in the afternoon but at night they transform to sex providers.
Saturday Sun checks revealed that most of the hookers are from the South-South states. They find Benin attractive because of vibrant nightlife occasioned by the dwindling rate of crime in the city in recent time. Again, some of them are girls deported from Italy and elsewhere, where they had gone to seek greener pastures.
Although Time Out is regarded as the hottest pub in Benin, it is certainly not the only place sex is sold and bought in the city. LJJ on Sapele Road is another sex rendezvous. A garden like affair with thatched roof, it is a perfect place for fun seekers. The icing on the cake is that waiters there also serve as pimps. Photographs of call girls are available for patrons to make their pick. So, if you make your choice, the girl’s mobile phone numbers will be given to you to reach her and discuss business.
On entering there, waitresses always announce, gleefully, that they have everything, including girls. When the reporter feigned interest, one of the waitresses pulled out her phone and wrote a telephone number. According to her, the number belongs to “one hot girl, who knows how to give value for money. Her name is Faith.” However, when Faith’s number was called, she said that she was “running things somewhere.”
Free girls are also on the prowl in the premises of Jonvee Kitchen. Some of them sit at tables and make passes at men. The more daring ones accost men leaving the place and offer their company. One of the side attractions at Jonvee is the performance of semi-clad female dancers, who entertain guests.
When Saturday Sun was there, a rotund dancer dished out suggestive stuff, as Makossa music blasted from the speakers.
A few meters away from Jonvee is De Konsolate nite club. There, sex workers keep vigil, in anticipation of patronage. They are alert, watching out for the slightest signal from potential clients.
A middle-aged woman simply known as Omowunmi runs a prostitution ring in Benin. To pick an “Omowunmi girl,” the client will pay for the girl’s taxi fare, food, drinks and N10, 000 per night.
Omowunmi, who cruises about town in a cute Kia sedan car, also supplies girls at rich men’s parties. Toast of social events, when a client ‘places an order’, she will send text message to her girls, briefing them accordingly Her girls are said to be some of the hottest in Benin City.
President Barack Obama said he wanted to rekindle the “passion and energy” of his 2008 campaign as he joined supporters on a conference call that capped a daylong organizing effort for his 2012 re-election bid.
“We can’t go backwards,” he said on the call last night, which was also broadcast on his campaign website. “We have to preserve the progress that we’ve made and take it to the next level, and that means that we’re going to have to mobilize.”
The campaign was kicked off earlier in the day with a video on his website and an e-mail to supporters. His campaign also filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to declare its organizing intentions.
Obama, 49, will face a different set of challenges running as an incumbent with a record than he did in 2008, when he was able to draw on the enthusiasm of many young and first-time voters who helped make him the nation’s first black president.
“We may not have the exact same newness that we had in 2008,” he said on the call. “But that core spirit about what this campaign has always been about, I think, is still there.”
Obama counseled patience when one supporter asked what she should tell fellow Democrats frustrated that he hasn’t fulfilled all the promises made in the 2008 race. In a democracy, changes aren’t made easily or quickly, he said.
“The first thing is to remind people what we have accomplished,” he said. “We have probably had the most successful legislative initiative of any president over the last 50 years.”
Early Start
Obama isn’t facing any serious competition for renomination by the Democrats, and he’ll have the advantage of the presidential stage in getting his message out. Still, he sought to rally his core backers to begin organizing now.
“I can’t spend 24 hours a day campaigning like I did in ‘07 and ‘08,” he said. “I’ve got to take care of business here as well. In some ways, I’m going to need you even more this time than I did last time.”
Yesterday’s filing with the FEC allows Obama to begin fundraising and other organizational efforts for winning a second White House term. The campaign will have its headquarters in Chicago, the president’s adopted hometown and base for his 2008 victory.
The Republican National Committee responded to Obama’s announcement with a critique of his term in office.
“Obama has shown a distinct lack of leadership on the budget debate,” the RNC said in a release. He chose “politics over substance by sitting on the sidelines” on major questions about the future of government programs.
Foreign, Domestic Challenges
The president is beginning his campaign as he confronts foreign policy challenges that include the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa. There is also continued economic stress at home.
