Sun

EL-RUFAI CONFESSES

Why I didn’t support Ribadu — El-Rufai From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, AbujaSaturday, May 21, 2011

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has passed a vote of no confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo, saying the duo cannot bring Nigeria out of the woods.

El-Rufai also said that Jonathan’s comment on the crisis that trailed the outcome of the presidential election is irresponsible. “I believe that Goodluck Jonathan and Sambo are not anywhere near in capacity to deliver Nigeria out of the woods that Buhari/Bakare could do. I have made that statement even before I joined the team and I stand by that. But this was my basis: I believe that Buhari/Bakare was by far, the most competent ticket,” he said.

On the post-presidential election crisis, El-Rufai said: “Six days after this crisis started, the Presidency said nothing. Complete indifference. And when Jonathan chose to speak, he was raising the spectre of Biafra. That was not a responsible response, with all due respect.”

Speaking further, the former director general of the Bureau for Public Enterprise said: “The three leading presidential candidates in this election are people I know very, very well. Nuhu Ribadu is my friend and my brother and if I am to choose whom to support on the basis of friendship and brotherhood, Nuhu will be number one because he is the closest to me.

“Goodluck Jonathan, I have known since he was deputy governor. He is my friend. I visited him several times when he was governor of Bayelsa State. He has visited my house; we have had dinner several times together. I know him. But more than Nuhu Ribadu, Nigerians know him as president because he has been there for one year and they can see how he has governed the

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country.

“General Muhammadu Buhari was president from 1983 to 1985. I was a young guy then but he inspired many of us with the rules of discipline, probity and integrity and many of us that came into public service with the passion that we did well, were inspired by the example of Buhari-Idiagbon regime and the Murtala-Obasanjo regime before it. And in my opinion, among the three contestants, Buhari/Bakare ticket was by far, the best of the three. That is why, against all appeals to my friendship with Nuhu Ribadu, my brotherhood with him or my friendship with Goodluck Jonathan, I pitched my tent with the Buhari/Bakare ticket. I think that was the ticket that was likely to change the direction of Nigeria for the better.”

How would you describe the just concluded elections?Well, election is a multi-step process: you register, you get accredited, you vote, the votes are counted and results are announced. I will be the first to admit that the registration has improved greatly and in my view, the biometric register that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been able to come up with, is one of the most reliable that we have had in our history.

Secondly, I think the voting process at the polling unit level has improved dramatically. It has largely been peaceful in most parts of Nigeria; there have been lower instances of ballot stuffing than before. So, to that extent, there has been improvement to that level. But beyond that, nothing has changed because the systematic falsification of results begins immediately the results and the results sheets leave the polling units and we are going to produce evidence of that as we go through the tribunal process.

There is massive thumb-printing of ballot papers and attempt to bring them into the system all through the country. In some parts of the country, for the presidential election, there was really no election. Results were just written and announced like it has been in the past. So, while one would admit that certain steps in the election process have improved, on the whole, the outcome has not improved. Falsification of results is still the order of the day and most of what you have seen announced as results of the election, have no connection with the actual number of votes cast by the citizens of this country.

Are you saying there is no much difference between the 2007 and 2011 elections?There are some differences in the sense that the registration has improved. We don’t have names like Mike Tyson in the register now. The election process itself has improved, in the sense that people queue, get accredited and register. These are the only improvements and I would say that is the only difference but beyond that, nothing has changed. The improvement, if any, has been marginal.

There is the allegation that the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, connived with President Goodluck Jonathan to rig the elections. Is it true? I would not go as far as that because I believe that Attahiru Jega is a decent man and I believe he tried his best to have credible elections. And within the factors in his control, the registration he did was decent. He organized the elections and have people line up and do it peacefully. I think he tried his best. Resident Electoral Commissioners and some governors failed him, but on the

whole, he tried.

I would not go as far as saying that he went into the election willfully to lead to the result that we have. But I think there were some things that were a way above him. I think he could have done better in some areas. For instance, if results were brought to you and they don’t add up, I would not say go and reconcile. I would cancel the result and say do it again. But that is my opinion and I am not under the same pressure or have the same information that he has. So, I would not go as far as condemning Attahiru Jega entirely. I would say that he got some things right, but many things went wrong and I hope that now that he has time to do a review and see where he has been deceived by those working with him, he will take corrective steps because ultimately, the only way we can have real elections in this country, that reflects the legitimacy of the people, is when the results at the polling units go directly to Attahiru Jega, for him to announce the results of the election without any human intervention in-between. This is what he has to work on, but I don’t think he went into this election with any willful desire to be dishonest.

What are those corrective steps and what do you intend to achieve with the tribunal?The corrective steps are very simple, in my view. You have to eliminate human agency between the time and point that people vote at the polling unit level and results are announced to the ultimate announcement of the results. Today, with the technologies that exist, it should be possible that as soon as we finish voting, results are announced. I see no reason with the technologies that we have now, communication technologies and encrypting technologies, that these results cannot be sent directly to a central computer in INEC that will tabulate the results automatically and as soon as all the results are out, announce the winner without any human being intervening in-between. What we have seen in this election is that as soon as you take the result sheets to a collation centre, a zero is added or the results are changed, or the results sheet is torn and a new one done and party agents’ signatures forged. So, you have to remove that human intervention. Unless you remove it, we will never have clean elections in the country because those that are in authority will try to alter the results to their benefit. Those are the corrective steps and the technologies exist to do that. It is up to Jega to figure out how to do it in a cost effective and transparent manner.

The main reason I think that the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), our party, decided to go to the tribunal is to deepen and broaden our democracy because as long as people in power feel that they can cheat in elections and get away with it, governance in Nigeria will never improve. Unless people know that in the next four years if they don’t work for the people they can be voted out, we will continue to have bad governance. This is why we are going to the tribunal. We want to know how many votes were actually cast for each candidate in this election, who won the election and if no one won, let the judges decide. We will get the ballots examined to remove all those that were thumb-printed overnight by government officials and other people and stuffed in ballot boxes and declared for one candidate or another. If at the end of the day, these false results are eliminated and we have the proper results of the election, I think it will go a long way in sending a message to all election riggers that they will only have a few days to enjoy the fruit of their rigging.

Secondly, the biometric voters register will reveal the names and faces of all those that have participated in rigging elections because if you are a registered voter and you thumb-print, the

biometric voters register will show your face, your name and everything. And our hope is that, that will give Jega that foundation to prosecute all those that engaged in multiple voting and multiple registrations and so on and so forth. At the end of the day, whatever the judges decide will determine whether democracy is broadened and deepened in this country and election riggers are punished and the real results of the election will be known to every Nigerian and when the real results are known, the winner can be congratulated by the loser and there will be no argument. But right now, we have argument because there is evidence available to us that there was thumb-printing of ballot papers in virtually every election. Not just the presidential election but virtually every election that has taken place and most of the results that were announced. As we speak, the ballot papers are being thumb-printed to match those results. So, we want the technology to be applied; we want the evidence to be presented, so that we can know how many people voted for Jonathan, how many people voted for Buhari, how many people voted for Ribadu truly as well as every other candidate in every election that we are challenging. We hope that at the end of the day, that will take Nigeria’s democracy forward.

Specifically, where do you situate the blame?I think the blame lies fairly and squarely on INEC because it is their job to conduct clean elections. If they were not ready and they did not have the infrastructure in place and the capability in place to ensure that this rigging doesn’t happen, it is their fault.

Secondly, how did the incumbent governors and the team from the president’s campaign team got ballot papers? They couldn’t have got them from any other person but INEC. But they did get ballot papers, they have thumb-printed them and they have been declared winners. So, the blame falls largely on INEC because INEC is independent and they could do whatever they want and some of them succumbed to pressure of authority and got ballot papers to the ruling party in every election to rig. The primary blame is on INEC but the secondary blame is on the government of the day because it used the security agencies and other coercive instruments of state to create a militarize situation to rig elections. In my state, up till today, we have a curfew.

Would you say the international community was misled?The international community was deceived. It was 419 because what they saw was Nigerians lining up and voting and they thought that was the end of the election. They cannot understand that any public official will alter the results because in their country, that is perjury. That is a big offence. It is perjury and it is obstruction of justice and you go to long prison terms if you do that. But they don’t know that in Nigeria, no one has been convicted, in recent time, for those kinds of offences and that people do it with impunity. The international community was hoodwinked but by God’s grace, by the time the tribunal process is over and the real results are shown and technologies apply to show how many times some people voted, I think the international community will come to the understanding of what happened.

Do you think the president would try to pervert the cause of justice? I don’t want to judge him or presume that he will pervert the cause of justice. We will have to wait and see but Nigerians should not just wait and allow anyone to pervert the cause of justice. We should be vigilant; we should bring out all the facts and we should ensure that justice is

done. No one, no one however powerful, should be allowed to pervert the cause of justice and I hope no one tries.

Some Nigerians have blamed General Muhammadu Buhari for the crisis that trailed the outcome of the presidential election, while Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Asari Dokubo, have even called for his arrest. Should the blame be on General Buhari? Should he be arrested? Let me start by asking, why did the violence happen? It is very easy to be simplistic about this or be emotional about this. This violence did not take place 10 days before the election. It took place a few days after the election and what was it? It was a reaction to what many people saw as patent falsification of results and cheating and it was not the first time it was happening in Nigeria’s history. In 1964, we had elections that led to crisis in the West. A state of emergency was declared.

In 1983, we had elections in which the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) tried to steal the elections in Ondo State and there was violence; there were killings. Nobody came out and called for the arrest of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In 1993, the elections were annulled and there was crisis; there were killings in the South-West. Nobody said it was a religious crisis or called for the arrest of anyone. So, I don’t understand all these funny people going round, saying Buhari should be arrested. I don’t know whether they have read history or understand what they are saying.

In what way is Buhari responsible for this? Is the government not responsible for the security of life and property? Don’t they read security report? Don’t they know that if they are a competent government flawed elections could lead to crisis? What did they do to pre-empt it? What did they do? They did nothing to pre-empt this and when the crisis started, they were late in responding to it. Everyone was calling on General Buhari to intervene. Does General Buhari control the police? Does he control the army? Why were they asking him to intervene? They were asking him to intervene because he is the only person with the moral authority to call this thing to an end. They have lost moral authority; they have no control of coercive instruments of power because they were behind the whole crisis. They created it.

This crisis started Monday morning. By afternoon, General Buhari flew from Daura to Abuja, spoke to Aljazeera, spoke to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service and any other medium he could find, to appeal to everyone to calm down, that this is not the way to resolve political disagreement. He did his best. Why is he being blamed? And this Oritsejafor and Asari Dokubo that are calling for the arrest of General Buhari, are they drunk? Do they understand what they are doing? Arrest him for what? For what? I don’t understand people that make these statements, whether they have any idea of how to govern a country because when you are governing a country, the first order of business is peace and order. And they make such careless statements, which do not help anyone.

It was also reported that the party justified the killings. Are you toeing the same line?No, no, no, no, no. The party justified the killings in what way? The National legal adviser of the party issued a statement, explaining that this is the position of the party and this is why we are going to the tribunal. One newspaper, out of all the newspapers in Nigeria, out of all the communication media in Nigeria, came up with this headline ‘CPC justifies killings,’ and the

following day, the Presidency issued a statement along the same line. Clearly, you can see that the Presidency and this newspaper are working in cohort to create a false impression. If CPC justified killings in that statement, every other newspaper in Nigeria would get it. Why didn’t they have the same headline? When did the national legal adviser say CPC justified the killings? And in what circumstances can any reasonable person justify the killing of another? What circumstances? We are a responsible people, a reasonable people. We believe in the progress of this country. How can anyone justify the killing of another?

How do you see the reaction of the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) towards the killings?Complete indifference because six days after this crisis started, the Presidency said nothing. And when Jonathan chose to speak, he was raising the spectre of Biafra. That was not a responsible response, with all due respect. So, there is complete indifference. There is a feeling that ok, northerners are killing themselves, it is ok. But these people are Nigerians and they are entitled to respect and the preservation of their life and property. And that is the primary duty of the government, which it has failed to do in my opinion.

Was the crisis fairly reported in the media?I think the reporting by the media is pathetic. I am sorry. The reporting has been one sided, lacked depth and what the media were doing, was actually contributing more to the crisis because by pushing the agenda that someone else is responsible for protection of life and property other than the sitting government of the country, I think they were encouraging crisis in itself because that is what they tried to do by pushing the agenda that the CPC is to blame, rather than saying the government failed to be pre-emptive, failed to be responsive to this crisis and I think it is contributing to the problems of the country.

There seems to be a conspiracy of some sort not to report everything that has happened in this crisis. For instance, in my state, Kaduna, hundreds of people were killed. Most of them that were killed were killed because they were suspected to be CPC supporters. These killings took place on both sides and I am not justifying anything. I am not saying it is right. I don’t agree to anyone killing another under any circumstances without the due process of law. But the whole focus of the media was on the death of 10 youth corps members. They even forgot that before the elections started, youth corps members were killed in Suleja, Niger State. They were bombed. They died. Nobody is talking about them. The focus is just on 10 youth corpers in Bauchi, to the exclusion of everyone else.

