500,000 usernames taken in 15 minutes
At 12:01 Facebook opened the flood gates on their new usernames feature.
Personally, the process went very smoothly for me. I was able to secure my desired Facebook username with no trouble at all.
NOTE ONCE TAKEN YOU CANT CHANGE IT AGAIN !
goto this url and follow instructions
http://www.facebook.com/username/
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President Obama meets Morgan Tsvangirai in WashingtonPresident Barack Obama has announced $73m (£44m) in aid for Zimbabwe.The US president was speaking at the White House in Washington, where he met the visiting Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.Mr Obama said he wanted to encourage the rule of law, human rights and basic health and education in Zimbabwe.Mr Tsvangirai - who entered a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe in February - is on an international tour to seek aid.President Obama said he had "extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity" shown by Mr Tsvangirai, the leader of the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe.Contrast with MugabeThe US president said the power-sharing coalition in Zimbabwe was showing promise, following what he termed the "very dark and difficult" period the country had been through.Correspondents say the warm welcome given to Mr Tsvangirai is in sharp contrast to the attitude towards President Mugabe, who is the subject of a travel ban and assets freeze by the United States and European Union.Earlier, Zimbabwean Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the country's economy could grow by between 4% and 6% this year.Tendai Biti is optimistic about the prospects for economic growthMr Biti said steps would be taken to restrict central bank activities such as borrowing and that Zimbabwe was coping with a lack of foreign aid.The Zimbabwe economy has been battered by years of hyperinflation.Mr Biti was speaking at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town."I think we will be able to achieve a growth rate of at least 6%, although conservatively it will be 4% in 2009," he told journalists.Zimbabwe's economy has been shrinking for years. It contracted by 6.1% in 2007, according to the International Monetary Fund.The power-sharing government has said the country needs about $10bn (£6bn) to stabilise its economy.ZIMBABWE - NEW ERA?LATEST NEWSZimbabwe girls trade sex for foodZimbabwe 'facing fresh violence.
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When Fashola’s funky taxi cabs roll into town
By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowopejo
Friday, June 12, 2009
The new taxi cabs in Lagos.
THE ceremony was elaborate and colourful and venue was the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. The gathering was there for one purpose: To witness the launching by the Lagos State government of the second phase of 1,255 modern taxi cabs and hire services scheme being jointly financed by Union Bank of Nigeria and Lagos Micro Finance Scheme.
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The scheme which was made possible through public-private partnership was, according to state government officials aimed at easing public transportation sector in Lagos . Governor Babatunde Fashola in his address at the occasion said that public- private partnership would go a long way in achieving and improving economic development if well tapped into.
According to Gov. Fashola, the measure was part of efforts to alleviate poverty in the state as well as creating a conducive environment that would encourage private sector involvement and investment in public transport services through raising the level of cost recovery in the transport sector.
The taxi cabs which are in different colours of yellow, red, grey, mixed black and yellow are to operate from 289 taxi cabs across 17 local government areas (LGAs).
According to him, the fares for the cabs would be affordable, adding that some merits of the air-conditioned cabs are convenience, comfortability as well adequate security. His words: “We are here to open new vistas and new sectors of Lagos economy.
Our strategic partnership with the private sector has yielded yet another positive result. This is evident in our waste management, security, road transportation and road infrastructural renewal and so many other sectors. This is yet another success story.
“That partnership has allowed Lagos State taxi drivers association and other independent operators to join the Lagos taxi business. This partnership has brought about 1,255 cabs and by immediate consequence, has brought about 1,255 direct jobs.” He did not stop there.
.“From welfare of N10, 000 a month, it was undignifying for people to queue to get wealth and that was why we went for the Lagos Micro Finance Scheme in order to create real skills, and to create people who will not be only employed but employers of other people and this is evident today as we see owners of businesses.
“The major investment made by Union Bank and our partners in Micro Finance business for us is a huge signature of their confidence in the Lagos economy. Its means capital has not taken flight from here ( Lagos ) but finding a way home of safe returns to Lagos . This means new hope is alive.” Applauding the involvement of I-Trans Logistics and other taxi cabs operators as encouraging, Fashola said: “Only the brave will invest in Lagos State.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Transportation, Prof Bamidele Badejo described the launch as another landmark in the public transportation industry in Lagos State .
His words: “Today marks yet another milestone in the journey towards achieving quality of lives of Lagosians. Lagos State as we all know is the commercial nerve-centre of Nigeria , faced with the challenges of high road congestions, road accidents and in sdome cases loss of lives and properties”.
He therefore urged the taxi cab operators to abide with the rules and regulations guiding taxi operations as well as traffic laws as applicable on Lagos State public roads. He warned them to steer clear of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes or face sanction.
Also in her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. (Mrs.) Joke Orelope-Adefulire , said the State Government, in partnership with some micro finance banks gave out loans of over a billion Naira last year to operators of small scale businesses disclosing that this year N2 billion would be disbursed to the same category of people.
Managing Director of I-Trans logistics, Adebayo Ajakaiye who disclosed that his company was the second to be licensed in the state took up the challenge to support the state government’s developmental projects. “Because we saw the genuine desire by the Governor and his team to move the state forward by laying the beautiful foundation for Lagosians now and those unborn.” He said the feat by I-Trans logistics, one of the many registered taxi operators and managers in the state would boost and repackage taxi operations in the state.
I-Trans’ 200 black I-Tec Honda cabs, the gathering was informed, 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: “They were duly insured by the state Assurance Company [LASACO]”.
Also the National President of the Taxi Drivers Association, Alhaji Lateef Oseni, in his remark, commended the Governor on the various programmes with which he has touched the life of Lagosians and the role he is playing in the emerging mega-city, saying that the launch of the modern taxis was a response to his plea to the Governor to assist the members of his Association in the State to invest in the scheme.
Alhaji Oseni, who spoke in Yoruba, prayed for long life and a successful tenure for Governor Fashola and urged the Federal Government to emulate the Lagos State Government in providing a life-line for taxi cab operators in the country.
Some of the drivers, dressed in their designer uniform, who spoke with Vanguard Metro, described the programme as “laudable” and coming up at an appropriate period when transport sector is facing its most challenging task as a result of ever increasing population in the state.
The therefore urged the state government to continue improving road infrastructure in the state in order t to ensure longevity of the vehicles.
They also called on other investors and corporate bodies to key into the programme in the general interest of Lagosians in particular and Nigeria at large.
CITY BRIEFS
NSCDC tasks security practitioners
Nigeria Security and Civil defence Corps (NSCDC) has said proper training of guards is one of the ways to reduce crime rates in Nigeria.
Addressing participants at a stakeholders forum in Lagos, outgoing State Commandant, Nathaniel Ubong posited that proper training of guards would encourage professionalism in the industry, just as he called on practitioners to avoid living the job in the hands of quacks.
According to him, doing this will ensure maximum protection of lives and property in the country, “Security guards should be well trained before they are sent to various organisations for employment. This job is not for quacks, if our people are well trained, the rate of crime will drastically reduce in the country,” he said.
Ubong called on stakeholders to ensure prompt payment of salaries. “When we talk of security, it is not a lazy man’s job; therefore we must give maximum support as at when due . By doing this, tthe nation at large, will rest from crime, said the Commandant.
Continuing he said, “It’s high time we contribute our quota for the betterment of the industry, by doing this, I want to assure you that things will take a new shape in the history of the profession,” he noted.
