Nigeria News Portal

Pregnant’ boy begs Nigerians

2011-08-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

The boy in this photograph is just 14. But even at that age, he carries the burden of an overdue pregnant woman. Odinakachi Emelogu is a Primary Three pupil of Amaise Primary School, Obinwa, Abia State. But while his mates are in school, little Odinakachi is faced with the challenge of shedding off the excess fluid in his stomach, which has caused a lot of discomfort to him and his family already.

His carriage shows that he is tired of the heavy load, which his skinny frame is forced to carry along. Although he speaks audibly, he coughs frequently as if choking. His classmates jeer. They also call him different nicknames, among which are ‘swollen stomach,’ ‘big stomach’ and ‘pot belly’. Out of frustration due to his disfigured look and constant assault by schoolmates, he was forced to stop schooling in 2007 to enable him and his parents seek a solution.

“My classmates used to laugh at me,” he told the reporter. “They would push me, touch my stomach and call me big stomach. I feel very heavy and weak.”
The problem actually started in 2005. Then, Odinakachi began to notice that his stomach was getting bigger by the day until it became obvious that it was not the normal consumption of too much food as usually done by children of his age that was responsible for the problem.

He was alarmed as well as his parents and friends. Initially, they thought it would get back to normal but to their utmost disbelief, the stomach kept increasing, drawing public attention.
The indigent parents have tried all they could to solve the problem which stares at them like a bad dream. His mother’s name is Happiness, but ironically, she’s one of the saddest women on earth. She’s a poor farmer in her village while her husband, Odinakachi’s father, is a labourer.

Mrs. Happiness, who accompanied Odinakachi to the corporate office of The Sun Publishing Ltd, claimed they have been to several hospitals without any positive result.
According to her, at the Living Word Hospital, Aba, one of the hospitals they visited, tests were conducted and the findings were negative. From there, she said, she visited several other hospitals and medical homes but there has been no solution.
“My husband has tried his best and I have done my part. We need help to treat him. As people do it for us, God will reward them,” the woman said.

Right now, the sickness has worsened as it has also affected Odinakachi’s scrotum. It has swollen to an extent that, walking has become a big problem for the little boy.
Indeed, Odinakachi, whose dream is to become a pastor, needs an urgent deliverance to get well.
Odinakachi Emelogu can be reached on his mother’s mobile line, 08030803178. Donations can also be sent to father’s savings account at UBA. The account name is Emelogu Ngozi, and the number O3390520078441.

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2011-07-03T02:04:00.000-07:00

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Malians’ physique doesn’t scare us -Obuh

2011-04-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

Flying Eagles’ Coach, John Obuh, has dismissed fears that the Malian Under-20 team has a physical edge over his squad ahead of today’s Orange African Youth Championship (AYC) semifinal.

Obuh acknowledged that though his team’s opponents at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto are taller, he is confident his players will reach the final. “Football is not about size. The most important thing is your brain. After all, the best player in the world (Lionel Messi) is not the tallest player around.
“By the time we clash with them, we will know who will come out tops – the size or the brain,” said Obuh.

It was learnt that Obuh’s training sessions with the Nigerian Under-20s ahead of today’s semi-final have been focused on short-squared passing and shooting from long range.
On the non-availability of VVV-Venlo’s Ahmed Musa, the Nigerian coach explained that he had been in touch with the youngster.

Obuh is, however, hoping that the Dutch Eredivisie side would have a change of heart about stopping Musa from flying to Johannesburg from the Netherlands.

“I’ve been in touch with him and we have been talking. We are still hoping for a miracle (in his case). But we will soldier on without him because we have quality in the side and we are confident going into the semi-final game with or without him,” said Obuh.

Oshiomhole dumps Olympic team ...NFF defends choice of Benin

2011-04-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

Following what they termed political commitments, Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has pulled out of the U-23 Olympic team camping sponsorship arrangement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for the return leg of the All Africa Games qualifier encounter against Liberia.

The head of technical of the federation, Emmanuel Ikpeme, disclosing this to Daily Sunsports in his office at the Glass House in Abuja, noted that the Edo State Government and its Lagos counterpart had cited political commitment as the reason for turning down the request of the federation.

The technical boss of the Nigerian football governing body said the federation was left with no other option than to bankroll the camping with staggering amount despite the federation’s teething financial difficulties, after all efforts to persuade the governors for the renewal of the arrangement were rebuffed by their contacts close to them.

He, however, argued that the federation’s decision to approve the team’s continued camping in the Edo State capital was that the team had fully acclimatised, stressing that it would be counter-productive to take the team back to Abuja.“The arrangement on ground now is that we are taking charge of the camping of the team.
We tried to renew the sponsorship through our contacts close to the governor, but we were told point-blank that the governor was so preoccupied with the electioneering matters.

“Ordinarily, we would have brought the team to Abuja for the game, but the truth is that the players have become so used to Benin. They are used to the facilities and the people. The most important thing is for the team to do well and pick all the tickets. We want the best from the team and if camping in Benin will guarantee that, we won’t mind,” Ikpeme added

INEC drafts students to conduct polls in Bauchi, Kaduna today

2011-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Following the decision by corps members to back out of the conduct of gubernatorial and state Assembly elections in the troubled Bauchi and Kaduna states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has settled for students of tertiary institutions in both states to serve as ad-hoc personnel for the election billed for today.

The bulk of the students would be drawn from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where Prof. Jega was the immediate past Vice Chancellor and Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna.
This is even as the commission disowned an announcement of the results of the gubernatorial election in Zamfara State made by a local radio station.

The plan by the INEC to draft students of those institutions followed the relocation of most of the serving corps members in the two affected states back to their states of origin in the wake of the post-presidential election carnage in some states.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was said to have also backed out of the existing partnership with INEC on the use of corps members for elections in the two states and therefore, did not issue formal directive to its directorates in the two states to that effect.

The INEC, besides the undergraduates, has equally directed its staff in some of the states in the North as well as Abuja headquarters to beef up the personnel to make the election possible.
At the Abuja headquarters of INEC yesterday, the staff and corps members serving in INEC were seen preparing to head for the states to lead the students in the conduct of the elections.
Sources told Daily Sun that the authorities of the institutions have given their blessings to the deployment of their undergraduates for the electoral job and would be paid. It was, however, not clear how much they would be paid.

Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Robert Idowu, confirmed to Daily Sun that the commission was already seeking the release of the undergraduates to assist the INEC staff in the conduct of the election today. He said the commission was doing all possible to ensure the elections hold in the two states and confirmed that the regular corps members might not be available for the exercise, hence the decision to recruit students of tertiary institutions in Kaduna and Bauchi states.

According to him, all INEC staff from the states are being deployed for the elections including corps members serving with INEC. He also expressed the hope that the corps members, who have declined to participate today might show up just as it happened in last Tuesday’s governorship election in the states where there was post-election violence.

On how much the commission would pay the undergraduates, Idowu said emphasis was not on money, but patriotism and service to fatherland, though he disclosed that they would be paid.
“Sure, they get paid, nobody works for INEC without getting paid, but we are emphasizing patriotism here.”

Meanwhile, the commission has dissociated itself from an announcement of results of the governorship election in Zamfara State, by a radio station, saying it did not authorize it and asked the members of the public to ignore it. A statement issued by the INEC and signed by Mr. Idowu said: “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to an announcement of the Zamfara State governorship election results by a local radio station in the state, even when official results had not yet been declared at the Collation Centre.

“This announcement, for the avoidance of doubt, was unauthorized and illegal. As a matter of fact, the commission has warned the radio station’s authorities to desist from causing needless tension in the polity. “The public is hereby advised to ignore the unauthorized radio announcement and await a formal declaration of the results by the INEC Returning Officer, who is the only one statutorily empowered to make such declaration.

“The commission, once again, implores media organizations to keep within the provisions of the law regarding the declaration of election result.”

Ajimobi floors Akala

2011-04-28T05:56:00.001-07:00

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi has wrested power from incumbent Governor Christopher Alao Akala of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The electorate expressed their preference for Ajimobi through the ballot box in the governorship election conducted on Tuesday.

According to the result declared by the State Returning Officer, Professor Femi Bamiro, Ajimobi polled 420,852 and scored 25 per cent vote cast in 25 Local Governments to defeat Akala and the former governor of the state, Rasheed Ladoja to second and third respectively in the keenly contested election. Akala polled 385,132 with 25 per cent in 22 local governments, while Ladoja polled 275,773 with 25 per cent in 10 local government.