Now, human life is sacred and no human life is better than another or more deserving of attention than another. In my state, hundreds of people were killed; no paper reported it except one. What is going on? Should not all the facts come out so that we learn from this and ensure that it is not repeated? But the spin it has got is to blame someone else rather than solve the problem. And I have deep problems with that.

Why do you think the media reported half of the crisis?I don’t know. You should ask the media. The story going round is that some have been paid not to report certain things. We have just shown you a video where hundreds of people were put in mass graves and pictures of CPC office and Mosque and so on being burnt down. That is one

side of the story. I am not saying that you should report only that side, but the media should report every side. Churches were burnt. Mosques were also burnt and innocent people were killed that were CPC supporters, that were PDP supporters. Why did it happen? What should we do to ensure that no Nigerian ever get killed in this kind of situation because it has happened too often? As I said, it happened in 1964, 1983, 1993 and it has happened again. What needs to be studied is the fundamental problem that led to this. And we should address it. But to slant stories so that you blame someone else to reach a pre-determined conclusion, I think it is irresponsible journalism.

Did you foresee that kind of situation before the election? Look, any reasonable, thoughtful individual, living in Nigeria, knows that if the elections were not free and fair, there would be protest because the mood of the country was such that no one was ready to accept anything other than clean elections. And the mood of the country can be read from the bi-elections in Ekiti, Anambra and Delta. We can all see that the foundation was being laid that if elections were not generally free, fair and credible, there would be crisis of some sort. What shape or form that crisis will take, only God knows. But it is up to the government in power, to perceive this as others have perceived, to take pre-emptive steps and ensure that it doesn’t happen by first having clean elections and if the elections are not clean, taking the pre-emptive steps necessary to ensure that there is no violence. Let the protest, if there is going to be, be peaceful. But they did none of the above. They did none. They just sat back.

But why did it degenerate to sectarian crisis?I don’t know at what point it degenerated because when it started, it was certainly not sectarian. Our suspicion, in Kaduna State at least, the information we got was that one of the PDP leaders said look, if you don’t muddy the waters, they will get all of us. So, some people were sponsored to go and burn a church and that gave it the sectarian coloration needed and in a place like Kaduna State, where religion and ethnic tensions have always been quite moderate to high, this was likely to happen because if you look at the pattern of this violence, you will see clearly. Some people are saying sectarian. The Sultan of Sokoto’s palace was surrounded. Is he a Christian? Is the Emir of Kano a Christian? Is the Emir of Zauzau a Christian? Traditional rulers, respected at some point in our history, had their houses surrounded and youths were demanding to get at them. These people were not Christians. So, when did it become sectarian? It is not ethnic because these people are not Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw or whatever.

Ghali Na’Abba’s house in Kano was burnt. Is he a Christian or is he from Anambra State? This crisis started because people that are disempowered, felt that they have been cheated and in a spontaneous way, reacted by targeting people that they thought were responsible for their condition. This was how it started and of course, things went out of control. Nobody can justify violence or that reaction but it has happened?

How do you see the constitution of the 22-man panel by President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the crisis?Well, legal opinions have been given to the effect that the president has no power under the constitution to establish such a panel. The judgment of the Supreme Court in Fawehinmi vs Babangida also establishes that without any doubt. So, there is a legal issue involved, whether the panel is duly constituted under the law because the president may not have the powers under

the constitution and the law to do so. That is one. There is a legality question. And then, the panel has a credibility question because the same day that the president inaugurated the panel, his special adviser on media, issued a statement that the CPC was responsible for the violence. So, if the presidency that convened that panel has already decided that the CPC was guilty, what do you think the panel will come up with? It is not likely to come up with anything different because their convener has already said that someone is guilty. So, they have a credibility problem too. I am not saying they will necessarily come up with that conclusion but I am saying to Sheik Ahmed Lemu that his panel has a credibility problem, created by the same person that convened them. These are the two issues.

What is the way out?The way out is to follow the law and to allow state governors to establish panels in their states to investigate the violence within their territory and the panel should consist of credible people, non-partisan people that are respected, to go into the root of this crisis so that once and for all, we address this culture in which the slightest thing leads to people killing each other. Neighbours killing each other! It is not right. It is wrong and we must put a stop to it, whether it is happening in Jos or Kaduna or anywhere else. We must put a stop to it and the only way to put a stop to it is to go to the root of the crisis, find those that were responsible and deal with them according to the law.

How do you see the five million naira gift to the bereaved? No amount of money is enough to compensate for the loss of a human life. No amount of money. And I think rather than engage in populist hide-out, there is a need for a comprehensive policy to compensate victims of this kind of violence. Many people have been killed in Jos. What about them? 5, 000; 10, 000; 100,000! I think there should be a policy to deal with this kind of senseless deaths of every Nigerian. I have no opinion about how much money that is reasonable. I think if you get experts, they can debate that and come up with a figure that should be paid to every family that lost a relation from this crisis and all those that lost their property should be adequately compensated by the government and then we put in place, a system that will ensure that it is not repeated. Unless the government feels the pinch, actually pays the price of this violence, it will continue to repeat itself. So, I want us to go beyond five million for youth corps members and have a thoughtful and comprehensive policy to compensate innocent victims of violence, innocent victims of arson and destruction of property. We need that in the country and if necessary, we need legislation backing it. We need a comprehensive solution and not selective, populist ad hoc interventions. They would not work. They would not solve the problem.

How would you assess the president and his victory at the polls?We don’t think he has won. That is why we are in the tribunal and we hope that the tribunal process, as I said, will not only deepen and broaden our democracy, but will determine who the winner is. If he is declared winner, other leaders of the CPC and I, will be happy to congratulate him. He has ruled Nigeria for one year. I think I leave every Nigerian to judge what the next four years are likely to be.

People always respect your opinion (he laughs). So, what is your take on President Goodluck Jonathan?Look, I have already made my statement and I have made my choice. The three leading

presidential candidates in this election are people I know very, very well. Nuhu Ribadu is my friend and my brother and if I am to choose whom to support on the basis of friendship and brotherhood, Nuhu will be number one because he is the closest to me. Goodluck Jonathan, I have known since he was deputy governor. He is my friend. I visited him several times when he was governor of Bayelsa; he has visited my house, and we have had dinner several times together. I know him. But more than Nuhu Ribadu, Nigerians know him as president because he has been there for one year and they can see how he has governed the country.General Muhammdu Buhari was head of state from 1983 to 1985. I was a young guy then but he inspired many of us with the rules of discipline, probity and integrity and many of us that came into public service with the passion that we did well, were inspired by the example of Buhari-Idiagbon regime and the Murtala-Obasanjo regime before it. And in my opinion, among the three contestants, Buhari/Bakare ticket was by far, the best of the three. That is why against all appeals to my friendship with Nuhu Ribadu, my brotherhood with him or my friendship with Goodluck Jonathan, I pitched my tent with the Buhari/Bakare ticket. I think that was the ticket that was likely to change the direction of Nigeria for the better.

Was that why you left the PDP?No. I left PDP long before. I left the PDP when our attempts at reforms failed. And the shape of the PDP of today is not in anything near the PDP that I was a member of when I joined in 1999. And I left! After the reforms failed, I said there is no hope in the party and I left. I did not join the CPC until a little later. But this was my basis: I believe that Buhari/Bakare was by far, the most competent ticket and I believe that Goodluck Jonathan and Sambo are not anywhere near in capacity to deliver Nigeria out of the woods that Buhari/Bakare could do. I have made that statement even before I joined the team and I stand by that. But I don’t want to judge anyone. And if Jonathan is our bona fide president, we will congratulate him and pray for him if the tribunal declares him the winner, we will pray for him to succeed because his success is the success of every Nigerian. But I don’t want to judge him in advance. I want people to look at the last one year and project where the next one year will be if he remains president.

Tribune

Ministerial List: Over 80 per cent Nominees Fail Integrity Test

| Print | E-mail Written by Bola Badmus Saturday, 21 May 2011

INDICATIONS emerged on Friday that over 80 per cent of names submitted to the presidency for appointment as ministers to serve President Goodluck Jonathan as from June this year may have failed to scale the huddles.

Consequently, the president, according to a source, is said to have tactically discarded the said list, while contemplating searching on his own for men and women that would be most acceptable to Nigerians as ministers, with potentials to deliver dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

This is coming as there are clamours from various quarters that in–coming governments in the country should consider trimming the size of political aides to be appointed as ministers, commissioners and special advisers, on account of huge public funds expended on them as salaries and allowances.

In fact, the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) headed by General Theophilus Danjuma, had enjoined President Jonathan to reduce the number of ministers to be appointed in the coming dispensation.

The advice came during the week when the Danjuma panel was being dissolved after it had submitted its final report.

However, the president, who lauded the suggestion made by the panel, stated that the constitution would have to be amended before such idea could be effected.

A seven-man presidential panel is currently screening the various lists which President Jonathan ordered submitted by the state chapters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from all over the federation, with sources revealing to Saturday Tribune that the prospective candidates failed to meet the standards set by the panel.

Reports show that most of the lists forwarded to the presidency for appointment included names of former governors, incumbent governors and senators who failed their elections.

The said list, containing 10 nominees from each state of the federation is already causing disaffection among party members in states like Ondo and Ekiti.

According to Saturday Tribune findings, the panel is said to have put the candidates for ministerial position to task in four key areas namely, integrity, electoral value, corruption and security.

Jonathan has repeatedly hinted that he wants men and women of integrity to work with him and the panel was said to have insisted on knowing who the successful candidates for ministerial positions would be and how Nigerians generally perceive them in terms of what they had achieved in previous positions they had served.

“The president is really looking for people of integrity and where they are coming from in terms of what meaningful contributions they had made to the society. He is not looking forward to having any controversial individual to be appointed as minister,” a source said.

For instance, it was gathered that on the issue of electoral value, the panel had reasoned that it would be immoral to appoint as minister somebody who lost an election, believing that the loss would have been occasioned by the fact that such individual was not popular with the people, otherwise he ought to have secured victory at the last poll.

The screening panel was also said to have reasoned that since some of the nominees had corruption charges against them on account of where they served last, it could amount to causing distraction for Mr. President and his regime, which Nigerians expected much from in terms of delivering real dividends of democracy.

Security Agencies, NJC Panel Probe Mysterious Mtn Lines

| Print | E-mail Written by Lanre Adewole, Abuja Saturday, 21 May 2011

Mobile lines 08034240000 and 08062240104 from MTN may resolve the riddles surrounding the call logs tendered as exhibits before the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) panel probing alleged rot in the judiciary which has seen security agencies and the panel giving the mysterious mobile lines a second look.

The lines were among the call logs recovered from the telecommunication firm by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) which had been confirmed as genuine and admitted as exhibit in the case of alleged corruption brought against the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, by former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State and Segun Oni of Ekiti State over the gubernatorial appeal that sacked them from office.

The petitioners had alleged that Salami and other justices of the Court of Appeal that sat on the two panels were corruptly compromised by the chieftains of the Action Congress of Nigeria to give judgment in favour of the party’s candidates in the two states.

The call logs were presented as evidence that there were unwholesome communications between the jurists and politicians before, during and after the appeal judgments in the two states.

Oni and Oyinlola brought a communication expert, O. Adeola who argued before the panel, on Friday, that MTN had not been truthful in its response to the panel’s request on the call logs by saying that November and December 2010 storage could not be accessed again, only for the firm to make call logs available to the National Security Adviser when demand was made of same.

The witness told Saturday Tribune, on Friday, that his line had been under serious call bombardment since he made the call, with hidden telephone numbers requesting where he was.

Salami, through his lead counsel, Ricky Tarfa, also hinted at yesterday’s proceedings that his client might be calling his star witness on the call logs after reviewing the evidence of the petitioners, asking the panel for adjournment till June 1, a request which was granted.

The petitioners had earlier agreed to present their final address next Tuesday, but had to concur with the time suggested by Tarfa which the panel also supported.

It was also learnt that Salami, who wore a blue kaftan at yesterday’s proceedings, had not signified his intention to testify in his own case in line with the normal practice and despite the petitioners doing so.

With the June 1 adjourned date, the five-man panel headed by Justice Umaru Abdullahi will now be about three weeks behind schedule on the terminal date of its assignment. The panel, inaugurated on April 9, was expected to conclude its assignment by May 8.

The panel also took evidence from the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) yesterday as it continued investigation into what transpired in the Sokoto gubernatorial appeal, which had led to accusation and counter-accusation between Salami and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

Jonathan To Chart Course For New Ministers

| Print | E-mail Written by Leon Usigbe, Abuja Saturday, 21 May 2011

President Goodluck Jonathan will unveil his new cabinet immediately after his inauguration for a fresh term and thereafter assemble the members in Obudu Mountain Resort for a retreat to prepare them for the task ahead.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, who revealed this while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja, on Friday, also disclosed that Jonathan was disturbed by the inability of the privatisation process to achieve the desired result.