NGO protests assault on member
Women under the auspices of Women, Law and Development Centre Nigeria (WLDCN), a non-governmental organisation(NGO) last Friday, besieged the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, protesting an alleged assault on one of them by a foreign national.
The foreigner, an Indian businessman identified as Keziah Sait, was alleged to have almost strangled his former employee, one Miss Irene Iheyen, last month, following the latter’s presence in the office after her dismissal .
The protesting women who described the act as violence against women , therefore called on the Command boss, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, to carry out a discreet investigation into the matter in order that the foreign national be brought to book, adding that they would do all within the ambits of the law to ensure that justice was done.
The victim in her account, told Vanguard Metro that she resigned from the company four moths ago and had gone to there last month, only to be referred to as bitch by her former employer who thereafter, raised his hand on her.
Youths urged to shun crime
Youth in the country have been advised to shun all forms of crime and unholy behaviours capable of jeopardising their future.
A teacher and youth counselor, Mrs. Esther Ozuah gave the charge in Lagos during the 9th interactive forum on the Youth Against Crime Project, organized by Center for Law Enforcement and Education in Nigeria (CLEEN) foundation at Bola Ige Millenium Secondary School Agegunle.
In a paper entitled: “Importance of Patriotism in Nation Building”, Mrs. Ozuah said as every country is aspiring to develop, the youth, as tomorrow’s leaders must be adequately be prepared positioned to take over from the present leadership.
And to achieve this, she said tenets and culture of patriotism must be inculcated into the youth.
“Development is the dream and wish of every country. And every country in the world today is striving to be recognised as a developed nation. This cannot be achieved if our youths are not well behaved and patriotic,” she said.
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Rising from the first Igbo economic summit in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, held from May 29 to 30, 2009, Igbo in diaspora resolved to set up a diaspora fund to fight the Igbo cause in addition to floating a spare parts manufacturing factory in Igboland.
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communique signed by Nze Joe Eto and Dr Anthony Ejiofor, Chairman and Executive Director respectively, noted that the summit also resolved that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation should at all times champion Igbo unity.
The summit, attended by Managing Director of World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Professor Pat Utomi and the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ambassador Raph Uwechue also resolved to encourage Igbo to embrace self-help projects.
"In order to strengthen Igboland economically, education should be promoted aggressively. The great achievements of Ndigbo in the pre-civil war era was attributed to high quality education, the well-known Igbo hard work, competitiveness and ingenuity,” the communique read.
The Summit, therefore, resolved to organise the Igbo Diaspora, to provide necessary support for quality vocational education across Igboland that will afford the unemployed the opportunity to learn valuable skills for the modern economy.
It also resolved "to create a Diaspora Fund built on contributions of $300.00 by all working Igbo man and woman in the diaspora immediately.
"We agreed to immediately put in place efforts to establish a heavy equipment spare part manufacturing factory in Igbo heartland and recognised Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the premier all-Igbo leader and pledged to work with the organisation and its eminent president to tackle all the problems in Igboland.”
The summit pledged to work with Ohanaeze to source international funds to solve environmental problems such as erosion in Igboland, in addition to working with other Igbo groups to implement programmes identified in the Economic Development for the region under SENEC (South Eastern Nigerian Economic Commission).
Among the attendees were prominent Igbos in North America including the founders of the World Igbo Congress from Houston Texas, Dr. JOS Okeke, the Consul General, Honorable Chudi Okfor and prominent Nigerians who flew all the way from home to help shape the economic future of Ndigbo.
Others include Ambassador Raph Uwechue, President General Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Dr Chukwuka Okonjo, economist, Obi of Ogwashi Uku and Dr Kamene Okonjo, Professor FNC Osuji, former Minister of Education, Professor Anya O Anya, former chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Professor Ebere Onwudiwe, political economist and public intellectual, and Dr. Chii Akporji, Communications in Commerce, The World Bank. among others.
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I see Adedibu in my dreams once in two weeks –Widow Our Sources say this edited version does not contain the chilling news of Adedibus warning from the Grave that HELL IS REAL !
Rumours are circulating in Ibadan that Adedibu appeared to his widow and says he is burning in Hell Fire !
Below is the edited version
From AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan
For upward of 20 years, Alhaja Modinat Abosede Adedibu bestrode the political circles of Oyo State , side by side with her beloved husband, late Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu. Popularly referred to as ‘Yeye’, Alhaja Bose was a force to be reckoned in the running of Molete political empire of Adedibu. Her words are laws and you dare not look her in the face if you don’t want to curry the anger of the ‘boys’.
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At the death of her husband last year, the running of Molete naturally fell on her lap as Adedibu’s hangers-on departed Molete for greener pastures at the homes of other political leaders in the state.
Preparatory to the commemoration of the one year anniversary of the death of the strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaja Bose opened up to Daily Sun on the challenges facing her and how she has been coping with life after the demise of his godfather husband.
Excerpts:
By June 11, it will be one year that Baba departed to the world beyond. How has life been without Baba?
Well, I thank God for everything. It has been okay, no matter what. We still miss him and we will miss him for life. I thank God for everything.
Is there any plan to commemorate the one year of his death?
So many people have their plans for remembering him, not only on Thursday or Friday; but those that he had touched their lives. They have their plans. I, too, have my plans. The children also have their own.
I know my husband loved prayers too much. Yes, I know he loved to pray and I too do pray for him whenever I pray five times daily. But in commemoration of one year of his death, I will organize special prayers for him on Thursday and Friday. The prayers will continue but at least to mark those two days.
On the plans by his political children, so many of them have contacted me but until that day I cannot say what they have up their sleeves. I can’t be asking them what they have for the man. But I think they know their responsibilities and rights.
They know this man had touched their lives and they want to pay him back after his demise. So, there are too many plans that I cannot go into details. Whoever comes that day will be welcome.
What has been your relationship with numerous political children left behind by Baba? Are they living up to expectations?
No. No. I mean most of them. There is a Yoruba proverb that says ‘iwon ba ni awon to le se ehin’, meaning; ‘only a few can represent one in ones absence’.
Have they been shutting their doors against you?
Well, like my husband, I too believe so much in prayers. But those that know God very well among them and who also believe that one day we will all go to where this man has gone, are still with me and the family.
Apart from being your husband, who was Adedibu to you?
Everything. Did you know him? If you happen to sit down with him; if you happen to talk with him, what will you say about him? That is why I said he is everything to me. There is an adage that says ‘a kii rin ki ori ma mi’, meaning; ‘nobody can be perfect’. The man was a fantastic man. When it comes to prayers, you cannot beat him. In politics, he is yet to be surpassed.
Whenever they called him the strongman of Ibadan politics, I just look at them. He was not a strongman of Ibadan politics, he was the strongman of Nigerian politics. Yes, the strongman of Nigerian politics. And he knew what he was doing. You know, he followed his masters faithfully and he learnt a lot from them. I thank God for his life because God was actually merciful to him.
If there is room for re-incarnation and you happen to meet him again as an Adedibu, a politician, will you marry him?
Yes. Yes. Honestly. Honestly, I will prefer to marry him if we meet again.
Is it because of the fame, or the financial benefit you drive from him? Domestically, are you saying he was also a fantastic husband?
Yes. He was a loving father and a caring husband. You people underrated him. With him and the children, you can never quantify him. As he had time for politics, he had time for the children also. I can say he even had time for the children more than politics. And he cared.