The national unemployment rate is projected to be 8.3 percent in 2012, according to a median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News in March. While that would be down from the current 8.8 percent figure, no president since World War II has been re-elected with the jobless rate higher than 7.5 percent.
Obama likely will give a formal speech on his re-election bid at a later date. He is scheduled to make an April 14 fundraising stop in Chicago, where donors four years ago provided him some of his earliest funding. Additional April fundraising events are being planned in California and New York.
Campaign Money
Analysts say they expect the 2012 presidential election to cost $3 billion, about 50 percent more than the $2 billion the Federal Election Commission said was spent in 2008 by candidates, the political parties and outside groups. Obama raised a record $745 million in 2007 and 2008 for his presidential campaign and was the first major-party nominee to reject public financing for the general election.
Jim Messina, a former White House deputy chief of staff, has moved to Chicago to run the campaign. Also back in Chicago to handle the campaign’s messaging and strategy is David Axelrod, a former senior Obama adviser in the White House.
The president’s job approval was at 42 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll taken March 22-28 with an error margin of plus-or-minus 2.2 percentage points. That was down from 46 percent in a March 3 Quinnipiac survey and at its lowest level in the university’s surveys on Obama.
Also, 50 percent of the registered voters surveyed by the Hamden, Connecticut-based polling institute said Obama didn’t deserve re-election in 2012, compared with 41 percent who said he should receive a second four-year term.
Republican Contenders
In a hypothetical race with an unidentified Republican opponent, voter sentiment was statistically tied: 36 percent for Obama, 37 percent for a Republican.
The Iowa caucuses, the first contest in the nomination process, are tentatively scheduled for Feb. 6, 2012.
The Republican nomination contest remains wide open, with potential candidates ranging from former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to real estate developer Donald Trump.
Other prospective Republican candidates include former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana, and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who is stepping down as the Obama-appointed ambassador to China in April.
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has expressed interest in the Republican race, as has former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The lack of a clear frontrunner has encouraged others, including Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a Tea Party favorite, to position themselves for potential runs.
--With assistance from Roger Runningen and Jonathan D. Salant in Washington. Editors: Joe Sobczyk, Mark McQuillan.
Our check reveals that whereas Prof. Jega led INEC did not award contract for the printing of the sensitive electoral materials until March 2011; doyens in electoral matters who pleaded anonymity aver that they told Prof. Attahiru Jega severally that if he did not get these materials by January 2011, he would likely face dismal polls.
But the INEC chairman did not heed their advice, rather than focusing on getting the materials needed, he embarked on a Jamboree to the United States and only did inspection of printers’ factories in December 2010, five months after he was appointed. Sources privy to the reports of the factory inspections told huhuonline.com that many of the printers visited, stated that INEC had inadequate time for the amount of work it needed.
Huhuonline.com findings reveal that INEC did not award contract for the printing of over five hundred million copies of the sensitive electoral material, until three weeks ago, specifically, 10th March, 2011. However, INEC insiders reveal to huhuonline.com that for an election scheduled for April, the printing of the elections materials ought to have been in the final stages as at January.
Our checks reveal that all the printing were done overseas, hence the mandatory vetting procedures required in printing such sensitive materials were not followed, due to lack of time. Hence the absence logo of some of the political parties.
In the words of a printing contractor, who is privy to dealings in INEC, when contract is awarded for a printing job, the printer would prepare the artwork, and return it to the owner, in this case INEC, who will then study the artwork to see if it met the desired specification, such as presence of security features, presence of appropriate logo, and colours etc., after which the artwork is approved and only then can the printer return to their factory for mass production. But none of this was done by INEC, the source affirmed.
Sources reveal that another flaw in Prof. Jega`s preparation was that some of the contractors who were competent and had excellent track record of delivering were dropped by because of the federal character. Finding shows that ¾ of the contractors hired by INEC were from the North.
Specifically, One Alhaji Musa a very close ally of Attahiru Jega`s benefactor, received a chunk of the printing job. Huhuonline.com findings shows that the total sum of printing contract awarded to Musa was one hundred and fifty million naira (N150, 000,000.00), which he subsequently subcontracted to UK based Graphic Inline.
