EMMA OKWUAHABA
For publishing what he considered as damaging to his political ambition, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan Monday sacked his Special Assistant on Community Newspapers, Chief Omoru David.
Chief Omoru who was appointed last year, following the creation of the office of Special Assistant to the Governor, Community Newspapers, was until his appointment a publisher of a community newspaper, "Synergy".
In a sack letter entitled, "Termination of Appointment," with reference number SGD. 399/T33/124 and signed by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and dated 10th May, however gave no reason for the sack.
The letter reads: "I write to inform you that you have been relieved of your appointment as Special Assistant to the governor on Community Newspapers. Consequently, your appointment is hereby terminated with immediate effect. While wishing you the best of luck in your future endeavours, you are by this letter advised to return all government properties in your possession to the Office of Secretary to the State Governor on or before Wednesday, 12 May, 2010. Best regards."
However, our investigation has linked Omoru's sack to a story titled: "Tension in Uduaghan's Camp: Plots to Move to AC" published recently (in April) in his newspaper, Synergy.
The governor was said to have been enraged by the publication, which suggested that thousands of the governor's loyalists are now in disarray over reports that the governor was contemplating decamping to the Action Congress (AC).
The report said Uduaghan was seriously considering decamping to the Action Congress if he is denied the People's Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, which brought him to power in 2007.
"We also have it from grapevine that the alleged moves are part of plan B of the governor, who is said to have calculated very well and arrived at the answer that should the PDP deny him a return ticket for the 2011 gubernatorial polls, he would pluck it on the platform of the AC and from there, fly their flag to the elections," the paper reported.
When we contacted Omoru to seek his reaction, the Journalist said, though he received the news with shock, but that he took the development without any ill feelings, adding that after all, the one (the governor) who gave him the appointment, has the right to hire and fire. I have nothing against the governor. All I ask for is good governance in the State.
Asked his next line of action as to whether he would take any legal action since he was not given any notice of the sack, Omoru said he would not take any legal action.
"No need to take any legal redress. In the system we operate when you are a governor, you have the right to hire and fire. I wish the government well. I am a Journalist. I have a newspaper which I publish. I will go back to my people, the Journalists".
Monday, May 17, 2010
2011 Presidency: IBB Commissions Research Into Nigeria's Problems
Dipo Laleye
Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, who has indicated his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election, has commissioned research into Nigeria's socio- political problems, Saturday Tribune can reveal.
The action of the former military leader came as one of his campaigners denied that the general had pulled out of the race.
Babangida, according to a source, commissioned the Think Tank composed of some of his loyalists based in Europe and the Americas to carry out the research.
It was learnt that the areas where the aspirant wanted international solutions to in Nigeria's problems were electricity and power supply, eradication of poverty and unemployment, 419 activities and criminality as well as infrastructural development.
Babangida was reported to have told members of the Think-Tank to consult widely with members of the international community and, especially, the private sector with a view to recommending how the developed countries of the world were able to surmount these problems.
Mr. Bimbo Roberts-Folayan, the International Coordinator of the Nigeria Project, one of the numerous groups campaigning for Babangida abroad, is said to be spearheading the assignment.
Roberts-Folayan said, in a telephone interview on Friday, that the assignment had almost been completed, adding that a full report would be submitted to Babangida in Minna in two weeks time.
Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, who has indicated his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election, has commissioned research into Nigeria's socio- political problems, Saturday Tribune can reveal.
The action of the former military leader came as one of his campaigners denied that the general had pulled out of the race.
Babangida, according to a source, commissioned the Think Tank composed of some of his loyalists based in Europe and the Americas to carry out the research.
It was learnt that the areas where the aspirant wanted international solutions to in Nigeria's problems were electricity and power supply, eradication of poverty and unemployment, 419 activities and criminality as well as infrastructural development.
Babangida was reported to have told members of the Think-Tank to consult widely with members of the international community and, especially, the private sector with a view to recommending how the developed countries of the world were able to surmount these problems.
Mr. Bimbo Roberts-Folayan, the International Coordinator of the Nigeria Project, one of the numerous groups campaigning for Babangida abroad, is said to be spearheading the assignment.
Roberts-Folayan said, in a telephone interview on Friday, that the assignment had almost been completed, adding that a full report would be submitted to Babangida in Minna in two weeks time.
Yoruba have never been one -Awujale
Kolade Larewaju
Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland clocked 50 years on the throne on April 2, 2010. The outspoken and widely respected monarch will also mark his 76th birthday next month. Both events have been rescheduled for June 16-26, 2010.
In this interview held at his palace in Ijebu Ode, the frontline traditional ruler spoke on ascension to the throne, the attempts to dethrone him in the second republic, the state of the nation and his upbringing.
Excerpts;
How did you feel when you went in search of the golden fleece abroad but had to return home to ascend the throne of your fore fathers?
In addressing traditional rulers you start by saying, Your Royal Highness, Your Highness or Your Majesty I usually tell people this is wrong to define English word meaning of our titles. If you look at my instrument of office, you will see Oba Alaiyeluwa Sikiru Kayode Adetona. The moment you want to find the English equivalent of it, you are missing the road, and you are causing a lot of distortion in the whole institution. Even another person can come up tomorrow and say His Majesty. It is total rubbish! Afterall when you see the English equivalent, are the traditional rulers of the same status bearing the same title abroad. Who among these people among these Obas with the highest of them, can you equate with any of the Kings in terms of resources, functions? Therefore I want to appeal to you, my colleagues are free to change their titles to anything. It is their business not mine! Anytime you refer to the office of Oba Alayeluwa Sikiru Kayode Adetona avoid calling Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness. I dont clearly understand what this means. The same thing applies to the use of Chiefs. There are some Chiefs, you have Chief Clerk, Chief Medical Adviser, Chief Adviser etc, and there are some people who will say they are Chiefs, they are just wasting their time, they are destroying the institution, it is not so, let us bear our name as it is. Now coming to your question, you remember at that younger age, you could not comprehend why it was so very exciting but it didnt mean too much at that time, because you must consider my age as at that time, my values, all sorts of things, so there must be some substance in it.
Kabiyesi, you were a minister in the government of the then Western Region but today Obas have been relegated to the background. What has happened to the Royal Institution?
When I came on the throne, it was immediately we had self government. You want to trace the history of this institution. The Obaship institution, the traditional institution was a system of government. For example prior to the Imagbon war in 1892, we were a nation, we had our own association, we had everything. But when the Oyinbo came, we were defeated at Imagbon, they colonized us later and we struggled for self government and what ought not. What happened was that our own elite who were promoting self government, really wanted to take over the functions of the Oyinbos. They wanted to drive them away and then redress them. So what they were telling us was that those people they didn’t know how to treat us that they were cheating but that they would treat us better as if they were fighting for us. In fact, they were fighting for themselves. So that time we discovered that those people really wanted to replace the Oyinbos, when they got there they were even worse than the Oyinbos. This is what I can say about that. With the emergence of politicians, army in government, there have been little changes in the process. The attitude of politicians is a little different now from what it was before the military intervention. What I want you to understand is that this institution has endured for centuries without any problem. This institution of Obas has very important roles to play in respect of the country’s administration. You can compare us with the modern day government. How many soldiers do you find guarding this place? How many mobile police? But the politicians they need them. That is to tell you that our culture is very strong. If I go out and anybody tries to misbehave it is the public that will take care of that person who tries to misbehave. It won’t happen with these modern day politicians. That is the reason why they need police and soldiers to take them around. You can now see the difference. By and large now, they are trying to tolerate us, they want us to cooperate, but we still have important roles to play for the peace and progress of our people. There was little or no corruption when we were in charge, but you can see what is happening now. One percentage of the revenue goes for development or welfare of the people, while the other percentage goes to private pockets. By and large, I think there will still be more cooperation as we are going to play more important roles in the affairs of this country and when that happens, peace and progress will reign in this country.
You have been known to be very cooperative with every government in Ogun State. You give them maximum support, maximum cooperation, perhaps with a view to ensuring that your domain gets good dividends from each government. What is your take?
We are still going to cooperate with government. There is one important thing you must understand, when a government emerges, it is you people that voted that government in and then whatever government you get is yours, whether good or bad! It is you and you that elected that government and the other elected members who are your representatives that are supposed to put those in administration in check. So you want me to come and take up the job myself? It is not so, that is wrong! That is not my function! Mine is to cooperate with them but if there are areas, or lapses, certainly we will not hesitate to let them know. What is still amusing me is that you elect governors, elect president, members of the House of Assembly. Are these people really representing you there? You want me to take up their jobs? No! it is for them to make sure they represent the masses and demand the rights of the people they represent. But as traditional rulers that doesnt take away from us, the fact that we must drum into the ears of those concerned that this and this are still missing. So if anything goes wrong, dont come and blame the traditional rulers but blame the honourable members, because they are not doing the job you elected them to do for you.
The agitation for Ijebu State, how is it going?
The creation of Ijebu State is very important! You can remember I said Ijebu was a nation. Even the so called Yoruba people were never one. If I speak my own dialect an Ibadan man cannot understand me, Ondo man cannot understand me, Ekiti the same thing. If they speak their own dialects, I cannot understand. The original Ijebu dialect is the one spoken by the Itsekiri. The Itsekiri are Ijebus! The whole of the 19th century, it was internal wars in Yorubaland and the first time the Yoruba Obas met was in 1937, when the Oyinbos said the black race should not continue to kill themselves.
It was then a conference was organized at Oyo in 1937. We are not the same people! We are different people! So whatever marketing anybody is doing to you, discard it totally because there is no truth in that. Now coming to Ijebu State , we believe we must have our own state, it is only fair we should have our state. Even when the Oyinbos conquered us, Nigeria at that time had 24 provinces, Ijebu Province was one but now that we have 36 states we are yet to have a state, how do you explain that? Some of those provinces have been split into two or three so if we have our own state, we will be able to make it a model for others to come and copy us, because we have what it takes to make it a prosperous state.
Please tell us about your childhood
Throughout my life, I have been very consistent, I never lie! Apart from that whatever pranks any boy can play, you dont find me wanting.
Kabiyesi, you ascended the throne when you were just 26, how did you cope with female admirers, especially when you were not married then?
You think I would be pursuing girls all around like guys do nowadays? Not at all. On a more serious note, the situation then was different from what we have now. If you were a graduate then, the first thing that would occupy your mind was how to get a good job, and not looking for things in skirts around. The society was more settled then. Of course, I have an office as a traditional ruler, and I was guided in all the things I do by the office.
What is your fashion statement kabiyesi, because I have personally observed you to be a modest dresser?
I am a simple person but with powerful dress sense. I dont cherish lavish lifestyle. I cant put on suit, and that one you should have known too. I dress simple.
How do you relax?
I do find time to relax. You know I have a swimming pool, but I cant swim. The office I am occupying is a restraining factor. You cant behave anyhow. You cant start to behave like a nuisance. And just like when I started, I began to adjust little by little.
Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland clocked 50 years on the throne on April 2, 2010. The outspoken and widely respected monarch will also mark his 76th birthday next month. Both events have been rescheduled for June 16-26, 2010.
In this interview held at his palace in Ijebu Ode, the frontline traditional ruler spoke on ascension to the throne, the attempts to dethrone him in the second republic, the state of the nation and his upbringing.
Excerpts;
How did you feel when you went in search of the golden fleece abroad but had to return home to ascend the throne of your fore fathers?
In addressing traditional rulers you start by saying, Your Royal Highness, Your Highness or Your Majesty I usually tell people this is wrong to define English word meaning of our titles. If you look at my instrument of office, you will see Oba Alaiyeluwa Sikiru Kayode Adetona. The moment you want to find the English equivalent of it, you are missing the road, and you are causing a lot of distortion in the whole institution. Even another person can come up tomorrow and say His Majesty. It is total rubbish! Afterall when you see the English equivalent, are the traditional rulers of the same status bearing the same title abroad. Who among these people among these Obas with the highest of them, can you equate with any of the Kings in terms of resources, functions? Therefore I want to appeal to you, my colleagues are free to change their titles to anything. It is their business not mine! Anytime you refer to the office of Oba Alayeluwa Sikiru Kayode Adetona avoid calling Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness. I dont clearly understand what this means. The same thing applies to the use of Chiefs. There are some Chiefs, you have Chief Clerk, Chief Medical Adviser, Chief Adviser etc, and there are some people who will say they are Chiefs, they are just wasting their time, they are destroying the institution, it is not so, let us bear our name as it is. Now coming to your question, you remember at that younger age, you could not comprehend why it was so very exciting but it didnt mean too much at that time, because you must consider my age as at that time, my values, all sorts of things, so there must be some substance in it.
Kabiyesi, you were a minister in the government of the then Western Region but today Obas have been relegated to the background. What has happened to the Royal Institution?
When I came on the throne, it was immediately we had self government. You want to trace the history of this institution. The Obaship institution, the traditional institution was a system of government. For example prior to the Imagbon war in 1892, we were a nation, we had our own association, we had everything. But when the Oyinbo came, we were defeated at Imagbon, they colonized us later and we struggled for self government and what ought not. What happened was that our own elite who were promoting self government, really wanted to take over the functions of the Oyinbos. They wanted to drive them away and then redress them. So what they were telling us was that those people they didn’t know how to treat us that they were cheating but that they would treat us better as if they were fighting for us. In fact, they were fighting for themselves. So that time we discovered that those people really wanted to replace the Oyinbos, when they got there they were even worse than the Oyinbos. This is what I can say about that. With the emergence of politicians, army in government, there have been little changes in the process. The attitude of politicians is a little different now from what it was before the military intervention. What I want you to understand is that this institution has endured for centuries without any problem. This institution of Obas has very important roles to play in respect of the country’s administration. You can compare us with the modern day government. How many soldiers do you find guarding this place? How many mobile police? But the politicians they need them. That is to tell you that our culture is very strong. If I go out and anybody tries to misbehave it is the public that will take care of that person who tries to misbehave. It won’t happen with these modern day politicians. That is the reason why they need police and soldiers to take them around. You can now see the difference. By and large now, they are trying to tolerate us, they want us to cooperate, but we still have important roles to play for the peace and progress of our people. There was little or no corruption when we were in charge, but you can see what is happening now. One percentage of the revenue goes for development or welfare of the people, while the other percentage goes to private pockets. By and large, I think there will still be more cooperation as we are going to play more important roles in the affairs of this country and when that happens, peace and progress will reign in this country.
You have been known to be very cooperative with every government in Ogun State. You give them maximum support, maximum cooperation, perhaps with a view to ensuring that your domain gets good dividends from each government. What is your take?
We are still going to cooperate with government. There is one important thing you must understand, when a government emerges, it is you people that voted that government in and then whatever government you get is yours, whether good or bad! It is you and you that elected that government and the other elected members who are your representatives that are supposed to put those in administration in check. So you want me to come and take up the job myself? It is not so, that is wrong! That is not my function! Mine is to cooperate with them but if there are areas, or lapses, certainly we will not hesitate to let them know. What is still amusing me is that you elect governors, elect president, members of the House of Assembly. Are these people really representing you there? You want me to take up their jobs? No! it is for them to make sure they represent the masses and demand the rights of the people they represent. But as traditional rulers that doesnt take away from us, the fact that we must drum into the ears of those concerned that this and this are still missing. So if anything goes wrong, dont come and blame the traditional rulers but blame the honourable members, because they are not doing the job you elected them to do for you.
The agitation for Ijebu State, how is it going?
The creation of Ijebu State is very important! You can remember I said Ijebu was a nation. Even the so called Yoruba people were never one. If I speak my own dialect an Ibadan man cannot understand me, Ondo man cannot understand me, Ekiti the same thing. If they speak their own dialects, I cannot understand. The original Ijebu dialect is the one spoken by the Itsekiri. The Itsekiri are Ijebus! The whole of the 19th century, it was internal wars in Yorubaland and the first time the Yoruba Obas met was in 1937, when the Oyinbos said the black race should not continue to kill themselves.
