PDP governors angry with Jonathan
Even
with the successful hosting of the national convention of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja on Saturday, some Northern governors and their
southern counterparts are angry with President Goodluck Jonathan.
National
Mirror reliably learnt that the governors grouse were on three planks: that
President Jonathan forced them even with threat to support his choices for
party offices; that indication has emerged about the President throwing up his
hat into the 2015 presidential race; and the adoption of the amendment to the
PDP constitution.
One
of the governors, who preferred anonymity in an interview with National Mirror
in Abuja yesterday, said that the President railroaded them into supporting his
candidates for sensitive positions in the National Working Committee, NWC.
Former
governor of defunct Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who is Jonathan's
choice, emerged as the national chairman at the convention held at Eagle
Square.
It
was learnt that all the 11 national chairmanship aspirants who stepped down for
Tukur at the convention ground did so out of pressure and fear of being
sanctioned by the party and Presidency.
Some
of the aspirants attested to this fact on the convention ground when they
admitted that they were pressurised to quit the race. Also many of the northern
governors were compelled to back down on pushing forward their choice
candidates for the office.
For
instance, Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda was summoned to the Presidential
Villa on Friday and was told to back down on his choice of Dr. Musa Babayo, the
former Acting National Secretary.
A
source told National Mirror that: The President summoned Yuguda and the
Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi), to the
Villa where the governor was told to withdraw support for Babayo's candidature.
The
President reportedly told the governor that he would not tolerate indiscipline
over his refusal.
After
the discussion, Yuguda agreed to soft-pedal on his stand and assured the
President that he would do according to his wish.
''Yuguda
did not leave the Villa until midnight when he took Babayo along with Ningi to
Tukur's house to pledge support''.
A
governor, who was enraged by the development, accused the President of
arm-twisting governors in buying into Tukur's choice.
The
governor said: I can tell you confidently that a couple of my
colleague-governors from the North are not happy with the president over events
leading to the conduct of the PDP national convention and its outcome. A
situation where the president forced down on our throat the choice of Bamanga
Tukur as the National Chairman is unacceptable.
''Although
what we see publicly was democracy in action, but what actually happened was
undemocratic in that the governors were coerced into supporting Jonathan's
choice''.
Some
northern governors had insisted even on the eve of the convention to stand by
Babayo who was elected at the North-East zonal congress held in Bauchi last
Wednesday.
It
was learnt that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar mobilised the governors
against Tukur's choice. When it dawned on Abubakar that President
Jonathan had railroaded the governors into Tukur's project, the former vice-
president stayed off the convention, the source said.
An
influential member of the party in the North-West, who did not want his name
mentioned, said that the exchange of words between Vice-President Namadi Sambo
and Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso at the zonal congress of the party in
Kaduna on Wednesday was an expression of frustration of the governors.
At
the zonal congress, Sambo had insisted on having Mustapha Abubakar from Kaduna
as the National Organising Secretary of the party against Kano State occupying
the position.
Irked
by the vice-president's insistence, Kwankwaso, in the presence of other
governors, told Sambo: Some of us have been in politics before you
(Sambo) and you should not forget that anybody can be picked as vice-president,
so you should treat us with respect.
An
impeccable source also told National Mirror that a majority of the 23 PDP
governors felt betrayed by the adoption of the constitution amendment of the
party, which they had vehemently opposed.
The
new amendment of the PDP constitution has whittled down the influence of the
state governors who hitherto wielded enormous power in decision-making process
with more than 77 members of the National Assembly as part of the National
Executive Council, NEC.
The
governors had strongly opposed the constitution amendment but the Presidency
still went ahead with the process.
The
ballot cast for the ratification of the constitution amendment showed the
hostility towards the process. The adoption was put into voting after 3,248
ballots were issued.
At
the end, 1,179 votes were returned in favour of the amendment; 26 ballots were
cast against amendment while 2,093 ballots were not cast.
A
source told National Mirror that the northern governors were also worried about
the b ody language of President Jonathan towards the 2015 presidency.
But
in an interview with National Mirror, the newly elected PDP National Publicity
Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said there was no basis for disagreement between
the President and governors over the election of NWC members.
''It
is totally wrong and unsubstantiated to imply that aspirants to NWC offices
were coerced to drop their ambitions'', he said.
Metuh
said that all parties, especially the aspirants, willingly agreed on the
consensus arrangement for some positions and that all officers were supported
by the zonal leaders for ratification.
On
the issue of National Chairman, the PDP spokesman said all the governors met
with the leadership of the party and discussed the possibility of backing a
candidate. At the end of discussion, the governors collectively decided
to back Tukur based on his tremendous experience on probity and accountability.
He was highly rated.
So,
there is no conflict between the governors and the president. We have put the
convention behind us and we are looking forward to the rebuilding of a great
party, Metuh told National Mirror last night.
Although
the President has denied having interest in the 2015 presidency, his kinsmen
has, however, started the process.
At
the weekend, the exmilitant commanders in the Niger Delta continued their
subtle campaigns for a second term ticket for the President.
A
notable former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a.k. a. Tompolo,
said his Ijaw kinsman (Jonathan) reserved the right to preside over the affairs
of the country for eight years. Tompolo said President Jonathan should not be
blackmailed to forfeit his constitutional right to seek re-election as Nigerian
leader in the 2015 election.
He
said nobody could stop the President from exercising his right to seek fresh
mandate of Nigerians in 2015.
National
Mirror recalls that Ekpemupolo made his position on the rumoured second
term aspiration of President Jonathan in 2015 public, after one of his kinsmen
and Leader of the defunct Niger Delta Volunteer Force, NDPF, Alhaji Mujarheeden
Asari-Dokubo, fired the first salvo on the future political direction of the
President.
Asari-Dokubo
expressed the same sentiment in favour of his second term.
Ekpemupolo
spoke at the annual Amaseikumor Festival of his Gbaramatu community in Warri
South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The
annual festival, hosted by the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, Ogeh Gbaran 111 and
the exmilitant, w as witnessed by dignitaries from all walks of life, including
the former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe;
Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA,
Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi; Bolowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom and former Chairman of
Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief Wellington
Okirika and Executive Director, Fenog Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mathew Tolangha.
Ekpemupolo
said it was the inalienable right of the Niger Delta to take two shots at the
presidency till 2019.
He
said President Jonathan would follow the example of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, who ruled the country for eight years.
The
ex-militant said: ''We as a people in the Niger Delta have equal rights
like every other zone of the country. Goodluck (President Jonathan) can still
run for a second time and nobody has the right to stop him because former
President Obasanjo did eight years.
''If
not because of the death, the late President Umaru Yar'Adua would have run for
second tenure like every other person. Goodluck has every right and nobody can
stop him''.
Although
President Jonathan has not publicly declared his interest to seek re-election
in the 2015 election, his kinsmen have embarked on campaigns for his second
term ticket.
The
moves, apparently aimed at feeling the pulse of other zones ahead of 2015, were
being spearheaded by the former fighters.
Ekpemupolo
also commented on the position of the northern governors on the revenue
allocation, describing them as ''trouble makers''.
Why
Al-Qaeda targets Nigeria !
MORE facts have emerged on why the Al-Qaeda in
the Sahel region established an operational base in Nigeria, even as an
Al-Qaeda suspect in an Algerian prison has confessed that the sect is planning
attacks in Nigeria and four other nations to commemorate the first year of
Osama bin Laden’s death.
Nigerian Tribune had reported that the terror
group had created a Nigerian base with specific goal of kidnapping Western
expatriates in Nigeria to raise operational fund for Al-Qaeda worldwide, a
report that was followed by the sect’s confirmation of its responsibility for
the kidnapping of a German engineer in Kano city.
Fresh reports from the Sahel region indicated
that the terror group, apart from targeting Nigeria for fund-raising, also
focuses on Nigeria because of the increasing presence of Western secret
services in the country.
Nigeria, in its bid to combat the Boko Haram
insurgency, had entered into operational accord with intelligence services of
major Western powers that had since swarmed the country in close coordination
with their Nigerian counterpart.
The British Intelligence service, M15 is
reported to be very active in Nigeria alongside the Israeli Service, MOSSAD,
while the American Special Forces are also not left out.
Security sources also hinted that the German
secret service is now active in Nigeria in search of its kidnapped citizen,
while the involvement of the Australian intelligence service was a subject of
legislative inquiry in that country. The French secret service is said to have
entered the country long ago due to its deep involvement in the Sahel region.
Findings by Nigerian Tribune revealed that
jihadists in the Sahel had since considered Nigeria as a new front, especially
after video and pictures of alleged atrocities of Nigerian security forces and
their Western allies were circulated across the worldwide jihadist network.
For some weeks now, it was learnt that several
reports of alleged victimisation of innocent civilians in Kano and Maiduguri
had made their ways into the Islamic world with the Nigerian security forces
being portrayed as repressing Muslims.
A particular Arabic website even detailed
complaints of prominent Kano and Maiduguri elders to confirm alleged excesses
of the military to mobilise jihadists for supposed holy war in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, an Algerian terrorists has confessed
to interrogators in Algiers that the sect is planning massive attacks to
commemorate the first year of Bin Laden’s death in Pakistan.