With the result, Akala failed to make history in his bid to become the first governor to rule the state twice since its creation. The breakdown of the results shows that ACN won in Atiba, Afijio, Oyo West, Oyo East, Saki East, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Atiba, Oluyole, Orelope, Saki West, Ibadan North, Ido, Ibarapa Central, Olorunsogo, Ibadan N’Eeast, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Akinyele, Ibadan N’West and Ibadan S’East local governments.

PDP on the other hand, won Saki East, Ogo–Oluwa ,Ibarapa North, Orire, Itesiwaju, Ogbomosho, Irepo, Ibarapa East, Iwajowa. AP won in Ibadan North East, Ona Ara, Egbeda and Lagelu local governments.
Before the final result was announced, there was a long wait after the result of 32 local governments had been declared. The five-hour waiting between 2.30 pm to 7.00 pm generated tension in Ibadan and its environs as both Ajimobi and Akala supporters engaged in victory dance around the city, claiming victory in the yet to be declared Ibadan South West result.

However. the tight security mounted by both the army and the police effectively secured the office of INEC and dispersed the riotous party supporters from the vicinity.

Political Violence: There'll be no Sacred Cows, says Jonathan

2011-04-02T02:44:00.000-07:00

President Goodluck Jonathan has warned prominent citizens sponsoring political violence across the country to desist from doing so or face the full wrath of the law.

Speaking at a presidential debate organised by Nigerian Electoral Debate Group (NEDG) where he was the only participant, President Jonathan said those funding political violence no matter how highly placed would be prosecuted.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Nuhu Ribadu, and Shekarau boycotted the debate in retaliation, because President Jonathan did not attend the NN24 debate.

Also, contrary to a blog report that the organizers leaked some questions to the Jonathan’s camp, none of the questions cited in that report came up at the event.

Some of the questions allegedly leaked to the President are 1. Your emergence as PDP presidential candidate was mired in controversy as a result of the conflicting interpretations of your party’s zoning and rotation principles: do you not carry a moral burden?

2. When you talk of “transformation” what are you really saying to Nigerians?

3. The Nigerian economy seems to be in the grip of an unending crisis, characterized by a poor growth rate, low capacity utilization, unimpressive direct foreign investments, bank failures and now a rapidly weakening naira. Is the situation redeemable?

4. The complex of infrastructure in Nigeria is allegedly notoriously inefficient, inadequate, underdeveloped, derelict and neglected. Its all the noise about power not just hype?

5. What is your programme for taking the Nigerian Railways, roads, marine and air transportation into the 21st century?

6. Employment is one area of crisis. 80% of Nigerian school leavers/graduates do not get jobs for years after graduation. What will your government do to cure this dangerous scourge?

7. With Boko Haram in Bauchi and Borno States, endless killings in Jos, bombings everywhere, kidnappings in the South-East and armed robbers operating with impunity everywhere. Could it not be said that your Government has lost grip of the management of security in the country?

According to the blog, the questions and possible responses were contained in a correspondence between the Economic Adviser, Kassey Garba, and the Agriculture minister, Ahmed Abdulahi.

He said he had ordered the security agencies to fish out those perpetrating violence including senior citizens, who will be made to face the consequences of their action without any form of interference from his government.

“Security agencies are working to ensure that we have a violent-free election. Senior citizens sponsoring violence will not be spared. I will not interfere. If you commit any crime, you will go in for it. There will be no sacred cows”, he said.

Jonathan, who also explained his absence from the presidential debate organized by a DSTV television news channel, NN24 on the ground that he was engaged in an official duty, also pledged to fix the nation’s power sector which he said would stimulate economic growth and create millions of employment for the unemployed.

The President said his experience as former deputy governor, governor, vice-president, acting president and president puts him in a better position to tackle the affairs of state more than other presidential candidates.

On corruption, he said he would, in the next four years, if elected, strengthen the anti-corruption agencies in the pursuit of their constitutional responsibilities promising not to interfere in the investigations of anti-graft agencies and pledged to encourage capacity building of the agencies.

On the state of the country’s refineries, President Jonathan said government was engaging the private sector to ensure that the refineries are optimally functional. A firm, Green Field Refineries, a product of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), was already discussing with private sector players with a view to building refineries.

In view of this, he said his government, would, in the next four years, encourage building community-based refineries to avert cases of oil bunkering as well as medium and large scale refineries.

“Until we are in a position to refine locally we cannot be proud of our selves. Refineries are working presently at 60 percent installed capacity. We want the private sector. Green Field Refineries, a subsidiary of NNPC is talking with the private sector players and we encourage the private sector to get involved”, he said.

President Jonathan also faulted claims of lack of budget implementation on the part of his government blaming the trend on the late passage of budgets by the National Assembly.

On the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill recently passed by two chambers of the National Assembly, he said he would sign the bill when it gets to his table.

He said his administration had maintained a cordial relationship with the media stating that he had not intimidated or harassed media organizations.

“I am one of the best friends of the media. I have not harassed or closed down any media organization irrespective of the fact that we may not smile with most of the stories. FOI bill has not come to me. I will have no reservation than to endorse it except there are one or two things to be adjusted”, he said.

He said his government, when elected, would ensure 35 per cent participation of women in his cabinet, ad hoc committees, and the armed forces.

On job creation, he said a committee headed by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, would next week unveil an employment plan which his administration would adopt to create jobs even as he said government was engaging banks and other private sector players to build hostels and laboratories for tertiary institutions.

Assessment of top members of the House of Reps gunning for return I’ll make Eagles Africa’s pride, Siasia vows

2011-04-02T02:35:00.000-07:00

Coach Samson Siasia has promised to make the Super Eagles a highly competitive brand that will be the pride of every African in the next few years.

DIRECTION.. Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia pointing the way forward to some of his players during a match. He has promised to make the team a super brand in Africa.

Siasia, who led the Eagles to two successive wins over Ethiopia and Kenya on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, said during an interview at the Abuja National Stadium, that all that he needed was time for him to get the right mix of players capable of taking the world by storm.
“Our national team can become the pride of Africa in the nest few years if the process that I have started is allowed to continue. We have the players but what we need is time to find the perfect blend that would make us the best team on the continent”, said the former Eagles striker.
The Bayelsa-born gaffer said that he was still experimenting with different tactical formations in his quest to get the best bet for the success of the team. He showed his hand when he played what appeared an odd 4-2-4 formation against Ethiopia, during a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier on Sunday.
Four players comprising Chibuzor Okonkwo, Taye Taiwo, Joseph Yobo and Efe Ambrose in defence, another four, including Obinna Nsofor, Ahmed Musa, Victor Anichebe and Peter Utaka as strikers, with Nsofor and Musa operating from the wings while the duo of Mikel Obi and Joel Obi, were the two midfielders on the night.

Even when the likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Ikechukwu Uche and Kalu Uche were introduced as substitutes in the second half, Siasia still stuck with his 4-2-4 formation, a tactic which he strongly defended for the results that it gave the team, when he faced the press at the post-match conference.
“Winning 4-0 is not an easy thing. We are winning and moving forward and we all know we are working on a lot of tactical changes and if fans are singing and dancing at the end of the match, then I think we are making progress. We are still experimenting with things.
“We have to strengthen the midfield . The idea was to move forward and we scored more goals that was better than playing with many midfielders, who would be holding on to the ball. It is a work in progress. If we keep doing the same thing , we will get better. If we keep our tactical discipline and make sure that the midfield is moving forward, we would get there.
“Our goal is to improve with each game and I promise Nigerians that we would shape up for each game as they come”, said the former Dream Team coach.

Jonathan meets Atiku, IBB, Gusau over April polls

2011-04-02T02:31:00.000-07:00

In his bid to seal a deal with the Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Leaders Political Forum (NLPF) towards the April 9 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan last night met with the trio of former president, Ibrahim Babangida, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and former National Security Adviser Gen. Aliyu Gusau. The meeting which started some minutes after 8pm at Defence House in Abuja was the second in the last one month and was said to have been at the instance of the President. A few top political associates of President Jonathan as well as some allies of IBB, Atiku and Gusau, were also at the meeting.

The meeting was ongoing at press time yesterday, but a source told Weekly Trust that the politicians met to discuss the outcome of the report of the seven-man committee that was set during the previous meeting between President Jonathan and the group, which took place at Ciroma’s residence February.

Prominent among issues to be looked at by the seven-man committee included the matter of the presidency in 2015. President Jonathan was said to have made a commitment during the February 18 meeting to the effect that he would serve only one term, but the NLPF reportedly asked for a strict commitment to zone the presidency to the north in 2015. They were also said to have insisted that the commitment be made public, a suggestion which the presidency rejected, saying it was likely to anger the South-East and make the president lose Igbo votes in the April polls.