It was then a conference was organized at Oyo in 1937. We are not the same people! We are different people! So whatever marketing anybody is doing to you, discard it totally because there is no truth in that. Now coming to Ijebu State , we believe we must have our own state, it is only fair we should have our state. Even when the Oyinbos conquered us, Nigeria at that time had 24 provinces, Ijebu Province was one but now that we have 36 states we are yet to have a state, how do you explain that? Some of those provinces have been split into two or three so if we have our own state, we will be able to make it a model for others to come and copy us, because we have what it takes to make it a prosperous state.
Please tell us about your childhood
Throughout my life, I have been very consistent, I never lie! Apart from that whatever pranks any boy can play, you dont find me wanting.
Kabiyesi, you ascended the throne when you were just 26, how did you cope with female admirers, especially when you were not married then?
You think I would be pursuing girls all around like guys do nowadays? Not at all. On a more serious note, the situation then was different from what we have now. If you were a graduate then, the first thing that would occupy your mind was how to get a good job, and not looking for things in skirts around. The society was more settled then. Of course, I have an office as a traditional ruler, and I was guided in all the things I do by the office.
What is your fashion statement kabiyesi, because I have personally observed you to be a modest dresser?
I am a simple person but with powerful dress sense. I dont cherish lavish lifestyle. I cant put on suit, and that one you should have known too. I dress simple.
How do you relax?
I do find time to relax. You know I have a swimming pool, but I cant swim. The office I am occupying is a restraining factor. You cant behave anyhow. You cant start to behave like a nuisance. And just like when I started, I began to adjust little by little.
13 EVIDENCE THAT YORUBAS HAVE DECLINED MISERABLLY
TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED FROM AND MUCH WAS GIVEN TO YORUBA, BUT WE ARE DECLING BECAUSE OF YORUBA SELFISHNESS, CORRUPTION AND WICKEDNESS TO OUR CORPORATE AND EDUCATION CULTURE
AFIS AND VAL OJO - YORUBA HAVE DECLINE MISERABLY AND IGBOS ARE NOT THE REASON
AFIS AND VALANTINE OJO,
IGBOS ARE NOT YOUR PROBLEM IN NIGERIA RIGHT NOW OR BEFORE WHEN YOU HAD YOUR FREE EDUCATION AND FREE HEALTH CARE BUT TODAY YOU ARE DECLINING IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH ETC. BUT YOU ARE NOT FOCUSING ON IT, BUT RATHER YOU KEEP CURSING AND INSULTING IGBOS EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT.
YES IGBOS HAVE OUR OWN SERIOUS PROBLEMS INTERNALLY LIKE IN EDUCATION, HEALTH, KIDNAPPING , CRIMANALS, DRUG DEALERS, 419 ETC AND I AGREE THESE ARE PROBLEMS IN IGBOLAND AND IT IS REALLY AFFECTING IGBOS SERIOUSLY, BUT MAJORITY IGBOS ARE WORKING ON IT AND JUST AS YOU CAN POINT OUT MANY IGBO PROBELMS, YOU CAN ALSO POINT OUT MANY GOOD EFFORT AND HARD WORKING IGBOS WHO ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS LIKE OHAHAZE NDIGBO, CHIEF RALPH UWECHUE, DR. ANYAOKU, PROFESSOR BART NNAJI, DR. OLISA AGBAKOBA, DR. ALEX EKWUMEME, OJUKWU, GOVERNOR OBI, GOVERNOR ELCHI, GOVERNOR CHIME, IGBOS EZES AND CHIEF, SOME IGBO GOVERNORS, IGBO YOUTH MOVEMENT AND MANY IGBO SELF HELP GROUPS AT HOME AND ABROAD AND IN DIASPORA ETC.
IGBOS AGREE THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS INTERNALLY BUT IGBOS ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY AFTER IT TOOK US MANY YEARS (40 YEAR) TO RECOVER AND STILL RECOVERING FROM OUR SAD EXPERIENCE OF THE CIVIL WAR TRIGERED AND INSTIGATED BY YORUBAS WHO INSTIGATED THE CIVIL WAR
1966 COUP PLANNERS: SENIOR OFFICERS IN NIGERIA MILITARY
MAJOR, CHUKWUMA NZEOGWU - ANIOMA IGBO
MAJOR, EMMANUEL IFEAJUNA - ANIOMA IGBO
MAJOR, CHUKWUKA - ANIOMA IGBO
CAPTAIN, ADELEKE - YORUBA
LIEUTENANT, FOLA OYEWOLE - YORUBA
BRIGEDIAR, VICTOR BANJO - YORUBA
MAJOR, WALE ADEMOYEGA - YORUBA
LIEUTENANT, FOLA OLAFIMIHA - YORUBA
LIEUTENANT, A.N. C AZUBOUGOR - ANIOMA IGBO
LIEUTENANT, A.A.O EGBIKOR - ANIOMA IGBO
COLONEL, NWAWO - ANIOMA IGBO
COLONEL, CYRIL IWEZE - ANIOMA IGBO
COLONEL, NWAJEI - ANIOMA IGBO
COLONEL, MIKE OKWECHIME - ANIOMA IGBO
MAJOR, ALBERT OKONKWO - ANIOMA IGBO
CAPTAIN, HENRY IGBOBA - ANIOMA IGBOS
YES, VAL AND AFIS, SOME IGBOS CAN DENY BEING IGBO THAT GOOD TOO, BUT REMEMBER THAT JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD WAS ALSO DENIED BY JUDAS AND OTHER FOLLOWERS WHEN THINGS GOT BAD, AND IGBOS SHOULD NOT BE SUPRISED AT THE ATITUDE OF SOME IGBOS WHO ARE LIKE JUDAS AND ARE DENYING THEIR IGBONESS. AFTER ALL EASTERN GERMANY DENIED THAT THEY WERE GERMANS, UNTILL GERMAN BECAME STRONG AGAIN AND THE ARE BACK NOW AND SAME THING WITH KOREAS AND JAPAN ETC. ONCE YOU LOSE A WAR OR FACING OBSTACLE IN LIFE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL DENY YOU.
ALSO, WHEN THE SOVIET UNION HAD PROBLEMS AND LOST POWER MANY OF ITS PEOPLE AND CITIZENS DENIED BEING RUSSIANS AND USSR AND BREAK AWAY, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE RETURNING WHEN THEY COMPLETE THEIR DREAMING AND RUSSIA IS COMING BACK. THE SAME THING IS ALSO HAPPENING IN YORUBA LAND, SOME YORUBAS IN KOGI AND KWARA STATE HAVE DENIED BEING YORUBA OR TO ASSOCIATE WITH YORUBA BUT RATHER THEY ASSOCIATE WITH THE HAUSAS AND THE NORTH BECAUSE THEY SEE POWER AND OPPORTUNITY AND THATS LIFE, LIKE THE LATE CHIEF AWONIYI WHO NEVER WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING YORUBA OR BELONG WITH YORUBA IN HIS LIFE, BUT WHEN HE DIED HIS SO CALLED NORTHEN BROTHERS COULD NOT EVEN COME TO BURY HIM. IT WAS HIS YORUBA PEOPLE THAT CAME TO BURY HIM WITH PRIDE AND THATS LIFE.
PLEASE AFIS AND VAL OJO. BELOW IS ABOUT 13 POINTS AND EVIDENCE THAT YORUBAS HAVE THEIR OWN SERIOUS PROBELMS AND YORUBAS ARE DECLINING IN INFLUENCE IN EDUCATION, GOVERNANCE, CORPORATE INFLUENCE, BUSINESS, HEALTH, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ETC. YORUBA SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN A BETTER PLACE IF YOU CAN JUST FOCUS ON YOUR SELF AND LEAVE IGBOS ALONE, BUT TODAY IGBOS ARE BEATING YOU TO THE DUST. IN EDUCATION ENROLLMENT, UNIVERSITY GRADUATION, SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND GRADUATION AND IN EUROPE AND AMERICA IGBOS ARE EXCELING AND IN ASIA JUST GO TO THE SEA PORTS AND BIG CITIES IN CHINA, SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA AND ALL THE ASIAN TIGERS COUNTRIES IGBOS ARE ESTABLISHING IMPRESSIVE GLOBAL PRESENCE IN EUROPE, ASIA AMERICA, ENGLAND ETC. AND YES WE HAVE OUR OWN MANY MANY BAD EGGS IN IGBOLAND LIKE KIDNAPPERS, DRUG DEALERS, CORRUPT IGBOS, THIEVES, CRIMINALS, BUT YORUBA HAS A BIGGER PROBLEM AS MUCH WAS GIVEN TO THEM AND MUCH IS EXPECTED BUT YORUBA IS DECLINING AND ALL OF US ARE LOSING BECUSE OF IT.
13 EVIDENCE THAT YORUBAS HAVE DECLINED MISERABLLY AND IGBOS DID NO T DO IT
(1) http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.htmlYORUBAS LEADING IN EDUCATION BEFORE IN AFRICA AND NIGERIA HAS FALLEN BEHIND, AS ALL YORUBA PROFESSORS IN YORUBA AND NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES HAVE DESTROYED NIGERIA AND YORUBA UNIVERSITIES, AND ARE NOW HEADING CHURCHES, MEGA CHURCHES AND PRAYERS GROUPS ALONG LAGOS- IBADAN EXPRESSWAY, IBADAN- IFE EXPRESS WAYS AND ALL OVER YORUBA LAND YORUBA PROFESSORS ARE NOW FISHING FOR DOLLARS IN CHURCHES AS OVER SEERS OF DOLLARS.
http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html
(2)http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html IN EDUCATION ENROLLMENT, GRADES AND GRADUATION FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,SECONDARY SCHOOL, UNIVERSITIES TO GRAUDATED SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA, AFRICA AND IN DIASPORA EVERY WHERE YORUBAS ARE NOT LEADING ANY MORE AS THEY HAVE FALLEN BEHIND BECAUSE THE IS NO MORE FREE EDUCATION, NO BUSARY AND NO MORE FREE MONEY.http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html
(3) YORUBA CORPORATE AND BANKING TITAINS LIKE RUFUS GIWA, KOLADE, AKINGBOLA, IBRU ETC. HAS ALL DESTROYED NIGERIA CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND DESTROYED NIGERIA CORPORATIONS, FOREIGN CORPORATION, AND NIGERIA BIG BANKS THEY WERE HEADING ALL ALONG, BECAUSE AFTER THE NIGERIA CIVIL WAR, YORUBA WERE BLESSED SINCE THE IGBOS WERE DEFEATED AND LACKED MANPOWER THEN AND WERE RELEGATED, BUT YORUBA GAINED INFLUENCE AT THE TIME WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION AND MANPOWER AND THEY STOLE AND CORRUPTLY DESTROYED ALL THE MULTI NATIONAL COMPANIES THEY WERE HEADING AND RAN ALL OF THEM TO THE GROUND. TODAY CORPORATE LIFE AND CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY IN NIGERIA HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY YORUBA GREED AND AS SUCH THEY DAYS YORUBA DETERMINING CORPORATE AND EDUCATION LEADERHIP IN NIGERIA IS GONE FOR GOOD.
(4)YORUBA WAS ALSO CONTROLLING THE OIL INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA AFTER THE WAR AND YORUBA RELEGATED AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THE NIGERDELTA OWNERS OF THE OIL OIL INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA, BUT TODAY THE OWNERS OF THE OIL HAVE WAKEN UP. NIGER DELTA OIL WILL BE CONTROLLED BY NIGER DELTA SO YORUBA RUNING THINGS IN NNPC, SHELL, TEXACO, MOBIL, TOTAL AND ALL THE OIL BUSINESSES IN NIGERIA IS OVER BECAUSE OF YORUBA AND HAUSA CORRUPT CONTROL OF THE OIL INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA, BUT TODAY THE OWNERS ARE TAKING IT BACK GRADUALLY. EVERY DAY IS FOR THE THIEF BUT ONE DAY IS FOR THE OWNER
CHECK THE EVIDENCE BELOW OF YORUBA DECLINE AND IGBOS ARE NOT YOUR PROBLEM. PLEASE FOCUS ON YOUR DECLINE.
EDUCATION STATISTICS THAT YORUBA IS DECLINGING THAT EVEN SOUTH SOUTH IS BEATING YORUBA
http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html
(5)
Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, CFR, the Alaafin of Oyo on the yoruba problems and lacking in some areas.
Why I took on Ooni of Ife – Alaafin of Oyo
Saturday, April 24, 2010 Vanguard Newspaper
"QUOTE" At a time there were moves to reconcile and fuse the Afenifere and the Council of Elders (YCE). The two blocks are made of eminent Yoruba leaders capable of speaking for the Yoruba at anytime. But they cannot achieve much as long as they are not talking with one voice
Take for example, there is no forum of traditional rulers like emirs and governors of the northern states just as there is none between Igbo traditional rulers and governors of the south east. Rather than that, the traditional rulers operate through their socio-political pressure groups like the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Ohaneze."UNQUOTE
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DAILY TRUST
Bankole and the Yoruba agenda
Written by Omoniyi Ologunebi
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 22:26
“The Yoruba race has been relegated to the background in areas where it was a pioneer and excelled”. That was Dimeji Bankole, the Speaker of House of Representatives and the highest ranking Yoruba political office holder at the inauguration of the Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of Yoruba Academy in Ibadan recently. As reported in several dailies, the federal legislator’s lamentation of the seeming decline of Yoruba was against the background of a continuing retrogression that has only accelerated under the current democratic dispensation.
Bankole had noted that in education, the Yoruba were already attending Oxford and Cambridge Universities long before other African dreamt of such and decried the situation where in the last ten years, Yoruba’s have lost critical grounds in areas where it once have a controlling influence like the banking, media and security sectors." UNQUOTE
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GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER OF FRIDAY JANUARY 01 2010
Friday, January 01, 2010
CONTROLLED BY YORUBA PEOPLE OUR
Nigeria's capital market records world's worst performing index in 2009
By Femi Adekoya
"The All-Share Index on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended the year yesterday with 20,827.17 points, making it the worst performing equity index worldwide, despite a bullish rally on the New Year eve.
The assessment was contained in a Bloomberg report, which reviewed 91 largest indexes across the globe.
At a time when other economies were recovering from the global economic downturn, the Nigerian capital market was still struggling within the crisis.
Although, a lot of reasons have been attributed to the slow pace of the nation's capital market's growth, prominent ones among the events that almost dragged the economy to its knees included the fall in the global oil prices, the effects of the just concluded audit in the banking industry by the Central Bank of Nigeria, declining rate of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the country, sagging confidence of investors in the capital market, systemic failure on the part of regulators and wrong fundamentals presented by some listed equities on the Exchange." unquote
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YORUBAS AS FOOTBALLER BEING KICKED AROUND AND MIGHTY FALLENThursday, April 29, 2010
DAILY INDEPENDENT
04/29/2010
Yoruba as football
By Tunji Ismail
A football is an inflated piece of rubber or leather that is pushed around by being kicked by fun seekers otherwise called footballers. The fact of a football is that it goes in the direction decided by the kicker and sustains its flight in the air only to the extent of the energy devoted to it by the kicker. The kicker can push it right, left, upwards or make it stand still on the ground. In football the kicker is supreme advertisement
Hubert Ogunde, that great Yoruba philosopher, dramatist, poet and singer, conjured the appropriate imagery in his song 'Yoruba Ronu'. He said, "Yoruba so ra won di bolu f'araiye gba, to ba gba won s'oke won tun gba won si isale"; the Yoruba have become the football of the country, the kickers kick them up and down at will. That was about 50 years ago. How much of Ogunde's observation have changed? Have the Yoruba become kickers instead of the ball that is kicked?
Since the early sixties when this great man of Yoruba culture made his observations, the Yoruba have occupied the presidential chair twice, regrettably by the same man. Olusegun Obasanjo was military president from 1976 to 1979 and civilian president from 1999 to 2007. In both instances he was a ball that was kicked up. He did not become president on either occasion by any deliberate strategy or manipulation by the Yoruba. In his first coming, Theophilus Danjuma is popularly regarded as the mastermind of his ascension to the seat of power. Danjuma and the northern military establishment chose for their own strategic reasons to install a Yoruba as Head of State in 1976 after the death of Murtala Muhammed not to give an impression of oppressing other regions in the power game. The Hausa/Fulani of course held on to effective power through a combination of Shehu Yar'Adua as Chief of General Staff and Danjuma as Chief of Army Staff. The Hausa/Fulani had kicked the Yoruba football up.