What have been the challenges facing the family since the last one year of Baba’s death?
So far, so good. That is why I say I thank God. So many challenges. So many things. For instance, there is a stupid boy that used to send text messages to my mobile phones even in the mid of the night. He will curse me and curse my children. And we did not know the boy.
It was not until Friday, June 5 that we discovered him. I would have reported him but I was told to leave him to God. And I have decided to leave him to God because this particular boy is one of my handwork. So, for him to be sending text messages to me, cursing me in the absence of my husband; if my husband were to be alive, can he do that?
That is one of the insults. But the boy will soon know that God is a God of justice. He will soon realize that God will reward his deeds very soon.
What was his grouse?
Nothing between me and him. He was sending text messages to me because he claimed he heard that I wanted to contest the Federal House of Representatives seat, which Hon. Folake Oshinowo is presently occupying. He didn’t ask me; I didn’t tell anybody I am going to contest. Maybe, he was trying to satisfy Hon. Folake; I don’t know.
But Hon. Folake and I are in good terms. She is my very good sister and her husband too is my very good brother. We are very close. I don’t know the boy’s problem. You know, maybe he is benefiting something from Hon. Folake and he has to show that he is doing something in her favour in return. But I am very sure that very soon, he will meet his waterloo.
You still look young and beautiful. Do you have any plan to remarry after Baba’s demise or you are contented living as his widow?
(Laughs). How can I plan to remarry? Well, if I want to marry, I can still marry but it is not in my plan. My children are enough for me and they are doing fine.
Did Baba give you any specific message or instruction before his death or a premonition of his death?
No, he did not. He might have known that he was about to die but he did not tell me anything. Maybe, he had known that he wanted to die because his attitude changed even not three days before he died. That was why, before he died, I used to sit beside him; to monitor him and to correct him. What he was saying was the normal instructions and I did not see anything special about them.
As husband and wife, we used to discuss a lot. Now that he had died, I tend to reflect on some of the things he told me and now connect them with his death. Then, it dawned on me that he might have seen his death coming.
In the last one year, have you had the cause of seeing him in your dream?
Yes, all the time. At least, once in two weeks, I will see him in my dream. He will give me instructions on those he used to assist with money when he was alive and that I should go and give them money. He will advise me about matters affecting the children and he will always admonish me not to fight.
He also used to ask aftermembers of his political family, especially those who have stopped coming to see us. I don’t know how he got to know all these from his new abode.
You have learnt a lot from Baba that you too can now be described as a politician, is it true you are planning to contest or you prefer to remain a godmother?
Hmm. I don’t really want to contest. Initially, I wanted to contest before the arrival of my son-in-law, Senator Kamarudeen Adedibu; but since he has been there, I have dropped the idea.
You still maintain all the domestic staff left behind by Baba Adedibu, how are you managing to cope with them?
Thank God, I am doing my best. But I will say it is to God’s intervention. I am trying to cope.
Is there any plan to immortalize Adedibu’s name in view of his contribution to the politics of the state?
You mean in terms of a foundation in his name and all that? Well, there is. We are on it. The children and the government are putting something together. But I don’t know what Baba’s political children are doing to immortalize his names.
However, the governor and the deputy-governor have been doing their best for the family of Adedibu. If the governor is not coming to Molete again that does not mean he is not doing what is expected of him. You know, he cannot satisfy everybody since the family is a very large one. To me, his not coming here (Molete) does not mean anything. Whenever I want to see him or any member of the family, he sees us at interval.
The deputy-governor too has been doing fine. You know, his relationship is not based on politics. He is a son to Baba. So, he cannot afford to forget his father’s house.
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Friday, June 12, 2009
LAGOS State Government has declared today, a public holiday to commemorate the anniversary of a free and fair election of June 12, 1993.
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The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, announced this in his office on Thursday, saying that it was the day Nigerians freely gave their mandate to late Chief M.K.O Abiola.
Bamidele noted that Lagos State Government would remain committed to the rule of law, fundamental human rights, electoral integrity, constitutionalism, popular participation, true federalism and accountability, the cause by which Chief M.K.O. Abiola lived and died for.
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Deco made 30 appearances for Chelsea after his move from SpainMidfielder Deco has admitted he is unhappy at Chelsea and wants to be reunited with his former Porto manager Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan.He arrived for £8m from Barcelona last summer but fell out of favour after boss Phil Scolari left and was replaced by temporary coach Guus Hiddink."I want to feel happy and this is not the case at Chelsea," he said."I would like to return to work with Mourinho, he is synonymous with success and I would be very happy."The Portuguese international did not cross paths at Stamford Bridge with Mourinho but he spent two of his four seasons at Porto playing under him.
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THE Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, was at Chicago Airport, United States, grilled after she was asked to step aside and delayed for minutes.The minister was attending an award ceremony organised for her son, Dr. Edozie, which took place at the famous Crystal Gardens , Navy Pier, Chicago Illinois.Dr. Edozie, a graduate of Rosalind Franklin University, received the 2009 excellence in emergency medicine award and was also the only Nigerian in the class of 2009 who received the Gold Humanism Honour Society Award in the US.Trouble started for the minister when every other immigrant was allowed to pass, leaving her and her daughter-in law behind for “closer scrutiny.”Disclosing her ordeal in Abuja, the minister stated that her bag and international passport were unusually screened, though the immigration officials, after the humiliating experience, found out that she was a minister and apologised for the treatment.But the minister who had in the past, expressed disappointment over the way Nigerians were humiliated at international borders as if all Nigerians were criminals, said she retorted at the officials that they had better be sorry as she spent minutes, insisting that the negative perception about the country and her citizens who travel abroad as criminals must be stopped
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Babs Ajayi from Canada
The anniversary of the June 12, 1993 democratic struggle embodied by the dogged determination, sacrifice and vision of the late business mogul Bashorun Moshood Kasimowo Olawale Abiola is here again. A semblance of democracy has been won but nothing more has changed. Bashorun Abiola stood up to the monsters in uniform, and along with millions of Nigerians they faced an on-coming trailer that has no breaks and cared little about the masses. The civil society joined him and even people who disagreed with him on specific issues fought on the side of democracy and change, and they insisted that the winner of the June 12, 1993 election must be sworn in and be allowed to assume his mandate. The mandate of MKO Abiola was denied him by callous illiterates in military uniform along with their hangers-on and sidekicks.
For several years this group of cretins engaged in one rigmarole after another, brought out armoured tanks, guns and mortars and killed defenceless Nigerians on the streets of Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ile- Ife, Benin, Kaduna, Enugu and several other towns and communities. But the Nigerian people, students, unions, newspapers, news magazines, groups of professionals and human rights bodies stood their ground. Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti will be remembered for his leadership, dedication, boldness and integrity in the struggle to actualize the June 12 mandate. He led a very effective and determined group of human rights campaigners, and his groups and many other bodies became a thorn too strong for the mad men in uniform to deal with. Chief Ovie Kokori and Omowale Carrington, the then United States ambassador to Nigeria gave their all, and stood for justice and democratic change. As always in the vanguard of opinion shapers and fighters, Kongi was once again taken away from his literary work and other tasks to demand that those who set the rules, wrote a constitution and conducted an election that turned out to be the fairest and most free elections in the annals of Nigerian history have a duty to honour the mandate of the winner. It did not matter to him who the victor was; it was the principle behind it all.