An Algerian Islamic newspaper, Elcharoukh,
quoted the suspect as listing Nigeria, Algeria, Mauritania, Niger and Mali as
countries the Sahel Al-Qaeda is targeting for the attacks.
Algerian security sources said Algiers is
sharing such intelligence with the affected countries.
Meanwhile, members of the dreaded Islamic sect,
Boko Haram, at the weekend, lost their lives during a crossfire between the
Joint Task force on Operation Restore Order and members of the sect in
Maiduguri, Borno State.
In the attack which made hundreds of innocent
citizens to sleep outside their homes, the JTF recovered one AK47 rifle and 200
rounds of special ammunition.
Spokesman for JTF, Lieutenant-Colonel Shamsu
Musa, confirmed to Nigerian Tribune that the crossfire was as a result of the
attack by the sect on JTF troops stationed at Sabon Gari, Maiduguri
metropolitan council.
According to him, the sect members attacked the
troop stationed at Abaganaran and Jajeri wards in Maiduguri between 5.30 p.m.
and 7.15 p.m. on Saturday, adding that during the crossfire, three members of
the sect died as a result of gunshot wounds.
Lieutenant-Colonel Musa said that although no
casualty was recorded on the side of the troop, the JTF recovered 200 rounds of
6.722mm special ammunition.
He said members of the public who were passing
through the area were ordered to lie down to save their lives.
According to him, troops were still in pursuit of the sect members and events would be communicated to the press as they unfolded.
According to him, troops were still in pursuit of the sect members and events would be communicated to the press as they unfolded.
“Meanwhile, situation is under control,” he
added.
Explaining why the military had to restrain
people and ordered them to lie down on the main road from Saturday night till
Sunday morning, Lieutenant-Colonel Musa told the Nigerian Tribune in Maiduguri
that “those ordered to lie down by the roadside should not have bad feelings,
as it is for their own good, for security of their own lives, as the JTF did
not want them to be caught in the cross fire or hit by stray bullets.”
He added that “moreso, they were trapped during
the curfew hours when there is restriction of movement and the troops have every
right to halt them, even as they acted for the good of innocent citizens.”
Nigerian Tribune also learnt that apart from
the men of the JTF who were attacked, the fundamentalist laid a siege on the
Lamisula police station and engaged the police present at the station in gun
battle, which lasted for over an hour.
The sect also attacked the police station with
a rocket launcher and hand-held bomb, which led to destruction of part of the
station.
The sound of bomb blast was heard in all
corners of Maiduguri and people had to rush back home.
Thousands of residents who were held up by the
attack out of their homes were made to sleep on the roads by the men of the
JTF, who still enforced the curfew which is between 7.00 p.m and 6.00 a.m.
Why we’re not backing Okonjo-Iweala, Ocampo – US
The
United States has given reasons why it is not supporting either Nigeria’s
Finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, or former Colombian Finance
minister, Jose Antonio Ocampo, to become the next president of the World Bank.
US
officials have acknowledged that giving up the World Bank presidency will make
it difficult for the White House to obtain funding from Congress for the global
lender, especially with lawmakers worried about mounting budget deficits.
Besides,
the US has also argued that it does not head any other global organisation.
The
Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, believes Jim Yong Kim, the US nominee to
lead the World Bank, will win broad international support despite an
unprecedented challenge by candidates from emerging economies.
Okonjo-Iweala,
Ocampo and Kim had earlier been nominated for the position.
Reuters
reports that Washington’s hold on the World Bank presidency is being contested
for the first time by candidates from emerging economies.
“We
expected that to happen and think it is healthy for the institution as a
whole,” Geithner said. “But I can tell you from my conversations with
developing and developed countries, I am confident he (Kim) will win broad
support.”
Kim,
a Korean-American health expert, is well known among development experts for
his work in fighting HIV/AIDS and bringing health care to the poor. President
Barack Obama nominated him for the World Bank presidency on Friday.
“The
president was looking for a candidate who could command broad support across
the world,” Geithner told Reuters in an interview released on Saturday.
“That’s very important, because we don’t make this decision alone.”
“Dr.
Kim’s mix of skills will be particularly compelling to the bank at this time
and I think the world will be very impressed with him,” he said.
Emerging
economies such as China, India, South Africa, Brazil and Russia have sought to
use their growing economic clout to pry open the selection process for the
heads of the World Bank and its sister organisation, the International Monetary
Fund.
N44m Scam: Committee members disown
Hembe.
Members
of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market and Other
Institutions yesterday disowned their embattled chairman, Hon. Herman Hembe and
vowed to keep a distance from him as the anti-graft Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) continues investigation into bribery allegation
against him by the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh.
The Committee members met in Abuja at the weekend after a report
that Hembe had been invited for questioning at EFCC headquarters, in a bid to
ascertain his role in the N44 million bribery scandal.
It was learnt that most members at the meeting, which lasted
several hours, bluntly rejected the pleadings by representatives of the House
leadership for them to stay by the chairman who is currently in the eye of the
storm.
The main aim of the meeting, it was learnt, was to harmonise
the account of the members as regards what transpired with that of their
chairman, thereby forestalling possible conflicting accounts before the EFCC.
The meeting, said to have been called at the instance of the
House leadership, was meant to see how best the entire committee membership
could prepare a soft-landing for him in the event they were invited by EFCC.
It was confirmed that the meeting ended in a deadlock when
members could not be convinced on why Hembe should enjoy their protection.
About a half of the 30-man standing Committee failed to be
prevailed upon but eventually suggested that a new date be fixed.
They had complained about the timing of the meeting as being
wrong, given that their other colleagues had travelled out of Abuja for
weekend.
A source said most of those in attendance at the meeting
were purely PDP lawmakers who stayed back for Saturday's National Convention of
the party.
Another reason why Hembe may have totally lost the
backing of his colleagues was the claim by them that none of them was aware of
the dealings between him and the DG of SEC as to whether or not the Commission
should sponsor the Public Hearing to the tune of N44 million, until the bubble
bust.
Though tomorrow has been scheduled for reconvening of the
meeting , committee members left the weekend meeting with a strong view that
Hembe should be left to carry his cross.
Another strong argument by Hembe's colleagues was that the
letter he was brandishing last week Tuesday following his resignation from the
Hearing was never circulated among them, even as committee members.
How task team looted pension funds — KPMG
The pension reform task team dipped
hands into the police pension funds, mismanaging hundreds of millions and
illegally moving billions between banks, according to a forensic audit report
prepared by KPMG.
Daily Trust obtained a copy of the
report, which showed that the Pension Reform Task Team, headed by Abdulrasheed
Maina, used names of top government functionaries to siphon about N140 million
under the guise of travel expenses to take biometric data of police pensioners
outside the country.
Names of some top government
officials were used in payment vouchers and then replaced with other names in
the e-payment schedules to loot public funds, the report said.
Maina’s team yesterday denied
operating any bank account illegally, and last week the team told Daily Trust
that documents purportedly proving that Maina engaged in fraud were cloned and
forged.
But original payment schedules and
e-payment vouchers were shown to Daily Trust in Abuja at the weekend by government
officials, indicating irregularities in payments of hundreds of millions
approved by Maina.
The audit report also detailed
sleaze by the pension task team, including use of names of high-profile
officials to withdraw monies that never got to such officials.
Among senior officials named in the
payment schedules but who apparently did not receive any money are former
Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim, EFCC chairman Ibrahim Lamorde, former
Head of Service Professor Oladapo Afolabi, Director General of the Budget
Office Mr. Bright Okogwu and Auditor General of the Federation Mr. Samuel
Ukura.
The report also said there were
multiple payments to police pension office staff in place of earlier listed
senior government officials with same bank account numbers.
A deputy director at the PPO,
Abdullahi Umar, received three estacodes amounting to N6.9 million for the same
trip. Umar received N2 million as estacode for spending a day in New York to
monitor the biometric data verification exercise, and also collected N2.3
million in place of Federal permanent secretary Goni Aji and another N2.3
million in the place of Hafiz Ringim.
The assistant director accounts at
the PPO, John Yusuf, approved two estacodes for himself amounting to N4.7
million. The first payment was N2.1 million for a New York trip while the
second payment of N2.6 million was made to Yusuf in place of Mohammed Dauda who
was listed in the voucher but not in the e-payment schedule.
A level six officer at the PPO,
Christian Madubuike, received a total sum of N5.4 million in his account in
three instalments for a single trip.
The KPMG report said when asked,
Madubuike said he was not aware of the payments, saying “he was informed about
it by his boss, Yusuf, who directed him to withdraw the funds and deliver them
to him. He further stated that he withdrew the funds on 20 July, 2011 and
handed them over to Yusuf on the same day.”
A staff of the federal budget
office, Chukwuma Osuagwu, received three estacodes totalling N9.7 million. The
payment of N4.8 million was for monitoring of the data capture exercise in New
York and was made in the name of the DG budget, Bright Okogwu.
The second payment of N2.8 million
was made into Osuagwu’s account approved by Maina as allowances in place of
R.N. Odega who was listed on the voucher but replaced with Osuagwu on the
e-payment schedule.