In 1998, when Sani Abacha and Moshood Abiola died, it was obvious that the Yoruba had been wounded by the annulment of the 1993 election that Abiola won and his death in detention. Again the Hausa/Fulani kicked up the Yoruba ball by inviting Obasanjo to take the presidential chair. Obasanjo did not become President by any Yoruba deliberateness, rather by the deliberateness of others who wanted to keep the Yoruba quiet and in tow. He was released from prison and offered the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Yoruba presidential candidate lost in all the Yoruba states, but the kickers of the Yoruba football kicked him into Aso Rock.
The truth is that these Obasanjo presidencies were not Yoruba opportunities and it is not surprising that the Yoruba have very little advantage to show for both. Obasanjo himself is not keen to be identified as a Yoruba leader, he prefers the national and international turfs. Identifying too strongly with Yoruba interest will diminish him in his quest for international dominance. The Yoruba are thereby stranded with no leader of serious political clout to muscle in for them in the myriad of political and economic interests in the country. Pray, would Lamido Sanusi have gone ahead to cripple financial activities in the country through the manner in which the reforms in the five supposedly ailing banks was done, if there was a strong Yoruba political voice in Abuja, backed by the people, who could have exercised the Yoruba clout to call for moderation in Sanusi's crusade? The truth is that many Yoruba businesses are today in shambles because the banks are no longer lending; no thanks to Sanusi. The Yoruba are the greatest beneficiaries of bank facilities in building businesses. Today government policy has effectively crippled that avenue that will have dire consequences for the Yoruba nation and no voice can be heard on its behalf. The Yoruba foot ball has been kicked down.
Look at the Presidential Advisory Committee set up by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, in a 26-man body, there are only three maybe four Yoruba people, depending on the way you look at it. Mr Fola Adeola, Mr Kase Lawal, Mrs Mobola Johnson and Dr (Mrs) Sally Bolujoko. Some argue that there are actually three and a half Yoruba people there. Four out of 26 cannot be equity to the Yoruba people. But beyond the numbers, look at how someone has cleverly liquidated the Yoruba in this matter. With all respect to the Yoruba members of this body that is expected to be the think tank of government in the next 12 months, all members are not equal. Who is the Yoruba man of political stature in the group? Horse-trading is the word in groups like this and some regions are loaded with those who are practised in such trade.
The North has people like Theophilus Danjuma, Alhaji MD Yussuf former Inspector General of Police, Justice Alfa Belgore former Chief Justice, Dr Bamaga Tukur former Governor former minister etc, Alhaji Ismaila Isa former President Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and billionaire businessman. The Eastern parts of the country is represented by the likes of Emeka Anyaoku former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Professor Ben Nwabueze foremost constitutional lawyer, Ambassador Preware ambassador plenipotentiary with wide political experience, Hon Chibudom Nwuche former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Kanu Agabi former Attorney-General of the federation. Did someone deliberately make the choices to ensure that the Yoruba representation is sufficiently weak to be politically intimidated?
These are the things that happen to a people who do not have visible political leaders. Chief Obafemi Awolowo combined the political and cultural leadership of the Yoruba. He won many battles for his people. Today there are cultural leaders for the Yoruba but there is no visible political leadership. The turf is vacant and the Yoruba nation is the poorer for it. Wanted urgently, a strong political leadership for the Yoruba. Not of pretenders and profit seekers but of those that are committed to ensuring equity to the Yoruba race in matters of national concern.
Ismail, an industrialist, lives in Ajuwon Ouarters, Ibadan, Oyo State.
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Source: UNDP, Human Development Report: Nigeria, 1996, pp.83
' It is clear that, on the whole, the conditions of life in Nigeria are very low indeed. With an overall Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.400, Nigeria ranked 137 out of a total of 174 countries in the world in 1993.4 However, low as the overall national HDI is, the HDI for most of the Northern States is still much lower than those for the rest of the country. If we take life expectancy at birth, we can see that whereas it is 61.4 years in Lagos and 60 years in Imo, it is as low as 36.6 years in Kaduna, 36.7 years in Bauchi and 37 years in Borno. In terms of adult literacy, the picture is even worse. Whereas nearly 76% of adults in Imo were literate in 1993, only 2.7% of adults in Sokoto and 10% in Borno were so categorised. The figures for Kano (12.1%) Niger (16), Gongola (26%), Benue (27), were equally very low. When we consider the other components of the HDI index such as real GDP per Capita, mean years of school and educational attainment, we shall see that, as the UNDP observed in 1997, the regional disparities in Nigeria are among the worst in the world. Observed the UNDP:
,
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Table 8: Nigeria: Selected Health indicators by Region Region
Prenatal care
Delivery in modern health facility
Vaccination
Infant mortality
Under-five mortality
Under-five stunted
Diarrhea prevalence
Northaast
45.3
10.4
15.9
87.7
214.6
51.9
23.9
Northwest
47.6
9.7
17.7
109.8
244.4
50.4
25.7
Southeast
80.4
46.3
43.3
82.7
143.7
36.6
12.2
Southwest
92.3
63.6
45.3
84.6
167.2
35.6
8.7
Nigeria
65.2
30.9
29.6
91.4
191.0
43.1
17.7
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The Grim Realities: Nutrition, Food and Health
Nutrition is one of the most basic indices of human development, because it determines, to a large extent, whether a human being lives or die. Well-nourished children, for instance, are less prone to what doctors refer to as the incidence of 'morbidity' and 'mortality'. Morbidity means the incidence of illness or the number of diseased persons recorded in a given population. Mortality , on the other hand, in its most general sense, refers to the fact of being mortal, i.e., subject to death. In other words, mortality can be used to indicate the frequency of death in a population.
It is generally agreed that adequate nutrition prevents frequent disease attacks and leads to good health and high labour productivity. Nutritionists say that, although all segments of the population require adequate nutrition in order to function properly, the nutritional status of mothers and children is more crucial, because they are the two groups most vulnerable to malnutrition. Amongst children, there are three levels of malnutrition. The first is "stunting," which means "a failure to grow adequately in height in relation to age." The second stage is "wasting," which is defined as "the inability to gain weight in relation to height." Experts say that wasting is an indication of "acute under- nutrition." The third level of malnutrition is "under-weight", i.e., "the inability to gain weight in relation to age." This malnutrition level is said to indicate chronic and acute under-nutrition.l Table 1 compares the nutritional status of Nigerian children in the four geographical regions of the country.
Table 1: Percentage of Under-Five Children in Nigeria Classified as Under-Nourished According to Different Indices of Nutritional Status, 1990 and 1993
1990 (NDHS)
1993 (UNICEF FOCUS STATUS)
Region
Stunting
Wasting
Under-weight %
Stunting
Wasting
Under-weight %
Northeast
51.9
11.3
44.6
53.4
13.8
30.9
Northwest
50.4
12.1
43.8
51.4
9.7
26.3
Southeast
36.6
7.6
29.6
51.3
9.2
23.8
Southwest
35.6
5.5
26.9
49.1
11.6
31.7
National
43.1
9.1
35.7
52.3
10.9
28.3
Adapted from Federal Office of Statistics, Socio-economic Profile of Nigeria, 1996, p.72 table 6.2
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The Grim Realities: Education
In its broadest sense, education is both a goal of development in itself, as well as a means for achieving better health, higher level productivity, rapid growth in GDP, greater social integration and political participation. Indeed, no society can hope to enjoy the benefits of modem technology without educating at least the great majol1ty of its citizens. Where the vast majority of the population is illiterate, the consequences for society are very grave. For one, the majority of the youth will be unable to either read or write, thus also unable to communicate effectively with themselves as well as with other citizens in other communities. Secondly, without education, the majority of the population will lack the technical, professional and managerial skills for both salaried as well as self-employment. Thirdly, without education, members of the society will lack the people who are intellectually prepared to lead the community confidently into the future.
If we take adult literacy, it is obvious from table 5 above that the Northern States are the least prepared. For, whereas nearly 76% of adults in Imo were literate in 1993, only 2.7% of adults in Sokoto and 10% in Borno were so categorised. The figures for Kano (12.1%) Niger (16), Gongola (26%), Benue (27), were equally dismally low. Similarly, if we look at the figures for Mean Years of Schooling, it can be seen that in Sokoto it was only 0.43; in Borno 0.55; in Kano 0.73; in Niger 1.(:)4 and in Kaduna 1.52. These figures contrast poorly with 4.00 Mean Years of Schooling for Bendel; 3.92 for Lagos; 3.84 for Rivers; 3.80 for Imo and 3.29 for Ondo.
In terms of secondary education, thee situation in the Northern States is equally bad. Table 11 brings out this reality clearly. While there are 397 secondary schools in Edo State with a total enrolment of 212, 016 students out of which 113, 379 were females in 1995, Yobe State had a mere 21 schools enrolling 12, 726 students, of which only 2,882 were females. Niger State, with a total population in 1991 of 2,021,581 people out of which 1,169,115 were females, had only 175 secondary schools enrolling 117,397. As at 1995, only 38,261, 01; 32.6% of students enrolled, were females. Yet, the state government recently announced its intention to even reduce the number of these schools. When we look at Sokoto, out of which Zamfara State was carved out, it had only 87 secondary schools enrolling 65, 466 students in 1995. Of this figure, only a mere 11,570 were female. In other words, only 17.7% of students enrolled were females. That these enrolment figures for the Northern States are very low even by Nigerian standards, can be seen i11 the fact that, of the 4,448, 991 total secondly school enrolment in the country, only 1, 417,945 or 31.87%, were enrolled in schools in the Northern States; and of the 2,094,276 girls enrolled in 1995, only 522,081 or 24.92%, were in schools located in the Northern States
Table 11: National Summary of Secondary School Enrolment By State 1995
State
Total No. of Schools
Total Enrollment
Total Female Enrollment
Total No. of Teachers
Total No. of Classrooms
Abia
208
141,806
78,268
3,891
3,729
Adamawa
122
58,275
21,681
1,884
1,340
Akwa-Ibom
261
162,722
82,391
5,933
3,832
Anambra
294
155,293
92,640
7,447
4,032
Bauchi/Gombe
134
97,933
36,008
3,794
1,981
Benue
290
153,326
51,088
4,690
3,566
Borno
71
74,895
33,725
2,537
1,584
Cross River
119
91,201
44,384
2,531
2,225
Delta
301
244,376
125,448
7,965
7,544
Edo
397
212,016
113,379
7,369
5,751
Enugu
242
131,667
78,444
6,021
3,688
Imo
320
186,076
115,707
8,751
5,792
Jigawa
69
24,033
8,585
1,162
694
Kaduna
173
136,055
58,056
5,750
3,010
Kano
230
104,971
40,803
3,957
2,539
Katsina
105
59,167
16,562
2,162
1,281
Kebbi
55
26,934
5,874
1,110
612
Kogi
200
110,900
45,271
4,025
2,503
Kwara
237
116,697
54,061
5,371
2,876
Lagos
358
588,154
304,438
17,527
11,289
Niger
175
117,397
38,261
3,998
4,316
Ogun
232
194,361
980,868
6,305
4,396
Ondo
307
174,088
86,637
7,511
5,293
Osun
334
21,070
99,301
8,271
5,770
Oyo
337
324,727
155,443
9,561
7,255
Plateau
328
166,581
65,900
5,557
3,789
River
339
213,842
101,030
6,673
4,640
Sokoto
87
65,466
11,570
1,735
1,369
Taraba
96
49,641
13,104
1,567
1,087
Yobe
21
12,726
2,882
476
304
F.C.T.
36
42,948
18,650
2,671
810
Total
6,429
4,448,991
2,094,276
158,122
108,905
Source: Annual Abstract of Statistics 1997 Edition, Federal Office of Statistics, Abuja, Table 132, P.183
1. Federal Office of Statistics, Socio- Economic Profile of Nigeria, 1996, Abuja, 1997. 2. Federal Office of Statistics, Nigeria: Demographic and Health Survey, 1990.
3. Federal Office of Statistics, Annual Abstract of Statistics 1997.
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CLICK LINK ON STATISTICS OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AND GRADUATION IN NIGERIA AND HOW IGBOS ARE LEADING NOW IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION -GRAPHICS
http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html
Ikechukwu AgborTuesday, February 10, 2009
ikeagbor@...
Dallas, Texas, USA
AFIS AND VAL OJO - YORUBA HAVE DECLINE MISERABLY AND IGBOS ARE NOT THE REASON
AFIS AND VALANTINE OJO,
IGBOS ARE NOT YOUR PROBLEM IN NIGERIA RIGHT NOW OR BEFORE WHEN YOU HAD YOUR FREE EDUCATION AND FREE HEALTH CARE BUT TODAY YOU ARE DECLINING IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH ETC. BUT YOU ARE NOT FOCUSING ON IT, BUT RATHER YOU KEEP CURSING AND INSULTING IGBOS EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT.
YES IGBOS HAVE OUR OWN SERIOUS PROBLEMS INTERNALLY LIKE IN EDUCATION, HEALTH, KIDNAPPING , CRIMANALS, DRUG DEALERS, 419 ETC AND I AGREE THESE ARE PROBLEMS IN IGBOLAND AND IT IS REALLY AFFECTING IGBOS SERIOUSLY, BUT MAJORITY IGBOS ARE WORKING ON IT AND JUST AS YOU CAN POINT OUT MANY IGBO PROBELMS, YOU CAN ALSO POINT OUT MANY GOOD EFFORT AND HARD WORKING IGBOS WHO ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS LIKE OHAHAZE NDIGBO, CHIEF RALPH UWECHUE, DR. ANYAOKU, PROFESSOR BART NNAJI, DR. OLISA AGBAKOBA, DR. ALEX EKWUMEME, OJUKWU, GOVERNOR OBI, GOVERNOR ELCHI, GOVERNOR CHIME, IGBOS EZES AND CHIEF, SOME IGBO GOVERNORS, IGBO YOUTH MOVEMENT AND MANY IGBO SELF HELP GROUPS AT HOME AND ABROAD AND IN DIASPORA ETC.
IGBOS AGREE THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS INTERNALLY BUT IGBOS ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY AFTER IT TOOK US MANY YEARS (40 YEAR) TO RECOVER AND STILL RECOVERING FROM OUR SAD EXPERIENCE OF THE CIVIL WAR TRIGERED AND INSTIGATED BY YORUBAS WHO INSTIGATED THE CIVIL WAR
1966 COUP PLANNERS: SENIOR OFFICERS IN NIGERIA MILITARY
MAJOR, CHUKWUMA NZEOGWU - ANIOMA IGBO
MAJOR, EMMANUEL IFEAJUNA - ANIOMA IGBO
MAJOR, CHUKWUKA - ANIOMA IGBO
CAPTAIN, ADELEKE - YORUBA
LIEUTENANT, FOLA OYEWOLE - YORUBA
BRIGEDIAR, VICTOR BANJO - YORUBA
MAJOR, WALE ADEMOYEGA - YORUBA
LIEUTENANT, FOLA OLAFIMIHA - YORUBA
LIEUTENANT, A.N. C AZUBOUGOR - ANIOMA IGBO
LIEUTENANT, A.A.O EGBIKOR - ANIOMA IGBO
COLONEL, NWAWO - ANIOMA IGBO
COLONEL, CYRIL IWEZE - ANIOMA IGBO
COLONEL, NWAJEI - ANIOMA IGBO
COLONEL, MIKE OKWECHIME - ANIOMA IGBO
MAJOR, ALBERT OKONKWO - ANIOMA IGBO
CAPTAIN, HENRY IGBOBA - ANIOMA IGBOS
YES, VAL AND AFIS, SOME IGBOS CAN DENY BEING IGBO THAT GOOD TOO, BUT REMEMBER THAT JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD WAS ALSO DENIED BY JUDAS AND OTHER FOLLOWERS WHEN THINGS GOT BAD, AND IGBOS SHOULD NOT BE SUPRISED AT THE ATITUDE OF SOME IGBOS WHO ARE LIKE JUDAS AND ARE DENYING THEIR IGBONESS. AFTER ALL EASTERN GERMANY DENIED THAT THEY WERE GERMANS, UNTILL GERMAN BECAME STRONG AGAIN AND THE ARE BACK NOW AND SAME THING WITH KOREAS AND JAPAN ETC. ONCE YOU LOSE A WAR OR FACING OBSTACLE IN LIFE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL DENY YOU.