Yesterday’s meeting was almost scuttled following the gale of arrests of members of the NLPF by the SSS last week and some sources alleged that it was masterminded by fifth columnists who will not be comfortable with the rapprochement between the president and the group’s members.

A source at the NLPF secretariat said that some members of the G20 including its Chairman, Prof. Jerry Gana have been identified as the arrowheads who “stampeded” the arrest of the NPLF Scribe and a secretariat staff. One member of the group told Weekly Trust that the members had since discovered that neither President Jonathan nor any members of his family were in any way remotely connected to the gale of arrests. According him, “President Jonathan was actually astonished and lost for words when confronted with the facts.”

The source said the SSS were actually misled by the fifth columnists with the intent to torpedo the talks with the Ciroma group which Jonathan considers desirable in his bid to win the presidency.

Kalika: No star player in Eagles

2011-03-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach, Simon Kalika, has argued that there is no outstanding player among the current squad of Eagles who could eclipse the contributions of others in the team, noting that the focus is now on the team not on any individual player.

The Holland coach, speaking with the media at the National Stadium, Abuja, admitted that it would be very difficult for the technical crew to easily pick a starting IX among the array of stars jostling for attention in the tie against the visiting Ethiopians.

“We don’t have stars in the current crop of Eagles squad. The meaning is that the team is now the focus. Before now, we have star players in the Eagles who attract attention, but we don’t have it now. We don’t also have anybody above the team now, yet the team is reaching a very high standard. We are happy with the situation,” he said.

On the fitness form of Obafemi Martins and Peter Osaze Odemwingie that sustained slight injury ahead of the encounter, Kalika said: “We stopped them from training today (Wednesday) because we want to be very careful about the injury. We don’t just want to take risk on them. However, I think they will be okay for the match.”

He also spoke on the difficulty of picking a starting team, admitting: “It is going to be tough but there is only one room in football. We will have seven training sessions and the players that are at their very best will the ones to be selected for the game.”

Colours of a presidential dinner with Nollywood stars, musicians

2011-03-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

People may call it a rare dinner for strange bed fellows, but Monday’s meeting and felicitation with actors and musicians by President Goodluck Jonathan was indeed, a welcome development. For the first time ever, a Nigerian leader had time to sit with artistes in a relaxed atmosphere to deliberate on issues that can move their profession forward.

And so, actors; particularly Nollywood stars, musicians, dramatists, visual artists, writers, producers,comedians, among many others, had the privilege of dining and wining with Mr President at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was a unique gathering of who is who in Nigeria’s creative and showbiz sectors.

The roll call was simply intimidating as artists of different generations; the old, the middle-aged, the young and the very young came to heed President Jonathan’s call for wider consultations and mutual interaction. Among those in attendance were foremost painter and print maker, Bruce Onobrakpeya, music lover and playwright; Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, famous batik maker Nike Okundaye, top Nollywood stars/filmmakers Justus Esiri, Eddie Ugbomah, Olu Jacobs, Lere Paimo,Jimoh Aliu, Enebeli Elebuwa, Mahmoud Ali-Balogun as well as singers Onyeka Onwenu, Sammy Okposo, Daddy Showkey, D’Banj, Azu Ekiye, Victor Eyiara, among many others.

Essentially, the stakeholders’ meeting with the President raised hopes of a better tomorrow for the body of Nigerian artists, who were offered an opportunity to air their views on issues afftecting their different professions. The artists too showed solidarity with the President’s mission, while exuding enthusiasm in meeing their leader face to face in a relaxed atmosphere.

Witha curtain raiser in Jim Jakolo’s melodic solo, the colourful evening took off with Oronto Douglas’ introductory remarks. As the President Special Assistance on Research, Documentation and Stragegy, Douglas reminded the gathering of the various achievements of his boss, who is seeking another opportunity to rule the country in the April elections. He disclosed Jonathan’s commitment to a progressive and peaceful nation, using the platform of good governance that places value on energy, security and education.

Long befor the President’s response, representatives of the various arts organisations and associations made their contributions while the President listened attentively. At the end of the “Talk To President” session, one thing was clear-that without getting rid of piracy, or reducing it to the barest minimum, the entire creative/entertainment industry would know no respite because all the gains by practitioners would continue to be harnessed illegally by pirates. Among the various speakers were Busola Halloway(ITPAN), Alhaji Sani Muazu(Kaniwood), Greg Odutayo(NANTAP), Dr Uwa Usen (SNA), Pof Emmanuel Dandaura (SONTA),Dr Sony Ododo (ANA),Ben Tomoloju (CONA), Victor Ashaolu (ANTP),Amaka Igwe, Segun Arinze (Actors Guild),Zeb Ejiro, Tony Okoroji, Austin Eguavon (who spoke for sportsmen and women)and Stephane Okereke.

In his response, President Jonathan disclosed that his consultation with members of the creative community was strategic. According to him, the idea was not merely to canvass votes in view of the elections but to interact with artists and intellectual property owners on the possibility of creating jobs for the youth. Jonathan who described artists, writers and sportsmen as specially gifted people also obeserved that as a nation, Nigeria can make a good name out of creativity.

President Jonathan who said that his aim was to identify possible areas of partnership with artists on job creation also said’’ The arts and entertainment sector is a key sector of our economy and government needs to be closer to the industries. We know that without handling piracy, we cannot succeed and we need a strong body that can look at the existing laws with the hope of strenghtening them to deal with the culprits.

On the issue of 200million dollars entertainment fund, I can assure you that government will continue to provide more funds to empower the sector as at when necessary. The one we released is just the starting point. We shall be making more funds available as long as we deem it necessary.’’

Bomb scare throws Abuja residents into panic

2011-03-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

There was palpable tension and panic in Abuja yesterday following an alleged warning by suspected members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) directing workers to stay away from the vicinity of the Bayelsa State House situated few meters away from the Federal Ministry of Justice as series of pre-laid bombs would soon be detonated.

The panic by residents and workers within the area increased with additional information from an anonymous informant that the high powered explosives would claim large casualties if detonated.
It would be recalled that the Independence Day twin bomb blasts that claimed several lives took place a stone’s throw from the Federal Ministry of Justice.

MEND, which claimed to have carried out the Independence Day bombing had earlier warned that it was going to bomb three cities including Abuja and Lagos.
For Abuja residents, the sad memories of last year’s blasts and their attendant devastation re-echoed in their hearts as they ran helter skelter for dear life.

When Daily Sun visited the scene, policemen had already cordoned off the entire vicinity just as anti-bomb squad was immediately summoned to sweep the pin-pointed locations.

However, after a thorough search was conducted by the anti-bomb squad no bomb was found in either location.
Briefing newsmen after the futile search, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, implored Nigerians to disabuse their minds from such rumours, which he said, were being peddled by some unscrupulous persons to create unnecessary tension in the polity.

He warned such persons to desist from acts capable of undermining the security of lives and property in the country, stressing that the police would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found to be mastermind of yesterday’s bomb scare at the end of its ongoing investigations into the matter.

There is no going back on Igbo president in 2015

2011-03-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Before Chief (Dr.) Philip Atamuo became the Ohanaeze Ndigbo chairman in Anambra State he had held sway at Alaja Steel Company in Delta State as the general manager and later Ajaokuta Steel Company as the chief executive.

He also later went into politics and at a stage became one of the gubernatorial aspirants in Anambra State. And today, the Ogidi-born engineering guru is combining the rulership of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Anambra State with a routine lecturing work at the Anambra State University, Uli.
In this interview with Daily Sun, Dr Atamuo spoke on the state of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igbo presidency in 2015 and the disappearing Igbo language. Excerpts:

Being Ohanaeze Ndigbo chairman in Anambra State
I feel honoured that the Igbo in Anambra State elected me to pilot the affairs of Ohaneze Ndigbo for this period. There are many good Igbo who are capable and probably better, but they gave me this opportunity. I believe it is an honour for somebody to have this opportunity to lead the Igbo, but perhaps more like trying to bring the Igbo together, so that we can foster a direction in their lives. As you are aware, Ohaneze Ndigbo is a socio-cultural organization set up principally to cater for the welfare of the Igbo in Nigeria, to ensure that we get our rights which have been denied us for so long, to help the Igbo to see ourselves as brothers.