Our checks reveal that Musa was first given a work order for Seventy five million naira, and later another Seventy five million naira work order was signed off for him, after a leading printing company (name withheld), rejected the job, because they were over booked. The other two local contractors are Alhaji Sanni and Alhaji Yerima, who represents Aeroprint and Aero Vote Limited respectively. Aero Vote Limited is a security printing company, based in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, and attempt to contact was unsuccefull as call went directly to their voicemail.
A day before the elections, Prof Attahiru Jega, whom huhuonline.com learnt was being economical with words, issued a statement, stating “the elections we are about to commence tomorrow, Saturday 2 April, provide the chance for us as a nation to get it right”. However, huhuonline.com finding reveals that the activist lecturer, turned INEC czar, did not have his commission in order, as INEC had not received all the requisite materials for the nationwide polls. Yet Attahiru Jega insisted that INEC was very determined to make sure that it mitigate factors that would prevent Nigerian citizens from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote.
Besides the material for the National Assembly elections, Huhuonline.com understands that material for the presidential election, originally scheduled for April 9th, but rescheduled to April 16th are not ready.
However INEC has already printed all the materials for the Presidential runoff elections, which simply amount to a case of putting the cart before the horse.
MEND, in an online statement by its Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said it took the decision after careful consideration and extensive consultation, but alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan has failed.
It noted that the temporary ceasefire was ordered in the hope that the new government of Nigeria would consider true dialogue, founded on a sincere desire to bring justice to the people of the Niger Delta and true peace to Nigeria.
The militant group had earlier threatened to bomb strategic locations in Lagos, Abuja and the Niger Delta, over the alleged failure of Jonathan’s administration to develop the region, rich in crude oil and gas, but neglected over the years.
MEND said: “After billions of Naira spent, all the government of Goodluck Jonathan has to show for its amnesty and re-integration programme is colossal failure, as the true intention of the programme was hijacked for personal and political greed.
“The architect of the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta, the late President Umaru Yar’adua, intended this process to be a precursor to formal dialogue, in achieving a just and lasting solution to the unrest in the Niger Delta.
“The government of Jonathan and the oil companies believe the spirit of agitation in the Niger Delta has been blown away with the bribing of a few thugs labeled stakeholders.
“They assume giving alms to the youths of the Niger Delta will secure installations, but the government fails to understand that if the root issues of these agitations are not addressed, we would only be going round in circles, resulting in more groups springing up and no peace in the Niger Delta.”
The militant group also stated “categorically” that it had no affiliations with tribal assemblies such as the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Ijaw National Congress (INC), which it said neither represented nor could speak for the freedom fighters of MEND, which comprises fighters from every tribe in the Niger Delta.
It added: “If we see no sign by the new government for dialogue at addressing our key issues, we will take that as a green light from the government to commence our struggle, which will be very detrimental to all oil companies operating in the Niger Delta.”
Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has been confirmed to be "abolutely fine" after being involved in a minor car accident on Monday morning.
The Spanish midfielder, who just returned from an injury lay-off after missing two matches due to a reoccurrence of his hamstring problem, had the collision on the way to training Monday morning.
"Hi, you have probably heard that I had a car accident this morning. I'm absolutely fine, nothing to worry about. These things happen," read a message on the 23-year-old's twitter.
Also the English Premier League club confirmed it, as an Arsenal club spokesman said: "Cesc was involved in a minor car accident on his way to training this morning.
"After the incident, Cesc made his way to our training ground in London Colney and took part in a training session as normal.
"The Police are fully aware of the incident."
"Innocent Eyes!
Have you ever looked into the eyes of a little child and saw the innocence, the purity, the need for guidance and the need for love...I have. But it is a very distressing and hurting thing to see so many small children being treated as though they were disposable trash, or personal property to do with as the owner pleases, rather than being seen as gifts from God to be held and loved and treated with the utmost care.