ALSO, WHEN THE SOVIET UNION HAD PROBLEMS AND LOST POWER MANY OF ITS PEOPLE AND CITIZENS DENIED BEING RUSSIANS AND USSR AND BREAK AWAY, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE RETURNING WHEN THEY COMPLETE THEIR DREAMING AND RUSSIA IS COMING BACK. THE SAME THING IS ALSO HAPPENING IN YORUBA LAND, SOME YORUBAS IN KOGI AND KWARA STATE HAVE DENIED BEING YORUBA OR TO ASSOCIATE WITH YORUBA BUT RATHER THEY ASSOCIATE WITH THE HAUSAS AND THE NORTH BECAUSE THEY SEE POWER AND OPPORTUNITY AND THATS LIFE, LIKE THE LATE CHIEF AWONIYI WHO NEVER WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING YORUBA OR BELONG WITH YORUBA IN HIS LIFE, BUT WHEN HE DIED HIS SO CALLED NORTHEN BROTHERS COULD NOT EVEN COME TO BURY HIM. IT WAS HIS YORUBA PEOPLE THAT CAME TO BURY HIM WITH PRIDE AND THATS LIFE.
PLEASE AFIS AND VAL OJO. BELOW IS ABOUT 13 POINTS AND EVIDENCE THAT YORUBAS HAVE THEIR OWN SERIOUS PROBELMS AND YORUBAS ARE DECLINING IN INFLUENCE IN EDUCATION, GOVERNANCE, CORPORATE INFLUENCE, BUSINESS, HEALTH, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ETC. YORUBA SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN A BETTER PLACE IF YOU CAN JUST FOCUS ON YOUR SELF AND LEAVE IGBOS ALONE, BUT TODAY IGBOS ARE BEATING YOU TO THE DUST. IN EDUCATION ENROLLMENT, UNIVERSITY GRADUATION, SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND GRADUATION AND IN EUROPE AND AMERICA IGBOS ARE EXCELING AND IN ASIA JUST GO TO THE SEA PORTS AND BIG CITIES IN CHINA, SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA AND ALL THE ASIAN TIGERS COUNTRIES IGBOS ARE ESTABLISHING IMPRESSIVE GLOBAL PRESENCE IN EUROPE, ASIA AMERICA, ENGLAND ETC. AND YES WE HAVE OUR OWN MANY MANY BAD EGGS IN IGBOLAND LIKE KIDNAPPERS, DRUG DEALERS, CORRUPT IGBOS, THIEVES, CRIMINALS, BUT YORUBA HAS A BIGGER PROBLEM AS MUCH WAS GIVEN TO THEM AND MUCH IS EXPECTED BUT YORUBA IS DECLINING AND ALL OF US ARE LOSING BECUSE OF IT.
13 EVIDENCE THAT YORUBAS HAVE DECLINED MISERABLLY AND IGBOS DID NO T DO IT
(1) http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.htmlYORUBAS LEADING IN EDUCATION BEFORE IN AFRICA AND NIGERIA HAS FALLEN BEHIND, AS ALL YORUBA PROFESSORS IN YORUBA AND NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES HAVE DESTROYED NIGERIA AND YORUBA UNIVERSITIES, AND ARE NOW HEADING CHURCHES, MEGA CHURCHES AND PRAYERS GROUPS ALONG LAGOS- IBADAN EXPRESSWAY, IBADAN- IFE EXPRESS WAYS AND ALL OVER YORUBA LAND YORUBA PROFESSORS ARE NOW FISHING FOR DOLLARS IN CHURCHES AS OVER SEERS OF DOLLARS.
http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html
(2)http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html IN EDUCATION ENROLLMENT, GRADES AND GRADUATION FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,SECONDARY SCHOOL, UNIVERSITIES TO GRAUDATED SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA, AFRICA AND IN DIASPORA EVERY WHERE YORUBAS ARE NOT LEADING ANY MORE AS THEY HAVE FALLEN BEHIND BECAUSE THE IS NO MORE FREE EDUCATION, NO BUSARY AND NO MORE FREE MONEY.http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html
(3) YORUBA CORPORATE AND BANKING TITAINS LIKE RUFUS GIWA, KOLADE, AKINGBOLA, IBRU ETC. HAS ALL DESTROYED NIGERIA CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND DESTROYED NIGERIA CORPORATIONS, FOREIGN CORPORATION, AND NIGERIA BIG BANKS THEY WERE HEADING ALL ALONG, BECAUSE AFTER THE NIGERIA CIVIL WAR, YORUBA WERE BLESSED SINCE THE IGBOS WERE DEFEATED AND LACKED MANPOWER THEN AND WERE RELEGATED, BUT YORUBA GAINED INFLUENCE AT THE TIME WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION AND MANPOWER AND THEY STOLE AND CORRUPTLY DESTROYED ALL THE MULTI NATIONAL COMPANIES THEY WERE HEADING AND RAN ALL OF THEM TO THE GROUND. TODAY CORPORATE LIFE AND CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY IN NIGERIA HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY YORUBA GREED AND AS SUCH THEY DAYS YORUBA DETERMINING CORPORATE AND EDUCATION LEADERHIP IN NIGERIA IS GONE FOR GOOD.
(4)YORUBA WAS ALSO CONTROLLING THE OIL INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA AFTER THE WAR AND YORUBA RELEGATED AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THE NIGERDELTA OWNERS OF THE OIL OIL INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA, BUT TODAY THE OWNERS OF THE OIL HAVE WAKEN UP. NIGER DELTA OIL WILL BE CONTROLLED BY NIGER DELTA SO YORUBA RUNING THINGS IN NNPC, SHELL, TEXACO, MOBIL, TOTAL AND ALL THE OIL BUSINESSES IN NIGERIA IS OVER BECAUSE OF YORUBA AND HAUSA CORRUPT CONTROL OF THE OIL INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA, BUT TODAY THE OWNERS ARE TAKING IT BACK GRADUALLY. EVERY DAY IS FOR THE THIEF BUT ONE DAY IS FOR THE OWNER
CHECK THE EVIDENCE BELOW OF YORUBA DECLINE AND IGBOS ARE NOT YOUR PROBLEM. PLEASE FOCUS ON YOUR DECLINE.
EDUCATION STATISTICS THAT YORUBA IS DECLINGING THAT EVEN SOUTH SOUTH IS BEATING YORUBA
http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html
(5)
Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, CFR, the Alaafin of Oyo on the yoruba problems and lacking in some areas.
Why I took on Ooni of Ife – Alaafin of Oyo
Saturday, April 24, 2010 Vanguard Newspaper
"QUOTE" At a time there were moves to reconcile and fuse the Afenifere and the Council of Elders (YCE). The two blocks are made of eminent Yoruba leaders capable of speaking for the Yoruba at anytime. But they cannot achieve much as long as they are not talking with one voice
Take for example, there is no forum of traditional rulers like emirs and governors of the northern states just as there is none between Igbo traditional rulers and governors of the south east. Rather than that, the traditional rulers operate through their socio-political pressure groups like the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Ohaneze."UNQUOTE
(6)
DAILY TRUST
Bankole and the Yoruba agenda
Written by Omoniyi Ologunebi
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 22:26
“The Yoruba race has been relegated to the background in areas where it was a pioneer and excelled”. That was Dimeji Bankole, the Speaker of House of Representatives and the highest ranking Yoruba political office holder at the inauguration of the Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of Yoruba Academy in Ibadan recently. As reported in several dailies, the federal legislator’s lamentation of the seeming decline of Yoruba was against the background of a continuing retrogression that has only accelerated under the current democratic dispensation.
Bankole had noted that in education, the Yoruba were already attending Oxford and Cambridge Universities long before other African dreamt of such and decried the situation where in the last ten years, Yoruba’s have lost critical grounds in areas where it once have a controlling influence like the banking, media and security sectors." UNQUOTE
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GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER OF FRIDAY JANUARY 01 2010
Friday, January 01, 2010
CONTROLLED BY YORUBA PEOPLE OUR
Nigeria's capital market records world's worst performing index in 2009
By Femi Adekoya
"The All-Share Index on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended the year yesterday with 20,827.17 points, making it the worst performing equity index worldwide, despite a bullish rally on the New Year eve.
The assessment was contained in a Bloomberg report, which reviewed 91 largest indexes across the globe.
At a time when other economies were recovering from the global economic downturn, the Nigerian capital market was still struggling within the crisis.
Although, a lot of reasons have been attributed to the slow pace of the nation's capital market's growth, prominent ones among the events that almost dragged the economy to its knees included the fall in the global oil prices, the effects of the just concluded audit in the banking industry by the Central Bank of Nigeria, declining rate of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the country, sagging confidence of investors in the capital market, systemic failure on the part of regulators and wrong fundamentals presented by some listed equities on the Exchange." unquote
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YORUBAS AS FOOTBALLER BEING KICKED AROUND AND MIGHTY FALLENThursday, April 29, 2010
DAILY INDEPENDENT
04/29/2010
Yoruba as football
By Tunji Ismail
A football is an inflated piece of rubber or leather that is pushed around by being kicked by fun seekers otherwise called footballers. The fact of a football is that it goes in the direction decided by the kicker and sustains its flight in the air only to the extent of the energy devoted to it by the kicker. The kicker can push it right, left, upwards or make it stand still on the ground. In football the kicker is supreme advertisement
Hubert Ogunde, that great Yoruba philosopher, dramatist, poet and singer, conjured the appropriate imagery in his song 'Yoruba Ronu'. He said, "Yoruba so ra won di bolu f'araiye gba, to ba gba won s'oke won tun gba won si isale"; the Yoruba have become the football of the country, the kickers kick them up and down at will. That was about 50 years ago. How much of Ogunde's observation have changed? Have the Yoruba become kickers instead of the ball that is kicked?
Since the early sixties when this great man of Yoruba culture made his observations, the Yoruba have occupied the presidential chair twice, regrettably by the same man. Olusegun Obasanjo was military president from 1976 to 1979 and civilian president from 1999 to 2007. In both instances he was a ball that was kicked up. He did not become president on either occasion by any deliberate strategy or manipulation by the Yoruba. In his first coming, Theophilus Danjuma is popularly regarded as the mastermind of his ascension to the seat of power. Danjuma and the northern military establishment chose for their own strategic reasons to install a Yoruba as Head of State in 1976 after the death of Murtala Muhammed not to give an impression of oppressing other regions in the power game. The Hausa/Fulani of course held on to effective power through a combination of Shehu Yar'Adua as Chief of General Staff and Danjuma as Chief of Army Staff. The Hausa/Fulani had kicked the Yoruba football up.
In 1998, when Sani Abacha and Moshood Abiola died, it was obvious that the Yoruba had been wounded by the annulment of the 1993 election that Abiola won and his death in detention. Again the Hausa/Fulani kicked up the Yoruba ball by inviting Obasanjo to take the presidential chair. Obasanjo did not become President by any Yoruba deliberateness, rather by the deliberateness of others who wanted to keep the Yoruba quiet and in tow. He was released from prison and offered the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Yoruba presidential candidate lost in all the Yoruba states, but the kickers of the Yoruba football kicked him into Aso Rock.
The truth is that these Obasanjo presidencies were not Yoruba opportunities and it is not surprising that the Yoruba have very little advantage to show for both. Obasanjo himself is not keen to be identified as a Yoruba leader, he prefers the national and international turfs. Identifying too strongly with Yoruba interest will diminish him in his quest for international dominance. The Yoruba are thereby stranded with no leader of serious political clout to muscle in for them in the myriad of political and economic interests in the country. Pray, would Lamido Sanusi have gone ahead to cripple financial activities in the country through the manner in which the reforms in the five supposedly ailing banks was done, if there was a strong Yoruba political voice in Abuja, backed by the people, who could have exercised the Yoruba clout to call for moderation in Sanusi's crusade? The truth is that many Yoruba businesses are today in shambles because the banks are no longer lending; no thanks to Sanusi. The Yoruba are the greatest beneficiaries of bank facilities in building businesses. Today government policy has effectively crippled that avenue that will have dire consequences for the Yoruba nation and no voice can be heard on its behalf. The Yoruba foot ball has been kicked down.
Look at the Presidential Advisory Committee set up by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, in a 26-man body, there are only three maybe four Yoruba people, depending on the way you look at it. Mr Fola Adeola, Mr Kase Lawal, Mrs Mobola Johnson and Dr (Mrs) Sally Bolujoko. Some argue that there are actually three and a half Yoruba people there. Four out of 26 cannot be equity to the Yoruba people. But beyond the numbers, look at how someone has cleverly liquidated the Yoruba in this matter. With all respect to the Yoruba members of this body that is expected to be the think tank of government in the next 12 months, all members are not equal. Who is the Yoruba man of political stature in the group? Horse-trading is the word in groups like this and some regions are loaded with those who are practised in such trade.
The North has people like Theophilus Danjuma, Alhaji MD Yussuf former Inspector General of Police, Justice Alfa Belgore former Chief Justice, Dr Bamaga Tukur former Governor former minister etc, Alhaji Ismaila Isa former President Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and billionaire businessman. The Eastern parts of the country is represented by the likes of Emeka Anyaoku former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Professor Ben Nwabueze foremost constitutional lawyer, Ambassador Preware ambassador plenipotentiary with wide political experience, Hon Chibudom Nwuche former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Kanu Agabi former Attorney-General of the federation. Did someone deliberately make the choices to ensure that the Yoruba representation is sufficiently weak to be politically intimidated?
These are the things that happen to a people who do not have visible political leaders. Chief Obafemi Awolowo combined the political and cultural leadership of the Yoruba. He won many battles for his people. Today there are cultural leaders for the Yoruba but there is no visible political leadership. The turf is vacant and the Yoruba nation is the poorer for it. Wanted urgently, a strong political leadership for the Yoruba. Not of pretenders and profit seekers but of those that are committed to ensuring equity to the Yoruba race in matters of national concern.
Ismail, an industrialist, lives in Ajuwon Ouarters, Ibadan, Oyo State.
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Source: UNDP, Human Development Report: Nigeria, 1996, pp.83
' It is clear that, on the whole, the conditions of life in Nigeria are very low indeed. With an overall Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.400, Nigeria ranked 137 out of a total of 174 countries in the world in 1993.4 However, low as the overall national HDI is, the HDI for most of the Northern States is still much lower than those for the rest of the country. If we take life expectancy at birth, we can see that whereas it is 61.4 years in Lagos and 60 years in Imo, it is as low as 36.6 years in Kaduna, 36.7 years in Bauchi and 37 years in Borno. In terms of adult literacy, the picture is even worse. Whereas nearly 76% of adults in Imo were literate in 1993, only 2.7% of adults in Sokoto and 10% in Borno were so categorised. The figures for Kano (12.1%) Niger (16), Gongola (26%), Benue (27), were equally very low. When we consider the other components of the HDI index such as real GDP per Capita, mean years of school and educational attainment, we shall see that, as the UNDP observed in 1997, the regional disparities in Nigeria are among the worst in the world. Observed the UNDP:
,
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Table 8: Nigeria: Selected Health indicators by Region Region
Prenatal care
Delivery in modern health facility
Vaccination
Infant mortality
Under-five mortality
Under-five stunted
Diarrhea prevalence
Northaast
45.3
10.4
15.9
87.7
214.6
51.9
23.9
Northwest
47.6
9.7
17.7
109.8
244.4
50.4
25.7
Southeast
80.4
46.3
43.3
82.7
143.7
36.6
12.2
Southwest
92.3
63.6
45.3
84.6
167.2
35.6
8.7
Nigeria
65.2
30.9
29.6
91.4
191.0
43.1
17.7
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The Grim Realities: Nutrition, Food and Health
Nutrition is one of the most basic indices of human development, because it determines, to a large extent, whether a human being lives or die. Well-nourished children, for instance, are less prone to what doctors refer to as the incidence of 'morbidity' and 'mortality'. Morbidity means the incidence of illness or the number of diseased persons recorded in a given population. Mortality , on the other hand, in its most general sense, refers to the fact of being mortal, i.e., subject to death. In other words, mortality can be used to indicate the frequency of death in a population.