State of Ohanaeze Ndigbo
I do not know what you mean by peace, but I know we do not have parallel leadership in the organization now, but I believe that even in the past when we had two, it was a question of understanding. Everybody was concerned about seeing that the interest of the Igbo was protected and they were doing so their own way. I am glad that we have been able to merge the two oppositions together. We have been able to tell the Igbo, please let’s work together so that we can have one single direction instead of two, so that we can have one single opinion in whatever we are doing, so that we can stop internal squabbles which had in the past torn the Igbo nation apart.
My tenure of office
Originally, the tenure used to last for two years, but even before we came in, there were constitutional reviews that were on, to elongate the period and this has been done in our time so that the tenure now is four years.

My vision
You see, as I said earlier, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo had serious setback because of the squabbles within and even without. There were people inside who were busy fighting for supremacy, people outside the Igbo land, who did not want to see the Igbo land together, who were helping to fan the flame that would keep the Igbo apart. We are very interested in seeing that this kind of situation is eliminated for good within Ndigbo society. The next thing is how far have we fared in the Nigeria project since independence, what is keeping us down, can we start doing something about it, not necessarily accomplishing it within our tenure, but at least get started. Before now, you know that there was Igbo union that catered for the interest of the Igbo, but for example, we in Anambra State, I believe it is the same in all the other states, it is our job to see that the Ohanaeze understanding goes all the way to the grassroots and we are working on that.

We will like to see Ohanaeze starting from town union to local governments down to states and from the states to the national level. Our concern right now is to see that the local government Ohaneze is set up properly and that the town union Ohanaeze is set up properly. You know if we don’t have a good foundation, you cannot start. That has been the focus of our activities in the last two years.
Now, we are looking at the issue of the rights of the Igbo in this country, what is happening to them and how can we get our rights.

The Igbo and 2015
I will answer this question this way. We gained independence since 1960, that is some 50 years ago. During this period, yes we had military rule and we had civilian rule and we have had rulers who came from different parts of the country to be at the helm of affairs now known as the president. You can ask yourself, how many Igbo presidents have we had during this period. We say that Nigeria sits on three legs – the Igbo, the Hausa/Fulani and the Yoruba. There are a number of many other very important tribes who all of us make up Nigeria, but these three groups have been involved in the struggle for independence, in the struggle for the development of this country. In all aspects, in finance, education, agriculture etc, but you see that only the Yorubas and the Fulani/Hausas have had the opportunity to be at the helm of affairs in this country and we know in this country that who you are and where you come from are very important. So, if you consider what has happened in 50 years, you will discover that there has been the North leadership or the West. Nobody has really come from the East.

We in Ohaneze believe in the six geo-political zones that were created to help to administer and develop this country and we believe that leadership and being at the helm of affairs in this country, should follow that set up. You and I know that that has not been the case. If you go through the 50 years, you will see that one part has been there for 18 years. They have produced leadership at the top position of this country for 18 years, some others 12 years plus, some five years plus. If you come to the South-east which is where the Igbos come from, you see that South-east has only produced the president for six months, that was Ironsi’s period. Then the other part of the Igbos which is Anioma which is from the South-South, has not produced anybody at all until President Goodluck Jonathan came in to fill up for the late President Yar’Adua. You can see, if we are talking about equity and justice in Nigeria then it is right and proper that President Jonathan who is currently on seat should be allowed and supported to give the South-south their own opportunity and at the end of that the South-east should have their own opportunity to produce the President.

If you are talking about equity and justice, it is fair it is not the other way round. You cannot pretend to be a democracy, to be promoting equity and somebody is telling you who has been there for 18 years to wait for another eight years, when I finish you can come in. Somebody has not given you breakfast, he has eaten his breakfast, he has not given you a chance to eat your lunch, he has eaten his lunch then he tells you to wait, I will give you a very sumptuous dinner, when I have finished eaten my own breakfast, lunch and dinner, then you can have your own. I think that is not fair and that is not what we understand as equity and that is why Ohaneze said that we will support President Jonathan who is there now and when he finishes, the South-east will take that opportunity in 2015.
Our concern over disappearing Igbo language

It is not a question of whether it is true or not. It is a fact that we are losing our language and if you don’t have a language, you practically don’t exist. English language makes Britain very popular. Everywhere around the world, people speak English. Within Nigeria, you find out that Hausa language is very much promoted even in the universities and on television. It is right for the Igbo to have plays and movies on television. Some 60 per cent of the plays and movies you see are produced by the Igbo, but they are in English, we will like to see some of them produced in Igbo language. We are meeting with film editors and producers to let them understand this. We have also discussed with the universities to see that Igbo language is taught in the universities and people should be proud to say that I am majoring in Igbo language.

As you are aware, our present Governor in Anambra State has been very cooperative on this. We now have what you call Subakwa Igbo. On Wednesday in Anambra State, all transactions are done in Igbo language. When Subakwa Igbo was launched, the government was very much involved and we are grateful to the government on this and grateful to Prof. Pita Ejiofor who has been a promoter of the programme.
I don’t know whether you are aware that in Anambra State University, one must pass Igbo language before one graduates. There is encouragement for people to study the language and become proficient and promoters of the language. I am afraid Ohaneze does not have the means now to award scholarship because nobody is sponsoring Ohaneze even the governments are not sponsoring us. When we make the people realize that this is your organization by right, by birth and your responsibility to promote it, then people will begin to donate to help run the organization, then we will be able to give scholarship and a lot more.
Our stand on new states creation

I don’t see it as a problem. I was at the Abacha Constitutional Conference in 1995 where it could really be said that this idea of six zones was given acceptance and we believed in equity of the zones. Unfortunately, the beautiful constitution we put together was discarded by the military when they came out with the 1999 constitution and created imbalance in the six geo-political zones. How can you leave one zone with five state and others with six. You took away one state from the South-east and gave it to another zone, so that zone now has seven states. Is that equity? That is unfairness and if you are looking for justice, you cannot create such situations that cause problems. We in Ohaneze supported moves.
Kidnapped woman escapes from booth of her car
…Says she was rescued by angels of God
From DOM EKPUNOBI, Onitsha

For the Ogonna Mogbo family of Nibo in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, February 9 would be difficult to be erased from their memory.
That morning the family had started their day with their usual morning devotion.
And soon after the devotion, they dashed out to do their morning chores after which they would be set for the day’s business outside their home.
Thus on that fateful day, everything was going well until about 5:20 p.m. when Mr Mogbo and his wife, who work at Nnamdi Azikiwe University , Awka, came back from work.

Mogbo was the first to return home and in less than 10 minutes, his wife, Grace also came back and sounded the horn of her Toyota Corona car without any premonition that a team of kidnappers had laid ambush in a bush around their house.
As Mrs Mogbo was waiting for their gate to be opened for her to drive in, three armed fierce-looking men dashed out of the bush and ordered her at gun-point to surrender the car key.
As the doors of the car were locked and could not be opened from the outside, Mrs Mogbo refused to open the door even when the kidnappers had pointed their gun directly at her.

She ignored the intruders and almost simultaneously, the gate was flung open by one of her kids who had no knowledge of what was going on outside the gate.
As soon as the gate was opened, she drove into the compound and the three kidnappers followed her.
Her husband, Mr Mogbo looked out from the veranda and saw three men with guns standing by the side of his wife.
“I thought that they were Nibo Village vigilante and that my wife must possibly have had a problem with them,” he said.
Thus Mr. Mogbo who was not suspecting anything decided to talk to the three men from where he was in the house and they fired a gunshot at him, but the shot could not get at him. That was when he knew that all was not well and that his wife was in real danger.
“I then shouted to my wife that she should surrender the car key immediately to them and come in,” he said. But as soon as the kidnappers got the car key, they took Mrs. Mogbo away in her car.

Soon after, an alarm was raised and the Nibo Vigilante Group and the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Muktari Ibrahim, were contacted and they swung into action in the search for the kidnapped Mrs Mogbo.
But at about 8 p.m. on the same day, the kidnapped Mrs Mogbo escaped from the hands of the kidnappers whose number had increased to six persons.
She narrated her ordeal and how the angels of God rescued her from the hands of the kidnappers. Excerpts:
“When we left here (the family compound) they ordered me to face down so that I could not know where they were going. They said initially that they were to head to Enugu in Enugu State. All through the way, I was praying fervently and reminding God of his words part of which says that ‘surely, He will deliver me from the snare of the fowler (Ps. 91:3).’

“I prayed to God to put confusion among them, so that they will disagree among themselves and for their disagreement to provide a situation for my escape. I told God that I do pay my tithe and make my offering and therefore that I will not gather for the kidnappers to eat.
“As they attempted to head towards Enugu, they discovered that some policemen mounted road-block on the way and turned back. At that point, confusion has already set in among them as to what other line of action to take.
“Later, they stopped somewhere and ordered me out of the vehicle. We entered into one bush and remained there until it became very dark. When it was dark, they brought me to where the car was parked and forced me to enter the booth of my car and I did. All along, I was confident that the living God whom I serve would save me from their hand and He did.