It is not an easy task to raise kids nowadays, especially if you are a single parent. It gets frustrating at times, and sometimes you want to just pack up and leave...but don't do that because that little one is depending on you. No they don't understand your frustration when you have just finished cleaning and they pour milk out of their cup onto the floor. They don't understand when you are trying to cook as fast as you can, and they are screaming and crying at the top of their lungs because they are hungry. No, they don't understand when you come home from a hard days work, and all you want to do is spend a few minutes alone in a quiet place, but they want to play or need you to help them with schoolwork. They don't understand...no, they just don't understand!
But remember this, in your times of frustration, before you over-react, look at that little one, or little ones and put your arms around them and tell them that you love them. Don't scream, yell or curse at them; that does no good except to keep tension in the home and it wounds their little spirits. They are innocent, it was not their choice or decision to come here...you made that one, along with the person that you were with. The word of God says that :"Lo, Children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Psalms 127:3). So when you curse at a child or abuse them in any way, you are offending God! And you will stand before him to give account for it!
No child is an accident, life comes from God and is precious to him, and it is our responsibility as parents to teach them right from wrong. We have to conduct ourselves in ways that will not reflect negative towards them. What they see and hear us do...they will do. You have a great responsibility Dads and Moms; you owe it to them to give them the best life possible...I am not talking about material things; but emotionally and physically, they deserve the best that you can offer them.
B-blessed
Michael
If you have anger issues, or if you need help with your kids, ask for help! First turn to your Family, then to your local Church, if you are a member or not. Seek out trustworthy Men to be a Mentor to your young boys, and Women likewise to help with your young girls. If that fails, I am sure that your State or City offers many programs to assist you in becoming a better Parent. Don't be ashamed, ask for help!!
The National Assembly elections have been postponed for the second time in 48 hours.
The elections, which were due to be held on Monday 4th April, have now been shifted to Saturday April 9th after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) caved into pressure from the political parties.
All the other elections have also been moved back a week. The presidential elections will now hold on Saturday April 16th. The gubernatorial elections will hold on Tuesday 26th April because the 22nd falls during the weekend of Easter.
The announcement was made this evening after INEC met with political party leaders. In a statement, Mr. Jega said the commission had been "advised" to move the dates again in order to meet with all the outstanding issues. He revealed that about 15 million people had already voted before news of yesterday's postponement came through and again appealed to voters to bear with them as the situation is sorted out.
Sources identified the automobile as a Range Rover Sport. The colour is listed as black.
Those who should know further confirmed that the car was actually meant for his wife, Tara- the reputable make up expert and owner of House of Tara.
Informed a source ‘the gentleman actually bought the car for his wife and had already told her of the development…she was yet to start using it when he later told her he felt like sowing a seed with it by giving to his Pastor’s wife’
The celebrated make up artiste was said to have agreed with her husband and the couple gave out the car as a gift to Pastor Adefarasin’s wife.
Fela Durotoye and his wife, Tara are worshippers at House On The Rock, the ministry with shepherd by Pastor Paul Adefarasin.
This happenstance reportedly transpired in the tail end of last year.
Sources further maintained that the car gift appears the favorite of Ifeanyi Adefarasin’s automobiles at present.
Though the value of the particular wonder on wheel is yet to be established, market sources disclosed the price of a Range Rover Sport as in the range of N13M- N15M
In order to understand the gravity of Mohammed Abacha's running for governor of Kano State on the CPC platform and the damage it does to General Buhari's credibilty as a paragon of anti-corruption, we need to consider the evidence of history and see how General Buhari's (and CPC's) handling of Mohammed Abacha candidacy is at odds with Buhari's claim to incorruptibilty. Actions speak louder than words. The evidence against Mohammed Abacha has been in the public domain, so Buhari and CPC have no excuse to claim that they did not know what sort of man Mohammed Abacha is before accepting him in the party.
"In addition to freezing about USD 640 million, the Swiss judicial authorities handling the case have also indicted Mohammed Abacha and Atiku Bagudu under Swiss legislation concerning money-laundering, fraud and taking part in a criminal organisation"
[see page 2 of the following link: http://www.assetrecovery.org/kc/resources/org.apache.wicket.Application/repo?nid=78488349-a33e-11dc-bf1b-335d0754ba85].