It is generally agreed that adequate nutrition prevents frequent disease attacks and leads to good health and high labour productivity. Nutritionists say that, although all segments of the population require adequate nutrition in order to function properly, the nutritional status of mothers and children is more crucial, because they are the two groups most vulnerable to malnutrition. Amongst children, there are three levels of malnutrition. The first is "stunting," which means "a failure to grow adequately in height in relation to age." The second stage is "wasting," which is defined as "the inability to gain weight in relation to height." Experts say that wasting is an indication of "acute under- nutrition." The third level of malnutrition is "under-weight", i.e., "the inability to gain weight in relation to age." This malnutrition level is said to indicate chronic and acute under-nutrition.l Table 1 compares the nutritional status of Nigerian children in the four geographical regions of the country.
Table 1: Percentage of Under-Five Children in Nigeria Classified as Under-Nourished According to Different Indices of Nutritional Status, 1990 and 1993
1990 (NDHS)
1993 (UNICEF FOCUS STATUS)
Region
Stunting
Wasting
Under-weight %
Stunting
Wasting
Under-weight %
Northeast
51.9
11.3
44.6
53.4
13.8
30.9
Northwest
50.4
12.1
43.8
51.4
9.7
26.3
Southeast
36.6
7.6
29.6
51.3
9.2
23.8
Southwest
35.6
5.5
26.9
49.1
11.6
31.7
National
43.1
9.1
35.7
52.3
10.9
28.3
Adapted from Federal Office of Statistics, Socio-economic Profile of Nigeria, 1996, p.72 table 6.2
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The Grim Realities: Education
In its broadest sense, education is both a goal of development in itself, as well as a means for achieving better health, higher level productivity, rapid growth in GDP, greater social integration and political participation. Indeed, no society can hope to enjoy the benefits of modem technology without educating at least the great majol1ty of its citizens. Where the vast majority of the population is illiterate, the consequences for society are very grave. For one, the majority of the youth will be unable to either read or write, thus also unable to communicate effectively with themselves as well as with other citizens in other communities. Secondly, without education, the majority of the population will lack the technical, professional and managerial skills for both salaried as well as self-employment. Thirdly, without education, members of the society will lack the people who are intellectually prepared to lead the community confidently into the future.
If we take adult literacy, it is obvious from table 5 above that the Northern States are the least prepared. For, whereas nearly 76% of adults in Imo were literate in 1993, only 2.7% of adults in Sokoto and 10% in Borno were so categorised. The figures for Kano (12.1%) Niger (16), Gongola (26%), Benue (27), were equally dismally low. Similarly, if we look at the figures for Mean Years of Schooling, it can be seen that in Sokoto it was only 0.43; in Borno 0.55; in Kano 0.73; in Niger 1.(:)4 and in Kaduna 1.52. These figures contrast poorly with 4.00 Mean Years of Schooling for Bendel; 3.92 for Lagos; 3.84 for Rivers; 3.80 for Imo and 3.29 for Ondo.
In terms of secondary education, thee situation in the Northern States is equally bad. Table 11 brings out this reality clearly. While there are 397 secondary schools in Edo State with a total enrolment of 212, 016 students out of which 113, 379 were females in 1995, Yobe State had a mere 21 schools enrolling 12, 726 students, of which only 2,882 were females. Niger State, with a total population in 1991 of 2,021,581 people out of which 1,169,115 were females, had only 175 secondary schools enrolling 117,397. As at 1995, only 38,261, 01; 32.6% of students enrolled, were females. Yet, the state government recently announced its intention to even reduce the number of these schools. When we look at Sokoto, out of which Zamfara State was carved out, it had only 87 secondary schools enrolling 65, 466 students in 1995. Of this figure, only a mere 11,570 were female. In other words, only 17.7% of students enrolled were females. That these enrolment figures for the Northern States are very low even by Nigerian standards, can be seen i11 the fact that, of the 4,448, 991 total secondly school enrolment in the country, only 1, 417,945 or 31.87%, were enrolled in schools in the Northern States; and of the 2,094,276 girls enrolled in 1995, only 522,081 or 24.92%, were in schools located in the Northern States
Table 11: National Summary of Secondary School Enrolment By State 1995
State
Total No. of Schools
Total Enrollment
Total Female Enrollment
Total No. of Teachers
Total No. of Classrooms
Abia
208
141,806
78,268
3,891
3,729
Adamawa
122
58,275
21,681
1,884
1,340
Akwa-Ibom
261
162,722
82,391
5,933
3,832
Anambra
294
155,293
92,640
7,447
4,032
Bauchi/Gombe
134
97,933
36,008
3,794
1,981
Benue
290
153,326
51,088
4,690
3,566
Borno
71
74,895
33,725
2,537
1,584
Cross River
119
91,201
44,384
2,531
2,225
Delta
301
244,376
125,448
7,965
7,544
Edo
397
212,016
113,379
7,369
5,751
Enugu
242
131,667
78,444
6,021
3,688
Imo
320
186,076
115,707
8,751
5,792
Jigawa
69
24,033
8,585
1,162
694
Kaduna
173
136,055
58,056
5,750
3,010
Kano
230
104,971
40,803
3,957
2,539
Katsina
105
59,167
16,562
2,162
1,281
Kebbi
55
26,934
5,874
1,110
612
Kogi
200
110,900
45,271
4,025
2,503
Kwara
237
116,697
54,061
5,371
2,876
Lagos
358
588,154
304,438
17,527
11,289
Niger
175
117,397
38,261
3,998
4,316
Ogun
232
194,361
980,868
6,305
4,396
Ondo
307
174,088
86,637
7,511
5,293
Osun
334
21,070
99,301
8,271
5,770
Oyo
337
324,727
155,443
9,561
7,255
Plateau
328
166,581
65,900
5,557
3,789
River
339
213,842
101,030
6,673
4,640
Sokoto
87
65,466
11,570
1,735
1,369
Taraba
96
49,641
13,104
1,567
1,087
Yobe
21
12,726
2,882
476
304
F.C.T.
36
42,948
18,650
2,671
810
Total
6,429
4,448,991
2,094,276
158,122
108,905
Source: Annual Abstract of Statistics 1997 Edition, Federal Office of Statistics, Abuja, Table 132, P.183
1. Federal Office of Statistics, Socio- Economic Profile of Nigeria, 1996, Abuja, 1997. 2. Federal Office of Statistics, Nigeria: Demographic and Health Survey, 1990.
3. Federal Office of Statistics, Annual Abstract of Statistics 1997.
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CLICK LINK ON STATISTICS OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AND GRADUATION IN NIGERIA AND HOW IGBOS ARE LEADING NOW IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION -GRAPHICS
http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2009/feb/101.html
Ikechukwu AgborTuesday, February 10, 2009
ikeagbor@...
Dallas, Texas, USA
ANAMBRA FADAMA OFFICE CLARIFIES PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS
OKONTA EMEKA
A one-day sensitization and implementation progress meeting with stakeholders in Local Government system has ended in Awka, with a call on Chief Executives of the 20 participating Local Governments, in the Fadama III Project, to see themselves as key players that would facilitate the success of the Project at the community level.
Declaring the meeting open, the Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Godson Ezenagu, noted that the meeting was expected to foster a more robust collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Local Government, in the implementation of this pro-poor and people-centered Project.
Chief Ezenagu contended that the Project would provide finance, technical assistance, training, equipment and other institutional support to the participating Local Governments.
Such scenario, he added would likely lead to innovations in the Local Governments’ planning programme and improvement in good governance and organizational capacity of the Local Governments.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government, Mr Dubem Obaze, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Maxi Onyekwelu, said that the meeting has cleared all the doubts and misunderstandings, about the Project, in both the Ministry and the Local Government system.
He urged the Fadama Desk Officers to endeavour to close the perceived communication gap between them and the Heads of Local Government Administration.
In a welcome address, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Chudi Mojekwu, stated that Fadama III Project is expected to revolutionize the economy of our rural communities.
Within the life span of the Project, Mr. Chudi Mojekwu said that each of the participating Local Governments would receive a minimum of N 50 million in direct investment, adding that the incomes of about 45, 000 households are expected to increase by 60% in all the 20 participating Local Governments.
The Coordinator recalled that so far, over N 80 million has been disbursed for implementation of 167 subprojects in 56 communities, adding that three of such subprojects and 16 Input Support have been completed, within four months, while the rest are at varying and satisfactory levels of completion. He hinted that funds disbursement is being scaled-up in order to increase subprojects completion/implementation rate.
On the allegation by some Local Government bosses that they are not properly informed about Fadama III in the State, Mr. Mojekwu told them that operations in the Project are open and transparent and they should demand for any information from both the Desk Officers and the State Office.
A Consultant to the Project, Prof. Michael Madukwe, who presented three papers, reminded the Local Government Chief Executives that they remain the catalyst for the success of Fadama III Project in the State. He told them that aside from asking questions, they should help some of the groups, especially the vulnerable ones, pay their counterpart contributions, as well as make out time to go to the field, monitor and supervise the subprojects being executed in their areas.
Prof. Madukwe said that they should capitalize on such areas like small scale community-owned infrastructure and asset acquisition for individual groups, where the Bank would provide 90% and 70% matching grants, respectively, and write their names on the sands of time.
In a vote of thanks, the Head of Local Government Administration, Awka South, Engr. Davidson Nweke, thanked Governor Peter Obi for his unconditional passion for the Project and expressed happiness that the meeting has thrown more light about the implementation strategy and operations in the Project.
Discussions, questions and answers that followed later, thrashed a lot of thorny issues that were raised, to the satisfaction of all the participants.
A one-day sensitization and implementation progress meeting with stakeholders in Local Government system has ended in Awka, with a call on Chief Executives of the 20 participating Local Governments, in the Fadama III Project, to see themselves as key players that would facilitate the success of the Project at the community level.
Declaring the meeting open, the Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Godson Ezenagu, noted that the meeting was expected to foster a more robust collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Local Government, in the implementation of this pro-poor and people-centered Project.
Chief Ezenagu contended that the Project would provide finance, technical assistance, training, equipment and other institutional support to the participating Local Governments.
Such scenario, he added would likely lead to innovations in the Local Governments’ planning programme and improvement in good governance and organizational capacity of the Local Governments.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government, Mr Dubem Obaze, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Maxi Onyekwelu, said that the meeting has cleared all the doubts and misunderstandings, about the Project, in both the Ministry and the Local Government system.
He urged the Fadama Desk Officers to endeavour to close the perceived communication gap between them and the Heads of Local Government Administration.
In a welcome address, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Chudi Mojekwu, stated that Fadama III Project is expected to revolutionize the economy of our rural communities.
Within the life span of the Project, Mr. Chudi Mojekwu said that each of the participating Local Governments would receive a minimum of N 50 million in direct investment, adding that the incomes of about 45, 000 households are expected to increase by 60% in all the 20 participating Local Governments.
The Coordinator recalled that so far, over N 80 million has been disbursed for implementation of 167 subprojects in 56 communities, adding that three of such subprojects and 16 Input Support have been completed, within four months, while the rest are at varying and satisfactory levels of completion. He hinted that funds disbursement is being scaled-up in order to increase subprojects completion/implementation rate.
On the allegation by some Local Government bosses that they are not properly informed about Fadama III in the State, Mr. Mojekwu told them that operations in the Project are open and transparent and they should demand for any information from both the Desk Officers and the State Office.
A Consultant to the Project, Prof. Michael Madukwe, who presented three papers, reminded the Local Government Chief Executives that they remain the catalyst for the success of Fadama III Project in the State. He told them that aside from asking questions, they should help some of the groups, especially the vulnerable ones, pay their counterpart contributions, as well as make out time to go to the field, monitor and supervise the subprojects being executed in their areas.
Prof. Madukwe said that they should capitalize on such areas like small scale community-owned infrastructure and asset acquisition for individual groups, where the Bank would provide 90% and 70% matching grants, respectively, and write their names on the sands of time.
In a vote of thanks, the Head of Local Government Administration, Awka South, Engr. Davidson Nweke, thanked Governor Peter Obi for his unconditional passion for the Project and expressed happiness that the meeting has thrown more light about the implementation strategy and operations in the Project.
Discussions, questions and answers that followed later, thrashed a lot of thorny issues that were raised, to the satisfaction of all the participants.
2011: ‘North still to produce President’
Shehu Abubakar
Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo, a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), he said the party has been taken over by strangers at the national level. He said unless the party is reformed and major changes effected, the PDP may not win elections in 2011 because the era of rigging is over. Excerpts:
Where do you stand in the ongoing wrangling in your party?
There is a group that call itself the reform group that is advocating that the people should be carried along in the party policies and programs so that the ordinary man on the street will have a sense of belonging. The time of rigging has come and gone. The leadership of the PDP, whoever they may be, should be able to go out and tell Nigerians what they have been able to do for them in this number of years they have been in existence. And that leadership must be clean. The leadership should not have any skeleton in its cupboard. The problem we have faced particularly people like us who are founders of this party is that we were all forgotten. Those in the party secretariat today that are leaders are all strangers to the party starting from the National Chairman, Secretary and what have you. They all came from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). They do not know what we suffered to form this party and who is why they do not have respect for people like us. They have come to make money and go but we make sure that we keep something behind. That is the dignity of man. I have seen the fight going on in the party (PDP). If the Reform Group succeeds, it will bring more credibility to the party.
Do you think if the crises in the PDP continues beyond this year, the party can win the 2011 elections?
No, no way! PDP cannot win any election now with the spate of crisis in the party. Even in Abia here where the national chairman of the party, Vincent Ogbulafor and I come from, the national chairman cannot win a polling booth. We have to tell ourselves the truth. Who is talking about PDP here in Abia State today? If what we are doing now to restore normalcy in Abia State is applied to other states nationwide, I strongly believe that the PDP will bounce back.
What is your advice to the leadership of your party on the activities of the Reform Group?
They should listen to them. Yes, I support the actions of the Reforms Group. The Reform Group is 100 percent correct in what they are saying. I support the group because what they are saying is not against anybody. They are not saying remove this man or that man. What they are saying is that things should be done in the proper way. The governors are not the owners of PDP. Most of the governors were beggars before the PDP was formed, and they ran under the platform of the PDP. Today, they are millionaires. Because some of them looted the state treasury they want now to take the party away from us who suffered to form the party.
What the people are saying is that governors should concentrate on the governance of their respective states. They should forget the party. The party belongs to party members and not only the governors. There is no way a governor should select who goes to the state House of Assembly. He will select who will be councillor. He will select who will be a Senator and will sit there and return himself back to office. This is what the Reforms Group is trying to stop.
You are from the same state with the national chairman of your party, PDP. But a different party is governing your state today, why?
You see, the PDP failed in Abia State in 2007 because of protest votes. The man who contested the governorship election under the PDP in person of Onyema Ugochukwu was working for Obasanjo and so Obasanjo imposed him on the state. When we formed the PDP, Obasanjo was in prison. He was not around when I formed the PDP in Abia state. Obasanjo imposed him on us. Ugochkwu was the NDDC chairman; he did not even come to my place because of our local politics. I am an Ibeku prince and he is from Ohuhu. The politics has been in existence for a very long time. He thought he could win without me. That was why he lost. Be that as it may, the PDP definitely will win Abia State in 2011. Nobody will challenge the PDP in this state. There is nothing like PPA here in Abia State. Everybody here is PDP. I repeat PPA has failed woefully in Abia state.
As a founding member of the party, what is the PDP’s initial position on the zoning arrangement and the power shift agreement?
I do not want power to shift to the South in 2011. The presidency should remain in the North until 2015. That was the zoning arrangement agreed upon by founders of the PDP in 1998. The Northerners still have 4 years to complete their 8 year reign. Anything contrary could spell doom for the nation. It could cause chaos, which could eventually truncate the nation’s democracy. In-fact, if it is in a country where we respect agreements, even though it was done in the PDP, we ought not to talk of voting in the entire country. We should have just told the Northerners to go and do primaries and give us a presidential candidate. We in the South have no business bringing out a presidential candidate from the South in 2011.