“On the way, I discovered that each time the person driving the vehicle matched the break, a light would lit in the car booth where I lay and with that, I saw what I could pull to get the booth open.
“As soon as I felt that the speed of the vehicle was low enough, I opened the booth, and dashed out. Gladly enough, they did not know when I came out of the vehicle,” she said.

However her escape was not without some injuries as she sustained some bruises, especially on her knees.
When she came out from the booth of her car, she ran into the bush and stayed there, watching them as they went down the road, unknown to them that their victim had been rescued by the angels of God who would not allow his faithful child to suffer unduly in the hands of evil men.
Mrs Mogbo told Daily Sun that it was only God that sent his angels to rescue her. Accordingly to her, there was no way she could have escaped from the hands of the kidnappers if not for God who dispatched His angels to go and work out her escape, without their knowing it.

Her husband, Mr Mogbo commended the Anambra State Commissioner of Police Mr Ibrahim, who he said on receiving the information about the presence of the kidnappers dispatched seven Hilux vehicles fully loaded with policemen to battle the kidnappers.
Mr Mogbo said that the policemen had immediately cordoned off all the roads, thereby preventing the kidnappers from leaving the state capital until his wife escaped from their captivity.
He was also full of commendation to the Nibo Vigilante Group for their prompt response when they were called upon.xXX

Youngest Oldman’s Comedy Overdose ignites Benin

2011-03-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State will be leading other dignitaries, stars and celebrities to this year’s bumper edition of Comedy Overdose, in Benin, on Sunday, March 27. The anticipated evening of rich comedy and good music, already serenading Benin and its environs, according to its host and creator, Roland Igbaduhme,

famously known as Youngest Oldman, was his own little way of contributing to the growth of entertainment in his home state. The Abuja-based comedian and showbiz entrepreneur, further promised to discover, encourage and nurture budding and raw talents with the show.

Comedy Overdose which holds at the expansive Civic Centre will feature some of the leading lights in the nation’s film, music and comedy sectors. The hilarious duo of Osita Iheme and chinedu Ikedieze ( Aki and Paw Paw) will welcome fun seekers to the event as special hosts, while Nollywood star, Jim Iyke and pretty actress, Tonto Dike, will be making special appearances.

The trio of Ice Prince, MI and Timaya will thrill guests with hit songs on stage. Popular comedians such as, I go Dye, Gordons, I go Save, Seyi Law and Maleke will be on hand to crack ribs with their rich repertoire of jokes. In the words of Oldman, Oshiomohle will be at the show to encourage him and equally support home grown entertainment, which he pledged to move to the next level with Comedy Overdose. Tickets for the show are already selling at strategic locations in the State.

Katsina gov in fatal crash Aide-De-Camp, 7 PDP supporters killed

2011-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tragedy hit the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign train on Tuesday as the convoy of the Katsina State governor which was on its way to receive President Goodluck Jonathan at Daura town was involved in a multiple collision with two buses conveying some party supporters.

Although Governor Ibrahim Shema and his running mate, Abdullahi Garba Faskari, cheated death by the whiskers in the auto crash, no fewer than eight persons, including the governor’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Mr. Aminu Ibrahim, died on the spot.

The crash reportedly occurred at Zaka Aliyan village, near Mashi, about 20 minutes from Katsina.
An eyewitness told Daily Sun that the ADC, who was traveling with his boss in the same car, three supporters of the PDP in a bus that collided head-on with Shema’s Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and another four faithful of the party in another bus that crashed into the ill-fated vehicles all died on the spot.

The governor was going to Daura while the two buses conveying the PDP supporters were going towards Katsina town.
Investigations also revealed that about 20 others who escaped with various degrees of injury were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina.

The remains of the ADC and three of the victims were also deposited in a morgue of the hospital.
Dependable sources close to the hospital, however, told Daily Sun that the remains of the ADC and the driver of one of the affected buses were removed from the centre before mid day for burial according to Islamic rites.

President Jonathan, however, arrived Katsina in the afternoon and was received by Governor Shema who accompanied him on a visit to the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, and the party elders at the PDP secretariat before proceeding to the Katsina Polo ground, to address the rally despite the tragedy.
Speaking at the low-key rally, President Jonathan told the crowd that he would tackle the nation’s problems.
The governor was believed to have been slightly injured but he did not betray it at the rally.

The president, who said his campaign train was reflecting on the demise of former President Umar Yar’Adua on their way to Katsina when he learnt of the fatal crash involving Shema’s convoy, assured that he would not disappoint the state and the nation.
He insisted that the robust plan, which the late Yar’Adua could not actualise would be completed by the current administration in the next four years.
“He (Yar’Adua) had a robust plan for Nigeria. He had seven-point agenda. A number of things were planned by us. In the eight years that we expected him to run the Federal Government, a number of things would have been taken for granted. Things like power, water and a number of things,” the PDP presidential flag-bearer stated.

Jonathan, who also commissioned a number of projects executed by the state governor, particularly hailed the three-lane ring road going round Katsina town as “a major investment that has brought a major facelift to Katsina.”
He also paid courtesy call on the Yar’Adua’s family in Katsina and promised that he would continue to work with the people of the state politically and otherwise.
Earlier, Governor Shema had assured that the party would deliver the state in the April elections, saying the electorate had seen in the PDP the prospects of sustaining people-oriented policies.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has condoled with the Governor Shema.
“I wish to convey to Your Excellency the commiseration of the people and government of Edo State as well as my personal condolence over this unfortunate incident,” Oshiomhole said.
In his letter, the governor added: “We share your deep anguish over the death of such a close and effective confidant and aide. I had met Aminu on a few occasions and do remember him as a charming and resourceful officer, who invested so much energy into his duties. Yet, we must bear the pain of his demise with equanimity, since we cannot question the will of Allah (SWT).

“Our fervent prayer is that Allah (SWT) will extend His mercy to Aminu and grant him Alijanna Firdaus, as befitting a favoured servant. We also pray God to give you and the family the strength and courage to bear the loss.”
While expressing his sympathy to the Katsina Governor, Oshiomhole said: “We thank Allah for your survival and for the survival of others, who were involved in the accident with Your Excellency. We pray for the continued protection of Allah (SWT) as we all engage in the electioneering campaign.”

OBJ pleads for Daniel

2011-03-13T06:04:00.000-07:00

It was a bad outing for Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, yesterday, during the President Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Rally at the Gateway Stadium, Abeokuta, as he was booed by the crowd three times as his name was mentioned during the ceremony.

The ugly development is on the heels of a peace meeting between Governor Daniel and former President Olusegun Obasanjo brokered last Friday by eminent lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola, and others at Obasanjo’s Hill Top private residence in the state capital.

Until the peace meeting, there had been supremacy battle between Daniel and the former President over the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. At the heat of the feud, supporters of the governor had called Obasanjo unprintable names at a rally in the state.

The bad moment started for the governor when the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof Ahmed Alkali, was reeling out names of some great men of the state and he mentioned the governor’s name, which prompted loud jeers from the PDP supporters and others at the venue. The governor also incurred the wrath of the party’s supporters when the state PDP chairman, Chief Dayo Soremi, acknowledged Daniel’s contribution to development of the state.

While the humiliation lasted, Daniel, who was sandwiched between Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan, maintained his cool as he fiddled with his telephone set. The unpleasant development attracted condemnation from Obasanjo, who urged the crowd not to pay Daniel back in his own coin.
Obasanjo, who was visibly angry as he spoke, said: “What you have just done is very much uncalled for. If I did not come here and say it, I will be failing in my duty. It does not matter what Governor Daniel must have done or might not have done. In Yorubaland, we respect two things among others - age and authority.’’

He continues in Yoruba language: “If you are not a bastard, if you see an older person, you respect him. Until May 29, Governor Gbenga Daniel remains the governor of this state. He must be accorded the respect, dignity, the honour that he deserves. “If he does not give anyone that respect, we don’t pay him in his own coin. You must show that you are well bred. I take serious objection to you booing him here when his name is called and that should not be done. Today, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is the governor of Ogun State. He must be accorded respect no matter whatever he has done. Don’t pay him in his own coin.’’