"In the context of those proceedings, the Federal Republic of Nigeria was able to demonstrate that Mohammed ABACHA had failed to disclose his assets in Switzerland and in Luxembourg, which exceeded 1.1 billion US$. This lack of disclosure had, however, no direct effect on the proceedings (although of course it dented Mohammed ABACHA’s credibility as a witness). In July 2001, separate proceedings were commenced before the High Court of Justice of London, relating to the embezzlement of 2 billion US$ from the Central Bank of Nigeria under false security pretences [see page 4 of the document at the following link: www.icc-ccs.org/home/fraudnet/publications/finish/5/46].
It is my opinion that this laxity with respect to Mohammed Abacha demonstrates a consistent pattern of behaviour on the part of General Buhari. It is my thesis that he may be perceived as not being personally corrupt but he often turns a blind eye to corruption of close associates. Witness the 53 suitcases allegation that still dogs him 27 years later. Witness his infamous declaration that "Sani Abacha was not corrupt". A statement that is given the lie by the evidence in various courts around the world. Does Muhammadu Buhari's definition of corruption exclude close associates? That the late Sani Abacha is a close associate is easily gleaned by the fact that he appointed him to head the Petroleum Trust Fund.
The Guardian Newspaper of November 3, 2002 reports on the audit of the Petroleum Trust Fund: "It is a horrendous story of criminal negligence, cynical fraud, and unprecedented disregard for all civilised standards of prudence and transparency in the disbursement of public funds. In the end, the independent consultants concluded that of the N181 billion that accrued to PTF in the four and a half years of its existence between July 1994 and July 1999, as much as N25 billion was either stolen or improperly expended."
And: ". . .when Gen. Buhari was invited to comment on the findings of the committee's consultants regarding the conduct of the empire over which he presided, he coyly retorted that he was not aware that such massive fraud went on his watch, but that in any event, he could not have benefited personally from the hideous purloining of the treasury." Former president Shagari who he overthrew was not personally corrupt, but his ministers were and yet Buhari held him responsible for the failings of his government. But in Buhari's case he disavowed all personal responsibility. Is this not bare-faced hypocrisy given that he was the one that unilaterally appointed Afri-Projects Consortium as the intervention fund's sole consultant?
Is General Buhari now also exempt from responsibility for the corrupt acts of his appointees? But the question needs to be asked: Is corruption only defined by the perception that one has not dipped his hand into the public treasury? What about if your associates are known to have been indicted as corrupt? In the Daily Trust edition of 30, March 2011, we read: "Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Muhammadu Buhari was in Kano yesterday for the North-west state-by-state presidential campaign but refused to raise the hands of either the INEC-recognised Muhammad Abacha or the party’s recognised retired General Lawal Jafaru Isa as the party’s governorship candidate in the state."
What a weak and tepid response to serious corruption-related issues by a man who his more ardent mythomaniacs tell us is the solution to Nigeria's corruption. They hope their persistent hagiographization will deflect attention from the present. We live in the present and whatever decisions we make concerning General Buhari's candidacy in 2011 must take into account his actions in 2011. Mohammed Abacha has never hidden his ambition to become Kano State governor. He was once in the ANPP before migrating to CPC. Knowing this, they could easily have denied him the CPC platform.
There are serious questions that General Buhari (or supporters) should answer. Why did they accept Abacha as a member of the CPC with the weight of these indictments hanging on his neck? In responding to this question, CPC says this: "In a statement last weekend, the CPC said apart from the alleged inducement of delegates, the party was not also comfortable with Abacha’s candidature because of his numerous alleged indictments by the federal government and the United States of America, which it said he refused to disclose to the party." This as far as I am concerned is a very weak response that only the undiscerning will fall for. The Abacha case was widely publicized and the indictments were widely reported in local and foreign media [as attested by the SaharaReporters link at the end of the page]. This excuse is downright silly and is obviously a late attempt at damage control.