But former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigerians from anywhere can aspire to contest the Presidency because there was no zoning arrangement in the party.
Obasanjo would not have known that there was a zoning formula because he was in the prison at that time. The abandonment of zoning arrangements will ruin the image and integrity of people like us who were present at the time it was taken. I was unhappy when I heard that and because people who are supposed to speak against it have kept quiet because they are looking for favours. I am not looking for favour. Throughout Obasanjo regime, Yar’adua and even Jonathan, I have not got any favours from them. I am a realist. I tell you my mind. Whether Obasanjo gives tacit support to Jonathan or not, what I am saying is that the North still has four years to complete its eight-year term at the presidency.
Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo, a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), he said the party has been taken over by strangers at the national level. He said unless the party is reformed and major changes effected, the PDP may not win elections in 2011 because the era of rigging is over. Excerpts:
Where do you stand in the ongoing wrangling in your party?
There is a group that call itself the reform group that is advocating that the people should be carried along in the party policies and programs so that the ordinary man on the street will have a sense of belonging. The time of rigging has come and gone. The leadership of the PDP, whoever they may be, should be able to go out and tell Nigerians what they have been able to do for them in this number of years they have been in existence. And that leadership must be clean. The leadership should not have any skeleton in its cupboard. The problem we have faced particularly people like us who are founders of this party is that we were all forgotten. Those in the party secretariat today that are leaders are all strangers to the party starting from the National Chairman, Secretary and what have you. They all came from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). They do not know what we suffered to form this party and who is why they do not have respect for people like us. They have come to make money and go but we make sure that we keep something behind. That is the dignity of man. I have seen the fight going on in the party (PDP). If the Reform Group succeeds, it will bring more credibility to the party.
Do you think if the crises in the PDP continues beyond this year, the party can win the 2011 elections?
No, no way! PDP cannot win any election now with the spate of crisis in the party. Even in Abia here where the national chairman of the party, Vincent Ogbulafor and I come from, the national chairman cannot win a polling booth. We have to tell ourselves the truth. Who is talking about PDP here in Abia State today? If what we are doing now to restore normalcy in Abia State is applied to other states nationwide, I strongly believe that the PDP will bounce back.
What is your advice to the leadership of your party on the activities of the Reform Group?
They should listen to them. Yes, I support the actions of the Reforms Group. The Reform Group is 100 percent correct in what they are saying. I support the group because what they are saying is not against anybody. They are not saying remove this man or that man. What they are saying is that things should be done in the proper way. The governors are not the owners of PDP. Most of the governors were beggars before the PDP was formed, and they ran under the platform of the PDP. Today, they are millionaires. Because some of them looted the state treasury they want now to take the party away from us who suffered to form the party.
What the people are saying is that governors should concentrate on the governance of their respective states. They should forget the party. The party belongs to party members and not only the governors. There is no way a governor should select who goes to the state House of Assembly. He will select who will be councillor. He will select who will be a Senator and will sit there and return himself back to office. This is what the Reforms Group is trying to stop.
You are from the same state with the national chairman of your party, PDP. But a different party is governing your state today, why?
You see, the PDP failed in Abia State in 2007 because of protest votes. The man who contested the governorship election under the PDP in person of Onyema Ugochukwu was working for Obasanjo and so Obasanjo imposed him on the state. When we formed the PDP, Obasanjo was in prison. He was not around when I formed the PDP in Abia state. Obasanjo imposed him on us. Ugochkwu was the NDDC chairman; he did not even come to my place because of our local politics. I am an Ibeku prince and he is from Ohuhu. The politics has been in existence for a very long time. He thought he could win without me. That was why he lost. Be that as it may, the PDP definitely will win Abia State in 2011. Nobody will challenge the PDP in this state. There is nothing like PPA here in Abia State. Everybody here is PDP. I repeat PPA has failed woefully in Abia state.
As a founding member of the party, what is the PDP’s initial position on the zoning arrangement and the power shift agreement?
I do not want power to shift to the South in 2011. The presidency should remain in the North until 2015. That was the zoning arrangement agreed upon by founders of the PDP in 1998. The Northerners still have 4 years to complete their 8 year reign. Anything contrary could spell doom for the nation. It could cause chaos, which could eventually truncate the nation’s democracy. In-fact, if it is in a country where we respect agreements, even though it was done in the PDP, we ought not to talk of voting in the entire country. We should have just told the Northerners to go and do primaries and give us a presidential candidate. We in the South have no business bringing out a presidential candidate from the South in 2011.
But former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigerians from anywhere can aspire to contest the Presidency because there was no zoning arrangement in the party.
Obasanjo would not have known that there was a zoning formula because he was in the prison at that time. The abandonment of zoning arrangements will ruin the image and integrity of people like us who were present at the time it was taken. I was unhappy when I heard that and because people who are supposed to speak against it have kept quiet because they are looking for favours. I am not looking for favour. Throughout Obasanjo regime, Yar’adua and even Jonathan, I have not got any favours from them. I am a realist. I tell you my mind. Whether Obasanjo gives tacit support to Jonathan or not, what I am saying is that the North still has four years to complete its eight-year term at the presidency.
2011: Nigeria may break up if Jonathan contests - PDP elder
Kunle Oderemi
Nigeria may break up if President Goodluck Jonathan undermines the current zoning arrangement in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and bows to pressure on him to run for the presidency in 2011.
According to a PDP elder, Chief Bode Mustapha, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday in Lagos, against the background of intense horse trading by some hawks to make Jonathan contest presidency, it will be suicidal for him to go against the grains of the mutually agreed zoning policy of the part.
He said the clamour for him to run amounted to a contractual breach with grave implications for the stability and co-existence of the 250 ethnic gropus that make up the federation.
He declared, Naturally, he (President Jona-than) should be under pressure from people who are benefiting from him that he should run. But I believe he is intelligent enough to know that when the die is cast and the whole thing crum-bles, he would take full responsibility. I do not believe that he would like Nigeria to break up.
We have stability in the country today because of the zoning arrangement that places people in different positions. We want peace in this country; we don't want distractions and more problems again.
We should not change the goal post in the middle of the match. I believe that by the time the zoning arrangement has taken through all the six geopolitical zones, then it (the presidential race) can become anybody's affairs. If we don't do that, it means we are changing the goal post and may God save this country.
Nigeria may break up if President Goodluck Jonathan undermines the current zoning arrangement in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and bows to pressure on him to run for the presidency in 2011.
According to a PDP elder, Chief Bode Mustapha, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday in Lagos, against the background of intense horse trading by some hawks to make Jonathan contest presidency, it will be suicidal for him to go against the grains of the mutually agreed zoning policy of the part.
He said the clamour for him to run amounted to a contractual breach with grave implications for the stability and co-existence of the 250 ethnic gropus that make up the federation.
He declared, Naturally, he (President Jona-than) should be under pressure from people who are benefiting from him that he should run. But I believe he is intelligent enough to know that when the die is cast and the whole thing crum-bles, he would take full responsibility. I do not believe that he would like Nigeria to break up.
We have stability in the country today because of the zoning arrangement that places people in different positions. We want peace in this country; we don't want distractions and more problems again.
We should not change the goal post in the middle of the match. I believe that by the time the zoning arrangement has taken through all the six geopolitical zones, then it (the presidential race) can become anybody's affairs. If we don't do that, it means we are changing the goal post and may God save this country.
Group Accuses Victor Ochei Of Massive Corruption
UJOM-AMAKA ANYIBUOFU
Is Assemblyman Victor Ochei, who represents Aniochia North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly another James Ibori? A petition sent to the EFCC by “Intelligence Watch UK,” which gives its address as 200 Fleet Street, London SE6 5PY, accuses the legislator of “massive fraud and corrupt enrichment,” and provides a long list of charges against the legislator. Among the charges, the group accuses Mr. Ochei of acquiring properties in Nigeria and abroad that he has never declared under the Code of Conduct Act, including a property worth $549,565,00 (Five Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Five Dollars) located at No. 580 Pelican Ave, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877 in Maryland, United States of America. According to the petition, the property was purchased in February 2006 and was fully paid for.
The group alleges that Mr. Ochei handles electricity power projects in the state through various companies he owns. It also asserts that the projects obtained by Mr. Ochei’s companies violate the law. “These projects never followed due process in their award process, they were never advertised; no bidding process and their cost implications showed that they were over invoiced and highly inflated. This type of insiders-trading is completely prohibited by our laws and smacks –off flagrant disregard to due process and existing prohibitive laws to such corrupt enrichment.”
Among its many allegations, Intelligence Watch draws the attention of the EFCC to a story in Vanguard on April 26, 2010 in which Mr. Ochei allegedly said that as Chairman of DavNotch Nig Ltd, he loaned N90 million to Judora Integrated services Nigeria Ltd.
“It is very important to ask what the salary of a Delta State house member is which will afford such luxury and extravagance,” the petition states. Yet it challenges the loan even further: “The said allegation of loaning Judora Integrated services Nigeria Ltd N90 million is erroneous. We invite your commission to investigate DavNotch Nig Ltd bank accounts in which one of them is Zenith Bank 6012921288.”
The petition provides a long list or property in Delta State allegedly owned by Mr. Ochei, and suggests that the legislator has help from higher-up in the state. “It is very clear from the foregoing that DavNotch Nig. Ltd is used as a conduit pipe to siphon money from Delta State and the said Victor Ochei and his company is fronting for very top Government officials in Delta State in this self enrichment bid,” it says.
Steve Doughty, Director MCE International, meets with members of the Delta State Government, from 3rd right, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, 2nd right, Hon. Victor Ochei representative of Davnotch Nigeria Limited
Full text of the petition is as follows:
INTELLIGENCE WATCH UK
200 Fleet Street, London SE6 5PY
20th April 2010.
The Chairman,
Economic and financial crimes commission,
Abuja.
MASSIVE FRAUD AND CORRUPT ENRICHMENT USING DAVNOTCH NIGERIA LIMITED OWNED BY HON. VICTOR OCHEI MEMBER REPRESENTING ANIOCHA NORTH CONSTITUENCY IN DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
We are writing to bring to your knowledge the massive fraud that is going on in Delta State, and implore you to take immediate action to curb this looting of Delta State treasury by Hon. Victor Ochei.
Our investigation revealed that Hon. Victor Ochei’s companies handle power projects in Delta state. More worrisome is the fact over 80% of Power and Energy projects in Delta state are handled by companies owned by the said Victor Ochei (1) DAV-NOTCH NIG LTD, with RC. No: 316225 (2) KACHI & BUBE NIG LTD, with RC. No: 491585 (3) HANVIC IND. LTD. With RC. No: 385425 (4) DONALD AND MONICA ENTERPRISE.
Please see the attached FORM CAC 7 and FORM CAC 2 showing Directors and shareholders respectively.
These projects never followed due process in their award process, they were never advertised; no bidding process and their cost implications showed that they were over invoiced and highly inflated. This type of insiders trading is completely prohibited by our laws and smacks –off flagrant disregard to due process and existing prohibitive laws to such corrupt enrichment.
It will interest you to know that the acts of insiders trading and abuse of office of Hon. Victor Ochei has become a source of concern to even his fellow members of the Delta State House of Assembly.
The said Hon. Victor Ochei is the Committee Chairman on Education, member of appropriation committee, Power and Energy committees in Delta State House of Assembly. As evidenced in the attached document to this petition, he took advantage of his position as a member of power and energy committee and all past and on–going power projects were awarded to his company DavNotch Nig Ltd without the requisite due process of contract awards. Particularly of interest is the fact that as a member of appropriation committee, he was involved in appropriating over inflated and mind burgling sums of money to the said projects being awarded to his company. All major projects from the ministry of Education were and are currently being handled by his companies. These issues borders on acts of stealing, conspiracy to steal, abuse of office and insiders trading cannot be over emphasized.
A major fraud going on now in Delta State is the Delta State Independent Power Project in Oghareki, Delta state in which the same DavNotch Nig. Ltd is the contractor. The sum awarded for the project is over N27 billion and more than 50% of the said sum has been paid. Up until today nothing is going on in the site in Oghareki, Delta State. Particularly of concern also is the fact that Delta State is yet to obtain the license from National Electric Commission for the said Independent power project and the project has been awarded, over 50% out of N27 billion has been paid and no evidence of work going on in the site. The design of the Power plant was awarded to MCE International based in Houston with office at 5904 Bingle Road, Houston Texas 77092 United Sates. (Find attached picture) of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Hon. Victor Ochei and others when they visited the company in Houston Texas USA. The design of the Power plant is $4 million.
It is very clear from the foregoing that DavNotch Nig. Ltd is used as a conduit pipe to siphone money from Delta State and the said Victor Ochei and his company is fronting for very top Government officials in Delta State in this self enrichment bid.
The over 20 kilometer street light project on the Onitsha Benin highway in Asaba was handled by Davnotch Limited for over N650million and also the streets in Asaba. The street lights in Asaba are run by 15 units of fake Chinese 30 kva generators. These generators are run by diesel supplied by Uduaghan wife’s company ONOVIN LTD owned her husband’s brother Vincent Uduaghan. The supply of diesel to run the generators cost the Delta State Government N200million monthly.
We refer your commission to the publications of 26th April, 2010 on page 52 vanguard Newspaper, page 21of pointer Newspapers and page 64 of Thisday Newspapers in which the said Victor Ochei accepted that he is the Chairman of DavNotch Nig Ltd and that he loaned the sum of N90 million to Judora Integrated services Nigeria Ltd for which he is currently having a legal battle with Judora Integrated Services Nigeria Ltd.
It is very important to ask what the salary of a Delta State house member is which will afford such luxury and extravagance. The said allegation of loaning Judora Integrated services Nigeria Ltd N90 million is erroneous. We invite your commission to investigate DavNotch Nig Ltd bank accounts in which one of them is Zenith Bank 6012921288.
The code of conduct Act deems it as highly criminal act with strict penalty for a public/political office holder not to declare his/her assets while assuming such office and properties acquired having assumed such office.
Please be informed that several of the properties stated below were acquired by Hon. Victor Ochei while in office, and not declared to the code of conduct bureau.
The properties amongst which are a $549,565,00 (Five Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Five Dollars) property located at No. 580 Pelican Ave, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877 in Maryland, United States of America. This property was purchased in February 2006 and was fully paid for. Documents personally executed by Hon. Victor Ochei with regards to the above transactions are hereby attached.
Other mind burgling purchases not declared to the code of conduct Bureau are choice properties located in Victoria garden city Lagos worth over N350 million Naira each, several properties in the FCT are worthy of note. But particularly and mind buggling are properties as stated below:
1. Office Complex called “DavNotch House” by Summit road opposite Ministry of Power & Energy Asaba, Delta State.
2. Acres of bare land at No: 36 Anwai Rd, Asaba, Delta State.
3. 2 Building; a very big Duplex and a bungalow No. 1 and No: 3 Donald Ochie Avenue off Government House Rd, Asaba Delta State.
4. Developing properties on the left just before Alum Close by Bishop Nwosu Street, off Okpanam Road, After Southgate Hotel, Asaba Delta State, After Rodeaw Church.
5. 2 Acres of lands opposite Legislative quarters, Asaba Delta State.
6. Club House by DBS Road, opposite shalom garden, Asaba Delta State.
7. 4 Acres of lands opposite Asaba Airport, Asaba Delta State.
8. 2 Acres of land on Asaba Express way after Asagba market, after the airport, Asaba Delta State.
9. A Bungalow of 2 flats by Oliseyenim Street, off Havilla Hotel Road, Asaba Delta State.
10. Ministry of Higher Education and Directorate of Science and Technology Building,35 Jesus Road, off summit Road, Asaba Delta State.
11. 6 Acres of land used for poultry on Issele-Uku/Issele-Mkpidtime Rd, Asaba Delta State.
12. 6 Acres of land used for Pineapple farm on Issele-Uku/Onicha ugbo Express Rd, Asaba Delta State.