Obasanjo, who also spoke on the need for a Yewa/Awori governor, said all but one of the three senatorial districts in the state had produced a governor except Ogun West. “So if we want to keep this state together in peace, unity and stability, we have to give the (Ogun) West the chance, and we must look for the right person, a man of character, a man of achievements, a man of unimpeachable track records and that is what we have in Adetunji Olurin.’’

As a party, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees advised the party to avoid anything that would tarnish its image. On the ambition of President Jonathan to return to Aso Rock, Obasanjo assured him of the support of the Yoruba nation, saying the South West had always been steadfast, reliable on his presidential ambition. Addressing the gathering, Jonathan said a vote for Olurin is a vote for Jonathan.
“We thank people for supporting PDP at the primaries, which ensured our victory and we promise not to disappoint you.

“Ogun State has contributed so much to the development of the country, especially in human capacity development. Our Awolowo showed us the light by giving us free education, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Fela Anikulapo in music, Ransome Kuti in health, Tai Solarin in education, Moshood Abiola and Rotimi Williams among other things.

Jonathan, who arrived Abeokuta through a rail ride from Lagos, said it was the vision of the former President Obasanjo that Nigerians should travel through all part of this country by rail. “Without power, we cannot develop, especially the small and medium scale enterprises.

That is why we have established the National Integrated Power Project and we have started some of the test run. Some have already taken off and some still under way. We have confidence that by the middle of this year our power generation would have been greatly stabilized,” Jonathan said

Ho

16 dead, 6 injured in Edo, P/H accidents

2011-03-10T03:49:00.000-08:00

No fewer that 14 persons lost their lives on Tuesday night along the Benin-Ore federal highway. Five others who sustained serious injuries are in hospital.

In another accident, a car knocked down three primary school children yesterday in Port Harcourt. Two of the children-a boy and a girl- died on the spot while the third was seriously wounded.
Daily Sun was told that the 14 persons died when Eastern-bound commercial bus ran into a truck along kilometre 18 close to Ugbogui in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The driver of the ill-fated bus with registration number XY 234 FST was said to be travelling from Lagos to Anambra State when he ran into the on-coming truck marked XE 887 AWK at about 7:20pm.
Among the dead were six females and eight males whose corpses have been deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in the state capital.
Actual cause of the accident could not be immediately ascertained as at the time of filing this report but it was learnt that the driver of the commercial bus was about to overtake another vehicle when he collided head-on with the trailer.

It was further gathered that but for the swift intervention of good Samaritans and policemen on routine check close to the area who pulled out some of those trapped, the death toll would have risen. Confirming the accident, the state commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Olatunji Henry Sunday in a telephone interview attributed the accident to either overspeeding or dangerous overtaking on the part of the driver of the bus. Already, the driver of the SUV, with registration number FW 97 LND which knocked down the school kids has been arrested.

The children were on their way to school when the accident occurred. It was gathered that they were crossing the road at the Saint Andrews’ Bus Stop at the Mile One, Diobu axis of Ikwerre Road when the SUV hit them. They were said to be pupils of Orominieke Primary School, D-Line in the state capital.
The wounded child was immediately rushed to the hospital while the bodies of the dead have been deposited at the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital (BMH) in Port Harcourt.

When contacted, Police spokesperson in the state, Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey (SP) confirmed the accident and the arrest of the driver. She said that the wounded girl was still unconscious as at press time.

Adeyemi paints Nigeria’s history in Sweden

2011-03-10T03:43:00.000-08:00

Last October in Sweden, Nigerian artist, Kunle Adeyemi staged his exhibition, Beauty in Freedom which coincided with Nigeria’s 50 Independence anniversary. The show having chronicled the country’s five decades of social, political and economic lives.

The exhibition was equally significant as it records all what the artist has gone through since he was born 51 years ago. Below is the artist’s statement during the show. Excerpts:

As an artist, I enjoy the beauty in my freedom of expression having learnt the language of visual arts, I can at least objectify and subjectify my imagination and thoughts. Each time I think of God’s endowment or investment in me for being counted worthy to speak a universal language of visual arts for which everybody on the surface of the earth understand, I feel elated and on top of the world. Images in my mind congeal together and form a tangible object through line, form, tone, texture, colour and composition.

I was rather too young as a child of 14 months old when my country, Nigeria became an independent nation on October 1, 1960. To be an independent nation means to be free from colonisation of any form, particularly human impostors. The credit for this goes to the collective efforts of our heroes, heroines, political juggernuts, professionals, students (home and abroad) other peace-loving independent nations etc. Nigerians of my contemporary read in history books how long and fierce the battle for political freedom was won. This effort, sacrifice and struggle of our forerunners gave way to self-rule and liberation from the British, unfortunately, the fruits of this struggle is still having its bitter taste 50 years after.

In the visual arts sector to which I belong, I count myself as fortunate and blessed having been properly schooled and still being trained by the best of visual art professionals Nigeria had ever had. The likes of Dele Jegede, Kolade Oshinowo, Moses Fowowe, Dan Ikhu Omovbude, S. I. Wangboje, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yussuf Grillo and now Dr. Emeni, Prof Osa Egonwa, and others too numerous to mention. My development as a self conscious, liberated and totally free artist had been slow even outside the tutelage of these great art teachers but very progressive.

My creative art and thoughts in recent years witnessed freedom as my exhibitions begin to move from nation to nation. I realise that I need to explore the visual language to portray the ills of my society, give succour to the hungry, the deprived, the tortured, the downtrodden and at the same time be contemporaneous to document my time. I choose to comunicate through some thematic works called series.

I found out that I cannot express myself in a single sentence or in few words that will give full meaning or do justice to my theme. I therefore, look at such subjects from multiple angles because it is difficult and too limitless for me to translate the varied moods and connotations on a lone canvas, paper, or board.

These series can be found in my recent Female forms, democracy, traditional forms and motifs, wheel of fortune, success, dialogue, house posts, royalty, fragments of tradition, procession, ere ibeji, ancestral masks, to mention just a few. As we just celebrated the golden jubilee of our dear nation, we need to think afresh and ask ourselves questions on the subject of freedom.

Eagles must qualify for Nations Cup –Enyeama

2011-03-10T03:40:00.000-08:00

Nigeria’s Footballer of the Year, Vincent Enyeama, is already looking forward to the Super Eagles qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations championship to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea after receiving his AIT Award on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

Elated Enyeama who, arrived late to the venue, Hotel Presidential, for the award ceremony, said he’s determined to see Nigeria qualify for the Nations Cup and the award he just received would ginger him to put up his best for the nation.
“I never expected this award but I thank God I’m honoured.

It’s a morale booster to my career because I always give out my best. I tried all I could for Nigeria during the last World Cup in South Africa but it wasn’t enough to take us beyond the first round. The whole world watched all our matches. We all tried our best. Everybody in the team contributed to this award,”Enyeama said shortly after receiving the award.

The Israel-based goaltender, however revealed why he cried in one of Nigeria’s group matches at the World Cup: I knew that we were almost out of the competition and I was receiving awards in our matches. I just thought there was no justification for that because I’m at the World Cup to see my country play up to the finals of the competition”.

On Nigeria’s quest for the Nations Cup ticket, he urged his team mates to take all the qualifying matches seriously. He said with hard work and dedication, Eagles would scale through and make the best out of the competition. Enyeama was selected for the 2002 World Cup to assist Ike Shorunmu.

He only played one match in the tournament, keeping a clean sheet against England, and has since taken over the spot after Shorunmu’s international retirement. Since then, he has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the national team, playing in the 2004 African Cup of Nations and 2006 African Cup of Nations.

In the 2010 African Cup of Nations, Enyeama also had a good tournament with Nigeria in the 2006 CAN; he stopped three penalties in the quarter-final against Tunisia, but could not prevent a loss to Côte d’Ivoire in the semi-final. Goalkeeper Enyeama turned out the hero for the Nigerians as he saved Thomas Nyirenda’s spot kick after both teams had scored their previous three kicks.

He put his own kick past his opposite number, Mweene, in a battle of the goalkeepers, after Mweene had scored his second earlier, to set up a semi-final clash with Ghana, which Nigeria lost 1-0 only to end up settling for the third place by beating Algeria by a slim 1-0 victory margin.

NFF begs Rivers, Taraba govts to fund F/Eagles’ camping

2011-03-10T03:38:00.000-08:00

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is relying on state governors to bankroll the extended camping for the Flying Eagles players and officials, following the indefinite extension of the African Youth Championship (AYC) formerly billed to hold in the crisis-hit Libya.

Disclosing this to Daily Sunsports in Abuja, the chief media official of the FA, Ademola Olajire, said that they had already reached out to the governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Ameachi, and his counterpart in Taraba state, Governor Danbaba Suntai, stressing that they the Federation is getting positive responses from them.