Oludare Adedokun was chief security
officer to Professor Afolabi. The PPO authorised payment of N6.3 million into
his account for monitoring of the data capture exercise in Atlanta.
Also, KPMG said it was found that
the payment of N4.8 million was approved as estacode for Afolabi whose name was
reflected on the voucher but not on the e-payment list, while the balance of
N1.4 million was paid to Adedokun for travelling to Atlanta.
One Adamu Sale was paid N3 million
as estacode for the biometric capture exercise in South Africa even when his
name was not on the voucher list. He collected the money in place of a certain
officer listed as D. General.
“At least N140,238,081 was approved
by Maina on 9 August 2011 to be paid to 70 recipients for the purpose of
monitoring the data capturing exercise in Accra, Atlanta, Johannesburg, London
and New York,” the report said.
It added that it was not established
whether or not the officials actually attended the biometric data capture
exercises which held in five select cities outside the country. One of the
officials, Abdullahi Umar, was in Atlanta for just a day before travelling to
Saudi Arabia and was paid N6.9 million, it added.
The KPMG report said most of the
travel payments were made to the beneficiaries about three weeks before the
approvals were made.
“With the exception of one, each
tranche of payment was already debited to PPO account with Unity Bank on 14 or
15 July 2010 prior to the date of the approval of the payment by the chairman
of the task team on August 9 2011,” it added.
Investigation by the Senate since
the beginning of the month has opened can of worms in pension scheme administration
in the country, revealing how officials massively looted public funds.
At one of the committee’s sessions,
Mr Toyin Ishola, an Assistant Chief Accountant in the police pension office,
accused Maina of mismanaging N140 million of pension funds.
The KPMG report revealed that Maina
unilaterally approved movements of N24 billion released by the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) in July 2010 for settlement of police pension arrears.
Maina’s team reacts
The Pension Reform Task Team
yesterday reacted to accusations that it moved funds between banks without
approval, saying it never opened and operated any account without approval of
the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Spokesman for the team, Hassan
Saluhu, told Daily Trust yesterday by telephone: “It is not true that we opened
any account without the approval of the accountant general of the federation.”
He said the pension task team
transferred the sum of N8 billion to Fidelity Bank and the money was still
intact. On the issue of First Bank account, he said, “We transferred the First
Bank account from Lagos to Abuja” because it is not supposed to be in Lagos.
Senate, EFCC investigations continue
The EFCC told Daily Trust last week
that investigations into the pension fraud were on and that some government
officials may soon be charged to court.
Among officials being investigated
are Federal permanent secretary Abubakar Kigo; Esias Dangabar; a former
director of the Police Pension Office (PPO), deputy commissioner of Police
Okafor; Ahmed Wada, a former deputy director of the PPO now a director in the
Federal Ministry of Sports; and Abdullahi Umar, now deputy director in the
Ministry of Works are currently under investigation over the pension fraud.
Others are accountant John Yusuf and
cashier Vicky, both of the pension office.
The eight suspects were recently
arrested and interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in
Abuja, and were granted administrative bails pending prosecution.
The Senate committee is also
expected to continue holding public hearings on the pension funds
administration.
Lagos State To Cough Up N1 Billion To Fund Tinubu's
Birthday !
A.M.NEWS has
learnt that former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos has demanded that the
Lagos State government and various local government councils in the state
contribute huge sums of cash to fund his 69th birthday celebration.
Reliable sources
told A.M.NEWS that Mr. Tinubu, a professed opposition figure and leader
of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), made it compulsory that the chairmen
of all local governments under the party contribute cash to give him a birthday
that one of his critics has described as “obscene and immoral.” In all, the ACN
chieftain has asked the state and local governments to cough up N1 billion.
“The birthday
party is being planned as a month-long affair and will be celebrated in
phases,” said one source.
In addition to the
funds from his state, Mr. Tinubu has also asked that the governors of Oyo,
Ekiti, Edo and Ekiti make significant cash donations to the planned events. Our
sources revealed that tension may be brewing between Mr. Tinubu and Governor
Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State over the latter’s refusal to contribute towards the
lavish birthday party.
Mr. Ajimobi
recently hosted President Goodluck Jonathan's wife, Patience, during her visit
to Oyo State. A source close to the governor told A.M.NEWS that Mrs.
Jonathan told Mr. Ajimobi not to create enmity with PDP elements in his state.
She reportedly described former Governor Tinubu as a closet member of the PDP.
Our source said
Mrs. Jonathan, who was piqued by Tinubu’s recent criticisms of her husband’s
policies, also revealed that Mr. Tinubu has met secretly with her husband on
several occasions. She said that, at one such private meeting last year in
France, President Jonathan and Tinubu struck a deal to quash a case against the
former governor for violations of Code of Conduct provisions.
After portraying
Mr. Tinubu as a selfish politician out for his personal financial interests,
Mrs. Jonathan told Ajimobi to contact her directly if he needed anything from
Mr. Jonathan.
A source in Oyo stated
that Governor Ajimobi’s decision not to bankroll Tinubu’s birthday extravaganza
may signal the governor’s determination to escape from under Mr. Tinubu’s
tyrannical style of leadership within the ACN political orbit and Ajimobi's
move to start a gradual migration back to the PDP. Ajimobi is generally
described as a non-performing governor by Oyo indigenes.
Although Mr.
Tinubu claims to be 60 years old, a source told us that he is at least 67 years
old.
Senate Summons FRSC, FIRS over New Number Plates
The Senate has invited the Minister of Transport,
Senator Idris Umar, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs.
Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru; and the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, to a public hearing on how to resolve the
controversy surrounding the new driver's licence and number plates
scheme.
Other stakeholders invited to the public hearing are the
National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Luxurious Bus Owners
Associa-tion of Nigeria (LUBAN), Road Transport Employers Association of
Nigeria (RTEAN), Amalga-mated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders
Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Directors of Vehicle Inspection Offices
(VIO) in the 36 States and the FCT, security agencies, and civil society
groups. The public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Federal
Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs is scheduled to hold tomorrow.
Announcing this in Abuja, at the weekend, Chairman of the
Committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, dismissed insinuations that the proposed
public hearing is a witch-hunt.
Kuta said: “The public hearing on the new scheme is to get first-hand information from the public and stakeholders in the sector after which the National Assembly will now chart a way forward. Whoever is talking about a witch-hunt on this matter is, to me, simply uninformed.”
Kuta said: “The public hearing on the new scheme is to get first-hand information from the public and stakeholders in the sector after which the National Assembly will now chart a way forward. Whoever is talking about a witch-hunt on this matter is, to me, simply uninformed.”
Kuta further explained that the extant FRSC “empowers the
FRSC to primarily, prevent and minimise accidents on the highways and clear
obstructions on any part of the highways and educate drivers, motorists and
other members of the public generally on the proper use of highways.”
He said: “The Commission was not established principally as a revenue-generating agency for the states and Federal Government. In recent times, the FRSC embarked on frequent and arbitrary introduction and re-introduction of vehicles number plates and drivers’ licences and the Commission will ultimately be generating a whooping N2 billion annually as its own share of the new scheme.”
He said: “The Commission was not established principally as a revenue-generating agency for the states and Federal Government. In recent times, the FRSC embarked on frequent and arbitrary introduction and re-introduction of vehicles number plates and drivers’ licences and the Commission will ultimately be generating a whooping N2 billion annually as its own share of the new scheme.”
The Senate and the House of Representatives had earlier
directed the FRSC to stop the scheme until a resolution is reached on the
matter.
Last month, the Senate directed the Kuta-led committee to
interface with the public on the new vehicle number plate and drivers' licence
scheme over complaints that the FRSC stepped outside its mandate of protecting
lives on Nigerian roads and is being motivated primarily by profit.
Kuta had earlier sponsored a motion together with his
deputy, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senators Heineken Lokpobiri, Isa Galaudu
Mohammed, Gbenga Ashafa, where he noted that FRSC stands to gain at least N2
billion alone as its own share in the issuance of the new number plates and
drivers’ licence, much to the distress and detriment of the “poor masses of the
country.”
Jubilation in Senegal as Wade admits poll defeat
Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade has
admitted election defeat as results gave an overwhelming lead to his rival
Macky Sall, state media reported Sunday.
The Senegalese Press Agency said Wade, 86,
“phoned his rival Macky Sall at 2130 GMT to congratulate him after the first
results showed him to be the winner of a presidential run-off” vote.
Earlier today, Sall’s supporters sensing
the overwhelming victory of their candidate took to the streets in celebration.
According to the AFP,
shortly ahead of the unexpected announcement, thousands of people gathered outside Sall’s party headquarters and spilled into the streets chanting, dancing and hooting their horns
shortly ahead of the unexpected announcement, thousands of people gathered outside Sall’s party headquarters and spilled into the streets chanting, dancing and hooting their horns
As votes were tallied, state media
released a stream of results which showed former prime minister Sall far ahead
of his 85-year-old rival, whose controversial bid for a third term had led to
deadly riots.
Wade was roundly beaten in his home
polling station in the suburb of Point-E.
In downtown Dakar, scores of youths on
motorbikes yelled and hooted, performing daredevil stunts on Independence
Square and outside the presidential palace.