For years and for about a decade the nation and its people suffered hardships, petroleum scarcity, adulterated petrol and kerosene, closed schools and universities, locked shops and markets, deserted streets and roads, hunger and poverty, the migration of our brothers and sisters from the East back to their region, interim and not-so interim governments, brigandage and thuggery from men in uniform, and the step aside choice of the evil genius and the lowlife who was right at the centre of the crises. Hardship defined the lives of the majority of our people in those heady days but everyone held on to hope as represented by the mandate of Bashorun Abiola and the men of integrity who stood with him, particularly the Afenifere, NADECO, PRONACO, NUPENG, university teachers, Nigerians students, Tell, Tempo, The News, The Guardian, The Punch and several other progressive newsmagazines and newspapers.
The struggle pushed Nigeria to the brink of extinction and set students back several years in their studies. Many lost their lives to the bullets of Sani Abacha's soldiers who shot to kill and set up posts on roads and bridges. Newspapers and newsmagazines had their offices either sealed off, burnt down, and their magazines and papers taken away by state agents who constantly harassed and arrested vendors and newspaper distributors. All the laws of the land went to dogs, the evil genius and the evil maniac who took over from the interim lowlifes ran the nation like their fiefdoms. When losers take control, they wrought revenge on the rest of the people as if we were responsible for their failures; in most cases it is envy and jealousy that help to bring the worst out of people who failed. Long before June 1993, the people of Nigeria have come to know no peace of mind, no reprieve for social and economic hardship as the evil genius and his sidekicks took one wrong turn after another and made no effort to use the crude oil funds to create jobs and improve hospitals, schools and social services.
There were little to hope for from the moment the evil one took control in 1985 up and until he stepped aside in shame and by force, opening the way for an even more vicious character who acted far less than human in his dealings with people. Instability and social insecurity became a way of life and was far more steady and consistent as food shortage and inflation hinder everyone, which was at a time that there were official and parallel rates for foreign currencies. The crooks in power and their supported exploited the foreign exchange process in place while the masses pay dearly for the greed of a few opportunists. But that was before democracy or something like that was returned to the nation. That was before Olusegun Obasanjo was elected president with so much promises and so much hope that he will bring his prison experience to bear on the nation. It was hoped that the hardship and the unmerited favour and grace Olusegun Obasanjo enjoyed while in prison will truly translate into something meaningful and change him to a better person and leader.
That was not to be as the Olusegun Obasanjo who ruled for eight years and who attempted and schemed to change the Nigerian constitution and extort a third term from Nigerians, was a far worse leader than the cretin who annulled MKO Abiola,s mandate. The plight of Nigerians got worse under him; schools including the Federal Government Colleges and universities were poorly funded and continued in their decay throughout the Obasanjo years of the locust. It was eight years that yielded no dividend for the masses even as Bell University was set up and Bell College flourished. His Veepee also built schools and universities and ran businesses that took contracts from the federal government. Every step of the way the two men robbed Peter to pay Paul. They were greedy and selfish, they cared little about the people and their plights, and they helped themselves and refused to help the masses. One was a retired soldier and the other a retired customs officer, a member of the paramilitary parasites that boded no good for the masses of our people.
The greatest disservice Olusegun Obasanjo did to our people, however, was his imposition of his friend's brother on the nation as commander-in-chief. Obasanjo helped to spread lies about some achievements of Umaru Yar'ardua in the media, portraying him as one hugely successful governor who will replicate his successes at the national level. When the news items were appearing in Nigerian newspapers, a very analytical, highly critical and observant friend drew my attention to the news reports and articles. The reports painted the picture of a new and committed leader, a successful and focused man who is very committed to development and social service.
Today what we have on ground is a man who is after his own agenda and his own wants. He comes first and his government has been much like his predecessors - my need, my want, and my desire before any other. Poverty is forever on the rise and unemployment has assumed an alarming level in the nation. Our youths have nowhere to turn and they are victims of a failed state and a hopeless democratic set-up that is built to fail and arranged to ensure that looting is central to the agenda of the state at all levels. The regression we witness today and have been seeing in the last ten years are not the gains we expect, but they are the way the likes of Obasanjo, Bode George, Atiku Abubakar, Yar'Ardua, and the legion of retired generals who run the National Assembly and spread their influence around the states wanted it. Everyone who was a governor, minister, senator, board chairman or member, commissioner in the Obasanjo and Yar'Ardua era lives in a home that is worth in the hundreds of millions of naira. The same can be said of their bank accounts. When one of Obasanjo's ex-ministers was exposed by the EFCC a few months back and accused of stealing hundreds of millions of naira not many expressed surprise, except that the guy was more known for being Obasanjo's dog before he was made a minister. For such a guy, a lot of people insisted stealing runs in his family and looting is a way of life for them.
Sixteen years since the June 12 struggle took centre stage in the lives of our nation and people there is absolutely nothing to show for it. Our schools and universities are no better and the nation is downhill and in serious trouble of falling apart. Hunger and poverty daily afflict our people and school leavers have very little hope of getting a job. A sick man is not likely to find the drugs he needs and the equipment necessary to examine and determine the cause of his ill health and plan recovery are not available.
The social situation of our nation is desperate and the land is the backyard of looters and thieves in state and federal positions. We remember the struggle and dedication of MKO Abiola and the June 12 struggle and hope that one day an aberration of the likes of J.J. Rawlings will come to clean the filthy stable Nigeria has become.
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As we commemorate June 12 and the Man who gave his life towards the day that is synonymous with Democracy in the Most populous Black Nation on Earth . we implore everyone on 9jabook to change their profile photo to that of Late Chief Moshood kashimawo Abiola who died under mysterious circumstances while incacerated within the Gulag of Injustice and corruption in our great country .
To change your profile Photo goto
http://www.9jabook.com/profiles/settings/editProfileInfo
click on profile photo and either upload any MKO photo of your liking or download the one in this blog.
just right click on the photo and do "save as" OR
you can get photos on google images .you can change it back to what it was after June 12 or leave it if you so desire .
thank you ! please be aware that change can come through peacefull means so make sure any Demonstrations or Rallies you attend are strictly peaceful.
June 12 2009 another reminder That this country belongs to the people Lets remind those in power !
M-K-O ! M-K-O ACTION ! ABIOLA ABIOLA ABIOLA ! PROGRESS
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Do u know that poverty leaves with everyone? It is the human dynamism that makes some certain and particular persons unique. the human dynamic factor is the level of awareness, know-how and information at ur disposal. if u've got these then start changing the peoples orientation. u can do this by initializing and signposting positive generic impact. Because u see some never had a glimmer of hope of ever moving past this bullet. I have discovered that the 3rd-level-persons(the poor) are assortments of evil and indiscipline. Look around u wat are the level of people u find around. if u've got education, information and exposure u are a levelone category of the human race. u've got a glimmer of hope, riches and power. It is this dynamism(though positive) that i challenge u to use today. Change at least 1 live by impacting positively in the lives of these so-called level 3 humans. U see, its nt easy to change humans and on the other hand human are constant(u will find my analogy quite twisted. Remember they say change is constant, so is humans), thats y i m saying that changing the peoples orientation thier way of life starts from me and you.This my take. Without equivocating poverty is evil and it kills faster than a bullet. shield urself today from impovirization and change a life
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Some people have a right to their opinions, they earned them through experience and sometimes the gentle guidance of others. * People cast their suspicions on others to prevent suspicion of themselves. * Appreciate the good and learn a lesson from your mistakes. * To untruthfully destroy another's reputation is to have the character of a snake. * To be compassionate to others is to think of your fellow man, and if what comes around goes around, you just might need a helping hand someday.