According to him, “There is going to be very little time. So, the new cabinet is going to come almost immediately after inauguration. That cabinet will go on retreat for a few days also in Obudu where the president is going to charge them with the direction of government.

“The president has four years to deliver and he is not going to waste any minute of it. So, the areas the president is going to focus on will be areas of power, infrastructure and human capacity development,” he said.

The president’s spokesman remarked that government was looking at a target where it could have an inclusive growth circle in all aspects.

“It is very easy for people to say, ‘Oh! If he can achieve power, he would have done everything.’ But you cannot pursue power when the children are not in school; you cannot pursue education

while hospitals are dead. The president is planning an integrated approach to governance on all decisions.

“So, he is going to take the new ministers there and he is going to charge them on the direction he wants this government to take. And this is going to happen in very short order,” Niboro stated.

HID Bemoans Dying Zeal For God Among Christians •Church To Be

Named After Her

| Print | E-mail Written by Olayinka Olukoya and Lawrence Amaku Saturday, 21 May 2011

The Matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, has said that the zeal to serve God has literally died among Christians of nowadays.

Mama, who was speaking at the First Session of the Tenth Synod of the Diocese of Remo, hosted and sponsored by her, urged Christians to do the work of God diligently.

HID Awolowo, who is the Diocesan Mother of the Diocese, reminded Christians on why they had to deny themselves of the luxuries of this world and bear the cross of their Maker.

She noted that the theme of the Synod, “The Cost of Discipleship: If Anyone Wants To Follow Me,” was timely and appropriate, saying that everyone called a Christian or disciple must be ready to pay the price of loving God more than him or herself.

She urged Christians to leave the comfort of their homes and evangelise the gospel of Christ as well as donate generously to the work of God while denying themselves of food and exotic wines.

“Discipleship has a cost, as Jesus made us to understand in the scriptures. What is that cost? One is that we must love God more than ourselves, more than our mother, father, wife, husband and children.

“Therefore, brethren, a great commission was given to everyone of us right from the foundation of the world, which is to do the work of God diligently with everything within us. We must not fail in this God’s given business,” she said.

She congratulated the diocese for the success of the Synod admitting that many had failed in their ways with God.

Eminent Nigerians at the Synod donated towards the building of HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Sagamu and equipping of Remo Anglican College, a secondary school project of the diocese.

Also, christians across the globe have been urged to forsake worldly things that might hinder them from propagating the gospel of Christ for the expansion of his kingdom here on earth.

Giving the charge was the Bishop of Remo Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev’d (Dr) Micheal Olusina Fape, while delivering the presidential address at the First Session of the Tenth Synod and Fund Raising Ceremony, held at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

Speaking on the theme of the Synod, Fape noted that Christians must deny themselves of personal comfort for the business of God’s Kingdom to be accomplished.

He admonished them to follow the doctrines of Christ by doing away with sinful attractions that might stand as obstacles to their relationships with God.

Bishop Fape, earlier in his address, described the hosting of the Synod as an assignment from God that must be carried out, noting that it was the first time an individual would be hosting a Synod.”

He then lauded the host Mama for her distinct qualities and numerous contributions to the propagation of the gospel in Remoland.

Fape noted specifically the large contribution in kind made by the Awolowo family since inception of the Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo in 1984.

In recognition of the giant contribution Mama and the Awolowo family made to the progress of the church in Remo, he announced the building of a new church in her honour, which is to be named, HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Sagamu.

Fape added, “Except that we have been reminded today of the noble roles played by Mama HID Awolowo, many people might have not known how much this daughter of God laboured for the creation of our Diocese.

“Apart from being made the Diocesan Mother, it will be our desire to also immortalise Mama by building and naming one of our newly established churches in the Diocese after her.

“The church when built and dedicated will be known and named, HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Sagamu. Mama will not only be remembered and celebrated while alive, but also much more after she has been called home whenever it pleases the Lord, generations yet unborn will learn of her nobles roles in the Diocese of Remo.”

On Ogun State, the cleric thanked the out-going governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, for transforming the state from a civil service state to investment destination of choice to would –be investors.

He said that the Diocese was proud to identify with the success story of the eight-year rule of Governor Daniel, saying that he (Daniel) had etched his name in gold in the history of the state.

Fape congratulated the state governor–elect, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for his victory at the poll and advised him to beware of sycophants as his administration assumed duty on May 29.

A minute silence was observed during the Synod in memory of Mama’s daughter, late Mrs Ayodele Olubusola Soyode, who died last April.

The chairman of the occasion, General Yakubu Gowon, said it was an honour for an individual to play a great role in the birthing and nurturing of the Diocese.

Gowon, said he was impressed by the four-fold vision of the Diocese that is now under the stewardship of Bishop Fape.

He said that Mama had played a great role in the nurturing of the Diocese from its birth, saying that the Diocese which started with a Cathedral Church, two archdeaconries and 10 priests had given birth to 16 archdeaconries and 60 priests spread over 65 churches.

Also speaking, Ogun State governor, Chief Daniel, said that the nation had lost its value system and urged churches to preach and instill good morals in the younger generations.

“In terms of value system, our country has completely deteriorated,” he said.

While trying to justify reasons why his administration returned some missionaries schools to their original owners, Governor Daniel noted that the church had vital roles to play in nation-building.

He, therefore, advocated that Nigerian future leaders must have the fear of God.

He described Gowon as an apostle of peace while condemning some past leaders of the country for promoting disharmony among Nigerians.

Governor Daniel thanked the Diocese of Remo for the support accorded him and his administration in the last eight years.

Other dignitaries present at the occasion included Chief Edwin Clark, Prince Bola Ajibola, Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; deputy governor, Ondo State, Alhaji Alli Olanusi; Chief G.O.K. Ajayi, Chief Olorogun Felix Ibru, Chief Ewa Ita Henshaw, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), Prince Kunle Adesanya, Prince Ernest Okogie and Arole Omosanya Akinyemi.

Don’t Play Spoiler Role Against South-West - Reps Tell Igbo

Lawmakers

| Print | E-mail Written by Idowu Samuel, Abuja Saturday, 21 May 2011

A group of House of Representatives members drawn from across the geo-political zones of the federation have admonished their counterparts from the South-East to respect the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on zoning by refraining from contesting the post of Speaker with their counterparts in the South-West.

The members said the South-East legislators could only start the campaign for the Speakership position unless the PDP resolves to re-zone political offices eventually.

The lawmakers said the South-East should avoid pitching its tent against other ethnic groups, particularly the South-West in consideration of its desire to present the president of Nigeria in 2015, the process of which they said has since started.

The members, including Honourables Nasiru Sule Garo (Kano), Useni (Jigawa), Daniel Atuma (Delta) and Christy Alaaga (Benue) in a joint statement at the end of Induction Retreat held for National Assembly members-elect in the six geo-political zones, said the resolve by PDP to zone political offices in Nigeria was in line with the dictates of the constitution.

He lawmakers said it was incumbent on every member of the party, including political office-seekers to respect the current view of the PDP on zoning which they said was meant to maintain relative calm and orderliness in power quest among the component units in Nigeria.

The lawmakers said it was needless heating up the polity with the issues of ambition by members of the same party who they said have many challenges on national development to contend with, a reason they insisted the party’s guideline on power distribution should be adhere to.

FG Frowns On Ex-US Envoy’s Stand On Nigeria

| Print | E-mail Written by Kunle Oderemi, Lagos Saturday, 21 May 2011

THE Federal Government has taken on a former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell, for his ceaseless “prophecy of doom” even after the generally acclaimed free and fair elections.

The government said his outbursts arose from his inadequate understanding and appreciation of the complexity of the Nigerian nation and its peoples.

In an interaction with editors on Friday night in Lagos, Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Labaran Maku, took exceptions to the sustained maligning of Nigeria by the former envoy, in spite of the steady democratic progress being made by the country.

Maku, who said he was in Lagos to thank members of the fourth estate of the realm for their role before and after the election, said Campbell’s “message of doom” was borne out of the ignorance among some sections of the international community about Nigeria.

PDP Suspends Paul Unongo

| Print | E-mail Written by John Akpodovhan, Makurdi Saturday, 21 May 2011

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended former minister of steel and one of its elder statesmen, Wantaregh Paul Unongo, from the party.

Briefing newsmen at the PDP secretariat in Makurdi on Friday, the Benue State chairman of the party, Dr Agbo Emmanuel, who made the announcement, disclosed that the decision to suspend Unongo was unanimously taken by the state working committee of the party.

Dr Emmanuel, who also doubles as chairman, PDP chairmen’s forum in the country, said chief Unongo’s suspension is for one month and the case has been forwarded to the disciplinary committee of the party to look into.

The PDP chairman added that Unongo has been referred to the state disciplinary committee which, he said, will intensively probe into the alleged anti-party activities of the former secretary of the defunct Nigeria Peoples Party, before making its recomm-endation to the executive committee of the party.

“Further decisions on his fate would be based on whatever recomm-endations would arise from his interaction with the state disciplinary committee,” Emmanuel stated

Aside from the one month suspension, the party also relieved him of his position as member, PDP State Caucus and chairman of the party’s caucus in Kwande local government area of the state.

It is recalled that his wife, Mrs Utol Unongo, who was the state commissioner for women affairs, was also sacked recently by governor Gabriel Suswam for alleged anti-party activities.

Fashola To Commission New 10mw Power Project

| Print | E-mail Saturday, 21 May 2011

In continuation of the on-going transformation programme of his administration, Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), will on Wednesday, May 25, commission the 10 megawatts Island Power Project, (IPP) newly built as part of its proactive efforts to boost economic and social activities within and around the Lagos Island.

A press release on the commissioning of the IPP, signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, stated that the Island Power Project is another milestone by the Fashola administration and an expression of the administration’s unalloyed commitment towards addressing the energy needs of the people of the state.

The statement further explained that the new IPP, built to highest global thermal operating plant standards, will deliver 24 hours uninterrupted supply of electricity to some public institutions located in central Lagos, such as the Island maternity, Lagos General Hospital, and the Lagos High Court, in a bid to increase their efficiency and bring down their operational cost.

600 Nigeria Police Peacekeepers Protest In Lagos Over Unpaid

Allowances

| Print | E-mail Written by Adelowo Oladipo, Lagos Saturday, 21 May 2011

NO fewer than 600 members of the Nigeria Police contingent to Liberia, Haiti and Sudan on Peace-Keeping Missions, have cried out over non-payment of their foreign allowances running into billions of naira by the Nigeria Police High Command, Abuja.

The contingent, which comprises Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Inspectors of Police, Police Sergeants, Corporals and the Constables, who were said to have been drawn from various state police commands across the country, were unhappy over the delay by the Police Headquarters in Abuja to effect the payment of about $6,000.00 to each of them since their return to the country early this year.

Saturday Tribune further gathered that this is despite the fact that the United Nations headquarters in New York, United States of America (USA) had allegedly paid the money into the office of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, through the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations Department, Mr. Audu Abubakar, at the completion of their international assignments in the three countries.

Saturday Tribune was, however, informed in Lagos on Friday that despite the fact that the United Nations had allegedly confirmed payment of the said money to the Police High Command in Abuja, the aggrieved police officers were yet to receive the money from the IGP’s office.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Oluwole Amore, confirmed the incident in an interview with Saturday Tribune.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), however denied the claim that the money had since been paid by the UN, saying that the Police Headquarters, Abuja, has just confirmed the payment of the foreign allowance of the 600 Nigeria police contingent on peace-keeping mission to Haiti, Liberia and Sudan, stressing that the affected officers and men should endeavour to come down to Abuja so that they can be paid.

Guardian

N’Assembly Mounts Pressure On Jonathan To Sign 2011 Budget SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 00:00 FROM MADU ONUORAH (ABUJA) AND SAMSON EZEA (LAGOS) NEWS - NATIONAL

Govt Flags Off Handover Programmes Monday

INDICATION emerged yesterday that the leadership of the National Assembly is mounting pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to assent to the 2011 Appropriation Bill despite the alleged injection of N500 billion into the budget by the House of Representatives.

A source in the Presidency who pleaded anonymity disclosed to The Guardian yesterday that the leadership of the National Assembly is mounting undue pressure on President Jonathan to assent to the bill before June 5, so that their members would get their entitlements before the expiration of their tenure.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan will on Monday flag-off activities leading to his inauguration for a fresh term of office on May 29, by meeting principal operators of Nigeria’s private sector in Lagos.

President Jonathan said in a meeting with the Special Adviser to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Prof Jeffrey Sachs that inputs and recommendations from participants at the session would be put to good use in the fine-tuning of government’s action plan for the next four years.

According to the President, “it (meeting with private sector leaders) will prepare us to hit the ground running after May 29.”