Asked about the weather hostility camping in the northern part of the country, the media officer noted that they are, however, hoping that the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) must have announced the venue to avoid camping in a state where weather may not be favourable to the players.

“Following the postponement of the tournament, we have already reached out to some state governors to help us bankroll the team’s camping immediately they came back to the country. We have already got positive responses from Rivers State governor and Taraba state governor too. We also hope that CAF will announce the venue to enable us take a final decision on the venue because of the weather condition,” he said.

Speaking further on the team’s itinerary, Olajire disclosed that they would leave their foreign training camp in Turkey by 8.00pm on Wednesday to Dubai where they would spend a few days before returning to Nigeria next week after playing friendly matches against Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

FOI: Jonathan’s adviser, Abba-Aji under fire over comments

2011-03-02T05:46:00.000-08:00

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday dissociated himself from a statement made by his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji, on the Freedom of Information Bill.

The President reacted on the heels of the barrage of criticisms the statement attracted.

Abba-Aji had on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, said he was disappointed in the House of Representatives which passed the bill last week and expressed the hope that the Senate would throw out the bill.

He threatened that in case the Senate passed the bill he would ensure that Jonathan did not give its assent to turn the bill into a law. He also boasted that he worked against the bill when he was a Senator.

But the House of Representatives and the Nigeria Union of Journalists on Tuesday questioned the motive of Abba-Aji in opposing the bill with the House saying that any opposition to the bill at this stage was an opposition to its legislative oversight.

The spokesman of the House, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, told THE PUNCH that any opposition to the bill was “therefore an opposition to our legislative oversight.”

Eyiboh noted that though there were “some professional issues to be addressed,” it was wrong for people to continue to tag the bill “a media bill” just to paint it black.

“We passed the bill out of the conviction that it will enhance governance and transparency in the conduct of public business. The man (Abba-Aji) may just be expressing a personal opinion, which the House cannot deny him. But, we were convinced that Nigeria needed the bill; hence we passed it,” he said.

The National President of the NUJ, Mohammed Garba, condemned what he described as the “negative pronouncement” of the presidential special adviser noting that whoever was opposed to the passage of the must be a corrupt person.

Garba spoke on Tuesday when he visited PUNCH PLACE, head office of the Punch Nigeria Limited.

“It is quite unfortunate and unbelievable. It is an indication that Abba-Aji is most likely ignorant of the importance of the bill and he needs to be properly enlightened about that. Anybody that is against the freedom of information bill must be a corrupt politician and he must have something that he is hiding,” Garba said.

A member of the House of Representatives and one of the key sponsors of the bill, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, asked Jonathan to immediately kick out Abba-Ajji and denounce his statement, else his words on the FOI bill would be taken to be the mind of the presidency.

“The president should either sack Abba-Aji or denounce his statement or do both,” the lawmaker said in a statement.

Dabiri-Erewa said she had been vindicated that forces working against the passage of the bill were outside of the National Assembly. She described the stand of the presidential aide as “retrogressive, undemocratic, and an insult to Nigerians whom President Jonathan seeks to lead for another four years with bad advisers like Abba-Aji who himself needs an adviser.”

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mr. Ima Niboro, told journalists at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday that Abba-Aji lacked the capacity to speak for the president.

He said, “Abba-Aji was speaking as an individual and not for the Federal Government. I speak for the President; information minister speaks for the government; and in the matter of law, the Attorney General, who is the chief law officer, can speak for the government.

“So, since this statement did not come from the any of us, he (Aba-Aji) is purely speaking for himself and I want it reflected that way.”

The FOI Bill commenced its journey 11 years ago. While it was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly in the last legislative session, former President Olusegun Obasanjo refused to sign it into law thus forcing it to start the journey afresh in 2007.

The House of Representatives, almost after four years and agitation by stakeholders, last week passed the 34-clause piece of legislation. The Senate is expected to also pass it this week.

While the bill seeks to confer access to public information by all citizens, many had wrongly expressed the fear that it was essentially a media bill.

Abba-Aji queried the support for the bill, stressing that no government or organisation would offer its official secret to members of the public or the press.

The former senator insisted that all public institutions had information that must be closely guided for the benefit of peace, progress and development of the society.

He said Nigerians should be wary of opening the nation’s secret to the rest of the world “through this unpatriotic FOI Bill.”

Abba-Aji who claimed that the Nigerian press remained the freest, said there were classified information even in the United States of America.

On the constitutionality of the bill, he argued that every public officer, including the president, was under oath of secrecy.

“That is in the constitution and this is what this new bill is trying to oust,” he said.

Obasanjo re-echoes do-or-die politics at Jonathan’s Lagos rally

2011-03-02T05:41:00.000-08:00

The ‘do-or-die’ electoral philosophy espoused by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the build-up to the 2007 elections resonated on Tuesday as the former president again said in Lagos that he would never allow the Peoples Democratic Party to lose the April elections.

Though he did not clarify how he would do it this time around, Obasanjo, at the party’s presidential rally at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, sang in Yoruba, “Lau erebe, erebe lau; Obasanjo oni gba kadibo kama wole o, lau erebe, erebe lau.”

Literally translated, the song means, “Bravo is the song of the day, Obasanjo cannot condone, Obasanjo would resist if we vote and we dont win.”

In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on February 10, 2007 during a meeting of the PDP members and stakeholders, Obasanjo had reportedly said that the elections were a do-or-die affair for his party.

Obasanjo had said then, “It is left to you to ensure that we elect credible and committed leaders. I commend those of you in the PDP for your efforts so far. I will campaign. This election is a do-or-die affair for me and the PDP. This coming election is a matter of life and death for PDP and Nigeria.”

Though, he clarified later that the election would only be a do-or-die affair to prevent those who might drag the nation backward from coming to power, the opposition said the statement was behind the massive rigging that hallmarked the 2007 poll which both local and international observers condemned as falling short of acceptable democratic standards.

The late President Umaru Yar’Adua at his inauguration on May 29, 2007, admitted that the election that brought him to power was faulty.

Till date, judicial contests over the election that held almost four years ago are still raging while the results of the poll in several states have been upturned by the courts.

The courts, for instance, had sacked the PDP governors enthroned in Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Edo states, while the victory of many erstwhile members of national and state assemblies had been equally upturned.

At the Tafawa Balewa Square on Tuesday, Obasanjo assured President Goodluck Jonathan that he would win the April 9 presidential poll.

He told the president, “I know that you have flagged off your zonal campaign in the South-West, but this is the first time you are beginning the state by state campaign in this region and you are beginning with Lagos. You have given the state the pride of place which it deserves.

“Mr. President, people normally say they do not want history to repeat itself; it is bad history that must never repeat itself. When the history is good, we should pray that it repeats itself. In this TBS venue, your predecessor, late President Umaru Yar’Adua, campaigned here about four years ago and won the presidential election, that is good history. Having been on this platform this time around, all that you need from me is to congratulate you. Let us congratulate ourselves for this victory.”

However, Jonathan, in another variant of the Ibadan declaration, said Lagos was too important to be left in the hands of politicians, noting that the country’s economic strength was dependent on some buoyancy of commercial activities in the state.

The president had reportedly said during the flag-off of his campaign in the South-West that the geo-political zone was too important to be left in the hands of rascals.

He promised to partner with Lagos State for its continuous growth and economic buoyancy. He explained that for the country to realise its 2020 vision, it could not afford to neglect the state.

Jonathan said, “We have taken this period to study what we are going to do and by your mandate in May 29, we will hit the ground running. Lagos is a very important state that no politician will play with it. You would have realised that on resumption of office as President, I have visited Lagos more than any other state. I brought some of my programme to Lagos because I know that for you to fix the economy of Nigeria; you must know what is happening in Lagos State and you must work with the people.

“Lagos is unique for three reasons: population, which is not the key thing; it is the most cosmopolitan state in Nigeria- in every one kilometre square you will see tribes from different parts of the country staying there. So, it is a state that the government must take serious. But more importantly, if our ambition to play big by the year 2020 must be realised, then of course we must stimulate commerce and industry and you cannot do that without Lagos. From bank deposits and loans, Lagos State controls more than 50 per cent of the economy of the country.

“So, you cannot play with such a segment of our population. That is why we have shown interest in Lagos and we will continue to do that because we want to change things and move the state and the country forward. One thing we must do is to stimulate industries in Lagos; we want all the factories to pick up again. We will work with all the relevant agencies to get that done.”