Having become convinced that he procured his nomination through corrupt "money politics", why did the CPC not expel him from the party? After all, one would expect that for a political party running on a supposed anticorruption platform, their party constitution would spell out punitive measures for corruption-related activities such as "money politics". In response to this, the general's supporters tell us that CPC has appealed the court judgment declaring Mohammed Abacha the CPC candidate and the general is waiting for the court's pronouncement. As far as I am concerned this is another "rule of law" ruse a la James Ibori. This situation could have been so easily prevented by denying Abacha membership of the party.
If Muhammadu Buhari's CPC (his personal vehicle for his 3rd attempt at the Presidency), where his word is revered, is acting in such a weak and permissive manner concerning Mohammed Abacha, a man indicted on charges pertaining to money-laundering, fraud and taking part in a criminal organisation; how does he expect me to take him serious with respect to his anti-corruption credentials? After all my friends have assured me that in the cut and thrust and wheeling and dealing of representative democracy, General Buhari is going to jail all corrupt governors, senators, etc.
It is my conclusion that General Buhari's present actions in the case of Mohammed Abacha are at variance with the picture presented by his supporters of a committed anti-corruption crusader.
It is true that apples do not fall far from the tree. So it was not a coincidence to find out that Sose's father had also been a deejay in his youth. "My dad was also a dj, butthe difference between us was that, while he worked for free, I get paid quite a lotfor doing mine". Competitive from an early age, Sose won his first dancing competition at the age of five,singing and rapping. He then went on to write his first song at the age of thirteen. Meeting and then interviewing Sose gave me the rare opportunity to have a glimpse at his life experiences. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that not only had he built up a solid career but he was also well rounded educationally. He began his high school education at the International School, Ibadan. His family moved to Lagos a year later where he transferred to the Lagos State Model College, Badore. Three years later he enrolled in Adrao International in Victoria Island where he graduated. Sose then moved to Budapestin in 1998 for his A'levels and to take a two year Hungarian language course. Not long after his arrival, he had the opportunity to co-star in ‘Corrupt' an independent film alongside famed rapper, producer and actor Ice T as well as Silk the Shocker. An experience which he unassumingly describes as fun yet educational. Sose was admitted into the University of Hertfordshire where he studied Business Information Systems.He worked in the Information Technology industry for about a year. Unfulfilled, he enrolled at Cavendish College to obtain a professional certificate in film and video production.Mind, the Final FrontierDJ Sose sees the creation of music through mixing and blending different beats and rhythms as a form of expression and release. "I love music, I can't do without it. Most people place value on their phones, clothes, perfumes, etc. For me, it is my music. If I don't have my music, then there's a problem. You can lock me up, throw me in a dungeon, take everything I own, but don't touch my music or my music making ability." His music collection, according to him is a staggering forty thousand tracks. Like he said, "music is a drug and I'm addicted". Sose is comfortable mixing all types of genres from dancehall, to jazz and everything in between. If he had not chosen to be a deejah he would have been something else in the entertainment field. "In the broad range of entertainment I may have been anything, either a singer or an actor. There is no limitation to the talent one has, it is all about putting your mind to it and working to achieve your goals''. Sose has also worked as a producer for many artists such as Twisted Minds,R2bs, WandeCoal and Badman Floss. He has also worked collaboratively with talented producers like, Zela Zells,Jiff the General and Icon.The iconoclastStarting his career as a deejah, Sose realised he had to make himself stand out from the crowd. He randomly stumbled upon the solution. He had been a model at a photo shoot where the makeup artist applied body paint on the models faces to resemble tattoos. At the completion of the shoot he left in a rush forgetting to wash his face and boarded the train during London's bustling rush hour. He was listening to his music on his headphones oblivious to his fellow passengers stunned faces. Some inched away nervously and some got up and walked away. And there was his light bulb moment. It could not have come at a better time. He then made his facial tattoo a permanent part of his identity and he has not looked back since.It may be easy for you to forget dj Sose as a name, but as an entertainer, almost impossible. When asked if he was comfortable walking around with a tattoo on his face, without skipping a beat he said "I'm comfortable with it because in