“The President is under pressure from the leadership of National Assembly to sign the budget before June 5. We are aware that most of the lawmakers are not returning and that is why they are eager to get all their monies before May 29. The way the leadership of both chambers is pressuring and lobbying the Presidency on the matter, it is seems that they need the allocation at all cost before May 29. They have even sought the assistance of the President’s close allies to plead on their behalf, arguing that they deserve to get all their monies before their term expires, considering the massive support and co-operation they have given the President especially during his election,” the source said.

On whether the Presidency was succumbing without clearing the disparities in the bill, the source disclosed that the President had not taken a position on the matter as he was still consulting and weighing options. The source said the President was worried and unhappy over the alleged injection of N500 billion into the Bill by the leadership of House.

The Guardian On Saturday investigation revealed that while the leadership of the National Assembly was pushing for the bill to be assented to before the expiration of their legislative term, incoming members led by those of them returning for a second term had reached out to the President, asking him to withhold assent to Bill till after their inauguration.

One of the returning members of the House of Representatives from the Southeast confirmed that they had made such moves to ensure that they did not face financial difficulties when they resumed for new House on June 6.

The member urged the anti-graft agency to close in on the leadership of the House and find out how they have managed the funds allocated to the House in the last four years. The lawmaker expressed concern that the loan of N10 billion was secured from a bank, whereas they got N156 billion budgetary allocation last year.

Also, one of the 11suspended members of House of Representatives who pleaded anonymity disclosed to The Guardian On Saturday yesterday that Speaker Dimeji Bankole reneged on his promise to source for fund ‘at all cost’ last Wednesday to pay their entitlements.

The member alleged that it was discovered that the sum of N500 billion and not N200 billion as reported by a national newspaper not (The Guardian) was illegally padded into the 2011 Appropriation Bill and that it had been the source of differences between the Presidency and the leadership of the House.

“With the ultimatum given to the Speaker to source for funds and pay us our entitlements which expired last Wednesday, the Speaker failed in his promise and refused to reconvene the House in time that day. He was in executive sessions for hours pleading with our colleagues for understanding and assuring them that the lapses would be taken care of in the 2011 Appropriation Bill if signed into law,” the member disclosed.

The member revealed further that the delay in assenting to the Bill by the President was not unconnected with inflated figures inserted in the bill by the leadership of the House. On what would happen if the President failed to assent to the bill before their term elapsed on June 5, the lawmaker said that they had no option than to take Bankole to court.

President Jonathan explained that the brainstorming session had been scheduled because he wanted his inaugural activities to include not just pomp and pageantry as usual, but also serious preparation for the successful implementation of his agenda for National Transformation.

The President told Sachs that he was fully committed to pursuing a multifaceted, integrated strategy for rapid national development that would yield significant benefits in public infrastructure, power supply, education, healthcare, job creation, poverty alleviation and other areas. “We must pursue an integrated approach. There is no way we can isolate any particular sector for attention, as they are all inter-related. If we do that, we will fail,” he said.

Remarking that he was always saddened by Nigeria’s current indices of human development especially in the area of public health, President Jonathan said he would pull out all stops to ensure that the country’s ranking on the Human Development Index rose significantly in the next four years.

Thanking Sachs for his continuing devotion to development in Nigeria, the President remarked that it was a very justifiable commitment since any progress in Nigeria would impact positively on the rest of Africa and the world.

“If Nigeria gets out of the woods, that is 20-25 percent of Africa out of the woods. We can carry other African countries along. If our economy improves, it will impact positively on the rest of the world,” he said.

Sachs congratulated President Jonathan on Nigeria’s recent elections, which he said the entire world was cheering.

He said with the successful elections, Nigeria was now at a positive juncture for the consolidation of democracy and rapid economic development, adding that the UN was very keen on supporting the Jonathan administration in any way that it could.

Reps May Downplay Religion, Ethnicity In Speakership Race SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 00:00 FROM AZIMAZI MOMOH JIMOH, ABUJA NEWS - NATIONAL

APPARENTLY to ensure quality leadership in the House of Representatives, some lawmakers yesterday began moves to play down the religion and ethnicity factors that had characterised the tussle for the Speakership slot.

Rising from a closed-door meeting in Abuja, the group of lawmakers described as unproductive the attempt to restrict the contest to religion and ethnicity.

A lawmaker told The Guardian On Saturday that plans had been concluded to re-orientate in-coming and re-elected members about the need to strengthen parliament and democracy by electing persons of strong character and rich legislative background irrespective of their religion or ethnicity.

He confirmed that the party had been urged to prevail on those lawmakers who are working against its preferred candidates.

“We are seeking that the leadership of our party and the leadership of the House should meet all lawmakers beating the drum of religion and ethnicity and advise them to reverse their steps. It is not good that while we call ourselves leaders in this country, we are at the same time planting the seed of discord and disunity among our children and grand children,” he declared.

The group of lawmakers, it was gathered, endorsed the candidature of Representative Yakubu Dogara (PDP, Bauchi State) for the position of deputy speaker.

He has been cleared by the PDP to run with Ajibola Muraina whose speakership ambition has equally received the blessing of the party.

Religious and ethnic sentiments overtook the speakership race in the House immediately it became public that the PDP had endorsed the continuation of David Mark and Ike Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the PDP is experiencing difficulties in persuading its members in the House who are routing for persons other than those chosen by the party to change their minds.

Some lawmakers from the North West Geo-political zone have been working with some others from the Southeast to back Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto State) as speaker.

The group believes that the choice of leaders in the House should not be based on zoning as canvassed by the PDP but based on the fact that the House was an independent legislative organ.

The choice of Dogara has created unease in the Tambuwal camp, which prides itself as the continuity group because the incumbent chief whip, Emeka Ihedioha, and the deputy chief whip, Tambuwal, belonged to that group.

Dogara is a member of the kitchen cabinet of the present House leadership under Dimeji Bankole and chairman of the House Services Committee.

SSS Arrests Syndicate Allegedly Sending Inciting Text Messages SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 00:00 FROM SAXONE AKHAINE, KADUNA NEWS - NATIONAL

FOLLOWING rumours of impending crisis in Kaduna State, the State Security Service (SSS) has smashed a syndicate that specialized in sending threat messages to unsuspecting members of the public with a view to causing trouble and extorting money from them.

The suspects have engaged in disseminating messages of impending crisis by promoting religious disharmony among Kaduna residents after the post election violence in the State.

Besides, the State’s SSS Director, Mr. Yomi Zamba told journalists yesterday, that the syndicate, which claimed to be operating from Abuja was traced to Kaduna where they have been sending out inciting text messages using several SIM cards and other electronic devices.

According to him, one of the text messages from the syndicate was sent to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Prison Service where the gang disguised as members of Boko Haram operating from Abuja.

Zamba, who refused to disclose the number of arrest made, warned others who specialized in such unpatriotic acts to have a change of heart saying the Service was all out to ensure that culprits were arrested and brought to book.

He also cautioned members of the public to beware of the activities of such groups, pointing out that some of those arrested may have powerful backers. He added that the Service was investigating the level of complicity of some of those arrested.

He further explained that the syndicate was made up of both male and female members, describing them as very smart people who could con anybody in their nefarious activities.

He described those sending out the text messages aimed at creating disaffection in the state and in the country as fifth columnists. He warned that security agents are up in arms to track down all those involved in such activities.

Firm Sues AGF, Alleges Abuse Of Office SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 00:00 BY ONYEDIKA AGBEDO NEWS - NATIONAL

A FIRM, Autobahn Techniques Limited, has sued the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, before an Abuja Federal High Court presided over

by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, accusing him of unlawful conduct that bordered on conflict of interest and brazen display of impunity.

In the suit filed by a Lagos lawyer, Ogbonnaya Agbafo, on behalf of the firm on Wednesday, the AGF was sued in his personal capacity as well as in his office for “acting ultra vires the statutory powers of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.”

Other defendants in the suit include the National Co-ordinator of NAPEP Dr. Magnus Kpakol, the Minister of State for Commerce. Josephine Tapgun and the Registrar of Trade Marks Jamila Ahmadu-Suka.

The suit is sequel to the recent directive by Adoke to the Registrar of Trademarks, Hajia Jamila Ahmadu-Suka to cancel the Registered Trademark ‘KEKE NAPEP’.

The plaintiff is seeking among other reliefs an order of mandatory injunction compelling the Federal Government of Nigeria to remove the 1st Defendant from office as AGF and should he cease to occupy that office for reasons other than as a result of the suit, then an order directing that he should not be appointed into any office of responsibility in the federation until he has purged himself of the malady of interested partisanship and bias in public office.

In the originating summons which The Guardian gathered were served on the defendants on Thursday, Autobahn is asking the court to declare as unconstitutional, arbitrary, unjustifiable and ultra vires the inter–ministerial directive by the AGF declaring the KEKE NAPEP TRADEMARK registered in favour of Autobahn since 2008 as “illegal”.

In a 55-paragraph affidavit deposed to by its Chief Executive, Mr. Alban Ofili–Okonkwo, the firm claimed to have conceived, developed and introduced KEKE NAPEP programme to the Federal Government, which in turn accepted the role of financier.

According to him, “I coined the term “Keke NAPEP” and that term is only one of several other others that I coined around our overall entrepreneurial concept of wealth creation, poverty eradication and technology indigenisation as depicted in our publication: ‘Beyond Poverty Eradication published in 2005 particularly in pages 5 and 19.’

He further averred that the Defendants have for sometime been making desperate moves to edge his firm out of its lawful proprietorship of the Keke NAPEP programme, which it had created. “Being aware of this, we duly published in July 2010, Legal Notices in two national dailies, the Vanguard and Daily Trust newspapers. The said notice duly warned the general public that “the commercial acronym “Keke NAPEP” is a private creation and registered Trade Mark of our client; Autobahn Techniques Ltd and that any person who uses the term or acronym of “Keke NAPEP” without the prior license or consent of our client first had and received, infringes our client’s Trade Mark and goodwill…” The said notice also informed the general public that “The Poverty Alleviation Modem called “Keke NAPEP” includes but is not restricted to the operation of tricycles. Autobahn Techniques Ltd is presently in partnership only with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the operation of Keke Tricycle.”

The reliefs sought by the firm in the suit ”

include a declaration that “neither the office of the Attorney General of the Federation nor that of the Minister of State, Commerce and Industry, is a competent court of record empowered to hear and determine petitions from persons claiming to be aggrieved over the issuance of a trademark certificate to the plaintiff.”

The plaintiff also wants the court to declare that “the said Attorney General and Minister of State has no statutory or other power to direct, compel and/or purport to guide or procure the Registrar of Trademarks or anybody acting for her in that office, to sit in judgment over a matter in which she (the Registrar of Trademarks) had become functus officio or to cancel any trademark certificate issued in due course to a party in the absence of opposition.

It is also seeking a declaration that the Attorney General of the Federation acted ultra vires his powers and in bad faith and contrary to the rules of natural justice and fair hearing when he purported to have issued directives to the Registrar of Trademarks through the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry to cancel plaintiff’s trademark registration certificate on the basis of a petition to which the plaintiff was not called upon to make representations in favour of retention of its intellectual property.

The company is further asking the court for a declaration that in acting manifestly ultra vires his powers and in a manner reminiscent of bad faith, bias and personal interests, and therefore over and above the call of duty, the Attorney General of the Federation has personal liability as 1st Defendant in his personal capacity to assuage and/or compensate the plaintiff in damages and that this is a circumstance in which the Law obliges this Honourable Court to award exemplary damages, among others

Court Voids Okereke-Onyuike’s Sack As NSE Chief SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 00:00 BY MOSES EBOSELE, BERTRAM NWANNEKANMA AND HELEN OJI NEWS - NATIONAL

SEC To Appeal Verdict

A FEDERAL High Court, Lagos yesterday nullified the removal of the former Director General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyuike by the Nigeria Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Justice Mohammed Idris, in his judgment on a suit filed by Okereke-Onyuike challenging her removal, described the letters sacking her as reckless, hasty and done in bad faith.

The judge, who awarded the sum of N500 million against SEC as exemplary and aggravated damages for the recklessness, held that Okere-Onyuike’s right to fair hearing was breached by the commission.

But in a swift reaction, SEC said it disagreed with the judgment and intends to file an appeal against the verdict.

The Commission’s head of Media, Mr. Lanre Oloyi, in a statement made available to The Guardian said “the judgment read in court this morning (yesterday) questioned procedural aspects of SEC’s regulatory action.”

He said, “The commission in August 2010, exercised its statutory powers of intervention and took regulatory action to protect the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), the interest of investing public and the Nigerian economy as a whole.

In the judgment, Justice Idris held that it was wrong for SEC to withhold the allegation against the plaintiff, without giving her the opportunity to adequately reply to the allegations.

According to the judge, Okereke-Onyiuke’s removal was irrational and hasty and did not comply with the condition precedent in removing the plaintiff.