13. 4 Acres of land on Issele-Azagba/Edu –Ogwashi Express road, Asaba Delta State.
14. A very massive house in Ogbekenu Village, Onicha Olona, Delta State.
15. Other properties in other states abound.
It is important that you carry a thorough investigation on the looting of Delta State by Hon. Victor Ochei and his accomplices in Uduaghan led Delta state Government.
Yours faithfully,
JUDE OMUMA
Cc: Chairman,
Code of Conduct Bureau,
Abuja.
Is Assemblyman Victor Ochei, who represents Aniochia North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly another James Ibori? A petition sent to the EFCC by “Intelligence Watch UK,” which gives its address as 200 Fleet Street, London SE6 5PY, accuses the legislator of “massive fraud and corrupt enrichment,” and provides a long list of charges against the legislator. Among the charges, the group accuses Mr. Ochei of acquiring properties in Nigeria and abroad that he has never declared under the Code of Conduct Act, including a property worth $549,565,00 (Five Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Five Dollars) located at No. 580 Pelican Ave, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877 in Maryland, United States of America. According to the petition, the property was purchased in February 2006 and was fully paid for.
The group alleges that Mr. Ochei handles electricity power projects in the state through various companies he owns. It also asserts that the projects obtained by Mr. Ochei’s companies violate the law. “These projects never followed due process in their award process, they were never advertised; no bidding process and their cost implications showed that they were over invoiced and highly inflated. This type of insiders-trading is completely prohibited by our laws and smacks –off flagrant disregard to due process and existing prohibitive laws to such corrupt enrichment.”
Among its many allegations, Intelligence Watch draws the attention of the EFCC to a story in Vanguard on April 26, 2010 in which Mr. Ochei allegedly said that as Chairman of DavNotch Nig Ltd, he loaned N90 million to Judora Integrated services Nigeria Ltd.
“It is very important to ask what the salary of a Delta State house member is which will afford such luxury and extravagance,” the petition states. Yet it challenges the loan even further: “The said allegation of loaning Judora Integrated services Nigeria Ltd N90 million is erroneous. We invite your commission to investigate DavNotch Nig Ltd bank accounts in which one of them is Zenith Bank 6012921288.”
The petition provides a long list or property in Delta State allegedly owned by Mr. Ochei, and suggests that the legislator has help from higher-up in the state. “It is very clear from the foregoing that DavNotch Nig. Ltd is used as a conduit pipe to siphon money from Delta State and the said Victor Ochei and his company is fronting for very top Government officials in Delta State in this self enrichment bid,” it says.
Steve Doughty, Director MCE International, meets with members of the Delta State Government, from 3rd right, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, 2nd right, Hon. Victor Ochei representative of Davnotch Nigeria Limited
Full text of the petition is as follows:
INTELLIGENCE WATCH UK
200 Fleet Street, London SE6 5PY
20th April 2010.
The Chairman,
Economic and financial crimes commission,
Abuja.
MASSIVE FRAUD AND CORRUPT ENRICHMENT USING DAVNOTCH NIGERIA LIMITED OWNED BY HON. VICTOR OCHEI MEMBER REPRESENTING ANIOCHA NORTH CONSTITUENCY IN DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
We are writing to bring to your knowledge the massive fraud that is going on in Delta State, and implore you to take immediate action to curb this looting of Delta State treasury by Hon. Victor Ochei.
Our investigation revealed that Hon. Victor Ochei’s companies handle power projects in Delta state. More worrisome is the fact over 80% of Power and Energy projects in Delta state are handled by companies owned by the said Victor Ochei (1) DAV-NOTCH NIG LTD, with RC. No: 316225 (2) KACHI & BUBE NIG LTD, with RC. No: 491585 (3) HANVIC IND. LTD. With RC. No: 385425 (4) DONALD AND MONICA ENTERPRISE.
Please see the attached FORM CAC 7 and FORM CAC 2 showing Directors and shareholders respectively.
These projects never followed due process in their award process, they were never advertised; no bidding process and their cost implications showed that they were over invoiced and highly inflated. This type of insiders trading is completely prohibited by our laws and smacks –off flagrant disregard to due process and existing prohibitive laws to such corrupt enrichment.
It will interest you to know that the acts of insiders trading and abuse of office of Hon. Victor Ochei has become a source of concern to even his fellow members of the Delta State House of Assembly.
The said Hon. Victor Ochei is the Committee Chairman on Education, member of appropriation committee, Power and Energy committees in Delta State House of Assembly. As evidenced in the attached document to this petition, he took advantage of his position as a member of power and energy committee and all past and on–going power projects were awarded to his company DavNotch Nig Ltd without the requisite due process of contract awards. Particularly of interest is the fact that as a member of appropriation committee, he was involved in appropriating over inflated and mind burgling sums of money to the said projects being awarded to his company. All major projects from the ministry of Education were and are currently being handled by his companies. These issues borders on acts of stealing, conspiracy to steal, abuse of office and insiders trading cannot be over emphasized.
A major fraud going on now in Delta State is the Delta State Independent Power Project in Oghareki, Delta state in which the same DavNotch Nig. Ltd is the contractor. The sum awarded for the project is over N27 billion and more than 50% of the said sum has been paid. Up until today nothing is going on in the site in Oghareki, Delta State. Particularly of concern also is the fact that Delta State is yet to obtain the license from National Electric Commission for the said Independent power project and the project has been awarded, over 50% out of N27 billion has been paid and no evidence of work going on in the site. The design of the Power plant was awarded to MCE International based in Houston with office at 5904 Bingle Road, Houston Texas 77092 United Sates. (Find attached picture) of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Hon. Victor Ochei and others when they visited the company in Houston Texas USA. The design of the Power plant is $4 million.
It is very clear from the foregoing that DavNotch Nig. Ltd is used as a conduit pipe to siphone money from Delta State and the said Victor Ochei and his company is fronting for very top Government officials in Delta State in this self enrichment bid.
The over 20 kilometer street light project on the Onitsha Benin highway in Asaba was handled by Davnotch Limited for over N650million and also the streets in Asaba. The street lights in Asaba are run by 15 units of fake Chinese 30 kva generators. These generators are run by diesel supplied by Uduaghan wife’s company ONOVIN LTD owned her husband’s brother Vincent Uduaghan. The supply of diesel to run the generators cost the Delta State Government N200million monthly.
We refer your commission to the publications of 26th April, 2010 on page 52 vanguard Newspaper, page 21of pointer Newspapers and page 64 of Thisday Newspapers in which the said Victor Ochei accepted that he is the Chairman of DavNotch Nig Ltd and that he loaned the sum of N90 million to Judora Integrated services Nigeria Ltd for which he is currently having a legal battle with Judora Integrated Services Nigeria Ltd.
It is very important to ask what the salary of a Delta State house member is which will afford such luxury and extravagance. The said allegation of loaning Judora Integrated services Nigeria Ltd N90 million is erroneous. We invite your commission to investigate DavNotch Nig Ltd bank accounts in which one of them is Zenith Bank 6012921288.
The code of conduct Act deems it as highly criminal act with strict penalty for a public/political office holder not to declare his/her assets while assuming such office and properties acquired having assumed such office.
Please be informed that several of the properties stated below were acquired by Hon. Victor Ochei while in office, and not declared to the code of conduct bureau.
The properties amongst which are a $549,565,00 (Five Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Five Dollars) property located at No. 580 Pelican Ave, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877 in Maryland, United States of America. This property was purchased in February 2006 and was fully paid for. Documents personally executed by Hon. Victor Ochei with regards to the above transactions are hereby attached.
Other mind burgling purchases not declared to the code of conduct Bureau are choice properties located in Victoria garden city Lagos worth over N350 million Naira each, several properties in the FCT are worthy of note. But particularly and mind buggling are properties as stated below:
1. Office Complex called “DavNotch House” by Summit road opposite Ministry of Power & Energy Asaba, Delta State.
2. Acres of bare land at No: 36 Anwai Rd, Asaba, Delta State.
3. 2 Building; a very big Duplex and a bungalow No. 1 and No: 3 Donald Ochie Avenue off Government House Rd, Asaba Delta State.
4. Developing properties on the left just before Alum Close by Bishop Nwosu Street, off Okpanam Road, After Southgate Hotel, Asaba Delta State, After Rodeaw Church.
5. 2 Acres of lands opposite Legislative quarters, Asaba Delta State.
6. Club House by DBS Road, opposite shalom garden, Asaba Delta State.
7. 4 Acres of lands opposite Asaba Airport, Asaba Delta State.
8. 2 Acres of land on Asaba Express way after Asagba market, after the airport, Asaba Delta State.
9. A Bungalow of 2 flats by Oliseyenim Street, off Havilla Hotel Road, Asaba Delta State.
10. Ministry of Higher Education and Directorate of Science and Technology Building,35 Jesus Road, off summit Road, Asaba Delta State.
11. 6 Acres of land used for poultry on Issele-Uku/Issele-Mkpidtime Rd, Asaba Delta State.
12. 6 Acres of land used for Pineapple farm on Issele-Uku/Onicha ugbo Express Rd, Asaba Delta State.
13. 4 Acres of land on Issele-Azagba/Edu –Ogwashi Express road, Asaba Delta State.
14. A very massive house in Ogbekenu Village, Onicha Olona, Delta State.
15. Other properties in other states abound.
It is important that you carry a thorough investigation on the looting of Delta State by Hon. Victor Ochei and his accomplices in Uduaghan led Delta state Government.
Yours faithfully,
JUDE OMUMA
Cc: Chairman,
Code of Conduct Bureau,
Abuja.
Ribadu: Why Charges Against Me Were Dropped
UJOM-AMAKA ANYIBUOFU
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ridabu, said yesterday that the charges against him were dropped by the Federal Government because the foundation of the case was built on falsehood.
Ribadu also said the anti-corruption agency, EFCC, had lost credibility as the international community has refused to do business with it.
Speaking on a British Broad-casting Corporation (BBC) programme “Hardtalk”, monitored in Abuja, the former anti-corruption czar also said he would jump at any opportunity given him to serve his fatherland again.
Ribadu said the withdrawal of charges against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation was occasioned by his discovery of the asset declaration forms he filled on assumption of office which was in the custody of the Code of Conduct Bureau but instead of admitting it, he was instead unjustly persecuted.
He described the entire episode as an abuse of the system and an abuse of a constitutional body and noted that in saner societies such a person (his persecutor) ought to be brought to justice.
“What really happened was that there was a change, a new attorney-general got in and then he saw the forms that I declared. It is extremely ridiculous. The forms are right there before him and you take an innocent person to court, abuse the whole system, abuse the institution abuse a constitutional body.
“You have the forms with you and you still go ahead and take that innocent person. I think in some other places that person, who did that ought to have been brought to justice”, he said.
On whether he had received any offer from President Goodluck Jonathan and his plans to return home, Ribadu denied receiving any offer but maintained that Nigerians including himself must not waste any moment in contributing their quota to national development at this critical time in the nation’s history.
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ridabu, said yesterday that the charges against him were dropped by the Federal Government because the foundation of the case was built on falsehood.
Ribadu also said the anti-corruption agency, EFCC, had lost credibility as the international community has refused to do business with it.
Speaking on a British Broad-casting Corporation (BBC) programme “Hardtalk”, monitored in Abuja, the former anti-corruption czar also said he would jump at any opportunity given him to serve his fatherland again.
Ribadu said the withdrawal of charges against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation was occasioned by his discovery of the asset declaration forms he filled on assumption of office which was in the custody of the Code of Conduct Bureau but instead of admitting it, he was instead unjustly persecuted.
He described the entire episode as an abuse of the system and an abuse of a constitutional body and noted that in saner societies such a person (his persecutor) ought to be brought to justice.
“What really happened was that there was a change, a new attorney-general got in and then he saw the forms that I declared. It is extremely ridiculous. The forms are right there before him and you take an innocent person to court, abuse the whole system, abuse the institution abuse a constitutional body.
“You have the forms with you and you still go ahead and take that innocent person. I think in some other places that person, who did that ought to have been brought to justice”, he said.
On whether he had received any offer from President Goodluck Jonathan and his plans to return home, Ribadu denied receiving any offer but maintained that Nigerians including himself must not waste any moment in contributing their quota to national development at this critical time in the nation’s history.
Top EU leaders mark the International Day Against Homophobia
UJOMAMAKA ANYIBUOFU
Today, the International Day Against Homophobia, leaders from the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission have issued strong messages condemning homophobia. It is the first time that 3 top-level EU leaders address homophobia jointly and unequivocally.
Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, the EU institution representing 27 national governments, issued a written statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, affirming the EU’s commitment to refuse discrimination on any grounds, and affirming that “discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation has ceased to constitute a political cleavage, and is enshrined in the EU’s founding act and statement of values.”
Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, issued a video message reaffirming the commitment of the European Parliament to combat any form of discrimination, including homophobia. The President of the European Parliament declared: “Homophobia is a clear breach of human dignity that questions fundamental rights; and thus, it must be strongly condemned.”
Viviane Reding, Vice-president of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, also issued a statement condemning homophobia as “a blatant violation of human dignity”, “incompatible with the principles on which the EU is founded”.
Co-presidents of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights Ulrike Lunacek and Michael Cashman welcomed the initiative, and congratulated all 3 EU leaders on their renewed commitments.
They declared: “We are indeed very pleased that the highest authorities of the 3 core EU institutions have come out against homophobia today. Their statements are exemplary, and clearly show one thing: in 2010 in the European Union, the fundamental rights of everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, have ceased to divide mainstream political parties and can be considered an integral part of the European Union’s foundations recognised across the mainstream political spectrum.”
“We unreservedly congratulate President Herman van Rompuy, President Jerzy Buzek and Vice-president Viviane Reding.”
Today, the International Day Against Homophobia, leaders from the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission have issued strong messages condemning homophobia. It is the first time that 3 top-level EU leaders address homophobia jointly and unequivocally.
Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, the EU institution representing 27 national governments, issued a written statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, affirming the EU’s commitment to refuse discrimination on any grounds, and affirming that “discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation has ceased to constitute a political cleavage, and is enshrined in the EU’s founding act and statement of values.”
Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, issued a video message reaffirming the commitment of the European Parliament to combat any form of discrimination, including homophobia. The President of the European Parliament declared: “Homophobia is a clear breach of human dignity that questions fundamental rights; and thus, it must be strongly condemned.”
Viviane Reding, Vice-president of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, also issued a statement condemning homophobia as “a blatant violation of human dignity”, “incompatible with the principles on which the EU is founded”.
Co-presidents of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights Ulrike Lunacek and Michael Cashman welcomed the initiative, and congratulated all 3 EU leaders on their renewed commitments.
They declared: “We are indeed very pleased that the highest authorities of the 3 core EU institutions have come out against homophobia today. Their statements are exemplary, and clearly show one thing: in 2010 in the European Union, the fundamental rights of everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, have ceased to divide mainstream political parties and can be considered an integral part of the European Union’s foundations recognised across the mainstream political spectrum.”
“We unreservedly congratulate President Herman van Rompuy, President Jerzy Buzek and Vice-president Viviane Reding.”
US based Nigerian basketball budding star Oyedeji dies after head-on collision
EMMA OKWUAHABA
Tobi Oyedeji, a high school senior and Texas A&M basketball recruit, died Sunday in Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, Oyedeji was involved in a car accident just past 6:00 AM after attending prom. He was 18.
Oyedeji was a star basketball player at Bellaire High School and had signed to attend Texas A&M in the summer. An only child, the power forward was first-team All-Greater Houston during the most recent basketball season and was a top 100 recruit at Rivals.
According to MyFoxHouston, Oyedeji's car collided head-on with an SUV Sunday morning. The driver of that vehicle was killed at the scene. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Texas A&M basketball coach Mark Turgeon issued a statement on Sunday:
"The world has lost a great kid today. Tobi epitomized the term student-athlete. He was a very good student. He worked hard in the classrooms and on the basketball court and he was a terrific basketball player. This is difficult to understand and today is a very sad day. My heart aches for his mom and dad. Tobi was an only child and I would like everyone to pray for Tobi's parents."