Having failed to deliver a crushing
first-round victory a month ago, Wade has been put in a tight spot as his
former protege gathered the full weight of the opposition behind his
presidential bid.
The election commission on Saturday urged
the candidates not to declare victory prematurely.
Voting was peaceful on Sunday in the west
African nation whose reputation as a stable democracy has been put on the line
over Wade’s re-election bid.
“I want to vote in peace, and I want Macky
Sall to win this election because times are hard in Senegal,” said Ndeye Fall,
a teacher voting in a working-class Dakar suburb.
As a coup played out in neighbouring Mali,
European Union election observers urged Senegal to prove its credentials as a
strong democracy in a troubled region.
“I hope as a democrat that Senegal will
show a strong example in this African region which is so tormented,” said EU
mission chief Thijs Berman.
Former colonial master France urged the
Senegalese to accept the election results. “I have confidence in the wisdom of
the Senegalese,” said Cooperation Minister Henri de Raincourt.
Senegal has been hailed as one of the
region’s success stories, being the sole among its mainland neighbours never to
have undergone a military coup.
The election commission said there were
several clashes between rival supporters during the poll campaign, but it was
calm compared with the run-up to the first-round vote in February, when
near-daily riots left six dead.
Sall, 50, accompanied by his wife, cast
his vote in his hometown Fatick in central Senegal, praising the turnout as
long lines formed at polling stations around the country.
“This shows our country is a major democracy
and that Senegalese know how to make their choice responsibly,” he said.
Both candidates have declared they cannot
lose, raising fears that the poll’s outcome will inevitably be challenged.
A defiant Wade voted in the afternoon,
saying he was ready to “normalise” his relations with France and the United
States who have criticised his third term bid and urged him to retire.
The octogenarian, Africa’s oldest leader
after Robert Mugabe, 88, said the two countries had been “intoxicated as
Senegalese said if I was a candidate, Senegal would go up in flames. For me
these incidents are in the past.”
He said while Sall had the support of
failed presidential candidates, this did not mean he had their supporters’
vote.
“Most of their supporters and leaders are
in agreement to join a government which I will form,” he said.
Despite having served two terms, a limit
he himself introduced, Wade says later changes to the constitution allow him to
serve two more mandates as the law is not retroactive. This argument was upheld
by the country’s constitutional council.
Wade’s inability to clinch an outright
victory in the first round was a humiliating blow to a leader who was hugely
popular when first elected in 2000 after 25 years as opposition leader.
In 2007, he won in the first round with 55
percent of the vote, but his popularity has plunged in recent years amid rising
food prices, power cuts and the widespread perception that he is trying to line
up his son Karim to succeed him.
Power outages that crippled economic activity
last year were repaired in time for the election campaign.
While Wade has been praised for an
aggressive infrastructure drive, critics say he has focused on fanciful legacy
projects to the detriment of good governance initiatives.
Police chief Haruna’s mum dies of shock !
Barely 10 days after the death of Mr. Haruna John, a Deputy
Inspector General (DIG) in a helicopter crash in Jos, Plateau State, his
mother, Mrs. Sinlani John has also passed on.
Mrs. John, aged 82 years, died on Saturday afternoon in her family compound in Jalingo, Taraba State apparently due to her inability to overcome the shock of the death of the late DIG who was her first son and a pillar of support for her.
Brothers of the deceased John, Ambassador Musa John and
Yusuf John who confirmed the death of their mother to THISDAY in Jalingo,
said she passed on at about 2.pm on Saturday but her death was still being kept
under wraps to prevent sympathisers from trooping to the house on a condolence
visit.
This, according to Yusuf is to shield their father, Pa John
Baraya, 87, from having knowledge of their mother’s death as it was reasoned
that he might also be seriously affected by the shock of losing a son and wife
within a space of 10 days. Narrating her ordeal to THISDAY on the death of her
son, Mrs. John popularly called ‘Yadiko’ was philosophical as she prayed that
God would give her late son eternal rest since it pleased God to take him away
at that critical period.
She however told THISDAY she had been unable to eat any
food since the news was broken to her but had been surviving on beverages which
she was forced to take by her children and other relatives around her.
Madam John, who spoke through her son Yusuf John, stated “I
don’t know why God decided to take him away from us at this time.
He is the creator of heaven and earth and everybody therein all I can do is to pray God to grant him eternal rest till we meet again.”
He is the creator of heaven and earth and everybody therein all I can do is to pray God to grant him eternal rest till we meet again.”
Also speaking in the same vein, Pa John Baraya told THISDAY
that he was shattered by the news of the death of his son which he learnt of
through the Hausa Service of Radio Germany saying he has been experiencing
serious pains all over his body which he feared could result in a stroke.
When THISDAY visited Musa’s residence in Jalingo, he
confirmed the death of their mother but declined to comment on her saying but
rather asked the reporter to come back today when he would be ready to speak to
the press on the development.
Described as a fine and highly professional Policeman and
incorruptible Police Officer who dedicated his entire career to the service of
his fatherland, late DIG Haruna John would be buried at his family compound in
Jalingo on Saturday March 31.
Chaos at Airports as FAAN Resorts to Manual Check-in
Passengers travelling to international destinations from
Lagos airport were yesterday delayed for hours because of the difficulty in
checking them in manually.
The Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) was shut down and
individual airlines had to resort to the gruesome process of visual
identification of the passengers before issuing them boarding passes.
That was the aftermath of the forceful termination of the
services of Maevis Limited, which provides Airport Operations Management System
(AOMS), which includes CUTE, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,
Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, respectively by the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Since 2007 when Maevis signed concession agreement with the
agency, it had been widely acknowledged that the firm was providing easy
passenger facilitation that provided timeliness, easy profiling of passengers
and comprehensive security checks.
The concession agreement was for 10 years, renewable for
another five years, but in the midnight of last Friday, a team of FAAN
officials with its security operatives allegedly forced Maevis officials out of
their offices and terminated its services.
When THISDAY visited the international terminal of the
airport yesterday, it observed that all the flight display monitors and the
data systems were off and in their stead the airlines pasted handwritten
posters that were almost invisible in the semi-lit check-in counters.
A senior passenger handling officer for one of Europe’s
major carriers told THISDAY that the manual check-in system was causing a lot
of delays, adding that the flight that was supposed to leave at about 10:00 pm
ast Friday left at about 2:00 am on Saturday.
“Today, the same thing is going to happen because there are
even more passengers than yesterday. Today is March 25, the summer season has
started today and the number of passengers will multiply. Why did FAAN have to
wait till this summer season to do it? If you look, rehabilitation work is
going on at the airport and this is discomforting both passengers and the
airline workers and in addition to this, we are doing manual check-in,” he
said.
Asked how the handling officers identify the passengers
that met the criteria to travel, the source said: “When we get the passenger
ticket, we take it in to cross check it with our system before we issue
boarding pass. It is slow and cumbersome. It will be extremely difficult to
cope with summer passengers.”
Meanwhile, at a press conference yesterday in Lagos, Maevis
Executive Director, Marketing and Finance, Mrs. Tokumbo Fagbemi, narrated how
the Maevis officials were moved from their offices.
Fegbemi said: “FAAN’s conduct is not only shameful and
despicable; it is in complete disregard for the rule of law. Justice
B.F.M. Nyako of the Federal High Court in suit no. FHC/CS/1155/2010 had
ordered FAAN to desist from interfering with the implementation of the
agreement until the dispute is resolved by arbitration.”
She said that FAAN was not interested in resolving any perceived differences by civil means.
“It is bent on its chosen path and course of intimidation, perhaps to advance certain vested interests,” she said.
She said that FAAN was not interested in resolving any perceived differences by civil means.
“It is bent on its chosen path and course of intimidation, perhaps to advance certain vested interests,” she said.
She alleged that FAAN was economical with the truth saying,
“referring to a purported termination letter of March 2011, which the court on
May 19th 2011 correctly derided as being inimical to its standing order in the
ruling of 17th December 2010".
Fagbemi called on President Goodluck Jonathan, the
regulatory and security agencies and all well-meaning Nigerians to help protect
“our investment and stop these acts of impunity” and also to call FAAN to order
to make sure it respected court rulings.
In another development, in a statement signed by the
General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mr. Akin Olukunle, FAAN said that it
took a major step on Saturday to improve its services and revenue profile in
line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government as it enforced
the termination of its concession agreement with Maevis Limited.
The agency explained that it entered a concession agreement
with Maevis on October 31, 2007 but “in compliance with a directive from
the Federal Ministry of Aviation to FAAN, stemming from a decision of the three
Honourable Ministers of Aviation, Labour and Justice, a notice of termination
was duly issued to Maevis on 24 February 2011 with a two-month notice period
with regards to the Concession Agreement. Thus the Concession effectively
terminated on expiration of this notice on the 23rd of May, 2011”.
“It is also necessary to recall that a year earlier,
specifically in May 2010, the Senate Committee on Aviation had invited both
parties to a public hearing. After listening to both sides and reviewing the
terms of the agreement and implementation thereof, resolved that FAAN should
dispense with the services of Maevis Ltd since it was not adding value to
FAAN’s revenue profile,” he added.