The judge added: “It is indeed ridiculous that SEC removed the plaintiff within 24 hours, based on bad and unverified allegations and that it is not in doubt that SEC did not comply with the condition precedent in removing the plaintiff.”

SEC, the judge said, acted in breach of section 308 of Investment and Securities Act (ISA) and therefore, her removal based on the section was a nullity.

“It is also important to note that Prof Okereke- Onyiuke has not attempted in any forum and in any manner whatsoever to answer those allegations on their merits,” the judge added.

But SEC in its reaction said, it “remains committed to its objective of protecting the interest of investors and maintaining confidence in the securities market and will continue to vigorously pursue its efforts to ensure that transparency, accountability and justice prevail in the sector.’

Prof. Okereke-Onyuike was sacked on August 5 2010 by SEC, which said it acted in accordance with its powers under the Investment and Securities Act (ISA), over allegation of misconduct on her part, which the commission perceived as capable of negatively impacting on the fortune of the stock market and the image of NSE.

But the former NSE boss, in her suit, challenged the propriety of her removal by SEC and to among others, restrain SEC and its agents from treating and relating to her “as a removed DG of the NSE.”

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, the stakeholders argued that the award of N500million would serve as deterrent to other regulators who intend to ignore the law in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Specifically, the national coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sunny Nwosu, said in an interview with The Guardian that apart from the N500million, NSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should render an unreserved apology to the former NSE

Crisis Hit Nigeria/Argentina Friendly, As Players Plan Boycott SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 00:00 BY GOWON AKPODONOR SPORT - HOME

A MAJOR crisis seems to be crippling into the organization of the much talked about Nigeria/Argentina international friendly match following an alleged plan by some Super Eagles players to boycott the June 1 match over what they called insincerity by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Apart from the complain by the players, officials of the sponsoring firm, Guinness, are said to be at daggers-drawn with the NFF over who should control the money released for the security arrangement for the match.

Although the Chairman, Technical Committee of the NFF, Barrister Christopher Green, said yesterday that there was no iota of truth in the story, The Guardian learnt that some of the players invited for the match have allegedly raised eyebrow over how the $300,000 said to have been released by the sponsor as appearance fees for Super Eagles players would be shared.

A source yesterday disclosed that top officials of the NFF have allegedly tampered with the appearance fee meant for the players by reducing it to half, despite getting ‘every’ other things they requested for from the sponsor.

“I don’t know when these NFF people will stop this rubbish. The sponsor made available $300,000 as appearance fees for Super Eagles players for the friendly against Argentina, but they have kept half of the amount for themselves. Now the players are saying they would boycott the match unless the money is complete. The NFF has so much money to play around with in this friendly. Why should it be the one for the players,” the source queried yesterday.

Also yesterday, a source close to the sponsor alleged that some officials of the NFF were fighting for the control of the money released for the match’s security arrangement.

According to the source, the sponsor told the NFF in clear terms long ago that it would handle the security arrangement for the match because it did not want any ugly incident before, during and after the game.

“That was the arrangement long ago, but we were surprised by the latest demand by some NFF officials, who are insisting that the money for the security be handed to them. We are saying no because we have contracted the security to a private firm and we are sure of getting a better result from it.”

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, the NFF Technical Committee chairman said: “Who are the players complaining about money? I really want to know because we just unveiled the list of players yesterday (Thursday) and what we hear the next day is that some players are planning to stage a boycott. Some people have called me to ask the same question. But I want to say that it does not make sense.”

Asked to comment on the imbroglio between some NFF officials and the sponsor over the control of security vote for match, Green said: “You can direct such question to the security sub-committee chairman. I am not in a position to speak on it.”

From the beginning, the Super Eagles and Argentina friendly match had been surrounded by controversy. As soon as the NFF announced a date for the match, a FIFA licensed agent, Julius Owen Ighodaro, appeared from nowhere with a threat to report the NFF to FIFA if the body and Guinness failed to pay him his 25 per cent commission. He claimed to have brokered the friendly match, but was pushed aside by the NFF after the deal was finalized.

The NFF was said to have quickly invited the protesting agent from his base in Belgium to Abuja for ‘settlement’ to avoid legal tussle over the match.

Though, officials of the NFF still tag the June 1 friendly match a ‘high-profile’ game despite the exclusion of Argentine first team stars like Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Angel Di Maria and Diego Milito, among others, to majority of the fans ‘there is nothing high profile’ in it anymore.

Obama’s Speech: Going Back To Pre-1967 Borders Unrealistic, Says Israel SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 00:00 BY BOLA OLAJUWON (WITH AGENCY REPORTS) NEWS - NATIONAL

MIXED reactions have continued to trail United States’ (U.S.) President Barack Obama’s new policy outlines for the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of revolts and elusive peace in the two regions.

From the affected two regions, West Africa and America, it was a diversity of commendations and attacks for the Obama address with Israel releasing the first salvo.

While rejecting the U.S. policy, the Jewish State asserted that the U.S. “does not understand reality” as its leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arrived in Washington yesterday on an official visit after Obama endorsed a longstanding Palestinian demand on borders of a future state.

Obama had on Thursday saluted the courage of Arab citizens for the revolt in countries across the Middle East and North Africa, arguing that the uprisings have shown that a policy of repression would no longer work as people seek to win their freedom and human rights.

In what was termed as a major speech laying out U.S. policy for the region, Obama, who spoke at the State Department in his first comprehensive remarks on the Middle East, said the U.S. would support efforts for reform across the two regions, including “transitions toward democracy.”

In the “new chapter in American diplomacy,” Obama pointed to recent popular uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, and elsewhere and said: “The events of the past six months show us that strategies of oppression and strategies of diversion will not work anymore,” he said.

He said people in parts of the region “have seized control of their own destiny” to fight for popular democracy and self-determination.

He, however, urged the World Bank and other countries to come up with development plan for Egypt and Tunisa, apart from billions of dollars being envisaged by Washington as grants.

Obama embraced the Palestinian view that the state they seek in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip should largely be drawn along lines that existed before the 1967 war in which Israel captured those territories and East Jerusalem.

But the president emphasized that the changes under way will take time. “It will be years before this story reaches its end,” he said.

However, Netanyahu, who has had strained relationship with Obama in the past, began an official visit to U.S. yesterday with an argument that the pre-1967 borders as demanded by Obama would leave Israel with borders that were “indefensible.”

Also, a Libyan government official claimed that Obama’s tirades against its leader, Muammar Gaddafi, were the usual American propaganda. The official said Obama was known for spreading lies.

However, Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade has recognised Libya’s Benghazi-based rebels as the legitimate opposition and said they should be given international support to lead the country’s transition to democratic elections.

Senegal’s position, made known after a visit by officials of the rebel delegation National Transitional Council, appears to go further than that of the African Union (AU), which has urged a ceasefire but not gone as far as recognising the rebels.

“President Wade declared that he recognised ... Mustafa Abdel Jalil and the political forces he represents as the established and legitimate opposition, whose natural role –with African and international support – is to prepare republican institutions in Libya via democratic, free and transparent elections,” a presidency statement late on Thursday said.

But to Nabil Shaath, a senior adviser to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the Obama speech was a “half-full glass.” He told Cable News Network (CNN) that Abbas would review the speech with all Palestinian factions and present Obama with some “specific requirements” for translating his rhetoric into “a real peace process.”

In Benghazi, the heart of the Libyan revolt against longtime strongman Muammar Gaddafi, a rebel leader pronounced Obama’s speech in support of democratic movements across the region “good enough.”

“Overall, the speech was positive for Libya,” said Jalal el-Gallal, a spokesman for the National Transitional Council. Rebel leaders were pleased to hear Obama call their provisional government “legitimate and credible,” remarks that raised hopes of eventual U.S. recognition as the country’s rightful government — and accompanying aid.

“Hopefully, they will recognise our aspirations,” el-Gallal said. “They will recognize us fully, and we can bring this chapter to an end.”

And to Michele Dunne, a former White House and State Department expert on the Middle East, Obama’s address was “a lot more timid than it needed to be.”

“He spoke a lot more about self-determination and reform than he did about broader concepts like democracy and freedom,” Dunne told CNN.

“He has been pretty cautious about approaching these changes in the Middle East,” added Dunne, now an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“At least now he has said openly ... that the United States will stand up for its principles in its actions toward the Middle East.”

Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, weighing a run for the Republican presidential nomination, said U.S. military forces are spread too thin around the world and he thinks President Barack Obama erred in intervening in Libya.

Traveling in New Hampshire, Huntsman told ABC News that Libya “is not core to our national security interest.”

The embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh told thousands of supporters yesterday that he wants an early presidential election to end a political crisis after months of deadly anti-regime protests.

“We wanted Obama to directly call Saleh to leave office the same way he did with Mubarak,” said Saleh Kayyat, a youth leader in the capital Sanaa.

“He did not do that. This is wrong, and he is not being honest with the wave of change in the Middle East.”

Another protester, Ala’a Jarban, told CNN, “We had hoped to hear more.”

Meanwhile, the Taliban has also claimed responsibility for an attack yesterday on a convoy of U.S. Consulate vehicles in northwest Pakistan, saying it was in retaliation for the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Obama said there is a “deepening spiral of division between the United States and the Arab world” that needs to be reversed.

He called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to lead his country to democracy or “get out of the way,” his most direct warning to the leader of a nation embroiled in violence.

Police Deploy 20,000 Officers For Rivers Council Polls SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011 00:00 FROM ANN GODWIN, PORT HARCOURT NEWS - NATIONAL

AHEAD of the chairmanship and councillorship election scheduled to hold in Rivers State today, the Rivers State Police Command has deployed 20,000 officers and other security agents

to ensure adequate security. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt while briefing journalists on the preparedness of police for the election.

Abba said the officers have been informed of their responsibilities and have been reminded of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010.

He expressed hope that the officers, having been adequately enlightened, would ensure that the game is played according

to the rules.

Other security and law enforcement agents are men and officers of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigerian

Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Abbah said there will be restriction of movement of vehicles in the

state from 9.00 am and 6.00 pm today.

Punch

Crack in PDP over appointment of ministers By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja Saturday, 21 May 2011

All is not well with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party over the appointment of ministers as some members of the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the party have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, saying they are being neglected.

In a petition dated May 18, 2011 and addressed to the acting National Chairman of the party, Dr. Harilu Mohammed, the petitioners complained that they were being neglected in the recommendation for appointments as ministers and other federal government jobs.

Those who signed the petition are the Deputy Legal Adviser of the party, Mr. Mbakwe Obi; Deputy Treasurer, Alhaji Nasiru Koki; Deputy Organising Secretary, Mai Adamu Mustapha and Deputy Financial Secretary, Osita Ogene.

Others are Mr. Bolaji Anani; Mrs. Ebi Peretu; Alhaji Garaba Umaru; the chairman of the NEC G.87 members, Alhaji Tafida Isa; Mr. Mbakwe Obi; Dr. Nana Aisha; Mr. Claudius Enegesi; Chief Tunde Daramola; and Ibrahim Bashir.

The signatories to the letter complained bitterly that they were being neglected as their names were not included in the list of those sent to be appointed ministers.

They said, “Our names were not included in the states’ nomination lists for political and other appointments as directed by the Presidency.

“Our states have always argued that we are national officers and not state officers. They hinged their argument on the fact that we were elected at the national convention and not state congresses. They

concluded that our rights and privileges were in the national secretariat.”

Some of the signatories to the letter were at the headquarters of the party in Abuja on Thursday to meet with Mohammed.

They, however, left after waiting for several hours without hope that the chairman of the party would attend to them.

One of them, Dr. Nana Kadiri, however, called on the President to pick members of his cabinet from experienced politicians, who have grass roots support.

Kadiri, who was a former lecturer at the University of Abuja, said it would be wrong for the President to rely on those she called “retired politicians that lack political support” when picking his ministers.

She said, “We heard that names are being compiled for appointments. Our advice is that the President should not appoint or recycle old politicians, who have nothing to offer.

“His cabinet should consist of politicians, who are in touch with grass roots development and who are in touch with the people. By this, the appointments will have meaning to the people.”

Speaker: PDP moves to pacify Reps By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja Saturday, 21 May 2011

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has resolved to pacify members of the House of Representatives over their refusal to jettison the zoning formula released by the party to guide the election of the speaker.

In order to appease the lawmakers, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Haliru Bello, met with the principal officers of the House on Tuesday, shortly after the House changed its system of voting to open-secret.

The House, it was learnt, had adopted this method in order to shield itself from party discipline if it eventually abandoned the party’s zoning system.

The meeting was attended by the leadership of the House, Bello and some members of the National Working Committee of the party.

An investigation by our correspondent showed that it was because of the outcome of the meeting

that the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Ita Enang, introduced the matter on the floor of the House on Wednesday.

Enang, who had wanted his colleagues to reverse their earlier decision on the matter, was, however, shouted down by other members of the House.

The Akwa Ibom State-born politician, who had won election into the Senate, had said the matter was not properly passed.