The Aggies coach also wrote several tweets about Oyedeji's passing, calling on fans to pray for the teenager's parents:
Tobi Oyedeji dropped his last friend off after prom night, called his father Mike Kunle Oyedeji and told him he was on his way home early Sunday morning. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound, 18-year-old power forward from Bellaire High in Bellaire, Houston, Texas -- who was destined to be an impact player for Texas A&M in the fall and committed to studying engineering -- never made it to his house. Oyedeji was in a head-on collision shortly after the phone call home and died after attempts at life-saving surgery weren't successful Sunday afternoon, according to Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon. "He was an only child," a distraught Turgeon said of Oyedeji, whose parents, Mike and Nikki, are said to be in immense emotional pain. "This is really tough on them. I'm just hurting so much for his mom and dad right now." Turgeon said he didn't have any other details of the crash.
He said he was in California early Sunday morning when he received the first phone call that Oyedeji had been in an accident and was in intensive care heading into surgery. Turgeon said a few hours later, as he was boarding his flight back to Houston, he was told that Oyedeji died. "I loved that kid," Turgeon said. "I loved that kid. This is really, really hard." Turgeon said Oyedeji was the first player he recruited when he took the job three years ago. "This has been a three-year relationship, we were really close," Turgeon said. "From the first day he came to our camp, I knew he was coming to Texas A&M. He was going to be an engineer. This was the perfect place for him." Turgeon last saw Oyedeji at a workout in April and said he told his assistant coaches that Oyedeji was going to help the Aggies quite a bit next season. Oyedeji had been on campus apparently five to seven times a season in the past three years. "He was going to be a big part of our program," Turgeon said. "More than just basketball, his personality, his character, he would have helped us in so many ways. He was a great student. He epitomized the values we have here." Turgeon said details on the memorial service will be provided early this week. He added that the Aggies will do something in memory of Oyedeji next season, but to what extent and how it will be done is still undetermined.
Tobi Oyedeji, a high school senior and Texas A&M basketball recruit, died Sunday in Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, Oyedeji was involved in a car accident just past 6:00 AM after attending prom. He was 18.
Oyedeji was a star basketball player at Bellaire High School and had signed to attend Texas A&M in the summer. An only child, the power forward was first-team All-Greater Houston during the most recent basketball season and was a top 100 recruit at Rivals.
According to MyFoxHouston, Oyedeji's car collided head-on with an SUV Sunday morning. The driver of that vehicle was killed at the scene. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Texas A&M basketball coach Mark Turgeon issued a statement on Sunday:
"The world has lost a great kid today. Tobi epitomized the term student-athlete. He was a very good student. He worked hard in the classrooms and on the basketball court and he was a terrific basketball player. This is difficult to understand and today is a very sad day. My heart aches for his mom and dad. Tobi was an only child and I would like everyone to pray for Tobi's parents."
The Aggies coach also wrote several tweets about Oyedeji's passing, calling on fans to pray for the teenager's parents:
Tobi Oyedeji dropped his last friend off after prom night, called his father Mike Kunle Oyedeji and told him he was on his way home early Sunday morning. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound, 18-year-old power forward from Bellaire High in Bellaire, Houston, Texas -- who was destined to be an impact player for Texas A&M in the fall and committed to studying engineering -- never made it to his house. Oyedeji was in a head-on collision shortly after the phone call home and died after attempts at life-saving surgery weren't successful Sunday afternoon, according to Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon. "He was an only child," a distraught Turgeon said of Oyedeji, whose parents, Mike and Nikki, are said to be in immense emotional pain. "This is really tough on them. I'm just hurting so much for his mom and dad right now." Turgeon said he didn't have any other details of the crash.
He said he was in California early Sunday morning when he received the first phone call that Oyedeji had been in an accident and was in intensive care heading into surgery. Turgeon said a few hours later, as he was boarding his flight back to Houston, he was told that Oyedeji died. "I loved that kid," Turgeon said. "I loved that kid. This is really, really hard." Turgeon said Oyedeji was the first player he recruited when he took the job three years ago. "This has been a three-year relationship, we were really close," Turgeon said. "From the first day he came to our camp, I knew he was coming to Texas A&M. He was going to be an engineer. This was the perfect place for him." Turgeon last saw Oyedeji at a workout in April and said he told his assistant coaches that Oyedeji was going to help the Aggies quite a bit next season. Oyedeji had been on campus apparently five to seven times a season in the past three years. "He was going to be a big part of our program," Turgeon said. "More than just basketball, his personality, his character, he would have helped us in so many ways. He was a great student. He epitomized the values we have here." Turgeon said details on the memorial service will be provided early this week. He added that the Aggies will do something in memory of Oyedeji next season, but to what extent and how it will be done is still undetermined.
GOVERNOR OBI ADVISES JONATHAN TO REMAIN FOCUSED
OKONTA EMEKA
Governor Peter Obi has charged President Goodluck Jonathan to remain focused and consolidate on achievements already recorded. Governor Obi was speaking to newsmen in his office at the Government House Awka.
He urged the President to concentrate on Electoral reforms, security and improved power supply, as these would attract investment, generate employment and build a country with opportunities for all.
The Governor extolled the tremendous contributions of late President Umaru Yar Adua to the stability and development of the country. He noted that the late President recorded commendable success in rebuilding the nation’s human infrastructure. Governor Obi recalled that the late President promoted equity and fairness and was very responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.
The Secretary to the State Government, Paul Odenigbo, said the late President would be remembered for his humility and selfless service and prayed God to give the new President the wisdom and courage to achieve his vision.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Chief Maja Umeh noted that late President Yar’Adua was the first President to address the challenge of deplorable Federal roads in the South-East Zone and the dredging of the River Niger abandoned many decades ago.
The Information Commissioner expressed confidence that President Jonathan will continue from where his predecessor stopped while charging the electorate to look at the background of candidates before voting them to power.
Governor Peter Obi has charged President Goodluck Jonathan to remain focused and consolidate on achievements already recorded. Governor Obi was speaking to newsmen in his office at the Government House Awka.
He urged the President to concentrate on Electoral reforms, security and improved power supply, as these would attract investment, generate employment and build a country with opportunities for all.
The Governor extolled the tremendous contributions of late President Umaru Yar Adua to the stability and development of the country. He noted that the late President recorded commendable success in rebuilding the nation’s human infrastructure. Governor Obi recalled that the late President promoted equity and fairness and was very responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.
The Secretary to the State Government, Paul Odenigbo, said the late President would be remembered for his humility and selfless service and prayed God to give the new President the wisdom and courage to achieve his vision.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Chief Maja Umeh noted that late President Yar’Adua was the first President to address the challenge of deplorable Federal roads in the South-East Zone and the dredging of the River Niger abandoned many decades ago.
The Information Commissioner expressed confidence that President Jonathan will continue from where his predecessor stopped while charging the electorate to look at the background of candidates before voting them to power.
Plot to Kill Pope Thwarted
EMMA OKWUAHABA
Two Moroccan students deported from Italy last month were suspected of plotting to assassinate Pope Benedict, an Interior Ministry source says.
Mohamed Hlal, 26, and Ahmed Errahmouni, 22, students at the University for Foreigners in the central Italian city of Perugia, had been under surveillance by anti-terrorist police for months before they were expelled on April 29.
"During their inquiry, investigators found evidence suggesting the two (suspects) were plotting an attack on the pope," said the source.
An interior ministry statement issued at the time of their deportation said they were being expelled under prevention of terrorism laws.
Six other foreign students, suspected of contacts with militant Islamic groups, are still under investigation.
News magazine Panorama, owned by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's family, reported on Friday that local anti-terrorist police had tapped Hlal's phone and had raised the alarm when he said he wanted to acquire explosives.
The magazine said police discovered a map of Turin at Errahmouni's house annotated with numbers and circles, ahead of a visit to the northern Italian city by Pope Benedict on May 2 to venerate the Shroud of Turin, which many Catholics believe was Jesus Christ's burial cloth.
Panorama described Errahmouni as a computer expert who remained in contact with militant groups over the Internet. It said Perugia had become a centre for travelling imams to preach radical Islam.
Turkish citizen Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot and seriously wounded Paul John Paul in 1981, was also enrolled as a language student at Perugia university.
Intelligence reports and arrests show militant Islamic groups linked to al Qaeda, especially in North Africa, are active in Italy, mostly recruiting and financing for attacks planned elsewhere in Europe.
However, alarm was raised in October by a failed attack on an army barracks near Milan by a 35-year-old Libyan man. Mohammed Game, whose hand was blown off when he hurled a bomb, was believed to have had accomplices, police said.
Two Moroccan students deported from Italy last month were suspected of plotting to assassinate Pope Benedict, an Interior Ministry source says.
Mohamed Hlal, 26, and Ahmed Errahmouni, 22, students at the University for Foreigners in the central Italian city of Perugia, had been under surveillance by anti-terrorist police for months before they were expelled on April 29.
"During their inquiry, investigators found evidence suggesting the two (suspects) were plotting an attack on the pope," said the source.
An interior ministry statement issued at the time of their deportation said they were being expelled under prevention of terrorism laws.
Six other foreign students, suspected of contacts with militant Islamic groups, are still under investigation.
News magazine Panorama, owned by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's family, reported on Friday that local anti-terrorist police had tapped Hlal's phone and had raised the alarm when he said he wanted to acquire explosives.
The magazine said police discovered a map of Turin at Errahmouni's house annotated with numbers and circles, ahead of a visit to the northern Italian city by Pope Benedict on May 2 to venerate the Shroud of Turin, which many Catholics believe was Jesus Christ's burial cloth.
Panorama described Errahmouni as a computer expert who remained in contact with militant groups over the Internet. It said Perugia had become a centre for travelling imams to preach radical Islam.
Turkish citizen Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot and seriously wounded Paul John Paul in 1981, was also enrolled as a language student at Perugia university.
Intelligence reports and arrests show militant Islamic groups linked to al Qaeda, especially in North Africa, are active in Italy, mostly recruiting and financing for attacks planned elsewhere in Europe.
However, alarm was raised in October by a failed attack on an army barracks near Milan by a 35-year-old Libyan man. Mohammed Game, whose hand was blown off when he hurled a bomb, was believed to have had accomplices, police said.
In defence of Jesus Christ and OBJ
Adamu Adamu
Olusegun Obasanjo was quoted and condemned for opening his mouth and lashing out his uncouth and caustic tongue heavenwards. He uttered such an abomination that, except for the sake of comment, I would not have wished to repeat; for, it was an utterance that could cause mountains to crumble to dust.
He said that even Jesus Christ [AS], the Prince of Peace ”peace on him at birth, peace on him in life, peace on him at the Ascension and peace abounding on him at the Second Coming ”could not conduct free and fair election in Nigeria.
This is a challenge at once stupid and a gratuitous affront to God and a denial of the authority of His chosen agents. But perhaps Obasanjo is not even capable of understanding that, by this, he has declared war on God and against a Dominion that is limitless; against a divine plan that cannot be frustrated; against a power that will never be found wanting, and an omniscience that cannot be successfully disobeyed in the exercise of its authority, from the management of the subatomic world to the smooth administration of the cosmos.
But those without shame can say what they fancy, but God is He than whom there is no other. He it is Who, in every situation and under all circumstances and above the claims of every other power, is able to impose and enforce His Will with majestic ease. The miracles of Jesus, the Christ which stand as an eternal testimony to the truthfulness of his own ministry, are a demonstration of the power of the One in Whose name he came.
By the leave of God, he cured diseases without medicine. Wasn't this a demonstration of His power and the exercise of direct authority over matter in the microscopic world? And he walked on water and he rose to heaven in glory. Wasn't this an instant of the cancellation of gravitational pull and the abrogation of the very law that keeps the cosmos together? And, miracle of miracles, he raised the living out of the dead. Wasn't this a command to that most elusive and most unknowable of all entities ”the human soul? Who is there in the world today who can claim to know what exactly was happening here? Who could claim to understand a spirituality for which Time stopped and for which the space-time dimension was torn aside?
Even if he has no grace enough to accept this, Obasanjo has no right to try to cover up the abject failure of his administration and his glaring personal incompetence by hiding behind this regrettable insult to divine power. Just because he himself has so miserably failed, Obasanjo, blinded by delusion, was, in effect, saying that someone who could order atoms and microbes and elicit instant obedience from them, one who could suspend gravity and reverse death could not conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria. Election my foot!
What is required to conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria or anywhere else for that matter is not to drag holy names into mundane, corrupt national affairs. What is really needed is a dose of competence, patriotism and a healthy respect for the people's will dose to which Obasanjo is a complete and eternal stranger. And because he had led an administration that was a deliberately incompetent, unpatriotic, corrupt authoritarian dictatorship in the name of democracy, he didn't and couldn't and would not at any time have been able to conduct a free and fair election.
And, thus, unable to do it and unable accept the fact and appreciate the grandeur of the celestial station of that holy name, Obasanjo, wallowing in the mud of profanity, tried to pull the name down to his level, demoting divine sanctity to his base, heathen level. Once, the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi told me that for the 39 years or so then that he had known Obasanjo, there was no time anyone did one good turn to him that he did not repay with evil. It is certainly not easy or possible for a mind that has grown old in the commission of sin and rebellion against God to appreciate and know divine matters.
When he said he was a born-again Christian who had been delivered from the valley of death, we all trembled. If his life—this dance on the graves of the assassinated, all that promiscuity and incest, all that corruption and all the lies—was a second birth, we all wondered: was it really a birth in Christ or an abortion in bastardy? And we have wondered for long enough; but now we have our answer; for, no one who truly believes in Jesus would have mocked his power to perform miracles in such an odiously offensive way.
And one should not sit down, dine and enjoy all the blessings placed at the banquet spread out by God for His bondsmen, as Obasanjo has done, and then have the temerity to belittle, trivialize and insult divine signs—and reckon he will go scot-free. We shall shout and complain even if no one will listen.
Luckily, Christian bishops have already condemned him; and, though not at all surprisingly, he had shot back. I am sure, despite this, the bishops may have already forgiven him, because these people are in the business of forgiving sinners; but, to me, this is one sin that can rend the heavens asunder and for which forgiveness has not been invented and should not be available, especially to someone so unrepentant.
While it may not be surprising if bishops forgive, it is truly shocking that the ulama in Nigeria have remained silent as the sanctity of the name and person of Jesus are trampled underfoot with the jackboots of a retired tyrant. Or, do the ulama imagine that the defence of the honour of Christ is exclusively the responsibility of Christians?
Real God-consciousness is to be seen in the graciousness of conduct and in the haste and immediacy of jumping to the defence of divine sanctities and not in the polemical combativeness of provocative preaching. Or, do the ulama think it will be well with them when on the Day of Distress they are asked what they did when the honour of the Word of God was traduced by the demented, dirty and sick mind of a prodigal former president?
After benefiting from ecumenical solidarity from Christians as a result of sanctimonious pretences; after setting Christian and Muslim tempers against each other in the hope of reaping electoral capital out of national misfortune; and after deceiving and short-changing the nation at every turn, Obasanjo has now decided to insult the sensibilities of both Christians and Muslims with that obnoxious utterance.
Some things should never be attempted even in jest and certainly not in vain, and should never be tolerated under any circumstance. To associate the hallowed name of Jesus even with a successful, free and fair election constitutes gross disrespect; to associate that name with an unsuccessful one is unacceptable sacrilege; but to directly impute inability and failure to the owner of that name is unadulterated blasphemy and an insult to the world.
But the truth is that Jesus [AS] is above the limit placed on him by unbelieving agnostics, and no amount of blasphemy from any quarters can subtract a whit from his holiness. And no amount of pitiful blasphemy will cause the slightest anxiety with regard to his holy reputation in his followers and others who believe in him. The traducer—this animal called man—it is who stands cut off and accursed. Would to God that this nation had a law against blasphemy that made the lives of blasphemers forfeit!
Imperfect as it is, this is a defence for Jesus, but it is not a defence that Jesus stands in need of; for, he is above calumny of any agnostic; it is but this incapable defender who wishes, by the attempt, that he becomes ennobled and blessed. And may the glory be to God, Lord of all the worlds, and peace eternal upon Jesus, the Christ.
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