SSS steps up search for abducted German
SECURITY
agents are battling to locate the whereabouts of a German, Edgar Fritz Raupach,
who is believed to have been taken hostage by Boko Haram, the dreaded Islamic
sect in whose custody two foreigners died three weeks ago.
Briton
Christopher McManus and Italian Franco Lamolinara were killed by the Abu
Mohammed faction of Boko Haram, which is believed to have links with al-Qaeda,
the international terrorist group.
Raupach
has been held hostage since January by the Abu Mohammed faction of Boko Haram,
The Nation learnt.
The
hostage takers appear to have the backing of Al-Qaeda, following the alleged
arrest and detention of a Muslim woman, Oum Seif Allah Al Ansari, in Germany.
It
was learnt that the al-Qaeda – backed Boko Haram faction is demanding immediate
release of Oum Seif Allah Al Ansarim, who is being held in a prison, as a
precondition for freeing the German hostage.
A
source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter,
said: “The agencies are investigating the claim of al-Qaeda links with the
kidnapped German in Kano and the swap demand for a detained woman, who is a
Muslim, in Germany.
“Security
agencies are working round the clock to free this German who was kidnapped in
Kano.
“This
is another challenge but with effective collaboration, we should be able to
locate the whereabouts of the hostage.”
Another
source said: “We are working on a tip-off that al-Qaeda had worked in
collaboration with Abu Mohammed faction of Boko Haram to kidnap the German in
Kano. Some clues are suggesting that the German might either be in Kano or
somewhere in North Africa.
“But
security agencies are not relenting in locating the German hostage either in
Kano or elsewhere.”
It
was also gathered at the weekend that a faction of Boko Haram provided
intelligence for the arrest of the late Mohammed and others on March 7 in
Zaria. The arrest provoked the killing of the two hostages in Mabera Estate,
Sokoto.
According
to sources, security agencies have established that Boko Haram was able to hold
on to the murdered hostages for 10 months because of alleged sophisticated equipment
and external backing from al-Qaeda and others.
A
security source said: “The Abu Mohammed men appear well-trained, organised,
with weapons and armoury that security agents are still unravelling their
linkages.
“This
sophistication of the faction, apparently aided externally, readily showed in
their ability to keep the two hostages away from the extensive security hunt
for 10 months. This gives a lie to the belief that the security agencies have
acquired equipment that could track terrorists anywhere in Nigeria.
“Security
experts say no Third World country, considering their lean income, can afford
such equipment.”
Another
source said: “A faction of the Boko Haram might have directly or indirectly
given the intelligence that led to the arrests of the late Abu Mohammed and his
men in Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto Kebbi and their routing during a Shura
Council (highest decision making body) meeting in Layin Hanwa in Zaria and the
subsequent rescue mission in Mabera Estate in Sokoto.
“Do
not forget that Abu Mohammed broke away and ran a faction of the Boko Haram,
until he was arrested March 7, after a gun battle with security agents. He died
March 9 from gunshot wounds.
“This
is to show you that there is deep division within Boko Haram. As a matter of fact,
the death of Mohammed and the arrest of some of his men is said to have
elicited jubilation in the camp the other faction that variously described the
Mohammed faction and men as traitors and betrayers.”
The
State Security Service (SSS) paraded eight sect members arrested in connection
with the kidnapping and killing of the Briton and the Italian.
Three
of those arrested -Bashir Ibrahim (aka Adda’u); Ibrahim A. Habibu; and Gambo
Maiborodi – allegedly carried out surveillance on the hostages in Kebbi State
before they were abducted on May 12, last year.
Others
paraded are: Mohammed Rabiu Adam (aka Dan Hajiya); Abubakar Abdulrahman Habibu;
Shittu Salihu; Abubakar Umar and Ahmed Samaila.
The
suspects are yet to be charged to court. The search for the German may have
delayed the arraignment of the suspects in court.
Ghanaian kills ‘soul mate’ during fight over phone
Gabriel
Enning and Eric were best friends; they have been living and working together
since 2011 when they arrived Nigeria as illegal immigrants from Ghana.
PUNCH
Metro gathered that it was hard to find one without the other nearby. Their
closeness attracted the attention of their neighbours and co-workers who
eventually began to refer to them as soul mates.
The
unexpected, however, happened on March 12, 2012, when a fight broke out between
the two over a missing mobile phone and 22-year-old Eric lost his life in the
process.
Enning,
who is presently in police custody, told PUNCH Metro that he still found
it difficult coming to terms with the tragic incident.
Narrating
what transpired on that fateful day, the 23-year-old
Ghanaian
national said, “Eric and I have been living in Nigeria for about six months
now. We both hail from Oda, Ghana, but we came to Nigeria to seek greener
pastures.
“We
work at Mannies, a company which manufactures ice cream and yoghurt. The
company also provides accommodation for us so we both lived and worked together
at Isheri-Berger, Lagos.
“On
that fateful day, early in the morning, while we were preparing for work, Eric
complained that he could not find his mobile phone and went berserk. He went to
complain to our boss but our boss told him to wait till we all returned from
work to settle the matter.”
Enning
said after returning from work at 4pm that day, Eric accused him of stealing the
mobile phone which led to an altercation.
He
said, “I told Eric to wait till our boss and our colleagues returned from work
but he refused. Eric went ahead to lock the door of the room and held my
trousers, shouting that I should produce his phone.
“Eric
picked up a hand trowel and put it against my neck, threatening to injure me if
I did not give him back his phone. I didn’t know why he was so sure that I was
the one that stole his phone.
“He
then attempted to dispossess me of my money which was in my pocket but I
resisted him. A struggle ensued and he suddenly picked up a glass bottle and
hit me in the mouth, causing me to lose a tooth.”
PUNCH
Metro learnt that Enning became infuriated after losing his tooth and the
friends started fighting.
Enning
told our correspondent that after fighting for a while, he forced the door
open, went outside and picked up a piece of metal which he used to hit his
friend.
“I
hit Eric’s hand with the metal but he was tried to collect it from me but the
metal fell to the floor. I picked it up again but this time I used the metal to
hit him in the back of the head. He suddenly fell to the floor and started
bleeding profusely,” he said.
With
the help of some bystanders, Enning said he quickly rushed Eric to a hospital
where he gave up the ghost.
He
said, “When Eric and I were fighting outside, some people were outside watching
us but they did not understand what was going on because we were speaking our
native Ghanaian language.
“When
he collapsed, they helped me to put him into a vehicle which we used in
transporting him to a hospital where he died.
“I
never knew life was so fragile, I never intended to kill him, we were like
brothers,” Enning said with an emotion-laden voice.
Enning
was immediately arrested by policemen attached to the Isheri Division, from
where he was transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
The
spokesperson for the state police command, Mr. Joseph Jaiyeoba, who confirmed
the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, said the police would be
diligent in its investigation.
Jaiyeoba
warned members of the public to settle disputes amicably rather than resorting
to violence.
He
said, “People should always keep calm and settle disputes amicably because a
single moment of anger could push one to commit heinous crimes which could land
one behind bars.”
How we steal vehicles from car wash stands – Suspected car thieves
WHEN Ikechukwu Frances, a 25-year-old resident of Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos State, discovered that his Mercedes Benz GL 450 SUV, was stolen from the car wash where it was parked, he did not believe that he could recover it. In fact, he compared his fate to those whose vehicles were stolen and were never recovered.
But his friends who were with him when he
got the news were optimistic that the vehicle could be recovered. He said:
“When news of my missing vehicle got to me, I felt I had fallen victim like any
other person whose vehicle had been stolen.
What actually struck me immediately was
that it might have been smuggled out of the country through any of our porous
borders. But my friends were optimistic that my vehicle was still within the
country and the police can help us track it down.”
Following his friend’s position, a report
was incidented at Ajao Estate police station and the police quickly carried out
a raid at the popular car wash where the vehicle was stolen and an attendant in
the company, identified as Samuel Onyekachi, was arrested.
The suspect was later transferred to the
Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, for proper investigation. Crime Alert
gathered that operatives at SARS discovered during interrogation that the
suspect and many others conspired to steal the car.
At that point, the operatives were
reportedly saddled with the duty of tracking the vehicle and apprehending the
suspects. The source who craved anonymity said a total of 11 suspects were
eventually arrested after which the car was recovered.
He said: “When we interrogated Samuel, we
discovered that one of his colleagues at the car wash stand identified as
Prince Godspower, drove the missing car away. We also discovered that they were
not alone in the game. While we trailed the fleeing suspects, Samuel led us to
one Habbi whom we arrested.
But Habbi could not give us the exact
location of Prince and the vehicle but he led us to one Uche and Abdul. We
discovered that Abdul actually led Prince with the car to a buyer at Liverpool
area of Apapa, Lagos. We stormed Liverpool and arrested one Yakubu and he
assisted us in tracking Prince and the car. He led us to arrest one Muhammad,
who eventually called Prince on the phone and we called to meet him at
Liverpool where he was eventually arrested.