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Gossip: Never believe in Gossip. Gossip can be a vicious thing; it might have a bit of truth in it, but it can destroy relationships, even if you do not believe in it. Get to know a person for yourself. * People make mistakes in life and they have a right to learn from their mistakes and never make them again. It is their mistake and they shouldn't have to pay for it for their entire life. That's why pencils have erasers. * God has the only right to judge, for you may not have all the information and what happened to them is not what happened to you. Who are you to judge? * There are no stupid questions. * Innocence is a gift that others should not destroy with their jadedness. * The best kind of control in the world is self control.
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Manchester United have accepted a world record offer of £80m from Real Madrid for winger Cristiano Ronaldo."United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player," read a statement from the Old Trafford club.It added the decision came at the 24-year-old Ronaldo's request after he "again expressed his desire to leave".United said the offer was unconditional and want the matter to be concluded by 30 June, while Madrid hope to agree personal terms "in the next few days"."Real Madrid confirm they have made an offer to Manchester United for the acquisition of the rights of the player Cristiano Ronaldo," said the Spanish club in a statement.But the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid stated that Real had yet to confirm the agreed price of £80m stated by United.A spokesman for United's owners, the Glazer family, insisted that the decision to sell Ronaldo was taken solely by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.The spokesman told the BBC: "It was purely a football decision and had nothing to do with the financial structure of the club."jakarthIt is understood that the transfer fee would be made available for Ferguson to invest in the transfer market.United have been linked with the likes of Lyon forward Karim Benzema, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Wigan's Antonio Valencia.Madrid signed Brazilian Kaka for a reported £56m earlier in the week, surpassing the previous world record fee in pounds sterling of £45.6m, which Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.That deal was sealed by the ambition of returning Real president Florentino Perez, who previously led the Spanish club from 2000 to 2006 - during the famous galacticos era.And Perez had previously made it clear he would do "everything possible" to sign Ronaldo.Madrid have also been linked with Liverpool's Xabi Alonso, Valencia's David Villa and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery since Perez's unopposed election signalled the return of their vast spending.There had been reports that Madrid would have to pay a £26m penalty clause to Ronaldo as a consequence of an alleged "pre-contract" arrangement that had been agreed with the player's representative Jorge Mendes, if the Spanish club did not sign him this summer.BBC Sport's Phil McNulty"This was one that was never ever going to go away," said BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent Mike Ingham."After the Champions League final he criticised Sir Alex Ferguson's tactics, he threw his toys out of the pram in the derby with Manchester City after he was substituted. He's been very high maintenance. And £80m is hard to resist."Personally, I'm very sorry to see him leave but it's absolutely inevitable. If it hadn't been this summer it would have been next summer."This could mean they might be able to keep Carlos Tevez, maybe Wayne Rooney can be liberated."Tevez's loan agreement with United has expired and the Argentine will cost United in the region of £25m, while Rooney may have more opportunities to play in his favoured central position if Ronaldo leaves.Ronaldo, who is currently believed to be on holiday in Los Angeles, joined United in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon for £12.2m, was strongly linked with a move to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2008.United lodged a complaint with world governing body Fifa last June over what they believed was a deliberate attempt by Real to unsettle the winger.After a long, drawn-out saga that ran through the summer months, the Portugal international insisted he was happy at Old Trafford and remained at United for the 2008-2009 season.CRISTIANO RONALDO FACTFILE# 1985: Born 5 February# 2002: Makes Sporting Lisbon debut# 2003: Signs for Man Utd in £12m deal# 2004: Wins first trophy, the FA Cup, with United# 2006: Expresses desire to join Real Madrid# 2007: Wins first Premier League title# 2008: Wins Champions League# 2009: Voted World and European player of the year# 2009: Man Utd accept £80m bid from Real"Now I understand I made the best decision," Ronaldo told Spanish sports paper Marca after he had made that choice. "I am with Manchester in body and soul."But the speculation soured relations between the clubs and last December United manager Ferguson said he would not "sell that mob a virus".And despite Ronaldo's claim that he wanted to remain at Old Trafford, he was the subject of constant speculation during the 2008-2009 season and often gave mixed messages about his future.If Ronaldo does sign for Madrid, his last appearance for United will have been in the Champions League final in Rome - in which the Premier League champions were beaten 2-0 by Barcelona."History will remember him very well in terms of his contribution as a footballer, he'll also be seen as petulant, egotistical and stubborn but he's been a wonderful player," said United We Stand fanzine editor Andy Mitten.BBC sports editor Mihir BoseIt took time for Ronaldo to find his best form after arriving in England but he became a pivotal player for United, who have won the last three Premier League titles.In the 2007-08 season he scored 42 goals, which topped the previous club record for a midfielder held by George Best, and was on the scoresheet as United defeated Chelsea in the Champions League final.His form through 2008 saw him named Fifa World Player of the Year in January, just a month after he won the Ballon d'Or as the European Player of the Year.Ronaldo was the top scorer for his club last season, with 26 goals, taking his total for United to 118 in 292 appearances.