the beginning, people could barely remembering my name though it is so easy to pronounce. Now everywhere, people say do you know that guy, Dj Sose, the tattoo faced dj?" If Music be the Food of Life, then Spin On.... A classical case of innovation meeting talent, dj Sose's rise to stardom is to say the least, is a result of his hardwork and dedication. He has had memorable performances all over the world including Budapest, Famagusta (Cyprus), the UK, Kuala Lumpur, Tutsing(Germany), Porto Novo, Lagos, Abuja, Benin and Calabar. The most memorable was a performance in Kuala Lumpur on December 31, 2010. The nervous promoters begged djSose to fill in for the MC who never showed up. Again, with out skipping a beat he said yes, grabbed the microphone and carried the celebrations to the next level which involved impromptu dance competitions with a crowd of hundreds. The Malaysian promoters were wowed and amazed at how diverse he was. Not everyone who can spin is a skilled connector just as not everyone who writes songs can carry a tune.Final Four
1. If you were a lawyer, would you be a prosecutor or defender"Interesting. I have never been asked that question before. I would probably be a defender because of the ability to be able to help people. I do not like to be offensive, I do not like attacking, that is not my nature. If a fight breaks out, I am usually the one jumping in the middle to separate the fighters''.2. What if anything is too serious for you to joke about? "I guess I would have to say my family. They play a strong role in my life. In fact my mother actually designs and sews most of my outfits and constantly encourages me to be the best at what I do."3. What regrets do you have in life? "Really and truly, I have no regrets about my life. What I have gone through has made me who I am. If one little thing was different, I would not be the same person sitting here in front of you." 4. What is your concept of security?"Knowing that there is love. There are people out there who know and love me for who I am and not for my social position. My siblings, parents and friends who I know will always be there to back me up. Money no doubt gives comfort and you can buy a lot but you can never have security with just that." élan
FACTS:
1. Professor Jega, at the news conference where he announced the postponement of the NASS election, gave the late arrival of voting materials from overseas as the reason. But when did Professor Jega realize that the voting materials would arrive late. According to him, by 5.00 pm on the eve of the election the materials were yet to be delivered by the vendor. Yet, he waited until about 1.00 pm on the Election Day to announce the postponement.
2. President Jonathan also had no idea about the logistics problems INEC was facing. Political parties also had no idea of the problem of delivery of voting materials from abroad. INEC leadership did not find it necessary to consult with the political parties and other stakeholders before the press conference.
3. Monday, April 4 is not a right day because we cannot afford to toy with our students’ future or sacrifice their examination (WAEC) on the altar of institutional failure. I understand that the West African Examination Council examination commences on that day. I would rather that both the presidential election and the postponed NASS election should hold on the same day (April 9, 2011).
IMPLICATIONS:
1. The credibility or reliability of INEC has seriously been impugned. There are already some conspiracy theories flying around:
i. There are some people that want to create chaos in the country by frustrating the holding of the April elections. In other words, even subsequent elections may be frustrated in various forms.
ii. A constitutional conference, being the demand of quite a number of progressives, may be forced by the failure of the election process. If it becomes very difficult to conduct rancour-free elections until May 29th, 2011, a sovereign national conference will be a fait accompli. INEC and undiscerning politicians may help willy-nilly to present Nigeria with a platform to come together at the table of brotherhood and discuss the basis of our union in order to avoid a cataclysm. The die is cast.
2. Losers in the NASS election, whenever it holds, may have a ready excuse for their loss. This portends a highly charged political environment in the wake.
3. Neither INEC nor the ruling party (president) have reasonable control of the election process.
THE WAY OUT:
1. Ideally, Jega should have resigned after his postponement announcement. However, that would worsen the situation and create confusion and panic in the election process. Accordingly, Professor Jega may hang in until all elections are conducted before resigning. His capacity and efficiency at supervision of the election process have been called into question with the two incidents I have mentioned above. He may be a man of integrity, but his efficiency is highly in doubt.
2. Jega and his commission should establish prompt communication channels with political parties. Daily briefings should be done until all the elections have been conducted. This is to remove doubts about the process that may be entertained by many stakeholders.