Jonathan also noted the South-West had produced the likes of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ladoke Akintola, Chief MKO Abiola, among others, saying it was the spirit with which those great leaders had worked that his administration would adopt.

ACN will bring Nigerians fresh hope – Tinubu

2011-03-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

The Action Congress of Nigeria on Monday in Dutse, Jigawa State commenced its its presidential campaign in the North-West, with its leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, assuring Nigerians of its determination to offer them fresh hope.

Tinubu, in a solidarity message after the presidential candidate of the party, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and his running mate, Mr. Fola Adeola, were presented with the party’s flags, said the nation’s leadership crisis would be resolved with the election of the party in the April polls. He told the mammoth crowd of party chieftains and supporters that the ACN would provide a youth friendly leadership.

He said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party had been insensitive to Nigerian youths, assuring, however, that Ribadu would redress the situation. The former Lagos State governor said the Ribadu/Adeola joint ticket would create 120 million new jobs.

Speaking at the rally, which was also attended by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tinubu pledged a solid welfare package for the Nigeria Police Force. He assured that the least paid policeman would earn N50,000 under an ACN government.

With a chant of ‘Sai Ribadu, Sai Nigeria, Sai Ribadu’, the ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, handed over the party’s presidential flags to Ribadu and Adeola, saying it signified their onward journey to the Presidency.

He said, “I bring to you the people of Nigeria a new brand of ideas through a new brand of leadership, today in Jigawa, in Dutse, Jigawa State, because of the problems created for Nigeria already by the PDP in the last 12 years. We talked about it and discussed it.

“The problems are problems of corruption, problems of insecurity to lives and property, problems of poverty. We have been thinking about how to clear these problems. Our solution is about bringing in new brand of leadership.

“Today, I brought these two young men. I brought Shehu Nuhu Ribadu and I have brought Fola Adeola. One is a very good expert in corruption management, the other one a management investor.”

Asked to comment, Ribadu could only utter quotes from the Quran, saying, ‘Auzubillahi Mina Shaytani Rajin, Bismillahi Arahamanu Rahim. Alhamdullah! Alhamdullah! Alhamdullah!’ (I seek refuge from Satan, the accursed. I begin with the Name of God the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficient. I thank God.)

His running mate stated that the ACN was on a mission to ease the pains of Nigerians and create jobs for the large army of unemployed youths.

He said, “We are here to ease your pains, to give employment and put money in your pockets through employment, not to take what is yours. We will sit down with you to proffer solutions to our numerous problems. So, vote for us, trust us. We are new on the scene and we will bring in new ideas.”

Labour dares govs, vows to make Nigeria ungovernable

2011-03-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

The two major umbrella labour unions in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, on Monday threatened to make the country ungovernable if the state governors refused to pay the new N18,000 minimum wage to workers.

“It is none of our business where they get the money to pay the minimum wage. They must pay, if not we will make this country ungovernable,” President of the TUC, Peter Esele, told THE PUNCH.

Asked if the NLC would also make the country ungovernable if the state governor failed to implement the new minimum wage, the NLC President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, said, “Of course, that is our position. Our position is that labour made a formal demand of N52,000 minimum wage. Government set up a tripartite committee that lasted one year. After that, we agreed on N18,000 not because it was enough but because we thought we could also help in developing this economy.

“But if anybody is coming at this point to say it was predicated on any other thing, that is a new thing, and Nigerian workers will not allow it.

“Nigerian workers will go to any length to fight for their rights, especially on the issue of minimum wage.”

The TUC boss said the governors were playing with fire if they played politics with the new workers’ package.

About 25 governors under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum on Sunday met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, and appealed to him to facilitate the altering of the revenue sharing formula in favour of the states, a precondition for meeting the new wage regime.

Under the current revenue sharing formula amongst the three tiers of government, the Federal Government gets 52.68 per cent; states, 26.68 per cent; and local governments, 20.60 per cent.

The governors, our correspondent gathered, had complained that they would not be able to pay workers in their states the new minimum wage except they got more from the federal allocation.

But the unions dismissed such logic as ridiculous as the governors were part of the process that resulted in the new minimum wage played politics with its implementation.

The President General of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele, who spoke on the issue in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, described as unacceptable the reported decision of the governors to hinge their ability to pay the new wage on increased allocation from the Federation Account.

Esele said that it was unacceptable for the governors who had enough to money to pay more than 1,000 special advisers to resist the payment of the minimum wage

He said, “I think sincerely that the governors were part of the whole process that led to the agreement reached during the deliberations to pay a minimum wage of N18, 000.

“It is rather ridiculous for them to now say they are predicating the payment of the minimum wage on a new revenue allocation formula.

“Where are they getting the powers to have 1,000 advisers and where are they getting the money to make jobs available for the boys?

“Honestly, I think they are playing with fire. It is none of our business where they get the money to pay the minimum wage. They must pay, if not we will make this country ungovernable.”

Similarly, the General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. John Odah, said the governors had a responsibility to honour the agreement reached between labour and the government on the issue of minimum wage.

Odah argued that the N18,000 minimum wage before the National Assembly was a product of exhaustive deliberations between labour and the Federal Government team, which had due representation from the NGF.

He insisted that while the governors were right in seeking avenues for improved revenue allocation to their respective states, it would be inconceivable for them to go against the implementation of the minimum wage which some states had started paying.

Odah said the NLC expected the immediate passage of the bill on minimum wage into a law.

He maintained that while the governors expected the NLC to be law abiding, the union leaders were also of the view that the governors had a responsibility to set a good example by obeying the laws of the land.

He said, “We do not have any problems with the governors trying to get more allocation from the Federation Account for their people.

“We expect the minimum wage to become law very soon and all the governors being law abiding people must obey.

“The governors were part of the negotiation team of the Federal Government which eventually settled for the N18,000 minimum wage.

‘You will agree with me that labour reluctantly accepted the N18,000 having commenced the negotiation with N52,000. It is not possible for them to renege on the payment of the new wage.” he said

Others that expressed similarly views were the President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities Mr. Promise Adewusi, and Secretary General of the TUC, Mr. John Kolawole.

He said that it would be condemnable for governors to attempt to tie the implementation of the minimum wage to “some extraneous gambit.”

He said that making increased revenue allocation as a condition for the payment of the minimum wage would a violation of the law on minimum wage when passed.

Adewusi who doubles as a Vice-President of the NLC, also said that refusal to obey the law of the minimum wage would definitely not protect the constitution.

He explained, “Governors, like other Nigerians have a right to seek to improve their lots and circumstances, however, it would be utterly illegal and unacceptable to tie the payment of the new minimum wage to some extraneous gambit.

“This will be contrary to the spirit and letters of the law when passed. It will indeed, negate the spirit of good governance and protection of the Nigerian constitution. The governors are welcome to form a trade union but they must play be the rule.”

How 12-year-old schoolboy aided arrest of his kidnappers–Police

2011-03-01T06:21:00.001-08:00

The Police in Lagos have arrested two brothers over the kidnap of the boy in Ojokoro area of Lagos two weeks ago.

The suspects, Seun Akinyosoye, 19, and Akin Akiyosoye, 22, allegedly kidnapped the boy while on his way home from school.

The Junior Secondary School 2 pupil, reportedly took shelter in a shop around Centre Road, during a downpour on February 14.

PUNCH METRO gathered that the suspects also took shelter in the same shop and engaged the boy in a discussion.

During the discussion, the boy revealed that his father is a banker with one of the new generation banks and also gave out his mobile phone number to the suspects. The suspects thereafter, took him to their apartment around Jerry Street, Ojokoro, from where they made a call to his father and demanded N4m ransom.

His father was said to have pleaded with the suspects to accept N55,000 and the suspects instructed him to pay the money into an account. Three days after the ransom was paid, the suspects eventually released the schoolboy.

But unknown to the suspects, the boy played a fast one on them by picking Akin’s passport photograph while in the brothers’ apartment.

“He saw the passport at the apartment where he was held hostage. After his release, he gave the passport to his father and identified Akin as one of his kidnappers,”the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, said on Monday.

The photograph was taken to policemen at Owutu Police Station and Akin was invited for questioning.

Jinadu said, “Akin had previously been arrested for street fighting. So, he did not think anything was amiss when his IPO called him to make an appearance at the police station.

“During investigation, he mentioned his brother, Seun, who was subsequently arrested. They confessed to have withdrawn the N55,000 with ATM card from the Ikorodu branch of the bank it was paid into.”

He therefore warned others who had such a sinister motive that there was no hiding place for criminals in the state, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, had put necessary machinery in place to check crimes.