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Bodies of 18 soldiers declared missing after an encounter with militants in the Chanomi creeks in Delta State last month have been found in a mass grave. The corpses were found by operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) code-named Operation Restore Hope.The murdered soldiers comprised two lieutenants and 16 other ranks.Earlier, a rifle and uniform belonging to one of the soldiers were found in a shrine in Okerenkoko.The attack on the soldiers on May 13 prompted the on-going military action against militants in the Niger Delta with the military authorities vowing an unrelenting war until the region was rid of criminal elements.Daily Sun gathered that the missing soldiers bodies were found in a mass grave in Camp 5 in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta.The camp belonged to the wanted militant leader, Government Ekpomukpolo a.k.a. Tompolo.It was further learnt that the attack and seizure of the camp by the military was facilitated by the arrest of nine senior aides of Tompolo.According to sources, after the arrest of Tompolo’s commanders, including a disabled in charge of the camp’s armoury, they were whisked away to the headquarters of JTF in Effurun.“It was when they were brought to our headquarters that they pleaded not to be tortured and volunteered to provide information that will lead to the whereabouts of our missing officers and soldiers,” a source said.It was gathered that the military authorities were working to establish whether the bodies recovered were truly the remains of the missing officers and soldiers.Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of JTF, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, could not be reached for confirmation of the report on the recovered bodies as he was said to be out on official duties.Commander of the JTF, Major General Sarkin Yaki Bello had vowed shortly after the soldiers were declared missing that the military would not relent until they were found.According to Bello, in military parlance, no soldier was presumed dead during combat until his body had been found or recovered
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God save this country, Amen. Please Read!IG Okiro Acelebrated Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), hitherto erroneously mistaken for a saviour by the defenceless as the “no-nonsense” head of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of one of the states in the South-West is in trouble. He is now in police custody for allegedly operating three deadly armed robbery gangs that were responsible for breaking banks and snatching exotic cars in major cities across the country.His exploits in the underworld, by The Nation’s findings, out-shone George Iyamu, who, strangely, was also a DSP, whose scandalous exploits earned him death through a firing squad in March 1987, following a death sentence passed on him by Justice James Omo-Agege of the High Court of Justice in Benin City. He was found guilty of aiding a vicious robbery gang led by Lawrence Anini which tortured the peace of the nation for over three months.In that saga, Nigerians were aghast with shock when it was revealed that Iyamu was the insider-informant, who was paid handsomely by the "Anini Group" for classified information that made their victims easy preys.Unlike Iyamu, whose stock-in-trade was merely giving protective information to Anini and his gang, however, the present DSP, investigations revealed, had been the sole sponsor and godfather for robbery gangs that recently carried out violent attacks on banks across the country.The plotting of his royal pathway to the police dragnet began when, two weeks ago, a robbery suspect, who had, with other dreaded members of his gang, robbed a bank in Ibadan, where they carted away about N14 million was nabbed with another member of the gang.The suspect, who reportedly got a share of N3 million, had gone on a spending-free session at a liquor joint in Ibadan when other customers around began to suspect him because of the way he was spending money.An authoritative source confirmed to The Nation that the police, upon a tip-off, put the robbery suspect under surveillance, which led to the law enforcers’ discovery of a wound on his leg."Following police investigations, the suspect initially lied that he had sustained the injury when he was on a hunting expedition because he was a hunter."The police took their investigations to a clinic where he was said to be receiving treatment on the leg. Eventually, the truth came to the open and he was arrested in Ibadan with some money with the wrappers of a bank which the gang had recently burgled in the city. That was how his gang was exposed," disclosed the source.Following intense interrogation, the suspect, The Nation learnt, threw what appeared to be a bombshell to Oyo State Police Command: The DSP supplied information, arms and ammunition to his gang which had attacked banks and snatched posh cars in Benin, Abuja, Lagos and Ado-Ekiti, among other cities across the country.Apparently believing that the robber’s confession was aimed at framing up the suspect for supposedly being the thorn in the flesh of armed robbers in the state, the state Police Commissioner was said to have referred the case to the Federal SARS, Abuja, earlier set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro.The source revealed further: "The arrested robbery suspect disclosed to the men at SARS, Abuja that the suspect had a giant personal house where the gang used to meet in Ibadan to strategise for operations. When the Abuja team got to the desolate house in Ibadan, the DSP was said to have denied ownership of the house. But the suspect insisted, saying that he was ready to unveil all the hidden things there. Upon his instruction, the police detectives opened a room where they allegedly found the suspect’s photograph beside a bed."The robber later took them to an underground apartment where eight AK 47 rifles were recovered with 36,000 rounds of live ammunition which the police officer used to distribute to members of his gangs for operations. The robber also took the policemen to the backyard of the house where nine blood-stained exotic cars, including SUVs recently snatched by the gang, were parked. Shocked to the marrow by the discovery, the spolice team there and then arrested the DSP on the spot with his uniform on."Further investigations later revealed that some of the riffles belonged to the policemen killed in line of duty by armed robbers on his order, while seven were allegedly stolen by him from the armoury when he was said to be the Officer-in-Charge of the state’s anti-robbery outfit last year. While in the state, he was widely feared and celebrated as a gallant officer who was genuinely committed to stamping out robberies in the state, unknown to people that he masterminded all the robberies," revealed the source.When he was taken to his station for further investigation by the Abuja team, the suspect reportedly begged the team to take N4 million and kill him to save his face from shame.The source explained: "He said he would organise N4 million for members of the team if they could save his face. It was when the team was about entering the state’s Criminal Investigations Department, with him after he had confessed that some of the rifles he had been giving to his gangs’ members were stolen from the SCID."Most of the officers there were junior to him, and he was afraid of how they would feel upon learning of his inglorious exploits. He knew the shame would be too much for him to bear; that was why he had to resort to fruitless begging."The suspect, who is now being detained in Abuja, the source said, confessed to having three robbery gangs, two among which specialized in bank robberies while the other was primarily concerned with snatching expensive cars which were eventually sold to ready buyers in Togo, Burkina Faso and Benin Republic.The IG, The Nation also learnt, has ordered comprehensive investigations into his various property which include four houses in Lagos, three in Ibadan, four at Ado-Ekiti, one in Abuja and a plaza under construction in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)."He is said to own five trucks and 12 personal cars," the source said, adding: "The IG is taking the case very seriously. In fact, he has ordered a very exhaustive investigation into it. He also demanded daily briefings on the matter."The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), could, however, not be reached by press time yesterday for comments.
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A MUM of six has ditched her kids and run off with her son’s 18-YEAR-OLD best pal.
Debbie Mallinson, 36, fled her council semi after telling her shocked children: “I can’t help who I fall in love with.”
She then moved in with baby-faced toyboy Adam Caban in Falmouth, Cornwall.
Mallinson’s eldest sons, aged 15 and ten, are now living with relatives. Her other kids — a girl of eight, a boy of six, a boy of five and a girl aged three — are in foster care.
And an ex-partner of the runaway mum branded her a “disgrace” last night — and sneered: “She falls in love more often than she gives birth.”
The man, who fathered three of the brunette’s six children, hit out after she deserted her young family.
Mallinson fled her council home after climbing out of a window and sprinting down the front path into a waiting cab.
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Her 15-year-old eldest son had earlier caught her on the phone telling Adam, his best friend, that she loved him. Before she left, Mallinson told her children: “I can’t help who I fall in love with.”
But her disgusted ex said: “It breaks my heart — she doesn’t give a stuff about anyone but her.”
Mallinson, whose children were fathered by FOUR dads, is living with baby-faced Adam at his sister’s home in Falmouth, Cornwall.
Before walking out two weeks ago, she phoned social services saying she couldn’t cope and was going off to live with her lover.
Her furious former partner said last night: “This woman is an absolute disgrace as a mother.
“First she has an affair with her son’s best friend, then she dumps her kids to move in with him.
“She’s now living with him while her youngest children and my kids are staying with strangers. It breaks my heart and makes my blood boil in equal measure.
“She’s told social services she wants the kids back eventually and wants to bring them up with her new boyfriend.
“But they are living with his sister and don’t have any money.
“Anyway, she can’t just turn up and be a mum when she likes. It is just not fair on the children.”
Mallinson — whose youngsters cannot be identified — stormed out of her three-bed semi after a blazing row with her teenage son.
He and his eldest brother, who is ten, are now living with their grandparents and father respectively.
But the lads’ four siblings — a girl aged eight, a boy of six, a boy aged five, and a three-year-old girl — have been put in to foster care.
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Mallinson’s former partner added: “The first I knew about it was when my mum called me.
“At first I thought it was a wind-up — but I wouldn’t put anything past her.
“Her eldest son found out something was going on when he overheard his mum on the phone telling his best mate she loved him.
“He is now living with his grandparents in another part of the country — but he has lost his best friend and his mum.
“Through no fault of his own, his life has been completely turned upside down.
“I’ve known this woman for a long time and she falls in love more often than she gives birth. The sad thing is that it will never last — but it could scar the kids for life.”
Mallinson was unavailable for comment.
And her 18-year-old lover cowered behind his mum when The Sun visited his family’s address.
The dumbstruck teenager stood in the hallway as his mum said: “He’s 18 and can do what he likes. They’re just friends anyway.”