He claimed that the Votes and Proceedings of the House for Tuesday, when the rule was amended, should not be approved by the Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, as the amendment of any aspect of the House rules that required a proper motion must be brought to the floor of the House.

He said the proper way to go about it was to put the House on notice for at least a period of seven days.

His colleagues disagreed and shouted him down. This, it was further learnt, made Bankole to intervene, saying the amendment had become controversial and should be revisited.

This again drew the rage of the members, an action that made the speaker to quickly give in to their demand.

The party, it was further learnt, told the House leadership that as soon as the budget was signed, it would make sure that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido, would be asked to lift the ban on banks’ refusal to give them loan for the settlement of their outstanding allowances.

A source, who was at the meeting with the lawmakers, said the party, however, gave a caveat: The House must reverse the voting system and also adhere to the zoning formula.

It was learnt that the party had told the House leadership that PDP did not have any anointed candidate, but was only interested in adherence to its zoning formula.

Mohammed was quoted as saying that the party would not watch and allow the members to rubbish it with their attitude.

The party had zoned the office of the speaker of the House to the South-West, while some members of the party from the preferred zone were said to be planning to impose Muraina Ajibola on the House.

The PDP’s assurance concerning the allowances of the lawmakers was said to have made Enang to make a U-turn on Wednesday, asking his colleagues to have a rethink on the controversial voting system.

But sources close to the party said the members refused to be swayed by the argument, insisting that they would not do anything until the party fulfilled its own side of the bargain.

The members were said to be angry that the party made sure that their desire to be members of the National Executive Committee of the party was thwarted in the Senate.

A member of the House said that a majority of the members felt that their defeat at the party’s primaries was engineered by the party and that this was the time to pay the party back in its own coin.

The source said, “We lost our primaries because the party did not want some of us back. We have traced our losses to the machinery of the party and our governors.

“This same party did everything, including using the media against us from becoming members of the NEC. If we have been members of NEC, we would have been able to influence some things.

“It is payback time. We have nothing at stake again. You cannot treat us like that and say you want zoning or whatever to stand.”

The source urged Nigerians to realise that the motion for the members of the House to be integrated into the NEC of the PDP was moved by Cyril Maduabum, who he said also moved the motion for the amendment to the House rule on voting.

Maduabum, who is from Anambra State, lost in the PDP primaries before defecting to the Action Congress of Nigeria, where he also lost.

He said, “A majority of us, who are not coming back anyway, are broke. We spent so much on the elections and now they are saying there is no money. To hell with their so-called zoning arrangement, when we do not even know how to get our money.”

Our correspondent learnt that Sanusi told the banks not to give the House any more loan as there was no collateral for such.

But the House leadership was said to have been assured that the banks would be asked to take the signed budget as collateral since the loan is an institutional one and not meant for an individual.

In a bid to whip the lawmakers into line, Vice-President Namadi Sambo had met with them on Monday. The meeting did not achieve any positive result.

President Goodluck Jonathan is also meeting with the members of the NWC on Sunday to strategise on the means of appealing to the rebellious lawmakers.

Efforts made to speak with the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Alkali, on the matter did not yield any result as calls made to his mobile telephone were not successful.

Reps-elect, executive may clash over jumbo pay By Niyi Odebode and Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja Saturday, 21 May 2011

The newly-elected and returning members of the House of Representatives may clash with the executive arm of government over the jumbo pay of federal lawmakers, an investigation has shown.

SATURDAY PUNCH gathered on Friday that plans were under way to cut the jumbo pay of the federal lawmakers by reducing their allowances.

In what is seen as a response to the public outcry against the huge overhead of the federal legislature, the executive arm of government in the 2011 budget had cut down the budgetary allocations to the National Assembly by N45bn.

The total allocation to the National Assembly is N111.23bn as against the N156bn received by the legislature in the 2010 fiscal year.

The investigation showed that the executives decision to reduce the overhead featured in the retreat organised for the lawmakers this week.

The issue of jumbo pay, which the federal lawmakers have been criticised for, was not in the agenda of the retreat.

It was, however, gathered that the issue was informally discussed by the lawmakers, who were uncomfortable with the reduction in their overhead.

The investigation showed that although President Goodluck Jonathan had not signed the budget, the executive arm of government was determined to ensure that the overhead of the National Assembly was reduced, in response to public criticisms.

A Presidency source said, “Although it is only the RMAFC (Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission) that can initiate bills on salaries and allowances of public office holders, the President is determined to reduce the cost of governance.”

The lawmakers, it was learnt, felt that the issue of jumbo pay had been blown out of proportion and that the allowances of ministers should also be reduced.

A newly-elected member of the House, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We are not opposed to the reduction in our allowances, but the issue should be addressed holistically. Let Nigerians know what ministers too are earning so that ours and theirs should be reduced.”

The Central Bank Governor had in November 2010 raised the alarm on the high cost of maintaining the NASS, which he put at 25 per cent of the nation’s expenditure.

He had warned that if the trend was not checked, it would continue to stall the growth and

development of the nation.

But a member of the House, Mr. Ndidi Elumelu (Delta State), in an interview with journalists, said that there was nothing like jumbo pay in the NASS.

He stated, “Now in the office of every member, there are provisions for travels, training and all manners of things in form of allowances. If you check the budget of ministries, departments and agencies, you will see the allowances for international and local travels, local training, international training, transport, maintenance and many others.

“These are things that are also applicable to honourable members. Probably what you will now be saying is that the mode of utilisation should be checked. If I want to travel tomorrow, I probably will need to apply rather than say, ‘Give me and let me keep it’. I think it’s the procedure that should be changed, but there is nothing like jumbo pay.”

Fashola to open new 10mw power project By Comfort Oseghale Saturday, 21 May 2011

As part of efforts to boost economic and social activities within and around Lagos Island, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, will inaugurate the newly built 10 megawatts Island Power Project on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the IPP, built to the highest global thermal operating plant standards, will deliver 24 hours uninterrupted power supply to some public institutions located in central Lagos.

“This project will enhance the capability of the Island Maternity and Lagos General Hospital to save more lives in critical emergency situations as the hospitals will from now be served with uninterrupted power supply.

“No fewer than 20 streets in Lagos Island will have their street lights powered by this plant. This will further energise the night economy in the state and enhance security,” the statement said.

Emphasising the immediate, short and long term benefits of the IPP, the statement said, “The tempo of industrialisation will be increased, so also will the general improvement in income and living conditions of the residents on the island.”

As part of its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government when the privatisation process occasioned by the power sector reform is completed, the state government has opened the first local

transformer manufacturing plant on the Badagry corridor.

“This manufacturing plant was built in partnership with an Egyptian firm, Elsewedy Electrical Nigeria. In addition to that, the state government intends to undertake the first state-wide energy audit programme. This will establish the power usage of the people of the state,” the statement said.

Cement price ultimatum: Nigerians task FG, manufacturers over workability By Bosede Olusola-Obasa Saturday, 21 May 2011

Some Nigerians have called on the Federal Government and stakeholders in the cement manufacturing sector to properly address all the factors responsible for the high cost of the commodity before making public pronouncements.

They said that Nigerians were fed up with empty pronouncements, stressing that practical steps must be seen to be taken to bring a lasting solution, and not temporary relief, to the annual problem.

The price of cement, a vital component in the construction of houses and roads, which sold for N1,500 earlier this year, has risen to N2,600 per 50 bag.

The Executive Director, Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, in an interview with SATURDAY PUNCH, queried the Federal Government’s directive that the price of the commodity be slashed within 30 days.

He wondered why the Federal Government would give an ultimatum in an industry ruled by private investors, especially when the issue of infrastructure had not been resolved.

He said that the responsibility of the government in business was to provide an enabling environment. He demanded to know if the Federal Government had addressed the issue of diesel price, bad roads and erratic power supply, among others.

He said, “These are the factors that can give the Federal Government the moral justification to issue an ultimatum to business people, if it is ever required. Everyone in the cement chain of production is there to make profit, not as Father Christmas.

“The lack of these basic infrastructure make doing business difficult and the cost is eventually passed on to the end user. What happens if after 30 days nothing changes? Will they be sent out of Nigeria? We should address problems from their root causes.”

A social commentator and legal practitioner, Barrister Onyekachi Ubani, called on the Federal

Government to “walk the talk,” as far as resolving the recurring problem of high cement price was concerned.

In his submission during the week on a live discussion monitored on Radio Continental, Lagos, he said that the ultimatum sounded good, but that the basic issues of infrastructure should be tackled.

After the President’s ultimatum was made public on Monday, stakeholders in the cement business have been discussing the viability of meeting the directive to reduce the price of cement.

It was observed from their comments that there were still some factors beyond their control that required government’s attention.

Precisely, the Executive Secretary of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. James Salako, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Tuesday that some factors outside the control of manufacturers were responsible for the high price. He, however, said that they planned to step up production to push more cement into the market and ensure that more cement penetrated the market as soon as possible.

A key player in the industry and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was on Tuesday quoted as saying that his company had commenced moves to reduce the price of cement in the market. “In the next one month, you’ll see a great change and that’s a promise coming from myself,” he said.

But he added that the company could not control transportation, even though it had acquired additional 5,000 trucks to lift the commodity in an effort to curtail the rising price and make it affordable to Nigerians.

Knocks for CBN’s cash withdrawal, lodgement limit By Bosede Olusola-Obasa Saturday, 21 May 2011

Stakeholders at the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday criticised the peg recently announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria on cash withdrawals and lodgements in banks.

In separate interviews with SATURDAY PUNCH, they described the policy as coming at an unripe stage of the economy.

They added that an adequate preparation in terms of enlightenment should have been made before the declaration was made.

The CBN has pegged daily cash withdrawal and lodgement by individuals at N150,000 and N1m for

corporate organisations.

It said that the policy, which would kick off in June 2012, was intended to reduce the dominance of cash in the economy; the cost of cash management to the banking industry, security problems and money laundering.

The National Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, said that the policy might fail to achieve its target because of the way the CBN was going about it.

He said that the CBN was biting off more than it could chew by expecting Nigerians to embrace a cashless economy within one year.

Okezie, an investor in the capital market, feared that many people might return to the days of keeping their money at home or burying it in the earth in order to have unimpeded access to it at will.

He said, “Sanusi Lamido might end up killing the banking industry with this policy because when people keep their money at home, the banks will not make good profits and they will not be able to declare dividends for shareholders.

“What happens to business people who need to buy goods and pay cash for them at Alaba Market? We are still grappling with Automated Teller Machine frauds and they are talking about a cashless economy within one year. They should rather embark on massive enlightenment and work at making the system safe.”

The National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Sunny Nwosu, warned that it would be difficult to suddenly change the attitude of Nigerians from a cash economy.

He said, “In most business transactions today, people still prefer cash at hand as a means of payment. Even the ATM has a limit on withdrawal.

“And they should not mix things up because even in overseas, you can withdraw your money once it is legitimate.

“I think this is a bad policy at this time in our economy. That’s not what the CBN should be doing now. It is going to be a gradual transition and we are not even near it yet.”

Also, the General Manager, GTI Consult Ltd., Mr. Ola Ogedengbe, questioned how the CBN arrived at its benchmark and why it could not be higher than that.

He said that the Nigerian economy was not developed to the level of operating a cashless economy no matter how nice the idea seemed.

“I think the CBN is trying to make the economy run when it should be crawling and what will happen is that it will fall. This is a sensitive issue. It is good to prevent too much cash in the economy; it

reduces robbery and so on.

“But how did the CBN arrive at the peg? I think the limit is too low and it may not work. Has the inconsistency in the operation of ATMs been addressed? That I think is the starting point,” Ogedengbe said.

CBN’s Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo, had in an interview with THE PUNCH Newspapers, said that the limit was not absolute, as those who wished to withdraw more than the stipulated amount could do so, but for a fee.

He said that the CBN had already put in place measures to match the ATM deployment in Mexico by deploying over 100,000 point of sales terminals by 2012.

“By 2015, we hope to be where Brazil is by deploying additional 350,000 PoS terminals. Remember that we are also making it biometric so that everyone, including those who cannot read and write, will be covered,” he said.

Lemo promised that the needed infrastructure would be put in place to ensure a smooth take-off, while a committee had been set up to ensure error-free, end-to-end e-payment transactions.

He said the implementation would begin in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Port Harcourt, Kano and Aba, which account for 80 per cent of the volume of cash in the country.

Vanguard

EFCC warns govs against money launderingON MAY 21, 2011 · IN NEWS

By Emman Ovuakporie

ABUJA - The incoming and returning state governors got a warning from the Economic

and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC: to steer clear of money laundering and

similar crimes.

Chairman of the Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri at a symposium for “New and

Returning Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” in Abuja charged the

governors to shun safe havens where looted funds are kept and reminded them that

“maintenance of foreign accounts is constitutionally prohibited.”

“We cannot continue to enrich the economies of other countries at our own expense.

We must bring the money back. We cannot launder money to those economies and turn

back to seek economic aid from them,” she said, adding “they continuously laugh at us.