3. Ballot papers and result sheets should be made available in all states at least 48 hours before elections are held. Accordingly, even if the papers are printed abroad, the materials must arrive in the country at least four days before scheduled elections.
We do not accept lame excuses from vendors or INEC. What connection has Japan natural disaster with Nigerian elections? INEC must work to wipe away our shame by yet giving Nigerians highly transparent elections whose acceptability will be a given among Nigerians.
I call on Nigerians to remain vigilant at polling booths, especially when INEC is implementing the modified open-secret ballot system. Those responsible for this national embarrassment should be identified, publicized, and adequately punished. We must not blame God as Professor Jega implied in his philosophical “Man proposes and God disposes” mantra. I am sure God is not the one that has been dispensing discredited elections in Nigeria. Our religious (or rather dis-religious) propensities have attained nationally embarrassing levels.
Finally, why must we print our election materials abroad? Ah, maybe the reason is why our big men prefer foreign hospitals to Nigerian ones; maybe that is why they prefer to send their children to study overseas. Our appetite for and patronage of foreign services and goods have been our bane. But will Nigerians do something to change this at the elections? The answer may just be few days away. Don’t give up on Nigeria, my dear compatriot. The weapon of change lies in your hand—your vote.
Leonard Karshima Shilgba is an Associate Professor of Mathematics with the American University of Nigeria and President of the Nigeria Rally Movement (www.nigeriarally.org ).EMAIL: shilgba@yahoo.com
“The Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) pursuant to our resolve as promoters of democratic norms and practices, received with shock, the news of the postponement of the National Assembly elections, after all the assurances that INEC was ready for the elections every inch of the way. We however wish to posit as follows”:
“Given the huge logistical challenges as observed by every Party, we commend Prof Attahiru Jega for the courage to postpone the elections, which if allowed to continue in the circumstances would have again exposed INEC’s unreadiness for the exercise effectively, added to this, his rare ability to apologise for such lapses”.
“Given the sheer lack of capacity exhibited by the Operations Directorate, we are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that INEC cannot between now and Monday, 4th April, 2011, account for all ballot papers already utilised, retrieve all sensitive materials in circulation and in the hands of various electoral officials nationwide. Added to this, is the fact that the same Operations and IT departments have not been able to avail political parties who are critical stakeholders in this exercise, the updated register of voters”,
“Taking cognisance of the fact that it is impossible for especially opposition parties to re-finance their agents sent to remote parts of the country and other logistical requirements given the extremely short time frame”.
“Bearing in mind the huge losses suffered by every sector of the national economy and especially ordinary Nigerians who eke out their living by the day, owing to the shutting down of all businesses”.
“Seeking to avoid voter fatique and allow for proper management of the elections,
The ACN condemns in strong terms the neglect and calculated attempt by the internal bureaucracy in INEC but especially the Operations Directorate in subverting the process thereby causing the nation monumental losses and undermining the integrity of the entire exercise”.
“Sir, this is our position and we believe shifting each of the elections by one week is still within the confines of the electoral act. Please accept our kind prayer for God’s guidance in your responsibility”.
on health grounds in Dubai....Wont return to Nigeria ...Still faces extradition to the UK
Ex Delta State Governor, James Ibori was, Saturday morning set free from detention by a court in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
But thefugitive is not expecd to return to Nigeria as the money laundering charge against him by heBrtish government i still pending.
We leant that he would be at home in Dubai while his appeal against the lower court whichordered his removal to theUnied Kingdom, continues.
Ibori, who is facing a deportation request from the London Metropolitan Police for trial in the United Kingdom to face corruption charges, was freed on health grounds. The health of the former governor is said to have deteriorated while in detention and he is said to be suffering from high blood pressure.
A senior government official confirmed the release of Ibori. He however stated that the decision was purely that of the Dubai justice official. The official, who expressed shock at the news, however said the judgement of the Dubai court ‘does not have anything to do with the charges Ibori is facing here.'
An aide to Ibori , Tony Eluemunor, who onfirmed his release to declined to say if Ibori would return to Nigeria from Dubai. There has, however, been wild celebration in Oghara and parts of Delta State, where freedom parties are being arranged in honour of the former governor.