Another family member said: “They are moving from house to house at the moment, so we’re just trying to help out by giving them somewhere to stay.advertisement here ask9ja.com free classifieds !Read more…
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The police at the weekend, rescued a three-year-old boy from a robbery gang which was tutoring him on how to go about robbery operations. The gang was being led by the child’s father, Olumide Joseph. He was arrested in company of his child and other gang member, Temidayo Akindekan at the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
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The police said the modus operandi of the two-man gang was to go for robbery in company with the little child so as to deceive the crime fighters each time they were accosted during and after operations.
However, luck ran out on them when, at the weekend, the police refused to be deceived. Initially, the police had suspecting that the little boy may have been kidnapped by the gang, which had earlier snatched a bus.
Parading the suspects at the state command headquarters, Ikeja, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Frank Mba, who described the two man-gang as notorious said: “It was quite abnormal and shameful that a father could be tutoring his under-aged child how to be a robber. It was unheard of and unbelievable that a father could debase himself to such a despicable standard.”
He said God had redeemed the little boy from the hands of “this gang which should have turned him to a Frankinstein monster. It will be unimaginable the type of person the boy would have been turned into. Infact, it would have been a devil let loose. We thank God for his mercy towards this angel.”
He said the gang was responsible for so many car snatching and theft in Lagos and Ogun states. Mba said the gang specialized in stealing buses which they would refurbish and paint to commercial colour which they would give to drivers for commercial purposes.
He revealed that five buses have been recovered from them while detectives were on trail of other buses.
Speaking with Joseph, he said: “Yes, the boy in question is my son. I take him along when I am going to steal buses because I have no other person to leave him with at home because the mother is no longer with me.”
On whether he did not know that the child would take after him. he said: “Well, I knew but I was hoping to quit crime before he will become an adult.”
He said he hated what he was doing but owing to the economic hardship in the country and family pressure, he had no alternative.
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Put one in the middle equals 4-1-9 !
49 Nigerians stole N143.6bn public funds - EFCC that is roughly 20million USD each
ABUJA — FORTY-NINE Nigerians looted the nation’s treasury to the tune of N143.6 billion (One hundred and forty-three billion, six hundred million naira), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission revealed yesterday.
Also, Chairman of the Commission, Mrs Farida Waziri, at an interactive session with journalists, in Abuja, to mark her first year in office yesterday said the court cases of some former governors were ongoing and that there was no letting up on efforts to prosecute former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili and Senator Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State.
It has also come to light that 49 Nigerians are presently being prosecuted by the EFCC for fraud, totaling N143.6 billion. This was contained in a list of “On-going High Profile Cases” made available by the anti-graft body yesterday. The high profile cases include that of some ex-governors. 11 of the fraud cases were commenced by former chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, while the incumbent boss of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri has filed 20 fraud-related charges against suspects.
Most of the suspects have been granted bail by the court. The suspects in the UBEC case where high profile public servants connived with an American, Alexander Cozman, to defraud the government are however still in the custody of the EFCC.
Some of the cases listed include the case against former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State at the Federal High Court, Lagos over N1.2 billion.
Another case is against former Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State at the Federal High Court, Gudu.
Also listed is the case of former Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State at the Federal High Court, Maitama, over N36 billion.
Also ongoing is the trial of former Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba state over N180 million; the case against former Governor Michael Botmang of Plateau State over N1.5 billion.
The ongoing trial of Mr Roland Iyayi, former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over N5.6 billion is also listed. The trial of Mr Eider George, an Ustalian Business man at the FCT High Court, Maitama over N5.6 billion and that of Mr Patrick Fernandez, an Indian Businessman whose trial is ongoing at the Federal High Court, Lagos over N32 billion fraud is also listed.
The trial of four Senior Managers of a bank over N3.6 billion at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt is also one the cases listed by the EFCC.
Also, the Rural Electrification Agency fraud case to the tune of N6.2 billion involving a serving Senator, three serving members of the House of Representatives, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power and other top public officers was listed. The suspects in the case include Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Mr Ndudi Elumelu, Mr Mohammed Jibo, Mr Paulinus Igwe, Mr Samuel Ibi, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, Mr Simon Nanle, Mr Lawrence Orekoya, Mr Kayode Oyedeji and Mr Garba Jahun.
According to the EFCC, charges have been filed against the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, but he is yet to put in an appearance.
No letting up on ex-govs Peter Odili, Bola Tinubu
On former Governors Odili and Tinubu, Mrs Waziri said: “I inherited most of these case files and no file was at any time involving the governors was declared missing as reported by the press. Instead, we have been investigating and building on the files.”
Answering specific questions on Dr Peter Odili and Senator Bola Tinubu both former governors of Rivers and Lagos states respectively, the EFCC boss said the Commission was working hard to drag them before the law court.
According to her, “there was no time the case against Odili was dropped. There was this obnoxious court order of perpetual injunction restraining us from prosecuting him but we have appealed against it. We have been contesting the obnoxious court order restraining us from prosecuting him. We have assigned the case to a SAN to try to vacate it.”
On Tinubu, she said that the Commission was working on gathering evidence with which to establish a case against the former governor but admitted that certain words of her predecessor did not make that effort easy.
Mrs. Waziri said she has been very sincere in handling her responsibilities in the last one year, adding, “I don’t have any basis to lie as posterity will judge me because in the last one year, what I have done is to build case files, analysing them and working day and night to ensure that suspects are arrested once a prima facie case is established.”
Cases of ex-govs stalled in courts
She, however, expressed frustrations at the delays corruption cases were suffering at the courts.
Her words: “The cases of past governors are ongoing. They are in court. I have been crying hoarse that cases are stalled. This is the area that I expect you, the media, to assist me; to cry out with me. Cases that were filed by my predecessor are still there in the courts. They are stalled, one way or the other.
“I have told you many times why I feel the cases are stalled. If you have a bad case and you engage a lawyer whom you pay everything that you can pay and even from the charges drafted, he knows that if this case gets to its logical conclusion, he will end up in jail, they will do everything they can to forestall the trial and this is what is happening. The cases are not moving.
“I told you that what some of these lawyers do is to first of all challenge the jurisdiction of the court. Even when it is clear that the high court has jurisdiction, then they go to the court of appeal to ask for a stay of execution, so the case is not moving at all. And the delay of trial has its own repercussions: witness fatigue, witnesses may die or move.
“My job is to compile the case file, charge them to court and the next thing is to monitor the trials, to see whether on grounds of technicality, the investigation was thorough or something was missing; secondly to ensure that witnesses attend court and to ensure that exhibits are tendered. And that is where my job stops. I don’t go to the bench; I can’t do anything else.
“This is what is frustrating us and I leave that to you. You are Nigerians. If one arm of government is trying to solve this problem, you should highlight it; you should ask questions.”
The EFCC boss stressed the need for all Nigerians to buy into the anti-corruption crusade, insisting, “all Nigerians are stakeholders in this crusade.”
Reacting to the claims of civil right groups that the Commission had performed below expectations under her watch, Mrs. Waziri said: “I hate armchair critics who sit on the fence and criticise everybody’s efforts. This country belongs to us all, if they are given opportunity, they will steal this country silly because they suffer from the Pull Him Down Syndrome (PHD).”
On the role of the banks, Waziri said “some of the banks report (suspected transactions) while others don’t, that is why we re-organised the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to make it more proactive and responsive to strategic intelligence.”
Estates built with stolen money to be confiscated
On the allegation that politicians were building estates and the Commission is not beaming its searchlight on the property industry with a view to confiscating those built with looted public funds, she said that once the Non-Conviction Based Assets Forfeiture Bill was passed, she would move against ill-gotten estates.