Launderers must be reminded that once stolen assets are identified, they will be

frozen. Even though it is difficult to get them back, you cannot enjoy them either.

“The survival of our democracy and indeed the nation itself is dependent on how we

approach the issue of our governance and, with it the fight against corruption.

Underscoring the importance of good governance she said: “It is important to state at

this stage that the EFCC is your partner in ensuring good governance. The EFCC is not

a monster looking for trouble or creating problem for governors.’’

However, it has work to do. Where good governance fails, the EFCC must intervene.

That is where the partnership parts ways”.

FG vows to unravel the cause of post election violenceON MAY 21, 2011 · IN NEWS

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

The Federal Government has admitted that the post election violence in some parts of

the north is embarrassing saying it is part of the challenges Nigeria expects to face to

realise true and sustainable democracy. It has therefore declared its determination to

ensure that the brains behind the violence are brought to book.

Information and Communication Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku at a parley with

newsmen in Lagos, Thursday, said as bad as the violence was, it would not in anyway

erode the credibility of the elections.

He said the violence was an eye opener for the Federal Government to review its

internal security system and make sure that nobody is allowed to abuse the law in

whatever guise in future.

He said: “It is difficult to explain what happened, especially when those fighting won in

most of the areas where this violence took place. But we are sure that certain things

happen for us to learn. However, it is regrettable, especially when we lost a number of

youth corps members in the violence. But I can assure you that this will not in anyway

reduce the credibility of the election adjudged to be free and fair by both foreign and

local observers.”

Soliciting the support of the media for the incoming government, especially in the area

of the May 29, inauguration ceremony, Waku said, “it is only you, the Nigerian media

that can project our goodness, our beauty and culture to the foreigners who think that

the country is in war. Some of the foreign media thought Nigeria was going to be

divided based on the last election and the pocket of violence recorded, but we are too

integrated, we are unique people, bound by long existing unity. So, this recent violence

will not push us apart.

“We have seen a sitting president assassinated in office. This did not lower the

credibility of the nation. So, our post election crisis will not be different.

Today, a southerner from a minority region won the election in a landslide victory, this

shows that our democracy is growing and becoming matured. It’s worth a celebration

during the inauguration of the new government.

We want the media to give us the necessary support in this area and also formulate to

us new agenda on how best the government will achieve its good desires for the nation

and her people. The challenge to set agenda and monitor the activities of the

government lies with the press,” he added.

Why Siasia dropped Odemwingie – ChukwuON MAY 21, 2011 · IN SPORTS

By Ime Bassey

As the list of the Super Eagles went public on Thursday with the name of West Brom’s

prolific goal poacher Osaze Odemwingie conspicuously missing and raising eyebrows,

the Nigerian Football Association has stated that the decision to leave Osaze out of the

team was borne out of him (Osaze) walking out of the team after their last Orange CAF

African Nations Cup Qualifiers against Ethiopia in Abuja.

Clearing the air on the issue, member of the technical committee and former Green

Eagles Captain, Christian Chukwu said the committee decided on the grounds of the

report made available to them.

“We deliberated on the issue and learnt that Osaze walked out on the team. He is still

a member of the team, when ever he wants to come back he will be welcomed.

“When a son says he wants to go out, the father cannot hold him, the only thing is that

the father will always be there to open the door for him when is feels okay to come

back. You cannot force somebody against his wish in our present world.

This is a friendly match, I hope that before we play Ethiopia may be things will be

alright,” Chukwu said.

On whether the Benin born player will be recalled for the game against Ethiopia, the

former Kenyan coach said “the list we made public does not mean that he cannot be

recalled to the team so long as he is ready to play,” Chukwu added.

On the part of the first Vice President of the football house, Chief Mike Umeh, he said

Nigerians should not bother themselves too much on the matter as the prerogative to

select players that are good enough to tackle the Albiceleste and the Walya Antelopes

on June 1 and 4 respectively lies with Coach Samson Siasia.

“Really, the onus of inviting players rest with the coach, he knows the best player that

is in form and ready to give the best. He has a free hand to do what ever he feels okay

for the team.

“We will not perform below expectation if he (Osaze) not there but I know he is not an

indispensable player,” Umeh said.

EFCC set to quiz BankoleON MAY 21, 2011 · IN NEWS

*Over N10 billion Reps loan *Two other petitions against him

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is now set to quiz Speaker

Dimeji Bankole of the House of Representatives, possibly next week, the eve of his

departure from office over the controversial N10 billion loan allegedly taken by the

leadership of the House.

Some members had accused the House leadership of taking the loan without the

authority of the House. An NGO-Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project,

SERAP, followed it up by submitting a petition to this effect to the EFCC.

Saturday Vanguard gathered last night that the Commission had already commenced

work on the petition and “may invite the Speaker next week for questioning.”

“Of course, there are two other petitions against him with us on which he will need to

throw light,” an EFCC source said. One of these is the purchase of cars at N2.3 billion

by the leadership of the House and the other is on the N9 billion infrastructure

budgetary allocation.

SERAP in its 12 May, 2011 petition had said: “The leadership of the House of

Representatives took out a N10bn loan allegedly without consultation with the

members. The money is reportedly missing or cannot be accounted for. As a result,

members’ remunerations remain unpaid.

“The official bank of the House, United Bank for Africa, had reportedly withheld the

second quarter allocation of all 360 members of the House and the emolument of the

11 re-admitted legislators owing to the indebtedness.

Some members of the House interviewed by SERAP said that they were told by the

bank where the salaries of members were domiciled that the money for House of

Representatives allowances had been paid by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but

because the House was indebted to the bank, it refused to pay the members’

entitlements. It is also alleged that some principal officers of the House collected the

loans without the consent of members.

SERAP is seriously concerned that the fresh allegations are coming against the

background of previous allegations of corruption including in the purchase of vehicles

at N2.3b by the House of Representatives in 2008.

“We are seriously concerned that the above allegations constitute grave breaches of

the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Act of 2000; the Public Procurement Act

2007, and the UN Convention against Corruption which Nigeria has ratified.

Specifically, the UN Convention against Corruption requires states parties, including

Nigeria, to promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs.

Moreover, states parties must take measures to preserve the integrity of accounting

books, records, financial statements or other documents related to public expenditure

and revenue, and to prevent the falsification of such documents.

The Convention also prohibits the abuse of functions or position, and imposes clear

obligations on Nigeria to investigate allegations of corruption such as the present one;

prosecute suspected perpetrators and ensure return and repatriation of proceeds of

corruption.”

It asked the Commission to:

“Fully and transparently investigate the allegations of corruption highlighted above,

and to make public the stage of its investigation of the allegation of corruption in the

N10bn loan obtained by the leadership of the House of Representatives.

“Make public the findings of its investigation into the fresh allegations, and all the

previous allegations of corruption in the House of Representatives

“Ensure the recovery of any money that is the subject of corruption, and ensure that

those suspected to be responsible are brought to justice.”

However, a source close to the House of Representatives told Saturday Vanguard that

those raising hell over the N10 billion were not being sincere.

He said: “the truth is that the entire House resolved, when there was a delay in

approving the 2011 budget for the House to raise the loan pending when the approval

would come, and the loan repaid.

“So it is strange that some people who were part of the decision are now portraying

the Speaker in bad light. The facts are there.”

African Parliament to attend Jonathan’s inaugurationON MAY 20, 2011 · IN NEWS

Johannesburg – The Pan African Parliament (PAP) will be represented at the May 29

inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan, its President, Dr Idriss Ndele, said in

Johannesburg on Friday.

Ndele said Nigeria was playing a very important role in the continent and occupied a

vital position in the AU.

“We are going to represent PAP just like other AU organs. The organisation has always

maintained a close relationship with Nigeria.

“We will be very pleased to join our brothers and sisters in the inauguration,” Ndele

said.

The PAP president also said plans to make PAP have full legislative powers was on

course.

Ndele had during the 4th Ordinary session of PAP, which ended on Friday, expressed

satisfaction with the successful conduct of the elections in Nigeria and some other

African countries.

He said Nigeria and eight other African countries, which had been able to hold

credible elections, gave hope to the continent.

“The good conduct of these elections gives us hope for a systematic evolution of our

states toward the democratic models that we wish for,” Ndele said.

Ndele congratulated all elected and re-elected Heads of State in the continent while

also lauding the electorates for their political maturity.

He also said PAP was encouraging African states to adopt the African charter on

democracy, elections and governance.

The PAP president stated that free and fair elections were the norms now in the

continent, adding that there would no longer be room for life presidents or family

monopoly of power with the charter..

“Africa needs change and if you want change, you must go through free and fair

elections,” he said. (NAN)

Thisday

Election Petitions Drop21 May 2011

By Our Correspondents

Past Petitions

2003–5602007–1,2502011 – 400

Tribunals set up to adjudicate on disputes arising from the April 2011 general elections will have very little to do across the states, THISDAY investigations have revealed.

Statistics obtained by our correspondents at the end of the deadline for submission of petitions revealed that the volume of petitions by aggrieved politicians concerning the governorship, state and National Assembly elections dropped to 400 as against the 1,250 filed after the 2007 elections.

The number of petitions for 2011 is also much lower than the 560 petitions filed after the 2003 general elections.Also, at the 2011 Presidential Election Tribunal, only two petitions were filed against the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan compared to the six filed after the 2007 elections against late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s election.The petitions against Jonathan were filed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for

Progressive Change and Hope Democratic Party.Analysts say the drastic fall in the number of petitions recorded after the April polls must have been influenced by the decisions of many failed candidates to accept the results following what they saw as a largely free and fair elections.

The scenario at the election tribunal in Sokoto State is interesting. The tribunal did not receive a single petition concerning the April polls, though there was no governorship election in the state because the tenure of Governor Aliyu Wammako is yet to lapse.The Secretary of the tribunal, Mrs. Chinyere Dike, confirmed this to THISDAY in Sokoto that no petition was received in respect of the state legislative and National Assembly elections.

In Yobe, the election tribunal will work on only two petitions. In 2007, there were five petitions handled by the tribunal in the state.The election tribunal received only one petition for the governorship poll in Oyo State unlike in 2011 when it got four.Outgoing Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala is the only one challenging the victory of Chief Abiola Ajimobi of the Action Congress of Nigeria.Similarly, the Oyo tribunal received only nine petitions on elections into state and national assemblies.Over 40 petitions trailed the 2007 polls in the state.

Only three petitions are before the elections tribunal in Ekiti State. As a result, the tribunal’s office in Ado Ekiti has been very quiet.This is contrary to the 15 petitions and counter petitions that arose from the 2007 elections. There was no governorship election in the state.

The Adamawa State Elections Petition Tribunal Chairman, Justice Christopher Ohakwe, and the two other members will virtually be on holiday as only three petitions were filed before the tribunal.This is against 14 petitions filed in 2007. The state is also one of the 10 states where there was no governorship election.In Kaduna State, the tribunal received 11 petitions. The CPC is challenging the election of the incumbent Governor Patrick Yakowa.

The CPC has also filed petitions challenging six House of Assembly and five House of Representatives elections won by the Peoples Democratic Party.in Ondo State, only five petitions were filed in respect of the April polls. They are challenging one state and four national assembly election results.

Former governor Olusegun Aguagu of PDP is challenging the election of Labour Party’s Boluwaji Kunlere for the Ondo East Senatorial seat.

In 2007, over 40 petitions were filed, challenging virtually every result in the state. No governorship election took place in the state.Our correspondent reports that in Niger State the tribunal received only four petitions. There was no petition against the election of Governor Babangida Aliyu unlike in 2007 when one was filed against his victory.

The Akwa Ibom State tribunal received 17 petitions. Three are for the senatorial elections, five for House of Represent-atives, two governorship and seven petitions for the House of Assembly elections.

Steve Ibanga of Pan African Congress and John Akpan Udoedehe of the ACN are challenging Governor Godswill Akpabio’s victory.The Bauchi tribunal received 12 petitions challenging the results of the April polls. ACN filed four while CPC filed two.Also the All-Nigeria Peoples Party filed two and PDP three. Nuhu Gidado of the CPC petitioned against the re-election of Governor Isa Yuguda.

Nineteen petitions are pending before the tribunal in Benue. Prof. Steven Ugbah of the ACN is challenging the victory of Governor Gabriel Suswam. General Lawrence Onoja of the ACN is also challenging the election of Senator David Mark of the PDP for Benue South Senatorial District.

The Benue tribunal handled 21 petitions after the 2007 polls.The Bayelsa tribunal has just six petitions before it. One involves former deputy governor Peremobowei Ebebi of the LP challenging Senator Heineken Lokpobri election for Bayelsa West Senatorial seat. Lokpobri is of the PDP.No governorship election took place in the state.