“After his arrest, he led us to a
warehouse at Kirikiri Town where the stolen SUV car was parked and we arrested
three other persons, one of them was Ismail Jubril who was a receiver of stolen
vehicles. In fact, he had concluded plans to smuggle the vehicle out of the
country before we arrived.”
When Crime Alert spoke with the suspects
at the SARS headquarters, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, they regretted
their involvement in crime and blamed the devil for everything. They said that
their intention was to sell the car and use the money to travel abroad.
Prince said: “I was really tired of the
poor life I was living and was seriously trying to look for a way out. I have
never had a good job that could earn me a good life and I was seriously looking
for a way out. When Samuel and I started working at the car wash, Abdul
and Habbi came to us and said they have ready buyers for any vehicle we could
steal.
We asked them how we could possibly do
that and they said all that was needed was for us to just drive away with any
vehicle and contact them to get us across to the buyers. We talked about it for
some time and decided it was too dangerous. We decided not to do it but rather,
continue with our lives the way it is.
They sounded so convincing that their
buyers were ready with money and they will pay us the instant we give them a
vehicle. So, when they brought the Mercedes Benz GL 450 SUV to our car wash
stand, I decided to steal it. I drove it away the moment the mechanic who
brought it left our stand. And I contacted Abdul and Habbi. Abdul came to me
and we both drove the vehicle to Apapa where he handed it over to one Mohammed.
Muhammad gave me N15000 and lodged
me in a hotel. But I discovered that Abdul’s ready buyers were not who he said
they were. I thought they had enough money to give to me, but I discovered they
didn’t. While I was there, I got a call from Muhammad and I thought the
buyer had paid for the vehicle. I didn’t know I was walking into the waiting
hands of the police.
BUSINESS
& ECONOMY
BA, Virgin, others in fresh trouble with FG
The Federal Government yesterday gave all
foreign airlines operating in the country a 30-day ultimatum within which
to dismantle the fare regime that sees Nigerian passengers paying higher fares
than other passengers in West Africa.
Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah,
who issued the ultimatum in Abuja last night, said the 30-day ultimatum
would start today.
This came on a day the Ministry of
Aviation also sought the cooperation of the National Assembly towards the
enactment of a Passengers’ Bill of Rights.
It could be recalled that in the wake of
the impasse between British Airways and Arik Air regarding the denial of
landing slots of the latter at London Heathrow airport, the ministry had,
in addition facilitating the landing rights of Arik Air in Heathrow, waded
into the huge fare disparity in the sub-region and demanded fare parity from
British Airways, BA, Virgin Atlantic Airways, VA, and other international
airlines operating in the country.
BA and VA had particularly asked for more
time to conduct its own study on the alleged fare disparity,
promising to report back to the Ministry last December.
But worried by the obvious delay tactics
on the part of the two British carriers, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella
Adaeze Oduah, weekend said any international airline operating in Nigeria which
failed to dismantle the fare imbalance and other sharp practices within the
next 30 days would be banned from operating in Nigeria.
She said: “We are seriously
concerned and worried by the reluctance to restore parity within the
region by the foreign airlines.
They have been using all kinds of delay
tactics; this is unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated. Nigerian
passengers do not deserve this kind of exploitation and we are willing and
ready to stand up to their rights.”
Oduah said Nigeria remained an important and lucrative route for the international airlines, warning that anyone not ready to treat Nigerians with equity and dignity would be barred from operating in the country.
Oduah said Nigeria remained an important and lucrative route for the international airlines, warning that anyone not ready to treat Nigerians with equity and dignity would be barred from operating in the country.
”In the interim, we encourage Nigerian
travellers to avail themselves of other competitive alternatives
while we try try to address and resolve this issue once and for
all,” she said.
A source had told Vanguard that
government’s action was informed by the delayed tactics deployed by the British
government on the need to resolve the issue of unequal fare regime of British
carriers in their Nigerian operations, compared to what holds in other
countries on the West Coast.
Government had always banked on the fact
that once the two British carriers were made to toe the line, other
international airlines would follow their footstep on the issue, especially
considering the historical links between Nigeria and Britain.
Vanguard gathered at the weekend that the
latest withdrawal of slots from Arik Air on its Abuja-London Heathrow
operations, which led to the airline’s suspension of flight on the route
yesterday, further infuriated the government.
The British government had in the last
quarter of 2011 asked the federal government to give it till December 31, 2011,
to conduct a study on the fare regime of both British carriers on Lagos-London
and Abuja-London routes, in relation to that of other countries in the
sub-region, but failed to meet up with that deadline and called for an
extension of time which, according to sources, was to enable it buy time while
the two carriers continued operations unhindered.
The British government had begged for a
negotiation in the heat of the row caused by the shabby treatment of Arik Air
at Heathrow, when government threatened to shut down British Airways operations
on Lagos-London route.
A source told Vanguard weekend that
government was no longer disposed to the delayed tactics being employed by the
British government, especially in the light of the resurgence of Arik Air’s
problem at Heathrow earlier in the month.
Announcing a re-suspension of its
Abuja-London flight penultimate week, Arik Air had said: “From the
inception of the route in November 2009, Arik Air has been in a slot-lease
agreement with a UK carrier, leasing arrival/ departure slots on the Abuja/ London
route at Heathrow.
“At the end of the summer schedule
(October 2011), the UK carrier that Arik Air was in the slot-lease agreement
with for this route advised the airline of its intention to sell the company
and began to wind down its contractual arrangements with Arik Air. Without
these commercially arranged slots, Arik Air was forced to suspend operations at
the start of the winter schedule (2011).
“Immediate discussions were held by the
respective governments to resolve the long-existing and underlying anomaly in
the BASA. As an abridgement, the UK authorities facilitated the
temporary continuation of the commercial lease of these slots in support of
Arik Air’s Abuja/ London, Heathrow operation.
“This interim solution was only available
up until 25th March (2012). Unfortunately,despite the best efforts of
both governments, there has been no solution found. The situation remains as it
was at the end of October 2011 with Arik Air having no landing/arrival slots
after March 2012 thus forcing it to suspend the route.
Although Aviation Minister, Princess
Stella Oduah, could not be reached weekend to know what action government was
taking in the next two weeks, sources at the Ministry said the operations of
both British carriers might be shut in Lagos in the interim, in view of Arik
Air’s problems at Heathrow, and shut completely should the British government
fail to respond to Nigeria’s quest for a dismantling of the current fare regime
which is unfavourable to Nigerians.
The Aviation Minister’s aide, Mr. Joe Obi,
had told Vanguard three weeks ago that though the British negotiating team on
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways fare structures appealed for
extension of time, on the expiration of the December 31, 2011, deadline, which
was acceded to, the Nigerian government would not wait indefinitely because of
the urge with which Nigerians want the issue settled.
He also said the matter bothered on public
interest which government was in a hurry to resolve in the
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Aviation is
putting finishes touches on a proposed Passengers’ Bill of Rights which it
hopes to present before the two chambers of the National Assembly soon.
The ministry, which is very optimistic
that the National Assembly will lend its usual cooperation towards the swift
passage of the bill, believes air passengers will have a fairer deal once the
bill is passed into law.
One of the salient provisions in the
proposed bill stipulates that a passenger has a right ???o
compensation if his or her flight is delayed for more than one hour,
out-rightly cancelled or where a passenger is denied boarding without any
reasonable cause.
FG, GE sign deal on $10bn power projects
The Federal Government and GE Energy, weekend,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, for a $10 billion to be invested in
various power plants with combined capacity of 10,000 Megawatts, MW.
Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji,
insisted that the cost had not been padded or inflated in any way, as globally,
it costs $100 million to generate 1,000MW of electricity.
Some sections of the media had reported
that GE was constructing a 10,000MW plant in Nigeria.
But, at the agreement signing at the
Nigerian High Commission in London, Prof. Nnaji, told journalists that GE only
agreed to take up at least 15 per cent equity in each of the plants to be
constructed.
He noted that GE’s support was the highest
expression of investment support for government’s target to achieve 40,000MW
generation capacity by 2020.
He said: “To have a company willing to
work with us on delivering 10,000MW is a show of confidence in Mr President’s
vision. Even if the equity is one per cent, it is still significant because it
will take us somewhere. And, with 15 per cent, Federal Government will provide
the balance.”
He clarified that government will not be
involved in any of the projects, but will provide guarantees for the private
sector participants.
According to him, “The local content will
be huge because GE and any other foreign investor must have local
partners.”
Previous agreements
He explained that what government and GE
had signed after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, was a
series of general agreements for support in various sectors of the economy
including power, transportation especially rail, and health.
“What we are doing is the culmination of a
series of work done, some behind-the-scenes, and some in the open. With the
meeting between President Jonathan and the Chairman of GE last month in Abuja,
there was a narrowing of areas of focus for the country and GE to collaborate
on specific areas of focus.
“Accordingly, GE developed MoUs specific
to the various sectors, and today, the MoU we are signing relates to power
alone.”
Agreeing that $10 billion was very
ambitious in the face of cash crunch at the international capital market, Nnaji
said with GE’s cash and government’s bank guarantees, the projects will become
more bankable, as investors can approach financial institutions to raise funds.