Her words, “A lot of estates are springing up in Abuja. We are waiting for our Non-conviction Asset Forfeiture Bill to be passed then we will really go into that. Find out the owner of this estate, find out how he got the money to develop the estate. If you can’t, we investigate you, we take the property to court. It has nothing to do with the person. And we will take the property which will be forfeited to the government if you are unable to satisfactorily tell us how you came by that money.
“If you say you got a loan from the bank, we will investigate that claim. If you say you inherited anything, we will investigate. We are waiting for this law. It is going to make a great difference because the incentive to steal will be lost. The incentive to acquire properties in the country or outside the country and acquire luxury cars will be lost.
“Even the fact that some are developing the estates through proxies, companies or those that are developing properties using prominent individuals as partners notwithstanding, we are taking note of all of them.”
The Chairman said the Commission secured 65 convictions and has recovered over N50 billion looted money. It has also developed the EagleClaw, a software designed to combat cybercrime and advance fee fraud (419) scam.
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WANTED leader of the Ijaw Youths Leadership Forum, Government Ekpomupolo, nicknamed Tompolo, who reportedly fled Nigeria to escape arrest by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) has sneaked into Ukraine, according to latest findings by the Nigerian Tribune.
His escape to the eastern European country was said to have been facilitated by Ukrainians with whom he had been engaging in arms deal in exchange for bunkered crude oil. South Africa was listed among the countries he had planned to escape to the moment military forces began to comb the militants’ hideouts in Niger Delta.
Tompolo’s exit from Nigeria, according to information from the militants’ camp, was made possible through the combined help of Ukrainians and South Africans who trade in arms and crude oil and with whom he had been engaged in business activities for some time.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the security operatives were still combing the specific locations in the Niger Delta where Tompolo was believed to be hiding, while not foreclosing the possibility that he might still be in the country.
The leader of the militants was said to have vowed to return to Nigeria to relaunch the struggle for the control of the South-South, while he was said to have said that the struggle for the emancipation of the Niger Delta would be more sophisticated and properly coordinated when he returned.
It was learnt also that the JTF, despite being able to contain the excesses of the militants in some Niger Delta states, still had a lot of work to do in breaking the militants’ base of operations following hint that the military men had not been able to recover one-tenth of the arms stockpiled by the militants.
Sources close to the militants told Nigerian Tribune that the inability of the JTF to arrest Tompolo and other major leaders of the militants might leave room for their regrouping since their network of secret operation was said to be intact.
Further investigations revealed that the militants had tactically been retreating towards Brass and Akassa, the coastal fringes of Bayelsa State, with a view to regrouping and relaunching their struggle, this time by disturbing maritime trade along the axis.
Reports indicated that their main links are still within the Niger Delta states, even as they have been noted to be consulting for some of the oil companies on security matters, whereas only a few, according to sources, could suspect that they are agents of the militants.
Meanwhile, the seeming silence on the part of President Umaru Yar’Adua and security operatives on the much-talked- about list of backers of Tompolo further heightened anxiety and suspense as the President on Saturday refused to receive a South-South governor.
This development came as emissaries reportedly sent to the Presidency by the governor to verify the contents of the list of backers made fruitless efforts to get details of the list submitted to the president by the JTF last week.
President Yar’Adua is said to have commenced a process of scrutinising the said list with a view to separating those who had “genuine and official contacts with the militants” from those who actually engaged in illegal deals with them, the Nigerian Tribune learnt.
Nigerian Tribune on Friday exclusively reported that a serving South-South governor, a retired army general, as well as several politicians from the Niger Delta region were among those said to be having links with the wanted militants leader.
Although the report did not mention any particular governor, efforts have been made in the last three days by officials of two core Niger Delta states to confirm whether or not their principals’ names were on the list. The two governors were still in Abuja as at the time of filing this report.
But disturbed by the secrecy surrounding the list and the failure of his team to get meaningful results, the governor was said to have personally attempted to see the president but failed in the bid.
Said a source in the Villa: “I don’t know why your paper is putting these men on a high jump; did you mention anybody’s name in that report? As of Saturday morning, no fewer than two respectable persons had come around to see what the so-called list contained, but little did they know that it was purely a security matter, so not many people can have access to that kind of information here.
But disturbed by the secrecy surrounding the list and the failure of his team to get meaningful results, the governor was said to have personally attempted to see the president but failed in the bid.
Said a source in the Villa: “I don’t know why your paper is putting these men on a high jump; did you mention anybody’s name in that report? As of Saturday morning, no fewer than two respectable persons had come around to see what the so-called list contained, but little did they know that it was purely a security matter, so not many people can have access to that kind of information here.
“For those of them who had genuine and official contacts with the militants, either on behalf of government or oil companies, they should have nothing to worry about; only those who played some fast games on government and oil companies, all in the name of liaising with them to protect their workers or bring about peace have cause to entertain fears.
“For such individuals, most of whom are from the region, the situation in the region before now was an avenue for them to enrich themselves and deceive government agencies to part with so much money; unknown to such persons, government has a list of all such persons parading as go between; funny enough, there is no kobo any oil company parts with that the government does not know.
“So if they claim the region is not developed and they are gaining at the expense of their people, then they should be brought to book; that is Mr. President has instructed a thorough study of the said list so as to know who did what and for what purpose.”
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Segun Adeniyi, could not be reached for comments. Meanwhile, spokesman for the JTF, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, has expressed the readiness of the outfit to continue with the cordon and search operation to dislodge militants in the region, saying, however, that the JTF had no business with any list submitted to any quarters.
“It is not in our character to discuss such things, what we are doing is routine, and in the course of our operations, we stumbled on certain things, it is only appropriate that we defer to the authorities, what is done with such things is not our business; all we are doing is to ensure we do not go beyond the rules of JTF’s engagement; good enough, we have not done.
“The cordon and search will continue until we rid the region of militants and make it free and conducive once again, for economic activities; in the course of doing this, we are alive to our responsibilities, we are alert and we will not lose focus,” he said.
In another development, Niger Delta militants have threatened to blow up a $13 billion (about N1.917 trillion) gas pipeline project being undertaken by Nigeria and Algeria.
Algeria Mines and Energy Minister, Chakib Kheli, speaking to Reuters in Algiers at the weekend disclosed that the signing of the multibillion pipeline project which will see Nigeria exporting its gas had reached an advanced stage.
“We have reached the deal and we may sign it shortly as all the problems have been solved. Nigerian Oil Minister Rilwan Lukman and myself will sign it,” Chakib Khelil told Algerian state television.
The project, with capital costs estimated at $10 billion for the pipeline and $3 billion for gathering centres, would send up to 30 billion cubic metres a year of gas to Europe via a 4,128 km (2,580 mile) pipeline from Nigeria via Niger and Algeria.
“We would not have any problem to finance the project,” he added. Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, France‘s Total and Anglo-Dutch energy giant Royal Dutch Shell are among the international firms to have expressed interest in taking part in the project.
Despite the advantage of this project, the news agency reported that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which has shut down more than a fifth of Nigeria’s oil output since launching attacks on the industry three years ago, had warned that the planned project would be a target.
Nigeria has estimated natural gas reserves of 180 trillion cubic feet, the seventh largest in the world. Its liquefied natural gas company, Nigeria LNG, says it already provides 10 per cent of world supply, much of it to Europe and North America.
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