The Kwara State tribunal received just four petitions. It received only one petition against the governorship poll as against the three it received in 2007. Mohammed Belgore of the ACN is challenging the election of Abdulfatah Ahmed of the PDP as governor.In one other petition in Kwara State, Oloriegbe Yahaya of the ACN is challenging the election of Bukola Saraki for Kwara Central Senatorial seat. Bilkisu Tinuola Gambari of the CPC is also challenging Saraki’s election.

The tribunal in Cross River received just six petitions arising from the April polls. No governorship election in the state until next year.The tribunal in Ogun State received just six petitions concerning the April polls.Not a single petition was against the election of Ibikunle Amosun as governor. Both Brig- General Tunji Olurin[rtd] of PDP and Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Party of Nigeria snubbed the tribunal.

However, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello is challenging the election of Gbenga Obadara as senator for Ogun Central.Also, the Ogun PDP filed a petition on behalf of Dimeji Bankole who lost to another ACN candidate, Segun Williams, in Abeokuta South Federal Constituency.

The tribunal in Imo State received 14 petitions.Notable among the petitions are that of former governor Achike Udenwa of ACN against the election of Hope Uzodinma of PDP; Ambassador Kema Chikwe of PDP against Senator Chris Anyanwu of the All Progressives Grand alliance and Chief Cosmas Iwu of the ACN against Ambassador Mathew Nwagwu of PDP.

There was no single petition against Rochas Okorocha, the governor-elect. The tribunal in Imo received more than 50 petitions in 2007.In Delta State, four petitions were filed as against six filed in 2007. Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party is challenging the victory of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of PDP.

Two gubernatorial petitions were filed after the 2007 polls in Delta State. Sixteen petitions have been received by the tribunal in Borno State. Four of them are in respect of the House of Representatives pol, one against the governorship election and 11 against the state assembly.In Kogi, virtually all the National Assembly elections are being challenged, as there are petitions against three senate seats and eight out of nine House of Representative election.

In one of the petitions, Tolorunju Joseph Faniyi of the CPC is challenging the election of Senator Smart Adeyemi in Kogi West.In Lagos, the tribunal has 15 cases to handle. Eleven concerns National Assembly polls and four, state assembly election.There is no petition against the re-election of Governor Babatunde Fashola.Nine petitions were received by the Kebbi State tribunal. The figure is lower than the 27 petitions received by the tribunal after the 2007 general elections. The CPC governorship candidate, Abubakar Mallam, is challenging the re-election of Governor Saidu Dakingari.Five petitions are before the Osun State tribunal. Four are challenging state House of Assembly results while one is against a House of Representatives member-elect.

This is unlike 2007, 27 petitions were filed, all by ANC against PDP victories, including the governorship.The Taraba tribunal has received nine petitions. There are two senatorial petitions, two for House of Representatives and four for the State Assembly elections while there is only one petition so far challenging the result of the gubernatorial election. The ACN gubernatorial candidate, Joel Danlami Ikenya is challenging the re-election of Governor Dambaba Danfulani Suntai.The tribunal in Nasarawa has 13 petitions to handle, including that of incumbent governor Akwe Doma of the PDP, challenging the victory of CPC’s Tanko Almakura. 18 petitions were handled by the Nasarawa tribunal after the 2007 elections.In Kano State, the tribunal has nine petitions before it unlike in 2007 when it had five to handle. Two of the 2011 petitions are challenging the election of Rabiu Kwakwanso as governor.

In Katsina, 11 petitions before the tribunal. However, Governor Ibrahim Shema’s re-election was not challenged unlike in 2007 when his victory was challenged. In 2007, the Katsina tribunal handled 13 cases.The tribunal in Abia received 25 petitions. Five of the petitions are against the re-election of Governor Theodore Orji. Another five were filed against the outcome of the senatorial polls and nine against the House of Representatives results while six were filed against Abia State House of Assembly results.

In Zamfara, the tribunal received 12 petitions. The PDP is challenging the election of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari as governor. One House of Representatives result and 10 State House of Assembly results are also being challenged.

The tribunal in Plateau received 13 petitions, with the re-election of Jonah Jang as governor is being challenged by Pauline Tallen of the LP.

In Anambra, 53 petitions are before the tribunal. It is the highest in the country. There was no governorship election in Anambra State.The tribunal in Edo State has 14 petitions to adjudicate on. However, this is low compared with the 20 petitions it received in respect of the 2007 general elections. There was no governorship election in the state.

The Rivers State tribunal received 40 petitions. Four petitions are against the re-election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Five are against senatorial election results, nine against House of Representatives results and 22 against State House of Assembly results.Ten petitions were filed at the Gombe tribunal. The election of Ibrahim Dankwambo of the PDP is being challenged by the ACN. Two National Assembly and seven state assembly petitions are also before the tribunal.

Eight petitions are before the tribunal Enugu. One of them is challenging the election of Governor Sullivan Chime. The remaining seven are challenging results of National Assembly polls.

Jonathan Meets Sarkozy Saturday in Cote d’Ivoire21 May 2011

By Ahamefula Ogbu in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire

President Goodluck Jonathan will Saturday as part of his visit to Cote d’Ivoire, meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Yamoussoukro, where the duo are expected to hold bilateral talks on issues of common interest especially the deepening of democracy in the West African sub region.

The meeting is expected to continue the talks earlier started last year when both of them met in Niece, France during the French-African summit.

It will dwell on the efforts of President Jonathan who is the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States is stabilising the region.

The meeting between Sarkozy and Jonathan is slated to hold at the Ivorien presidential villa after which Jonathan will head for the venue of the inauguration of President Allassane Outtarra.

Though details of the agenda of the meeting is not known, sources said Sarkozy would meet with Jonathan over the role he played both as President of the Africa’s most populous nation and Chairman of ECOWAS in ensuring that democratic rule returned to Cote d’Ivorie inspite of Laurent Gbagbo’s intransigence.Jonathan is expected back to the country later Saturday.

Cote d’Ivorie is already agog with preparations for the inauguration of Quattara though the situation is still tense in the country with youths half clad in military fatigues brandishing weapons though without harassing anyone.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan’s new cabinet will be formed shortly after his inauguration on May 29, 2011 after which those who make the cabinet would be taken for a retreat in Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State.

The President has also directed the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) to henceforth consider only firms with proven competence and capability as core investors in any of the concerns to be privatised in the country.

President Jonathan predicated his directive to BPE on the poor results so far posted by privatised organizations and insisted that there was need for redirection of the way things were being done in the privatisation exercise.The position of the President was made known by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro who briefed State House Correspondents.

Niboro said there was need for the companies to perform to expectation in line with the privatisation policy."He is understandably disturbed by certain developments because many of the privatised companies are not doing well. In fact many of them don't seem to have fared better in private hands than they did in government hands apart from one or two, maybe the Eleme Petroche-micals,” he said.

Continuing, he stated, "So today the President has given a directive to the Bureau of Public Enterprises that from hence, all privatisation decision must be based on competence, capability and capacity to deliver.

“No other considerations must be admitted, no politics no influences. The President is going to be strict and is going to monitor it directly, to ensure that only those issues of competence, capacity and capability will guide investment decisions now going forward”.Niboro also said the cabinet would be formed by the President shortly after his inauguration on May 29, 2011 after which those who make the team would be taken for a retreat in Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State.

"The President has four years to deliver and he is not going to waste any minute of it. So the areas the President is going to focus on will be areas of power, infrastructure and human capacity development.

"We are looking at a target where we have an inclusive growth circle in all aspects. It is very easy for people to say oh if he can achieve power he would have done everything. But you cannot pursue power when the children are not in school, you cannot pursue education while hospitals are dead. The President is planning an integrated approach to governance on all decisions,” he said.

FG Begins Talks with ExxonMobil21 May 2011

By Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

Hope of amicable resolution of controversies surrounding the recent invalidation of three oil leases granted the US oil major ExxonMobil emerged Friday as the Federal Government has commenced discussions with the oil giant with a view to reaching an agreeable solution to the problem.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists , Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said the process of renewal of the affected oil leases, Oil Mining Leases 67, 68 and 70 was not properly executed and were not in compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Act of 1969.

The Petroleum Act empowers the Minister of Petroleum Resources to cancel leases that are not properly executed.

She however stated that although a review of the process showed that the renewal did not tally with the actual cost of the oil blocks, government would meet with top executives of the company to resolve the impasse in view of the company’s huge investments in Nigeria.

“We are not settling any scores. We have a certain due process that should be followed with the renewal of their leases. Some years ago, some issues were raised that the renewal did not tally with the actual cost of the oil blocks. However, the company has been operating in Nigeria for a very long time and has very large facilities in the country. We are looking at the issue to ensure we come to an agreeable solution.”

The minister however noted that “in sorting out any legality with the leases, issues must be handled with the intensity it deserves. I have no doubt that we will come to an agreeable resolution.”

She reiterated that the long awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would be passed by the National Assembly and assented by President Goodluck Jonathan before his swearing in on May 29. She explained that all those contentious issues had been sorted out to pave way for the passage of the bill.

“Those amendments are with both sides of the National Assembly, even though the original bill had already been placed before the Senate and they also have the amendments. They are looking at everything side by side. We have been on these things, it is critical for us as ministry, just as it is critical for the country as well,” she said.

Ki-Moon to Discuss MDG Progress with Jonathan21 May 2011

There are indications that discussions between President Goodluck Jonathan and the visiting Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon , would focus among others on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria.

Ki-Moon’s visit, which begins Sunday, has been on the cards since last year. The visit would provide an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase achievements as well as seek international support in confronting the many challenges which dot the path to meeting the 2015 deadline.

The Secretary-General would be in Nigeria as part of the “Every Woman, Every Child” global health effort, which he launched last September during the Millennium Development Goals Summit.

According to an official statement by the spokesperson to Ki-Moon, “In Nigeria, a country with one of the highest maternal mortality burdens in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Secretary-General will visit a hospital and a primary health care centre to see major improvements underway.”

“Of particular interest to Ki-Moon is the status of progress on maternal and child health, an area which remains quite problematic in spite of significant improvement in many key indices.

“For instance, the deployment of over 3871 midwives and 997 community health extension workers to 1250 health centres across the country has improved maternal mortality rates significantly leading to a 30 per cent drop.”

However, the number of women who die during child birth and children who die before their fifth birthday remain very high.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Hajiya Amina Az-Zubair, “as long as one Nigerian women dies during childbirth, we cannot relent our efforts to save their lives and the lives of their children.”

Crude Oil Rises, Follows Heating Oil21 May 2011

Oil rose for the second time this week, following heating oil, after the American Petroleum Institute reported that fuel consumption increased in April as economic growth bolstered demand for diesel by truckers.

Oil erased earlier losses as API reported total deliveries of petroleum products, a measure of demand, climbed 5.2 percent last month from a year before. Heating oil, a distillate fuel like diesel and jet fuel, jumped as much as 1.6 percent on the Nymex. Refineries such as Valero Energy Corp.’s St. Charles refinery in Norco, Louisiana, are restarting after planned work, according to Bloomberg report.

“You’re going to have to see some strength in the crude market because you’re starting to see more refineries come back online,” said Carl Larry, director of energy derivatives and research at Blue Ocean Brokerage LLC in New York. “Demand will probably be a little stronger than we expect.”

Crude oil for June delivery gained 74 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $99.18 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices have fallen 0.5 percent this week and risen 46 percent in the past year. The June contract expires at the close of Nymex floor trading today. The more active July crude gained 68 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $99.61 a barrel.

Brent crude for July settlement rose 88 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $112.30 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Fuel consumption increased to 19.9 million barrels a day last month from a year earlier, the industry-funded API reported Friday. The American Automobile Association said Thursday that U.S. air travel will jump to the highest level since 2005 over this month’s U.S. Memorial Day weekend, as road travel declines.

Memorial Day, which falls on May 30 this year, is seen as the beginning of the peak U.S. gasoline-consuming period, known as summer driving season. It extends until Labor Day, which falls on Sept. 5 in 2011.

Air travelers during the holiday will jump 12 percent to 2.93 million, while trips by auto will fall 100,000 to 30.9 million, according to a forecast by the AAA, the biggest U.S. motoring organization. About 88 percent of travelers will drive to their destination.

Heating oil for June delivery climbed 2.72 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $2.9219 a gallon on the Nymex. Gasoline for June delivery rose 1.57 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $2.9417 a gallon.

U.S. refinery utilization rose 1.5 percentage points in the week ended May 13 to 83.2 percent, the highest level since May 1, the Energy Department reported this week. Utilization dropped to 79.4 percent in the week ended Feb. 18, the lowest level in a year.

Oil also rose after the U.S. Homeland Security Department said the al-Qaeda terrorist network is interested in targeting the country’s oil and gas infrastructure, though there is no “specific or imminent” threat, said Matt Chandler, a department spokesman.

The information came from materials sized by U.S. Navy SEALs during a raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The person wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.

Oil tumbled as much as 2.5 percent in earlier trading as the German Bundesbank said growth in Europe’s largest economy will probably slow and the euro’s weakness against the dollar curbed the appeal of commodities as an alternative investment.