He noted that the relationship between the
Nigerian government and GE was a long-term one, as the energy company has moved
from just being a supplier of power equipments in Nigeria, to an equity
investor.
POLITICS
PDP: Bitter chairmanship candidates go underground
MOST of the 10 chairmanship candidates of
the People Democratic Party, PDP, ‘forced’ to stand down for Alhaji Bamanga
Tukur during Saturday’s convention of the party have literally gone underground
in bitterness over the way they were made to give up their quests.
However, National Publicity secretary of
the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, has dismissed claims of imposition, saying that
none of the candidates was forced out of the contest and gave reasons the PDP
hierarchy prefered consensus to competitive elections.
This came as Senate President David Mark
charged the Tukur-led NWC to return the party on the path of unity and begged
the aggrieved candidates to continue to support the party just as the new
National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, pledged to work
harmoniously with other exco members to pursue the objectives of the founding
fathers of the party.
Mustapha in a statement of appreciation
yesterday said that he would devote himself towards ensuring the growth of the
party as a way of justifying the confidence given him by the delegates to the
ninth convention of the party.
Candidates’ angst
While some of the candidates rebuffed
enquiries on their disposition to the adoption of a consensus candidate as
chairman, inner details of how President Goodluck Jonathan and other party
leaders compelled them to stand down for Tukur became clearer yesterday. Vanguard
learnt that one of the points used to pressure them was that voting would
extend the convention to three days.
Alhaji Gambo Lawan, one of the notable
candidates was, however, an exception. He told Vanguard that he took the
decision of the party leaders in good faith as a loyal party member. He said
with age on his side he was not bitter about the developments on the convention
ground last Saturday.
Others were, however, not on same page
with Lawan as their utterances were laced with anger and revulsion.
Contacted on the phone, one of the former
candidates could only call God, telling the reporter to leave everything to
God. “Leave that matter, leave it,” he said in a bitter tone.
Another contestant, in a tone reflective
of surrender to the will of God, said “if it is God’s wish we cannot be
stopped.”
There was, however, more hurt in the
expression of some of the chief supporters of the former aspirants.
The campaign director of one of the
defeated aspirants told Vanguard last night that the events of Saturday
would sooner or later hit back at the party.
“PDP as a party is finished and this is
because of 2015; they shared the party positions without considering the fact
that people were asked to purchase forms and contest,” he said last night.
Jonathan has right to back a candidate –
Metuh
However, Metuh defended the role played by
President Jonathan during the convention, saying that the President had the
right as any other party member to support a candidate.
Against the background of reports that the
10 chairmanship candidates were compelled to withdraw by President Jonathan,
Metuh in a telephone interview said: “The President reserves the right to
support the national chairman of his choice.
In supporting that candidate if he decides
to sell his candidature to other stakeholders, it is within his democratic
rights as long as he does not interfere with the constitutional right of other
candidates. The President deserves the right to have a candidate of his choice
and to promote his candidature among other stakeholders. He is a PDP super delegate,
he can support someone and others can say no but if they buy his argument it is
very democratic. There is nothing to hide about it. There is nothing
undemocratic, immoral and illegal about it.”
Return PDP to the path of unity, Mark
charges Tukur
Congratulating Tukur on his emergence,
Senate President Mark urged him to put machinery in motion to return discipline
and unity to the party if it must be result –oriented and promised that the PDP
lawmakers in the National Assembly would continue to support the new leadership
to succeed.
Mark noted that there was urgent need to
begin the process of building bridges of understanding that would necessitate
peace and unity and pleaded with those who lost out at the convention to
continue to support the new leadership in the interest of all.
His words: “Even though we achieved
consensus in virtually all the positions, we cannot totally rule out that some
of our members may have been dissatisfied one way or the other. It is therefore
incumbent on the new leadership to begin the process of fence mending, so that
everybody is carried along. The PDP is a large family and the umbrella is large
enough to accommodate all members.”
These family ties must be sustained so
that together, we can join the transformation train that would ultimately take
us to the Promised Land.”
He advised the Tukur-led NWC to be guided
by the principle of fairness, justice and rule of law in the discharge of its
duties adding, “if you do so, you will earn the support and respect of all
members and your administration would be smooth.”
Youths berate North-East PDP
governors
Meanwhile, Youths under the umbrella of
the North-East Youth Forum (NEYF), have criticized North-East PDP governors for
rescinding the earlier decision taken at the zonal congress of the party were
Dr Musa Babayo was endorsed for the chairmanship position.
In a press statement by its Spokesman,
Alhaji Auwalu Jibir the NEYF decried the manner, the governors compromised on
the zonal decision.
“It is very pathetic that the Governors,
who are supposed to be the leaders and caucus in the North cannot stand on
their decision on behalf of the people of their states. Instead they had to
depend on the President to take that decision for them. They all acted as if we
are not in democratic era.
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is our own from the
North-East and we love him, but the fact is that Mr Tukur is not healthy to
manage the affairs of the party in the country and he has not been active in
partisan politics for long.
The people in the North-East want somebody
who will develop the region because the region is lagging behind in all
sectors of the economy,” the statement read in part.
CRIME FILE
Police Inspector sets wife ablaze
What
would make a man empty a gallon of fuel on his wife in the kitchen without
regard for his 18-month-old son by the woman?
That was the question on the lips of stunned patients and visitors at the Leverage Hospital, Igbo-Elerin, Okokomaiko, a suburb of Lagos State, where the doctor and his retinue of nurses are battling to save the life of a woman whose husband, a police inspector, set ablaze on Friday after a squabble.
The victim, Augustina, hails from Anambra State while her husband, Wasiu Jimoh, is from Kwara State. With burns all over her body, fluid mixed with human fat dripped ike a fountain from her face down her chest to her fingertips. Writhing in pains, the medics, Dr Bayo and the nurses, battled to give Augustina some relief as her peeling skin glued her to the hospital bed. The doctor said she had suffered second-degree burns.
Initially, she hardly uttered a word except some feeble words expressing regrets over a marriage that has gone sour barely two years after it was contracted.
How it started
The residents of 7 Tunde Lawal Street, Okokomaiko, woke up on Friday to witness a more dangerous fight between the couple said to be notorious for constantly quarreling.
According to Augustina, trouble started on Thursday when she reported to the husband that a certain lady sent her an irritating text massage warning her to leave Wasiu alone, claiming that the police officer was her man.
The victim, who claimed that her husband had the habit of keeping relationship with other women, said Inspector Jimoh flared up and started beating her. On Friday morning, he reportedly told her that since she was stubborn, he was going to deal with her.
She also claimed that he had constantly quarrelled with her over her demand for feeding money, adding that he frequently assaults her on the slightest provocation.According to the victim, as he was pounding her, a neighbor came to her rescue and facilitated her escape to another neighbour’s kitchen, who was cooking at that time, only for the husband to rush in and emptied a gallon of fuel upon her by the fire place. But police officer, said to be serving at the Ifako Police Station, Bariga, told the doctor that it was his wife that was bearing the keg of fuel in her hand as she made her escape into the neighbour’s kitchen. Unfortunately, he explained, the fuel exploded upon her leaving the whole place on fire.
Scared neighbours
When our correspondent visited the couple’s residence, neighbors talked about the incident in hushed tones as if all were mindful of an uncertain fate that might befall them if they said anything. Sunday Sun gathered that the victim was the fifth woman in the officer’s home, as four other women that lived with him had ran away for their dear lives. A reliable source disclosed that his first wife escaped when she realized that the man was like a time bomb that could explode on her. She is said to be presently living abroad.
It was gathered that until Augustina came, no woman could live with Jimoh. But the victim, according to a close associate of the husband, believed she could change the man for good.
Augustina’s shocker
Asked if she would return to the marriage after her ordeal, Augustina reluctantly told our correspondent that she would wait for her family’s decision. According to her, she cannot give a definite response until she had heard from her family and that her mind was not made up.
Our correspondent also gathered that when the incident happened, the woman ran to her Pentecostal church pastor to show him what was left of her burnt skin before the pastor instructed her to proceed to the hospital for medical intervention. Her decision to rush to her pastor, it was explained, was because the man of God had been advising her to pray that the man could change since there is no situation too difficult for God to handle.
The woman has however appealed for assistance from government and non-governmental organizations.
The police officer was arrested on Friday but it was gathered that he had been granted conditional bail at press time.
That was the question on the lips of stunned patients and visitors at the Leverage Hospital, Igbo-Elerin, Okokomaiko, a suburb of Lagos State, where the doctor and his retinue of nurses are battling to save the life of a woman whose husband, a police inspector, set ablaze on Friday after a squabble.
The victim, Augustina, hails from Anambra State while her husband, Wasiu Jimoh, is from Kwara State. With burns all over her body, fluid mixed with human fat dripped ike a fountain from her face down her chest to her fingertips. Writhing in pains, the medics, Dr Bayo and the nurses, battled to give Augustina some relief as her peeling skin glued her to the hospital bed. The doctor said she had suffered second-degree burns.
Initially, she hardly uttered a word except some feeble words expressing regrets over a marriage that has gone sour barely two years after it was contracted.
How it started
The residents of 7 Tunde Lawal Street, Okokomaiko, woke up on Friday to witness a more dangerous fight between the couple said to be notorious for constantly quarreling.
According to Augustina, trouble started on Thursday when she reported to the husband that a certain lady sent her an irritating text massage warning her to leave Wasiu alone, claiming that the police officer was her man.
The victim, who claimed that her husband had the habit of keeping relationship with other women, said Inspector Jimoh flared up and started beating her. On Friday morning, he reportedly told her that since she was stubborn, he was going to deal with her.
She also claimed that he had constantly quarrelled with her over her demand for feeding money, adding that he frequently assaults her on the slightest provocation.According to the victim, as he was pounding her, a neighbor came to her rescue and facilitated her escape to another neighbour’s kitchen, who was cooking at that time, only for the husband to rush in and emptied a gallon of fuel upon her by the fire place. But police officer, said to be serving at the Ifako Police Station, Bariga, told the doctor that it was his wife that was bearing the keg of fuel in her hand as she made her escape into the neighbour’s kitchen. Unfortunately, he explained, the fuel exploded upon her leaving the whole place on fire.
Scared neighbours
When our correspondent visited the couple’s residence, neighbors talked about the incident in hushed tones as if all were mindful of an uncertain fate that might befall them if they said anything. Sunday Sun gathered that the victim was the fifth woman in the officer’s home, as four other women that lived with him had ran away for their dear lives. A reliable source disclosed that his first wife escaped when she realized that the man was like a time bomb that could explode on her. She is said to be presently living abroad.
It was gathered that until Augustina came, no woman could live with Jimoh. But the victim, according to a close associate of the husband, believed she could change the man for good.
Augustina’s shocker
Asked if she would return to the marriage after her ordeal, Augustina reluctantly told our correspondent that she would wait for her family’s decision. According to her, she cannot give a definite response until she had heard from her family and that her mind was not made up.
Our correspondent also gathered that when the incident happened, the woman ran to her Pentecostal church pastor to show him what was left of her burnt skin before the pastor instructed her to proceed to the hospital for medical intervention. Her decision to rush to her pastor, it was explained, was because the man of God had been advising her to pray that the man could change since there is no situation too difficult for God to handle.
The woman has however appealed for assistance from government and non-governmental organizations.
The police officer was arrested on Friday but it was gathered that he had been granted conditional bail at press time.
PHCN Security Guard to Die for Killing His Boss
Nine years after, Stephen Haruna, a security guard with the
Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) (then NEPA) killed the person he
was paid to protect, Miss. Sussana Igwe, an Assistant General Manager, Legal
with the PHCN, the Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentenced passed on
him for the gruesome murder.
Haruna, was attached to Igwe, but murdered her. In the
course of investigation, Haruna admitted killing her boss and was consequently
charged with murder before an Abuja High Court.
He was found guilty and sentenced to death. He however
challenged the high court’s judgment on appeal. The Court of Appeal affirmed
the high court’s decision and still dissatisfied, he appealed to the Supreme
Court.
Justice Suleiman Galadima who wrote the lead judgment with
which four other justices concurred said that there was overwhelming evidence
to uphold the conviction of Haruna.
He said: “In the face of overwhelming evidence against the Appellant, I cannot upturn the concurrent findings of the trial court and the court below (the Court of Appeal) when the Appellant has failed to demonstrate that the said concurrent findings were perverse and could not be supported having regard to the evidence adduced by the Prosecutor.”
He said: “In the face of overwhelming evidence against the Appellant, I cannot upturn the concurrent findings of the trial court and the court below (the Court of Appeal) when the Appellant has failed to demonstrate that the said concurrent findings were perverse and could not be supported having regard to the evidence adduced by the Prosecutor.”
The judge also stated that Haruna’s girlfriend, one Mary
Jimoh also testified to the fact that the money he (Haruna) stole from Igwe was
deposited with her.
Although, the convict made three confessional statements to
the police in the course of the investigation, he later retracted one of the
statements.
Justice Galadima held that even if the third statement was
discountenanced, Haruna could still be and was rightly convicted.
According to him the Appellant’s confessional statement was corroborated by the discovery of stolen money he took to his girlfriend at Kubwa, suburb of Abuja city to keep for him.
According to him the Appellant’s confessional statement was corroborated by the discovery of stolen money he took to his girlfriend at Kubwa, suburb of Abuja city to keep for him.
The judge held: “It was on the strength of the confessional
statement that the police went to Kubwa where the money was discovered. Also
the testimonies of the driver, the PHCN’s Senior Security Officers and the
forensic reports corroborated the Appellant’s confessional statement.”
SPORTS
Spurs, Chelsea
and City drop points, Gunners in seventh heaven
Bolton Wanderers returned to football
matters after last week’s tragedy and pulled off a very important result in the
battle against relegation. David Wheater scored twice with two headers before
Nzonzi grabbed a consolation gaol. The victory, which was of course dedicated
the critically ill Fabrice Muamba, moved them out of the relegation zone.
In the first game of the afternoon,
Chelsea and Spurs played out a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge. The first half
was a completely dull affair, with both sides content to pass the ball sideways
and backwards. But in the second half, the tempo picked up a notch. However,
the best chances fell to the North London side who missed two open chances
through Van der Vaart and Adebayor. Juan Mata was also unlucky to see his well
stuck free kick hit the bar.
Arsenal capitalised on this result to
consolidate their third position, as they defeated Aston Villa 3-0. Gibbs saw
his shot squeeze under Shay Given after good work from Gervinho. Then Walcott
doubled the advantage when he expertly controlled Song’s chipped pass and
sidefooted past Given. Van Persie had an effort cleared off the line, and
Arsenal waited till the dying seconds for the third, with Mikel Arteta smashing
in a free kick from 30 yards. The win is the seventh in a row for the Gunners.
In other results, Everton beat Swansea at
home 2-0, Manchester City could only draw 1-1 away to Stoke City and Wigan beat
Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield. Holt’s double helped Norwich to a 2-1 win over win,
while Sunderland trashed 10-man QPR 3-1.
MIKEL: We won't surrender
MIKEL
OBI has maintained Chelsea will not give up on finishing fourth in the EPL
despite a scoreless draw at home to rivals Spurs Saturday.
Obi
was an unused substitute as Chelsea failed to make the most of playing at
Stamford Bridge against fellow Londoners Spurs Saturday.
A
win on Saturday would have narrowed the gap to only two points between fifth-placed
Chelsea and fourth-placed Spurs, but the draw has meant that Spurs have
maintained a five-point advantage over their city rivals.
The
2011/12 Champions League quarter finalists have 50 points from 30 matches,
while Tottenham have 55 points.
On
Saturday, Chelsea will be away to Aston Villa, while Spurs welcome Swansea.
Finishing
within the top four will give either club a chance to feature in next year’s
money-spinning UEFA Champions League.
"It
was painful we did not beat Spurs. The game is gone and all we need do now is
to concentrate on the remaining matches and take them one after the other,”
Mikel told MTNFootball.com
“We
have to remain focused, though it is tougher now but we are confident in
ourselves to do it as we equally want to win the Champions League this season.”
Woods back from the wood, wins again
Tiger Woods has ended his winless streak
of the past 30 months by lifting the Arnold Palmer Invitational trophy, for the
seventh time.
The victory ended Woods PGA Tour victory drought, that coincided with the personal turmoil that followed a 2009 sex scandal.
The victory ended Woods PGA Tour victory drought, that coincided with the personal turmoil that followed a 2009 sex scandal.
On Saturday, Woods had fired a one-under
par 71 for a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Arnold Palmer
Invitational.
But on Sunday, he stretched the lead by 5
shots, carding 13 under par. His closest rival, Graeme McDowell made 8 under
par.
England’s Ian Poulter finished in third
seven shots behind Woods, while South Africa’s Ernie Els was part of a group of
seven golfers who tied for fourth at 5 under par.
Woods, the 14-time major champion Woods
had won before today, a record six times on the Bay Hill course. The last time
Woods won on the PGA tour was his victory at the 2009 BMW Championship.
Referee
escapes death in Kano
An
ugly situation was averted in Kano on Saturday as angry fans attempted lynching
the centre referee in the match between Sardauna of Kano and Sportlight of
Katsina. The game was played at the Kano Pillars Township Stadium.
His
assistants and other match officials also escaped death by the whiskers from
angry supporters of the Kano-based team at the end of Nigeria National League
fixture which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Trouble
started when some angry home fans at the stadium violently protested the
outcome of the clash between both neighbours when the centre referee ended the
game
They
began hauling missiles unto the pitch, and it took the intervention of club
officials to calm them down.
At
that point, security agents were compelled to provide cover for the match
officials, who investigations revealed, were smuggled to a safe place in the
ancient city.
Attempts
by THE PUNCH to speak to the match officials were unsuccessful as they
were jittery, but it was confirmed that none of them suffered any bodily harm.
The
visiting Katsina side had scored first in the first stanza securing a 1-0 lead.
They
held on to the lone goal advantage into the second stanza of the game.
Sarduana
FC launched various offensives which paid off when Ndah Abdlkareem fired home
from a 25 yards to level score for the home side.
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